into the home &
out to the city.
“Though our mission statement is to “declare God’s glory among the nations,” we see it as a statement that every household can take ownership of; to collectively and individually live God’s truth, love our neighbors, serve our homes, celebrate our diversity, invest our resources, and move forward.
Whether you are a married couple, a single adult, an empty nester, a widow, a child in a broken home, or a college student living with a roommate, the home is often the most vulnerable and compromising place. We tend to sin the most within those four walls - by what we choose to do or by what we neglect to do.
Though depicted as our daily “sanctuaries,” our homes are often without the freedom we’ve experienced and/or expressed in a church.
If our city is to be deeply changed, people must see the fruit flowing not just from the local church building, but from the homes of the individuals that make up the local church. We see a city radically transformed by families who intentionally and consistently seek God and find freedom together.”
We will be a church that
empowers and equips the
home to know god,
find freedom,
discover purpose,
and make a difference.
-Pastor Greg McKinney
(Read more about our leadership here)
What we do flows from what we value.
OUR SIX VALUES:
LIVING HIS TRUTH
the Bible is meant for living, not just for learning.
Loving our neighbor
We live an “open door” life, one that is for people.
Serving our home
we take ownership of our places of influence.
celebrating our diversity
we make community & UNITY an absolute priority.
Investing our Resources
we give because he gave // time, talents, & finances.
moving Forward
WE WILL CONTINUALLY GROW TO KNOW GOD, FIND FREEDOM, DISCOVER PURPOSE, & MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
our beliefs.
The Bible is the authoritative Word of God.
It alone is the final authority in determining all doctrinal truths. It is inspired, infallible and inerrant. (see 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; Prov. 30:5; Rom. 16:25, 26).
The Bible is alive, applicable, and called to be acted upon.
The Holy Scriptures are the active words spoken by our very active God. Everyday, He speaks them through the working of His Holy Spirit and through the testimonies of both God the Father and God the Son. They are applicable to every stage and situation in life, consistently calling the reader/hearer into action. (see Heb. 4:12; Psalm 119:9; 105; 130; James 1:22; Luke 11:28).
Our God is a Triune God.
There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and coeternal (see 1 John 5:7; Gen. 1:26; Matt. 3:16, 17; 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isa. 9:6; Heb. 3:7-11).
Jesus lived, died, was resurrected, and is coming again.
Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was and is 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory. (See John 1:1, 14; 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:16; Isa. 9:6; Phil. 2:5, 6; 1 Tim. 2:5.)
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God.
He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer enabling them to live a victorious, abundant life and display the character of Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to witness and endows spiritual gifts which enable the believer to serve and minister in the church. As believers exercise their spiritual gifts, the church is built up and those who are searching find eternal life in Christ. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily so to become like Christ in character, thought, speech, and action. (See John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16,17; 12-14; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13; 4,5:18; Romans 12)
People are made in God’s image, yet fallen and marred by sin.
Humanity was made to be like God in character, the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us from birth are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” Because of sin, all people are under a curse and are in a state of spiritual separation from God. The ultimate result of sin is death. (See Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; 51:5; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2)
Salvation is by grace through faith.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts. It is experienced in three wonderful facets: "justification" at the moment of confession, "sanctification" during the consistent and life-long working of the Holy Spirit, and "glorification" upon the death of our earthly bodies. (see Eph. 2:8, 9; Gal. 2:16; 3:8; Titus 3:5; Rom. 10:9, 10; Acts 16:31; Heb. 9:22).
We are called to declare His glory, promote UNITY, and make disciples of all nations.
Upon leaving this earth, Jesus gave His followers a great command and commission. We are called to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom, make disciples of all nations, and teach all that we have been taught. We believe that the Kingdom of heaven is not segregated along ethnic and economic lines and we fully believe that local churches on earth should not be either. Therefore, we promote Biblical unity. This includes breaking down strongholds, releasing the captives, helping and healing the oppressed, and comforting the broken and needy. (Psalm 96:3, Matt. 28:19; Isa. 1:17; Micah 6:8; 1 John 3:17;18).
We have a responsibility To end oppression of all kinds.
We affirm that God is both the Creator and the Judge of all people. We therefore should share His concern for justice and reconciliation throughout human society and for the liberation of men and women from every kind of oppression. Because men and women are made in the image of God, every person, regardless of race, religion, color, culture, class, sex, orientation or age, has an intrinsic dignity; therefore, he or she should be respected and served, not exploited or avoided. (See Isaiah 58:6–12; 61:1; Matthew 5:1–7:28; 28:18–20; Luke 4:18; 21:1–4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:8).
THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (See Psalm 139; Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10).
on MARRIAGE, GENDER AND SEXUALITY.
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates humanity. Male and female are two distinct, complementary genders that together reflect the image and nature of God. (Genesis 1:26-27.) There is, therefore, intrinsic value in all people, no exceptions. So then, the value of ALL people will be seen, exercised, recognized, and celebrated here at Glory Church, regardless of our specific beliefs on sex, sexuality, or marriage.
We believe that the term “Biblical marriage” has a single meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). However this belief will not limit our honor and value to those who live in unions outside of that definition. We further believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other, and believe that all forms of sexual immorality are sinful and not the “fullness of life” that Jesus speaks of bringing to humanity. (Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 6; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10;18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 15v18-20) But neither is the sloth and glutton lifestyle, the materialistic and superficial lifestyle, or the selfish and narcissistic lifestyle.
And just as we live as “people of process,” we commit to living in community with all people as they press on in faith toward becoming who Christ has called them, from one degree of glory to the next. God’s main purpose for mankind is not to be heterosexual, it is for humanity to be holy. And holiness is a daily process, made possible only by the grace of Jesus.