INTRODUCTION

Jesus gave the church its mission in Matthew 28:19-20 - to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The mission is clear - to make followers of Jesus. 

The location is clear - in all nations. 

The method is clear - teaching them to follow what Jesus has commanded. 

In order to do that, the message must be clear also. 

Paul expresses that heart as he requests the Colossians to pray for him: 

“that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” (Col 4:4) 

The gospel might be summarised this way:

GOD - God is the creator of all things. He made all things to reflect His character and being. The pinnacle of His creation are humans - who are uniquely “made in His image” and made to be in relationship with God.   

MAN - But Adam and Eve rejected God’s instructions, believing the lie that they would be better off without God. In so doing, they brought upon themselves and all people the punishment for their disobedience: a change in nature - spiritual and physical death. Their relationship with God was severed and as a result all other relationships were made difficult. But God’s commitment to make His glory known through humans remained.

CHRIST - God promised throughout the Old Testament Scriptures that a ‘man’ would come who would undo the curse, bring life and a restored relationship with God. That promised one is the man Jesus Christ - who is both fully God and fully man. He lived completely dependent on the Holy Spirit, and perfectly obeyed the Father in all that He said and did. He died on the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for our disobedience. He was buried and on the third day rose again to new life, showing that the Father accepted His sacrifice in our place and demonstrating His power over sin and death.   

RESPONSE - Jesus said that the response to his message of salvation is to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Those who do so receive new life, power over sin through the Holy Spirit and the ability to start pleasing God. As followers of Jesus, they are new creations, belonging wholly to God, and are able to start reflecting the image of their Saviour in their attitudes, actions and speech.

As we seek to plant a church in Western Sydney, our heart is to make this gospel clear, both through our speaking (that the gospel may be heard - Rom 10:14-15) and our actions (that the gospel may be seen - John 13:35). 

The following convictions serve to give potential gospel partners and launch team members a picture of how we intend to pursue gospel clarity in our life together. Gospel Clarity serves as an umbrella statement under which all other convictions find their definition and shape.  

 

Gospel Clarity 

 

Icon: Diamond; reflecting the gospel’s beauty and multifaceted nature 

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear is our mission and is seen through our life together.  

Summary: In the same way that a diamond’s clarity increases it’s beauty to the beholder, so it is with the gospel. A desire to make the gospel clear shapes and informs everything we say and do as a church; governance (polity), practice, services, Bible studies. This is an overarching value that helps us make decisions about all other aspects of life together as a church.  

Key Verses:  Col 4:3b-4; Eph 4:1; 2 Cor 5:17-21

Useful resources: The Gospel - Ray Ortland 

 

Evangelical   

 

Icon: Bible in hand; reflecting a desire to put into practice the Words of the Bible.

Catch phrase:  Making the gospel clear in our reading and believing of God’s Word

Summary: The Bible, as the infallible and reliable Word of God, reveals truly who God is, and as such is the final authority in all matters of life and faith. Because it’s reliable we demonstrate our reliance on His Word (belief) by putting it into action. Though our lives and churches are often influenced by culture and reason, being evangelical is a commitment to be continually transformed by His Word. All of Scripture presents a unified story of salvation through all of history (summarised in the gospel), and should therefore be understood in the context of salvation history.

Key Verses: Ps 19:7-11; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12

Useful resources: What Is An Evangelical? - D.M. Lloyd-Jones

 

Expositional Preaching

Icon: Bible with sword or words coming out of it, reflecting how God’s Word discerns us. 

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear in our preaching.    

Summary: Preaching through the Bible with a biblical theology in mind, showing how it points to the gospel so that our minds are conformed to its patterns, and our hearts are increasingly in awe of our Saviour, resulting in changed living. 

Key Verses: Heb 4:12; Rom 12:1-2

Useful resources: Preaching Christ in all of Scripture - Edmund Clowney

 

Great Commission   

Icon: World - reflecting global scope; arrow: reflecting that we are sent; Hands: reflecting that it is active 

Catch phrase: Making the gospel known locally and globally.

Summary: Christians have not only been brought into Christ’s family, but have also been included in His mission. As such, we live our whole lives on mission, by seeking to regularly make the gospel known personally and corporately both through local opportunities and missions as well as sending people cross culturally and supporting gospel-focused missions globally.  

Key Verses: Ps 67; 96:1-2; Hab 2:14; Matt 28:19-20  

Resources: Gaining By Losing - J.D. Greear, Speaking of Jesus - Mack Stiles  

 

Devoted to prayer

Icon: Praying hands; reflecting the posture of requesting 

Catch phrase: Approaching the Father in dependent and persistent prayer for the sake of the gospel and the glory of Christ  

Summary: Jesus consistently modelled submission and dependence through a life of prayer. He also instructed us to pray in a way that comes to the Father in a child-like manner - needy and dependent. Consistent and dependent prayer is only possible through the saving work of the Triune God.   

Key Verses: Luke 11:5-13; Acts 6:4; Rom 8:26; 12:12; 1 Thess 5:17; 

Useful resources: A Praying Life - Paul Miller; Praying With Paul - D.A. Carson

 

Discipling Culture

Icon: People of various ages walking together, reflecting the community nature of discipleship 

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear as we help one another follow Jesus.

