Open Introduction

Introduction

Welcome to ConnectStep! This book is designed to help you:

• discover Grace Church
• identify the unique gifts that God has given you
• connect with the life of the church through groups, serving, and missions

At the end of the ConnectStep class, you’ll be given the opportunity to join our church through membership.

We hope that this short class will help you encounter God, deepen your faith, and equip you to use your gifts to fill the city with Jesus, wherever you call home.

Let’s begin!

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. —Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Open Our History

Our History

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. - Psalm 127:1 (ESV)

All great stories start with an idea from God and are birthed from small steps of faith. More than thirty years ago, in 1988, Randy and Sarah Thornton planted Grace Church in their living room. For ten years, the congregation remained under one hundred people as they met in homes and storefronts. After a season of fasting, praying, and seeking God, Pastor Randy felt God say, "I didn't call you to plant a church—I called you to take the city."

From that point, Grace Church began growing rapidly as it focused on filling the city with Jesus. The church expanded the Southern Pines campus in 2008. God has been faithful to build His church, and since the Thorntons first obeyed God's voice, Grace Church has grown from a small group gathering to a multisite church with an online presence

Open What is the Church?

What is the Church?

Before we talk about Grace Church, let's make sure we have a clear understanding of what God says about the Church. Our definition comes directly from His Word.

In the Bible, the Greek word for "church" is ecclesia, which means "called out, assembly."

We are called to live in a way that honors God and stands apart from the world—that's the "called out" part. We are also called together with other believers—that's the "assembly" part. Simply put, the church is believers gathering together to seek and worship God.

We don't just go to church; we are the church. Church isn't a building, a location, or a sermon; it's the people of God living together as a family.

Church is the place where you belong and come alive in authentic community. It's also where we are commissioned by Jesus to "make disciples."

Open Vision

Vision: What Motivates Us

Our vision as a church comes from what God told the exiled Israelites in Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Our vision is to Fill the City with Jesus. Filling the city with Jesus includes praying for our city, serving in our city, and looking for opportunities to bless and serve our neighbors as Jesus did. As a church, we focus our efforts on equipping the saints for the work of ministry so that this vision can be fulfilled.

Where Is Your City?

Your city is based on relationships.

The Lord has placed you in the midst of other people. It is within the context of those relationships that you are called to be the light, to share good news, and to point people to hope in Christ. Together, we seek the welfare of our city when we pray on its behalf and love our neighbors from a sincere heart.

![My-City-Diagram-v2.png](ht

Open Mission

Mission: What We Do

Our vision is realized through our single-fold mission: to make disciples. Every ministry, group, and event at Grace Church is unified by the mission to make disciples.

This is the Great Commission—it’s the call of every believer. Although our vision is unique, the mission of every church—including ours—is the same because it is given by Jesus: “Make Disciples.”

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. —Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Open What is a Disciple?

What Is a Disciple?

A disciple is someone who:

Strengthens themself in the Lord

To be strengthened in the Lord means to enter His presence in confidence because of what Jesus accomplished. (Hebrews 4:15–16) The access you have to the Father gives you strength. Practicing the spiritual disciplines helps you to draw closer to God, which deepens your faith and strengthens you in the Lord. These spiritual disciplines include daily Bible reading, prayer, engaging in worship, service, being in community, and journaling.

But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. —1 Samuel 30:6 (ESV)

Manages their household

Managing your home starts with strengthening yourself in the Lord. When you faithfully steward the time, talents, and resources God has given you, they can be poured into others in your city. This responsibility applies to all Christians—whether

Open Untitled

Ten-City Renewal: Where We Are Going

One day, Moore County will be known for a lasting, sustained movement of the Presence of God. We are seeking revival in our hearts for the renewal of our city and beyond.

God has given Grace Church the audacious task of seeing ten cities renewed for the glory of God. In 2023, our church received a prophetic word indicating that we were to expand and grow to fill “at least ten cities.” We are believing what God has spoken, and we are seeking Him as we partner with Him in city renewal.

Filling the city with Jesus becomes real, practical, and personal when you realize that the city He wants to renew is your city. The city where God has placed you is the same city that He has the heart to renew, save, redeem, and restore. But how?

Great question—the answer is in and through you.

