In this episode of Knowing God, we discuss Church of the Good Shepherd’s sixth core value: Christian Growth Through Discipleship.

We consider what it means to be a lifelong follower of Jesus and how the local church helps believers grow in grace, obedience, and Christlikeness. We also discuss the means God uses to mature His people, including the ministry of the Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

Key Texts: Matthew 5–7; 28: 18–20; John 15:1–11; Ephesians 4: 1–16; Colossians 1: 28; 3: 1–17; 1 Thessalonians 4: 3–8; Titus 2: 1–5, 11–14.

In this episode of Knowing God, we discuss Church of the Good Shepherd’s fifth core value: Meaningful Membership.

We consider why Christians are called to commit themselves to a local church and live in loving, accountable, and devoted relationships with one another. We also discuss the importance of the New Testament’s “one another” commands, the responsibility of churches to shepherd their members, and the biblical purpose of church discipline.

Key Texts: Matthew 18: 15–20; Romans 12: 1–8; 1 Corinthians 5; 12: 12–28; Ephesians 4: 1–16; Hebrews 10:2 4–25.

This episode focuses on Church of the Good Shepherd’s fourth core value: “Biblically-Qualified Elders.” We discuss why elders are the God-ordained leaders of the local church, what the Bible requires of men who serve in this office, and how elders are called to teach, lead, care for the souls of God’s people, and protect the church from error. We also consider the importance of faithful shepherding, congregational affirmation, and the biblical pattern of a plurality of elders.

Key texts: Acts 6:4; 14:23; 20:28–31; Ephesians 4 :11–12; 1 Thessalonians 5 :12–13; 1 Timothy 3 :1–7; 4 :11–16; 5:17; 2 Timothy 2 :14–15, 24–25; Titus 1 :5–9; 2:7; Hebrews 13 :7, 17; 1 Peter 5 :1–4

Learn more about our core values here:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/core-values

Visit our church website:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/

This episode focuses on Church of the Good Shepherd’s third core value: “Confessionally Reformed and Baptist.” We discuss why the Bible alone is the church’s only infallible rule for faith and life, why creeds and confessions are useful summaries of biblical truth, and how they help preserve and pass down the faith from generation to generation. We also explain what it means for our church to be historic, Reformed, and Baptist, including our commitment to the Five Solas, the doctrines of grace, believers’ baptism, regenerate church membership, and congregational church government.

Key texts: Jeremiah 31: 31–34; John 17: 17; Acts 17: 11; Romans 1–9; Ephesians 1–2; 2 Timothy 1: 13; 3: 16–17; Jude 3

Learn more about our core values here:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/core-values

Visit our church website:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/

This episode focuses on Church of the Good Shepherd’s second core value: “Expositional Preaching.” We discuss why the public preaching of God’s Word is central to the life and mission of the church, how God uses the faithful proclamation of Scripture to awaken and nurture faith, and why preaching should explain the meaning of the biblical text and apply it to the lives of God’s people. Expositional preaching brings the whole counsel of God to the hearts and consciences of men and women in order to exalt God, call sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and build up the church in holiness, Christ-likeness, and Christian service.

Key texts: Nehemiah 8:1–8; Psalm 19:7–11; Psalm 119; Isaiah 55:10–11; John 17:17; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16–4:2; Hebrews 4:12–13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23–25; 2:2; 4:11

Learn more about our core values here:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/core-values

Visit our church website:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/

This episode focuses on Church of the Good Shepherd’s first core value: “Biblically-Ordered, Congregational Worship.” We discuss why God alone has the right to determine how He is worshiped, why the Lord’s Day gathering is central to the life of the church, and why Scripture, prayer, singing, preaching, and the ordinances should shape corporate worship.

Key texts: Matthew 28​:19; John 4​:23–24; Acts 2​:42–47; 1 Corinthians 11​:23–26; 12​:12–14; 14​:26; Ephesians 5​:19; Colossians 3​:16; 1 Timothy 2​:1–4; 4​:13; 2 Timothy 4​:1–2; Hebrews 10​:24–25; 1 Peter 4​:11

Learn more about our core values here:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/core-values

Visit our church website:
https://www.goodshepherdws.com/