Creekstone 101

Grace Changes Everything

Creekstone is the result of what I believe is a God-born desire that was conceived over twenty years ago when I was serving as an assistant pastor at a large church in Memphis, TN. I began dreaming of a uniquely grace-driven church that would make the core message of the gospel the dening truth of its ministry. didnt know the name of the church at that time, or where it would be located. In fact, I had never even been to Georgia and had never heard of Dahlonega. The dream simmered in my heart for fteen years. Finally, in May of 2007, while ending a ministry in Greenwood, MS, as senior pastor, I received a call from the Director of Church Planting at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, GA, asking if I would consider church planting through Perimeter. Although I was desperately afraid of failure, I essentially had already failed as a senior pastor and didnt have too much to lose. So, in September of 2007, we moved to Georgia. It wasnt long before we discovered and fell in love with Dahlonega. Through a number of remarkably providential afrmations, we decided to relocate, moving to the area on July 25, 2009. After making Dahlonega our home, we held an information meeting in early October and began a Bible study in our home on Sunday evenings. Within a couple of weeks we outgrew our home and had to move our Sunday evening gathering to the Lumpkin County Recreation Center (today the YMCA). In August of 2010, we began meeting on Sunday mornings at the Lumpkin County High School. Our attendance that rst Sunday morning was around 100. On our one year anniversary, over 200 were in attendance, and on our second anniversary this past August, around 400 adults, college students, youth and children gathered to magnify the grace of God in Jesus. Obviously, those numbers in attendance are seasonal. Depending on the Sunday, attendance may uctuate dramatically. This is okay, because our focus is not on how many are in a particular service, but that actual lives, in a gradually increasing measure, are being exposed to Gods grace in Jesus, getting connected to each other in authentic community, and reaching out to others in organic, life-on-life mission, all with an over-riding conviction that grace changes everything. - McKay Caston

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OUR MOTTO, MISSION, MESSAGE, CORE COMMITMENTS & KEY VALUES

CREEKSTONES UNOFFICIAL MOTTO: Lets take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. - Ms. Frizzle of the Magic Schoolbus CREEKSTONES OFFICIAL MOTTO: Grace Changes Everything THE REASON FOR CREEKSTONE'S GRACE-FOCUS Our mission is focused on the gospel because it is the grace of God that is the power that reconciles people to God and motivates and empowers the entire Christian life. We believe that if folks are captured by the grace of God that their lives will be revolutionized from the inside out, which literally will change everything from identity, to marriage, parenting, the workplace, etc. We agree with Tim Keller, who says, The gospel is not just the A-B-C but the A to Z of the Christian life... The key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the the gospel. As a result, spiritual life and continued vitality hinges on the Spirit of God bringing a conscious wonder of His grace alive in our hearts through faith. We want to be facilitators in that process. CREEKSTONES MISSION Since grace changes everything, our mission is to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of Gods grace. CREEKSTONES MESSAGE IS THE GOSPEL: THE A+ FOR THE F The gospel tells us (2 Cor. 5:21) that through the cross a debt was paid (we are forgiven) and a deposit was made (we are declared perfectly righteous because of the righteousness of Christ that is given to us that we receive by faith alone). We are no longer condemned, but fully justied, eternally loved, adopted sons and daughters of God. Our lives change in practical ways when we consciously abide in the Gospel/Jesus righteousness as the Holy Spirit indwells us and produces his fruit (John 15:4-5; Galatians 2:20-21). Good fruit depends on good roots. For more information on our message, see McKays primer on the gospel, The A+ for the F. CORE COMMITMENTS: WE AIM TO FULFILL OUR MISSION... Through Grace-Driven Teaching Through Grace-Shaped Community Through Grace-Motivated Outreach

#1- Through Grace-Driven Teaching We want the radical message of grace to be the central theme that permeates our teaching and inuences everything about the church, from worship, to prayer, to life-on-life discipleship, to vocation, to marriage, to parenting, to education, to leadership, to stewardship, to mission, etc. In order to see this become reality, we continually must distinguish the gospel from religion. Religion says that if I obey and sacrice, then I will be accepted and blessed. But the gospel tells me that I am accepted and blessed because of the obedience and sacrice of Jesus. These are two utterly different things. Since the radical grace of the gospel is counterintuitive to the moralistic, religious mind, we must hear the gospel in depth and believe it in depth over and over again.

As a grace-centered church that prizes, pursues and teaches sound, impassioned, reformed orthodoxy, we will emphasize that theological knowledge is not the end, but is a means for knowing God and growing in intimacy with him.

Ephesians 3:8, 14-21 8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.... 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be lled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

#2- Through Grace-Shaped Community As an implication of the gospel, we want to cultivate the kind of community that is dened by authenticity and vulnerability. We long for a grace-saturated atmosphere that communicates to people, This is a safe place to be real. On this note, we will acknowledge that human weakness is not a liability, but a reality that drives us to dependent prayer and to derive supernatural strength and ability from God. In the words of Jack Miller, Grace runs downhill. We believe that true humility is beautiful, and may be the most compelling virtue that attracts nonChristians to the gospel. Consequently, we really want to live as if the ground is level at the foot of the cross. As we focus on community as a core value, we will emphasize the importance of intentional, life-on-life discipleship, and that the church is not primarily a place, but a people. Furthermore, as a community, we will afrm that every believer has been endowed with spiritual gifts that he or she is to exercise so that the the body will be healthy and effective in fullling its purpose in the world. In this sense, every member is a minister. Leaders are not called to do all the ministry, but to equip the believers to exercise their unique gifts.

