This document outlines the four things God calls the church to do: belong, grow, serve, and share. It focuses on the first one, belong, which means connecting to God and each other as the church. It says the first letter in "belong" is E, for exalting Christ in everything. It gives biblical reasons to exalt Christ, such as that he is God, the creator, and head of the church. The overall message is that Christians should connect with each other by exalting and worshipping Christ as the central focus of the church.

1. Our
Identity
God
calls
the
church
to
do
four
things:
BELONG
(connect
to
God
and
to
each
other
as
the
church),
GROW
(pursue
discipleship),
SERVE
(to
be
the
hands
and
feet
of
Jesus),
and
to
SHARE
(fulfilling
the
great
commission
of
bringing
the
gospel
to
the
world).
B.E.L.O.N.G.
(Connecting
to
God
and
to
each
other
as
the
church)
E
(Exalt
Christ
in
everything)
KEY
VERSE:
Philippians
1:20
I
eagerly
expect
and
hope,
that
I
will
in
no
way
be
ashamed,
but
will
have
sufficient
courage
so
that
now
as
always
Christ
will
be
exalted
in
my
body,
whether
in
life,
or
by
death.
The
first
place
anyone
must
begin
is
belief
that
the
scriptures
are
inspired
(God-­breathed)
and
serve
the
purpose
of
preparing
us
for
our
purpose.
All
Scripture
is
God-­‐breathed
and
is
useful
for
teaching,
rebuking,
correcting
and
training
in
righteousness,
so
that
the
man
of
God
may
be
thoroughly
equipped
for
every
good
work.
2
Timothy
3:16
People
respond
to
Jesus
by
_________
1.
rejecting
him
as
Lord
and
Savior.
2.
finding
him
interesting
and
unique.
3.
viewing
him
as
historically
significant
(i.e.
the
impact
of
Christianity
upon
the
Roman
Empire
and
the
European
tribes).
4.
categorizing
him
as
just
another
teacher,
prophet,
guru,
or
holy
man.
5.
regarding
him
as
a
threat
to
world
peace
(The
sole
claim
of
Jesus
as
the
only
way
for
salvation
makes
many
view
Christians
as
intolerant,
and,
therefore,
in
conflict,
with
the
global
desire
of
world
peace.
6.
believe
He
is
who
He
says
He
is
(but
there
is
not
outward
or
inner
conviction
of
that
that
belief.
Remember,
demons
believe
in
Jesus-­‐
more
so
than
most
people
who
claim
to
believe
in
Jesus.
7.
surrendering
to
His
Lordship.
I.
Some
Reasons
to
Exalt
Christ
in
everything
A.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
God.
In
the
beginning
was
the
Word,
and
the
Word
was
with
God,
and
the
Word
was
God.
(John
1:1)

2.
The
Son
is
the
radiance
of
God’s
glory
and
the
exact
representation
of
his
being,
sustaining
all
things
by
his
powerful
word.
After
he
had
provided
purification
for
sins,
he
sat
down
at
the
right
hand
of
the
Majesty
in
heaven.
4
So
he
became
as
much
superior
to
the
angels
as
the
name
he
has
inherited
is
superior
to
theirs.
For
to
which
of
the
angels
did
God
ever
say,
“You
are
my
Son;
today
I
have
become
your
Father”?
Or
again,
“I
will
be
his
Father,
and
he
will
be
my
Son”?
6
And
again,
when
God
brings
his
firstborn
into
the
world,
he
says,
“Let
all
God’s
angels
worship
him.”
7
In
speaking
of
the
angels
he
says,
“He
makes
his
angels
winds,
his
servants
flames
of
fire.”8
But
about
the
Son
he
says,
“Your
throne,
O
God,
will
last
for
ever
and
ever,
and
righteousness
will
be
the
scepter
of
your
kingdom
(Hebrews
1:3-­8).
Jesus
Christ
is
the
same
yesterday
and
today
and
forever
(Hebrews
13:8).
B.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
Creator
Through
him
all
things
were
made;
without
him
nothing
was
made
that
has
been
made
(John
1:3).
For
by
him
all
things
were
created:
things
in
heaven
and
on
earth,
visible
and
invisible,
whether
thrones
or
powers
or
rulers
or
authorities;
all
things
were
created
by
him
and
for
him.
He
is
before
all
things,
and
in
him
all
things
hold
together
(Colossians
1:16-­17).
C.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
Head
of
the
Church
And
he
is
the
head
of
the
body,
the
church;
he
is
the
beginning
and
the
firstborn
from
among
the
dead,
so
that
in
everything
he
might
have
the
supremacy
(Colossians
1:18).
And
God
placed
all
things
under
his
feet
and
appointed
him
to
be
head
over
everything
for
the
church,
which
is
his
body,
the
fullness
of
him
who
fills
everything
in
every
way
(Ephesians
1:22-­23).
D.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
THE
Way,
THE
truth,
and
THE
Life
Thomas
said
to
him,
“Lord,
we
don’t
know
where
you
are
going,
so
how
can
we
know
the
way?”
Jesus
answered,
“I
am
the
way
and
the
truth
and
the
life.
No
one
comes
to
the
Father
except
through
me.
If
you
really
knew
me,
you
would
know
my
Father
as
well.
From
now
on,
you
do
know
him
and
have
seen
him”
(John
14:5-­7).
E.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
Savior

