CORE VALUES
At Immanuel, these core values are at the heart of our church’s culture and convictions.
Our Hope Is in the Gospel
We believe that the gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Therefore, we joyfully, lovingly, and unashamedly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. This truth should be manifest in our daily living, but it will be displayed in our worship as we trust in the simple means of grace (Word, prayer, and other ordinances) to bring about conversion and spiritual growth. In this way, we are regularly proclaiming by our worship that our only hope is in the transforming power of the Gospel.
Christ-Centered Worship is Our Highest Priority
At Immanuel Church, Christ-centered worship is considered our highest priority and privilege. As Paul instructed the Colossians, our desire is the “let the word of Christ dwell” richly in our teaching, admonishing, and singing (Col. 3:16). We want Christ and the good news of the gospel, as it has been handed down to us in Scripture, to be central to our gathered, family, and private worship. In essence, we want God’s Word to be displayed in our preaching, teaching, praying, and singing. For we truly believe, as Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68).
We Show Mercy to Those in Need
At Immanuel Church we show mercy to one another by meeting the physical and financial needs of those within the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). But whenever possible, we are committed to helping those in need in our community (Mt. 5:7). We will do so with utmost wisdom and concern as we work together and pray together in order to discover the best avenues for demonstrating the love and mercy of Christ to those in need. Our efforts will be both individual and corporate as some needs can and should be met by individual members, while other needs may be met by the church as a whole.
We Love One Another
At Immanuel Church, we recognize that we are loved by God, and are therefore called to love one another (Jn 15:12; 1 Jn. 4:7-12). We are committed to demonstrating this in the most practical ways of mutually caring for one another, meeting one another’s needs, and enjoying life together. We believe that a counter-cultural life of genuine love and hospitality is the only way to live as a believer and is a demonstration to the world of the love of God that we’ve experienced through faith in Christ.
We Are Committed to Evangelism and Missions
We are committed to personal and corporate evangelism as a part of fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). However, we understand evangelism and mission to include church-facilitated evangelistic programs, but it is also much more than a program. Gospel proclamation primarily entails the faithful reading and preaching of the Scriptures in the gathered public worship of God on the Lord’s Day. Worship is doxological evangelism. The Gospel is also proclaimed when God’s people scatter throughout the week to their homes, neighborhoods, and vocations and share the gospel with others––thus being salt and light in a corrupt and dark world (Matthew 5:16). We are also committed to prayer and financial support of the church here and across the globe for the sake of the Great Commission.
The end goal of our evangelistic endeavors is to lead people to committed church membership and a lifetime of repentance and faith in Christ through the ordinary, yet life-transforming, ministry of the Word, prayer, and other ordinances.
Christian History and Tradition are Important
Since according to the Scriptures, the Christian Faith “was once delivered to the saints,” (Jude 3) and, therefore, does not change with every passing generation, we believe that we have much to gain from 2,000 years of Christian history and tradition. For Christians to turn a cold shoulder to their rich theological and ecclesiastical heritage shows a kind of modern arrogance. Indeed, there is much we can learn from those who went before us. The ministries of our church will seek to cultivate a greater appreciation for our Free Will Baptist tradition and its roots in the Protestant Reformation and the great Christian tradition of orthodox Christian teaching. Our corporate worship on the Lord’s Day, in particular, is an expression of our appreciation for the rich liturgical and musical heritage that has been handed down to us through the ages.
Mission
To make, equip, and mobilize disciples to reach Sumner County and the nations for the glory of God.
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