Concerning leadership, we desire and value leaders who are pacesetters in living the grace implications of the gospel, particularly manifesting qualities such as genuine humility, sincere repentance, cheerful generosity and dependentprayer. In John 17 Jesus prays that the church would manifest unity as an apologetic that the gospel is true. We trust that we will have a diversity of people attendingworship and participating in the community. It will be our bond in the gospel that serves as an ever present reminder of our essential unity, evenamidst our diversity. #3- Through Grace-Motivated Outreach We will encourage all members to see themselves as missionaries, word and deed ambassadors of the gospel. With that missional mindset, we will emphasize what it means to be salt and light in the context of our organic, relational spheres of inuence. As Marva Dawnsays, Being Church means following a way of life Evangelism happens as we go about our daily livesto work, to the grocery store, to school, to the neighbors house for teawe live the gospel. We speak it freely We incarnate it. We display a joy in following Jesus and his Way that invites our neighbors to consider the truth of his life in us. But mission is never merely a personal endeavor. And so as we gather for worship, we desire for the service to be accessible to those who are not Christians. In fact, whoever preaches or teaches will assume there are non-Christians in attendance, and will speak in a way that addresses their questions, fears, and doubts in language that they can understand. As part of this commitment, we will encourage spiritual inquirers to belong before they believe, letting them know that they dont have to change their belief systems or lifestyles to participate in the community as they investigate the claims of the gospel. This is because we recognize that coming to faith is often a process, as is growing in grace as a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, we do not view non-Christians as enemies, but precisely as the people to whom we are called to serve, love and offer the living hope of Gods liberating and transforming grace.

THE NAME CREEKSTONE The Bible records in 1 Samuel 17 that an Israelite boy named David represented his people in battle against a huge, seemingly undefeatable enemy. The future of the nation was in David's hands, or more literally, in his sling. As he went out to ght the Philistine warrior, David picked up ve stones from a creek as his weapon of choice. Therefore, it was with a creekstone that David felled the adversary, Goliath. As a result, David became the savior and hero of his people. However, David was merely a shadow of a greater, and ultimate hero, who also would represent his people before an even more powerful enemy, sin and death. This hero's weapon was not a stone. It was a cross. And by the substitutionary death of Jesus, he has set his people free and has become the Savior-Hero of the church. And so we have named our worshipping community Creekstone, to remind us of the present and eternal victory that is ours through the cross of our greater David, Jesusthe hero who is our hope.

CREEKSTONES VISION
So, what is our 3, 5 and 10 year planour vision? That is a good question! Our vision always seems too small for what is possible with God. Nevertheless, we do have some ideas. We Envision Healthy Growth. We want to grow wider through evangelism and deeper through discipleship, inuencing more and more lives with the gospel of Gods grace to the glory of God. Yet, how big do we want to grow? Whether we have maxed our attendance or not, we want to grow as large as a body as the Lord wants. But at the same time, we must be growing smaller as well in order to facilitate genuine, authentic community. In order to have a healthy body, we need healthy organs, which requires healthy cells. This is why we will focus our ministry not only on our Sunday gathering (the body), but also on our K-Group ministry (the organ level) and on our Discipleship ministry (the cell). We Envision Biblically Functioning Community. There are many passages in the New Testament that encourage the church to living in community to love and serve one another. Our home groups (K-Groups) are designed to provide a context in which practical love and pastoral care can be experienced and expressed in tangible ways. We Envision a 24/7 Ministry Center. As a body grows, it needs new clothes, which raises the question of facilities. Even if LCHS were to allow us to use their facilities for the long term, space already is becoming an issue. In an auditorium with no center aisle, the maximum comfortable capacity is around 70%, which means that when we have 245 in attendance, we have hit an attendance ceiling and need to begin providing more seating space, whether through an overow area in the lobby with audio/video or through a second service, which will require a larger volunteer base and a more extensive organizational structure. Typically, when a church hits its an attendance ceiling in its facility, attendance of new people will plateau and eventually decline. We do not want new folks to be turned away because it is too difcult to nd a seat, or for a family not to be able to sit together because of limited, sporadic seating availability. Additionally, we are concerned to be good stewards of our nancial resources. At this time, we are paying $25,000 a year in rent for the high school, $17,000 a year for our ofce and $6,000 a year for our youth venue on Wednesdays. Thankfully, Dorks Books allows us to use their facility mid-week at no charge for other meetings. In light of our space needs as well as nancial stewardship (where we could pay less and get more in the way of facilities), we envision a 24/7 ministry center established that will be an outpost of grace for our community, the region, and ultimately, the world. We Envision Gospel-Rooted Leaders. As already stated, our mission is to see people come alive to the wonder of Gods grace, which we believe will impact every area of live. As we pursue that mission, we will need a team of qualied pastor/elders to oversee and facilitate the continued growth of people and our key ministries. These men will be humble and teachable pacesetters in believing and living the gospel, as well as demonstrating visible unity, dependent prayer and risk-taking faith.

We Envision a Church Planting Movement in North Georgia. We want to see the seed of the gospel planted in mountain communities throughout north Georgia. A new church plant in Ellijay is already underway, with many of its core members attending Creekstone. We Envision Overseas Mission Partnerships. We already have partnerships in India and Africa. We envision depending our relationship with these ministries through nancial support and by sending teams from Creekstone to partner with these ministries in practical ways. We Envision Local Ministry Partnerships. Although we already partner with a number of local ministries, including ConnectAbility, the Community Helping Place, Rainbow Childrens Home and others, we want to see more and more Creekstone folks investing in these local ministries. We Envision a Multiplying Discipleship Ministry. Although we are starting small and going slow to provide a solid foundation, we envision all the men and women in the church meeting in small clusters for intentional, life-on-life, missional discipleship, thus revolutionizing lives, homes and workplaces. We Envision Youth Equipped for Leadership. Youth ministry is not a baby-sitting forum, but the context in which we are growing theologically equipped leaders to inuence others with the gospel in junior and senior high, as well as into the college years. We envision our high school students becoming missionaries in our communities, ready to lead from day one as freshmen on the college campus or in the workplace. We Envision a Parent-Loving Childrens Ministry. We recognize that as a mobile church, young families will pay special attention to the quality of our childcare ministry on Sundays. We want to receive 100% positive feedback from visiting couples with regard to the safety, cleanliness and friendliness of the nursery and childrens ministry. But more than just the functionality of a childrens ministry, we want to see our youngest children come alive to the wonder of Gods grace. To this end, we envision a growing Sunday ministry as well as potential mid-week discipleship opportunities for elementary age children. We Envision Ministry Apprenticeships (Internships) for College Students. Serving in the context of a college town, we want to provide opportunities for students who attend Creekstone to get practical ministry experience, especially those considering vocational ministry. We Envision a Retreat and Study Center. A dream from the beginning of Creekstones formation, we dream of a place where folks can come to rest mentally, emotionally and spiritually as they study, pray and listen to God without distraction. The center could also provide various group seminars on theology, marriage and family.

