How You Connect
People visit churches for a number of different reasons. If you are looking for a church to be a part of you are probably wondering, how do I really connect with these people and become a part of this community?
This is how the process generally works for us here at Redeemer:
Everyone who walks into Redeemer’s worship gatherings, community groups and ministries encounter the gospel in word or deed.
What is the gospel? In the simplest of terms the gospel is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus that accomplishes redemption and restoration for all who believe and all of creation. In his life Jesus fulfilled the law and accomplished all righteousness on behalf of sinners who have broken God’s law at every point. In his death Jesus atones for our sins, satisfying the wrath of God and obtaining forgiveness for all who believe. In his resurrection Jesus’ victory over sin and death is the guarantee of our victory over the same in and through him. Jesus’ saving work not only redeems sinners, uniting them to God, but also assures the future restoration of all creation. This is the gospel, the “good news,” that God redeems a fallen world by his grace.
When encountering the gospel, our prayer is that people will authentically experience the gospel through faith and repentance. For some of you this will happen right away when you, as believers, join us for worship. But for others who are seeking and asking questions this may not happen right away. We would like to help you as you seek the truth with us.
When a person trusts in Jesus Christ they confess their faith and repentance through baptism. For those who have not been baptized (immersed in water as a follower of Jesus) this is the next step in following Christ. Baptism itself does not change a person or wash away sin. It is a sign and symbol by which we express the Gospel and our new identity in Christ.
As the Gospel brings us together in community we begin to share our lives together in a few key ways. Our Community Groups are a great way to begin to experience Gospel community. Wherever you are in your journey we encourage you to visit one soon.
We also believe God calls his people to live as a covenant community. At Redeemer we call this “membership.” We offer Orientation Classes throughout the year that introduce people to the mission and vision of our church. This class is a requirement for all seeking to be a member of Redeemer.
Every Christian is uniquely gifted by God and equipped by the church to serve God and neighbor. There are a variety of ways to serve Redeemer and the community, and we will help you find the right place to use your gifts.