VISION: To be an Apostolic hub, awakening and equipping the Bride of Christ to bring transformation in the city of Columbus by advancing the Kingdom of God, starting on the westside of Columbus!
MISSION: Garden City Church exists to pursue communion with Jesus, by hosting His presence, to do life together in community as brothers and sisters in Christ and to use our influence to cultivate our city for the advancement of God's Kingdom as we look forward to the return of Jesus our King.
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VALUES:
Honor… “We will seek to Honor God, one another and the call of God upon this church in all we do” (Colossians 3:23, Phil 2:1-4)
Gratitude… “We will seek to carry hearts and postures of gratitude, and thanksgiving for who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and the privilege it is to partner with Him.” (Psalm 100:4, 1 Thess. 5:16-18)
Humility… “We will seek to imitate Christ, the servant of all, walking in humility before God and before one another.” (Matthew 11:28-29, James 4:10, Matthew 23:11, John 13)
Generosity… “We will seek to be radically generous (time, talent, treasure), toward one another and to the community. Everything we have belongs to God and is to be used for His glory.” (1 Chronicles 29:6-9, Psalm 84:10, Matthew 19:21, Acts 4:32-35, Acts 20:35)
Excellence…. “We will seek to do everything we do in a spirit of excellence as unto the Lord.” (Daniel 5:12, Colossians 3:23)
CULTURE:
This is a Ministry and a Movement (Numbers 9:17)
We will contend for a multi-expressional community. (Revelation 7:9)
We are committed to Jesus’ the Man, Mission, Message and Method (John 14:6)
We will run towards the Mess knowing it produces Maturity (James 1:2-4)
We will choose Presence over Performance every time (Ezekiel 44:15)
We will respond to the call to the mountain over the demands of the multitudes (Matthew 14:23)
We will say yes to the Process knowing it is necessary for Purpose (John 21:15)
We are committed to Purity, In our Public and Private lives (1 Thess. 5:23)
We will build from rest, making a difference at a sabbath’s pace! (Exodus 20:8-11, 2 Chronicles 14:7)
We will see convergence of biblical principles, emphases and mandates that traditionally remain separate. Example, seeing Matthew 10 (disciples walking in supernatural power) and Matthew 25 (disciples serving the least of these) coming together.
We will seek after wholeness, experiencing and stewarding the deliverance that Jesus has provided through His cross and resurrection (Matthew 6:11-13, 1 Thess. 5:23,
We will submit to God’s Word, Will, and Ways while growing in the Wonder of who He is! (John 6:68)
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BELIEFS:
The Kingdom of God: We believe that the Biblical narrative is primarily about God’s rule and reign on the earth, Him dwelling with humanity in perfect relationship, for all things to be brought under His dominion, and His desire for His government to be stewarded by humanity (Genesis 1:26-28). We believe that it is only through the revelation of Jesus Christ and His gospel that this can be received. That Jesus Christ is the King of Kings, whose mission was to glorify God in announcing, inaugurating and demonstrating that the Kingdom of Heaven has come to the earth (Matthew 3:17). The culmination of this assignment being the victory of Jesus over the power of sin, death, hell and the kingdom of darkness, through His shed blood, cross and resurrection. This being what the Old Testament covenant(s) with Israel and prophecies were pointing to all along. We believe that salvation, the church, how we perceive our purpose and identify as human beings, what we should seek first in our lives (Matthew 6:33) and what it is that we put our hope in, should all be centered around Jesus being King and the reality of God’s Kingdom coming to the earth as it is in heaven, and everlasting dominion (Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:10).
Apostles Creed: We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting (eternal death/hell for the unrighteous and eternal life/new heavens and earth for the righteous Matthew 25:46).
All are born into sin and need to repent, believe and receive salvation through Jesus Christ: We believe that all men and women are born into sin (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1-3). We believe that all men and women are in need of salvation and that it can only be received through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12, 1 Tim. 2:3-5, Titus 3:3-8). That repentance (changing of mind and behavior) is a necessary part of salvation (Mark 1:15, Acts 2:37). It is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
The Centrality of Christ and the Supreme Sufficiency of His Word as truth - We believe that everything we are called to as a church is sustainable and enjoyable when it is focused primarily on the beauty and revelation of Jesus Christ. Even beyond desiring the results of ministry, for revival and breakthrough, we believe that loving God is a worthy goal and reward in and of itself. We believe that God Himself is our reward, we are invited to abide in His presence and love, experiencing His complete joy and eternal delight (Gen. 15:1, Psalm 16:11, 1 John 4:16). It is our joy and privilege to act as “priests” before the Lord, ministering to Him (Ezekiel 44:15) coming out of a culture of prayer and worship with a renewed love for God and man (Matthew 22:37). Moreover, the Word of God is supremely sufficient, the truth. It is through the word that we know God, His desires and purpose, Jesus is revealed, and how we govern our lives. The word is an anchor for why, how, and what we say and do as a church. (Luke 10:42, John 6:68, Hebrews 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:16) .
