Core Values

Our Vision: to grow a multi-ethnic, multicultural movement that manifests the kingdom of God

Our mission: Love God and Love People

1. Transformation – Investing in change of lives, communities and cultures as a result of divine encounters with Jesus

A. We depend on the work of the Holy Spirit

1: Salvation John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. Dead in sin, we need to be made alive.

2. sanctification (being made holy) we cant be holy, our only hope for it is through the supernatural work of the Holy spirit in us

Eph 4:21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

B. We believe there is hope for ANYONE

1 Cor 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Our sin is big, God's grace is bigger.

C. We don't expect (or believe) that you are perfect (All have sinned)

1. we love you. You wont be looked down on and excluded

2. because we love you we're not ok with sin and want you to be transformed and live a holy and abundant life so we are not going to pretend your’e ok when we all know none of us are.

2. Diversity – Valuing, empowering and including people of different ethnic, economic and cultural backgrounds

A. We believe that all humans are members of one race created in the image of God and are valuable. (Gen. 1:26)

But

We are NOT “color blind”

B. We believe that the gospel is for all people without distinction, segregation or assimilation. (Eph 3:6-10)

The mystery of the gospel is that it is multi-ethnic

God’s wisdom, power and love are displayed in a diverse body of believers living in community.

Because we live in a diverse community, the gospel we preach should reach and bring together diverse people.

If it does not, it’s not the gospel’s fault.

C. We believe that the transforming power of the gospel and our love for people should cause us to love and seek justice. (James 1:27, Michah 6:8)

Loving God and loving other people is not ONLY telling them about Jesus.

3. Sacrifice – Servants outpouring of their time, gifts and resources into all those they encounter.

Sacrifice is one of the core concepts of scripture. Here’s why its so important.

A. If you don’t have sacrifice you don’t have the gospel.

Because we sin, there was a payment due to satisfy the just wrath of God. Jesus gave himself as a GIFT and was the perfect sacrifice.

Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So it’s central to the gospel but it’s also central to being a disciple.

B. Being a Christ follower = being a sacrifice

I have heard it said many times “it is expensive to be a follower of Jesus” …it’s more than expensive, it will cost you everything.

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

4. Deployment – Intentional launching of equipped individuals to perpetuate kingdom advancement

We believe that kingdom advancement is EVERYONE’s job

A. We are all gifted

Eph 4:7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

B. We are all Commanded To Go

2 Cor 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

5. Belonging – Being a people of genuine love and authenticity who are living life together.

A. We are a Family

Gal 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

B. We are a Body

1 Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

How are YOU doing with our core values?

Give yourself a score from 1-5 for each value. 1 = I’m not doing this at all - 5 = I’m not perfect but i’m doing pretty great!

Transformation ____

Diversity ___

Sacrifice ___

Deployment ___

Belonging ___

In groups discuss your answers.

How would you say our church is doing at living our our core values?

How can YOU help our church grow in living out our core values?