3.
Salvation
is
found
in
no
one
else,
for
there
is
no
other
name
under
heaven
given
to
men
by
which
we
must
be
saved”
(Acts
4:12).
F.
I
exalt
Christ
because
He
is
LORD
of
lords
and
KING
of
kings
They
will
make
war
against
the
Lamb,
but
the
Lamb
will
overcome
them
because
he
is
Lord
of
lords
and
King
of
kings—and
with
him
will
be
his
called,
chosen
and
faithful
followers”
(Revelation
14:7)
Being
the
LORD
and
KING
of
an
eternal
Kingdom,
he
extends
a
rich
welcome
to
those
who
will
follow
him.
Therefore,
my
brothers,
be
all
the
more
eager
to
make
your
calling
and
election
sure.
For
if
you
do
these
things,
you
will
never
fall,
and
you
will
receive
a
rich
welcome
into
the
eternal
kingdom
of
our
Lord
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
(2
Peter
1:10-­11).
A
strong
defense
is
needed
in
order
to
have
peace
within
a
country.
Jesus
as
the
LORD
and
KING
is
strong
enough
to
ensure
eternal
peace.
You
know
the
message
God
sent
to
the
people
of
Israel,
telling
the
good
news
of
peace
through
Jesus
Christ,
who
is
Lord
of
all
(Acts
10:36).
Jesus
is
not
just
a
national,
ethnic,
or
regional
king.
He
is
LORD
and
KING
of
everyone!
For
there
is
no
difference
between
Jew
and
Gentile—the
same
Lord
is
Lord
of
all
and
richly
blesses
all
who
call
on
him,
for,
“Everyone
who
calls
on
the
name
of
the
Lord
will
be
saved”
(Romans
10:12).
G.
I
exalt
Christ
because
of
His
Superior
Name
Therefore
God
exalted
him
to
the
highest
place
and
gave
him
the
name
that
is
above
every
name
(Philippians
2:9).
So
he
became
as
much
superior
to
the
angels
as
the
name
he
has
inherited
is
superior
to
theirs
(Hebrews
1:4).
We
are
baptized
(immersed)
into
the
name
of
Jesus
(See
“Baptism
is
essential
for
salvation”
under
B.E.L.O.N.G.)
Peter
replied,
“Repent
and
be
baptized,
every
one
of
you,
in
the
name
of
Jesus
Christ
for
the
forgiveness
of
your
sins.
And
you
will
receive
the
gift
of
the
Holy
Spirit
(Acts
2:38).