God desires for you to be filled with Him so th

Open Big Church & Small Church

Big Church & Small Church

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. —Acts 2:46–47 (ESV)

Grace Church is a thriving multisite church with a growing number of campuses as well as a large number of people who join us for live streamed messages each week. As our family grows, we seek to be true to God’s Word in all that we do and to follow the New Testament model for church described in Acts 2:46–47.

The believers in the early church gathered at the temple (big church) and broke bread in their homes (small church). They did life together and lived joyfully, and the fruit was that their city was being filled with Jesus: “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 ESV)

To see our current locations, [visit our website.](https://gracechurch

Open Meet Our Lead Pastor

Meet Our Lead Pastor

ryan peterson desires to see people come fully alive through the freedom of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. He has aheart for the Presence of God, and he loves spending time with God through Word, prayer, and worship. His personal encounters with the Lord have provoked a deep hunger to help others encounter God in the same way.

As Lead Pastor of Grace Church, he desires for the church to steward the Presence of God by seeking Him, honoring Him as holy, and walking with Him in steadfast faith and obedience. He consistently points people back to the simple practices and values described in the Bible, such as meditating on God’s Word, prayer, and community.

ryan has been walking with Jesus since 2004, and since that time, the Lord has directed his steps on an unexpected journey of faith. In 2006, he moved from Kansas to direct a private

Open Our Leadership

Our Leadership

Although the Bible does not give us a straightforward design for how the local church should be structured, there are a few elements of governance that are consistent from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Grace Church follows those biblical consistencies in our leadership structure.

Grace Church is:

1. Person-led.

God has called Pastor ryan to be our Lead Pastor in the same way that He called other men to lead other great moves in Scripture (e.g., Moses, David, Daniel, and Joshua).

2. Pastored by Pastor ryan and the Lead Team.

The Lead Team oversees the day-to-day ministry and operations of the church. This team includes campus pastors, staff pastors, and nonpastoral staff who serve the congregation and are responsible for the administration and development of the spiritual life of the church. A team assisted Moses in his responsibil

Open Knowing God & Being Known

Knowing God & Being Known: Living Life Fully Alive

But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. —Daniel 11:32b (KJV)

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. —John 10:10b (ESV)

We are here to have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus: This is a gift from God. Knowing God was the Apostle Paul’s greatest desire. As he wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8aESV)

Knowing God comes through spending time with Him through the spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and reading the Bible, which is His Word.

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. —John 17:3 (ESV)

Our proximity to God determines the depth of abundant life we will experience. Through the adventure of knowing God, we become deeply human and fully alive.

Although we should devote quiet time to

Open Doctrine

Doctrine

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. —1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV)

Doctrine determines direction. Doctrine is what we believe and how we live out those beliefs. What we believe matters deeply because it affects the entire course of our life. Biblical theology and doctrine help us learn about God—His character, ways, heart, and desires—which gives us vision for how we should conduct our lives so that we can truly say, “on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10bESV)

Essential Beliefs

**1. Salvation is a gift from God to man. **Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s ultimate sacrifice can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ by faith.

**2. The Bible is G

Open Values

Values: The Things We Hold in Honor

A value is something that has worth and importance. How we live reveals what is important to us. At Grace Church we center our worship and life on the Presence of God.

Our values are expressed during our Worship Experiences, in our Groups, and throughout the life of the church.

Our Values

Our values come from God’s Word. The Scriptures below highlight what we value and why.

The Presence of God

“And He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to Him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.’”—Exodus 33:14–15 (ESV)

The Word

“My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.”—Psalm 119:20 (ESV)

“Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. —Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)

“All Scripture is breathed out

Open Community

Community

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. —Ephesians 2:19–21 (ESV)

Being the church means living in an authentic community with a small group of people where we know others and are truly known. Jesus didn’t just teach about community: He lived it. Jesus surrounded Himself with people that He poured into, who in turn poured into others.

Community Block

Building a community block is an essential aspect of discipleship. A community block is a simple way to identify the people who are walking with you as you become a more mature disciple of Jesus.

Who are the people discipling you (fathe

Open Groups

Groups

Groups are the place where big church becomes small, where we can experience intentional community, and where we can be discipled by others. Groups are a great way to fill your community block.

The church is made up of all ages and backgrounds, and we believe in creating groups that are multigenerational and include people from all walks of life so that we can learn from each other and grow together.

