LEARN MORE ABOUT
SACRED CITY CHURCH
OUR LEADERS
You can learn more about or contact any of our Elders, Deacons, or Staff Members at the link below!
Leaders & Staff
OUR NAME
The word sacred means "devoted to God". We chose the name Sacred City to reinforce the fact that all of life is sacred, not just the “religious” part. Hebrews 4:13 says that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” This means that there is no division between the sacred and the secular. As disciples of Jesus, our lives are not meant to be divided between church life and normal life. Rather, all of life is meant to be lived in worship to God in the every day rhythms of life. Therefore, it is not our goal to simply build a large church. We want to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into our cities, our families, and our everyday lives to see Jesus transform the separated into the Sacred.
OUR MISSION
We exist to glorify God by making disciples, planting churches, and renewing our cities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
OUR MISSION STARTS WITH A PASSION FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
Every human being is driven by a sense of glory. We live for the fame, praise, honor, and enjoyment of something. The gospel invites us to trade the lesser glory of created things for the infinite glory of our Creator. Compelled by His greatness, we orient our lives around Him and His mission.
THEREFORE, WE MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES
To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus (Acts 11:26) – a learner, a follower, an apprentice. Jesus commissioned His church to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), which involves baptism (a symbol of initial faith in Jesus Christ) and teaching (the ongoing re-forming of our lives in Christ). The primary mission of the church is to lead people to faith in Jesus and to form them as disciples of Jesus. Everyone who follows Jesus is a disciple who has been empowered for ministry by the Holy Spirit to make new disciples of Jesus. We believe that most gospel ministry should be done in the everyday rhythms of life by normal Christians outside of the four walls of a church building.
WE PLANT CHURCHES
As more and more people become disciples of Jesus, new churches are birthed. Church planting refers to the active multiplication of new churches – and this is the primary mission strategy we see in the New Testament. The book of Acts depicts the spread of a church-planting movement throughout Asia and Europe. Almost all of Paul’s letters were written to new churches either he or someone else he knew had started. We follow this biblical pattern by investing time, resources, and energy to launch, grow, and sustain new churches.
WE RENEW OUR CITIES
The gospel draws us in, changes us from the inside out, and then sends us back out into our cities as missionaries who work for the renewal of all things. We believe that the gospel has a deep, vital, and healthy impact on the arts, business, government, and media of any society. Therefore we are highly committed to support Christians’ engagement with culture, helping them work with excellence, distinctiveness, and accountability in their professions. The gospel changes how we work, what we work for, and will eventually even change the places that we work. As more and more disciples are made and sent back into our city to bring the gospel to bear on their spheres of influence the city will be renewed. This is more than just an individual’s mission, all of our Missional Communities are on mission to a specific people or place in our city and work together for the redemption and renewal of that people group together. We are committed to sacrificially serving our neighbors whether they believe as we do or not. We do this by using our gifts and resources for the needs of others, especially the poor. And more than just meeting individual needs, we work for justice for the powerless.
OUR MISSION STARTS WITH A PASSION FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
Every human being is driven by a sense of glory. We live for the fame, praise, honor, and enjoyment of something. The gospel invites us to trade the lesser glory of created things for the infinite glory of our Creator. Compelled by His greatness, we orient our lives around Him and His mission.
THEREFORE, WE MAKE DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES
To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus (Acts 11:26) – a learner, a follower, an apprentice. Jesus commissioned His church to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), which involves baptism (a symbol of initial faith in Jesus Christ) and teaching (the ongoing re-forming of our lives in Christ). The primary mission of the church is to lead people to faith in Jesus and to form them as disciples of Jesus. Everyone who follows Jesus is a disciple who has been empowered for ministry by the Holy Spirit to make new disciples of Jesus. We believe that most gospel ministry should be done in the everyday rhythms of life by normal Christians outside of the four walls of a church building.
WE PLANT CHURCHES
As more and more people become disciples of Jesus, new churches are birthed. Church planting refers to the active multiplication of new churches – and this is the primary mission strategy we see in the New Testament. The book of Acts depicts the spread of a church-planting movement throughout Asia and Europe. Almost all of Paul’s letters were written to new churches either he or someone else he knew had started. We follow this biblical pattern by investing time, resources, and energy to launch, grow, and sustain new churches.
