Core Values

 Captured in a phrase -- "Radical Discipleship"

What is a Core Value?  A Core Value is an anchoring point for action.  It identifies a key element of operating attitudinal priorities for a church.  It is a reference point, based on an expression of Core Beliefs, that helps in determining church direction and congregational emphases in service to Christ.  Action, then is a defining element for a Core Value.  If we are not moved to act in consonance with our Core Values, they are not really Core--they are tangential.  Therefore, we do not "merely listen to the Word;" we "do what it says" (James 1:22). We put feet to our faith by consistency of action on these Core Values and test every opportunity that comes our way (Matthew 10:16; 1 John 4:1) to see if those opportunities resonate with these Core Values.

Worship
Humanity was created to worship God (Genesis 1:3; Exodus 3:12; 20:11; Psalm 147:1; 148; 149:1; 150; Revelation 1:17; 5:1-14; 22:8-9).  We find joy in worship and seek to communicate that joy to God.  We place a premium on active involvement in regular and sustained personal and corporate worship.  Our worship will be characterized by genuineness of spirit (John 4:23-24) and excellence (Colossians 3:17), in order to enable disciples of Christ to enter into the gracious presence of God.

The Word
The Bible, God's Word, is our guidebook for life and our resource (as illuminated by the Holy Spirit) to develop fully as disciples and more completely reflect the image of Jesus Christ (Psalm 119; Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16).  We place a premium on personal and corporate immersion in the Scriptures through regular personal study, small group study, and Bible-based preaching of the Word (Hebrews 5:11-14).  When we face personal or corporate challenges/opportunities our consistent refrain is, "What does the Bible say?"

Prayer
Prayer is our primary communication medium with God (Luke 11:1-13; Philippians 4:6; James 1:5; 4:2-3).  Through prayer, our hearts are made more receptive to the purposes of God, we enjoy the mystery, majesty, and intimacy of His presence (Hebrews 4:14-16), and we offer up both personal supplication and wider intercession.  We place a premium on prayer as individual believers and as the gathered community of faith (Psalm 5:3; Acts 2:42).

Extension of Christ's Kingdom
Jesus called us into partnership with Him to extend His gracious offer of "life to the full" (John 10:10) to every place on the globe and every grouping of people that inhabits that globe (Matthew 28:19,20).  We count it a privilege to engage in extension of Christ's Kingdom through personal evangelism (Acts 1:8), community outreach (Matthew 25:31-46), support of missions efforts in far flung places (Acts 13:1-3), and engagement with hard people and hard places to further the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:22). 

Relational Health
We know that our ultimate "treasure in heaven" (Luke 12:33) is the company of believers who gather joyously around the throne of God.  We will not wait until we get to heaven to nurture relationships with those fellow believers--we will do that here and now (Zechariah 7:9; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10 & 16; Romans 14:13; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 1 John 3:11).  We will not allow programs, opinions, or preferences to interfere with our understanding that, ultimately, our ministry efforts are not nearly as important as those with whom we partner in those ministry efforts (Acts 2:42).  While enjoying times of social gathering, we place a premium on shared ministry because we know from the Bible that shared ministry has the greatest potential for generating genuine biblical fellowship (Philippians 1:5).

Innovation
We are not content with the "way things have been."  While paying respectful attention to what God has done in the past--celebrating its victories, learning from its mistakes, and sharing in its wisdom (Hebrews 11:1-40), we will not be shackled by what we have done personally or corporately last week, last month, last year, or last century.  We know that God is "at work to this very day" (John 5:17) --we seek to join Him in His work for this day.  While consistently testing our methods and means with the Scripture, we are alert for God's "new things" (Isaiah 43:19) in order to make sure that we put "new wine into new wineskins" (Matthew 9:17) and embrace His "new songs" (Psalm 98:1; Revelation 5:9) while we look forward to the "new heaven and new earth" (Revelation 21:1).

Enormity
Our God is majestic and "omni" (present [Psalm 139:7-12] , knowledgeable [Matthew 6:8; Hebrews 4:13], and powerful [Matthew 19:26]).  Despite the size of the congregation or the balance in the checking account, we will never forget that our God is, indeed, an awesome God.  Unlike the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 6:17), we will maintain awareness that arrayed just beyond our field of physical vision are the very legions of God who accompany us and battle with us as we seek to accomplish God's purposes.  Beyond even that, Jesus Himself empowers us by honoring His promise to be with us "to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Freedom
 "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).  Faith in Christ is not a list of rules and regulations.  It is a relationship that sets us "free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2).  We will be free to follow the Spirit of God (1 Thessalonians 5:19) as He leads us in our journey with Christ, being careful to not exercise our freedom in such a way that deliberately puts stumbling blocks in our sisters' or brothers' way (Romans 14:19).  And we will take great care to not "use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature" (Galatians 5:13).  We will know the Apostle Paul's joy as he penned the words, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1).