…a gathering of people
committed to the movement and life-giving love of Jesus.
VISION
an inviting community of Jesus followers commissioned by the Gospel to make disciples by cultivating relationships that reflect the love of Christ.
MISSION
REACH: people with Jesus
Reach UP – grow a heart of worship for God and deepen our relationship with Him (love God)
Reach OUT – grow a heart for those God is searching after and bring them to Him (love people)
EQUIP: people to know Jesus
Connect as family. Grow in groups (Egroups & Discipleship Groups). Disciple folks to know and follow Jesus. Equip people to develop and mature in their faith.
SEND: people out for Jesus
Each follower of Jesus is to live sent as an ‘active agent’ for God and His good in this world. We’re each sent daily on mission to be His ambassador in how we live, speak and interact. Send locally, globally and actively.
Core Cultural Values
While our mission drives our organizational values, our cultural values help shape our DNA and how we live out our mission.
“Life-Giving AND Life-Changing Love”
We believe that God created us to be in a relationship with Him and He made a way for that through Jesus. It’s through His transforming power that God changes every element of our lives from the inside out. As God is pouring life and grace into us through Jesus, we’re to impact and influence others. We believe that as we are changed by God, we become more of who we were created to be. We experience freedom that liberates us to love God and love others. A kind of life-giving and life-changing love that promotes peace and transforms our relationships, homes, neighborhoods, city, and the world. (Matthew 22:34-40; John 7:37-38; Ephesians 2:1-10)
“Come As You Are”
You don’t have to “clean up” before you get to Jesus. He is the giver of a new life. All have gone astray from what God designed and from all He is calling us to be. But God’s grace welcomes any wanderer home into a relationship with Him and His family. Everybody’s welcome. Each one matters. Anything’s possible. (John 3:16-17; John 15:1-5,15-17; Galatians 4:19, Luke 15; Mark 1:14-15).
“Progress > Perfection”
We’re not about perfection. We’re about progress in the entirety of our life. When we fall down, we get back up and keep going in God’s grace to become more of what He has created us to be. This is about following Jesus in our life journey and taking Next Steps no matter how small. We are compelled by the audacious grace of the gospel that accepts all people and we are committed to the never-ending work of the gospel that challenges us to expect that we will never stop growing. (Matthew 25:21; Galatians 5:13-24; 1 John 2:12-14)
“The Connected Life > The Surrounded Life”
We were created, rescued and called to become MORE and that happens best within biblical community. We were designed to live deeply with one another: praying, bearing burdens, sharing, celebrating, mourning, reflecting truth and serving others as we walk through life together. We believe more life change happens through circles than rows. (Genesis 2:18; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Thess. 2:8; Hebrews 10:24-25)
“The Bleachers Are The Cheap Seats”
We’ve all been invited to get into the game. We are all equipped and gifted to contribute on God’s team and to His Kingdom. We’ve been recreated in Christ to fully express His hope into a world that needs it. We do that creatively and actively. Each one, in the game. We are to BE the church everyday – because a 7-day a week faith is better than a faith moment once a week. (Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 12)
“Generosity Wins”
Elements City Church strives to be good neighbors by generously sharing our time, attention, and resources. We are to be “the light of the world” everywhere God leads us and reflect Him to a hurting and skeptical world by how well we serve and give to others. (Isaiah 58:10; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:14-16)
“Excellence Matters”
Excellence is a worthy pursuit to honor a Worthy God. Excellence ‘simply put’ is doing the very best with what God has entrusted you with whether it be leadership, spiritual gifts, resources, facilities, ministries, or the moments we have together. We believe this kind of excellence honors God and inspires others. (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:17)
Why “Elements City Church?”
Elements is a concept word:
Many major movements of God that displayed His power or His presence in the Old Testament were represented in some way by a natural element: fire, cloud, water, rock, or wind. In the New Testament, Jesus’ body and blood are sometimes referred to as the elements in communion.
Also, much like the Periodic Table, we are individual elements, small parts of a much bigger picture working together for His Kingdom and to bring Him glory.
We are a City Church because we want to bring “the hope and light of Jesus to the heart of the city and beyond.” Folks from all over the city gather as a part of the Elements family.
Bryan Lee Tribute Page
What We Believe
ABOUT GOD
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2; Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ, as God’s offer of forgiveness, can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. It is way better than a book – bringing together more than 40 authors over more than 1500 years to convey the one central message of God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is all about showing the world that you are in a growing relationship with Jesus, that you’ve put your trust in Him to be your savior. And while baptism is not required for salvation, it’s modeled by Jesus himself and is a biblical command. It’s an obedient response and expression of your faith and commitment to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
ABOUT COMMUNION
Communion is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19:20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29