philosophy of ministry

our mission

We are a church longing to enjoy and embody Jesus Christ in the North Shore area, Chattanooga, and the world.

Our mission is founded upon the Great Commission that Christ authoritatively gives his church to make disciples of all peoples by going to them, baptizing them into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them all Christ taught (Mt. 28:18-20). The content of our mission is the gospel of Jesus Christ’s reign and redemption on earth (Col. 1:13-14). The manner of our mission is the Great Commandment that Christ gives to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:28-31). The goal of our mission is to see our city become more like the city of God--filled with worshippers of the triune God and the renewing presence of Christ in our culture (Rev. 22:1-5). So we welcome prodigals and the self-righteous to experience the kiss and inheritance of the Father at the expense of the Son (Luke 15:11-32).

our vision

In order to fulfill Christ’s commission and commandment in our city, we long . . .

• to become a church so transformed by the gospel that we continually grow in love for God, one another, and our neighbors.
• to be a safe place for the emerging generations to discover Christ in an intergenerational community.
• to sacrifice for the transformation of North Chattanooga by meeting needs and multiplying ministries and churches in the city.

values of ministry (Colossians 1:3-8)

• gospel-centered: in Jesus Christ we are accepted, free from bondage, united with His Spirit, and under His kingdom rule
• organic: in Jesus Christ we grow by always reforming our apprehension and practice of the gospel of the kingdom
• relational: in Jesus Christ we all invest the gospel of the kingdom in one another’s lives

enjoying Christ’s love . . . (John 15)

• for you (Luke 7:36-50)
• for one another (John 13:1-20)
• for our neighbors (Luke 10:25-37)

embodying Christ’s mission through . . .

• prayer (Colossians 4:2-6)
• community (Philippians 1:27-30)
• incarnation (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

avenues of ministry (Acts 2:42-47)

• relationships: enjoying and embodying Christ face to face with one another
• family: enjoying and embodying Christ in and through our families
• small groups: enjoying and embodying Christ in Fellowship Groups and Teaching Groups
• large groups: enjoying and embodying Christ in Sunday worship and special events

 

[North Shore Fellowship is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America, and was a church plant of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian in the fall of 2003.]