Core Values
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The Bible
We value the Bible as the main way we learn about God and how to have a relationship with Him. It also shows us how to have effective, meaningful and godly lives. (2 Timothy 3:14-5, 16; Hebrews 4:12)
Christ-centered
We realize that our hope is rooted in a life centered on Jesus Christ, how He lived and how He would have us live our lives in our world and our time. (Hebrews 12:1-3; Matthew 16:24; John 13:15)
Spirit-led Life
While much of human significance can be accomplished "on our own," we firmly believe that those things of lasting, eternal and spiritual value only come from being led by the Holy Spirit. We value being attentive to, and following, the leadership of the Holy Spirit in every part of life, whether seemingly important or apparently mundane. We furthermore acknowledge that living life under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the primary means of living a godly, holy and good life. (Galatians 5:16, 25; Romans 8:1-4)
Humility
In a day marked by self-centered, self-sufficient philosophy, we value what Jesus taught and modeled so clearly, namely humility. Humility is an attitude and disposition of the heart that honors others above themselves, values the thoughts and skills others offer, and, in fact, values every person as being with infinite worth. While actions and ways of thinking can be in error, we believe that the core of every human being is valued by their maker, and ours. Therefore, we humbly and openly embrace the grace of God for our lives, and joyfully extend it to others. (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 2 Samuel 22:28; 2 Chronicles 7:14)
Love
So often misrepresented, we value true, unconditional love. This kind of love is most clearly expressed in God's love for us, and so we seek to express that same love to those around us. Regardless of race, gender, moral background, ethical behavior, religious affiliation or socio- economic condition, we believe all should be loved. While we carefully do not condone nor value lifestyles or thought processes that are not honoring to Christ, we acknowledge that "we all, like sheep, have gone astray" and choose to join Jesus in loving the world, bringing hope where there is no hope. (Exodus 34:6-7; Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 3:1, 4:19; 1 Corinthians 13:13; John 3:16)
Family
We believe in the social institution of the family as depicted in the Bible. Therefore, we value one man and one woman - along with any children God may bless them with - living faithfully and lovingly together in the covenant of marriage, building each other up, raising godly children to make a meaningful contribution to their family, society and the church. (Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-33; Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
The Family of God
We value the family of God as one of the most powerful expressions of God's grace in the world. Also known as the Church or the Body of Christ, we celebrate the diversity of the Body by embracing the uniqueness of each individual. We celebrate the unity of the Family by refraining from gossip and slander. We celebrate the vastness of the Body by honoring the various biblical fellowships in our community and in the world. We celebrate the intimacy of the Church by protecting each other in our points of vulnerability. Humility, love and integrity, therefore, are marks of life in the Family of God. (Ephesians 4:2-6, 15-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 1 Peter 2:17; Romans 12:6)
Faith
We believe that "without faith it is impossible to please God." In a word, faith is what activates the work of God in our lives. We seek to learn and understand the ways of God, but faith is what releases us and God to see a godly transformation in our character. Faith is what allows us to be what we could never be, releasing hope where hopelessness abounds, making us into everything God intends for us to be. (Hebrews 11:1; Matthew 17:20; Luke 18:8; Acts 16:5; Galatians 5:5)
Restorative Redemption
In valuing restorative redemption, we make the choice to look beyond both to the full expression of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - redemption that restores, and restoration that redeems. In so doing, we strive to see all brokenness through this lens, understanding that God's best intent is to not only bring salvation, but to restore dignity, health, relationship, integrity and hope. (Psalm 51:10-13; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:25-26; 1 Peter 5:10)
Prayer
Knowing that our best efforts are desperately lacking in affecting change in our lives and our world, we humbly acknowledge that it is by prayer that God is released to act in our lives and in our world. (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:24; Matthew 26:40-41; Acts 1:14, 2:42; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 3:12)
Worship
We value deep, intimate worship because it is the means whereby we humble ourselves, exalt God, and are transformed. In the words of William Temple, "Worship is the quickening of the conscience by the holiness of God; it is the nourishment of our mind by the truth of God; it is the purifying of our imagination by the beauty of God; it is the opening of our heart to the love of God; it is the surrender of our will to the purpose of God -- and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which human nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin." (quoted in Spruce, James R. Let Us Worship: A Concerned Call to Appraisal. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1986.) (Isaiah 6:1-8; John 4:23; Hebrews 12:28-29; Psalm 103:1-5)
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Supporting Scripture
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Bible
2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 – But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Christ-Centered
Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Matthew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
John 13:15 – I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Spirit-Led Life
Galatians 5:16 – So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:25 – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you1 free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,1 God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.2 And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Humility
Proverbs 3:34 – He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
James 4:6 – But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
2 Samuel 22:28 – You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
Mission, Vision and Core Values Page 4
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Love
Exodus 34:6-7 – And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation."
Romans 5:7-8 – Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:1 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
1 John 4:19 – We love because he first loved us.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Family
Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Genesis 2:24 – That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:31-33 – “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery-- but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Family of God
Ephesians 4:2-6 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:15-16 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 – Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
1 Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Romans 12:6 – We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Faith
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Matthew 17:20 – Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Luke 18:8 – However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Acts 16:5 – So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Galatians 5:5 – For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.
Restorative Redemption
Psalm 51:10-13 – Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Isaiah 61:1-3 – The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Joel 2:25-26 – "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten -- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm1 -- my great army that I sent among you. 26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.
1 Peter 5:10 – And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
Prayer
Matthew 21:13 – "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,'”
Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Matthew 26:40-41 – Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Acts 1:14 – They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 2:42 – They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Peter 3:12 – For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
Worship
Isaiah 6:1-8 – In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
John 4:23 – Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
Hebrews 12:28-29 – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
Psalm 103:1-5 – Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits--3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(all uotations from the NIV)