Type of Groups

Sermon-Based

These groups gather to discuss the sermon from each week and use the Sermon Discussion Guide to go deep into the message and draw out personal, practical application. If you’ve never been a part of a group before, we recommend you start here.

Care

We offer a variety of Care groups that are designed to help you find hope, healing, and restoration in various aspects of life. Examples of Care groups include re|engage (a marriage group), GriefShare, DivorceCare, Financial Peace University, Celebrate Recovery, and Freedom in Christ.

Community/T

Open Giftings

Giftings

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. —1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. —1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (ESV)

Did you know that God has given you gifts to help build up the church? God wants all of us to discover the gifts He’s given and use them to serve others. This is one way that the Holy Spirit empowers us to fill the city with Jesus.

Discovering your gifts helps you to understand God’s purpose for your life, to grow in relationship with Him and with others, and to walk in the calling He has given you. Living in community and serving provide two avenues for you to cultivate your gifts and discover how God has uniquely created you

Open Serving

Serving

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. —1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

Serving provides an opportunity for us to use our gifts to build up the church and to show God’s goodness and kindness to others. Serving also creates a place where real life-on-life discipleship can happen. Your gifts and skills are valuable to God: He gave them to you for a reason, and we want to help you find a place to put them to use.

At Grace Church, we encourage two main avenues forserving:

• Serve Projects. Identify practical ways to meet the needs of your city.
• Serve Teams. Find an area where you can use your gifts within the church.

Serve Projects

Serve projects are an opportunity to seek the welfare of your city by doing practical activities to bless others. Ask God to reveal ways that you could help your neighbors ri

Open Missions

Missions

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

Filling the city with Jesus goes beyond our church and extends to the farthest reaches of the world. Grace Church partners with local, regional, and international Christ-centered churches and ministries seeking to advance God’s Kingdom. We contribute a portion of our tithes and offerings to our mission partners so that they can carry the Gospel to their city.

In addition to partnering with other ministries financially, we also support a variety of local and international missions through volunteering and practical support.

For example, we’ve supported bed builds for children without beds and backpack drives that provide an opportunity for families in need to hear the Gospel. We are always looking for ways th

Open Join the Family

Join the Family

God sets the solitary in families. —Psalm 68:6a (NKJV)

To be a part of a family means you belong, you are welcomed, and you are loved. The Bible is a story of God’s people being formed into a family and also being transformed by that family.

Being a part of a family gives you an opportunity to practice looking more like Jesus.

Authentic community is found in both the giving of your time, gifts, love, service, voice, and resources as well as your ability to receive from others.

Becoming a member of the Grace Church family means you will belong to a family. It means you will make a commitment to be connected relationally and to be the church. It means you will live authentically as you move toward maturity and unity. It means that you will invest yourself in Grace Church’s calling: to be a family and to help fulfill the church’s vision of c

Open Membership Agreement

Membership Agreement

Fill in the following with one of these four words: Protect, Share, Serve, or Support. Take time to read the Bible verses that correspond to each commitment.

As a member of Grace Church, I agree to do the following:

1. ________________________ the unity of my church by loving others, not gossiping, resolving conflict Scripturally, and following leaders.

• Romans 15:5
• Ephesians 4:29
• Matthew 18:15–17
• Matthew 5:23–24
• Hebrews 13:17

2. ________________________ the responsibility of my church by praying for the church, inviting others, and welcoming new guests.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:2
• Luke 14:23
• Matthew 25:35

3. ________________________ in the ministry of my church by discovering my gifts and using them for the good of the entire church.

• Mark 10:45
• 1 Peter 4:10
• 1 Corinthians 12:12–27

4. ________________________ the testimony of my church by regularly attending, living according to the Bible, and giving (tithing).

Open Next Steps

Next Steps

Thank you for joining us for ConnectStep! We hope that this class has helped you grow as a disciple of Jesus. We invite you to take the following next steps:

1. Join the Family: Sign and submit the Membership Agreement.

2. Join a Group: Find group resources and check out the current group offerings at www.gracechurchsp.org/groups

3. Join a Serve Team: Learn more about our Serve Teams and get connected at www.gracechurchsp.org/serve/

We are excited to help you take the next step in your journey!