1) Invest - We seek to connect people with God's mission.
At Cornerstone Community Church we invest time, money and effort
to make disciples of Christ. When we say investing is one of our
core values, we mean building completely committed followers of
Jesus Christ. To do this we Invite, Include, Involve and Intercede.
We call this process discipleship. Being a disciple
of Jesus Christ, and helping others to become disciples, is an
ongoing job. Not only is the disciple a "work in progress" but
loving others into God's kingdom is as well. The good news is
that one day the work will be finished and hopefully we will hear
"Well done, good and faithful servant!" As disciples
we need to understand what a follower of Christ is so we can follow
Christ and experience His power as we seek to be obedient to Him.
Prior to his ascension back into heaven, Jesus
spoke clearly to his disciples regarding what he wanted them to
do. This commission to make disciples is a succinct statement
as to the mission of the church. It is our desire that we, through
His power, will participate in the mission of making disciples.
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Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given
complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have
given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even
to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
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2) Invite - We seek to connect people with
Jesus Christ. Jesus' strategy for the salvation of the world was
that after He returned to heaven, His disciples would go to the
ends of the earth and share the Good News. Because we intend to
be faithful followers, it is our intention to go out into our
community and the world with the message of Jesus Christ to share
His good news in word and deed as we seek to invite others to
have a personal relationship with Him.
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"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who
sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, 'Four months
more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and
look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now
the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop
for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be
glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps'
is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for.
Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the
benefits of their labor."
John 4:34-38 NLT
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3) Include - We seek to connect with God and His People.
After inviting someone to meet Jesus we want to include them in
the life and mission of the church. Two primary purposes of the
church are loving God (worship) and loving each other (fellowship).
Worship occurs in many different ways. When most of us hear the
term "worship," we think of music. While it is our desire to have
music that enables us to worship the Lord, at Cornerstone Community
Church we believe worship is multidimensional, active, and passionate.
Therefore, we desire to worship our Lord through acts of service
to those in need and by honoring God in all we do, think, and
say.
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Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when
it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father
here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about
the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for
salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming
and is already here when true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for
anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit,
so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
John 4:21-24 NLT
"So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to
us… offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated
to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship
that you should offer."
Romans 12:1 TEV
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Fellowship is a priority in the community of our church because
we need each other in order to function the way Christ intended
(1 Cor. 12:24-26). As we spend time together we begin to be known
by others as well as to know one another. This encourages us to
love each other and nurture our love for God. Therefore, fellowship
serves as a catalyst to build up the body and bring others into
our community of Christ's followers.
Through worship and fellowship, we Include others in the
joy of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
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4) Involve - We seek to connect people to ministry according
to their gifts and passions.
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"There are different kinds of service, but the same
Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same
God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation
of the Spirit is given for the common good."
1 Cor. 12:5-7 NLT
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We work to equip every follower of Christ to find their unique
place of serving in our body. To do that, we provide teaching,
training, and opportunities to serve. We feel this is essential
so that God can use our abilities together in service to Him in
our body, this community, and abroad.
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5) Intercede - We seek to connect with God and His will
through prayer. We like to use the word "intercede" to represent
the whole practice of prayer.
As we listen to God, lift up needs, praise Him, and come into
His presence, we experience greater intimacy with Christ. We seek
to practice this individually and corporately through activities
such as prayer team, and concerts of prayer.
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"The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the
same works I have done, and even greater works, because
I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything
in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son
brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name,
and I will do it!
John 14: 12-14 NLT
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It has been said "the church advances on its knees", and we at
Cornerstone Community Church believe in the power of prayer and
practice it!
These 5 "I" statements are what we want to be about as a fellowship
of followers of Jesus Christ. Come join us as we see God do exciting
things in us and through us.
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