What Is A Bible Church?

The Bible Church movement, started in the early 1970's by Dr. Gene Getz, was established on some key foundational principles. One of the most central was and is maintaining the distinction between FUNCTION and FORM. Functions are the activities that the local church is to carry out. Functions don't change with culture or time. Forms are the means by which the functions are executed. Forms may (in fact should) change with culture or time. Functions are FIXED. Forms are FLEXIBLE.

Our functions are as listed: Genuine Worship, Solid Truth, Authentic Relationships and Significant Impact. How Rusk Bible Church organizes to provide these experiences is a matter of wisdom and strategy.

Another distinctive of the Bible Church movement has been a focus on how the church should be measured. In contrast to most measurement grids, which give attention to attendance, budget, and facilities, Dr. Getz clearly articulated a more biblical means of measure. He demonstrated from Paul's letters that a spiritual measure can and should be applied to the church. The repeated mention of faith, hope and love provide the factors which church leaders should be looking for when they measure the effectiveness of their efforts to lead and guide the ministry of the church under their care.