Summary: The aspect of the Great Commission that says “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded” requires the long term discipleship of believers by other believers to grow into “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. This is not a program of the church, but a culture that shapes every aspect of the church - both in corporate gatherings, small groups, and one-on-one. Specifically, we want to also make the gospel clear to the next generation through gospel focused programs and healthy discipleship.  

Key Verse:  Prov 27:17; Eph 4:1, 11-14; 1 Thess 2:8; Ps 78:4-8

Resources:  Daring To Disciple - Dr S. Robinson; Instruments in the Redeemers Hands - Paul Tripp

 

Gospel-Shaped Corporate Worship

Icon: Cross at the centre with raised hands; reflecting a delight in the gospel 

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear in our corporate worship 

Summary: Not only do we seek to have songs that express the eternal truths of the gospel, we also seek to make the gospel clear to everyone who gathers, through orders of service that follow gospel patterns. Patterns that regularly include: Beholding God’s glory, Confession of sin, Assurance of pardon (atonement), Petition, Encouraged and Sent Out. 

Key Verses: Isa 6:1-8; Col 1:28; 3:16; Phil 3:3; John 4:23-24; Heb 10:24-25 

Resources:  Worship Matters - Bob Kauflin; Christ-Centred Worship - Bryan Chapell

 

Holy Spirit Empowered   

Icon: Power button; reflecting the power of the Holy Spirit in the believer 

Catch phrase:  The power of God for building up of the church for the mission of the church.

Summary:  The gospel brings real change in people’s lives. The gospel is not merely a philosophy or way of life, but is the message of God’s power to save. Therefore, the power of the church lies not in it’s culture, community, practice or polity, but in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ on the cross into the lives of believers, giving gifts that bare witness to the truth of the gospel. Because all the gifts of the Spirit (whether hospitality, helping, prophecy, teaching, tongues or administration!) are for the building up of the church they find their proper place within the weekly corporate gathering and within other gatherings of the church. This also allows for elder oversight, discernment and encouragement. 

Key Verses: Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:11; 14:26; Acts 13:1; 1 Thess 1:5; Heb 2:3-4

Useful resources: Beginners Guide to Spiritual Gifts - Sam Storms 

 

Complimentarian  

Icon: Triangular people that fit well next to each other reflecting the complimentary nature of roles

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear in home and church life. 

Summary: As image bearers in the new creation, we understand that gender is given by God at birth, and that gender roles are assigned by God for a good purpose and for our joy. Particularly, church leadership and marriage are to function as signposts pointing the world to the character of God. As such, the way a couple relate together, and the way leadership in the church is exercised serves to make the gospel clear through God-given roles and the way they are carried out with mutual love and respect. 

Key Verse: Eph 5:11-22; 1 Tim 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9  

Useful resources: God’s Good Design - Claire Smith  

 

Cross Cultural  

Icon: One world with different shades of people reflecting diversity

Catch phrase:  Making the gospel clear through a diverse community unified in Christ. 

Summary: The gospel of the kingdom is so powerful that it crosses cultural boundaries. Where the world and culture divides, the gospel brings together. Cross cultural unity is more than just being in the same room with people who have different coloured skin. Unity in Christ is reflected through an intentional brotherly love where people feel understood, accepted and celebrated for their cultural background and who they are becoming in Christ. 

Key Verses: Rev 7:9-12; Acts 10:34-43; 13:46-48; 17:26; Gal 3:28-29

Resources: Leading Across Cultures - James Plueddemann

 

Meaningful Membership  

Icon: People standing together reflecting unity

Catch phrase:  Making the gospel clear through meaningful membership as a local expression of our union in Christ. 

Summary: The New Testament has much to say about how God’s people are to relate to one another as people of the new covenant. A clearly defined process of membership, as well as what it means to be a member, helps make it clear to everyone what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. What it means to be a follower of Jesus, and committed to a local church, can be helpfully summarised in a church covenant. Such a covenant would only contain what the New Testament outlines for believers. Meaningful membership also helps the elders know who they are responsible for shepherding. Members of the church take responsibility for the appointing of elders, bringing in members and removing members. 

Key Verses: Matt 16:18-19; 18:15-18; Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 5:4-5; 2 Cor 2:6-7; Heb 13:17; 2 Tim 4:3  

Resources: 9 Marks of a Healthy Church - Mark Dever

 

Baptism & the Lord’s Supper

Icon: Believer in water reflecting the believer’s inclusion in Christ

Catch phrase: Making the gospel clear through the ordinances of the church.  

Summary: BAPTISM: The consistent example of baptism in the New Testament is of full immersion baptism as a physical expression of the new birth in Christ. So we take care to baptise people who have demonstrated genuine repentance and faith, and are able to articulate the gospel and share their testimony accordingly.

THE LORD’S SUPPER: Jesus gave His church the practice of the Lord’s supper as a visible expression of a believer’s ongoing inclusion in Christ. As such, communion or the Lord’s supper is open to all believers who are with us whenever we gather. It’s also an expression of our longing for Christ to return. 

Key Verses: BAPTISM: Matt 28:19; Gal 3:27; Rom 6:1-4; Acts 2:38; 

 LORD’S SUPPER: Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:17-34;  

Useful resources:  Baptism: The Believer’s First Obedience - Larry Dyer