What is the Southern Baptist Convention?

It is the largest association of Christian churches in America. One in every ten churches in America is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. (40,000 churches and 15 million members - more than most other denominations combined.) It is the most diverse association of churches. They include every race, nationality and ethnic group. Each Sunday services are held in over 80 languages in the US. It is the fastest growing group of evangelicals in America.

Why isn't the church just an independent church?

Southern Baptists believe in something called the autonomy of the local church. This means that every local church is autonomous or independent. There is no denominational hierarchy or control from the denomination. Each church is self-governed and determines it own affairs. For example: Every church chooses its own Pastor and Pastors. Every church owns its own buildings and assets. Every church determines its own programs and literature. At the same time there are some tremendous advantages of being part of this association of churches and Christians. It allows us to identify with other Christians around the world who are known for their commitment to the Bible. Unlike other groups the Southern Baptist Convention has no creeds. The Bible is the sole guide for faith and practice. It allows our church to participate in the largest missionary organization in the world. Every church can voluntarily contribute mission’s money through the convention through what is called the Cooperative Program. This program supports over 7,500 missionaries in 104 countries around the world. It also sponsors state Christian Colleges, hospitals, children’s homes, etc. This would not be possible on this scale by any one church alone.

Are we identified with any other groups?

Yes. We also are identified with all other Southern Baptist Churches in the state of Florida. Those churches make up the Florida Baptist Convention. This convention exists to do missions and education work on a state level. It operates much like the Southern Baptist Convention. We are also affiliated with churches in the Jacksonville Baptist Association. This is comprised of Southern Baptist Churches in our immediate area. We cooperate with them to do local missions work.

How do you join this church?

YOU MAY JOIN THIS CHURCH IN ONE OF FOUR WAYS.
You may join by PROFESSION OF FAITH in Jesus Christ and following him in baptism by immersion. This is the normal way of joining the church. The Church is a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ. Therefore, there are things each person must do before joining. He must have received Jesus as his personal savior as described in our first session and have followed him in baptism.

You may join by TRANSFERRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP LETTER from another church of like faith and practice. If you have received Jesus as your personal savior already and have already been baptized by immersion then you simply transfer your membership. That is a simple office procedure. Our church office notifies your former church, out of courtesy that you have become a member here. They will then remove you from their rolls and we will put you on the roll of this church.

You may join upon your STATEMENT of faith in Christ and your baptism. If you have been a member of a church or received Christ in your heart in the past and been baptized by immersion but do not know where your membership is, you may join upon your statement of faith. In simple words, “We take your word for it.”

You may join by BELIEVERS BAPTISM . You may have received Christ in your heart in the past but have never been previously baptized by immersion. Many of our people were baptized as infants or come from a church background where they were sprinkled. They simply join by being baptized as a believer in Christ who is being baptized by immersion.

EVERY PERSON WHO SEEKS TO JOIN CROSSWATER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE NEW MEMBERS CLASS AND SIGN A MEMBERSHIP COVENANT UPON COMPLETION OF THAT COURSE BEFORE THEY ARE OFFICIALLY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. UNTIL SUCH TIME THE PERSON WILL BE CONSIDERED A “CANDIDATE FOR MEMBERSHIP.” THIS IS TRUE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE A NEW CHRISTIAN OR YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN COMING FROM ANOTHER CHURCH.

When can I join this church?

At the conclusion of our services on the weekend, the Pastor gives people and opportunity to respond by using a “Communication Card.” There is a place on that card to indicate that you wish to become a part of Crosswater Community Church. You may check that box and indicate your desire to join. You will then be considered a “candidate for membership” and be enrolled in the next Membership 101 class.

You may also join by making an appointment with one of our pastors and discussing this with him in his office. You may also join by attending the Membership Class and indicating there that you wish to join.

In either case you will be technically considered a candidate for membership until such time as you have formally completed the new member’s class and signed the membership covenant.

Upon making it known that you wish to become a member of the church family you will be informally introduced in one of the Sunday morning worship services, as a candidate for membership, so our people can be introduced to our newest family members. Upon completion of the New Members class and the signing of the membership covenant you will formally become a member.

Are there different levels of membership in the church?

