The Blog

CHBC Connect for August 2, 2024

God’s Vision for CHBC: 3 Piers, 3 Pillars, and 3 Purposes
3 Piers: Centrality of the Scriptures; The Lordship of Christ; and the Glory of God

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

What an outrageous claim! All authority? We would struggle if anyone in any circumstance claimed this kind of authority. We know that the president of our company submits to a board of directors. The president of the United States is checked by the other branches of government.

But as Christians we not only accept the Lordship of Christ, but we also rejoice in it. It delights us. We celebrate it.

• Christ is Lord because He is God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” (John 1:1).
• Christ is Lord because in His human nature He has accomplished perfect obedience, has won salvation for us, and has been given complete dominion as His reward. “which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all,” (Eph. 1:20-23).
• Therefore, we are to serve Christ with our whole heart, in all our life, all the time. “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him,” (John 12:26).
• Therefore, serve Christ because…

• Christ is enthroned and deserves our obedience.
• Christ is altogether lovely and completely worthy of all our service.
• It is God's command for us to serve him.
• We were created and designed and destined for this service.
• We will find the deepest satisfaction and joy in life only in this service.
• The Holy Spirit empowers us for this service. (List used from https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-lordship-of-christ/)

By His Grace and For His Glory,

Pastor Mark

CHBC Connect for July 19, 2024

God’s Vision for CHBC: 3 Piers, 3 Pillars, and 3 Purposes
3 Piers: Centrality of the Scriptures; The Lordship of Christ; and the Glory of God

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

When we talk about the vision of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, we must first talk about the foundation upon which God established the church. We define that foundation with three distinct piers, or foundation stones. The first of those piers is the centrality of the Scriptures.

Apart from God Himself, nothing is more enduring or more necessary. A church is not a church and cannot function as a church if it ignores the word of God or makes the word of God serve its own ideas of purposes.

Since the Scripture is inspired by God the church must not treat it as suggestive or relative to time and culture. The church must embrace it as timeless, powerful, and authoritative. We make the Word of God the base of all we are and all we do. 

How do we accomplish this part of our vision? First, by keeping it central to our corporate worship. Second, by using the Bible as the curriculum of each of our Sunday morning Sunday school and Bible study classes. Third, by consulting the Bible in determining the polity and practice of the church. Last, by following its central theme of the gospel as the mission of every ministry and activity.

By His Grace and For His Glory,

Pastor Mark