The following church does not exist. This is a description of the biblical model for a cross-cultural church. It reflects the goal to be attained.
Acts
2:42,
"They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship (KOINONIA} by breaking bread and prayer,” is the
foundational text for the mission of the local church.
This two-fold purpose, doctrinal and relational, is the reason for
all activity and organizational goals. The doctrinal aspect of the
Apostolic teaching (the inspired Word of God), contains the method, criteria,
and measuring of the maturity of the local church.
The method we feel is clearly stated in the collection of the "one
another" texts scattered throughout the New Testament, summed up in the
command to "love
one another"
(John 13:34, 35).
This is accomplished through the corporate and individual participation
by obedience to the following
Loving
one another
(Jn
13:34)
by/being:
Consistent obedience in the above areas of interpersonal corporate life raises the level of faith/hope/love, which is the biblical criterion for maturity in the local church.
THE
SCRIPTURES: We
believe in the verbal, plenary, inerrant “inspiration” of the original
autographs with translations conveying virtually the intent of the original and
are sufficient for salvation and the maturation of the believer. (2Pet 1:21;
2Tim 3:16; Mt 5:18; Jn 10:35; 16:12ff.)
GOD: We believe that the Tri-unity of the Godhead exists in three distinct Persons Who subsist in one essence, being co-
THE
HOLY SPIRIT: We
believe that the normative ministry of the Holy Spirit includes convicting the
lost of sin, righteousness, and judgment; generating new life at salvation;
identifying the believer with the Body of Christ; sealing/insuring salvation;
"indwelling" all believers which insures sanctification; restraining
sin in the world; praying God's sovereign will for the saint; prompting into
moral living. (Jn 16:8-11; Titus 3:5; 1Cor 6:19; 12:13; 2Cor 1:22; 4:16; Eph
1:13; Rom 8:26-27)
JESUS
CHRIST:
We believe in the deity, humanity, "virgin birth" of Christ, with
these coming together in one Person at the incarnation.
SALVATION:
We believe that salvation is according to grace, by means of faith whose
object is the Person of Christ on the basis of His shed blood which satisfied
God's wrath and therefore allows judicial removal of Adam’s guilt; the
application of salvation is by:
Substitution - Christ being willing to pay the ransom price (Rom 5:8)
Propitiation - Christ's sacrifice satisfying the wrath of God (1Jn 2:2)
Redemption – Christ paying the ransom price (Mt 20:28)
Imputation - the judicial removal of guilt (2Cor 5:21)
Reconciliation - God being able to accept the sinner (2 Cor 5:19)
Justification - the sinner being declared innocent (Rom 3:24)
this transfers the sinner who was "in Adam" to "in Christ" in Whom there is no condemnation. (Rom 8:1-2)
THE FUTURE: We believe in the historical-grammatical approach to all prophetic events in the Bible
To Bring Glory To God:
The
praise and glory of God are the major aim of the Church.
The believers at the Koinonia Evangelical Assembly seek openly to do
the moral will of God as contained in the Scriptures (doing what we can, when
we can, where we can) in a consistent manner.
To
Build Up The Believer:
The
pattern of edification at the Koinonia Evangelical Assembly is to follow the
pattern of the Apostles. In the
pattern of growth and development established by them, they broke bread,
united their hearts in prayer, praised God, and taught the Word of God. They encouraged, strengthened, exhorted, and admonished.
This is the pattern followed at Koinonia Evangelical Assembly.
To
Evangelize The Lost:
The
process of evangelization both individually and corporately is primarily to
those with whom we have contact every day.
We strive to share the Gospel on the basis of trust and friendship to
those Whom God brings into our lives and us into theirs.
With
this doctrinal approach and commitment applied to the ministry of our local
church, we feel that this leads to two areas of distinctiveness in our ministry,
expository teaching and a commitment to life-style evangelism.
The following gives the parameters of purpose in each area of
distinctiveness to which we will lead all activity and organizational
structures:
Expository
Teaching:
The
biblical command for the "pastor/teacher” in the local church is to
train the congregation.
Part of this process is the edification of the believer.
From the standpoint of leadership, we are committed to provide
the believer with a basic knowledge of the Word of God; to provide
opportunities that develop capacities both individually and corporately which
will build/increase faith‑hope‑love; to help the family
develop a quality
of life
that reflects a Christian home.
Life-Style
Evangelism:
We
feel that the presentation of the Gospel is to take place primarily "in
the world" and not "in the church."
This emphasis leads to Christian maturity for the believer who in turn
can fulfill his obligation to those around him/her as God sovereignly
provides.
The church is to help those who through God's leadership have an
emphasis in the area of evangelism/church planting and provide prayer and
monetary support.
Our
desire is therefore to lead the local church into a sound and mature
relationship with Jesus Christ through the above-mentioned commitments.
For a full discussion of this summary material see: Foundations for a mature church