Identity of the Believer: We believe that God desires a relationship with all men and women. We believe that in and through Christ, believers are justified (no longer guilty of sin but innocent and at peace with God (Romans 5:1). We believe that in and through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, that believers are sanctified and continue to be sanctified (set apart as holy to God, morally right, free from sin, pure..1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Thess. 2:13). That believers are to participate in their sanctification, cleansing themselves from what is dishonorable (1 Thess. 2:21), purifying themselves as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3). That through salvation in Jesus Christ we become children of God (John 1:12). We believe that through salvation in Jesus Christ the believer becomes righteous, brought into restored relationship with God, and a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). We believe that as adopted children of God through Jesus Christ, we are called to be blameless, holy and beloved before God as He predestined us to be (Ephesians 1:3-6). We believe that as children of God, we were created to worship and glorify God in every part of our lives (Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:23, Hebrews 13:15). We believe that as children of God we are also co-heirs with Jesus Christ, sharing in the inheritance He has received by overcoming the power of death, sin, hell and the grave by way of His life, blood, cross and resurrection. We as believers are called to share in His sufferings that we may share in His glory (Romans 8:12-17). We as believers have been given access to the divine nature of God (1 Peter 1:1-4). We as believers are called to reflect the nature and character of God (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:35). We as believers have been given authority on the earth from Jesus, over demons, the devil and his kingdom (Matthew 10:7-8, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 10:18-19 ). We as believers are called to identify as the Bride of Christ, awaiting His return and the marriage supper of lamb (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:27, Revelation 19:6-9). We as believers are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ (Luke 14:26, 27, 33). We as believers are called to be a kingdom of priests unto the Lord (Exodus 19:6, 1 Peter 2:8-9, Revelation 5:8-10).
The Tabernacle of David (as our foundation and primary ministry)- It is our privilege to see and participate in the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David (2 Samuel 6:17, 1 Chronicles 16:1) as described in Amos 9:11-12. We agree with God’s desire to have a dwelling place characterized by prayer and worship. We celebrate and acknowledge the historic moves of God that have resulted from 24/7 prayer, and strive to become a church of believers that embody that same heart and spirit in our region in partnership with other communities of prayer and worship. (Amos 9:11-12, Acts 15:16)
The Ekklesia - Church - We believe that the local church is the hope of the world. The church being those who are no longer bound by the kingdom of darkness and the spirit of the age (antichrist spirit) but have been translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). The church is comprised of those who have been called out, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, living lives set apart to God for His glory in this present earth, actively advancing God’s Kingdom, awaiting the return of the Lord. The church is empowered by the gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit and His ministry gifts (Romans 1:16-17, Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Cor 13-14). The church of Jesus Christ is the vehicle through which the gospel, the Kingdom of God, and transformation is brought to communities and nations (Matthew 16:18 1, Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 1:23). The church is a part of the evidence of God’s rule and reign on the earth, His mercy, faithfulness, and grace, a sign post of what is to come (Revelation 21).
Israel- We acknowledge the Biblical narrative of God’s rule and reign in the earth, cannot be told apart from God’s covenant(s) with Israel (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 19-20, 32-34, 2 Samuel 7). That Jesus Christ is a Jewish man, the King Messiah of Israel appointed to sit on the throne of David and govern the earth forever (Micah 5:2-5, Matthew 2:6, Luke 1:32-33, Luke 2:11). Jerusalem will be called the throne of the Lord and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17). We stand with God’s desires, plans, and purposes for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people, to be a light to the nations, that the salvation of God would reach the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). This is not based on the righteousness of Israel, but on humbly agreeing with the plans of a Good God. We recognize that by praying for Israel we enter into a special blessing from the Lord (Psalm 122:6-7). We believe that a part of the assignment of the Gentiles in the church is to provoke Israel to jealousy that their eyes may be open to see Jesus Christ as their Messiah (Romans 9-11). God’s desire is for Jew and Gentile to become one in Christ (Galatians 3:28), one new man, in Him a holy temple, a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. We acknowledge there are many Messianic Jews (Jews that believe Jesus is the Messiah) in the earth and that number is growing (Ephesians 2:11-22). We believe that the covenant made with Abraham and Israel is unto the blessing of the nations, through Jesus Christ (Genesis 12:1-3, Galatians 3:16, Galatians 3:26-29). Finally we are committed to honoring the three annual feasts first given to the people of Israel and we now are blessed to share in as a part of God’s family. Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles all point to Jesus and are meant to celebrated in every generation of God’s people (Exodus 34:1-28, Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16)
The Return of the Lord/Garden of Eden-New Jerusalem- We acknowledge that Jesus is returning to judge the living and the dead and this reality should impact how we live (John 5:26-29, 2 Timothy 4:1-5). We believe in and look forward to the restoration of the Garden of Eden and the hope of New Jerusalem, new Heavens and new Earth. We acknowledge that this is contingent upon the literal, physical return of Jesus Christ which we as a kingdom of priests have been called to hasten through prayer and worship (Matthew 24, 2 Peter 3:10-13, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Revelation 21).