Yes and No. No in the sense that every one in the church stands on equal ground before the Lord Jesus Christ. We have all been received into his family by his grace and mercy. None of us deserve to be a part of this family except that Christ, in his mercy, died for us and extended his love toward us while we were still sinners. He then forgave us and made us a part of this family.

Yes, in the sense that as a church we have sought to have a strategy to fulfill our mission statement. In the world and in the church there are people who are at different levels of spiritual awareness and growth.

We have designed a strategy to reach people for Christ at different levels within our community. At the same time we have designed a strategy whereby we are able to cultivate our people’s faith into a mature faith. It is our desire to equip every member to become a minister in his or her own right.

What are the different levels of spiritual awareness?

We use the following circles to reflect where people are in relationship to Christ and our church family. The goal of our church is to reach people in the outer and move them into the inner circle. In essence we want to move them from the community into the core of the church.

THE COMMUNITY: This represents the pool of unchurched people within driving distance of our church. These people have made no commitment to Christ or the church. It is the largest circle because it contains the largest number of people. It is our goal to reach them with the good news about Jesus. Within that circle are people who have visited our church that we consider to be our hottest prospects.

THE CROWD: This group is composed of people who show up for our services on Sunday. They are regular attendees. This group consists of believers and non-believers. They may have made no commitment to Christ but yet the fact that they are continually attending worship is a significant step of progress.

THE CONGREGATION: This group is made up of the official members of our church. They have received Jesus as their personal savior and have been baptized by immersion. They have attended the membership class and have signed a membership covenant.

THE COMMITTED: This group is composed of members of our church who have taken the next step in commitment to exhibit a genuine seriousness about their faith. They are dedicated to growing in discipleship. They have completed the “Maturity Class 201” and have signed a “maturity covenant” indicating a commitment to their spiritual habits. 1. Having a daily quiet time, 2. Tithing ten percent of their income, and 3. Being active in some small group.

THE CORE: This circle represents the smallest group in our church. It involves the deepest level of commitment. They are dedicated to ministering to others. They lead in various ministries of the church such as teachers, deacons, musicians, sponsors, and so on. These people have completed our class on spiritual gifts, “Networking” to discover how God has gifted them to minister in the body of the church.

How do you target these groups?

THE COMMUNITY: We target these people with love and acceptance. We seek to be very open and welcoming to new people. We focus on newcomers. We seek to create an atmosphere of acceptance. We are willing to let non-believers be where they are in their lives. We try to meet their most basic needs. We reach them through the mail, the phone, etc. We seek to have “bridge events” where we touch the community and areas of concern where even the non-churched have an interest. We also use the Sunday morning services as the primary place to attract seekers from the community. The services are designed with them in mind. We allow them to watch us worship. The messages are practical and apply to the lives of the unchurched. We do not use Sunday morning as the time to disciple believers but to reach the seeker. We seek to make the services warm, exciting, friendly and highly energetic. We seek to have people join a small group within their geographical area to be introduced to new friends and the Christian principles that can change their lives.

THE CROWD: We target the crowd by loving them, meeting their needs and teaching them in an interesting and practical manner. Our focus is on newcomers, not just each other. It is easy for a church to turn inward and exist for its own sake. We believe we exist for those not yet our members. We make sacrifices for them. We want to think like the person who comes onto our property for the fit time. We seek to create ministries with reaching new people in mind. We do not expect unbelievers to act e believers. Like Jesus we are willing to take people where they are, in order to get them where they need to be. We acknowledge that there is a different code of conduct for the congregation and the crowd. We had rather have a man or woman who has a pagan philosophy of life and lifestyle in church than not in church. We can love them without approving of their lifestyles.

We also want to know the basic needs of the unchurched person in our area. This person is not necessarily looking for truth but he is looking for relief. We target him in our Sunday morning worship service. This is not the time to increase the knowledge level of the congregation but the time to reach the heart of the crowd or the seeker. The deeper truths of the Christian faith are taught in other areas of ministry of the church, not when the crowd is present. We do seek a balance of contemporary worship and a seeker-oriented service. We do have an element of praise and worship in the services. We are aware that unbelievers are not “into worship.” Yet they can watch us worship and be drawn into the mystery of what there is to this worship experience. The service will utilize dramas, videos and other contemporary approaches to enhance the written and spoken word to the crowd.