CREEKSTONES THEOLOGICAL ORIENTATION

REFORMATION THEOLOGY We embrace and are guided by historic, Reformation theology, as espoused by men such as John Calvin, George Whiteld (Anglican), Jonathan Edwards (Congregational), Charles Spurgeon (Baptist), Francis Schaeffer (Presbyterian), Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Methodist), D.A. Carson (Baptist), John Piper (Baptist), C.J. Mahaney (Charismatic), RC Sproul (Presbyterian), Mark Discoll (Acts 29), Tim Keller (Presbyterian), etc. The Reformation was a time when men went blind, staggering drunk because they had discovered, in the dusty basement of late medievalism, a whole cellar full of fteen-hundred-year-old, two-hundred proof grace bottle after bottle of pure distillate of Scripture, one sip of which would convince anyone that God saves us single-handedly Grace has to be drunk straight: no water, no ice, and certainly no ginger ale; neither goodness, nor badness, not the owers that bloom in the spring of super spirituality could be allowed to enter into the case. ~ Robert Capon THE FIVE SOLAS OF THE REFORMATION Sola Scriptura: The Bible alone is our ultimate authority EPHESIANS 1 & 2 The Bible is Gods special revelation to humanity, Ephesians 1:3-8, 3 Blessed be the God centering on the glory of Gods grace through the life, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, as the word of has blessed us in Christ with every God, the Bible alone is our ultimate authority for all of life, spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, theologically, devotionally and practically. 4 even as he chose us in him before the Sola Fide: We are saved through faith alone People are reconciled to God, not by their own good works, but through faith alone in the good works of Jesus. Therefore, someone becomes a Christian not by doing for God, but by receiving from God. Sola Gratia: We are saved by grace alone This means that people are reconciled to God by grace alone through the substitutionary death of Jesus. Therefore, the Christians standing before God is a gift, not a reward. Solo Christo: We are saved by the works of Jesus alone Our only hope of forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life is only gained through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not by any merit or effort of our own. Soli Deo Gloria: Salvation by grace through faith in the work of Jesus is unto the Glory of God alone The goal of our theology is that God alone would receive the glory for redeeming, adopting and empowering sinners with new life. Therefore, there is no room for selfrighteousness in the gospel, but only for boasting in the cross of Jesus.
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-9 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked... 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved... 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

AN EXTENDED THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY Below is a condensed version of the doctrinal statement of The Gospel Coalition. For a more in-depth treatment of our doctrinal foundation, see The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms, documents written in the 1640s as a system of doctrine that summarize biblical teaching. While we may not subscribe to every jot and tittle of the WCF and Catechisms, we fully embrace its system of doctrine. (1) The Triune God We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who know, love, and glorify one another. This one true and living God is worthy to receive all glory and adoration. (2) Revelation We believe that God has inspired the words of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. These writings alone constitute the Word of God, utterly authoritative, without error in the original writings, complete in its revelation of his will for salvation, sufcient for all that God requires us to believe and do. (3) Creation of Humanity We believe that God created human beings, male and female, in his own image. Men and women, equally made in the image of God, enjoy equal access to God by faith in Christ Jesus and are both called to signicant engagement in family, church, and civic life. (4) The Fall We believe that Adam, made in the image of God, distorted that image and forfeited his original blessedness for himself and all his progeny by falling into sin through Satan's temptation. As a result, all human beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being and condemned to physical and spiritual death, apart from God's gracious intervention. (5) The Redemptive Plan of God We believe that from all eternity God determined in grace to save a great multitude of guilty sinners from every tribe and language and people and nation, and to this end he foreknew them and chose them, all to the praise of his glorious grace. In love, God implores all people to repent and believe, having set his saving love on those he has chosen and having ordained Christ to be their Redeemer. (6) The Gospel We believe that the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. Utter folly to the world, even though it is the power of God to those who are being saved, this good news centers on the space-time incarnation, substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. (7) The Redemption of Christ We believe that, moved by love, the Word became esh, fully God and fully human being, one Person in two natures. The man Jesus, the promised Messiah of Israel, was conceived through the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucied, rose on the third day and ascended into heaven as our representative and substitute. On the cross he canceled the debt of sin and reconciled to God all those who believe. By his resurrection Christ Jesus was vindicated by his Father, broke the power of death, defeated Satan, and brought everlasting life to all his people. By his ascension he has been forever exalted as Lord and has prepared a place for us to be with him. We believe that salvation is found through no one else except Jesus.
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(8) The Justication of Sinners We believe that Christ, by his obedience and death, fully discharged the debt of all those who are justied. By his sacrice, he bore in our stead the punishment due us for our sins. By his perfect obedience, he satised the just demands of God on our behalf, since by faith alone that perfect obedience is credited to all who trust in Christ alone for their acceptance with God. (9) The Power of the Holy Spirit We believe that this salvation is applied to his people by the Holy Spirit. Sent by the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit glories the Lord Jesus Christ and, as "another Helper," is present with and in believers. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and by his powerful and mysterious work regenerates spiritually dead sinners, awakening them to repentance and faith, baptizing them into union with the Lord Jesus. (10) The Kingdom of God We believe that those who have been saved by the grace of God through union with Christ by faith and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit enter the kingdom of God and delight in the blessings of the new covenant. Good works constitute indispensable evidence of saving grace. Living as salt in a decaying world and light in a dark world, believers should neither withdraw into seclusion from the world nor become indistinguishable from it. Rather, we are to do good to the city, for all the glory and honor of the nations is to be offered up to the living God. (11) God's New People We believe that God's new covenant people is manifest in local churches of which Christ is the only Head. The church is distinguished by her gospel message, her sacred ordinances, her discipline, her great mission, and, above all, by her love for God, and by her members' love for one another and for the world. (12) Baptism and the Lord's Supper We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordained by the Lord Jesus himself. The former is connected with entrance into the new covenant community, the latter with ongoing covenant renewal. They represent God's promises of grace to us which we receive by faith as followers of Jesus. (13) The Restoration of All Things We believe in the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the resurrection of both the just and the unjust-the unjust to eternal conscious punishment in hell and the just to eternal blessedness in the presence of him who sits on the throne and of the Lamb. On that day the church will be presented faultless before God by Christ, and his people will be enthralled by the immediacy of his ineffable holiness, and everything will be to the praise of his glorious grace.

