Relationships play an essential role in your spiritual life and in your walk with God, and they’re rooted in belonging to a greater community. In fact, Jesus commanded us to love God and love one another. We all have a need to belong, and it’s through loving, helping and protecting one another that we have opportunity to live out these greatest of commandments.

Our definition of generosity is this: being sacrificially openhanded in giving to God and to others. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. We LIVE to give because we LOVE the Giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

The simple biblical definition of Shema means to hear, but it has a much richer meaning. It means to hear so clearly and strongly that you are compelled to obey whatever you hear. Obedience is the daily evidence that we truly see Jesus as the Lord of our life. Not obeying simply means doing things our own way. We love to Shema because we love being surprised by God’s extravagant response to our faithful obedience to his voice.

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (NKJV)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Our definition of innocence is this: godly simplicity with the absence of ungodly motivation. It involves perspective and motivation. When we read God’s word, we want to act like it’s the first time to ever see it; a childlike excitement when we find something new to celebrate about God. It also involves motive. We must not manipulate, because manipulation is man’s statement to God that we don’t need him to get to our desired outcome. The great news is that in a manipulative world, an innocent lack of impure motive is appreciated. Jesus commands his followers to be innocent. So in this house, we FIGHT for innocence.

Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Our definition of unity is being of one accord, living in harmony. While we are many parts, together we make up the whole. We are better and stronger together than we are apart. United, we support and encourage one another, knowing that when we live and work together, we thrive.

Psalm 133 NIV

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Our definition of growth is this: the act of personally developing by constantly improving. One of the reasons we are so serious about growth is that healthy things always grow. As a church, the best thing we can do to help you grow is get off of you that which is causing you to run so slow. The ability to grow is one of the greatest gifts God gives us because none of us wants to stay where we are today, forever. We want to grow. But here, we don’t just want to, we are serious about actually doing it.

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Our definition of romance is this: the art of unpredictable pursuit. Unfortunately, for many followers of Jesus, our walk with God becomes repetitiously monotonous rather than romantically miraculous. Jesus did not die for a boringly religious relationship with you, He died for a romantically intimate relationship with you. Romance was the motive behind Christ’s death. That’s why here, you won’t see us settle for religion, we will ALWAYS go for romance.

Matthew 6:7-8

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them.”