We seek to have people join a small group within their geographical area to be introduced to new friends and the Christian principles that can change their lives.

THE CONGREGATION: It is our desire to move people from the crowd into the congregation. We want them to associate with the church and then to be assimilated into the Life of the church. We have certain standards of people who join the church. It has often been said that the easiest place in town to join is a Baptist church. You show up once and join. You do not have to come to any of the meetings or pay any dues. Just get your name on the roll. It is our desire to not let that happen.

Therefore, to target this group we set certain standards for membership. If standards are not set, then one cannot expect standards to be met. We expect the following of our members. First they must have had a genuine experience of personally inviting Christ into their lives. They must have openly confessed their faith in Christ through baptism. they must have attended a membership class. At the conclusion of that class they must sign a membership covenant. These are basic standards that all of our members should be able to meet. We, therefore, target this group through our membership class. We believe that “membership has its privileges.” Being a member publicly identifies you with the church family. This is your church. Membership provides a family for you. One of our themes is that “we’re home for you.” We do provide a home atmosphere for our members. Being a member also gives you an opportunity to discover your God-given gifts. You have a channel through which you can exercise those gifts in coordination with others. It places you under the spiritual protection of Christian leaders. Membership also provides a source of accountability for your faith - others are depending on you.

*The covenants are listed in the last session on our Structure.

THE COMMITTED: As when a couple has a new child, we are not only concerned with the birth of the child but with the development of the child. After they have come into our congregation, we are committed to their spiritual growth. We want to develop positive and healthy habits into their lifestyles. Therefore, we target this group by providing a track for them to run on. We set out a course of growth for them to follow. Sunday nights and Wednesday nights are our primary places of training. This is where we cultivate or equip the saints.

On Wednesday evenings we offer many wide-ranging ministries to the whole church. There are places of service for most of our members. We also offer a mid-week Bible study service taught by the Senior Pastor. This is a service for believers.

There is a spiritual growth path, much like a career path, that we have designed for people to move from the circle of the congregation to the committed. Using a baseball diamond we illustrate that path.

To reach first base is to become a part of the congregation. We offer the Membership 101 class. This is our Membership Class that you are presently taking. Upon completion of this class you will sign the “membership covenant.”

In order to be in the circle labeled “The Committed” you must reach second base. Second base consists of a class designated as 201. This is a maturity class called “Maturity Class 201”. This class covers the basics in the Christian life. At the conclusion of the 201 class you are given an opportunity to sign a “Maturity Covenant” that calls for a deeper level of commitment than the membership covenant.

A deeper level of commitment and service is available in Ministry Class 301. Here believers are taught that God has gifted them with a S.H.A.P.E. for ministry. In this class you will discover how God can use you to make a difference in the world you live in.

An ongoing ministry is our home plate called Missions 401. Here we help people discover God’s ever growing ministry for their lives.

A. THE CHURCH IS A BODY. IT IS A FAMILY OF BAPTIZED BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.

The church has been described as a building, a bride, etc. We love the analogy of the church as a body.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many they form one body.” Inverse 27 it says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.”

B. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY.

As members of the body of Christ we have a special relationship to Him.

We are related to him by Possession. It is the body of Christ. He is the head or the owner of the body. The church is to be under his direction and control. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 2:19; Matthew 23:1-8; 1 Peter 5:4)

We are related to him by Purpose. It is the body of Christ. We are the agent that carries out the commands of the head. We are to function as his ministering agent on earth. The direction of the church is set. No one owns the church. It is his family and belongs to him. Its agenda is divinely set.

C. GOD GIFTS THE BODY WITH SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “It was he (Jesus) 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.”

In order for the body (or the church) to grow and function properly, God gave the body spiritual leadership. The Pastors are listed among those who give that to the church. The word “Pastor” comes from the Greek POIMENAS. It means a “shepherd or sheep herder.” It refers to the pasturing, herding, leading or shepherding of the sheep. This is to be the person who takes on spiritual responsibility for the spiritual welfare and direction of the members of the body.