The Wisdom of the Moravian Motto: In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In all things, Charity Core circle = essential gospel doctrines (ex: substitutionary atonement) Middle ring = important, but not essential theological issues (ex: baptism) Outer ring = style issues (ex: contemporary vs. traditional worship)

CREEKSTONES BAPTISM GUIDELINES Baptism is a rite intended to highlight the promise of God in the gospela promise that is not earned, but is embraced as a gift by faith alone. In light of this wonderfully signicant event, we have ve principles that guide Creekstones baptism policy. I. We gladly baptize those who makes a request for baptism based on a sound profession of personal faith in the redemptive work of Jesus life, death and resurrection.1 We afrm the covenantal baptism of the infants and young children of believing parents.2

II.

III. We receive infant baptisms in other Christian churches as legitimate and counsel individuals previously baptized (whether as infants or in later years) not to be re-baptized.3 IV. The mode which we ordinarily employ for baptism is pouring/sprinkling.4 V. Ordained pastor/elders are authorized to perform baptism.5

We plan to have baptism Sundays several times a year. In order to make this event as meaningful as possible, each candidate will attend a Baptism Preparation Seminar before his or her baptism. As a matter of prudence, unbaptized children are eligible for baptism at eight years old. Following the Baptism Preparation Seminar, a child will meet with a pastor/elder of the church to discuss his/her testimony as well as his/her understanding of baptism and the Lords Supper.
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The basis for this practice is not rooted in sentimentality or tradition, but rather is rooted in the Bible. Although it is commonly assumed that baptism is a sign of personal faith, it actually, as a sacrament, is a sign of Gods covenant promise in the gospel that is to be received by faith. Just as the outward faith-sign for justication in the old covenant community (circumcision) was applied to male infants of those in the covenant community, so also the outward faith-sign for justication in the new covenant community (baptism) is applied to the infants of those in the new covenant community. This covenantal practice/principle was never rescinded. There is much New Testament evidence to support and conrm the covenantal inclusion of infants in the new covenant community. Note that the rite of baptism does not save a child (nor an adult), nor does it produce regeneration upon application. Christians are saved by the propitiation of Jesus through the cross, which is represented by the promissory sign of baptism. Additionally, parents are not required to baptize their infants in order to be members of Creekstone. However, we believe that the covenantal baptism of infants has strong biblical, theological and historical warrant. Infants baptized at Creekstone will be the children of Creekstone members.
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This is based on the afrmation that baptism is primarily a sign of Gods covenant promise rather than primarily a sign of our personal faith, which emphasizes the God-centeredness of baptism, where the essence of the sign is the gospel/justication. In baptism, we receive the promise of the gospel, which we continue to do daily and as a community, sacramentally, through the Lords Supper. Re-baptism could potentially, though unintentionally, call into question the promise of God.
4

Our position regarding the mode of baptism is not based on tradition, historical practice or personal preference, but on what we believe to be the weight of biblical evidence, which strongly suggests that Jesus baptism was by pouring rather than by immersion and that the biblical use of the Greek word baptizo is consistent with the pouring and sprinkling used in ceremonial washings (baptisms) in both the Old and New Testaments. Nevertheless, we do not view the validity of baptism to be associated with the mode of baptism and gladly welcome members who have received immersion as the mode of their baptism.
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The baptisms recorded in the New Testament were performed by recognized leaders in the church, in keeping with the principle of doing all things decently, in order, and under representative authority.

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CREEKSTONES PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

WE EMPHASIZE TEAM MINISTRY. The cultural, traditional model of church ministry teaches that the pastor or paid staff is hired to do the work of the ministry by serving the members. However, the biblical model is quite different. According to Ephesians 4:11-16, leaders such as pastor/ elders are to equip the members for ministry, so that the ordinary Christians can serve each other and so that the body can grow and function in a healthy, mature way. We emphasize that every member is a minister (every believer has a gift to use in ministry, whether up front or behind the scenes). We emphasize that every gift is valuable, signicant and necessary.
Ephesians 4:11-16 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

THE ROLE OF THE LEAD PASTOR In light of the biblical model of ministry we are seeking to follow, the lead pastor will focus on four primary areas of ministry: (1) communicating vision, (2) preaching the gospel, (3) leading/equipping the leaders and (4) prayer. Many traditional churches expect their lead/senior pastor to provide frontline pastoral care for each member. This may work in a very small church. But for a growing, outreach focused, team-based church, personal pastoral ministry by one person to every person is not effective in meeting the many pastoral needs in the body. If he tried to accomplish this goal, his primary pastoral ministry of teaching and leadership would suffer, as would the rest of the body (see Acts 6:1-7). Therefore, in order to create the opportunity for each person to receive adequate and effective care, we have created K-Groups. Additionally, we are partnered with several trained counselors who assist in providing specialized pastoral/shepherding care. Nevertheless, when there is no one equipped to provide adequate care (whether the members of a K-Group, an assistant pastor or a trained, professional counselor), the lead pastor will be glad and eager to shepherd the personal need. In addition to his professional roles, he also has personal roles, which include self-care (nurturing himself spiritually, relationally, physically and emotionally) and family care (nurturing his marriage, and discipling his children). Self and family care is a paramount concern, which he must not forsake, for the good of his own life as well as the good of the church. The greatest gift he can give to the church is his own personal, family and spiritual health. We want our lead pastor to minister from the overow of a deep well rather than from a shallow stream. THE ROLE OF OUR PASTOR OF COMMUNITY AND DISCIPLESHIP 1. Developing and overseeing our K-Groups 2. Recruiting and equipping our Ministry Team leaders 3. Developing and leading our Discipleship Ministry 4. Helping new folks/visitors get connected 5. To nurture his marriage, children and himself spiritually, relationally, physically and emotionally
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WHAT ABOUT MINISTRY PROGRAMMING? A church plant differs from an established church in that an established church typically has a facility and is often fully staffed, enabling it to offer numerous programs for a variety of life contexts. A church plant typically does not have a full-use facility and lacks the depth of stafng. This means that a church plant will not offer the breadth of program options that a established church will, even if the church plant has a larger attendance than many of the established churches in the area. If the plant tried to be program focused, then it would quickly over-tax its volunteer base. So, Creekstone is intentionally minimalist in our program philosophy, focusing on several key ministries that highlight teaching, community and outreach. With limited stafng, we encourage grassroots ministry. If someone has a desire for a ministry, he/she is welcome to approach church leadership with the idea. If the ministry ts within Creekstones mission/vision/philosophy, they are encouraged to pursue that dream as the coordinator of the ministry.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO AUTHENTIC, GRACE-SHAPED COMMUNITY. Some community is organized, such as our K-Group ministry. Other expressions of community are organic, such as unstructured friendships, random get togethers, etc.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO INTENTIONAL, LIFE-ON-LIFE, MISSIONAL DISCIPLESHIP. Discipleship is investing in the lives of a few by sharing life together and imparting Gods truth in such a way as to see them become mature, equipped, grace-centered, missional followers of Christ. Our Discipleship Philosophy: Think Big, Start Small and Go Deep! - We want do life together as spiritual friends. - We want to go deep in the gospel through study. - We want to learn to care about each other and encourage each other to live in line with the gospel. - We want each other to know that we are not alone. - We want to learn skills such as Bible interpretation and study, how to pray, lead our families, lead in the workplace, and share our faith, etc.

