→ KNOW CHRIST.

Matthew 16:15 “Jesus said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’”

At the root of Christianity is the call to know God and be known by Him — not merely to know about God but to know Him deeply in relationship. At Portico, we believe that our understanding of who Christ is lays the foundation for everything we do. Individually and corporately, we must begin by knowing the person, character, and work of Christ.

→ BUILD THE CHURCH.

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Upon conversion, a believer in Christ is welcomed into two new relationships: a relationship with God Himself and a relationship with the church.

What is the church? The word for church in Greek, ekklesia, means gathering or assembly. Scripture gives us many metaphors for the gathering of God’s people. The church is described as a body with Jesus as its Head; it is a flock and Jesus is the Chief Shepherd; and it is a bride and Jesus is her Husband. Jesus is vitally connected to and loves His church.

At Portico, we want to love what Jesus loves; therefore, we strive to build up the local church (Ephesians 4:12). This conviction manifests itself both locally and globally as we join in a church-planting movement to bring the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation.

→ TELL THE STORY. 

John 20:21 “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Our lives revolve around the telling of stories. Every song, movie, and social networking site tells a story. We gather with family and friends to share a meal and tell stories. The phenomena of Facebook, Twitter and blogging confirm how much we love to tell and know one another’s stories.

Our God is crafting the most glorious story ever written. We see this most clearly in the person of Jesus who became a man and came to earth on mission to save sinners. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, God draws near to us and pursues us in a mission of redemption. We are part of His story. We have the privilege of watching it unfold and the honor of sharing it with the world. In telling the story of Jesus, we boldly proclaim the gospel through our words and deeds so that people might put their hope and trust in Christ alone and be saved.