Kingdom Culture/Preaching the Gospel- We value and affirm the importance of creating and developing a prayer and worship culture in the context of families, the marketplace, and communities (Acts 4:23-31, Acts 10:34-46, Acts 17) . We believe that the gospel of the Kingdom should be preached in our churches and in public (Matthew 10:7-8, Mark 16:15, Acts 5:42). We believe that the Kingdom of God is here already but not yet in its fullness (both here and coming). By taking the culture of prayer and worship and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in our spheres of influence, we desire to make known the reality of the King and His Kingdom in our communities. Through prayer and worship and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are establishing the rule and reign of Jesus (Psalm 72:15), releasing justice (Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:8) and righteousness in our society (Psalm 89:14).
Sexual Purity- We believe in the sexual purity of the believer (1 Corinthians 6:12-20, 1 Thess. 4:3). A commitment to God to have healthy relationships, that are Christ-Honoring - not engaging in a sexual relationships outside of marriage, not living with someone of the opposite sex outside of marriage and not engaging in or pursuing same-sex relationships (1 Thess 5:22, 1 Cor. 6:7-11).
God’s design for marriage and family- We agree with God's design for marriage, a covenant (commitment to permanence) relationship between one man and one woman (Gen. 1:27-28, 2:18, Ephesians 5:31).
Biblical Standards on gender- We agree with the biblical standards on gender (Gen. 1:27-28).
Sanctity of Life- The Word of God teaches that each individual is known by God from before the foundation of the world (Jeremiah 1:4–5, Psalm 139:13–17). Our Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God has pronounced His blessing upon the life of a child, according to Psalm 127:3–5. Since all life exists for God’s purposes and all human lives are equally sacred, it is our belief that the life of the unborn (and born with an emphasis on orphans) child is blessed by God and must be preserved, nurtured and protected.
THE "ONE ANOTHER" PASSAGES (Code of ethics for all Garden Group leaders and those whom you host )
The phrase "one another" is derived from the Greek word allelon which means "one another, each other; mutually, reciprocally." It occurs 100 times in the New Testament. Approximately 59 of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how (and how not) to relate to one another. Obedience to those commands is imperative. It forms the basis for all true Christian community, and has a direct impact on our witness to the world (John 13:35). In addition to allelon, the Bible uses other words and phrases to instruct us how to relate to others. With that in mind, the following list is not exhaustive, and primarily focuses on the use of allelon.
POSITIVE COMMANDS
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)
NEGATIVE COMMANDS (how not to treat one another)
Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9) Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)
If you keep on biting and devouring each other...you'll be destroyed by each other (Galatians 5:15)
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)
Do not slander one another (James 4:11) Don't grumble against each other (James 5:9)
We do all this because we are in a real sense “members of one another” (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:25)
MATTHEW 5 and MATTHEW18 (Conflict resolution standards)
Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
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HONORING THE GARDEN CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM
Willingness to honor the Garden City leadership team. The Garden City leadership team is here to serve and support you. It is very important that you are proactive in bringing anything that is deemed unbiblical or unhealthy within your Presence & Word Group to the attention of The Garden City leadership team.
(a) In the event that unbiblical behavior is being practiced and you as a leader(s) refuse to repent, pursue restoration and or reconciliation you will be dismissed from leading a Presence & Word Group.
(b) Disclaimer for all Presence & Word Groups; the Garden City leadership team does not endorse, unless otherwise specified, any teaching, prophetic words, or ministry outside of the scope of prayer, worship and the reading of the Word out loud.
