LBC has been serving the community of Lossiemouth for over 150 years striving to be part of the living, evangelical ‘Body of Christ’ in our town. The vision and values of LBC are outlined below. This emerged from an examination by the leadership, of the needs of the local community and the stated aspirations of members & adherents of the fellowship.
Our Heart for the Church
What makes a healthy church? Over recent years, this question has shaped our conversations at members’ and leadership meetings. Through prayer and discussion, four fundamentals have emerged as essential: Discipleship, Mission, Fellowship and Prayer. These conversations have been invaluable in focusing our thoughts and guiding us as a leadership to recognise these four areas as the foundations—both for us individually and as a church — by which we become faithful to Christ through His Word.
We value being a Bible based, family friendly, community focused church with lively worship.
As the church we are called to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1v8: ”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
As we seek to “GROW DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” our vision is to be a:
- A Grounded community
- A Gathered community
- A Growing community
- A Going (missionary) community
Grounded in Scripture and Prayer
Being grounded is about having the right foundation in place. We want to be a people who continually seek His presence by reading His Word and pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). Meditating on God’s Word and prayer are the things that we know we need, but often fail or forget to have. They are the very breath of a Christian.
What does this mean for LBC?
- Making it our priority to be devoted to the apostles’ teaching (God’s Word) and prayer (Acts 2:42).
- Recognising the unique place of the Bible as God’s Word as our authority and sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Individually committing to pray for each other for strength and encouragement in faith (Col 4:12) and gathering together to cry out to God as one.
Gathered in Fellowship
From the birth of the church, believing in Jesus has meant belonging to His bride. As we move closer to Christ being our Lord and Saviour, we move closer to those who share His Lordship in equal measure. The New Testament emphasises the importance of committed relationships. We are saved as individuals but we are called to express and grow in our faith in a community of love. (ie. The local church)
What does this mean for LBC?
- Committing ourselves to gathering. The early church was marked by their devotion to the apostles’ teaching (preaching), fellowship, breaking of bread (communion) and prayer (Acts 2:42).
- Playing our part as the body of Christ, recognising that God has gifted each believer uniquely for the church (Romans 12:4-5) and that genuine fellowship means striving for unity and pastoral care (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).
- Dealing with disagreements biblically by speaking as little as possible about others to as few others as possible (Matthew 18:15-17), making church as attractive as possible to those visiting or attending by the way we behave.
Growing in Maturity
To be a healthy disciple of Jesus is to commit to grow in maturity, as Paul says, ‘for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers’ (Romans 8:29).
What does this mean for LBC?
- Growing in our love for God so that everything else is seen in the truth of His love (Matthew 6:33). This is evident in our commitment to read, understand and apply God’s Word.
- Delighting in God getting His way over our lives, picking up our own crosses, knowing that only through our own death (of our motives, desires, wants) do we actually enter into the fullness of life that comes by letting God have His way with our lives (2 Corinthians 15:14-15).
- Pursuing a maturity that refuses complacency or comfort, knowing that a mark of our maturity is a generosity towards God, a life balanced to the glory of God, and a growing distaste for sin (Philippians 3:14-15).
Go in Mission
The commitment to mission is the recognition that God in His infinite wisdom has chosen His local gathered believers (the church) as His way to spread His message to the ends of the earth. We are charged to ‘make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19-20).
What does this mean for LBC?
Locally
Being intentional in making disciples where God has placed us. Our witness (how we live and speak) should match the Word we proclaim (the gospel). Living in such a way that, God willing, people ask us about our hope and we are ready to give a reason (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Recognising our role in making the gathered community of God’s people a place where new people are welcomed, encouraged and attracted to following Jesus.
Following Jesus’ example – He never preached the good news in isolation, but brought good things which stood as a foretaste of the goodness of God (e.g. care for the poor and defending the voiceless).
Globally
Giving sacrificially for the success of other churches, stewarding God’s resources to support other churches in their calling to make disciples where God has placed them.
Helping to establish churches where there is no gospel witness, recognising the tragedy of places which are not reached with the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Supporting organisations which are explicit and faithful about declaring the good news of Jesus as they support communities through education, health and justice.