Devotion, Connection, and Service

Growing and maintaining a healthy relationship with Jesus involves three elements: to be Devoted, Connected, and Serving. We call this DCS. When we want to know how we are doing with making Jesus our center gravity, we simply need to evaluate our lives and look for a balance of the three elements of DCS. Here at Beaches Vineyard, we want to provide you with opportunities to Connect, Serve and to develop Devotion to Jesus (John 6, Acts 2, Matthew 20).

Leading by Recognition

Leading by Recognition is the process by which our church leadership determines direction and action. It is our desire to always allow God to go before us; we only want to be doing what we see Him doing (John 8). Our role as leaders is to recognize what the Lord is already doing and ‘partner with Him.’ Leading by Recognition takes much more time and prayer as leaders and a body but it has yet to fail us. Almost every major ministry of our church (Alpha, Young Life, Burn Service, etc) and even the location and design of our church home (the Atlantic Theatres) were birthed through the practice of ‘Leading by Recognition.’

Isaiah 58 – On Being a Fishing Boat Church

In 1999, at the very genesis of the Beaches Vineyard, the Lord spoke through Isaiah 58 saying this church was designed by Him to be a Fishing Boat. Not everyone in the church was going to fish, but corporately, we were made to fish. What does this mean, practically? Just that we will share our food with the hungry; we will set the spiritually oppressed free (Isaiah 58). Simply put, we won’t turn away from the needs of the community around us and we will focus our efforts on telling the Good News of Christ to all who will listen.

Worship – Is what we were created for

We agree with the Westminster Larger Catechism that, ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ Worship is, therefore, glorifying God with our voices and our actions and delighting in Him. By this definition, worship is much more than gathering on a Sunday morning to sing songs together. Worship is admiring God’s artistry in a sunrise; hearing the joy of the Lord in the laughter of friends; abiding in Him whether He feels near or far away (John 4). Worship is, in essence, recognizing that every good thing is from God and responding in gratitude. Worship is serving God and honoring Him.

Holy Spirit – Is for us too

We believe in the traditional doctrine of the Trinity – One God, three Persons. The third member of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit. In talking to His disciples Jesus made several incredible statements about the Holy Spirit and the role He would play in the life of the believer. Jesus promised that because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we would never be alone, that He would always be with us (John 14). That the Holy Spirit would guide us in to all truth (John 16) and that when He comes, we would receive power (Acts 1). Jesus told His disciples that through this power they would do even greater works than those they saw Him doing. We believe He was talking to us as well.

Family and Children – Jesus loves ‘em. We love ‘em.

Scripture puts high emphasis on the importance of family and Jesus Himself went to great lengths to affirm the worth of small children. As a community, we strive to provide places for every member to connect and deepen their walk with the Lord, as individuals and as families (I Timothy 5).

Communion – A sacred tradition

Communion was started by Jesus at supper with His disciples just before His death. Jesus instructed His disciples to eat the bread as a representation of His body and drink the wine (or grape juice) as His blood. With this He set a system in place to help us remember the meaning of His sacrifice on the cross (Luke 22). We recognize the intimacy and sacredness of this tradition. Communion is available for individuals at every service, though it is rarely take as a group.

Missions – Saving Lives, Making Disciples, Planting Churches

Because the Lord made it clear to us as a church from the beginning that we are to be a ‘fishing boat,’ we place a high value on missions. We feel that our primary mission field is the Atlantic Beach community. Over the past year we have become increasingly involved in the Donner and Jordan Park neighborhoods behind the Theatre. We see all throughout scripture that the Lord’s heart is for the downtrodden, the marginalized, the overlooked (Isaiah 58). Our heart is to be obedient to His command to love the least of these, both in our community and overseas.

Tithe & Offerings – Tithing is acknowledging ownership

Tithing is, in essence expressing appreciation, faith and acknowledging ownership. It expresses an understanding that everything belongs to the Lord. We believe giving 10% of our income as a tithe not only honors God but allows Him to bless and protect our material and financial possessions. Giving is an expression of faith offered in love. (Malachi 3:6-1).