Estes Brook Evangelical Free Church
Who We Are
We seek to be a community of loving, praying disciples of Jesus who are GRACIOUS
Grounded in Scripture
We seek to root our lives in the truth of God as revealed in Scripture. This is not simply about knowing the words of the Bible, but letting this truth inform and change us to be more like Jesus. (Pro. 30:5; Rom. 15:4; Mark 12:24; 1 John 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Act 17:2-3, 11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 5:39-40; 1 John 2:3-6; Jas. 1:22-25; Acts 18:24-28; Ps. 1:2; John 14:26; 16:13)
Relevant
We seek to connect biblical truth to the real world. We can have the biblical knowledge in the world. We can experience the power of God in our lives. We can have great worship music and preaching. We can have a great building. But, if we don’t connect all that to the world we live in, who cares? (1 Cor. 13:1-3; John 6:26-29; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Jas. 2:14-16)
Authentic
Being grounded in God’s truth and being relevant must lead us to embrace authenticity. If God’s word is true, then we must believe what it says about us, both the bad (our sinful nature & propensity to choose sin) and the good (in Christ we are forgiven, adopted children of God whose standing is secure). If we know who we really are in Christ, we should have nothing to hide from one another or the world. This requires laying aside judgment for grace. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 7:18-19; 1 Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:15; John 10:27-29; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Rom. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:16; Matt. 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1; Matt. 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20; Eph. 4:15; Col 3:5-10; Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 12:15)
Compassionate
We are called to be compassionate with others based upon the love that God has shown us. Jesus said that the world would know that we belong to Him by how we love. Biblical Compassion is an expression of love focused in understanding. (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; Mark 6:34; 8:2; 9:22; Luke 7:13; 10:33; 1 John 4:19-21; John 13:35; John 13:34; 15:12, 17; Rom. 12:10; 13:8; Eph. 4:2; 1 Thess. 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8; 1 John 3:11, 23 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 1:5; 1 John 4:7-12)
Intentional
In the Church’s work of building God’s kingdom, we must be focused. We can hardly be successful in being disciples if we are not disciplined. We do this through intentional training of the heart, mind, soul, and body to better love Jesus and others. This also means that we must, at times, lay aside our personal preferences to be able to intentional about meeting other where they are. (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 1 Tim. 4:7-10; Luke 10:27)
Open
We seek to be open-handed with all we have, rooted in the biblical principal of God being our provider, by not holding onto anything as our own and helping provide for the needs of others (Phil. 4:19; 1 Tim. 5:18; 6:17; Jas. 2:15-16). We seek to be open-hearted by welcoming others, regardless of what they struggle with or what they look like and trying to see them as God does (Rom. 15:7; John 8:1-11; Jas 2:1-9; Matt. 25:34-40). We seek to be open-minded by trying to see things from another perspective and willing to try new things for the sake of being more effective in how we minister to others (Luke 24:44-47; 1 Cor 9:19-23).
United
We seek to live in biblical unity with one another. This does not mean that everyone has the same opinion or perspective, but rather that everyone is working toward the same goals. We can have unity with each other because of Christ. When we have a relationship with God through Christ, we have unity with Him, which allows us to have unity with one another. This unity helps us keep on God’s mission to build His kingdom by us growing closer to Him and seeing others come to know Christ. This happens when we all are using our God-given gifts to work toward the same goal, building His kingdom. This happens when people are empowered, equipped, and released to serve God (Ps. 133:1-3; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Rom. 6:5; Eph. 4:1-6, 11-14).
Spirit Led
We seek to let the Holy Spirit lead us in everything we do. We cannot be God’s people building God’s kingdom without God’s power and presence. We need the Holy Spirit of God to work in our hearts, minds, and lives to empower us to live like Jesus and be His Church (John 14:16-17; 26; Acts 1:8; 2:38; Rom. 5:5; 14:17; 15:13; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:6; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; 2 Tim. 1:14; Tts, 3:5).