In order to address the appalling level of biblical illiteracy and theological ambivalence present among most Nigerian Christians bible teaching/study is a major part of City Church’s ethos. Though ‘theology’ is often seen as a dirty and alienating word, we are motivated to the central place of truth in the church³ by teaching (the doctrine and drama of the Bible) slowly, accessibly, consistently and applicably. This is why we are either studying Gospel-centred curricula or biblical books in our Gospel Communities or the whole church gathers together for Theology Days.

By mission we are referring to the broader spiritual, social and cultural impact made on our wider community by those who have been transformed by the gospel. We’re a church that emphasises inward gospel transformation with the goal of outward gospel blessing. We’re constantly trying to build a missional dynamic within our church by particularly focusing on: church planting, network evangelism (to non-Christians, nominal Christians and disillusioned and unchurched Christians), intersection between Christianity and Work, and the relevance of forming a biblical worldview to think Christianly about the arts, political activism and service. Our annual Lagos Questions Christianity event and our involvement in a variety of church planting networks demonstrate our commitment to Gospel-centred mission.

Most professional working Lagosians have established themselves through meritorious and diligent work. As a result, far too few of us have developed the softness of heart and compassion that comes with a life transformed by the gospel of God’s grace. As a gospel-centred church, we are committed to showing the social implications of the gospel by actively being involved with and promoting socially-just causes. This means we challenge our congregants to see that deeds of kindness for the marginalised and disenfranchised of society is simultaneously to show mercy and act justly⁴ as God simultaneously granted us mercy and acted justly in the Gospel⁵. One of the formal ways we demonstrate this is through the mandated Justice Initiatives adopted by each of Gospel Communities. We’ve been involved in helping Orphanages, clearing hospital bills for patients and working with unjustly held prison inmates.

While it is possible to have prayerful church that is not gospel-centred, it’s inconsistent to have a gospel-centred church isn’t prayerful. Prayer is probably the most vivid expression of Gospel centredness because God’s identity to us as Father as expressed in prayer⁶ only happens because of the Gospel⁷. Therefore, at City Church, not only is some form of prayer done in all our meetings, we have dedicated times of prayer in our Gospel Communities as well. Finally, we also have whole-church prayer meetings called Kingdom Centred Prayer days where we gather to pray, not for our personal needs as important as those are, but for the advancement of God’s kingdom in the city of Lagos.

The Gospel is premised on the basis that despite our rebellious worldliness God demonstrated his love towards us by giving his Son to perish in our place⁸;and on account of this he also generously poured out his Spirit on us⁹. The God of the Gospel is a giving God¹⁰. This is why Christians ought to be generous as well. The Gospel provides us with the most natural and strongest inspiration to be generous with our time, talent and treasure¹¹. However, because God knows our hearts aren’t necessarily always disposed towards giving, he not only inspires us to give but he commands it as well¹². At City Church we emphasise giving both as a command and as a necessary outcome of the Gospel in building a culture of generosity. It is no coincidence that God has ordained that the church’s needs and mission¹³ should be supported by the church’s living out its Gospel identity through giving¹⁴.