About Grace Bible Fellowship
Our Ministry Distinctives
Scripture gives clear guidelines regarding many aspects of starting a church. There are some areas – call distinctives – where we have liberty to make choices to best minister to the specific needs of our congregation and local community. These choices are what make GBF distinct from other local churches.
The notes describing the distinctives are from a Spring 2007 series of Adult Sunday School classes.
God-Centered—God’s
Glory Comes before all Human Agendas
“seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)
Biblically-Driven—All
Ministry Flows from Scriptural Mandates
“do not exceed what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6)
People-Focused—Relationships
Come before Programs and
Facilities
“love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39)
Expository
Teaching and Preaching
“preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Continual
Corporate and Personal Prayer
“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Maintain
Balanced Ministry Priorities:
- first Exaltation
(Worship)—toward God
- next Edification (Word)—toward the saints
- then Evangelization (Witness)—toward the world
"And
Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR
HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH
ALL YOUR MIND’ “ (Matthew 22:37)
Nurture
of the Whole Family & the Whole Person
“We
proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all
wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ”
(Colossians 1:28)
Every
Believer Discipled
“make
disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19)
Biblical
Counseling.
Part 1 and
Part 2
“Let
the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching
and admonishing
one another” (Colossians 3:16)
Every
Member Accountable to the Body
“let
us consider how to stimulate one another to love and
good deeds.....encouraging
one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Every
Believer Equipped and Contributing
“He
gave…pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the
work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians
4:11-12)
Elder
Shepherding—Called and Qualified Servant-Leaders
“An overseer, then, must be above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2)
Biblical
Church Discipline
“Be
on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him, if he repents, forgive
him” (Luke 17:3)
Partnership
Ministry with Other Biblical Churches
“Therefore
openly before the churches, show them the proof of your
love and
of our reason for boasting about you” (2 Corinthians 8:24)
Every
Sheep Matters and is Highly Significant
“Shepherd the flock of God among you…those allotted to your care”
(1 Peter 5:2-3)
Biblical
Hospitality
“My
brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with
an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1)
Small
Group Ministry
“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable
and teaching you…from house to house” (Acts 20:20)
Globally
Minded
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark
16:15)
A
Sense of Urgency as God’s Stewards
“Therefore be careful how
you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time,
because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Pursuing
Excellence in All Ministry
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
