Who are we?

We exist to declare the liberating power of the gospel and demonstrate it in our worship, relationships, and service.

This mission statement is read every week as part of our welcome. It reminds us of who we are, what has brought us together, and what our mission is. We are a bunch of broken people brought together through the love and mercy of an incredible God, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel has liberated us from sin, judgment, self-righteousness, despair, and the crushing quest for moral perfectionism.

At Grace, we have people from all walks of life. White Collar, Blue Collar, Young, Old, People who wear suits and individuals who wear shorts. We are all collectively the body, in Christ.

Our joyful burden is to declare this great gospel to our community and demonstrates its power through transformed lives that reflect Christ’s work in, around, through, and in spite of us. We believe that the Sovereign God has put us in West Michigan in this moment of salvation history to fulfill His Kingdom purposes, by acting as His hands and feet to reach out to the world around us with the light and the love of Jesus the King.

We hope you will join us on this grand adventure as we gather corporately to praise the Lord for His magnificent work to redeem a broken world, and as we scatter to tell others about His gift of grace.

Mission – Why we exist

We exist to declare the liberating power of the gospel and demonstrate it in our worship, relationships, and service (Luke 4:18).

Vision – Future desired state

A community of Christ followers serving one another in love, making disciples of Jesus, and living in joyful worship of God in response to His mercy in the gospel (Ps. 100; Eph. 4:1-16, 1 John 4:10, Mathew 28: 18-20).

Theological Vision

According to the Bible, our ministry must be anchored in and fueled by the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The gospel is the good news that, in Jesus Christ, God in His mercy reached down to a sinful world. Our response to the gospel is continual worship, growing community, and making disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42-47).

Gospel saturation in our values at Grace leads to gospel centered teaching, joyous worship, authentic missional community, and discipleship that focuses on moving deeper into the gospel rather than “moving on” from it.

Accomplishing the Vision

At Grace we have four Core values these four core values are the rudder which directs our planning, prayer, and staffing.

Our four Core values

Gospel-Centered Teaching

The Bible is not primarily about what we have to do, but a celebration of what God has done, and what we are called to do in response to it. 66 books, written over a period of 1400 years, by over 40 human authors, in several languages, tells a unified story.

The Gospel is the story of God’s redemptive plan to rescue sinners through Jesus Christ. Every verse in the bible, from Creation to New Creation points to Jesus. All of our sermons, our Youth and Kids programs, as well as our adult Bible studies reflect this conviction.

Christ in Worship

In our weekly worship services, we seek to magnify the work of Christ and direct our attention and affection towards Him. We don’t want people walking out of the service talking about how amazing the worship team is, but how great our God is. The song selection and the leadership of our worship teams strive to help us bask in wonder at the greatness of God.

Relational Community

We weren’t made to go through life alone. God is Trinity, and we were made to reflect His nature by living life together in community for His glory.

At Grace we have multiple ways in which we encourage people to gather together in honest transparent relationships which allow people to support each other in living out the gospel of grace in their lives.

After the service every week we have classes which meet throughout our campus to dialogue about the implications and applications of the sermon and get to know one another.

We have an active youth ministry, which offers students the opportunity to grow in their relationships with God, each other, and our leadership team.

Love in Discipleship

Jesus came to make disciples. This has both an inward and an outward dimension to it, as disciples both support and encourage one another and reach out to engage the culture and community with the transforming power of the gospel.

Our Life Groups at Grace are the primary place we seek to live out this conviction as our groups meet regularly to help each other grow to become more life Jesus, and reach out strategically to serve others in His name.

What do we believe?

ARTICLE I - The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible was [a] written by men controlled by the Holy Spirit; [b] that it has truth without an admixture of error for its matter; and [c] therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds and opinions should be tried.

By “THE HOLY BIBLE,” we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation, which, as originally written, does not contain and convey the word of God, but IS the very WORD of God.
By “INSPIRATION,” we mean that the books of the Bible were written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a definite way that their writings were supernaturally inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21; Acts 1:16; 28:25
Psalm 119:105, 130, 160; Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 17:17
Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4;1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 22:19; Isaiah 8:20;Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4; Luke 16:31;Psalm 19:7-11; John 5:39, 45-47; 12:48

ARTICLE II - The True God

We believe that there is [a] one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; [b] inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; [c] that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 90:2; 147:5; Jeremiah 10:10
Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30
Matthew 28:19; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; 15:26; 17:5; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; 12:4-6; Acts 5:3-4; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:14

ARTICLE III - The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person [a] equal with God the Father and [b] God the Son and [c] of the same nature; [d] that He was active in the creation; [e] that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; [f] that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; [g] that He bears witness to the truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; [g] that He is the agent in the new birth; [i] that He seals, baptizes, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies and helps the believer. And that the fruit of the Spirit [love, joy peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance] is the evidence of His indwelling rather than the speaking in tongues and other spectacular demonstrations.

John 14:16, 17
Matthew 28:19
Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35
Genesis 1:1-3
2 Thessalonians 2:7
John 16: 8-11
John 15: 26-27; Acts 5:30-32
John 3:5-6
Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 11:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18-21; John 1:33; 14:26; 16:13; Luke 3:16; 24:49; Romans 8:14, 16, 26-27

We have an active youth ministry, which offers students the opportunity to grow in their relationships with God, each other, and our leadership team.

ARTICLE IV - Sanctification

We believe that the sanctification has a two-fold meaning: [a] that of setting apart of things, days, or persons specifically for God, and that the believer at the time of his regeneration is so set apart by God the Father; [b] the progressive work of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer, obedient to the Word of God experiences the power of the indwelling Christ for holiness of life and victory over the old nature, which work will be completed when the believer stands in Christ’s presence.

