Before you get too far into reading of our journey and the path that has brought us thus far, it is important you know some of our intentions. Throughout the Bible, you read many great references to writing down vision on paper, and this is a great principle that many organisations wisely apply. However, there is one scripture, found in the New Testament, that speaks of an even better place to write vision. It is not on tablets of stone (or in more contemporary context: on a plaque, wall or websites much like this), but on our hearts.
"You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
Enough said. We encourage you, as you read through the following thoughts, to not search for a ‘vision statement’ or something that can be set in stone. This is not in the absence of vision—quite in the contrary. It’s due to an overflow. Although you will find before you words, please take a moment to catch one thing: the heart. For that is where God desires to imprint his purposes the most. We hope you find the following thoughts, summarised from myriad sermons found in our download section, helpful in determining who we are and what we are all about.
A House Built For The Lord
Spring Street Christian Church exists to be an influential, thriving church of significance where God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the patterns of 1 Kings 10.
In the Bible, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a house of greater significance than the house of Solomon, told in the powerful, thought-provoking story of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon, found in 1 Kings 10.
King Solomon was the son of David—a great king, who knew God’s heart in a way few could imagine. When Solomon was given the opportunity to ask one thing from God, he asked for wisdom. God was so impressed with the request, He made Solomon one of the most blessed men on earth—not only in wisdom, but also in abundance of wealth, favor and fame. David said this about the House of God he knew Solomon would one day build:
"The House built for the Lord should be of great magnificence, splendor and fame throughout all the nations. Therefore, I will make preparations for it.”
1 Chronicles 22:5
David’s hopes for his son came to pass, for the house that Solomon built became all of those things. Upon hearing of the fame of Solomon, the Queen of Sheba traveled from afar to encounter for herself this legacy. The story of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon is full of wonderful analogies of a recurring story that still exists in the church today. King Solomon’s leadership was made strong by his famous wisdom and, coupled with the impressive nature of the house, is a perfect model for how the church could look in this present age. What the House built for the Lord looks like from the 1 Kings 10 model:
A House Built for the Lord should:
- Attract people of all status
- Answer hard questions (1 Kings 10:1-3)
- Appropriately provide wise counsel for the broken-hearted
- (Have people who) Actively operate in the gifts God’s given us
- (Have people who) Abundantly give hospitably and generously
- Audaciously provide access to the presence of God
- Astonish those who do not yet know God personally
One note the Queen of Sheba made particular mention of was the people serving in the house. When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed. 1 Kings 10:4&5
As magnificent as the house was, it was the servants and how they served God that overwhelmed her. How much more should the servants in our King's House be overwhelming to seekers, like the Queen of Sheba, who come from all walks of life, looking for answers and wise counsel? Our heart is that His House—the church—be one of fame, splendor and magnificence, where great hospitality and generosity astounds those who are only just meeting the King for the first time, and where they can gain access to the presence of God.
What Motivates Us?
Every last effort that we make as a church is out of a revelation of the love of Christ. We desire to live in humility—not being proud of ‘our image’, but acknowledging that our image (the things we achieve and are indentified by) is not a man-made image, but one created in God's image. Every outworking of the things that we do are only acceptable when He receives all glory. Above all, in our lives we must see a graceful imprint of our Maker.
He has shown you, o man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8