BYLAWS

6.3 - 10 BENCHMARKS {Our Culture}

rest Church measures maturity & spiritual health through 10 clear benchmarks that guide our lives together as Disciples of Jesus. These benchmarks help us evaluate not just church activity but spiritual vitality—how faithfully we live out our mission to restore Jesus in the Home, as the Church, and with the City.

6.3.1 | #1 - JESUS IS OUR SENIOR PASTOR
According to 1 Peter 5, Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of every Christian church. We interpret this as Him holding the title of Senior Pastor, Lead Pastor, and Head Elder. We don’t lead through rockstar or single-leader models; instead, we embrace a plurality of leadership that submits to Jesus as the active Head of His Church. He is not just our Founder—He still leads His people through His Word and Spirit today.

(1 Peter 5:4, John 10:11, Colossians 1:18)


6.3.2 | #2 - THE MAIN THING, IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING
Our heartbeat at rest is simple: The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing—and that’s Jesus! We major on the majors and minor on the minors when it comes to theology and doctrine. On essential and convictional doctrine, we take a closed-hand approach. On conscience doctrine, we hold an open hand—marked by humility and grace.

(1 Corinthians 2:2, Hebrews 12:2, Galatians 1:8–9)


6.3.3 | #3 - ANYBODY, NOT EVERYBODY
This is a place where anybody is welcome—but we understand it may not be for everybody. You might come to rest and realize our culture, methods, or style aren’t a fit—and that’s okay. We believe the local church is God’s Plan A for reaching the world, so if rest isn’t your church, we’ll gladly help you find one that is. We’re about the Big C Church , not just our church.

(Revelation 22:17, Romans 10:13, John 6:66–68)


6.3.4 | #4 - WE COMPLETE (NOT COMPETE)
We believe every Christian church is part of God’s Kingdom, and we want to complete the body of Christ, not compete with it. We intentionally partner with other churches, non-profits, and ministries to reach our city for Jesus. Our unity magnifies His glory, and our diversity displays His creativity. In completing the body, church planting will always be part of our DNA.

(1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Philippians 2:3–4, Romans 12:4–5)


6.3.5 | #5 - SAVED PEOPLE SERVE PEOPLE
If you’re a follower of Jesus, serving others isn’t optional—it’s a byproduct of growing in Him. Every believer should find ways to serve in their church, their city, their country, and the world. We’re most like Jesus when we serve, because He came not to be served, but to serve.

(Mark 10:45, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 4:10)


6.3.6 | #6 - WE DO LIFE TOGETHER
The Church isn’t a building or a program—it’s people. At rest, we believe real community doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built through trust, time, and truth. To have community with others, you have to love them. To love someone, you have to build trust. And to build trust, you have to get to know them. Jesus loves the Church and gave His life for her—so it’s impossible to love Jesus and not love His Bride. We weren’t meant to do life alone. We believe discipleship happens best in circles, not just rows—where we walk together through the highs, lows, and ordinary moments of faith.

(Acts 2:42–47, Hebrews 10:24–25, John 13:34–35)


6.3.7 | #7 - WE PAINT GOLFBALLS
If a ministry, method, or program doesn’t fit within restoring Jesus in the Home, as the Church, or with the City, we simply say “no” to doing it. That doesn’t mean it’s bad—it just means it’s not us.

“We paint golf balls” is our way of saying: stay focused on what matters most. Years ago, we heard about a golf company that grew so fast it forgot its purpose. Instead of making better golf balls, they started painting walls, mowing lawns, and doing everything but what they were created to do. The same thing can happen in ministry—also known as mission drift.

At rest, our goal isn’t to do everything—it’s to do the right things for us. As we stay vision-critical in all we do, we’re constantly asking: Where is God moving, and how can we join Him there?

(Proverbs 29:18, John 5:19, Acts 16:6–10)


6.3.8 | #8 - WE RESPOND
We believe generosity and excellence go hand in hand. When we respond through giving—spiritually, financially, or through service—we’re declaring that Jesus is the hero of every story. That belief drives us to pray bold prayers, expect big results, and prepare with intentional excellence. Excellence isn’t an accident, nor is it perfection; but it is worship—doing the small things with great care because our God is worthy of our best. So this means we show up early, stay late, and give all we’ve got, trusting that wherever we serve, it will be better because we’re involved.

(James 1:22, Colossians 3:23, Philippians 4:6)


6.3.9 | #9 - WE'RE A FAMILY
We don’t have members here—we have family. Family means we’re united by grace, shaped by love, and committed to one another’s good. Having a voice that helps guide rest Church isn’t a right to demand but a privilege to steward. Because health matters more than hurry, we hire slowly and release quickly—with grace, not gossip, and always for restoration when possible. In this family, we assume the best about each other, we are fans publicly, and critique privately. We protect what Jesus purchased—our unity—and we do it by loving deeply, forgiving freely, and choosing care over criticism every time.

(Ephesians 2:19, Galatians 6:10, Romans 12:10)


6.3.10 | #10 - THE rest IS YET TO COME
This is a place of freedom and restoration. We want each person who walks through our doors to experience God’s rest—spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, and eternally. We believe God’s rest is consistent and permanent. No matter how good or bad your day may be, God’s very best rest for you and His Church is still to come. Shabbat Shalom (Hebrew for “whole, complete, perfect rest”).

(Matthew 11:28–29, Hebrews 4:9–10, Revelation 21:3–5)