WE RENEW OUR CITIES
The gospel draws us in, changes us from the inside out, and then sends us back out into our cities as missionaries who work for the renewal of all things. We believe that the gospel has a deep, vital, and healthy impact on the arts, business, government, and media of any society. Therefore we are highly committed to support Christians’ engagement with culture, helping them work with excellence, distinctiveness, and accountability in their professions. The gospel changes how we work, what we work for, and will eventually even change the places that we work. As more and more disciples are made and sent back into our city to bring the gospel to bear on their spheres of influence the city will be renewed. This is more than just an individual’s mission, all of our Missional Communities are on mission to a specific people or place in our city and work together for the redemption and renewal of that people group together. We are committed to sacrificially serving our neighbors whether they believe as we do or not. We do this by using our gifts and resources for the needs of others, especially the poor. And more than just meeting individual needs, we work for justice for the powerless.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Many churches offer a wide array of programs, events, and services in order to attract people and form them into disciples of Jesus. This program-centered approach to discipleship has a glaring weakness: while it keeps people busy, it rarely shapes people’s souls, leaving Christians spiritually immature, culturally unaware, and isolated from the real world by a thick layer of church activities.
The structure of Sacred City is different by design. Our goal is for the gospel to shape us and to find expression in our actual lives. So we rely on a few simple structures to facilitate gospel formation. We gather together in Missional Communities for life on life spiritual formation, we come together weekly for worship in a Sunday Gathering, and we develop leaders through formal training and gospel-centered discipleship. Outside of these structures we seek to live a normal life in the city, expressing the gospel daily as we live out our gospel identities and rhythms.
The structure of Sacred City is different by design. Our goal is for the gospel to shape us and to find expression in our actual lives. So we rely on a few simple structures to facilitate gospel formation. We gather together in Missional Communities for life on life spiritual formation, we come together weekly for worship in a Sunday Gathering, and we develop leaders through formal training and gospel-centered discipleship. Outside of these structures we seek to live a normal life in the city, expressing the gospel daily as we live out our gospel identities and rhythms.
OUR DNA
The DNA of a church is its distinctive and unchangeable characteristics - the code that is expressed in everything a church says and does. At Sacred City Church, our DNA is made up of three things: Gospel, Community, and Mission.
GOSPEL
The gospel is the good news that God has acted in history to conquer evil and reconcile sinners to Himself through the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Through our union with Christ by faith, we can be restored from our fallen and broken condition into right relationship with God and others. The gospel transforms not only individuals, but also churches, societies, and culture at large. It is not just a gate we pass through one time, but a path of ongoing renewal and repentance that we are to walk each day of our lives. We believe the gospel changes everything!
(Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-24)
COMMUNITY
We are saved by the Trinitarian community - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - for community. God, in the Gospel, saves us not into a life of individualism but into a family - a community of other believers centered on the Gospel. God is our Father who has adopted us by His Spirit to be His sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters to one another through Christ who is the head of His body - the Church. Therefore, the Church is not just a place or event to attend, but is a distinct and diverse people from all races, ethnicities, ages, and socioeconomic statuses. This diverse people of God is both the best place to come to understand and experience the gospel and also the best place to display the gospel to a watching world.
(John 17:5, Ephesians 1:5-6, Ephesians 2:13-22, Colossians 1:18, Romans 8:14-17)
MISSION
Mission is not what we do - it who we are. We are a community of missionaries to the Quad Cities. We are kingdom-bringers. God is not just interested in the salvation of humans, but in the restoration of all of creation to its original “good”.
(Gen. 1:31; Rom. 8:19-22)
We desire to form disciples of Jesus in and around the gospel. This gospel formation happens in a community that is on mission together. The gospel not only calls us into community and sends us out on mission, but the power of the gospel is the only thing that will keep us in community and on mission. Being in community and on mission reveals our continual need for grace found only in the gospel. Or, the way we often say it is:
"THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE DISCIPLES IS IN COMMUNITY & ON MISSION."
OUR IDENTITIES
We believe action follows being. Therefore, we define ourselves not by what we do, but who we are in Christ. At Sacred City, we believe the gospel gives us four main identities: Family, Missionaries, Servants, and Learners.
(Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)
(John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
SERVANTS
We are servants of God who serve others as a way of life. Being fully God and fully human, Jesus took on the posture of a servant. He gave His life, even unto death, so that others could experience salvation, peace and restoration. Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves…”, and all those who follow Jesus are called to serve in the same humility. For us this means joyful submission to God, leadership, and to each other as we serve whomever God brings into our lives.
(Matthew 20:25- 28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16)
LEARNERS
We are disciples of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. As a young man, Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with men. He learned from local religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of listening to God. Jesus called others to follow His ways, to be His disciples and live in obedience to all that God commands. He then sent these followers out to make new disciples. We are called to this same life of learning, discipleship, and the discipling of others. This includes both our personal time with God as well as pursuing together the training provided by spiritual leadership.
(Luke 2:52; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)
FAMILY
We are children of God who live and care for each other as a family. God has always desired a people - an earthly family - who would live in such a way that the world would know what He is like. Jesus said that those who live in His ways and obey His Father are truly His family. Through Jesus we believe we are children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family, we see it as our call to personally care for the needs of one another - both physically and spiritually. Through Missional Community and the Sunday Gathering we disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to our covenant life together.
