What to Expect at Assurance Church
Assurance Church is a simple church. What is a simple church? Simple church is a way of doing church...it keeps the focus on what is important and all the other things that tend to "become" church but really aren't.... get left behind!
For instance: Money and Tithing aren't really an issue. We meet in a home (although simple churches can meet anywhere: park, coffee shop, mall, wherever). We don't really need to make the payment on a building or worry about keeping the lights on! If you would like to give, we have an offering plate on the coffee table.
There isn't the need to "high pressure" someone into coming to/coming back to church. If you visit and you don't like it, that's cool! We know that people worship Jesus in many different types of church. The great thing about Houston is that you have many choices - but you need to make one!
This next reason goes along with the above.... Because we are not trying to "build" a big church. We don't compromise our message. We try to follow the Bible in an orthodox, protestant tradition.
The flip side of this is that we can make and keep some close relationships. We are accountable to each other. You can't come to a simple church and hide in the stadium seating! We have some cool fellowship: eating, praying, reading, singing and just hanging out with each other.
On Sunday evening, service starts at 10 a.m.. We start the service off with contemporary praise and worship music and then break for about 7-10 minutes for some coffee and fellowship. After our break, we come back for a Biblical message. The service time can last anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
What We Believe
Every "Christian" church has similar beliefs that are considered the basics of Christianity. Just the same, every church has some differences that make them unique. Sometimes these differences are "written" and sometimes they are "acted upon." We try very hard to "live by" these values.
The Presence of God - We value time where the Presence of God flows freely. This means that we understand that God is supposed to have an active part in our lives. This is exhibited in our church (services & programs) as well as in our everyday lives. We choose to live in the Presence of God, knowing that wherever we go, He is always there and wants to spend time with us.
The Bible - We value the Bible because it is the very words of God. Men of old were inspired to write what God was telling them in their hearts. We believe that God will speak to us through the Bible. We believe that the Word of God is relevant for today and that if we read it and apply it, we will grow closer to God.
Prayer - We value prayer. Not only in our services, but in our lives as well. We know that prayer is communication with God. He desires this because He loevs us and wants to have a close relationship with us. We believe that God answers prayer and does not allow one word to go unheard. So praying is very important to us and our relationship with God.
The Church - The church is not an institution, but a living body. Jesus said that He was the head and the church was His body. It is the responsibility of every Christian to go to church on a weekly basis and learn more about God. The church is also a place for fellowshipping with other Christians and making new relationships.
Friendships - We value true friendships that last. These friendships are based on love for each other. It encompasses friendships at church, but also friendships that we have outside of church. Relationships are important. It is modeled to us by God's loving relationship, even when we aren't perfect. We build relationships on that criteria as well.
The Love of Jesus - This is the most important. We can do everything right, but if it's not drenched in the love of Jesus, then it's all worthless. We value the ability to love others as jesus would have. He didn't see color, age or financial status. He saw people...and He loved them all! We should do the same. As followers of Jesus, we see others in a different light...through the eyes of Jesus.
