Our Mission

what has the church's place in society been from the beginning?  in light of that, what are we called to be in Oxford, MS?

a. serve alongside God in meeting the spiritual, relational, and physical needs of this city and the surrounding areas.

serving:

matt. 20:26, mark 10:43, john 13:14-16

salt of the earth - matt. 5:13

follow Jesus - Matt. 4:19

Phil. 2:3-4

meet needs:

not the well who need a doctor, but the sick - Matt. 9:12

help God meet people's needs - mark 2:27-28

spiritual needs:

Luke 5:31, 15:7

John 20:21-23, 21:15-17

acts 21:40

worship - 1 cor. 11, 14, 1 Tim. 2

prayer - James 5:13-16

relational needs:

John 17:21

pentecost - acts 2:6

physical needs:

heal the sick - matt. 10:8, mark 6:13, acts 3:7, 4:9, 5:15-16, 9:33, 14:8-10

feed the hungry - matt. 14:16, mark 6:37, mark 8:1-3, luke 9:13

jesus fed along with his disciples - Matt. 15:32-38

give to the poor, then follow - Matt. 19:21, luke 18:22, acts 4:34, 10:2

good samaritan - Luke 10:37

look after orphans and widows - acts 6:1, 2 cor. 8:14, 1 Tim. 5:3

b. engage people in a conversation about the reality and richness of a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

teaching

light of the world - Matt. 5:13

follow Jesus - Matt. 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 19:21, Mark 1:17, 3:14, luke 5:27

teaching - matt. 4:23,

kingdom is near - matt. 10:7

who Jesus is - matt. 16:13, luke 12:8

make disciples - matt. 28:19, luke 5:27

about Sabbath - mark 2:27-28

love God - mark 12:30, luke 10:27

acts 15:28-29, 28:23

what should we teach - Romans 1-12

1 cor. 1:18, 6:12-8:13

2 cor. 2:14, Eph. 1:15-23, Col. 1:28-29

1 Tim. 6:2-10, Titus 2:1, Hebrews 2:1-4, 13:4-7, 1 Peter 3:7-12

look out for false teachers

Gal. 1:6-10

1 Tim. 1:3-11, 6:4

2 Peter 2

1 John 4:1-6, Jude 1:3-16

preach to believers

acts 2:14, 3:12

defend faith - acts 4:1, 5:42, 6:8, acts 7, 8:35, 9:20, 10:42, 11:19-21, 14:1, 15:1-21, 15:28-29

acts 22:30, 25:1

preach to non-believers

acts 5:42, 10:42, 11:19-21, 13:14-15, 17:18, 25:23-26

Romans 10:5-21

call for repentance

Mark 6:12, john 16:8, acts 5:3-4

2 cor. 7:5-15, Gal. 1:6-10

make disciples

matt. 9:9, luke 14:25-27, acts 14:21

forgiveness

matt. 18:35

do his will

mark 3:35, luke 8:21, 9:62, 14:25-27, 22:39, john 3:21, 17:15-18

acts 4:28, 5:29

kingdom-minded - lord's prayer - luke 11:2-4

vessells of the Holy Spirit - acts 10:44, Gal. 5:16, 1 thess. 5:19

Romans 12:1-2, Phil. 1:27

community

matt. 18:15, john 13:14-16, 17:21

acts 1:14, 2:42-47, 4:32, 5:12

Romans 15:1-13

1 cor. 1:10, 6:1-8:13, 12-13

2 cor. 52:5-14, Eph. 2:11-18, 4:1-16

1 thess. 3:12, 5:14-22

Hebrews 10:23-25

1 Peter 3:1-12

2 Peter 3:11-24, 4:7-21

loving relationships with outsiders

outward focus - Matt 4:19, Mark 1:17, luke 15:7, john 3:21

love neighbor as self- matt. 22:39, mark 12:31, luke 10:27

make disciples of all nations - matt. 28:19

sent out - Mark 3:14

love enemies - Luke 6:27

bring peace - luke 10:5

pentecost - acts 2:6

acts 21:40, Romans 13:8-14, 15:1-13

2 cor. 5:11-21, Phil. 2:14-16, 1 thess. 3:12, Hebrews 13:1-3

James 2;1-13, 2 Peter 3:11-24, 4:7-21

stir it up

persecuted, arrested, killed - acts 6:8, 8:1, 12:4, 16:19, 21:30, 23:12

2 thess. 1:3-12, 2 Timothy 3:1, James 1:2-3, 1 Peter 4:12-19

miracles

prison escape - acts 12:7-8

going out

acts 13:4, 16:1, 19:1, 20:7

c. invest in the church of future generations.

find and invest in future workers:

matt. 9:36, luke 10:2-3

teach new disciples - matt. 28:20

picked new disciple - acts 1:26

sent barnabas - acts 11:22

acts 13:2, 15:36, 16:1, 18:25-26

Phil. 2:19-24

1 and 2 Timothy

1 Tim. 3:1-15, Titus 1:6-7

1 Peter 5:5-10

accept seekers

Romans 14:1

children

Eph. 6:1-4

**the entire books of Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, Peter, and (1,2,3) John take on new meaning when you realize that they were all written to remind the churches in specific areas what of God had called them to.  They read differently when all the "you"s are plural.

Core Values

what are the foundational beliefs that we will build this church on?

Faith

We believe in God, as He reveals Himself through the writers of the Bible and through his work in our world and in our lives together. He is the Creator, Sustainer, Artist and Architect of life. He’s the Good King, Our Heavenly Father, and His Holy Spirit continues to guide us today.

Genesis 1

John 1

God has graciously chosen to connect with Humanity. This most often happens through Prayer, Scripture and corporate Worship.

1 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 3

John 4

Luke 24:52

Hope

We have hope because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Life is found at the manger, at the Table,

at the Cross and at the empty Tomb.

Titus 3

Romans 5

God has commanded us to be purveyors of hope. We are called to meet the spiritual, emotional

and physical needs of our world.

Isaiah 61

Matthew 25:31-46

Love

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. To live in love means to serve, to give, to collaborate,

to dream, to listen, and to lead.

1 John 4:16

Matthew 22:37-39

The magnitude of God’s love can only be revealed over a lifetime in community, alongside others who love us and who refuse (as God refuses) to see us walk down the wrong road or to walk down the right - but often difficult - road alone.

Acts 2

Ephesians 3

John 17:21

Our Name

The Orchard: a Community of Faith, Hope and Love - Vision

ephesians 3:17-21, acts 2:42-47, 1 corinthians 13:13

community (see mission)

faith, hope, love (see core values)