our dna
re|focus. re|form. re|surge.
the DNA of the paradox church describes our values, or family traits. by instilling these six traits into our church from the beginning we can begin the journey God has called us to; that as we re|focus, re|form, and re|surge, the Gospel will take hold and lives will be transformed for the good of the city and the glory of God.
:: re|focus – to focus something again
truth
the first and most important thing the paradox church will be about is Jesus. we must re|focus our view of the true Jesus, as one who holds all things together (Col 1:17). Jesus is truth (Jn 14:6, Jn 16:13). He is revealed in the truth of Scripture (Jn 17:17) and we seek to glorify Him in truth (Ps 51:6).
worship
we all worship something. your time, energy, creativity, money, and resources go to something that is ultimate. the Cross frees us to re|focus our passions for the One, True, Ultimate. all of life is worship (Rom 12:1).
:: re|form – to become changed for the better
deep community
re|form happens in authentic, gritty, raw community (Pr 27:17). right now our people meet in homes and celebrate life with good food and good wine and good laughs. a community of re|form has depth. we stir one another up to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24). we pray together, struggle together, go through miscarriages together, deaths, pain, hurt. through grace and love and truth the Gospel is made known and re|form occurs.
city-dwellers
we are called to bring about re|form in our city (Jer 29:7), not by railing against it from the outside but by loving it from the inside; by caring for orphans (and the poor), and widows (and single moms), and the homeless, and the fatherless, and the oppressed (Jas 1:27) - like Jesus (Luke 4:18-19).
:: re|surge – a rising again into life or prominence
intentional living
reconciled christians are to re|surge, living out the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). knowing that God put us where we are and when for His purpose (Acts 17:26), we herald the Gospel (Rom 10:14-15) and live it out being purposeful in everything we do. hobbies, work, dinner, marriage, music – everything – is done on mission for the Gospel and for the city, and for the people of the city, like Jesus did (Jn 1:14, 17:18) – even as we seek the city to come (Heb 13:14).
trained men
for any of this to happen our men must re|surge. men need to be confronted, challenged, and trained. they will be raised up and instructed to love and lead their wives and family (Eph 5:25-29), lead their church (1 Tim 3), lead and teach other men (2 Tim 2:2), fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12), and build a paradox culture within the city.
