Hope Alliance Bethlehem

The people of God are called to be generous because God is generous.  But living in generosity can be a challenging reality because we often have misplaced hope.  It is only through hope rightly placed in God that we can take hold of true life and live in generosity rather than conceit.

Elders are entrusted to oversee the church toward gospel fidelity, doctrinal purity and fulfilling Jesus' mission for the church.   They do this not for personal gain or positions of power and status, but rather to serve.  They are shepherds not members of a corporate board.  And the church is blessed to have them.

In the same way as gathering is an important part of our identity as the people of God, so too is our scattering.  We have been commissioned to make disciples and this takes place literally "as we are going."  In other words, we intentionally scatter for mission.  This is the call on every follower of Jesus and our embrace of it gives glory to God.

The people of God have always been meant to be a people of prayer.  So it is no surprise when we read the book of Acts that we find the church continually being described by a devotion to prayer.  As God's people we pray to worship, to be formed in the gospel, to hear from God, to receive power and to advocate for one another.  This is our vision for prayer at Hope.

The Bible is critical to our identity as the people of God.  It speaks his word to us with authority by relaying the gospel and its implications on our lives.  When we embrace it with an open heart as a church and as individuals, God uses it to teach us the gospel, rebuke and correct us when we embrace false gospels, and train us in how to live in light of the gospel.

Being the people of God means that we are committed to regularly gather for worship.  This is so significant because it recanters our hearts on Jesus and realigns our lives to the gospel.  From its inception the church has done this through teaching, worship and togetherness.  Teaching and worship are central to this.  But it equally clear that this is a "one another" reality, not just something to be consumed.  We gather to participate and therefore to grow in our faith while also emboldening the faith of others.

The New Testament picture of the church is near universally in the first person plural - "we" rather than "me."  In a decidedly isolated and individualistic culture, why and how can we lean into biblical community?  The gospel brings about the experience of togetherness and our togetherness actually deepens our understanding and commitment to the gospel.

The church is like an orchestra playing the symphony of gospel music composed by Jesus and conducted by the Spirit.  And each person plays an incredibly significant and unique part.  Our giftedness is actually a means of grace and power to strengthen and mature the church.  So, to not embrace our uniqueness and to not embrace and serve the church intentionally is to actually withhold the grace and power of God from his people.  We each have a role to play.  The absence of you is a loss for the church and its mission.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that we ARE one in the Gospel, and can maintain that same oneness through the Gospel rather than our own efforts or legalism.  And when we are one, God gets the glory!

Jesus is the head of the church.  He is the one who brings about and sustains the church through his good and gracious rule and direction.  And if Jesus is the head, that means no on else is.  There are roles and functions in the church, but all in subjection to the headship of Jesus.