Gospel Centrality
The Gospel is at the center of all we do at Harvest, from our worship and teaching to our prayers, mission, and discipleship. We want our focus to be on who we are in Christ, not simply what we do for Christ. We love, serve, and minister from approval, not for approval. When the Gospel is truly at the center, it shapes the way we live. We are moved to love one another, serve others, grow together in grace, embrace diversity, care about the nations, make disciples, and plant churches. These things are not the Gospel itself, but they are the fruit of a people transformed by it. Romans 1:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; Romans 5:1–2; 2 Corinthians 5:16–20; John 14:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:14–15; 2 Peter 1:5–9; Ephesians 2:8–9
Disciple-Making
In His Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We believe, by God’s grace, every member of the church is called to be a disciple of Christ, and every disciple of Christ is called to make disciples. As the Gospel transforms us, it moves us to love God and love others. The church then comes alongside us to equip us for the work of ministry. In other words, the Gospel transforms us to make disciples, and the church equips us to do it. We are committed to preaching the Gospel and trusting its transforming work in the context of our community, as we love, shepherd, and equip one another to make disciples. Matthew 4:19; Matthew 28:16–20; Romans 12:1–2; 2 Timothy 2:2
Family
We believe God designed the family as the foundational institution of society and the primary context for discipleship. Families are formed through marriage, blood, or adoption, with marriage being the covenant union of one man and one woman for a lifetime. Husband and wife are equally made in God’s image and called to distinct roles, with the husband leading and sacrificially loving his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife graciously submitting to her husband as the church submits to Christ. We believe children are a blessing and inheritance from the Lord, from the moment of conception. Parents are called to patiently disciple their children through intentional instruction, gracious discipline, and faithful example, while children are called to honor and obey their parents. Because the home is the primary context for discipling children, we want to come alongside families. We seek to serve and equip parents to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. At Harvest, we see the church not simply as an institution or organization, but as a family of families. Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 2:15–25; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 78:1–8; Psalm 127; Psalm 128; Psalm 139:13–16; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 17:6; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 31:10–31; Ephesians 5:21–33; Ephesians 6:1–4; Colossians 3:18–21; Hebrews 13:4
Authentic Community
We believe the church is a family, and healthy families grow through transparency, intimacy, and grace. We want Harvest to be a place where people are truly known, loved, encouraged, and challenged to grow in their relationship with Christ. We believe discipleship happens best in the context of authentic relationships. Throughout the year, we create opportunities to grow together through Home Groups, Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, serving in our community, and fellowship events. These spaces give us opportunities to share life, study God’s Word, pray for one another, serve together, and grow in faith. We don’t want to simply attend church together, but we want to truly do life together. As we open our lives to one another and pursue Christ together, we become a community that reflects His love and helps one another grow. Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24–25; Galatians 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:2; Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 13:17
Expository Preaching
We believe the Bible is the inerrant, authoritative, infallible Word of God. We believe the Word of God, enabled by the Spirit of God, has the power to change lives. We do not desire to promote the latest and greatest ideas for life-improvement; rather, we seek to preach the Word, giving light to the God-breathed, life transforming eternal truths that we desperately need to hear in order to have life, hope, and freedom in Christ. Romans 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12
Prayer
We believe prayer is one of our greatest privileges as children of God. Through prayer, we bring our hearts before Him and allow Him to shape our desires, deepen our dependence, and grow us in humility. Prayer is not simply something we do, it is essential to our relationship with Christ. We long to see people come to know Jesus, and we recognize that the work of salvation belongs to God. So we pray boldly for the lost, for our community, and for the Gospel to be made known among the nations. We want to be a praying church that lives with expectation, trusting that God hears our prayers and works according to His perfect will and for His glory. Psalm 145:18; Matthew 7:7; James 5:14–16; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6–7
Missional Church
LOCALLY: We believe the Gospel sends us beyond the walls of the church and into our community. We want to love and serve the people God has placed around us, showing compassion to those who are hurting and responding to the needs of our community with the same love Christ has shown us. We seek to serve Fayette County in meaningful ways by partnering with ministries already doing good work and looking for opportunities where we can step in and serve. Whether through practical acts of service, meeting tangible needs, or simply building relationships, we want to be a church that makes the love of Christ known in our community. GLOBALLY: Jesus calls us to “make disciples of all nations,” and we want our church to be part of that mission. We seek to support and partner with Gospel-centered work around the world through prayer, generosity, service, and relationships that help advance the Gospel and make disciples of Christ. Matthew 25:35–40; Psalm 96:3; Matthew 28:16–20; Mark 16:14; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:4–8; Romans 10:14–15
Diversity
We believe the Gospel brings people from every background, culture, and generation together as one family in Christ. Revelation 5 gives us a picture of the Church gathered from every nation, tribe, people, and language — and we want to reflect that picture in the life of our church today. We believe our unity in Christ is a powerful witness to the world. While we may have differences that could divide us, the Gospel gives us something greater that unites us: Jesus. We want to be a church that celebrates our differences, loves one another well, and demonstrates the reconciling power of the Gospel through a diverse community united in Christ. Acts 1:8; Galatians 3:28; Titus 2:1–8; Revelation 5:9–10; Revelation 7:9–10
Church Planting
We believe the local church is called to multiply — to raise up leaders, send out disciples, and plant churches for the advancement of the Gospel. We want Harvest to be a church that not only makes disciples, but sends them out to help establish healthy, Gospel-centered churches. We have a heart for Fayette County and the surrounding communities, and we long to see more people reached with the Gospel and more healthy churches established throughout our area and beyond. As God grows and leads our church, we want to be ready to send, support, and partner with others in planting churches where they are needed. Our desire is to see the Gospel take root, churches multiply, and the name of Jesus exalted in Fayette County and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8; Acts 11; Acts 16 and following