1. Presence Focused (Worship/intercession)

God defined his house saying: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations (Is 56). The early church allowed the Holy Spirit to move freely and un-hindered. God could have given any definition He wanted to give to His house. He could have called it a house of preaching for all people. He could have called it a house of evangelism for all people. He could have called it a house of programs, social activities, children’s workshops, and equipping centers. But of all of those things, He chose to call His house a house of prayer for all nations. Communion with the presence of God is central and is foundational for the Church. The Holy spirit will always have complete and un-hindered reign in all that we do. We will do things decently and in order, but order should always serve the Spirit. Spirit should never serve order.

 

2. 5 fold leadership structure

The bible clearly lays out five leadership offices that are intended to work together as one unit, and for one purpose: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [a]edifying of the body of Christ”. No single one of these ministry offices has the complete picture nor the ability to lead in a complete way on its own. The gathering together of believers is primarily for the equipping of those believers so that they might go out into their spheres of influence and “do the work of ministry”. As such, when we gather at The altar, our primary focus is not to create a comfortable space for un-believers, although they are always welcomed. Our purpose is to equip followers of Jesus and to ensure that they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

3. Un-compromised Biblical Teaching

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. What is needed today is the preaching and teaching of the un-compromised, un-watered down word of God. In a culture where it is becoming more and more popular to offer self help lessons and easily palatable teachings, we must be committed to delivering the word of God in love but without compromise. Paul warned us that the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

 

4. Teach, Equip, empower, and facilitate wholeness in people: release them into their calling. (Ephesians 4)

 

5. God’s enduring covenant with Israel. Romans 9-11