STORY OF GOD

Story of God

The Bible is not just a list of rules to obey, stories to be inspired by, or morals by which to live your life. Sure, the Bible contains rules, stories, and morality, but it is so much more than just these things. It is the true story of the world. It is a divine drama. It is a dramatic six-act play.In their book, The Drama of Scripture, Mike Goheen and Craig Bartholomew offer a clarifying warning:


Many of us have read the Bible as if it were merely a mosaic of little bits—theological bits, moral bits, historical-critical bits, sermon bits, devotional bits. But when we read the Bible in such a fragmented way, we ignore its divine author’s intention to shape our lives through its story. All human communities live out of some story that provides a context for understanding the meaning of history and gives shape and direction to their lives. If we allow the Bible to become fragmented, it is in danger of being absorbed into whatever other story is shaping our culture, and it will thus cease to shape our lives as it should. Idolatry has twisted the dominant cultural story of the secular Western world. If as believers we allow this story (rather than the Bible) to become the foundation of our thought and action, then our lives will manifest not the truths of Scripture, but the lies of an idolatrous culture. Hence, the unity of Scripture is no minor matter: a fragmented Bible may actually produce theologically orthodox, morally upright, warmly pious idol worshippers!


We long to read our Bible correctly and live our lives faithfully. Above are the six symbols we use to identify the six acts of the Divine Drama. This is a useful tool for making the overarching story stick. After the symbols you will find our short telling of the True Story. We’ve chosen a few threads in this telling that are helpful for people to get an overview of the Bible.


*p2 Introduction, The True Story, Satruate, 2021: www.saturatetheworld.comresource/true-story/

OUR VALUES

 Gospel Focused

We love the gospel of Jesus because it is good news. Beautiful are the feet that being good news. However, this good news is not meant to be a one time cognitive accent to the truths or a duty filled life to the commands of Jesus. Jesus' burdens are light and easy for the heart that finds its rest in His work. We long for each other to embrace the gospel to bring enjoyment through every season of life. The Gospel of Jesus has the power to save sinners and to continue to transform them throughout their life. We believe knowing who we are in light of The Story of God gives us the ability to live out our calling as His disciples.

Love like Family

In the gospel we have received a new familial identity through our reconciliation back to the Father, by means of the Son, through the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we as disciples of Jesus, we are family and ought to love like family. The scriptures emphasize that the transition from a non-believer to a new believer, and from a new believer to a mature believer, is most effective within a community that goes beyond mere gatherings. Jesus envisioned a people whose love for one another was evident and attractive to outsiders (John 13:29-30). We believe this is a vital part of being a faithful church in every generation.

Live like Missionaries

We believe Jesus is calling each of His disciples in all of life to make disciples. How would our city be changed if each disciple of Jesus focused their time and talents like a missionary would do in a foreign context? We want to get to know our city, neighborhoods, and co-workers so that we might be able to speak the good news of Jesus in a way that sounds like good news. Our prayer is that as we spread out in the city others would 

Rich and Katie Essman (+kids)                                        Melvin and Kat Raymundo (+kids)                                   Kent* and Danielle Schlecht (+kids)

The local church is to be led by a team of multiple elders. As The Grove is being planted we are holding off on installing elders until potential leaders have been examined for their qualification. In the interim, the following elder qualified men are providing leadership, accountability and wisdom until multiple elders are  raised up:

Tim Jacobs - EFCA West District Superintendent

Paul Schliep - Retired Pastor, EFCA

Dean Mayeda - Pastor Nova Community Church

*Kent Schlecht - Pastor The Grove Church