We are children of God who live and care for each other as a family. God has always desired a people - an earthly family - who would live in such a way that the world would know what He is like. Jesus said that those who live in His ways and obey His Father are truly His family. Through Jesus we believe we are children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As family, we see it as our call to personally care for the needs of one another - both physically and spiritually. Through Missional Community and the Sunday Gathering we disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to our covenant life together.
(Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)
MISSIONARIES
God sent His son, Jesus, to earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate, and interacted among the people, living in such a way that those around Him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus.
God sent His son, Jesus, to earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate, and interacted among the people, living in such a way that those around Him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus.
(John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
SERVANTS
We are servants of God who serve others as a way of life. Being fully God and fully human, Jesus took on the posture of a servant. He gave His life, even unto death, so that others could experience salvation, peace and restoration. Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves…”, and all those who follow Jesus are called to serve in the same humility. For us this means joyful submission to God, leadership, and to each other as we serve whomever God brings into our lives.
(Matthew 20:25- 28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16)
LEARNERS
We are disciples of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. As a young man, Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with men. He learned from local religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of listening to God. Jesus called others to follow His ways, to be His disciples and live in obedience to all that God commands. He then sent these followers out to make new disciples. We are called to this same life of learning, discipleship, and the discipling of others. This includes both our personal time with God as well as pursuing together the training provided by spiritual leadership.
(Luke 2:52; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)
OUR RHYTHMS
Our gospel-given identities produce Gospel rhythms in the context of everyday life. We call these rhythms Listen, Celebrate, Eat, Bless, and Recreate.
LISTEN
We set aside regular times to listen to God both backward and forward. Jesus listened to God in prayer to know His Father's will. We are also called to listen to God. We listen 'backward' by regularly interacting with God's Word and His Son. We also spend time actively listening to what God is saying to us through His Spirit in us and through His creation. We take time to actively listen 'forward' to hear what God is saying to us today. We also listen to others' stories and help them find their lives within God's story.
(Mark 1:35-37; John 16:7-15; Hebrews 1:1-3; Romans 1:20)
CELEBRATE
We gather together to celebrate God's blessings. God calls people to regularly celebrate His goodness and grace. We gather weekly in Missional Communities and regularly as a larger family, to share stories and celebrate all that God is doing in and amongst us. We intentionally celebrate milestones in our personal lives and in the life of our church such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions that have demonstrated God’s grace and faithfulness toward us. We invite everyone to these celebrations as a way of displaying God's glory.
(Leviticus 23; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:24-25)
EAT
We regularly eat meals with others to invite them into the community of God. Meals are a daily reminder of our common need for God and His faithfulness to provide both physically and spiritually. Jesus called us to remember Him and His sacrifice for us through a meal. When we eat together, we commune around this truth. We regularly eat meals with those not in our immediate family or circle of close friends, discipling them toward a life of dependence on God.
(Leviticus 23; Matthew 6:11; 26:17-30; Acts 2:46-47; Romans 12:13)
BLESS
We intentionally bless others through words, gifts, or actions. God desires that all nations—all people—would be blessed through Jesus. And now, as His Body, we believe we live out this mission as we bless others. We intentionally seek God's direction for who he would have us tangibly bless each week.
(Genesis 12:1-3; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 2:12)
RECREATE
We take time to rest, play, create and restore beauty in ways that reflect God to others. After powerfully and joyfully creating the universe, God rested. We were created in His image and therefore we were made to joyfully create and rest as well, to reflect what God is like to our city. This also means that we are made to enjoy the goodness of God’s creation in our city and regularly participate in and enjoy our cities’ parks, festivals, and special events.
(Genesis 1-2:3; Deuteronomy 5:12; Mark 2:23-28; Hebrews 4, Jeremiah 29:7)
OUR BELIEFS
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT GOSPEL CENTRALITY.
We believe the gospel is the good news of what God has graciously accomplished for sinners through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, namely our forgiveness from sin and complete justification before God; this gospel is also the foundation for our confidence in the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom, and the consummation of His purpose for all creation in the new heavens and new earth.
This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life; this gospel is not proclaimed if Christ’s penal substitutionary death and bodily resurrection are not central to our message.
This gospel is not only the means by which people are saved, but also the truth and power by which people are sanctified; it is the truth of the gospel that enables us to genuinely and joyfully do what is pleasing to God and to grow in progressive conformity to the image of Christ.
The salvation offered in this gospel message is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone; no ordinance, ritual, work, or any other activity on the part of man is required in order to be saved.
(Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13 Jude 3-4; Revelation 21-22)
WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD’S GRACE IN SAVING SINNERS.
