The Place
The divinely ordained place for the application of God's work in this dispensation is the local church. First Baptist Church of Lake Orion has been entrusted with the custodianship of the truth in the Lake Orion Community (1 Tim. 3:15). Therefore, the objective of making and maturing disciples must be accomplished under the auspices of the church.
As an organism, the church is the body of Christ of which He is the Head (Eph 1:22-23; Col 1:18). It is composed of genuine believers in Jesus Christ, which is the total number of Spirit baptized believers of this dispensation regardless of location or circumstance. Consequently, the Church as an organism does not meet collectively until the Rapture when she meets the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-18).
As an organization, the local church is the visible expression of the organism in a given location and time (Acts 13:1; Rom. 16:1, 5), and is God's ordained instrument for His work and witness in this age (1 Tim 3:15). As such, First Baptist Church is a local expression of the body of Christ in the Lake Orion and Oxford communities, organized under the leadership of the New Testament offices of the Pastor and Deacons (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Eph. 4:11), composed of immersed believers (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:41, 47), sharing a common doctrinal commitment (Acts 2:42; 2 Thess. 3:6; Jude 1:3), observing the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:41; 10:44-48; 1 Cor. 11:26), meeting at regular and stated times (1 Cor 16:2; Heb. 10:25).
The Purpose
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion exists To Make God's Name Known...
At the heart of the church's responsibility is the proclamation of God's name. The message of God's salvation is the message of the Father's reconciling work through His Son (John 12:27-28; cf. 2 Cor. 5:18-19). Believing that Jesus Christ came to make the Father's name known in life (John 5:43; 14:13-14; 17:6, 26), and in death (John 12:27-28), and understanding that the concept of a "name" is rooted in the idea of character and fame (Exod. 9:16; Ps. 106:7-8; Neh. 9:10; Dan. 9:15). Therefore, First Baptist Church of Lake Orion exists to Make God's Character and Name Famous by Proclaiming His Reconciling Work in Christ Jesus (Matt 28:19-20; Act 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20-21).
The Posture
Believing that our salvation was provided (Eph. 1:12), and that the church was established (Eph. 3:9-10, 21), and that all things were created (Rev. 4:11) for His honor and glory, the proper posture of the First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is first and foremost doxological. That is, God has called out this church to be a demonstration of His honor and glory to glorify Himself. Therefore, any activity, program, methods, means, etc., must be theocentric (God-centered), not anthropocentric (man-centered). All ministry activities must seek to please God, not appease man, and must be subservient to the purpose of glorifying Him.
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion has been called to make God's name famous in a manner that does not compromise His honor and glory. Believing that God is concerned with the message, as well as with the motive and method behind all church activities, the message, method, and motive must conform to God's greatness and goodness. Furthermore, First Baptist Church of Lake Orion will not employ unbiblical means for accomplishing her goals and objectives, especially in a day when evangelism is exalted to the primary position and unbiblical means are implemented in order to accomplish the noble goal of winning souls.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
The Plan
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion Exists to Make God's Name Known in Honor and Glory by Making And Maturing Disciples...
The mandate that is given to the disciples which outlines God's marching orders for the church is found in Matthew 28:18-19. In this simple directive, the disciples were instructed to be doing three things. They were to be continuously going (v. 19), baptizing (v. 19b), and teaching (v. 20) all nations about Christ. As the New Testament disciples, the church is to engage in the same directive.
Our Plan is to Evangelize
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is to be going and making disciples! "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations."
This call to "go" is a call to action. It carries with it a two-fold responsibility for the church. First, the church is not to wait for disciples to come in to the body; but rather, she must go out seeking for disciples. Secondly, the church's responsibility does not end in the proclamation of the salvation message, but continues in the development of those who accept the gospel to full maturity. This call to "go," although addressed to the church collectively, is really addressed to the individuals who make up the church. Hence, individuals are called to engage in the discipleship process which includes edification as well as evangelism.
Our Plan is to Baptize
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is to be baptizing disciples! "Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,"
Believing that baptism is the next step of obedience (Acts 2:37-38), and that it is an outward symbol of the believer's inward union with Christ (Rom. 6:3-5) First Baptist Church of Lake Orion views believer's baptism by immersion a part of the discipleship process, and therefore, a part of spiritual growth and sanctification process. Although it is not necessary for salvation, baptism by immersion is expected for local church membership and service in the body.
Our Plan is to Disciple
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is to be teaching disciples! "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you,"
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus not only gives the call to teach all nations, but He also gives the content of what is to be taught "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." Consequently, First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is called to be a Word-centered ministry. Since the words of Scripture are inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21), and all of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written, are without error (John 10:35; 17:17), it stands as our final authority on all matters of faith and practice (1 Tim 3:14-15).
Our Plan In Practice
Christ's plan for the church is the making and maturing of disciples. The membership is, therefore, engaged to make disciples by:
Developing Redemptive Relationships.
Giving a Clear Verbal Witness of Salvation.
Introducing the Unsaved to the Body of Believers.
John 13:35, By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
In her relationship to other believers, the membership is encouraged to:
Develop Loving Relationships Within the Context of the
Body for the Purpose of Mutual Accountability.
Establish Mutual Relationships that Are Word-Centered.
Christ promised his disciples and the church His unending presence-I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Because of His power, His plan for the building of His church will not fail (Matt. 16:18).
The Product
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion Exists to Make God's Name Known in Honor and Glory by Making And Maturing Disciples Who Are Becoming More Like Jesus Christ.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul admonishes them to develop the servant mind-set of Christ: (Phil 2:3-8 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.)
First Baptist Church of Lake Orion is committed to the exercise and development of the servant mind-set as part of the maturing process. Understanding that the maturing process will never be completed until we are fully glorified, and that each believer is at a different point in the process, nevertheless, the church is to commit herself to a process that emphasizes and exemplifies Christlikeness. This process must include a strategy for growth in the Word, fellowship, prayer, and stewardship. It must also embrace the full utilizations of the gifts God has given to each member of the body. (1 Cor. 12:18; Eph. 4:7-16).
