Why We Exist
GBC exists to glorify God, in being disciples who make disciples of all people,
through the transforming power of the gospel.
The passages of Scripture that birth this statement are numerous, but the most clarifying are John 15:1-11 (to glorify God in being disciples); Matthew 28:16-20 (who make disciples of all people); 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (through the transforming power of the gospel).
Distinctives
These values shape the attitudes and actions of our community
in order to keep us on mission.
1. Scripture is central to all we do.
We are committed to expository preaching because we deeply believe that what the Bible says about itself is true (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12). We believe that God's Word is the foundational way through which God works in the world (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, Scripture is central in all of our ministries because it is our authority, our light, and brings life to all who receive it.
2. Prayer is indispensable.
We are a church that prays because we depend on God. Prayer is our shameless admission that we can do nothing without Him. Therefore, prayer is not merely a transition point in our lives and activities, nor is it the cherry on top; prayer is the beginning, middle, and end of our work. If we desire for God to work in ways that cannot be merely attributed to our efforts, then we must be a people on our knees (Ephesians 6:18, James 5:13, 1 John 5:14).
3. Everyone needs the gospel, especially me.
We are a gospel-centered church. The driving belief we have is that everyone needs the gospel, but that belief always begins with me (1 Timothy 1:15). Every believer needs the gospel on a moment by moment basis. We need to be reminded of God's grace, His unending love, and our new status before Him in Christ. Only when the gospel is truly good news to us, will we ever be positioned well to give it to others who desperately need it as well (1 Corinthians 15:1-6).
4. The way down is the way up.
Jesus consistently taught that His kingdom was utterly different than this world. He showed us how the least in the kingdom is the greatest; how the humble and broken are the ones who can enter; that those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. We recognize that this teaching can sound nice, but is completely against our original nature and the value systems of this world. But, we are committed to being a community that grows in humility as we witness the example of Christ's humility and experience the transforming benefits of His humility in the gospel (Philippians 2:1-11).
5. We do life together, not alone.
We deeply believe that the church is a family and not an event we attend. Our Christian faith is personal, but it is never private. Our abiding in Jesus or lack thereof always has a ripple effect on the community at large. God has saved us into His family and our call is now to live out the "one another" commands in the New Testament for the glory of God. This distinctive is why we are committed to practicing meaningful church membership. This is also why we are relationally-driven in our practices. (Colossians 3:12-15, Hebrews 10:24-25)
6. Justice and mercy matter.
We seek to display God’s heart for justice by pursuing gospel reconciliation across racial, economic, generational, and political divides. And by being a blessing to the “least of these” in our community: the immigrant, trafficked, poor, abused, overlooked, addicted, widowed; and especially to the unborn and the orphan. (Micah 6:8, Ephesians 2:11-20, Matthew 25:34-40)
7. Less is more.
This distinctive has implications on how we view our money and time. We are committed to wisely stewarding the resources that God has entrusted to our care. We are not opposed to a building but we are opposed to saddling the church with cumbersome debt. Furthermore, we desire to do what is essential to our mission and are only interested in initiating new ministries that further the mission of the church. (Matthew 6:21, 2 Corinthians 1:12)
8. Multiplication is the vision.
Our vision isn't to grow big but wide. We aim to be a mid-sized church with one worship service not because we think small is better, but because of the nature of the mission Jesus has commissioned us with. Our leaders are committed to reproducing themselves and our missional aim is to raise up leaders of all kinds, plant churches everywhere, and send out foreign missionaries to bring the gospel to the unengaged and unreached peoples across our globe. (Matthew 28:18-20)