Maximum Injoyment in Christ

Distinctives and Community

Preeminent is The Glory of God/God-Driven – Because the Bible teaches that the chief end of God is to glorify (to make much of Himself) God and enjoy Himself forever (Romans 11:36, Isaiah 48:9-11), we believe that our highest goal is to make God look good (to display His infinite beauty as He really is) in every area of life (Isaiah 26:8, 1st Corinthians 10:31).  This display of the worth and beauty of God is never more on display in the lives of His people than in their Maximum InJoyment in Christ (Psalms 73:25).  We believe that the more we are “filled up with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19 or Maximum InJoyment in Christ) through the indwelling Holy Spirit, the more set free we will be to live lives of radical, risk-taking, obedience for Christ.  We passionately believe that life is not all about us, but all about God.  God is to be the sun at the center of the solar system of our lives. 

Christ-Intoxication – The Bible teaches that the glory and beauty of God is revealed through the person and work of Jesus Christ, Who is fully God and fully man (1st Corinthians 4:6).  Therefore, if we are to live for the glory of God then the only way we can do that is through a deeper and deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ.  And wonder of all wonders, that is exactly why Jesus Christ came to our sin-sick planet.  For it is only through His perfect obedience (in thought, word, deed, and affection) and His perfect death (diverting and enduring the wrath of God) on His people’s behalf that we can have an intimate and loving relationship with God (Isaiah 53:10, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 3:21-28, John 17:3). Therefore, we desire to live intoxicated on Jesus Christ.

Bible Craving – We believe the 66 books of the Bible to be the only inspired, without error, words of the Triune God and therefore is to be our life.  The Bible is sufficient for every area of life and is to inform, guide, and be our standard in everything.  The Bible is the very breath of God and is therefore the Christian’s book of survival.  We must read, memorize, and mediate upon it at all costs (Psalm 119:20, Matthew 4:4).  All of our purposes, methods, priorities, and goals must be birthed from and informed by the Bible and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible is nothing but Truth and we will strive to never sacrifice Truth on the altar of what “works”, “numbers”, “man-centeredness”, “ministry success”, or the approval of man.  We possess a craving to be maximally Biblical in every area of our lives and in this ministry.  This would certainly include highlighting true Biblical conversion and assurance (John 3:5, Philippians 1:6, Matthew 7:16-20, & Hebrews 12:8).

Militant ‘w’ Means of Grace – The Bible teaches that as Christians behold the glory of God they become more like Him.  Or as Christians see more of the glory of God they are being transformed or changed from one degree of glory to another.  The Holy Spirit of God is the Person Who dwells within Christians and it is He Who is responsible for our transformation (2nd Corinthians 3:18).  Therefore, it is vital that we use the methods that the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit uses to transform us into becoming more like the beauty of Christ.  These Divine methods are the teaching and preaching of the Word of God, Godly fellowship, prayer, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (in the context of corporate worship).  Therefore, M.I. will be militant and dominated with the use of these Means of Grace.  The glory of God’s reality in the world is at stake through our Maximum InJoyment in Christ through the use of the Means of Grace.  To not avail ourselves to them would be wicked, spiritually suicidal, and unbiblical.  Biblical Truth is what transforms people and not entertainment.  Therefore, lives that have been transformed through Biblical Truth should always be our main advertisement or “draw” and NEVER man-centered entertainment.

Evangelism & Discipleship as Life – As being the Sovereign and Supreme Ruler over all things, the Lord Jesus Christ demands that all of His disciples live and breathe evangelism (declaring the good news of His great gospel of salvation to all peoples) throughout their lives.  Our King of Ages also demands that His followers live and breathe discipleship and make disciples.  The content of discipleship is learning and teaching all of the demands of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).  The Means of Grace are to be the primary methods of discipleship.  Other methods may include Small Group, one-on-one discipleship and accountability, weekend (Truth-Driven and not entertainment-driven) conferences, and Biblically saturated books (like the Puritans).

Parent & Family-Celebrated Ministry – M.I. exists as a tool that can be taken out of Parent’s toolboxes and used for the discipleship of their sons and daughters.  As the covenant people of God we celebrate that the Kingdom/Family of God is supremely grown through Godly offspring.  We believe that the Bible is crystal clear that the primary responsibility for the discipleship and discipline of students are their Godly parents (Genesis 18:19, Exodus 13:8,9,14-16, Deuteronomy 6:4-15, 20-21, Psalm 78:1-8, Judges 2, Matthew 19:14, Joel 1:3, Deu. 4:9, 11:18-19, Colossians 3:12-21, 1st Timothy 3:4-15, Proverbs 1:7-9, 13:24, 22:15, 23:13, 14, 19:18, 29:15, Revelation 3:19, Hebrews 12:6, Ephesians 6:1-4, Ps. 145:1-13, Ex. 16:32, 12:17, 31:13, Leviticus 23:43, & Joshua 4:21-24).  The Ministry of M.I. should always and only be viewed as a strengthening help-mate for parents with their God-given roles, and never replacing parental roles.  M.I. also seeks to be a supporter for the celebration and teaching of the Biblical principles of parenthood within the Church, as well as, an advocate for holding parents accountable with the fulfillment of those God-called principals within the context of their families.  M.I. does not revolve around what our sinful man-centered culture might define as the “unique needs or desires”, “generation gap or adolescent years” of children and young people, but instead revolves around what God defines as their needs and desires found within His Holy Word.  M.I. also believes that the Biblical model for the discipleship of children and students of both believing and unbelieving parents should ideally and mainly be done by Christian “Older men and women” within the body of Christ at Grace Fellowship (Titus 2:1-14).  M.I. loves the family unit and desires to celebrate the family because families make up “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10) and are an extension of the family of the Godhead.  Parents, relatives, and/or Guardians are always encouraged to plan or attend and are always welcome at all Maximum InJoyment in Christ functions.

Adapted from anchoredintruth.org