Who We Are

"THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE DISCIPLES IS

IN COMMUNITY AND ON MISSION" 

The DNA of a church is its distinctive and unchangeable characteristics - the code that is expressed in everything a church says and does. At Sacred City Church, our DNA is made up of three things: Gospel, Community, and Mission.

GOSPEL

The gospel is the good news that God has acted in history to conquer evil and reconcile sinners to Himself through the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Through our union with Christ by faith, we can be restored from our fallen and broken condition into right relationship with God and others. The gospel transforms not only individuals, but also churches, societies, and culture at large. It is not just a gate we pass through one time, but a path of ongoing renewal and repentance that we are to walk each day of our lives.  We believe the gospel changes everything!

(Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-24)

COMMUNITY

We are saved by the Trinitarian community - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - for community. God, in the Gospel, saves us not into a life of individualism but into a family - a community of other believers centered on the Gospel. God is our Father who has adopted us by His Spirit to be His sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters to one another through Christ who is the head of His body - the Church. Therefore, the Church is not just a place or event to attend, but is a distinct and diverse people from all races, ethnicities, ages, and socioeconomic statuses. This diverse people of God is both the best place to come to understand and experience the gospel and also the best place to display the gospel to a watching world. 

(John 17:5, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 2:13-22, Colossians 1:18, Romans 8:14-17) 

MISSION

Mission is not what we do - it who we are. We are a community of missionaries to the Quad Cities. We are kingdom-bringers. God is not just interested in the salvation of humans, but in the restoration of all of creation to its original “good”.

(Gen. 1:31; Rom. 8:19-22)

We desire to form disciples of Jesus in and around the gospel. This gospel formation happens in a community that is on mission together. The gospel not only calls us into community and sends us out on mission, but the power of the gospel is the only thing that will keep us in community and on mission. Being in community and on mission reveals our continual need for grace found only in the gospel. Or, the way we often say it is, "The only way to make disciples is in community and on mission."

BEING PRECEDES DOING

We believe action follows being. Therefore, we define ourselves not by what we do, but who we are in Christ. At Sacred City, we believe the gospel gives us four main identities: Family, Missionaries, Servants, and Learners.

FAMILY

We are children of God who live and care for each other as a family. God has always desired a people - an earthly family - who would live in such a way that the world would know what He is like. Jesus said that those who live in His ways and obey His Father are truly His family. Through Jesus we believe we are children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family, we see it as our call to personally care for the needs of one another - both physically and spiritually. Through Missional Community and the Sunday Gathering we disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to our covenant life together.

(Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)

MISSIONARY

God sent His son, Jesus, to earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate, and interacted among the people, living in such a way that those around Him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus.

(John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

SERVANT

We are servants of God who serve others as a way of life. Being fully God and fully human, Jesus took on the posture of a servant. He gave His life, even unto death, so that others could experience salvation, peace and restoration. Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves…”, and all those who follow Jesus are called to serve in the same humility. For us this means joyful submission to God, leadership, and to each other as we serve whomever God brings into our lives.

(Matthew 20:25- 28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16)

LEARNER

We are disciples of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. As a young man, Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with men. He learned from local religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of listening to God. Jesus called others to follow His ways, to be His disciples and live in obedience to all that God commands. He then sent these followers out to make new disciples. We are called to this same life of learning, discipleship, and the discipling of others. This includes both our personal time with God as well as pursuing together the training provided by spiritual leadership.

(Luke 2:52; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)

WHAT WE DO FLOWS FROM WHO WE ARE

Our gospel-given identities produce Gospel rhythms in the context of everyday life. We call these rhythms: Listen, Celebrate, Eat, Bless, and Recreate.

Listen

We set aside regular times to listen to God both backward and forward. Jesus listened to God in prayer to know His Father's will. We are also called to listen to God. We listen 'backward' by regularly interacting with God's Word and His Son. We also spend time actively listening to what God is saying to us through His Spirit in us and through His creation. We take time to actively listen 'forward' to hear what God is saying to us today. We also listen to others' stories and help them find their lives within God's story.

(Mark 1:35-37; John 16:7-15; Hebrews 1:1-3; Romans 1:20)

CELEBRATE

We gather together to celebrate God's blessings. God calls people to regularly celebrate His goodness and grace. We gather weekly in Missional Communities and regularly as a larger family, to share stories and celebrate all that God is doing in and amongst us. We intentionally celebrate milestones in our personal lives and in the life of our church such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions that have demonstrated God’s grace and faithfulness toward us. We invite everyone to these celebrations as a way of displaying God's glory.

(Leviticus 23; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25)

EAT

We regularly eat meals with others to invite them into the community of God. Meals are a daily reminder of our common need for God and His faithfulness to provide both physically and spiritually. Jesus called us to remember Him and His sacrifice for us through a meal. When we eat together, we commune around this truth. We regularly eat meals with those not in our immediate family or circle of close friends, discipling them toward a life of dependence on God.

(Leviticus 23; Matthew 6:11; 26:17-30; Acts 2:46-47; Romans 12:13)

BLESS

We intentionally bless others through words, gifts, or actions. God desires that all nations—all people—would be blessed through Jesus. And now, as His Body, we believe we live out this mission as we bless others. We intentionally seek God's direction for who he would have us tangibly bless each week.

(Genesis 12:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 2:12)

RECREATE

We take time to rest, play, create and restore beauty in ways that reflect God to others. After powerfully and joyfully creating the universe, God rested. We were created in His image and therefore we were made to joyfully create and rest as well, to reflect what God is like to our city. This also means that we are made to enjoy the goodness of God’s creation in our city and regularly participate in and enjoy our cities’ parks, festivals, and special events.

(Genesis 1-2:3; Deuteronomy 5:12; Mark 2:23-28; Hebrews 4, Jeremiah 29:7)