Core Values
Core values help us answer this question, “What does God want us to be as individuals?” This question then allows us to begin setting up measurables for success within our church. All measurables we use to determine success flow directly from our core values, who God has called us as a body and as individuals to be. These values are taken from Acts 2 and the descriptive portrait of the early church in action.
ACTS 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
CORE VALUE 1: TRUTH
The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. This is another way of saying they were growing in their love for Truth.
DEFINED: Christians are designed to be people who love and commit their lives to truth. As Christians, we believe that truth is found in the infallible words of God in the Bible, and studying Scripture is central to both the identity and joy of any Christian.
This means that every Christian should spend consistent and structured time studying the Bible. For some, this means every morning or evening, and for others, it means several times a week. Your time in the Bible should be non-negotiable. As a church, we believe the Bible to be the supreme authority for life and pleasure. Proverbs
CORE VALUE 2: CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
The church in Acts 2 was committed to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
DEFINED: When truth collides with the human heart, it creates movement. As an example, when the last pitch is thrown or the time runs out and the truth sets into the athletic team, “We just won the championship,” that truth will be expressed. In the same way, when TRUTH about God is absorbed and understood and loved, it demands expression. Our Christian Spirituality consists of the variety of outward expressions that show our love for God. In the same way my love for my wife has expressions, such as bringing home flowers, talking about her, and taking her on dates, our love for God is so deep that it demands expressions like praying, singing, fasting, Bible study, simplicity, solitude, worship, and telling others about Him.
CORE VALUE 3: COMMUNITY
In Acts, the early church met together regularly in the temple courts (large group expression of community), and they broke bread and ate in their homes (small group expression of community).
DEFINED: Community is expressed in your life when you share the power of the gospel in open and authentic relationships. Our prayer is that every member and regular attender will view participation in a home group as an integral part of their privilege and responsibility as part of the Body of Christ. We believe accountability, care, and a sense of belonging are critical to balance and progress in our spiritual journey. These are best achieved within the context of a Home Group of like-minded, relationally-connected believers. In these groups, people study God’s Word together and discuss the issues and challenges of life. Home Groups are the best places for sustained life change to occur.
CORE VALUE 4: SERVICE
Acts 2 presents a beautiful picture of the early church radically and sacrificially serving those around them. They sold possessions and gave to those in need.
DEFINED: Serving others does not come naturally. It is not the easiest task we encounter in a day, nor is it the most convenient. Yet Christ calls us to serve others, to put others first, to sacrifice, to labor for the benefit of those around us. In selflessness and sacrifice, we show our love for the God who laid down his life for us in the ultimate act of service. Simply put, we are to give our lives away to those around us. We are to give our lives away serving our families, community, church, and God. This is one of the primary ways we communicate the love of Jesus to the world.
CORE VALUE 5: MISSIONAL LIVING
The early church lived in such a way that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
DEFINED: Missional living means organizing every area of your life around the mission of God. Wikipedia defines missional living as a “Christian term that describes a missionary lifestyle; adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message.”
We desire to be missionaries for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every culture and context in which God has placed us. Missional living is personally expressed through introducing our neighbors, coworkers, and family to the Gospel. It can be a Bible study in the workplace, a ministry to the homeless, or going on foreign mission works. Living on mission is intentionally nurturing personal relationships in an effort to share the Gospel. As we effectively invest into the lives of others and share the gospel, God faithfully completes His supernatural work of salvation.