Our Message – The Gospel
Every church has a core foundational message. In a time when there is so much disunity, distraction and confusion, we need a rallying point. That rallying point is something called the Gospel. We are a Gospel-Centred Church.
The gospel is the good news of God’s grace invading the darkness of this world. It is the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation ordained by God and orchestrated through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Christ’s crucifixion is the heart of the gospel. His resurrection is the power of the gospel. His ascension is the glory of the gospel. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have in glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Christ’s death is a substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. It satisfies the demands of God’s holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men can be saved. Sojourn is a Gospel-Centred church.
Because the Gospel changes everything. We believe the gospel completely transforms not only our lives, but also how we view all of life.
- It changes how we view ourselves: we learn to admit that we are more sinful and selfish than we could have imagined.
- It changes how we view God: we learn to marvel that we are more loved and forgiven than we could ever dare hope. Christ gives us a radically new identity, freeing us from both self-righteousness and self-condemnation.
- It transforms how we view others: as divine image-bearers of incredible value and dignity. He liberates us to accept people we once excluded, and to break the bondage of things (even good things) that once drove us. In particular, the gospel makes us welcoming and respectful toward those who do not share our beliefs.
Because the gospel isn’t the A-B-C’s but the A-Z of Christianity. It’s not the first “step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of truth. It is not just the minimum required doctrine for salvation, but it is the heart and the point of all doctrine. It is not just the minimum required truth necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom. Here’s the point. We never “get beyond the gospel” in our Christian life to something more “advanced”. We are not justified by the gospel and then sanctified by good works. The gospel is also the way we grow (Gal.3:1-3) and are renewed (Col.1:6). It is the solution to each problem, the key to each closed door, the power through every barrier (Rom.1:16-17). That’s why the gospel needs to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving.
It is very common in the church to think: “The gospel is for non-Christians. One needs it to be saved. But once saved, you grow through hard work and obedience.” But Col.1:6 shows that this is a mistake. Both confession and “hard work” that is not arising from and “in line” with the gospel will not sanctify you–it will strangle you. All our problems come from a failure to apply the gospel. Thus, when Paul left the Ephesians he committed them “to the word of his grace, which can build you up” (Acts 20:32)
Thanks to Tim Keller and his many books and sermons from which most of the key ideas here are drawn from extensively.
Because the gospel opposes everything. Think of it this way. The gospel opposes both religion and irreligion. On the one hand “religion” (or moralism) stresses truth or performance over grace, for it says that we must obey to be saved and be accepted by God. This person says, “I obey, therefore I am accepted“. On the other hand, “irreligion” (or relativism) stresses grace over truth, for it says that we are all already accepted by God (if there is a God) and we must decide what is true for us. Irreligion operates on the principle of self-acceptance and obeys “self” as lord. But truth without grace isn’t really truth; and grace without truth isn’t really grace. Jesus was full of “grace and truth”.
Any religion or philosophy of life that de-emphasizes one of these aspects, falls into legalism or license and either way, the joy and power and “release” of the gospel is stolen. This is why the gospel is radical, because the real gospel gives us a God far more holy than religion can bear (since our moralism is considered filthy rags before him according to the bible) and it gives us a God far more loving than irreligion can imagine (since his love cost him dearly). The only way to approach God is on the basis of sheer grace. The gospel operates on the principle: “I am accepted through Christ by sheer grace; therefore, I obey.”
Thanks to Tim Keller and his many books and sermons from which most of the key ideas here are drawn from extensively.
The truth of the gospel is a message that cannot simply be acknowledged. It requires a response, a decision, a choice between two ways to live. To find out how to make that choice check out this link www.twowaystolive.com and if you do, please contact us so we can help you in the next steps of your journey with Jesus Christ.
Our Core Values
These values reflect our heart, prayers and hopes for what we seek to become as a church and how we go about doing it. It’s not enough to say that we are “gospel-centred” or that we our doctrinal beliefs and distinctives clearly stated. Core values deal with the things we should sense, observe, and emphasize in the way we go about ministry.
Since Christians are formed, grown, and shaped by God’s Word, biblical literacy is key to spiritual health and grow. Although expository preaching (taking passages of scripture, explaining its meaning and applying it to life) is the main approach in our messages, occasional topical sermons or series may be used as appropriate for the needs of the church. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2
We aim to life high the name of Jesus through worship
Our worship services are designed to both build up those who believe and to challenge and help those who doubt or seek. Our worship approach may be eclectic in that we aim to draw from the wells of various worship styles including contemporary, historical, cross-cultural and liturgical elements to help people passionately experience the presence of God. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
We believe firmly in the power of prayer
We are completely dependent on God through humility and prayer. We cannot grow in the gospel or walk in the ways of Jesus without the Spirit’s help. As a church we want to pray for God to do great things in and through us that would otherwise be impossible without Him. “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18
We are saved to grow as engaged disciples both in the church and in all of life
God empowers and equips every member for service in the church and mission in the world. We use our gifts to strengthen the body by worshiping together, working together, and walking with Jesus together. We are then sent into the world to love, serve, and bless our neighbours. This happens because of transformed lives; people who become more like him, loving him not just with our heads, but with our hearts and hands too. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
We are called to build an unconventional community marked by grace and love
Jesus not only saves us as individuals, He saves us into a new community of grace. We will fight the impulse for secluded individualism in favour of the authentic community Jesus calls us to. In a world marked by deep divisions and chaos, we will aim for a church personality that reflects a gentle spirit vs. a hostile spirit, empathizing vs. taking offense, listening vs. dismissing, peacemaking vs. partisan rage, supporting the weak vs. promoting self and most important: King Jesus vs. earthly rulers. “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3
We seek to reflect the ethnic and global peoples in the city we serve
It is a joy and privilege to be involved with and learn from brothers and sisters from different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Our desire is to find the Spirit of God working among us so much so that we see more of his glory in and through a bold ethnic harmony that reveals God’s infinite worth and the power of the gospel in a visual and captivating way. The Scriptures teach that there are two races—the race of the first Adam and the race of the Last Adam. It is only ‘in Christ’ that we can realize this identity. Our different cultures carry individual history, traditions, and legacies, but the gospel transcends them and captures them for Christ, making us a new people: the family of God. “…for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God” Revelation 5:9
We desire to see London and its surrounding regions renewed by the power of Jesus Christ
Our vision is rooted in the good news that Jesus is Lord of the city, the saviour and redeemer of the city, and the coming judge of the city. We long to see Him worshipped and cherished in every part of London and surrounding regions. We pray to see London renewed spiritually and as a result transformed to be a place where grace and mercy reign, where churches work together for the glory of God and where a move of the Spirit leads to a historic revival of incurable God-lovers. “And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.’” Acts 18:9
I’m New Here
Checking out a new church can feel pretty overwhelming. Who are these people? How should I dress? What happens during the service? Will I be welcomed? What if I bring a friend or my children?
The Setting
Come as you are, not as you think you should be. God doesn’t expect you to have everything figured out and neither do we. Dress how you feel comfortable.
The Service
Our services are friendly, open to everyone and will be focused on helping you encounter Jesus Christ through worship songs and teaching from the bible by the pastor.
The Community
We’d love to know you joined us for a service. Feel free to chat with the pastor, or with someone at the coffee table. Or you can communicate with us through the “Get in Touch” area of our website. Please use the website as a tool to learn about what Sojourn Church is all about.a
Join Us For Worship
Since we are still preparing to launch regular services, we are meeting monthly.
March Prayer gathering
Thursday, March 30 @ 7:00 pm
We are renting space at a church called Village Green Community Church, 505 Village Green Ave, London, ON
