Welcome to Christ’s Community Church. I am thrilled to have you with us this morning because today is a very special day. We are gathered here not just to attend a service or mark another Sunday, but to celebrate what God has done, what God is doing, and what God is calling us to become together as Christ’s Community Church. I am so glad you are here today, as this marks our anniversary at this location, and we are celebrating the difference Jesus is making in our lives as the body of Christ.

As we celebrate, it is important to pause and ask why this place matters so much. We are celebrating 13 years at this location, which gives us an opportunity to discuss what it really means to be planted in the church.

In Christianity today, many people go to church week after week and then go home without ever being planted. They attend, but they do not attach. They appear, but they do not take root. And because they never put down roots, they never experience fulfillment, never discover their purpose, and never fully understand the calling God has placed on our lives together as the church.

That is exactly why our mission statement matters. It explains what it looks like to move from simply attending to truly being planted. Would you all say it with me:

“We are Reaching, Connecting, and Equipping people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”

In other words, we believe God’s highest calling for you is not merely to reach a destination, but, as the Lord commanded, to make disciples and to be conformed to the image of Christ. That means we are to bear fruit in our lives and reproduce ourselves spiritually. Jesus said it this way in John chapter 15, speaking to those who had committed to follow him:

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

And that brings me to where I want to begin today. We are gathered here, and gathering matters. Gathering is powerful. Gathering is biblical. Gathering is essential to who we are becoming together. So if you are here today, you are already moving in the right direction.

To get us started, how many of you are familiar with the term solitary confinement?

It is interesting that solitary confinement is used in prisons to discipline inmates who are considered dangerous or disorderly. A 2012 article from the American Psychological Association reported that when people are deprived of normal human interaction, many suffer from mental health problems, including anxiety, panic, insomnia, paranoia, aggression, and depression. That should not really surprise us. It is common sense because much of who we are and how we function is rooted in relationships and community.

Think about this. The effects of isolation are so severe that we use it as punishment for criminals. And yet many people today have willingly chosen lives of isolation, cutting themselves off from others. If so much of who we are is shaped by our relationships, then who are we becoming when we disconnect from them? And what mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits are we missing when we choose to live alone?

Today, I want to address those questions because gathering together is powerful and, even more importantly, it is biblical. One of the primary reasons we gather is to encourage one another.

Encouragement is something every one of us needs, and for some of us, it is needed right now. The writer of Hebrews says it this way:

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

That passage shows that encouragement is most effective when we gather together.

Have you ever tried to encourage yourself when you are alone? It is difficult. While self-talk has its place, there is something far more powerful and transformative about being part of a community committed to encouraging one another toward a shared purpose.

In John chapter 15, Jesus speaks of a shared calling and a unified mission. He has called us, equipped us, and appointed us to bear fruit that lasts. We do this together as the church, the body of Christ, by being planted. We gather to be encouraged, built up in our faith, to hear the word of God, and to use our gifts so we can be strengthened in his purpose and sent out to bear lasting fruit.

The problem with much of Christian culture in America today is that the goal is simply to go to church rather than to be planted in it. When we attend as consumers instead of contributors, we miss the life God intends for us. Scripture describes it this way:

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” (Psalm 92:12–14).

The Holy Spirit shows us what it means to be planted in the church: to flourish, grow, bear fruit, and remain spiritually vibrant. This is vital in a world that is disconnected and isolated, leaving many feeling unstable, insecure, spiritually dry, and unfulfilled.

The psalmist highlights the value of belonging to something greater than ourselves, a spiritual family where we can flourish. That is why we gather as the body of Christ and covenant together as partners.

“Members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).

We are gathered here as members of his body. Each of you is part of it because when you placed your trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit began a work in you. The Scriptures describe it this way:

“We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Spiritually, when you were born again, everything changed positionally. You were once on the outside, but now you are on the inside. As Ephesians chapter two says:

“You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household” (Ephesians 2:19).

When we talk about members of God’s household, we are talking about coming together around what we believe, because what we believe matters. Unity requires clarity and focus—we cannot be scattered and still walk together in purpose.

