In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul described the good news of the Gospel as that which was of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3). Throughout God’s all-sufficient word, the Gospel is paramount. Nothing is as precious or powerful. The Gospel is the power of God to convert a sinner in a moment and to mature a believer over his lifetime (Romans 1:16). Paramount Church exists to make the Gospel paramount for the pleasure of God and the good of all men. Four words summarize our plans for Paramount Church: Gospel, Change, Community, and Mission.
Gospel
Paramount Church is centered on the Gospel. Everyone needs the Gospel. The Bible teaches us that because of sin all people are helplessly alienated from God, hostile in mind, and engaged in evil deeds (Colossians 1:21). Without a Savior to redeem us, there would be no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Yet by the grace of God there IS hope in Jesus Christ, who alone can reconcile us to God (Ephesians 2:13-18). His perfect life, sacrificial death, triumphant resurrection, and eternal plan bring hope to our otherwise hopeless and sin-sick world. What is more, the Gospel is also God’s ordained means to conform His people to the image of Christ. The Gospel saves and the Gospel sanctifies. For this reason, Paramount Church is committed to proclaim the hope of this Gospel and the surpassing riches of God’s grace toward us in Christ. However, the Gospel is not only about hope. Indeed, it is about much more. The Gospel is also about change.
Change
Paramount Church is motivated to change. As broken people in a broken world, we all need to change. God’s purposes through the Gospel are to redeem, change, mature, and complete us by His grace (Ephesians 4:11-16). Throughout the redemptive story of the Bible, the good news of Christ is defined by the word grace (Ephesians 2:11-15). The grace of the Gospel is two-fold. Grace is God’s unmerited favor which accomplishes our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is also God’s unmerited help which accomplishes our sanctification (Hebrews 4:16). We are entirely dependent upon the grace of God to save us, keep us, and change us into the image of our wonderful Redeemer. Thankfully, in the Gospel we find sufficient grace for every need (2 Corinthians 12:9). We have hope because God is at work to bring lasting biblical change to our lives. As Paramount Church, we believe that this Gospel of grace is not only for those who are dead in sin and far off from Christ, but also for every person who trusts in Him (Romans 1:8-15). We are motivated to change through an insightful study of the Scriptures, personal ministry to one another, and through the caring culture within our church. Our highest purpose, then, is to display the riches of the Gospel as God transforms us into a loving community of believers.
Community
Paramount Church is knit together in community. By God’s perfect design, every Christian needs community. From the book of Romans to 3 John, we find 64 statements concerning what Christians are to do for one another. God entrusted to the Church the all-sufficient counsel of His word so that we may love, encourage, restore, admonish, pray for, and sanctify one another in truth (John 17:17, Galatians 6:1-2). In fact, Jesus said the world would know His disciples by the fruit of their love for each other (John 13:34). This is the essence of a Gospel community. As Paramount Church, we are committed to grow as a community knit together by love through the mutual ministry of the word (Acts 6:4, Colossians 3:15-16). Through preaching, small groups, and one-on-one discipleship, we want every member to grow in wise and godly counsel, living the Christian life together. We are a community of broken people entirely dependent upon God to save us from our sin and suffering. It is our joy to walk together in weakness and dependence upon Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9). His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness and it is our desire to display the sufficiency of the Scriptures in life (2 Peter 1:3). We understand the trials, temptations, and trouble of this broken world. Relying on the Bible as our central resource for lasting change and restoration, we have gone to great lengths to provide practical and godly counseling to the members of our church and our neighbors in Columbus. In these ways, and many more, we are also fulfilling a Great Commission.
Mission
Paramount Church is fulfilling a mission. As a family of believers centered on the Gospel, motivated to change, and knit together in community, it is our mission to please Christ by proclaiming this paramount Gospel to those near and far (Colossians 1:10). We believe that Jesus’ Great Commission is not merely intended to make converts, but to so magnify the glory of God that His name is known throughout the world. We take seriously God’s command to make disciples who know, love, and grow in Christ.
Through personal evangelism, global missions, and a strong church planting initiative, we yearn to see the nations worship as many hear the Holy Spirit’s call, respond with faith and repentance, and are made complete in Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). In addition, the Great Commission compels us to be an area and regional equipping center for pastors, church planters, and biblical counselors. Paramount Church exists to make the Gospel paramount for the pleasure of God and the good of all men.
Distinctive Features of Paramount Church
Supremacy of God: Trinitarian; Christ-Centered; Holy Spirit-Dependent
Sufficiency of Scripture: Theologically Rich Worship; Text-Driven Expository Preaching; Down-to-Earth Life Application
Progressive Sanctification: Mutual Ministry of the Word; Gospel-Centered Church Culture; Small Group Ministry; Biblical Counseling Mindset
Great Commission Initiative: Consistent Personal Evangelism; Gospel-Centered Missions (Local & International); Church Planting Initiative; Multi-ethnic congregation; Area and Regional Equipping Center for Pastors, Planters, and Biblical Counselors
Doctrinal Statement: Baptist Faith and Message 2000; The Abstract of Principles
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