WE WANT ALL MEMBERS TO SERVE ON A MINISTRY TEAM. The Worship Team The Technology (A/V) Team The Nursery Team The Childrens Teaching Team (GraceKids) The Greeter and Hospitality Team The Facilities/Set Up Team The Usher Team

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CREEKSTONES HAS AN INTENTIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF WORSHIP Our worship service will include both historic elements as well as indigenous/contemporary elements. Our worship service will promote theological depth (Word) and encourage emotional expression (Spirit). Our worship music will be both confessional and devotional. Well use older songs and newer songs. Some songs are more confessional, using the third person. Others are more devotional, using the rst and second person. We afrm the use of string, woodwinds and percussion the entire range of instrumental expression. We enjoy acoustic sounds as well as electric. There often will be drums, and they may be loud (but not beyond an acceptable and appropriate decibel level). This is the example of Psalms such as 148-150. We aim for excellence, but do not expect perfection from those who lead. Although our worship team does lead, we want to avoid the appearance that they are performing. Rather, we emphasize that they are lead worshippers. This is why our set up front is rather simple and why we avoid ashing lights, smoke, and excessive movement from our musicians, etc. The tone of our worship will evoke a sense of both awe and intimacy. Sometimes the service will be more quiet and contemplative while other times loud and celebratory, echoing the tone of passages such as Psalm 150 that tell us to praise him with loud clashing cymbals! CREEKSTONE UTILIZES A REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT There are three general models of church government: Hierarchical (Episcopal, Methodist, Roman Catholic), Democratic (congregational, some Baptist churches), and Representative (Presbyterian) There also are three expressions of representative, Presbyterian government: local (the pastoral team/session), regional (the presbytery) and national (the general assembly) A representative government requires a plurality of pastor/elders to serve on the pastoral team/ the session. There are two kinds of pastor/elders who serve on the pastoral team/session: - Those who focus on preaching/teaching (usually vocational - paid) - Those who focus on governing/shepherding (usually non-vocational - unpaid) - Some will be bi-vocational HOW WE ARE ORGANIZED NOW The Pastoral Leadership Team oversees and equips our Ministry Coordinators/Team Leaders Ministry Coordinators/Team Leaders recruit, train, equip and oversee our... Ministry Volunteers, who are the life-blood of the ministry.

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IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHICH GAME WE ARE PLAYING AS A CHURCH PLANT

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MINISTRY/LEADERSHIP ALIGNMENT

Level V Leadership Strategic Alignment Organizational Alignment Goal > implements his ministry with enthusiasm Problems

IV

III

Philosophical Alignment

> fails to implement ministry > lacks enthusiasm > buys into the organizational structure, > subverts authority protocols, supervisor system, etc. of the > makes doing ministry hard for ministry others > knows his role on the team > not satised w/role on team >resistant to ideas that are not his > owns the mission/vision or that require more work > buys into the guiding principles/values of the >Does not fully buy in to the organization teams agenda, but is about his > agrees with the core commitments of the own agenda ministry > has a different vision for the > embraces the philosophy of ministry church > trusts others and others trust him > is a team player - prioritizes the team agenda over a personal agenda > refuses to spread a bad report > in sync with team leaders > a spirit of suspicion > out of sync with team leaders > spreads bad reports >loses trust > difcult to work with > more critical than encouraging; more negative than positive

II

Relational Alignment

Theological Alignment

>lacks spiritual evidences such as repentance and forgiveness > holds grudges (self-righteous; > shares our primary theological commitments cant see his/her own sin) > out of alignment with the core theological perspective

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Twelve Key Leadership Values for Creekstone Church

