This is a continuation of a series of posts dealing with the Values of Bay Area Baptist Church. You can find the audio explaining the importance of mission, purpose and values as well as a list of all eight values here.
The second statement that defines a value of Bay Area Baptist Church is:
“We believe that the local church is the hope of the world. It is not a cul-de-sac; it is a through street to impacting the world for Christ. It is not about us.”
While there are many that believe the influence and necessity of the local church is diminishing, we affirm that it is the local church that was established by Christ so that His work on this earth would go forward. The Bible is clear that the only hope for a sinful world is the salvation provided through the death and resurrection of Christ and that the local church is the body of Christ on this earth. There are several passages that we could look to and this is not by any means exhaustive, but a few of the passages that speak to this truth are found here:
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
We are told that the church was so important to Christ, that He gave His very blood for it:
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
With this truth in mind, our focus as a congregation is and will remain the local church. While there are many good and helpful organizations outside of the church, we understand that these organizations should come alongside the church to accomplish the purpose designed by God to be fulfilled by a local body of believers. This should lead each member of Bay Area Baptist Church to understand that they have a responsibility to work together to impact this community with the message of salvation. This local church is not about us. It is about God working through us so that His work and His word will go forward.






