Who We Are
We are a diverse and multi-ethnic fellowship of God’s people, growing in love and membership, impacting our community and the world with the gospel and love of Jesus Christ.
Our Purpose
To glorify God in every household and every generation.
Our ministries seek to extend beyond all generations and cultures. No single ministry may be able to do that, so we provide a multi-layered approach, sometimes reaching out to specific cultures or generations, and other times seeking to reach cultures and generations together in the same place. Key to this is helping to tie small ministries together to form a ministry network.
Our Mission
To present every person in our community mature in Christ.
Our mission is to provide opportunities for every person, from seeker to new believer to mature believer, to grow in their knowledge of God and faith in Him. We seek to provide growth groups and bible teaching resources to line up with our church teaching program across all language groups. Our children and youth programs also seek to teach God’s word across all language groups, predominantly providing resources in English. Key to this is a focus on growing small communities.
Colossians 1:28
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Our Vision
To reach everywhere in Eastwood, Ermington and a little bit more.
Our vision is to take our responsibilities in our local area seriously. We want all of Eastwood to be in contact with St Phil’s every year. We want all of Ermington to be in contact with St Mark’s each year. Our little bit more pushes us to explore further, including local, national and international mission work through other agencies, but seeking to also develop mission work from amongst our members. Key to this is encouraging every member to take small steps forward in evangelism.
Our Strategy
To take every open door of opportunity.
Our strategy is to explore every opportunity we are given wherever possible. We encourage all members to think about ways to connect with others, care for others and grow in faith. Key to this is giving value to the small things, not just the large.
3 ways we do this are:
- Connecting: through welcoming and Evangelism
- Growing: by training and worship
- Serving: in giving and going
Colossians 4:2-6
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Our Core Values
- The authority of the Bible
- The command to love God and our neighbours
What We Believe
About the Scriptures
We believe the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and that people were moved by the Spirit of God to write the very words of Scripture. We believe all that is necessary for salvation is contained in the Scriptures.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17
- 2 Peter 1:21
About God
We believe in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God became truly human in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Mathew 28:19
- Luke 3:22
- Luke 10:21
About Jesus
We believe Jesus truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile His Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for our guilt, but for the sins of men and women. We believe he rose from the dead, in flesh, and ascended into heaven. We believe he will return to judge all people.
- Hebrews 10:10
- John 3:16-17
- Mark 10:45
- 1 Peter 4:5
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
About the Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is the person of God who lives in all who believe. His presence is the mark of a true believer and the one through whom God powerfully works in us each day. He is very much at work in us each day, transforming us and gifting us to serve in the Church and the world.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- Ephesians 1:13
- John 14:26
About Humanity
We believe that all people were created in the image of God to have fellowship with him, but are naturally inclined towards evil (sin). We all deserve God’s wrath and punishment for our sins. Yet there is no condemnation for those who believe and put their faith in Jesus Christ.
- Romans 3:32-36
About Salvation
We believe that the Jesus Christ died on the cross, and shed his blood as a punishment for the sins of the world. God poured out on him the wrath we deserve. This is the only way we can be saved is to put our trust in the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. His sacrifice has paid the price, the ransom, for our sins.
- John 14:6
About the Christian Life
As Christians we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus. The good works we do is a response to our salvation already gained through Christ. We do not work for that salvation, as Christ has already given it to us freely, by faith.
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- James 2:14-18
- Romans 12:4-8
About the Church
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, of which Jesus Christ is the head. Every member of the church is called to serve God, according to the gifts they have been given, and according to their maturity of faith.
- 1 Corinthians 12:7-12
About the Sacraments
We celebrate two sacraments as an Anglican and Church – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Communion). Jesus took part in both of these while on earth, and commanded us to continue with them. Baptism is an outward physical sign (washing with water) of an inward spiritual grace (washing of our sins under the new covenant of Jesus blood). The Lord’s Supper is a meal of remembrance – wine and bread help us to remember the body and blood of Jesus, the life he lived and the sacrificial death he died.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
- Mathew 28:18-20
Christianity Explained (Course)
Do you have questions about Jesus or the Bible?
Please join one of our Christianity Explained courses.
Christianity Explained is a 6-week course based on the gospel of Mark
from the Bible. Apart from addressing your own questions on faith, this
course addresses what sets Christianity apart from other faiths.
Including:
- Who is Jesus?
- Whose work gets me into heaven?
- What is a Christian?
Please contact Cathy at cathy@stphils.org.au for further information, or
to find out when our next Christianity Explained Course will be running.
We Care About
- Being Evangelical in Theology – Grace alone, Bible alone, Christ alone, Faith alone.
- Being multi-ethnic/international by being culturally relevant and adapting to the changing culture of our area.
- Unity in the gospel and our mission while having diversity in ministry. We are one church but multiple congregations/fellowships each with its own distinctive style/culture.
- Growth Groups. These growth groups (Bible study groups) lie at the centre of our ministry.
- Love which leads to service. We want to be known for a love that leads to people growing in Christ and as servants to others.
- Children. Growth in Christ starts from childhood. Therefore we have a special focus on growing good, effective ministry to children.
- Training & sending people into ministry – encouraging everyone to be a servant.
- Having an evangelistic focus. We want to grow in numbers to see more people in the kingdom.