Our DNA
1. Ruled by God’s Word
2 Timothy 3 tells us that scripture is God breathed, it makes us wise for salvation, and it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Which is why we want to bring our lives under its authority (every part of our lives). It’s why we want to treat it as a light unto our path.
It is why Bible teaching is at the heart of everything we do — our Sunday gathering, our Comm Groups, smaller discipleship groups, and our private devotional time with God. We want to listen to God’s voice ahead of all the other voices clamouring for our attention.
Genesis 1, Deuteronomy 32:46-47, Psalm 1, Psalm 19:7-14, Psalm 119, Isaiah 40:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Peter 1:19-21
Prayer is an unbelievable privilege. We’re invited to speak to our creator, to bring him our requests. And even to join with him in his gospel transforming work. But it is still more than that — it is also an act of dependence and trust. Our heavenly Father invites us to turn to him and leave our burdens in his hands. And we’re foolish when we don’t.
And so we are — and want to be — a people of prayer. Formally in our gatherings and at Engine Room. But also informally, taking opportunities to pray for each other at coffee after church, around the dinner table at home, and so on.
Matthew 6:5-15; Romans 8:26-28; Ephesians 3:14-4:1; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:6-7
2. Reliant in Prayer
The Bible uses such wonderful picture language to describe the church. It says we’re a body. And so, in the same way that a body needs all of its parts, we need each other.
It says we’re family. Which means we belong to each other. We have relationships with each other. We’re a unit. And we need to live that out.
Looking for ways to serve each other. Being ready to put up with each other. Actually turning up for each other — on Sundays and mid-week. We don’t do that for ourselves, but for each other. And when we do it — even though we’re tired, or busy — we’re showing a beautiful devotion to community.
Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-34; John 17:16-26; Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-15; 1 Corinthians 14:26
3. Devoted to Community
Our desire is not just to grow the kingdom in numbers. It is that, but it is also to grow disciples in maturity. We want for ourselves, and each other, to look more and more like Christ each day. And it’s as we teach and apply the gospel to ourselves, and each other, that that will happen.
And we’ll do it in every context …on Sundays, at Com Groups, in ID groups and 1-2-1’s, at the Men’s conferences and Womens ministries, in the children’s ministry, and holiday clubs that we hope to be able to start, in our Marriage Enrichment and Parenting courses …in everything we do, we want the gospel as our teacher.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16; Romans; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Colossians 3:1-17
4. Gospel Saturated in Discipleship
Jesus showed us the way in this as he did the dirty job of washing his disciples’ feet. As he reached out and touched the leper to heal him. Nothing was beneath Jesus …not even a gruesome, humiliating death.
And his example calls us to be a people who humble ourselves …we'll do things we might formerly have thought beneath us …we’ll make sacrifices …and we’ll do it all with Christ-like compassion.
There are lots of ways to serve at Trinity. Some of them will feel mundane …even humiliating. But if our end goal in everything is to see lives transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God then no job is too humble.
Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-34; John 17:16-26; Hebrews 10:24-25; Hebrews 3:12-15; 1 Corinthians 14:26
5. Compassionate in Serving
Jesus showed us the importance of this. He took twelve disciples and invested in them so that they could go out and do the work of gospel ministry. It’s a model that is given to the church in Ephesians chapter 4, so that there are no passive disciples of Christ.
Instead, all of us are to be actively involved in the building up of the body of Christ. It’s why we started the Train group. It’s why we offer Ministry Apprenticeships, and it’s why we have ID groups to help catechise believers.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 25:4; Psalm 51:13; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:32; Luke 11:1; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 13:20-21
6. Committed to Equipping the Saints
This one could be at the top really, because it covers all of life. The apostle Paul, in Romans 12, says “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Every aspect of life is to be done to God’s glory! Whether we’re at work on a Monday morning, having a drink on a Friday evening, or changing a nappy in the dead of the night, we want to be doing it in a way that honours God. That, of course, includes our corporate worship on a Sunday. As we gather together we want our praise to be genuine and from the heart.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalm 25:4; Psalm 51:13; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 4:32; Luke 11:1; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 13:20-21
7. Sacrificial In Worship
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” And the reality is that without Christ people will one day stand before God’s righteous anger. And so the most loving thing we can do for them is to share the life-giving news of the gospel with them.
Genesis 1:26-31; Psalm 72:19; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 48:11; Ezekiel 20:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 28:18-20; John 3:16; Acts 2:13-41; Acts 7:1-53