Our unity is not based on preference or personality, but on a shared faith rooted in the Word of God. As a church family, we gather because we believe together. We are not here as a denomination, but as part of a global fellowship known as the Assemblies of God.

We are a voluntary association of churches united by sixteen fundamental biblical truths. These truths form the foundation of our doctrine, our mission, and our unity as a church body. Today, I want to briefly walk you through these fundamentals so you can see that the foundation of our beliefs rests firmly on the Word of God.

For example, number one, we believe the Scriptures are inspired by God. The Holy Bible is God’s self-revelation—showing His character, His plan for humanity, and His will for our lives. It is trustworthy and authoritative. As it says:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Number two, we believe there is one true God, revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is not three gods, but one God in three persons, working in perfect unity. Jesus affirmed this when He said:

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Number three, we believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ—fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin and named Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” The Bible confirms:

“In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died for our sins, rose again, ascended to heaven, and will return.

Number four, we believe humanity willingly fell into sin. Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world, affecting all creation and every person since. Romans chapter 5 says:

“Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men” (Romans 5:12).

Number five, we believe that every person can have restored fellowship with God through faith in the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation comes by grace through faith. As the Bible says:

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Number six, we believe and practice two ordinances that Jesus commanded: water baptism and holy Communion. Water baptism by immersion is a public declaration of faith after salvation. It symbolizes being buried with Christ as we go under the water and being raised to new life as we come up again, as Romans 6:4 describes.

Communion, likewise, is a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death. As Jesus said, whenever you eat this bread or drink this cup:

“Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).

Number seven, we believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience available to all believers after salvation. This baptism empowers us to witness and serve, just as it did in the early church. As Jesus promised:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8).

Number eight, we believe the initial physical evidence of this baptism, as recorded in Scripture, is speaking in tongues. This pattern is clear in the early church, beginning in Acts chapter two:

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4).

Number nine, we believe that sanctification begins at salvation and continues throughout the believer’s life. It is the ongoing process in which the Holy Spirit shapes us to be more like Jesus, transforming our hearts, habits, and character. The Bible says:

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

Number ten, we believe the church has a mission. The church is the body of Christ, made up of all believers everywhere. Our mission is to seek and save the lost, worship together, and build up one another in faith. Jesus said:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses… To the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Number eleven, we believe in a divinely called and scripturally ordained leadership ministry. God calls pastors, teachers, evangelists, and other leaders to equip the church for ministry. As Ephesians 4 says:

“It was he who gave some to be… pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service” (Ephesians 4:11–12).

Number twelve, we believe divine healing is available to believers today through what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The same sacrifice that saves us also makes healing possible. As Isaiah prophesied:

“By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Matthew confirms this, noting that the miraculous healings they witnessed fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah (Matthew 8:17).

Number thirteen, we believe in the blessed hope—the rapture of the church—when Jesus returns for His people before the tribulation. The Bible says:

“The Lord himself will come down from heaven… and we will be caught up… to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

Number fourteen, we believe in the millennial reign of Christ. When Jesus returns, He will raise His people from the dead and give them resurrected bodies. He will then establish His kingdom on earth and reign for a thousand years in perfect righteousness and peace. Revelation describes it this way:

“They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).

This does not mean they are alive in physical bodies now; it means that when Jesus returns, God will resurrect His people to share in His rule during that thousand-year reign.

Number fifteen, we believe there will be a final judgment. Every person who has rejected Christ will stand before God and face judgment, resulting in eternal separation from Him. Revelation 20:12 says:

“The dead were judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12).

Number sixteen, we believe God is preparing a new heaven and a new earth—an eternal home for all who belong to Him. Revelation 21:1 describes this promise:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1).

In that place, we will live forever in the presence of the Lord.

These are the precious truths that unite us. These are the beliefs we stand on. The Bible tells us that when we share this common faith, we are no longer strangers or outsiders but part of God’s family. We are built on a solid foundation handed down through the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Himself holding everything together as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19–20).

When we covenant together as members of Christ’s Community Church, we are declaring, “This is the faith I hold. This is the foundation I stand on. This is the truth I will walk in with my church family.”

