Our Strategy
The church is not a building or a weekend event, but a people. We aim to live out the Gospel in our cities throughout the week, and gather together each weekend for a meal together as a collection of believers, a family, celebrating together, worshiping together and discovering the Scripture together at our Gatherings.
Know Jesus
Before coming to Jesus, we were separated from God by sin. The scripture says we were dead in our sin. However God loved us and desired to rescue us. Jesus came and died on the cross, taking our sin and judgment away.
The Bible says: “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s judgment. For since we were restored to friend- ship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” Romans 5:9–10
We now have been given a new life!
The Bible says: “Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
As a new follower, we can expect to have new attitudes and desires. You may need to re- place some old habits and patterns with new activities that will help you to walk in your new life in Jesus.
Be with Jesus
This new life begins with a new relationship with Jesus. Like every relationship we need to learn to engage and draw near. The goal is to practice a continual awareness and connection to God. It’s pretty straightforward: to experience the life of Jesus, we must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.
The Bible says: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Jn 15:7-8
Grow in your love for Jesus
Three practices to help us be with Jesus:
1. Read the Bible
The Bible will tell you everything you need to know in order to grow in your new life. Because God speaks through His Word, you will get to know Him better and learn what pleases Him.
Forgiven: Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:13
Child of God: John 1:12; Romans 8:15; 1 John 3:1
Christ in you: Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27.
New life: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4-5
Eternal life: 1 John 5:11-13; John 5:24; John 10:27-29
Read: Mark 1:1-13. Reflect on what you read
Read: Mark 1:14-28. Reflect on what you read
Read: Mark 1:29-39. Reflect on what you read
Read: Mark 2:1-17. Reflect on what you read
Read: Book of John
Read: Book of Acts
Read: Book of James
2. Pray
Prayer is the center-point of life with Jesus. It should be mixed into our morning routine, our weekly schedule. We should make time for prayer every single day. At its simplest form it’s talking to God. Prayer is more than just a list of wants, it also allows us time to be with God.
Jesus teaches how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13)
“Our Father…”
Take a moment and think about the idea of God as your Father, with good intentions toward you.
“In heaven…”
Take a moment to think about the idea that God is all around you. As you breathe in and out, imagine yourself breathing in and out more of the Holy Spirit.
“Hallowed by your name…”
Spend a few minutes just sitting with the Father in joyful, grateful, worship. You might want to sit in silence for a few moments. Or rattle off a list of things you’re thankful for. Or praise God with specific things you love about him.
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
Spend a few minutes asking for God’s will to be done in your city/home/community/life. Think of specific things to pray for.
“Give us each day our daily bread…”
Spend a few minutes praying for specific needs and wants in your life. This is also a great time to pray over specific people in your life who need something: a job, healing, wisdom to make a decision, etc.
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…”
Spend a few minutes in quiet asking God for forgiveness for specific areas in your life, and releasing others to forgiveness.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Spend a few minutes praying against temptation or troubles in your life.
Pray against specific sins….
Pray against any kind of evil - spiritual evil, human evil, natural evil, etc.
Pray against bad things in your life or family, and for God’s blessing.
3. Rest
In our over busy, distracted world, the first challenge we face is the ability to slow down and focus. One of the most important practices of Jesus was finding rest and making time to re-focus. Take time every week to stop, turn-off social media, disconnect from netflix, silence your phone. Quiet your mind and heart. Start with an hour a week, and work up to 1 day a week. Allow this time to slow you down.
The Bible says: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Genesis 2:2
Become like Jesus
As we learn to be with Jesus we will start to become like Jesus. God’s desire is to shape us into the image and likeness of Jesus. This process is take time, work and patience. Jesus refers to this process like pruning a vineyard.
The Bible says: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2
Learn and practice Humility
Have a Surrendered heart
Live Love Loud
Practice Servanthood
Do what Jesus did
We are people on mission for the glory of God – we live sent! We live in such a way that our lives are God-tangible, God-approachable, and God-Discernible. Jesus tells us that we will be known by our love for one another. At Red Door we live love loud!