The Essential Reforms of
The Network of Neighborhood Churches.
“[You] have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the deeds you did at first...”
“ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ”
The reforms of our church are inspired by Jesus command to remember what it was like at the beginning. Eagerness to be obedient to Christ resulted in an enthusiastic love for one another. It made church life the daily reality of “bearing one another’s burdens and so fulling the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). The goodness and the wisdom of God was on display for all to see as God’s people got to live in a kingdom ruled by a competent King.
But then, the dust of worldliness and church tradition began to stick to the feet of Christ’s young bride. God sent church reformers again and again to rinse away the road grime with the washing of water by the word. As long as she is walking in this world “the reformed church must always be reforming.” The Network of Neighborhood Churches in Portland, Oregon is simply another round of that process. Prayerfully, respectfully, humbly, but boldly we attempt to remember our first love, repent and do again the deeds we did as Christ’s church in the beginning.
The Essential Reforms of our church are listed below:
(Click on each for a brief explanation.)
Reform #1 —“We Exist to Glorify God”
Reform #2 —“Reformed in Our Doctrine” — We Rejoice in the Soverign Grace of God
Reform #3 —“Charismatic in Ministry” — We Speak & Serve God With Spiritual Gifts
Reform #4 —“Evangelical in Our Mission” — The Great Commission Is a Way of Life
Reform #5 —“Spirit & Truth in Our Worship” — Praise God With Sound Doctrine
Reform #6 — “Pulpit Centered in Our Bible Teaching” — Protecting Our Doctrine
Reform #7 — “Christ-like in Our Standards” — Allowing God to Define What Is Right
Reform #8 — “Full Accord as One Body” — Mobilizing for Effective Impact
Reform #9 — “Household-like in Our Polity” — Living as the Household of the Faith
Reform #10 — “Age-Integrated in Our Culture” — Including All Ages in Our Lives
Reform #11 — “Rejoicing In Our Love Feasts” An Offering to God That We Share
Reform #12 — “Devoted to Hospitality” — Our Households Are God’s Embassies
Reform #13 — “Productive in Our Fellowship” — Including Rather Than Entertaining Reform #14 — “Exemplary in Our Leadership” — Authoritative, Not Authoritarian
Reform #15 — “Jurisdictional In Our Obligations” — The Right Things at Right Times
Reform #16 — “Responsible in Our Liberty” — Freedom Under Lordship
Reform #17 — “Complimentarian In Our Gender Roles” — Biology Is Destiny
Reform #18 — “Grace In Our Giving” — Living Generously In Our Liberty
Reform #19 — “Faithful In Our Finances” — Ministers, Members & Missions
Reform #20 — “Reproductive in Our Growth” — Quickly Planting New Churches
Reform #21 — “Resourceful in Our Facilities” — Publicly & House to House
Reform #22 — “Consociational in Our Fellowship” — Friendship In Ministry
Reform #23 — “Prescriptive in Our Missions” — Submitting to the Biblical Examples
Reform #24 — “Eschatological in Our Ecclesiology” — Equiping for the End Times