Pastor's Notes

Home Church Vision and Values

This is the verse that inspired the name and heart of Home Church. Every day. In temples and in homes. Our mission is to be a place where people feel seen and loved, and where the gospel spreads from our church into the homes and communities God has placed us in.

The Foundation: Christ at the center of everything. When we read in Romans 12:2 that we are "transformed by the renewing of your mind," this is what changes everything. Our prayer is that Home Church would be a place where Christ sits at the center of our worship, teaching, relationships, and mission.

We keep Jesus at the center of our worship, teaching, relationships, and mission.

What It Means:
Lordship means Jesus is not just your Savior. He is Lord over every single area of your life. Everything we do as a church flows from submission to his authority, his word, and his will. Christ remains the foundation of our identity, our decisions, our worship, our leadership, and our mission.

The Story:
At age eight, the pastor's parents started going to church. The change in his home was radical. It was as if lights came on. Wisdom, love, and grace began to transform everything because it had become Christ-centered. But between age eight and twenty-one, he believed in Jesus as Savior but was not living under his lordship. At twenty-one, he felt overwhelmed. He'd bought a house, become captain of a boat, and adopted the mentality: "If it is to be, it is up to me." He was self-reliant and exhausted.

The Holy Spirit spoke clearly: "You know me and you've put your faith in me, but I am not the Lord of your life." Walking into church after months of this weight, the moment worship began, tears flowed. He was hungry and thirsty for God's presence, to be embraced and shown that God would carry what he couldn't.

Why This Matters:
Many of us live as if we believe in God but function as if "it's up to me." We strive through life when God says, "Take one step at a time, and I will make your path straight."

Supporting Scriptures

• Colossians 1:18: "He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence." Christ has supremacy over creation, the church, death, resurrection, salvation, and all powers.
• Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
• Luke 9:23: "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me."
• Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path."

We live from our identity as sons and daughters of God, rooted in his love, led by his spirit, and called to reflect his heart.

What It Means:
Your relationship with God is built on identity, not performance. Through Jesus Christ, you are adopted into God's family and called to live with confidence, purpose, intimacy, and spiritual maturity.

The Statistics and the Story:
At age twenty-four, after graduating from the police academy, the pastor heard Dr. Tony Evans teach about fatherless homes. The statistics were staggering: about ninety percent of people in jail come from fatherless homes. About eighty percent of juveniles in facilities come from fatherless homes. The overwhelming majority struggling with behavioral issues, substance abuse, mental health, and teen pregnancy had no father figure.

This began to show him the power of adoption in Christ. God says, "I will be a father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters." Even if your earthly father is absent, when you come into relationship with Christ, all of that breaks off. You are adopted. You have a Father.

The pastor started mentoring a young man at eight years old through a nonprofit. For six years, he and others went into two juvenile facilities serving kids ages thirteen to eighteen. Of the six to seven hundred young people they served, nine out of ten did not have a father figure. But they all heard that they were adopted sons and daughters of God. That young man from those early mentoring years was baptized twenty-two years later, now an adult transformed by knowing whose he is.

Supporting Scriptures

• Romans 8:14-17: "For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God... you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ."
• Galatians 4:6-7: "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying out, 'Abba, Father.' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
• John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name."
• 2 Corinthians 6:18: "I will be a father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

We develop disciples who love and lead like Jesus.

What It Means:
Discipleship is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. We are committed to growing believers spiritually, equipping leaders, and helping people follow Jesus in every area of life.

Breaking Down the Definition:

Christian disciples aren't born. Nobody starts off spiritually mature. Nobody automatically knows how to follow Christ. Becoming a disciple is learned. It's not automatic. It takes practice, time, and experience, just like anything else we do in life.

Formed through time and spiritual dedication. Growth happens slowly. It requires effort, discipline, faith, prayer, study, and community.

Requiring help. We need mentors, teachers, pastors, and a faith community. There are areas in all our lives we don't fully understand. As you walk alongside other believers and are discipled through community, these things begin to change and be transformed.

Transcendent experiences. The word of God gives us the lens and framework to interpret life through. So many people online and in the world offer different frameworks, but nothing compares to Scripture for understanding moments of awe, peace, conviction, and personal transformation. Discipleship gives us language to explain these things.

Supporting Scriptures

• Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
• Luke 6:40: "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher."
• 2 Timothy 2:2: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
• Ephesians 4:11-13: "He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of God."

We grow through authentic relationships and spiritual family.

What It Means:
Fellowship is more than just hanging out. The Greek word is koinonia, and it operates at multiple levels. Rather than being merely a social arrangement where people tolerate differences, koinonia carries theological weight rooted in how God exists communally.

The Science and Scripture Align:
Tell me who your five closest friends are, and I'll tell you who you are and what your future looks like. The people you hang around with, the people you do life with, the people you get information from, all of these shape your life.

There is a study called "brain to brain synchrony" or "neural synchrony." When we talk to a stranger, our brain waves slowly sync together. The more time we spend with people, the more their beliefs and values influence our own minds and decisions. The Bible said this two thousand years ago: "Bad company corrupts good character." Now science is catching up.

