Culture & Values
bELONG
Jesus invited the disciples to follow Him in faith and community before He asked them to believe. Jesus understood the importance of belonging. CNaz is a community where everyone is welcome, so we invite you to come and be a part of the community here. We laugh, we cry, we argue, we encourage, and we love one another. We aren’t perfect, but we’re a great place to grow. No one should do life alone, come find where you belong.
BELIEVE
Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts and waits expectantly for us to answer and invite Him in. Our belief in Him and His teachings are our road map, not only to eternal life, but also to a life well lived. While believing is not a requirement for belonging to the community of our church, our desire is for you to come into a full understanding of who Jesus is, to have a life-altering, transformational encounter with Him, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
BECOME
Jesus desires a deeper walk with each of us. Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has plans for us - good plans that will give us hope and a thriving future. Yet in order for us to receive the very best that God has intended we must learn to lean into our faith and rely more fully on Him. This includes reading and studying His Word, spending time in prayer, and actively serving one another as we work out our faith. Our desire is for you to find that special place where you can become more like Jesus and the very best version of yourself, and we want you to be close enough to hear Him whisper as He calls you on to the future He has planned for you.
abiding
in Christ
Welcome to 2023, a new year of Abiding in Christ at Carrollton Church of the Nazarene. We will be committing ourselves to praying without ceasing, spending time in God's word, dwelling on God's goodness, remaining in His presence, trusting His promises, and sharing the good news of Jesus with others.
This world offers many distractions and detours from God’s plans for us. To guard against chasing after false promises and empty ambitions, Jesus asks us to spend more time focused on Him than on the things of this world that are so easily broken and so very temporary.
He asks us to abide in Him so that we can be ready to bear fruit. We each have a personal calling to love and to serve, but apart from Christ we can do nothing. Abiding helps prepare our hearts, calm our fears, and focus our minds on those things that glorify God and serve His eternal purposes.
Time in God’s Word, time in prayer, and time trusting God’s plans are all exercises that strengthen our spiritual muscles. Where we focus our time, attention, and resources will inevitably determine the harvest we reap later. Time spent at the feet of Jesus is never wasted. He is our Savior, sustainer, provider, and peace. Leaning on Him and leaning into His promises gives us strength and comfort beyond what this world can offer.
Jesus uses the analogy of a grapevine to help us understand the importance of abiding in Him in order to bear good fruit. He tells us He is the vine, and we are the branches, and promises that when we remain in Him, He will remain in us, and we will bear fruit. His presence in our lives strengthens us and nourishes our souls. John 15:4 reminds us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me". Abiding in Christ is the only way that we can bear fruit. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing and are doomed to live fruitless lives.
Abiding in Christ and remaining in His word are how we do our part to cultivate good fruit, and a life that brings honor and glory to God. The things we do physically, emotionally, and spiritually that help us to stay focused on Jesus influence our ability to respond to His plans and purpose. What we store up, give up, and offer up will determine the fruit that our lives will bear.