__________________________________________________________

1. Ownership A buy-in to the churchs vision and philosophy of ministry, and particularly the specic ministry in which one serves 2. Availability Time to do the ministry 3. Loyalty He is for others on the team, wants to see them succeed, He refuses to gossip / spread a bad report He goes to others directly when problems/conicts arise, and informs supervisors when having to go over his head 4. Positive attitude Doesnt turn a blind eye to the negative, but... Seeks the positive to every situation 5. Initiative Sees what needs to be done and does it 6. Teachability He is willing to receive instruction and correction Knows that he has areas that need improvement 7. Approachability Having a grace framework to his life, he is open to being approached about problems/issues, whether personal or professional Invites critique and in not defensive about it 8. Humility Will speak to and about others as if they are more important to the success of the team than he is He sees any new ideas he may propose as opinions (that might not even be good ideas at all), not as the only right way to do ministry 9. A spirit of encouragement toward others Will not criticize without a relationship of encouragement having been established Like parenting 10. Peacemaker Rather than creating division, he seeks to mend broken relationships and heal relational wounds Repents personally, forgives completely 11. Skill Has the ability to do an assigned ministry Or has the ability and is willing to be trained/equipped to do the ministry 12. Sense of humor Knows how to laugh with others and at himself
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CREEKSTONE HAS A NUMBER OF PARTNERSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS Perimeter Church (our sending church) The Presbyterian Church in America is our denomination Metro Atlanta Presbytery is our regional denominational association The North Georgia Church Planting Network Campus Outreach at NGCSU A special friendship with the Acts 29 Network A SHORT HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (PCA) Our roots go back to the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation. Presbyterianism migrated from Europe to North America in the seventeenth century with the Puritans. The Presbyterian church divided due to the Civil War: this led to the formation of the PCUS in the south) and the PCUSA in the north. Our denomination, the PCA, was founded in 1973 out of the PCUS with the goal of maintaining a high view of the Bible and Reformation theology, as well as a commitment to local and world missions. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLESSINGS OF BEING PART OF A HEALTHY, THEOLOGICALLY SOUND, MISSIONAL DENOMINATION We have theological accountability to a specic system of doctrine We have a court of appeal that can help mediate conict if necessary We have partnerships in missions

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MEMBERSHIP: DOING LIFE TOGETHER

WE HIGHLY VALUE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. Dr. John Pipers Primary Strands of Biblical Evidence - Shepherd/elder/pastors are called to care for the ock. They need to know the boundaries of the ock and specically who is part. Since elders receive believers into the ock by profession of faith, a formal opportunity for that profession and mutually agreed upon, covenantal relationship must be provided. That is membership Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-3 - Christians are to put their lives under shepherding care. This requires a covenantal, mutually agreed upon, formal relationship between sheep and shepherd Heb. 13:17; 1 Thes. 5:12-13; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Peter 5 - Discipline and excommunication can only be practiced if formal, recognized membership exists Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 Other considerations: - Married couples make the relationship formal through a covenantal oath. We would not say that merely living together is enough to dene and seal the relationship. The same is true with church membership. We do not think it best to merely date the church. - An organism has boundaries (like sheep have a pen and can be counted) > 1 Cor. 12 - the body (universally and locally) - Membership provides a covenantal way to experience committed community - Acts 2 - Membership provides the the context for biblical conict resolution - Phil. 4 - Membership provides an accountable context for discipleship 2 Timothy 2 - In membership, we promise to express practical love in a covenantal context 1 Jn 4 ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN A K-GROUP IS A VITAL PART OF BEING PART OF THE CREEKSTONE COMMUNITY K-Groups give context for expressing practical love. K-Groups provide the context for giving and receiving shepherding care. K-Groups are a key pathway for assimilation/connection into the Creekstone community. Each year we re-design these groups to make them more effective. BIBLICAL STEWARDSHIP AND GENEROSITY IS A SIGN OF A VIBRANT FAITH Please listen to the giving message, THE URGE TO SPLURGE at this link - http://buff.ly/15zERS2 Money is not a neutral issue; it is a spiritual/faith issue. Jesus talked about money more than he talked about heaven and hell combined. Where we give freely reveals what we love most dearly. Generosity validates genuine gospel faith. The tithe is the base-line giving standard established in the Old Testament. How should we then give in light of the fullness of Gods grace in Jesus, with a mission to fulll locally, regionally and globally? We expect every member of Creekstone to be, at minimum, a tithing member. If we are, we will never be short of resources to fulll our divine calling as a church of missional disciples.
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THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF MEMBERSHIP: member, child member, and associate member To join as an adult member, you may join by profession of faith, re-afrmation of faith or transfer from another church. Children may join as early as age 8 as a non-voting members by completing the childrens membership course with their parents. They may become adult, voting members at the age of 13. However, if joining as a child member, he/she must participate in Creekstone 101 by age 17, or be removed from membership. CREEKSTONES REQUIRES FIVE ESSENTIAL MEMBERSHIP AFFIRMATIONS 1. I acknowledge myself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving condemnation, and without hope except for His sovereign mercy. 2. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and receive and rest upon Him alone for my salvation/justication through faith as He is offered in the gospel. 3. I resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that I will endeavor to live in line with the gospel (as becomes a follower of Jesus). 4. I promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of my ability. 5. I submit myself to the governing oversight and shepherding discipline of the Church, and promise to promote its purity and peace. CREEKSTONE EXPECTS SEVEN BASIC MEMBERSHIP COMMITMENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. I will gather with my church family on Sundays for worship (unless providentially hindered). I will pursue community through participation in a K-Group. I will serve as an MTV Ministry Team Volunteer. I will invite people in my sphere of inuence to join me on Sundays so that they may be exposed to the gospel. 5. I will practice biblical stewardship, beginning with the base-level tithe. 6. I agree with Creekstones mission, core commitments and key values, afrm Creekstones philosophy of ministry and understand the unique dynamics of a church plant as well as the roles of the pastors and other leaders. 7. I will take the initiative to reconcile with members when there is conict. If the conict continues, I will seek the intervention of church leadership. THE PROCESS: NEXT STEPS Complete a membership questionnaire (download online/website, or use the attached form) Give the questionnaire to Andy Woznicki (ajwoznicki@gmail.com) Meet with Andy or McKay for the opportunity to ask questions and review the questionnaire Receive baptism (if not already baptized) and/or have your children baptized (not required for membership) Be recognized as a new member during a Sunday service

THE PATHWAY TO PARTICULARIZATION We must be self-sustaining nancially. We must be self-governed by an equipped, elected and ordained team of pastor/elders.
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STAFF AND MINISTRY LEADER CONTACT INFORMATION McKay Caston, Lead Pastor mckaycaston@gmail.com Andy Woznicki, Pastor of Community and Discipleship ajwoznicki@gmail.com Jesse Turk, Coordinator of Worship Arts creekstonemusic@gmail.com Tom Keel, Technology Coordinator tomkeel3@gmail.com Matt Stephenson, Pastoral/Administrative Assistant mbstep2055@gmail.com Graham Sibley, Coordinator of Youth Ministries gmsibl7262@northgeorgia.edu Jim Keane, Greeter and Hospitality Team Leader jimandjanetkeane@windstream.net Brett Howell, Set Up & Facilities Team Leader bahowe1437@gmail.com Dottie Smorey, Children and Nursery Ministry Team Leader creekstonechildrensministry@gmail.com Dean Legler, Logistics and Transportation Team Leader dean.legler@gmail.com Caleb Martin, Campus Outreach Director jcalebmartin@gmail.com

