Anderson Hills

The primary purpose of the church is to bring the truth of Jesus and His finished work on the cross to the world. We are called to be extensions of God's love. The most available extension and proof of God's faithfulness is the life and testimony of the saints. God has proven to be faithful to us all, giving us stories of miracles and breakthroughs. Sharing those stories with others brings hope to a despairing world. The church has something to offer and extend that is not available anywhere else—Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. As people who received the amazing grace of God through Jesus, we are the perfect choice for sharing hope with the world.

The primary purpose of the church is to bring the truth of Jesus and His finished work on the cross to the world. We are called to be extensions of God's love. The most available extension and proof of God's faithfulness is the life and testimony of the saints. God has proven to be faithful to us all, giving us stories of miracles and breakthroughs. Sharing those stories with others brings hope to a despairing world. The church has something to offer and extend that is not available anywhere else—Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. As people who received the amazing grace of God through Jesus, we are the perfect choice for sharing hope with the world.

Jesus came to bring us into the family of God. More than anything else, we are God’s children. Children thrive in loving, family relationships. The church is here to meet the greatest emotional need in a person’s life: relationship. In a family there is love, trust, friendship, growing together, working together and playing together. The church is to function not only as a church body but as a family. With all of the dynamic functions that a church can offer, that's what people look for when they go to a church. They want to enter the doors and feel like they're already a part of something. They want to feel welcome and accepted and loved.

Jesus came to bring us into the family of God. More than anything else, we are God’s children. Children thrive in loving, family relationships. The church is here to meet the greatest emotional need in a person’s life: relationship. In a family there is love, trust, friendship, growing together, working together and playing together. The church is to function not only as a church body but as a family. With all of the dynamic functions that a church can offer, that's what people look for when they go to a church. They want to enter the doors and feel like they're already a part of something. They want to feel welcome and accepted and loved.

You were never meant to attend church and simply be a spectator. God has given each of us gifts, talents and abilities so that we can all work together to make a difference in the church, our community and our world. When Paul taught about the church, the body of Christ, he stressed that each person plays a vital part in accomplishing the mission of strengthening the body and spreading the gospel message. Every person has been given a spiritual gift and a place to use it for the love of others. How are you making a difference?

You were never meant to attend church and simply be a spectator. God has given each of us gifts, talents and abilities so that we can all work together to make a difference in the church, our community and our world. When Paul taught about the church, the body of Christ, he stressed that each person plays a vital part in accomplishing the mission of strengthening the body and spreading the gospel message. Every person has been given a spiritual gift and a place to use it for the love of others. How are you making a difference?

The church is not a building as most people refer to it. In scripture, the word church comes from the Greek word "ekklesia", a general term referring to a gathering or assembly. Second, church is not an event or something for which people assemble that takes place at a specific time. Instead of focusing on an event in which people gather, church is centered on THE event—Christ saving a people to Himself. The church is a people gathered in all of life to Jesus; the ones who build their whole lives around Jesus as King, Lord and Savior, loving each other in dramatic ways. You do not go to church, you are the church whenever and wherever you go in the world.

The church is not a building as most people refer to it. In scripture, the word church comes from the Greek word "ekklesia", a general term referring to a gathering or assembly. Second, church is not an event or something for which people assemble that takes place at a specific time. Instead of focusing on an event in which people gather, church is centered on THE event—Christ saving a people to Himself. The church is a people gathered in all of life to Jesus; the ones who build their whole lives around Jesus as King, Lord and Savior, loving each other in dramatic ways. You do not go to church, you are the church whenever and wherever you go in the world.

In His closing, Jesus is exhorting the people to enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate. The gate to heaven is narrow in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way. The wide gate, which leads to destruction not life, is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions. Jesus says that the narrow gate will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh, living by faith, and living a lifestyle separate from the world; it requires that we allow God to reign in our hearts allowing us to do His will and not ours

In His closing, Jesus is exhorting the people to enter the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate. The gate to heaven is narrow in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way. The wide gate, which leads to destruction not life, is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions. Jesus says that the narrow gate will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh, living by faith, and living a lifestyle separate from the world; it requires that we allow God to reign in our hearts allowing us to do His will and not ours