Life Commitments of The Grove: These commitments were created from the purpose and vision of the church. Below the Life Commitments are tangible expressions of how this is lived out.
LOVE GOD
Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38
GROWTH
Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:13-16
Be imitators of God... Ephesians 5:1
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing. 2 Corinthians 3:18
PRAYER
"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:21-22
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23
SPIRIT-DRIVEN
The spirit within me compels me. Job 32:18
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit sys the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4: 6
LOVE OTHERS
The second commandment is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31
COMMUNITY
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:42-46
Show proper respect for everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers. 1 Peter 2:17
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit. Ephesians 4:2-5
ADVOCACY
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Philemon 1:7
And let us consider how we might spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25
SERVICE
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. Deuteronomy 14:21-23
LIVE OUT
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19-20
MISSIONAL
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:37
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity. Ephesians 5:15-16
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
MULTIPLICATION
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philippians1:6
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. Acts 8:4-6
EQUIP
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God. Acts 20:20
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7