4. We
gather
in
the
name
of
Jesus.
For
where
two
or
three
come
together
in
my
name,
there
am
I
with
them”
(Matthew
18:20).
We
ask
in
the
name
of
Jesus
according
to
the
will
of
God
And
I
will
do
whatever
you
ask
in
my
name,
so
that
the
Son
may
bring
glory
to
the
Father.
You
may
ask
me
for
anything
in
my
name,
and
I
will
do
it
(John
14:13-­14).
II.
Some
Ways
I
exalt
Christ
A.
In
Worship
In
a
loud
voice
they
sang:“
Worthy
is
the
Lamb,
who
was
slain,
to
receive
power
and
wealth
and
wisdom
and
strength
and
honor
and
glory
and
praise!”
Then
I
heard
every
creature
in
heaven
and
on
earth
and
under
the
earth
and
on
the
sea,
and
all
that
is
in
them,
singing:“
To
him
who
sits
on
the
throne
and
to
the
Lamb
be
praise
and
honor
and
glory
and
power,
for
ever
and
ever!”
The
four
living
creatures
said,
“Amen,”
and
the
elders
fell
down
and
worshiped
(Revelation
5:12-­14).
B.
Giving
Him
Honor
Here
is
a
trustworthy
saying
that
deserves
full
acceptance:
Christ
Jesus
came
into
the
world
to
save
sinners—of
whom
I
am
the
worst.
But
for
that
very
reason
I
was
shown
mercy
so
that
in
me,
the
worst
of
sinners,
Christ
Jesus
might
display
his
unlimited
patience
as
an
example
for
those
who
would
believe
on
him
and
receive
eternal
life.
Now
to
the
King
eternal,
immortal,
invisible,
the
only
God,
be
honor
and
glory
for
ever
and
ever.
Amen
(1
Timothy
1:15-­17).
C.
With
my
Attitude
Each
of
you
should
look
not
only
to
your
own
interests,
but
also
to
the
interests
of
others.
Your
attitude
should
be
the
same
as
that
of
Christ
Jesus:
Who,
being
in
very
nature
God,
did
not
consider
equality
with
God
something
to
be
grasped,
but
made
himself
nothing,
taking
the
very
nature
of
a
servant,
being
made
in
human
likeness
(Philippians
2:4-­7).
D.
In
my
Heart
and
Mind
Since,
then,
you
have
been
raised
with
Christ,
set
your
hearts
on
things
above,
where
Christ
is
seated
at
the
right
hand
of
God.
Set
your
minds
on

5. things
above,
not
on
earthly
things.
For
you
died,
and
your
life
is
now
hidden
with
Christ
in
God
(Colossians
3:1-­3).
E.
Through
humble
service
I
have
set
you
an
example
that
you
should
do
as
I
have
done
for
you.
I
tell
you
the
truth,
no
servant
is
greater
than
his
master,
nor
is
a
messenger
greater
than
the
one
who
sent
him.
Now
that
you
know
these
things,
you
will
be
blessed
if
you
do
them
(John
13:15-­17).
F.
By
bearing
fruit
This
is
to
my
Father’s
glory,
that
you
bear
much
fruit,
showing
yourselves
to
be
my
disciples
(John
15:8).
G.
Through
Transformation,
becoming
more
like
Jesus
And
we,
who
with
unveiled
faces
all
reflect
the
Lord’s
glory,
are
being
transformed
into
his
likeness
with
ever-­‐increasing
glory,
which
comes
from
the
Lord,
who
is
the
Spirit
(2
Corinthians
3:18).
H.
When
I
suffer
for
the
cause
of
Christ
The
apostles
left
the
Sanhedrin,
rejoicing
because
they
had
been
counted
worthy
of
suffering
disgrace
for
the
Name
(Acts
5:41).
Therefore,
since
we
have
been
justified
through
faith,
we
have
peace
with
God
through
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
through
whom
we
have
gained
access
by
faith
into
this
grace
in
which
we
now
stand.
And
we
rejoice
in
the
hope
of
the
glory
of
God.
Not
only
so,
but
we
also
rejoice
in
our
sufferings,
because
we
know
that
suffering
produces
perseverance;
perseverance,
character;
and
character,
hope.
And
hope
does
not
disappoint
us,
because
God
has
poured
out
his
love
into
our
hearts
by
the
Holy
Spirit,
whom
he
has
given
us
(Romans
5:1-­5).
I.
In
Everything
And
whatever
you
do,
whether
in
words
or
deed,
do
it
al
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
Jesus,
giving
thanks
to
God
the
Father
through
him
(Colossians
3:17).