Our Values
1. Gospel Centrality
The gospel is the good news of the Bible that God is redeeming his fallen creation through the coming of his kingdom in the person and work of Jesus Christ. In particular, the gospel is the message that states we are saved from our sins by free grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, not through our efforts and works. We believe that this gospel message of hope for the world and grace for sinners is not merely a body of truth, but the very power of God which grows, changes, and shapes everything with which it has contact—hearts and identities, relationships, practices in every area of public and private life, and whole societies. So the gospel is “central,” because 1.) it is a power that affects every area of life when its implications are felt and thought out, not merely one department of belief. 2.) it is neither legalism on the one hand nor relativism on the other.
2. Changed Lives
It is common to think the gospel is a message mainly to be shared with non-believers. But we believe the gospel is a message for believers (both new and old) also—that believing, understanding, rejoicing in and practicing the gospel more deeply is the main way believers overcome flaws and problems and grow into Christ-likeness. Our sinful behavior is rooted in idols of the heart—alternative ‘salvations’—but deeper knowledge of and experience of God’s grace through Christ can change them. We know that long-term life change requires individual and communal disciplines and practices, but without a gospel-changed and changing heart, church practices will produce nominal believers. The gospel changes us from the inside out, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation, enabling us to humbly welcome people we excluded, including those who don’t share our beliefs. Bringing the gospel to life is, therefore, the essence of what we do in preaching, pastoral care, counseling, and education. The gospel can change anyone, and we take special delight in testimonies of its powerful work.
3. Gospel Community (Church Membership)
We worship a triune God, who has eternally existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In identifying the tri-unity of God, we recognize that God is communal. Bearing the image of God, mankind is called to reflect this reality. Though each Christian has a personal relationship with God, that relationship is not solely individual or private. The Christian faith is not intended to be lived out in isolation. We were made for community—relationship with God and with each other. The local church is not merely a place that we attend but a people to whom we belong. The Bible calls us members of the body (1 Corinthians 12:12–31) with the expectation that we contribute to the body for the glory of God and the good of His people. Gospel-centered community is a radical call amid a culture of mere attendance and casual involvement. It involves mutual love, care, consistency and authenticity as we seek to adorn the person and work of Christ with our lives.
4. Mercy & Justice
The gospel humbles people with means and power, showing them that they are no better than anyone else before God. It also lifts up the poor and broken, giving them a new identity and confidence as adopted sons and daughters of God. While concern for the needy is in no way a means of salvation, a life poured out in acts of mercy and biblical justice is a sign that the heart has been changed by grace. Mercy is simply being generous in sharing one’s wealth and time in meeting immediate needs out of a gospel-produced compassion (Luke 10:33-35). Doing biblical justice (Micah 6:8) includes showing mercy, but it consists also of being advocates for people with less social status, and more broadly, engaging as citizens in the city in order to make it a good place for all people to live (Proverbs 31:8-9). As Timothy Keller says, “Biblical justice is not first of all a set of bullet points or a set of rules and guidelines. It is rooted in the very character of God and it is the outworking of that character, which is never less than just.” A gospel-preaching church should be known for its mercy and biblical justice, or outsiders will not listen to what is being preached. While bringing people to faith in Christ is the single greatest thing you can do for someone, the gospel must be ministered in word and action together if it is going to have the life-changing impact we desire.
5. Gospel Mission
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus issues the Great Commission for the Church—making true disciples of Jesus Christ. This commission is not optional. Under the umbrella of the local church, we are to become better disciples through our love for God and love for others by equipping and empowering others to do the same (multiplication). We are called to grow as we extend the gospel of life to a dead world.
We multiply the kingdom by living with the purpose to make God known and enjoyed. From missional living (interacting with neighbors and coworkers) to missional outreach (short or long-term mission trips), our lives have been infused with purpose and meaning. The disciple's call is multiplication and replication through the gospel—for the glory of our God. And we believe the Great Commission requires Christians to reach all communities, no matter their social, economic and ethnic makeup.
6. Church Planting
We believe that at the heart of any gospel movement in a city is church planting. On the one hand, we know that church planting is not everything that is needed. Existing churches must be renewed with the gospel. Christians must evangelize, do justice, and integrate their faith with their work. Educational institutions and arts initiatives and many non-profits must be started. And yet the best way to renew older churches and increase the number of Christians, ministers, and givers in a city is to plant new churches. This is a high priority of Grace Redeemer. We have no illusions that our single church or our Baptist tradition is sufficient to renew all of the Greater Los Angeles area. We are therefore committed to planting (and helping others plant) hundreds of new churches, while at the same time working for a renewal of gospel vitality in all the congregations of the city.
