Joining Our Fellowship
At its core, Sovereign Grace Assembly seeks to be a home for God's people—a spiritual family grounded in truth. Scripture describes God's people as His temple, His house, and SGA strives to embody that, providing a place for all who walk in the Truth and are genuine followers of Christ.
But what do we mean by "walking in the Truth?" Really, we mean obeying the gospel of Christ. The Bible speaks of the New Covenant in Ezekiel 36:26, saying, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." A Christian, therefore, is someone with a new heart and spirit, transformed by Christ.
You might wonder, what does "heart" and "spirit" mean in this context? The Bible connects the heart with passion, conviction, love, and motivation. The spirit, on the other hand, relates to feelings and intuition, being marked by experiences of joy, grief, or wisdom. Central to both is the will—a willingness to know and love the Truth, which is in Christ.
Faith, too, is deeply connected to the heart. Scripture teaches, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." In the Bible, Christians are said to have the "eyes of faith" because they possess the ability to see and recognise the Truth. With a humble heart that acknowledges its own sin and guilt, God’s people see themselves as they truly are, and Christ as He truly is. This awareness leads them to rely on Christ entirely, for in Him they find their full salvation.
A Christian is someone whose heart is open and eager to know Christ, the ultimate Truth, and to embrace truth when it is revealed. Such a person rejects falsehood and detests straying from the path of righteousness. A Christian is endowed by God with a spirit of wisdom and discernment, enabling them to perceive and understand the Truth.
Christians, therefore, are those who seek the Truth, walk in the Way, and are made alive in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Our Statement of Faith captures the essential truths we hold dear, providing a clear expression of our beliefs. If these resonate with you and you are committed to walking in the light of Christ, we invite you to join us. We look forward to welcoming you into our spiritual family and hope you’ll find a true home here.
What is the process for joining your fellowship?
We warmly welcome anyone interested in joining our fellowship. Becoming part of our community is a shared journey of exploring and affirming our faith together. You won’t be asked to give a personal testimony. What matters most is that we hold the same faith and follow the same order, as outlined in our Statement of Faith. We'll walk with you through an introduction to our fellowship over several weeks, taking time to ensure we share the same mission and calling.
Do I need to agree to your entire statement of faith to join the fellowship?
It is important that we share the same faith and order. Each of the truths we hold dear should resonate with you. Our shared faith and order is the cornerstone of our fellowship, as we believe in walking together in agreement, as stated in scripture: "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Why do you not follow the doctrine of Acts, receiving one another into fellowship immediately?
The answer is twofold. Firstly, it is not explicitly stated in the book of Acts that they practiced fellowship with strangers. The text describes the men in Acts as "pious men" who had come to Jerusalem for the feast, being Jews. These men accepted Peter's teaching that Jesus, who had died and risen again, was the Messiah anointed by God to save them from their sins. These Jews had travelled from distant places, likely with companions or in groups of friends. They therefore likely knew some of the others present, though not everyone. Thus, when it mentions that they went to their houses and broke bread, it likely means they shared this act with people they already knew, commemorating their newly received Messiah's death. This suggests they did not have communion with complete strangers.
Second, as the early churches grew, they became more cautious about whom they accepted into fellowship. Initially, those joining were pious individuals who immediately embraced Jesus and the apostles' teachings. However, as the churches established themselves, there was an increased risk of deceitful individuals seeking to introduce error. Therefore, a more careful approach to fellowship became necessary.
What are the conditions for joining the fellowship?
The only condition for joining our fellowship is that you are found walking in the Truth.
What if I'm a believer, but I don't agree with all your beliefs?
We believe that if our beliefs are true, they will resonate with those walking in the Truth. If you initially disagree with parts of our statement of faith, we are open to discussing it with you. The goal is mutual understanding and agreement.
Some argue against shared beliefs in churches, fearing it may lead to disputes. We believe the opposite: disagreements often arise when individuals join without aligning on fundamental beliefs. To repeat what scripture says, "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
Why do you need to get to know me before joining?
When we gather at the communion table, we value knowing who we are sharing this sacred act with. The communion table is meant to symbolise not only our communion with God but also our communion with each other. If it were solely about an individual’s relationship with God, there would be no need to partake in it collectively; individuals could do it privately at home. However, this was not the practice of the early church and is not supported by scripture.
Therefore, we want to take time to get to know you to ensure our faith and experiences align, confirming we share the same beliefs and order.
But I want to join right away
We understand your eagerness, but we need to ensure we are aligned in purpose and faith. This requires time and patience, especially in a time when false teachings are prevalent. Building a strong foundation through mutual understanding is crucial.
