The Seven Pillars

Answers the question,
"What is distinctive about Metro East?"

Every church is different.  Metro East will not attempt to meet every expectation or serve every preference.  It is important to explain the rationale behind the way we do things.  How do we think about worship?  Why do we preach the way we preach?  Why do we connect "gospel" to "community"?  How do we think about stewardship?  The Seven Pillars will explain the positions we have staked out on these issues and others and help people understand that these positions are not arbitrary, but are an attempt to be biblical and keep God's glory as our highest priority.

 

Metro East Baptist Church will...

1. Honor God with biblical and excellent worship that engages both mind and affections.

< Worship >

Biblical worship includes music, the ordinances, prayer,
and preaching.

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I Chron 16:8-36; Neh 12:27-47; Psalm 33:1-3; 95:1-7; John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42; Col 3:16-17; I Tim 2:1; I Peter 2:9; Rev 4-5

 

2. Faithfully proclaim the Word of God.

< Scripture >

The Scriptures are proclaimed through preaching, teaching, worship, and personal witness.

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Neh 8:5-8; Matt 7:28-29; Luke 24:25-27; John 21:17; Acts 2:42; 17:1-4; Rom 10:14-17; I Tim 4:13; II Tim 2:1-2; 3:14-4:5

 

3. Strive for a fellowship that demonstrates in both word and deed the beauty of the Gospel.

< Fellowship >

Gospel community will involve sacrificial love, biblical conflict resolution, peacemaking, discipline, service, and accountability.

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Matt 18:15-17; John 13:34-35; 17:20-23; Acts 2:46; 20:28-31; Gal 6:1-2; Eph 4:11-16; 25-32; I John 2:9-11

 

4. Train disciples of Jesus who gladly reflect the holiness of God in all of life.

< Disciple-making >

Making disciples requires personal witness, sound teaching to equip the saints and promote holiness, adn Christian parenting.

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Deut 6:1-9; Psalm 119:9-11; Prov 22:6; Matt 28:18-20; Col 1:28-29; II Tim 1:13-14; 2:2; 3:14-17

 

5. Equip and send out disciples to love our community with the mercy and hospitality of Jesus Christ.

< Mercy Ministry >

Redemptive community involvement will include mercy ministries, cultural engagement, and Christ-like neighborliness.

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Prov 14:21; 27:10; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:29-37; Luke 14:12-14; Acts 2:47; Rom 15:2; I Cor 10:24; James 2:14-17

 

6. Give cheerfully and sacrificially from our God-given resources for the building up of the church.

< Stewardship >

Healthy stewardship will reflect a growing commitment to give away our money and time for the glory of God and the good of others .

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Acts 2:45; I Cor 12:12-31; II Cor 8-9

 

7. Advance the Gospel throughout our city and around the world.

< Evangelism >

Evangelism and missions are pursued through personal witness, gospel preaching, and mission funding and sending.

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Matt 27:14; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18-19; 14:15-24; Acts 1:7-8; 11:19-21; II Cor 2:15-16; I Pet 3:15