North Ridge Life Church

All true believers accept the actual, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as historical fact. The resurrection has as much credibility as any other event in all of recorded history. By his rising we are commissioned to proclaim his good news authoritatively and expand the reach of his kingdom. Because he lives, we can rest in the promise that death truly has no power over us and that we will one day rise just like he did and join him forever!

Christ didn’t die to start a religion, or make you behave, or simply to enable you to enjoy a glorious afterlife. His purpose was to make a brand new kind of people for his own possession and fellowship. His intention was for this state to begin now, and not only when we die or the world ends.

All of us who claim to be believers in and followers of Jesus Christ have a responsibility to proclaim His message, to demonstrate His power, proclaim His authority, and to represent His presence. However, we cannot convince anyone. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convince people. Our responsibility lies in proclamation and nothing more. We are not God’s salesmen, but his ambassadors.

3.2 billion people worldwide have never (or only minimally) heard the story of Jesus! Additionally, 81% of Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus have no contact with a single Christ follower. That may be sad, but what can you possibly do about it? What should you do about it? A lot actually!

Our prayer is that we will be a church that has highly-developed spiritual senses to discern what is and is not the gospel, and that we will be clear in the proclamation and application of it. We must all become so clear on this all important message, so that we can encourage each other to believe it fully and apply it deeply.

Our mission as a church is to proclaim the message of Christ Jesus clearly, backed by Christ’s authority and assured of his presence, in order to make disciples of all nations - a daunting task indeed, but one which cannot fail because it is the intent of almighty God to have a people for himself.

As individuals and as a church, let us commit our hearts to knowing Jesus in purity, undistracted by the values and idols of this world. Let us be found as a people increasingly dead to sin and self. Let us identify with his death and resurrection and all of it’s attendant power that gives us 24/7 access to the throne room, as well as a newer, better perspective. Let us reign as his ambassadors, passionately making God’s appeal to the fallen, broken and sinful world.