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November 6, 2025

Passion DNA

Joshua Tufte

🧬 Passion DNA: Who We Are and Why We Exist

Every living thing has DNA — the invisible code that determines its identity, function, and purpose.
It’s what makes an eagle soar, a rose bloom, and your heart beat.

The same is true for the Church.
God has written something deep into the heart of every believer and every local body of Christ — a spiritual DNA that defines who we are, what we believe, and how we live.

At Passion Church, we believe God has called us to rediscover and live out our DNA — to be a people who love deeply, live boldly, and shine brightly in our world.

We find this calling in Matthew 28:18–20, where Jesus gives His followers the mission that still defines His Church today:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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."

That’s our why.
It’s our spiritual DNA — to make disciples, love people, and bring the hope of Jesus to our city and beyond.

That’s why we’re launching a brand-new series called Passion DNA: Who We Are and Why We Exist, a six-week journey designed to help us all understand the heartbeat of Passion Church — our foundation, our mission, our culture, and our calling.

Our Foundation: It All Starts With Jesus

Everything begins and stands on Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–5 reminds us,

“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sin—it is by grace you have been saved.”

That’s our starting point and our ending point.
We aren’t here to promote a brand, a personality, or a program — we’re here to lift up the name of Jesus.

The Gospel is the heartbeat of Passion Church.
We were dead, but Jesus made us alive.
We didn’t earn it; grace gave it.
And now we exist to help others experience that same transforming grace.

When Jesus is the foundation, everything else finds its place.

Our Identity: Passionate About God and People

If our foundation is Jesus, then our identity is love.

When Jesus was asked to summarize all of Scripture, He said:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)

That’s who we are.
Passion Church exists to love God fully and love people deeply.
And love isn’t just a feeling — it’s an action.

That’s why we’re not just talking about love; we’re showing it.

On Week 2 of this series, instead of having a normal service, we’re having Serve Sunday — a morning of worship, prayer, and community outreach.

We’ll gather for breakfast, share a short devotion, and then go into our city to mow lawns, clean homes, deliver meals, and care for our neighbors.

Because love that doesn’t move isn’t love at all.
Every act of service is an act of worship.
This is what we mean when we say:

“At Passion Church, service isn’t what we do — it’s who we are.”

Our Mission: Reaching People Far From God Through Authentic Relationships

Jesus said in Luke 19:10,

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

That’s His mission — and now it’s ours.

We exist to reach people far from God through authentic relationships.
Jesus didn’t shout His love from a distance — He walked into people’s lives, sat at their tables, listened to their stories, and invited them into His grace.

In a world where everyone’s connected online but isolated in real life, people are desperate for genuine connection.
That’s where the Church shines.
We reach people not by arguing louder, but by loving better.
We build bridges, not walls.
We go because Jesus came.

Every believer has a “one” — someone God has placed in your path who needs to experience His love through your relationship.
Who’s your one?
Who could encounter Jesus because you were willing to be real, compassionate, and present?

Our Culture: The Way We Live

Culture eats strategy for breakfast.
What we believe is vital, but what we live is what changes the world.

At Passion Church, our culture is simple:
we want to look like Jesus.
To do that, we’ve identified five defining values — our cultural DNA markers:

Passionate – We worship and serve with fire because our Savior is worthy.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” – Romans 12:11

Dedicated – We stay committed when it’s not convenient.
“They devoted themselves…” – Acts 2:42

Compassionate – We see people through Jesus’ eyes.
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them.” – Matthew 9:36

Authentic – We lead with honesty and humility.
“We have renounced secret and shameful ways.” – 2 Corinthians 4:2

Generous – We live open-handed because God gave first.
“God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

This is what it means to be part of the Passion Church family.
We’re not perfect, but we’re real.
We’re not driven by ego, but by mission.
We’re a people who live the Gospel every day, not just on Sundays.

Our Foundation of Truth: Built on the Word

In a world of shifting opinions, one thing remains unshakable: God’s Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 tells us,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness…”

The Bible is not a suggestion book — it’s the living voice of God to His people.
It’s our authority, our guide, and our source of hope.

When we stand on the Word, we don’t crumble under pressure.
When we live by the Word, we’re not swayed by the latest trend or headline.
Truth doesn’t change with culture; it transcends it.

At Passion Church, we believe the Bible defines our beliefs, directs our actions, and anchors our DNA in eternal truth.

Our Response: Built to Last

In Matthew 7:24–27, Jesus told the story of two builders:
one built on rock, the other on sand.
Both faced storms, but only one stood firm.

The difference wasn’t in their talent or tools — it was in their foundation.

Jesus said,

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

We want to be that kind of people.
The kind who don’t just hear truth but live it.
The kind who don’t just attend church but build it.

We’re building something that lasts — lives, families, and a church that stands strong through every season.

This Is Our DNA

Over these six weeks, we’ll rediscover who we are and why we exist.
We’ll celebrate our foundation in Jesus, our identity of love, our mission to reach people through authentic relationships, our Christ-shaped culture, our confidence in Scripture, and our call to live it all out daily.

Because Passion Church isn’t a building or a brand — it’s a people.
People who believe that God’s not done with our city.
People who believe the local church is still the hope of the world.
People who believe Jesus changes everything.

Your Invitation

We want you to be part of this journey.
Whether you’ve been part of Passion Church for years or you’ve never set foot in our doors, this is your moment to see what God is doing here.

Join us for the Passion DNA Series, and discover what it means to belong to a church built on Jesus, rooted in truth, and fueled by love.

Come learn your part in the story God is writing through Passion Church.
Come rediscover your calling.
Come experience your spiritual DNA come alive.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 3:11

This is who we are.
This is why we exist.
This is Passion DNA.

See you soon!

Pastor Josh

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