The Mission of POPC

Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church exists

to pursue TRANSFORMATION
by TRUTH AND GRACE
TOGETHER
for the glory of Christ,

faithfully communicating all of God’s inerrant word, gathering in the lost, and equipping the saints for active participation in ministry.

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TO PURSUE TRANSFORMATION: Because God has predestined His elect “to be conformed the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29), Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church strives to see men, women, boys, and girls become more like Jesus. The gospel of Jesus Christ never leaves us unchanged, for in Him we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and are thus to put off the old self, to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and “to put on new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). “The goal of our instruction is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5); we seek to make disciples who love one another as Christ has loved them (John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:2). We strive to bring about changed lives through a relationship with the risen Son by the power of the Holy Spirit: “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

BY TRUTH AND GRACE: Transformation happens by the application of God’s truth to our lives; we are called to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2), as God's inspired, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient word equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We are sanctified by the truth of God’s word (John 17:17). Our sovereign God is the one who changes us by His powerful and free grace over time; it is grace that trains us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). In response to His work within us, we pursue holiness, godliness, righteousness, and love with fear and trembling, pressing on to make conformity to Jesus our own, because He has made us His own (Philippians 2:12-13; 3:12-14).

TOGETHER: We pursue transformation by both truth and grace, which came in fullness through Jesus Christ (John 1:14-17). A ministry of truth without grace creates prideful legalists; a ministry of grace without truth creates careless antinomians. But the truth of God’s gospel of grace changes legalists into humble lovers of God and neighbor, and antinomians into careful keepers of God’s law (Galatians 5:13-14). Not only do we pursue transformation by both truth and grace together, we also seek transformation together with all the saints. God conforms us to the image of Jesus not as mere individuals, but as the church corporately. Growth occurs as we fulfill all the “one-another” commands in relationship with other believers. We need one another to grow in Christ-likeness (Ephesians 4:11-16).

FOR THE GLORY OF CHRIST: Ultimately, God’s saving work of transforming us by His Spirit into mature disciples of Jesus Christ is for the glory of His Son (John 17:1-5; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Peter 3:18). The Holy Spirit renews us that we might glorify God and to enjoy Him forever, neither of which can be done except as we make much of Jesus Christ His Son, who is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). In all our ministry as a church, He must increase, and we must decrease (John 3:30).