At The Ridge this is how we FLOW…
Freely Accepting Relationships
-
We don’t expect people to be perfect in our church.
In some churches, you either have to be perfect or pretend you are; otherwise you’re not welcome.
The Ridge Fellowship is a church for people who don’t have it all together and for people who want to grow.
This is a church for real people with real problems.
Christ accepted us, we should accept others.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7
- We don’t expect unbelievers to act like believers until they are.
We offer acceptance of people without being judgmental of them. There’s a difference between acceptance and approval. We can accept a person without approving of their lifestyle. Jesus did. Jesus accepted the woman who was caught in the act of adultery without approving of that. It was obviously wrong. But He accepted and loved her without approving of what she was doing. We can accept people who don’t have it all together without necessarily approving of all the hang-ups they have.
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1
Likeness to Christ
- Becoming like Christ is our goal.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
- In everything we do we should seek to be like Christ and grow like Him.
Our Target Being Reached
- Having a target is biblical:
Jesus did: He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matt 15:24
Paul did: For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. Galatians 2:8-9
Who is our target?
“Ridge Ron & Rhonda”
(Based on demographic studies and our surveys of this community.)
* They are 25-44.
* They are over extended in time (“we’re busy”) and money.
* They have 2.3 kids.
* They like rock or country music.
* They have 2 cars (and payments!)
* They’ve has had some college or associates degree.
* They’re not active in a local church.
* They’re skeptical of church and organized religion.
* They prefer casual and informal over the formal.
* They want their kids to have religious training.
|
At The Ridge we will never change our message but we will change our methods to match our audience so that by all possible means some might be saved.
|
…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22
Wanting Numerical Growth
Why Our Church Must Never Stop Growing
1. God loves people.
“The Lord…is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wants everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
2 Corinthians 5:14, Luke 15:3-10, Matthew 9:12-13
2. God tells us to reach out.
“‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that My House will be full.” Luke 14:23
“…You will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:8
3. Growth is God’s will.
The early church went from 120…
“Peter stood up among the believers a group numbering about a hundred and twenty.” Acts 1:15
…to over 3000 in one day!
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41
“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
Un-biblical Excuses For Not Growing:
- “God isn’t interested in numbers.”
- “I like things the way they are.”
- “Our church wants quality not quantity.”
- “I want to know everyone.”
At The Ridge, we never want to stop growing. With thousands living in our communities we strive to be a church of thousands of people.
With our values, this is how we FLOW:
- Freely Accepting Relationships
- Likeness to Christ
- Our Target Being Reached
- Wanting Numerial Growth
For more about The Ridge Fellowship go to www.ridgefellowship.com
Upwards Church 