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What Kind of Church Should We Be?
In this special message, we take a moment to pause our verse-by-verse journey through the Gospel of John to ask a foundational question: What kind of church should we be in light of what we’ve learned so far?
Drawing from the first ten chapters of John, we explore the core themes that the Apostle John prioritized at the end of his life. As Heritage undergoes exciting changes—including new eldership, a refined constitution, and building expansions—we look to the Scriptures to ensure our "outer garments" of Christianity match the frequency and emphasis of the Bible itself.
1. A Church That Stokes the Fires of Belief
John wrote his Gospel with one clear purpose: "These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). He wanted to stoke belief—both initial belief for the lost and continued belief for the church.
Building a hot fire isn't about dumping gasoline for a quick flash. It's about tending the fire over hours, adding logs, blowing into the coals. The hottest fire comes from those glowing coals that provide extravagant warmth long after the flames die down. Week by week, we gather to throw another log on the fire, stoking our belief in Christ with the truth of God's Word.
The Fuel
Jesus—His identity, His work, His salvation. Christology and soteriology are the fuel that ignites our souls.
The Method
Long, lingering, meditative stares at Christ. Not passing glances, but hard stares that ignite affections.
The Practice
Gathering together for prayer, worship, preaching, and encouragement. Discipline keeps the fire burning hot.
How do we Maintain a Tender Heart
Richard Sibbes, the great Puritan preacher, taught that maintaining a tender heart requires intentional practices. We must actively work at stoking the fire of our hearts, not allowing the world to cool our passion for Christ.
01
Be Under the Means
Put yourself under God's devices—His Word, His church, His people—not the means of the world.
02
Present Yourself Miserable
Come to God acknowledging your need: "I need You." Humility opens the door to grace.
03
Labor for Faith
Believe God's Word and work for it. Faith requires effort and intentionality.
04
Keep Good Company
Associate with the tenderhearted. Community preserves and protects your spiritual vitality.
05
Guard Your Conscience
Take heed of even the smallest sin against conscience. Small compromises lead to cold hearts.

Warning from Zephaniah 3: "She listens to no voice. She accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, and she does not draw near to her God." Don't let this be your story.
A Church Full of Grace and Truth of Love
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Grace and truth aren't enemies—they're one and the same. Christ came down to give us both, motivated by love: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).
Grace
Favor undeserved. We give love not because someone deserves it, but because Christ gave it to us and we channel His love to others. Grace crosses boundaries, sacrifices self, and enters other people's worlds with genuine interest.
Truth
Love isn't free acceptance of whatever goes. Godly love is holy and sacred, found only in Christ and enjoyed only in His salvation. We speak truth boldly about who God is and what He offers.
"If you want to be my disciples, love one another. This is how people will know you're my disciples." —Jesus
A Church that Meets the Wounded at the Well
The Encounter
John lingers on Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman—wounded by sin, rejected by society, invisible to everyone. But not to Jesus.
The Compassion
Jesus pushed past her gruffness and attempts to put Him off, showing her love and opening God's Word to reveal Himself.
The Truth
"Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father" (John 4:21).
It's not just about proclaiming glorious truth from a distance. It's about meeting people where they're at with glorious truth, giving it in a way they can hear and understand, showing them Christ—the only one who can bring healing. Every Sunday we declare: we are a church of broken people, all in need of God's grace. We're thankful Jesus met us at the well and didn't let go.
A Church that Handles the Bible in a Specific Way
John handles Scripture in a distinctly Christo-redemptive way—everything points to Jesus. Though he quotes the Old Testament less than other Gospel writers, he uses Old Testament imagery more, constantly showing how Jesus fulfills every promise and expectation.
The Lamb of God
Who takes away the sins of the world (John 1)
The Word
Who spoke everything into existence (Genesis 1)
Messianic Promise
Bringing in the wine of the Messianic age (John 2)
Greater Than Temple
The one who supersedes all earthly worship
The Bread of Life
Better manna than the wilderness provided—true satisfaction found in Him alone.
Living Water
Not water from Moses' rock, but living water from God bringing eternal life.
The King & Shepherd
The promised ruler who leads His people with perfect care and authority.
Remember: The Main Things Are the Plain Things
At the end of his life, John's heart overflowed with one passion: don't you see how the Scriptures unfold and say, "Here He is—worship Him"? John knew what mattered most. We may get other things wrong, but we cannot get God wrong, Christ wrong, or salvation wrong.

A Word to the Theologically Minded: I have opinions on the tribulation—how long it is, when it is, if it is. But I don't care about those details in comparison to this: Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and fully justifies me by His blood. The difference between these two things is excruciatingly apparent scripturally.
Major on the Majors
Speak with the specificity and frequency of the New Testament authors. There is a God we're accountable to. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation—Son of God, very God. In Him is life.
Hold Primacy and Secondary in Tension
Other things aren't unimportant to discuss, but may our language reflect what truly matters. In eternity, one thing matters: where we stand before Christ.
"The things I used to care so much about, I really don't think are that important anymore. The things that really matter: Jesus, eternity, salvation, the nations, the mission of God. That's what matters." —An old missionary
A Church Living in Truth Tension
John gives us more knowledge of the Trinity than any other writer—and it's glorious. But he also leaves aspects hanging in mystery. Jesus is human. Jesus is God, very God. Both are true, and John doesn't reconcile them. He just says they're true.
Faith: Gift of Providence
Salvation is because of God's sovereignty. The Father draws. Faith is a gift (John 6).
Faith: Human Responsibility
You are called to believe in Christ. You must believe. Faith requires response (John 7).
Both are true, yet John doesn't reconcile these mysteries. He just says: they're both true. You better believe AND God is sovereign. We are a church that will live with truth tension, embracing both glory and mystery. May God grant us the wisdom and humility to identify which is which. Even our constitution at Heritage reflects this thinking.
A Church that Wears Garments of Humility & Sacrifice
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Omnipotent, omnitemporal, omnipresent, omniscient, eternal, everlasting, immense, absolutely incomprehensible, absolutely beyond our thinking. Holy, holy, holy, all glory.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The step down, the humbling of Himself—not only into flesh, but even death on a cross. If this is who our Shepherd is, our Master, should not the bride of Christ bear the marks of humility and sacrifice?
Personal Humility
Costs us our ego and pride. We sacrifice self to follow Christ.
Theological Humility
We know what we believe, but recognize there are things we don't know. Be clear about both.
Ecclesiastical Humility
Heritage isn't the only church in Lynchburg with truth. Praise God for Christ's Covenant, Timberlake Baptist, Forest Baptist, Rivermont Presbyterian, and others proclaiming the Gospel.
Practical Humility
Not hypocrisy, but recognizing we are here because of Jesus Christ and His grace in our lives.
A Church that Follows Where the Shepherd Leads
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." —John 10:11
John writes to stoke our belief that this is our Shepherd—a Shepherd who will lay His life down for us. If that's what He will do, how can we fear? If He is the Word, how can we doubt? If we feel shame, we remember He's the one who meets the woman at the well.
We are not a perfect church, but we are striving to be obedient to our Shepherd King in eldership, our constitution, commissioning and going to the nations, building expansion, equipping, and training hopefully a next generation. Some of you will stay and be fervent about building the kingdom here. Some will go to the nations.
"For from Christ in His fullness we have all received grace upon grace." —John 1:16

Will you join with us? Participate. Be involved. That we might see and expect great things from God in 2026. Many things we think are important today won't matter in eternity. What matters is Christ and what we have done in His name.