Our Mission (Why We Exist)

The Woodlands Reformed Church exists to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Markers (What Distinguishes Us)

Holiness

To be holy is to be “set apart,” to be distinct from the world. At The Woodlands Reformed Church, we aspire to be a community characterized by our sincere love for God, our unwavering pursuit of righteous living through the grace of Jesus, and our shared delight in the unity of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

We nurture our love for God through the sacred act of worship on the Lord’s Day. Our growth in godliness rests on the grace of Jesus, which empowers us to live in obedience to God’s holy word. Through our commitment to regular, joy-filled fellowship as a church body, The Holy Spirit deepens our love for one another, and equips us to confidently share the hope in our hearts.

 History

Christianity is an ancient faith whose roots go back to the Garden of Eden, where our first parents enjoyed communion with God (Genesis 1-2); it is also a faith whose hope rests on the person and work of Jesus Christ in history. Therefore, the Christian faith is neither new nor blind.

The Woodlands Reformed Church stands in the tradition of the historic Christian faith. Far from innovating in our worship, or adopting new trends, we are following the light of God’s word (Ps 119:105) as it guides our worship and way of life along ancient paths that lead toward peace and fullness of joy (Jeremiah 6:16). For this reason, the rhythms of our life as a church do not resonate with society’s self-centered siren song, but are in total harmony with historic Christianity, joyfully proclaiming and celebrating the redemption accomplished by Christ and freely offered to us in the gospel.

 Hospitality

One of the maximum expressions of God’s love for us is that he has sent his Son to atone for our sins (Romans 5:8). Therefore, through Jesus, we are able to enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with one another (1 Corinthians 1:9). At The Woodlands Reformed Church we believe that God’s love is expressed through grace-filled hospitality.

In a polarized culture where many people feel isolated and alone, Christian hospitality is a tangible expression of Christ’s redeeming and restorative love. Through the practice of hospitality, as we graciously open our homes and joyfully share meals together, we firmly believe that the Holy Spirit employs the richness of food, the warmth of laughter, and the depth of heartfelt conversations to forge profound connections, foster lasting friendships, and fortify our faith. In this sacred practice, we encounter and embody the boundless love of Jesus.

Our Method (How God works in and through us)

Since the days of the apostolic church, God has used the ordinary means of grace to grow his church in number and in holiness (Acts 2:42-47). Therefore, at The Woodlands Reformed Church, we believe that the ordinary means of grace are the primary way in which God enables us to proclaim the gospel and conforms us to the image of His Son. In the Christian church’s Reformed tradition, three elements make up the ordinary means of grace: (1) God’s word, (2) the sacraments, and (3) prayer. Let us briefly consider how God uses the ordinary means of grace to work in and through us.

 God’s Word

Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 89 asks, “How is the Word made effectual to salvation?” It then provides this answer, “The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.” In other words, through the reading and preaching of the word, God converts sinners (Romans 10:9-15) and grows us in holiness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore, at The Woodlands Reformed Church our worship services are saturated with God’s word. We pray God’s word fervently, we sing God’s word joyfully, we read God’s word reverently, and we proclaim God’s word faithfully, knowing that God’s word never returns to Him empty, but accomplishes the purposes for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:10-11).

We also believe that God’s word ought to be a key part of our lives outside of our corporate worship services. We believe God’s Spirit works through God’s word in the context of small group Bible studies, during regular times of family worship, and through personal devotions. Christians have always been a “people of the book,” and this should not come as a surprise to us; after all, our Lord reminds us that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The Sacraments

Westminster Shorter Catechism 92 states that “A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.” In other words, the Lord uses the faithful administration of the sacraments to apply the benefits of the gospel to His people. Therefore, at The Woodlands Reformed Church, we believe that as we participate in the sacraments, our faith is nourished and strengthened.

The Woodlands Reformed Church celebrates the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper every week, confident that Christ strengthens our faith at His Table. We also celebrate the sacrament of Baptism whenever someone joins the visible church by profession of faith, or by being born into a Christian family. Through the sacraments, God teaches us that we have been graciously adopted into His family, and that all the benefits of redemption are ours through faith in Jesus Christ. As we partake of the sacraments, our faith grows because we taste and see that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:2-3).3

Prayer

The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to “pray without ceasing,” for “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer strengthens our faith in God because it reminds us that He is in control (Ephesians 1:11), and that He is a loving Heavenly Father who hears the prayers of His children (1 John 5:14).

At The Woodlands Reformed Church, we believe that prayer helps us cultivate our relationship with God. Therefore, our worship services are saturated with prayers of adoration and blessing, of confession and repentance, of thanksgiving and praise, and of supplication and petition. We also believe that prayer cultivates our relationships with others. By praying for one another, we are ever mindful of the needs of others and are spurred toward service. The discipline of prayer also protects us from the sin of resentment, while moving us toward reconciliation and peace. Finally, through prayer we train our hearts to put the needs of others ahead of our own needs.

In all these things, we affirm that God is at work in and through us as He conforms us more and more to the image of Christ through the ordinary means of grace (2 Corinthians 3:18). Prayer helps us grow in holiness because it helps conform our will to God’s will (Romans 12:2). The reading and preaching of the Word remind us that our faith is rooted in historical events, and that we have been entrusted with a message that has the power to transform lives, bringing people out of darkness and despair, into light and hope (1 Corinthians 15:12-23). And the sacraments help us to grow in grace and hospitality because they remind us that through the finished work of Jesus Christ we have received the Spirit of Adoption as God’s sons and daughters (Romans 8:15); that we are no longer children of wrath, but instead are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:1-10); that we bear His name and have a place of honor at the family table (Revelation 19:9). Thus, the means of grace promote the distinctive markers of our church, enabling us to fulfill our mission to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.