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McKays Personal Info. Bachelors in History and Literature from the University of Mississippi Masters and doctorate degrees from Covenant Theological Seminary Eighteen years of experience as a staff pastor, senior pastor and church planter Equipped as a church planter by Perimeter Church and the North Georgia Church Planting Network Married for 21 years to wife, Kristy, with three very cool kids, ages 17, 15 and 9. McKays Life Verses 2 Corinthians 12:9 & Acts 20:24: But [Jesus] said to me, "My grace is sufcient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me... I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may nish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given methe task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." ~ Paul the Apostle McKays Story Originally from Memphis, TN, I completed my high school education in Jackson, MS, before receiving a B.A. in History and Literature at the University of Mississippi, and eventually graduating with both masters and doctorate degrees from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. With almost fteen years of experience in ordained, pastoral ministry, I have served on several church staffs and as a lead pastor before joining Perimeter Church in the summer of 2007 as a Church Planter in Residence. My wife, Kristy, is from just outside of Yazoo City, Mississippi, and is a licensed (but non-practicing) pharmacist. With interests ranging from home-making, to philosophy, to classical education, to interior design, she enjoys teaching and deeply values time with friends. Kristy and I were married in June of 1992, and since, have added three children to our family, Ann Ferris (16), Schaeffer (14), and Sarah Wynn (8). They are totally on board with being a missionary family, understanding that God uses our brokenness, weakness and need as the channel through which he communicates his grace through us to others. This has not always been the case. For much of our lives, Kristy and I misinterpreted the gospel to be a form of moralism whereby God would accept and bless us based on our goodness (or at least if we were better than others). We lived like the Jews in Romans 10:3, Being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, [we] did not submit to Gods righteousness. By Gods grace, we are growing in our understanding of the substitutionary nature of the cross, of the imputation of Jesus righteousness, and of what it means to be dearly loved, adopted children of God. These doctrines have become very precious to us, and now serve as the centerpiece of our life and ministry.

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AN APPENDIX ON PREDESTINATION
THE TWO ANGLES of PREDESTINATION Everybody believes in predestination. No one denies that it is taught in the Bible. The question is how we interpret the teaching. It seems like the two sides have their pet passages from Scripture to which they appeal to support their position. This is confusing to many and I understand. To reconcile the apparent problem, consider the illustration of a lm-maker. He has some cameras on ground levelrom the perspective of the characters. But he also has sky-view cameras, revealing a God-like perspective from the heavens. This represents the two kinds of passages in the Bible that I think need to go together, rather than be separated when considering the topic of predestination. There are ground level passages such as John 3:16 (to which Arminians tend to quote) and the sky-view passages, such as Acts 13:48 (which Calvinists tend to quote). But they are both in the Bible. So, rather than being competing views, they should be seen as complementary viewsthe two angles of predestination. The ground level view John 3:16 (whosoever believes shall not perish)s The sky view Acts 13:48 (those who were appointed to eternal life believed)

THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE Reformation (Reformed) theology emphasizes the sovereign grace of God in salvation. In short, God saves sinners. Some call the distinctives of Reformation theology the doctrines of grace, which are also known as The Five Points of Calvinism. However, these Five Points were not written by John Calvin. There was a theological dispute in the early 1600s between disciples of Jacob Arminius and the ofcial doctrinal position of the Dutch church in the Netherlands, which had been inuenced by the teaching of John Calvin. Theologians gathered for several years to study the matter. Their ndings are known as The Canons of Dort, with the Five Points being a summary. The result of the controversy was a re-emphasis on the sheer grace of God in salvation. Below are the ve points, or doctrines of grace, with a few Scripture references listed for further study. Radical inability - We are unable to respond to the message of the gospel apart from Gods supernatural, initiating, regenerating grace (Eph 2:1-5, Col. 2:13, John 3:3, 6:44; Jer. 13:23, Rom. 3:10-18). Unconditional election - God has chosen a people whom to save, not based on their moral merit or foreseen faith, but out of his eternal love and the richness of his mercy and grace (Deut. 7:6-8; Eph. 1:3-6; Mt. 1:21, John 15:16; 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Col. 3:12; Rom. 8:29-30; Rom. 9:14-24). Denite atonement - Jesus substitutionary death didnt just make salvation possible, but actually secured the salvation of his people, the elect (Mt. 1:21; John 10:11, 26-29; Rev. 5:9). Irresistible grace - Those whom God has chosen to save will respond to the gospel and be saved (Acts 13:48, 16:14; Jn. 6:44; Rom. 8:29-30). Preservation of the saints - Those who are genuinely saved will be kept eternally saved by the preserving grace of God (John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:29-30; Phil. 1:6).
Thursday, April 25, 2013 21

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK! Please ll this out and return to Andy Woznicki after the nal session on Saturday morning. Thanks for helping us improve the Creekstone 101 seminar! What was your overall impression of the Creekstone 101 Seminar?

What would you have liked for us to cover which wasnt covered in the seminar?

What suggestions do you have for how we can improve Creekstone 101?

Any other comments?

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Creekstone Church Membership Questionnaire

Please give or email the completed application to Andy Woznicki (ajwoznicki@gmail.com) Personal Information (one form per joining member) Name: ____________________________________________________ Spouse: __________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________ City/Zip:_____________________________________________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________________________________________________ Home phone: _____________________________ Cell phone: _______________________________ Work phone: ______________________________ Marital Status: ___ Single ___ Married ___ Widowed ___ Divorced ___ Separated Anniversary Date: ____________________________ Birthday: ______________________________

Employer/Vocation: __________________________________________________________________ How did you hear about Creekstone? __________________________________________________ Children: (list more children on the back) Name Gender Birthday Grade Living at home?

