Vision

At Grace DC our purpose is to both experience and extend the power of God’s grace in Washington DC, and beyond. We long to be an inwardly-growing and outwardly-facing community, faithfully striving to express the Gospel (lit. “good news”) of Jesus Christ. That Gospel is a proclamation (Word) and demonstration (Deed) of God’s rich and persistent grace to deeply flawed and sinful people. The Bible tells us that the Church is the continuing ministry of Jesus, so we feel that our community and ministry ought to reflect His gracious words and deeds, as well as engage skeptics, seekers and followers.

Our CORE VALUES are the way we hope to experience and extend God’s grace:

1 Gospel. The gospel is literally the “good news” of God’s grace (undeserved kindness), to sinful people through Jesus Christ. We believe the grace of God to be not only the starting point for the Christian life, but the way we grow at every point, and that it possesses the power to renew individuals, communities, cities—even the whole world. We access this powerful grace primarily through the Bible, sacraments and prayer.

2 Relationships. God himself is a relational being, a community of three persons (Trinity), so life is all about relationships—foremost with him, and then with others. All of God’s commandments are understood in light of two greater relationship commands (love God and neighbor), so spiritual growth is impossible apart from committed community. God’s grace creates a safe community to be honest about our sin and brokenness, and experience healing.
Listen to a sermon on Gospel & Relationship >>

3 Calling. Our primary calling is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, by whatever means God wills. Jesus is Lord over every sphere of life: vocation, leisure, art, government, family, etc.—all of life is spiritual. God has commissioned us to be agents of His renewal in this world until he consummates the work at Jesus’ return.

4 Kingdom. The Church is to serve as a foretaste and model of God’s coming kingdom, the renewal of all things. The values of Jesus’ kingdom often subvert our own, and those of our culture—extending beyond any single race, ethnicity, tradition or ideology. We aim to be a community that is not divided along political lines, but is defined by its loyalty to Jesus.
Listen to a sermon on Calling & Kingdom >>

5 Witness. We are to show forth Christ through our sincere love for one another. The words and deeds of the gospel are inseparably bound. We seek to make the gospel comprehensible to all, with respect and hope, throughout DC to the ends of the earth.

6 Expectation. God is not passive, but the initiator in our relationship—he is “on the move” advancing his purposes. Active trust in God’s promises delights him and produces vibrant prayer and worship. Ministry goals should require supernatural intervention and defy human explanation, to the glory of God.
Listen to a sermon on Witness & Expectation >>

7 Service. God has given his Spirit to every person who embraces Jesus, and equips them with gifts and abilities. The grace of God motivates us to radical acts of love and service that guilt and fear never will. We commit our money, talent, and time to serving the needs of our community, city and world.

8 City. God as Creator made a real “place,” cared enough to enter into it as a man, and plans to redeem the world he made—so we inhabit our place and seek its renewal. As a community that is in, and for the District of Columbia, we desire to serve, not use, the city. The best way to serve the unique needs of each neighborhood is by starting new churches throughout our city.
Listen to a sermon on Service & City >>

Grace DC is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a group of churches whose theological beliefs are summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms.

Please feel free to contact one of our pastors or elders if you have any questions about what we believe the Bible teaches.