We affirm that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, not on the basis of foreseen faith but unconditionally, according to His sovereign good pleasure and will.
We believe that through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will draw the elect to faith in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, graciously and effectually overcoming their stubborn resistance to the gospel so that they will most assuredly and willingly believe.
We also believe that these, the elect of God whom He gave to the Son, will persevere in belief and godly behavior and be kept secure in their salvation by grace through faith.
We believe that God’s sovereignty in this salvation neither diminishes the responsibility of people to believe in Christ nor marginalizes the necessity and power of prayer and evangelism, but rather reinforces and establishes them as the ordained means by which God accomplishes His ordained ends.
(John 1:12-13; 6:37-44; 10:25-30; Acts 13:48; 16:30-31; Romans 3-4; 8:1-17,31-39; 9:1-23; 10:8-10; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:7,9)
WE RECOGNIZE AND REST UPON THE NECESSITY OF THE EMPOWERING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR ALL OF LIFE AND MINISTRY.
The Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son, whose primary ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ; He also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth).
The Spirit permanently indwells, graciously sanctifies, lovingly leads, and empowers all who are brought to faith in Christ so that they might live in obedience to the inerrant Scriptures.
The model for our reliance upon the Spirit and our experience of His indwelling and empowering presence is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who was filled with the Spirit and entirely dependent upon His power for the performance of miracles, the preaching of the kingdom of God, and all other dimensions of His earthly ministry.
The Holy Spirit who indwelt and empowered Christ in like manner indwells and empowers us through spiritual gifts He has bestowed for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Although there are different understandings in our network of the nature and function of these gifts, we all recognize that they are divine provisions central to spiritual growth and effective ministry and are to be eagerly desired, faithfully developed, and lovingly exercised according to biblical guidelines.
(Matthew 3:11; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17; 10:21; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15, 34; 14:12; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30; 10:38; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).
WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED BOTH TO THE FUNDAMENTAL SPIRITUAL AND MORAL EQUALITY OF MALE AND FEMALE AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPLE OF MALE HEADSHIP IN THE CHURCH AND HOME.
Both men and women are together created in the divine image and are therefore equal before God as persons, possessing the same moral dignity and value, and have equal access to God through faith in Christ.
Men and women are together the recipients of spiritual gifts designed to empower them for ministry in the local church and beyond. Therefore, women are to be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to utilize their gifting in ministry, in service to the body of Christ, and through teaching in ways that are consistent with the Word of God.
Both husbands and wives are responsible to God for spiritual nurture and vitality in the home, but God has given to the man primary responsibility to lead his wife and family in accordance with the servant leadership and sacrificial love modeled by Jesus Christ.
The Elders/Pastors of each local church have been granted authority under the headship of Jesus Christ to provide oversight and to teach/preach the Word of God in corporate assembly for the building up of the body. The office of Elder/Pastor is restricted to men.
(Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 18:24-26; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7)
WE EMBRACE A MISSIONARY UNDERSTANDING OF THE LOCAL CHURCH AND ITS ROLE AS THE PRIMARY MEANS BY WHICH GOD CHOOSES TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH.
The church has a clear biblical mandate to look beyond its own community to the neighborhood, the nation, and the world as a whole; thus mission is not an optional program in the church but an essential element in the identity of the church.
We are called to make Christ known through the gospel and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to bring His lordship to bear on every dimension of life.
The primary way we fulfill this mission is through the planting of churches that plant churches and the training of their leaders. Our aim is that Jesus Christ would be more fully formed in each person through the ministry of those churches God enables us to plant around the world.
We also believe we are responsible neither to retreat from our culture nor to conform to it, but with humility, through the Spirit and the truth of the gospel, to engage it boldly as we seek its transformation and submission to the lordship of Christ.
(Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 10:5-25; 28:18-20; Luke 4:18-19; 24:46-47; Acts 28:31; Romans 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10).
Additionally we hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith.
POSITION PAPERS
THE SACRAMENTS
GOD & ALCOHOL
COHABITATION
ELDER DEVELOPMENT
OUR NETWORKS
Making disciples, planting churches, and pursuing the renewal of all things is not a call we can accomplish on our own. For the good of our city and the world, we make common cause with a few key, like-minded networks and organizations to achieve maximum impact for the gospel.
THE SACRED CITY NETWORK
This is our local network of like-minded, relationally connected, church-planting churches on mission to and serving the greater Quad Cities area.
THE ACTS 29 NETWORK
Acts 29 is a diverse, global family of church-planting churches. Through this network we are able to train, assess, coach, resource, and develop church planters.
FISHERS OF MEN MINISTRIES
Our partnership with Fishers of Men Ministries allows us the opportunity to fund, train, and resource church planting initiatives in Kenya, Africa.