____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

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I would like to join Creekstone: ___ By profession of faith ___ As a child member ___ By reafrmation of faith ___ By transfer from another church

___ Child member to adult member ___ As an associate member

If joining by transfer, please provide the following information: Church Name: _________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________________

I was baptized (when) ___________________________ (where) _____________________________ ___ I have not been baptized ___ My children have been baptized ___ My children have not been baptized ___ I would like to have my infant(s)/young child(ren) baptized (see below for specic questions) My hobbies and interests include: ___________________________________________________ What kinds of ministries have you been involved with in the past? I would like to serve on the following Ministry Team(s): ___ Nursery Team ___ Worship Team ___ Audio/visual Team ___ Usher Team ___ Childrens Teaching Team (Grace 4 Kids) ___ Greeter/Hospitality/Cafe Team ___ Facilities/Set Up Team ___ Youth Discipleship Team

I will faithfully participate in a K-Group as my primary source of connection and care. ____ Yes
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Please indicate your response to the following membership questions required by our denomination, the PCA: 1. I acknowledge myself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving condemnation, and without hope except for His sovereign mercy. ___ yes ___ no ___ I need more explanation/information

2. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and receive and rest upon Him alone for my salvation/justication through faith as He is offered in the gospel. ___ yes ___ no ___ I need more explanation/information

3. I resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that I will endeavor to live in line with the gospel (as becomes a follower of Jesus). ___ yes ___ no ___ I need more explanation/information

4. I promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of my ability. ___ yes ___ no ___ I need more explanation/information

5. I submit myself to the governing oversight and shepherding discipline of the Church, and promise to promote its purity and peace. ___ yes ___ no ___ I need more explanation/information

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TESTIMONY OF GRACE Every Christian should be able to answer two questions. The rst is, What is the gospel? The second is, What is the story of how you became a disciple of Jesus? In just a few sentences, answer the question: What is the Gospel? You may want to include themes such as sin, grace and faith. If you don't know the answer to this question, just let us know and well talk more about it in very simple terms during the membership appointment. I dont know how to put it in words? ____ What is the gospel? Here is my best answer...

_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

There are three parts to a persons faith story (a testimony of grace). First, tell us about your life before you were a disciple of Jesus. Second, tell us the circumstances of your conversion (may want to consider using terms such as sin, grace and faith), and third, tell us us a little bit about what God has been doing in your life since you became a disciple of Jesus.

_______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

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ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 1. Do you have any follow-up comments, questions, or concerns about any of the information in Creekstone 101?

2.

Do you have any follow-up comments, questions, or concerns about anything NOT covered in the resource articles?

3.

If you would like to have one or more of your children baptized, there are questions you'll have to answer at their baptism. These questions are designed to summarize the responsibilities of a Christian parent. They are: (1) Do you acknowledge your childs need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit? (2) Do you claim Gods covenant promises in (his/her) behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for (his/her) salvation, as you do for your own? (3) Do you now unreservedly dedicate you child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon the enabling grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to set before (him/her) a godly example of repentant faith, that you will pray with and for (him/her), that you will teach (him/her) the doctrines of the gospel, and that you will strive, by all the means of Gods appointment, to bring (him/her) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Do you have any questions about this process and/or the questions themselves?

4.

Please share any comments, questions, or concerns you have concerning our membership questions.

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PASTORAL INFORMATION 1. What positive and negative experiences have you had in churches in the past?

2.

Some of the people I know best at Creekstone are:

3.

Do you have any pastoral concerns that youd like to share with the Creekstone pastoral team?

4.

Do you have any personal health problems you want the Pastoral Team to know about?

5.

Do you have any particular family problems or concerns that you want the Pastoral Team to be aware of?

6.

Are there any child custody or child support arrangements that you want the Pastoral Team to know about?

7.

Have you ever been or are you now under any sort of church discipline that you want the Pastoral Team to know about?

8.

Do you have any specic concerns or questions that you denitely want to cover in the membership interview?

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PRINCIPLES OF BIBLICAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

A Commitment to Biblical Conict Resolution As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conict.1 We also believe that conict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ.2 Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on his grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conict according to the following principles: Glorify God Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.3 Get the Log out of Your Eye Instead of blaming others for a conict or resisting correction, we will trust in God's mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conictsconfessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.4 Gently Restore Instead of pretending that conict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them. When a conict with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.5 Go and be reconciled Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliationforgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually benecial solutions to our differences.6 By God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specic results, but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers will bring praise to our Lord and lead others to know His innite love.7 1 Matt. 5:9; Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26. 2 Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; James 1:2-4. 3 Ps. 37:1-6; Mark 11:25; John 14:15; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; James 3:17-18; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12. 4 Prov. 28:13; Matt. 7:3-5; Luke 19:8; Col. 3:5-14; 1 John 1:8-9. 5 Prov. 19:11; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; James 5:9. 6 Matt. 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Phil. 2:3-4. 7 Matt. 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19.

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THE CREEKSTONE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP COVENANT

Having afrmed the ve essential membership afrmations, I desire to become an ofcial member of this local church, placing myself under its spiritual oversight. In doing do, I make the following commitments, that for me are implications of the gospel and opportunities of experiencing the blessing of life in community: I will gather with my church family on Sundays for worship (unless providentially hindered by sickness, distance, etc.) I will pursue community through active participation in a K-Group I will serve as an MTV Ministry Team Volunteer I will invite people in my sphere of inuence to join me on Sundays so that they may be exposed to the gospel. I will practice biblical stewardship, beginning with the base level tithe. I agree with Creekstones motto, mission, vision and values, afrm Creekstones philosophy of ministry and understand the unique dynamics of a church plant as well as the roles of the pastors and other leaders I will take the initiative to reconcile with members when there is conict. If the conict continues, I will seek the intervention of church leadership. I understand that the above commitments cannot be maintained without the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in my life. Therefore, my ultimate pursuit is to believe the gospel personally as I live in community with others as a member of Creekstone Church.

Signature

Date

This is a membership renewal commitment: _________ (please check if yes)

Thursday, April 25, 2013 30