You may be wondering what it means to covenant together. A covenant is an agreement between two people or groups that involves mutual promises. God uses this concept throughout Scripture—with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and the priesthood. Every covenant includes promises, commitment, and blessing.

At Christ’s Community Church, covenant members are those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, experienced the new birth, been baptized in water as believers, and are in agreement with our purpose, values, strategy, and structure. Covenant members are those who have committed to:

1. Protect the unity of the church
2. Share the responsibility of the church
3. Serve the ministry of the church
4. Support the testimony of the church

Today, on this anniversary, I am inviting you to covenant with Christ’s Community Church—or to reaffirm that you stand with us in this important decision.

As you consider that decision, let’s review what it means:

First, we agree to protect the unity of our church by acting in love toward other members, avoiding gossip, and following the leadership. This isn’t just a suggestion; the Bible says:

“Show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart” (1 Peter 1:22).

Love is not optional; it is essential. Unity requires effort and humility as we walk together on this journey of becoming more like Jesus. The Scripture reminds us to:

“Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19).

We make every effort because we won’t always agree on everything, but we can agree to walk in love, avoid gossip, and speak only what is wholesome (Ephesians 4:29). In doing so, we honor our pastors and spiritual leaders, as Scripture instructs:

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority…” (Hebrews 13:17).

Second, we agree to share the responsibility of the church by praying for its growth. The apostle Paul modeled this for us:

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2).

We also share in this responsibility by reaching out to the unchurched. Jesus said:

“Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full” (Luke 14:23).

This is our mission: every soul matters to Jesus. When people walk through these doors, the Bible says:

“Warmly welcome each other into the church, just as Christ has warmly welcomed you…” (Romans 15:7, TLB).

Third, we agree to serve the church’s ministry by discovering our gifts, being equipped, and developing a servant’s heart. Scripture says:

“Serve one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10, NET Bible).

We are not consumers; we are contributors. We don’t come to be served—we come to serve—because:

“(Christ) gave some to be… pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service…” (Ephesians 4:11–12).

Every member has a ministry, every believer has a gift, and together we build up the body of Christ.

Number four, we agree to support the testimony of our church by attending faithfully, as the early church did:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship…” (Acts 2:42).

We support our church by living a godly lifestyle, remembering the Scripture’s call:

“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).

We also support the church through regular, cheerful, and generous giving. This is not legalism—it is faith. The Lord said:

“A tithe of everything… belongs to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30).

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this” (Malachi 3:10).

As leaders, we follow this biblical principle, giving 10% of our income to the local church. The apostle Paul instructs:

“Every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week and use it for this offering” (1 Corinthians 16:2, TLB).

Giving is about partnership—together we become channels of God’s grace, for:

“God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6–7).

As we support our church's testimony, it is both a financial commitment and a commitment to one another. It’s about saying, “This is my church. This is my family. We’re in this together. These are our bills, our expenses, because this is our church, and this is where I am planted.”

That is the membership covenant, our agreement. Some of you may feel ready to take this step, and that’s wonderful. Others may not, and that’s okay—we still love having you as part of our church, part of our family, even if you’re not ready for this next step.

For those ready to make this commitment, the application is at the bottom of the page. You can place it at the reception desk on your way to join us for lunch, or complete it online on your phone. Either way, I would love to have you as a member and will personally respond to every membership request.

I know this is a big decision for some of you. If you have questions about our beliefs, you can find all the details on our website or email me directly. I am always available. We want to be a family—praying for one another, supporting one another, and walking together in faith.

I would love to have you as a member of our church, and I am thrilled to have you with us today. Now, as we wrap up, could I have the worship team come forward?

As we stay in this spirit of worship, the altars are open for prayer. If you need healing, strength, peace, or simply want to draw closer to Jesus, come. I’m here to pray with you, and let’s seek the Lord together.

Would you praise Him with me?

Graphics, notes, and commentary from LifeChurch, Ministry Pass, PC Study Bible, Preaching Library, and Sermon Central. Scripture from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.