We, the people of Grace Independent Baptist Church, are dedicated to bringing glory to God in everything that we do (I Cor. 10.31; Eph. 3.21). Our desire is to live as committed followers of Jesus Christ and to help and encourage others to do the same (Matt. 28.18-20). We will seek to carry out that purpose in the following ways:

EXALTATION

•    by earnestly seeking the presence of God, both privately and publicly      (Ps. 27.7-8; 42.1-2; 63.1-2; Isa. 55.6)

•    by recognizing our unworthiness in the eyes of a holy God (Isa. 6.5; Luke 5.8) and confessing our sins before Him (Ps. 51.3-4,17; James 4.8-10;       I John 1.9)

•    by being sincere in our worship, honoring God with our lives as well as our lips (Matt. 15.7-9; John 4.24; I Cor. 10.31)

•    by singing to the Lord, to each other, and to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ps. 98.1; Col. 3.16; Eph. 5.19)

•    by giving public testimony of praise and thanksgiving to God (Heb. 13.15;   I Pet. 2.4-10)

•    by being vocal in our expression of praise and gratitude to the Lord        (Ps. 5.11; 32.11; 35.27; 100.1; 132.16)

•    by being just as eager to hear from God as we are to talk to God (Ps. 4.4; 46.10; Matt. 13.9; Rev. 2.11)

•    by giving regularly, generously, and cheerfully of our tithes and offerings    (I Cor. 16.1-2; II Cor. 8.1-5; 9.7)

•    by worshiping and walking together in a spirit of love and unity             (Acts 2.46-47; Eph. 4.1-6)

•    by cultivating a healthy fear of God that reveals itself in a hatred of and departure from evil (Ps. 34.11-14; Prov. 3.7; 8.13)

•    by yielding ourselves to God as living sacrifices, ready to serve Him and do His will (Ps. 95.6; Rom. 12.1-2; II Cor. 5.14-15)

EDUCATION

•    by patiently preaching and teaching the Bible as God’s Word, even in an age in which it is not readily accepted (II Tim. 4.1-4)

•    by presenting a balanced picture of all that the Bible teaches, and in so doing, declaring the whole counsel of God (Acts 20.20,27)

•    by encouraging and equipping believers to diligently study the Bible for themselves (Acts 17.11; II Tim. 2.15)

•    by challenging believers to put God’s Word into practice in their own lives (James 1.22-25)

EDIFICATION

•    by demonstrating to the world the truth of Christianity by our love for one another (John 13.34-35; 15.12,17; Rom. 13.9-10; I John 3.11,18; 4.7-11)

•    by sharing our financial resources with those in need (Acts 2.44-45; 4.34-35; Rom. 12.13; Gal. 6.10; Heb. 13.16; James 2.14-17;                    I John 3.16-17)

•    by welcoming and accepting each other on an equal basis, in spite of our differences (Rom. 15.7; Phil. 4.22; I Thess. 5.26; Heb. 13.24)

•    by maintaining the unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4.1-3) through confession of sin (Matt. 5.23-24; James 5.16) and offering forgiveness (Matt. 6.12,14-15; 18.23-35; Eph. 4.32)

•    by encouraging each other to have a close personal relationship with the Lord (Heb. 3.13; 10.24-25)

•    by gently restoring those who have fallen into a life of sin (Matt 18.15-17; Rom. 15.14; Gal. 6.1; Col. 1.28; I Thess. 5.14; II Thess. 3.14-15)

•    by helping others carry the burdens that are too heavy for them to handle  (I Cor. 12.25-26; II Cor. 1.3-4; Gal. 6.2-5; I Thess. 5.14)

•    by building close intimate relationships between believers through the ministry of hospitality (Rom. 12.13; I Pet. 4.9)

•    by equipping believers to use their spiritual gifts in the work of the ministry (Rom. 12.3-8; I Cor. 12.4-11; Eph. 4.11-16; I Pet. 4.10-11)

EVANGELIZATION

•    by realizing our obligation to warn those without Christ of judgment to come (Ezek. 3.16-21; 33.1-11; Rom. 1.14)

•    by living with an attitude that does not want anyone who is lost go to hell (Ps. 126.5-6; Ezek. 33.11; Rom. 9.1-3; I Tim. 2.3-4; II Pet. 3.9)

•    by praying regularly and fervently for the salvation of our family, friends, and acquaintances (Rom. 10.1)

•    by encouraging and equipping believers to build relationships with unsaved people in order to win them to Christ (Lk. 7.34)

•    by offering the message of reconciliation in Christ to those who are God’s enemies (II Cor. 5.18-20)

•    by looking beyond the borders of our own community and reaching out into the world through missionary effort (Matt. 28.19; Mark 16.15; Luke 24.47; Acts 1.8)