CULture

Oak Stone Christian Church is a warm fellowship of people who love God and who love one another. We believe in the fullness of the Bible, keeping both the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus at the very foundation of our lives and our worship (Revelation 14:12).

We do not see church as a consumer-driven event. Rather, our desire is to encourage every person who walks through our doors to seek God’s will for their life, to truly know Jesus, and to grow into the person He created them to be. We hope to be more than just a weekly service. Our aim is to be a family of believers using the unique gifts God has given us to pray, learn, grow, and serve together.

Our goal is to worship in spirit and in truth. Our teachers seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and strive to bring forward sound teaching rooted in Scripture. When you visit, you will hear contemporary worship music, see people caring for and praying for one another, and - God-willing - sense His presence.

At Oak Stone, gathering together is about more than attending a service. It is about sharing life with one another through godly fellowship. Come for the service, but plan to stay awhile. We invite everyone to remain after the service and join us for our weekly potluck.

Children are a valued part of our fellowship. Our church format is family-friendly, and children are welcome to participate in the full worship service alongside their parents. For children ages 4–12, Bible School is offered several times a month during the school year to minister to them at their level during sermon time. Teen groups meet once per month.

For a fuller explanation of our culture and approach to fellowship, please see our expanded cultural statement below.

Oak Stone Christian Church Cultural Statement:

God is at the center

• Focus is on honoring God

• Have a passionate devotion to God

• Jesus is clearly the Way, Truth and Life of the congregation

• Unity is founded in love for one another and not doctrine

• The Holy Spirit is welcome and sought after for teaching, leading, direction

Prayer

• Prayer is something seen both in and out of services

• Prayer meetings are a part of the culture

• Praying for one another is commonplace

• Confession of sin is welcome

• Everything is accompanied by prayer, as we prepare for every role of service

• Lay hands on people, accompanied by prayer

Musical Worship

• Genuinely worship and praise God

• Lyrics are faithful to the Scriptures

• Worship team seeks to eliminate distractions so focus is upward to God and not drawing attention to themselves, viewing musical worship as a performance.

• God the Father and Jesus Christ are the focus of worship

• Music worship is focused on remembering, worshipping and praising God.

• Worship is a time of intimacy of congregation with God

• Freedom in choosing songs and in expressions of worship as long as it does not create a distraction for other worshippers.

• Musically worship with the variety of instruments, song type, emotions, and expressions found in Scripture.

Teaching

• Sermons spring forth from the Bible, as opposed to using the Bible to support points of a speech

• The Bible is viewed as the Word of God, what He wants to share with us and it is our job to give understanding to what He already taught

• Pray for topics for sermons, relying on the revelation and leading of the Holy Spirit.

• God’s word is faithfully taught without compromise regardless of what society teaches is acceptable.

• The pulpit is never used for personal agendas or teaching, never for control, but as a place of service to others with complete loyalty to God.

• The Word of God is the standard and source for all teaching. We teach what it says. We don’t teach what it doesn’t say.

• The emphasis is teaching about God, the Bible and the truth and not disparaging others and other organizations.

• Doctrine is based on the use of direct verses and not indirect, except as they support direct verses.

Pastors/Leadership

• Ministry is there to serve those God brings to the congregation (2 Corinthians 1:24)

• Ministry is not there to control the congregation but to encourage them in their relationship with God, to stir up love and good works, to teach the word of God faithfully and without compromise, speaking the truth in love to build up the body

• Ministry realizes they are a small part of the bigger overall body

• Leadership is interested in directing people to God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and to the Bible, and not to themselves.

• Pastors care about both adults and kids who attend bringing the love of God and the joy of the Holy Spirit to everyone with consideration and encouragement

• Leadership focus put on pleasing God and honoring Him ahead of people

• Leadership loves people because God loves them

• Pastors offer service freely out of love for others and are not offended when their offering of service is rejected or refused (John 6)

• Pastors are open/willing to be challenged if the Bible is the basis for feedback

• Pastors are patient in encouraging repentance, giving time for people to learn, to consider, and make changes as long as they are not causing divisions or issues in the congregation

• Pastors should wear their authority lightly turning the congregation to the authority of Jesus and the Bible and reserving use for authority to keep peace and stop division

• Pastors lead by example and not in word only.

• Focus on listening to others and challenge people to defend doctrinal positions based on direct Bible verses.

• Principles found in 2 Timothy 2:21-26

Social/Fellowship

• Warmly welcome all new visitors and assume the role of host for them

• Be hospitable to others both at church and in your own homes

• Caring for people is more important than what they believe

• Fellowship before and after services – family reunion environment

• No one left out of fellowship, look for the outcast and downtrodden

• People are kind and show a genuine interest/care/love for one another

• People not looking to leave right after services, but want to continue in fellowship and spending time together

• Engaged in serving one another

• Families are encouraged to build friendships and spend time together outside of church

• We are willing to give our time for one another

Community/Outreach

• Looking to stir up love and good works, as opposed to being contentious over doctrine

• Engaged in serving the community

• Partner with parachurch organizations (e.g., homeless/food ministries, local pregnancy center, freed slaves’ homes)

• The whole body should be encouraged to take the lead in developing projects in which the whole church can participate.

• The congregation should not be looking to the pastors to develop every service opportunity.

• Pastors should join in following those who initiate service opportunities, as opposed to trying to control them.

General

• The ways of God are promoted; sin as a way of life is rejected

• We meet on the basis of wanting to worship God, to hear His Word, to serve one another

• Studying the Bible and praying together among one another is encouraged.

• Anyone is free to come as long as they come peaceably – no litmus test

• We view ourselves as a part of the Christian church and we do not accuse or attack others

• It is a safe environment for a sinner to come and receive mercy and forgiveness

• We encourage the practice of Matthew 18, of going to a brother to be reconciled rather than gossiping.

• It is a safe environment to learn the truth

• Sinners are loved for who they are while sin is hated for what it does to a person

• We don’t believe people need to attend our church to be saved or be Christian

• We exist to serve others, not to build our attendance lists or receive glory from the size and growth of our church

• We look for ways to incorporate all ages into the service

• Discourage discussions about pet doctrines or tangential issues