We exist to love God, make disciples, and share the better story of Jesus.

We didn't write this story, God did (John 1:1-3). And because God wrote it, our job is to receive the truth of His story as revealed in God's infallible Scripture and has handed down to us (1 Cor. 15:1-11). God gets the most glory, and life goes best for us (Rom. 8:28), when we live in accordance with the story He has written and is writing. In a world where expressive individualism tells us to “write our own story”, there is great freedom, joy, and peace to be found in simply receiving God’s story.

Likewise, the history of the church, found both in the pages of the New Testament and across the centuries since, acts as a lesser authority. Nonetheless, it teaches us how Christians have lived out God's story in different times and places. As such, we seek to adopt a posture of humility and learn from the men and women who have faithfully walked in this story before us.

We gather on Sunday and throughout the week to rehearse the better story we have been brought into (Heb. 10:25). Through worship in song, corporate confession and assurance, sitting under God’s Word, and participation in the Lord’s Supper, we remind ourselves that we are not the good-natured autonomous individuals our cultural stories tell us we are. And that, despite our rebellion, God has set his great love on us in sending His Son Jesus to liberate us from the power of sin, death, and Satan (Col. 2:13-15).

Visitors are welcome to come each Sunday to witness this rehearsal and “try this story on” to see how it makes sense of our lives and the world we live in. 

God is writing a story that we have a part in! Our role then is not only to receive it, but to proclaim in word and deed the better story with our whole lives (Matt. 28:18-20). It is through the faithful relaying of this better story that sinners are saved from death and given eternal life (Rom. 1:16). We also seek to relay this story in deed, participating in ministries of mercy and justice in our city as a demonstration of our love for Jesus (Matt. 25:40) and His love for the world (John 3:16).

At Sunrise Church this means all that we do, from Sunday morning services to Community Groups to supporting our local and global partners, is designed to equip members to be active and faithful witnesses to this gospel story.