Soil Water Light


Soil + Water + Light = Growth

 

“Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next.”

–William Ralph Inge

 

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The age of secularism is not a threat to the existence of the Church. Even in the face of persecution, two thousand years have proved the perseverance of Christ’s Church in all ages. While the presence of Christ’s Church endures, secularism is eroding the power of the church from within.

Despite this erosion, Calvary Chapel Twin Peaks seeks to grow lasting fruit for Christ in his people by providing good soil, living water, and pure light. In an age that seeks convenience, we seek to be challenged. In an age that exalts the human potential, we worship Christ. In an age that celebrates the individual, we celebrate community.

 

Soil: We are rooted and grounded in the historical and biblical Christian tradition.

That you, being rooted and grounded in love… may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17, 19)

Soil keeps us rooted in our historical, traditional, biblical faith. This protects us from pursuing the new and novel expressions of pseudo-Christianity. We reject the growing and popular trend to be “spiritual but not religious.” We believe that we find freedom not by rejecting external authority, but by being formed by it. For us, this is in the form of a relationship with Christ. Through him, we find a faith that forms us into his likeness.

At CCTP, we get our hands dirty in the soil of discipleship and spiritual disciplines. While spiritual disciplines (such as charity, prayer, and fasting) are not cultural norms, they are for Christians. We train Christians to build these into their lives.

 

Water: We are nourished by Christ when gather to worship under his lordship.

If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37-38)

Water nourishes and refreshes us when celebrate a worship designed for the believer. Today, many worship services have been altered to appease the unbeliever. While we welcome the unbeliever to our worship, we do not orient our worship toward the convenience of humans but toward the glory of God. We believe that our desires drive our decisions, and that worship shapes our desires. Therefore, we reject using worship to cater to selves formed by the spirit of consumerism. Rather, we worship for the formation of our souls by the Spirit of God.

At CCTP, when we gather four worship, we drink the living water of Christ through:

  1. Prayer in the Psalms and from the heart
  2. Praise in music
  3. Preaching the Scriptures
  4. Partaking in Holy Communion

Light: We are a witness to Christ when we are formed in the likeness of Christ.

You are the light of the World… Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14, 16)

Light is the presence of Christ we receive in Christian fellowship and reflect in Christ-likeness. Christians are not consumers of church culture but partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The light of Christ shines through us when the world sees us living together in love. We do not grow in isolation but in fellowship with other believers. As we receive from each other, we will reflect Christ to the world.

At CCTP, we receive and reflect the light of Christ by growing in virtue, fellowshipping in homes and in a monthly feast, and by seeking relationship with our neighbor.