1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10: 10, 14
Colossians 1:26-28; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18

ARTICLE V - The Devil, or Satan

We believe that Satan was once [a] holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and [b] drew after him a host of angels; that he is now [c] the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. [d] We hold him to be man’s great tempter, [e] the enemy of God and His Christ, [f] the accuser of the saints, [g] the author of all false apostasy, [h] the lord of the anti-christ, and [i] the author of all powers of darkness-destined however [j] to final defeat at the hands of God’s Son, and [k] to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels.

Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17
Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30
1 Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1,3
1 Peter 5:8
Zechariah 1:3; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:25, 37-39; Luke 22:3-4
Revelation 12:10
2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22
1 John 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7
Revelation 13:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11
Revelation 12:7-9; 19:11, 16,20; 20:1-3
Revelation 20:10; Matthew 25:41

ARTICLE VI - The Creation

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and [a] that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; [b] that man was created directly in God’s image and after His own likeness; [c] that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; [d] that all animal and vegetable life was made directly, and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only “after their kind.”

Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6;Romans 1:20;Jeremiah 10:12; Nehemiah 9:6; Acts 4:24;17:23-26
Genesis 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 11:7
Genesis 1:11, 24

ARTICLE VII - The Fall of Man

We believe [a] that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but [b] by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, [c] in consequence of which, all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and [d] therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 3:1-6, 24
Romans 5:12, 19
Ephesians 2:1, 3; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:18; 3:10-19
Romans 1:20, 28, 32; Galatians 3:22

ARTICLE VIII - The Virgin Birth

We believe [a] that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost in a miraculous manner; [b] born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and [c] that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son.

Genesis 3:15
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psalm 2:7; Galatians 4:4
1 John 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:47

ARTICLE IX - The Atonement for Sin

We believe [a] that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace [b] through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, Who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; [c] that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ, the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; [d] that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and an all-sufficient Savior.

Ephesians 2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24
John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21
John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2
1 Corinthians 15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7:25; 9:12-15; 1 John 2:2

ARTICLE X - Grace in the New Creation

We believe [a] that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; [b] that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; [c] that it is instantaneous and not a process; [d] that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; [e] that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, but wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; [f] that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life.

John 3:3
2 Corinthians 5:17
Luke 5:27; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; 16:30-33
2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13
John 1:12-13; 3:8
Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9

ARTICLE XI - The Freeness of Salvation

We believe [a] in God’s electing grace; [b] that the blessings of salvation are made free to all through the gospel; [c] that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and obedient faith; and [d] that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, [e] which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation.

1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30
Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37
Isaiah 55:6; Acts 2:38
Isaiah 55:7; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; John 3:15-16; 5:40
John 3:18, 36

ARTICLE XII - Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is justification; [a] that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; [b] that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood. His righteousness is imputed unto us.

Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 5:1, 9; 8:1
Titus 3:5-7; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; Romans 1:17; 4:1-8

ARTICLE XIII - Repentance and Faith

We believe that repentance and faith are [a] solemn obligations, and [b] also inseparable graces, [c] wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of God; [d] thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; [e] at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him as our only and all-sufficient Savior.

ARTICLE XIV - The Church

We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers [a] associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; [b] observing the ordinances of Christ; [c] governed by His laws; and [d] exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word [e] that its scripturally designated officers are elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; [f] we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; second, to baptize them; third, to teach and instruct, as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; [g] we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; [h] that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and the furtherance of the gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; [i] on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41, 42
1 Corinthians 11:2
Ephesians 1:22-23
Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11
Acts 6:5-6; 14:23; 15:23; 20:17-28; 1 Timothy 3:1-13
Matthew 28:19-20
Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; 1 Peter 5:1-4
Acts 15:22; Jude 3-4; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32; Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24
1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 6:1-3

ARTICLE XV - Baptism and The Lord's Supper

We believe that Christian baptism is [a] the believer’s immersion in water; [b] into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; [c] to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; [d] that in scriptural order it [baptism] precedes the privileges of church membership and is the public recognition of the Lordship of Jesus Christ; [e] the Lord’s Supper is a memorial service in which the elements of bread and wine remind us of the love of God in Christ Jesus, “Who spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all;” and that this ordinance is to be observed in anticipation of His coming and preceded always by solemn self-examination.

Acts 8:36-39; John 3:23; Romans 6:4-5; Matthew 3:6, 16
Matthew 28:19
Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12
Acts 2:41-42; Matthew 28:19-20;
1 Corinthians 11:23-29; Romans 8:32

ARTICLE XVI - The Perseverance of the Saints

We believe [a] that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; [b] that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; [c] that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and [d] that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation.

John 8:31-32; Colossians 1:21, 23
1 John 2:19; Matthew 13:19-20
Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:30; Psalm 121:3; Hebrews 1:14
1 Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:35-39; John 10:28-29; 16:8

ARTICLE XVII - The Righteous and The Wicked

We believe that [a] there is radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; [b] that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in His esteem; [c] while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; [d] and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost.

Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:18
Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34-35: 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:16
1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Romans 7:6; 6:23; 6:16
Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:34-41; Luke 9:26;16:25; John 8:21; 12:25

ARTICLE XVIII - Civil Government

We believe that civil government is [a] of divine appointment, for the interests and good order of human society; [b] the magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed; [c] except only in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ; [d] Who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth.

Romans 13:17; 2 Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22
Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1;1 Peter 2:13-14, 17
Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Daniel 3:17-18
Matthew 10:28; 23:10; Revelation 10:6; Philippians 2:10-11; Psalm 72:11