Our Core Purpose

Our core purpose at FLBC is to exalt God, edify one another, and evangelize the world. 


To exalt God is to glorify Him. The goal in all that is done by the church, whether corporately or personally, is to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31; cf. Eph 3:21). Several ways in which God will be exalted in the church include the pursuit of holiness (2 Cor 7:1; 1 Thess 4:7); dependence on Him expressed through prayer (1 Thess 5:17); and upholding the authority of His Word (2 Tim 3:16).


Edify One Another: To edify one another consists of building each other up spiritually so that we may progressively grow into the image of Christ. God has several means for accomplishing this in the church. First, pastor-teachers were given to the church for the purpose of training all believers to minister for its own edification (Eph 4:12). Secondly, the aim of preaching and teaching Scripture is Christlikeness within the people of God (Col 1:28). Third, believers gather for fellowship so they may encourage one another and build each other up in the faith (Heb 10:24-25). Ministries of mercy fall under the heading of edification. The Bible tells us that "as we have opportunity, we are to do good to everyone, especially those who are of the household of faith" (Gal 6:10). Such action characterized our Lord's ministry (Acts 10:38). Therfore, mercy should be extended to those within the church. In the early stages of its existence, the church took care of its members so that there was not a needy person among them (Acts 2:45; 4:34-36; 11:29; 2 Cor 8:4). Secondly, mercy should be extended to those outside the church. Widows and orphans, both in and out of the church, should be cared for (1 Tim 5:3-16; Js 1:27). According to the apostles' teaching, the poor should be remembered (Gal 2:10). Certainly this means giving to help them (Mt 6:3). Therefore, we should extend compassion and mercy to Christians and non-Christians. 


Evangelize the World: The Lord has commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19-20). Therefore, the church exists to proclaim the gospel to all people groups in the world. The church proclaims the gospel by word and personal conduct (Phil 3:17; 4:9; Col 4:5-6; 1 Thess 1:4-10). Those who respond to the message in repentance and faith are incorporated into the church by means of baptism (Rom 6:1-3; Gal 3:27) and discipleship follows (Acts 11:19-26; 14:21-23; 19:8-10; Eph 4:20-24; Col 2:6-7). Every baptized member of the church should be established in the faith and built up spiritually in the Lord (Eph 4:11-17; Col 2:6-7). The church is the soil for the growth of all its members.