welcome to exchanged church – faq
Here Are The Most Frequently Asked Questions.
We hope you will find answers to your questions here in the frequently asked questions. You may also want to review our Mission and Beliefs. If you still have questions, please contact us.
There are several ways that Exchanged Church utilizes a different model than many traditional Sunday morning churches:
We do not have a building
The average church spends between 30% and 50% of all donations on a building and property. We strive to put that money to use building the Body.
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
– Ephesians 2:18-22 (NIV)
We are intentionally small
We are focused on building small, intimate Gatherings where people can encourage spiritual growth and hold one another accountable.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
– Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
– Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
We require everyone to serve the Body in some capacity
We are all called to serve using gifts provided by God. We believe that service should focus on helping others in the local church and the global Church. From prayer to hands-on assistance, we hope to make a difference in our communities.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
– 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NEV)
We are self-led, focused on lay people
No rock star preachers here. Attending Exchanged Church is not a spectator sport. Everyone will be involved in the coordination and execution of their Gathering. We want everyone to grow confident in their skills and be able to share the Gospel with anyone, at any time.
What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
– 1 Corinthians 14:26
WE help people break their addiction to culture
Our spiritual growth is inhibited by the influence of culture. If we are serious about walking with God, we must turn away from secular culture.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
– 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)
WE have A set curriculum for 18-24 months
Content and agendas provided by the parent organization, we strive to ensure everyone has a consistent baseline of knowledge on which to build a lifetime of learning.
Full transparency, no paid staff
All financials will be published quarterly. For as long as we possibly can, we will operate with no paid staff members. See more here.
Questions? Contact us here.
Exchanged Church does not have a central meeting place. We comprise many “mini-churches” we call Gatherings that meet in homes, community centers, or other churches.
To learn about starting a local Gathering, please contact us.
We are a collection of “mini-churches”, or as we call them, Gatherings. Each Gathering determines when and where they will meet.
To learn about starting a local Gathering, please contact us.
We are non-denominational. Or perhaps a better description is “adenominational”. That is to say we do not believe in the division of the Christian Church. Unity is called for repeatedley in Scripture, yet many churches decide to seperate themselves from other parts of the Body.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
– 1 Corintians 1:10 (NET)
We are to be unified with Christ and the Father, through the Holy Spirit.
I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one— I in them and you in me—that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.
– John 17:20-23 (NET)
We believe that God calls on us to fill a role – a specific role – in the Body of the Christian Church. At Exchanged Church, we focus on helping people discover their role and submit to the calling of the Father. But, even in our role, we are to be united with other believers.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NIV)
This is not easy. We all want to be right. We all want to serve God as we deem best from our reading of Scripture. But it is not up to us, it is up to the Father. We need to share God’s grace with other believers that see things differently than us.
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
– 1 Peter 3:8 (ESV)
We should strive to master those things that are clear in Scripture, before we try to divide ourselves over disagreements:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
– Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
At Exchanged Church, we focus on the “basics”. Those things that are abundantly clear in Scripture – like the call to unity. If we focus our efforts there, it is unlikely we will have time to disagree on other issues.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
– Ephesians 4:1-6
But where there is disagreement, we will always submit to Scripture.
Questions? Contact us.
You can read our Statement of Beliefs here.
Scripture calls for us to die to self and take on the life that God designed for us before creation. Too many Christians accept the notion that being born again is akin to living a better version of the same life. It is not. God asks us to surrender our secular life and take on a new life.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5: 17 (NIV)
We chose the term “Exchanged” to highlight the surrender of the old life and the receipt of the new life.
Except for LinkedIn, we are not on any social media platforms.
Here is why. We believe the secular culture we live in is one of the greatest impediments to a strong relationship with God.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
– Romans 12;2 (NASB)
We focus on helping people overcome their addiction to culture. Social media, while not inherently bad, focuses our attention on this world and away from God.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
– 1 John 2:15 (NASB)
If you ever see “Exchanged Church” on a social media platform (other than LinkedIn) please know it is not us.
Questions? Contact us.
At Exchanged Church, our mission is the fulfilment of the Great Commission:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
We seek to do so through small, local groups we call Gatherings. The name is taken from the book of Matthew.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
– Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
Each Gathering will consist of 2-25 people, meeting at a frequency, time, and location they determine. The group will be self-led, utilizing curriculum and content provided by the parent church.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
– Colossians 3:16
Each Gathering will focus on the same content, but not necessarily at the same time. The goal is to have 18-24 months of content “scripted” for each Gathering. The content will focus on three primary areas:
Knowledge of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Building up the individual to serve the Body
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [b]edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
– Ephisians 4:11-16
Serving the local community
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
– James 2:26 (NIV)
We hope that Gatherings will build up enough confident leaders, that they can divide into multiple Gatherings and welcome in new memebers. This is the ideal mechanism for growing Exchanged Church.
Absolutely not!
God’s relationship with each of us is unique. We each need to find the right way to worship, learn and serve. If a traditional church helps your relationship with God, then by all means continue going and contributing to that community.
An area of focus for Exchanged Church is unity in the Christian Church. Having people involved here that can provide perspectives from other congregations is helpful in that effort.
If you are concerned about giving and serving, we ask that you submit that question to the Holy Spirit and follow the guidance you receive. Just know that we ask all members of Exchanged Church to serve, so please do not over commit your time.
Exchanged Church is a church focused on Scripture. We do not adhere to either the “conservative” or “liberal” label. We accept Scripture as written. We strive for understanding. We seek to live righteous lives.
Everyone is welcome to attend. We seek to extend grace to all.
However, we focus on moving away from a sinful life of the flesh and toward the freedom found in being a slave of righteousness.
Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
– Romans 6:16-18 (NIV)
If members of our church turn toward living a sinful life, we intend to confront them, hold them accountable and guide them back to a more righteous path.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
– Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)
We all sin. It is part of our existence in this fallen world. But, if you have chosen to live a life of the flesh, and have no desire to turn from sinful behaviour, or if you disagree with Scripture, then you might not be comfortable at Exchanged Church.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
– Galations 5:17 (NIV)
Simple answer: Everyone is welcome at Exchanged Church. However, not every idea is.
If you are seeking to learn more about what it means to be a Christian, seeking to grow in your faith, or looking for a new way to experience the Christian life, you are welcome here. However, we expect members of the Church to continue to mature in their faith and seek to exchange their worldly life for one led by the Holy Spirit. Members should not only believe in God, they should believe God (and His word as expressed in the Bible).
If you are seeking a church that will make you feel welcome regardless of how you live your life or what you believe, Exchanged Church may not be a good fit for you.
We all sin. We are all subject to trials. That is why Exchanged Church feels it is important to be part of small “Gatherings” that foster a community of believers that can help one another stay close to the truth.
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
-James 5:19-20Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
– Ephesians 4:15
We seek to create an environment in Gatherings with an intimate connection between members. It is in this intimacy that we can hold one another accountable.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
– Galatians 6:1And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
-1 Thessalonians 5:14Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
– 1 Timothy 5:1-2
By having Elder lead curricula, we strive to put forth Biblically sound teaching. As we keep our focus on the Truth of Scripture, we can better defend against the whims of culture and various camps in “Cultural Christianity”.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
– Romans 16:17-18In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
– 2 Thessalonians 3:6
And finally, if someone is defiant in their departure from the truth and is unwilling to be brought back, we will use the process set forth in Matthew:
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
– Matthew 18:15-17
And for leaders in the church we will take the additional step in 1 Timothy:
But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
-1 Timothy 5:20
All scripture quoted from the NIV.