Epiphany has begun!  BELIEVE! The Miracle Accounts in the Gospel of John  (click here)

It’s time for us to focus on the works and words of Jesus! We’re going to spending the next two months focusing on the gospel of John, specifically on the seven miracle accounts he records. They are written that we might really believe! And be encouraged to come at 9a for prayer, or for our Old Testament Survey class beginning January 22nd.

“Jesus performed many signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may B E L I E V E that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

It’s not too late to be a part of our Old Testament Survey course. It began Sunday, Jan. 22, and will continue through April 1. This week, Jan. 29, will be your last chance to join.

Our Worship: Ministry of the Word, Ministry of the Table – 10:00 – 11:30a

(children age 5+ in worship until 10:30 – then released to Sunday School).

Click  HERE  to read more details about our Sunday service of worship.

A church. What are you looking for?

I’ve been a Christian for 37 years. I’ve studied the Bible for decades, and have a few theology degrees. I’m glad … because, if I didn’t have the perspective of study and experience, and was looking for a place to explore the truth about Jesus, I would it find the offerings of our contemporary American churches absolutely bewildering.

In our East Mesa area, there are plenty of buildings with crosses on them. Many call themselves a “church” (though some elect a more innocuous moniker, like fellowship, center, or community). What in the world are these places? And why so many different brands? Are they all pretty much the same, or are they wildly different?

And, if they are different … who’s right? If you visit these churches, whomever you ask will obviously declare their version of the faith as ideal, and quite possibly give you an earful about the aberrant traditions of their religious neighbors.

Our world doesn’t need a “new and improved” Christianity. It needs the real deal.  At CHRISTCHURCH, we believe there is a standard by which we can measure the viability of a church, and we are committed to being in step with this standard. We call it “historical orthodoxy” – that is, the historic understanding of right-theology, as acknowledged by the Christian community for the past 1,980 years. Our faith has bobbed, weaved, and at times even derailed as it has made its way through generations of cultural shifting. But there is a stream of faithful men and women who have clung to the foundational truths, proclaimed and established by Jesus and His apostles, acknowledged in the pages of holy Scripture, and re-affirmed in every age by its most faithful, learned adherents.

At CHRISTCHURCH, we make every effort to be held accountable to the richness of our Christian tradition – but not only in our teaching. Our practice must be true as well. Our faith can be as right as can be, but it cannot exist apart from our works done in Jesus’ name. The Bible calls such doctrinaire spirituality for what it is: dead. Clearly, the church is to be a blessing to the city as we walk in obedience to command to love our neighbors.

The Bible also says “sing a new song to the Lord!” Being historically accountable does not require us to become a museum piece of some bygone era of preference. We need to find our freshly inspired voice, and knit it into the fabric of our heritage. Can a church be historically faithful, but also embrace new, artistic expressions of this faith? We think so. Actually, we do so.

We sympathize with your search. Our prayer is that every “church” in our city would adhere to appropriate standards. Our experience is that a few do, but many don’t. We know that we fall short here and there as well. But, our heart’s desire is to be, in every way, the true church. If that’s the kind of heart and community you’ve been looking for … welcome.

Bill Hartley, pastor

To find out more about the Hallmarks of Christchurch, please click H E R E . Thank you!