The Crossings

Values

Truth

Truth is the summation of propositions and narratives known as the Bible. Truth is objective in that it can be known, understood, and applied to the everyday occurrences of life. Truth is dynamic in that it is experienced in community and through Gods mission. Truth is the catalyst for transformation.

The Crossings stands behind the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy in all that it says including the following excerpt: We affirm that the Holy Scriptures are to be received as the authoritative Word of God. We affirm that the written Word in its entirety is revelation given by God. We affirm that the whole of Scripture and all its parts, down to the very words of the original, were given by divine inspiration. We affirm that Scripture, having been given by divine inspiration, is infallible, so that, far from misleading us, it is true and reliable in all the matters it addresses. We affirm that Scripture in its entirety is inerrant, being free from all falsehood, fraud, or deceit.

The Crossings values truth. This value necessitates the centrality of the Bible in all things. Truth will be taught in a manner that is uncompromising and unapologetic. Truth is the value that serves as the catalyst for other values. Truth inherently necessitates community and mission. Truth is also experienced through community and on mission. Truth brings transformation. The Crossings exists, above all else, to glorify God through transforming lives into disciples of Jesus Christ.

Community

The God that we worship models community. He exists in a community of three. Any perusal of the early church in the book of Acts finds it existing, growing, and thriving in community. When the church was birthed in Acts 2, it existed as a group of people devoting themselves to the truth of the apostles, experiencing life together, eating together, and praying together. That dynamic community of believers who share life together is the church. This community was on mission together through serving the world around them, they met in homes together and then deployed daily as missionaries. God added to this community daily those who were being saved.

The Crossings values community. We believe that truth is digested in community. We believe that mission happens in community. We also believe that the journey of transformation to which God has called every Christ follower happens in community.

Mission

Mission is where the entrance of Christ into culture takes place. Mission is selflessness through service and giving amidst a culture of materialism and consumerism. Mission is authentic community manifesting in the face of an individualistic society. Mission is living an authentic life while surrounded by those displaying the predominant suburban façade. Mission is Christ manifest through community and virally spreading throughout culture.

This mission makes global engagement logically necessary. In the current global world, relationships are built all over the globe due to international business and the opportunities made available through modern technology. The church must be missional, and to be missional in the contemporary world necessitates both local community development and global engagement.

The Crossings values mission and from that value immerges the vision God has planted. In a culture of materialism and consumerism, we see a missional church reaching the world through Biblical teaching, transformational community, and global engagement. We see a church that takes people from infancy to intimacy in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Transformation

Transformation is found at the collision point of truth, community, and mission. The various elements of each of these values find their sum in transformation. Being a Christ follower is not about an isolated moment in time – a prayer or any other event. Being a Christ follower is about transformation.

We are a community journeying through life in a transformative way. We interact with truth, digest it in community, and put it into practice through a missional life. This is how transformation takes place, and this is how a disciple is made. Therefore, transformation is realized through embracing the truth, experiencing community, and living life on mission. Our purpose at The Crossings is to glorify God through transforming lives into disciples of Jesus Christ.