Supporting Scriptures

• Acts 2:42: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."
• Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching."
• Romans 12:10: "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."
• Psalm 133:1: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

We faithfully use our time, treasure, talents, and temple to expand the love of Christ into homes, communities, and the world.

What It Means:
Stewardship is liberating. We have ownership of nothing, but we have stewardship of everything within our responsibility. There is nothing on this earth that the Lord has given us ownership of.

The Fundamental Truth:
Everything we are and everything we have belongs to God. Rather than viewing this as restrictive, recognizing ourselves as stewards rather than owners proves liberating, particularly when we understand who the true owner is. Psalm 75 reminds us that promotion comes from the Lord. We rest in the fact that whether what we steward is seen or unseen, the glory belongs to God and the reward comes from him.

Scripture says, "Whatever you do unto him in secret, he rewards openly. But whatever you do for the praises of people, that will be your reward—that will be the end of your reward." Even things that people do not see, if we steward them faithfully unto the Lord, he will bless them.

Practical Applications: Serving faithfully. Generosity and giving. Using spiritual gifts effectively. Caring for people and resources responsibly. Living missionally beyond the church walls.

How You Do Anything: How you do anything is how you'll do everything. In the little thing that seems irrelevant, the little thing that nobody cares about or nobody will see—the Lord cares. He cares how you steward that thing with excellence or mediocrity. And if you do it with excellence and he sees it and nobody recognizes it, he will give you more. He will put more in your hands for you to steward.

Leadership Principle: Everything elevates to the level of the leader. In our respective fields and homes, the Lord has given us a certain level of leadership and stewardship. We try to figure out how to change things, change people, elevate the environment. But the Lord just wants us to focus on ourselves. Everything will move according to us. When you understand that, you can take full ownership of yourself and come to the Lord saying, "Lord, these are your promises. This is what you've called me to be. I don't have to worry about image management or behavior modification. I have no control over how others react, but I can use that to make me more like you."

Supporting Scriptures

• 1 Peter 4:10: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
• Luke 16:10: "He who is faithful in what is least is also faithful in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is also unjust in much."
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8: "But I say this: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. And he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully... God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things may have an abundance for every good work."
• Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

We believe life transformation happens through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Reality:
We have free will. We can choose to live a self-reliant life, even as Christians. The Lord is so gentle and patient, but sometimes he puts us in a predicament where we realize we've reached the end of our resources. That's when we must surrender and become dependent on him and trust in his timing.

What Scripture Says: "Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. But if you abide in him, you'll bear much fruit." So many times we go through life acting like if we keep God somewhere else and only call to him when we need him, we'll still bear fruit. We'll still have joy, peace, self-control. But we won't, because we're not connecting to him daily.

Practical Applications: Daily prayer and devotion. Intimacy with God. Dependence on the Holy Spirit. Personal spiritual growth. Living from connection with Christ.

Supporting Scriptures

• John 15:5: "I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."
• Jeremiah 29:13: "And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."
• Philippians 3:10: "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death."
• James 4:8: "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

We lead as servant leaders. Servant leadership is the model of our home. We lead with humility, integrity, and courage, reflecting Christ-like character.

Leading with Humility:
We live in a world where some leaders impose their power and strength and constantly remind people they are the leader. But Christ led with so much humility. In a study of fruitful leaders across decades, the top two attributes were humble leadership. Humility invites your people to trust you and follow you. It gives them a voice, makes them feel seen, allows you to show compassion, sacrifice, and serve with integrity because you understand that their needs are just as great as your own.

The Shift That Changes Everything: A servant leader doesn't ask, "How can people serve me?" A servant leader asks, "How can I help people grow? How can I serve them?" That shift in heart posture is what changes everything.

The Science of Generosity: There is a study called the "helper's high." In neuroscience, there is evidence that acts of generosity and caregiving activate reward-related brain regions and reduce stress responses. The research showed increased reward activation, lowered stress markers, stronger feelings of connection and purpose. It even reduced inflammation, blood pressure, and improved cardiovascular health. Harvard Public Health researchers found it linked with longevity, better physical health, and lower stress burden.

Isn't that exactly what we experience when we lead like Jesus? When we don't make it about ourselves, when we make it about others, when we honor others and serve them in whatever area of our life—starting with our families, with our spouses, with our children—all these benefits God has created us to have flow naturally when we take our eyes off ourselves and put them on the Lord and on the needs of people.

Practical Applications: Leading by example. Serving others selflessly. Walking in integrity and accountability. Leading with courage and compassion. Empowering others to grow and lead.

Supporting Scriptures

• Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
• Philippians 2:3-5: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out, not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
• 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity."
• Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

These seven values are meant to be remembered together. They all end the same way: Lordship, Sonship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Stewardship, Relationship, and Leadership. They intersect and overlap with each other. As Home Church, we will hold one another accountable through these values. How is your stewardship? How is your lordship? How is your relationship with the Lord? These are the foundations on which we build.