Our Beliefs
What we believe guides how we live. How we live demonstrates what we believe. These are the principles that guide how we engage with God and others.
At Harbour Community We Are:
Biblically Grounded
The Word of God is our foundation for all teaching, growth and accountability (2 Timothy 3:10-17). Everything that we teach, live, and do is grounded in the Word of God as a foundation and guiding story. We teach the whole Biblical story, we live the principles of the Bible, we submit to its authority.
Holy Spirit Led
Jesus promised us a Helper to continue the work of the Kingdom (John 15:26-27). He teaches us, guides us and reminds us of the mission of Christ (John 14:23-27). It is through Him that the believer bears fruit and lives out the mission God has called us to (Galatians 5:22-26). In Him, we find freedom and harmony in the midst of diversity (2 Corinthians 3:12-18).
Community Builders
We are called to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey the commandments of Jesus (Matthew 28:16-20). Throughout His ministry, Jesus went to the weak, the outcast, the shamed, and realized reconciliation. His people are called to do the same in the here and the now, in the communities where they are planted (Acts 2:42-47). We are a community on a perpetual mission trip.
Equal
While every community needs authority, the Kingdom of God is established on the authority of Christ, her head (Colossians 1:15-23). We are called to do greater things than Jesus accomplished, through the Holy Spirit (John 14:12-14). Each believer is now a representative of the Holy before the world, mediating between God and humankind, through the work of Christ (1 Peter 2:4-10). Thus, we intentionally choose to mutually submit to one another, seeking harmony in diversity and communally discern the will of God as equals.
Redemptively Focused
Humankind was designed to steward the earth on behalf of God. We failed in that calling, leading to the current reality of brokenness, pain and suffering (Romans 5:12-21). God immediately began a plan to reconcile humanity which was realized in Christ (Genesis 3:14-15). Believers, through Christ, are commissioned to realize this calling again in the world (John 20:19-23). As a community, along with God, we seek to listen for the needs of our broader community and meet them, bringing wholeness to brokenness; reconciliation to the lost (Matthew 5:13-16). We want to be people who proactively shape culture by using our gifts and talents to see God’s Kingdom realized in our community.
Driven to Peace
It is by our love that the world will see we are different (John 13:34-35). Our differences and disagreements make us stronger because it demonstrates how Christ is above any other disagreement in our community, be it socio-economic, political, generational, structural, etc. We will seek first to love one another, listen to one another, learn from one another, and live out a practical theology of acceptance, while holding one another accountable to being more like Christ each day.
Transformative
To follow Jesus is to obey him (John 14:23-24). The purpose of our community is to draw people to Christ and help them become like Christ. Through teaching, intentional relationships, community, and mission, we will be a people who reflect Christ (Romans 12:9-21).
Intentionally Intimate
We believe that transformation happens in the intimate moments between God and people. Jesus often described the Kingdom of God by using simple examples: a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), yeast (Matthew 13:33), children (Mark 10:13-16), forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35), etc. We intentionally seek ways to remain intimate and allow our mission to dictate our size, rather than measure our ‘success’ by size.
Missionally Diverse
Jesus called the disciples to go out into all nations, create disciples, baptize them, and teach them how to follow Him (Matthew 28:19-20). Everyone has been invited into the family of God (Matthew 22:1-14). In our efforts to fulfill our mission and vision, we seek to meet people where they are, loving others on their terms that they might discover the love of God. Therefore each community is free to represent the calling of God in their own unique way (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
Invested
The cost to follow Jesus is great, calling us to give up everything (Luke 14:25-35). We will be a people who focus simultaneously inward, on our personal lives, and outward in service towards others. We will follow Christ into action in our world, realizing our true purpose (Matthew 16:24-26). Every single individual is gifted and called to service both in Harbour Community and the broader world (1 Corinthians 12:4-31).