The Value of Values

Introduction: In our lives we value many things. We discover over time that some of those things were not worthy of the value that we placed upon them. But, at the same time we realize that it is crucial to value other things. In fact, we value certain things down to our core. We can’t imagine a life without these things. These things are so important that they make us who we are, and without these beliefs, principles, or ideas we find no meaning in life. These core values define us and to forsake them would be to give up our identity.

We know that we have these values individually. Did you know that a country, body of people, and even a church must also possess core values?

Here is the thing about core values, they cannot be assumed, they must be stated and affirmed. Did you know that LifePoint Church has stated core values? Here they are with some details:

I. God-Centered Worship—LifePoint Church’s worship is not designed primarily with people in mind. We believe that the Triune God, who created us and everything else, is worthy of all the attention, adoration, and glory when we gather. We are not a seeker-sensitive church model where the church acts like a business and members act like customers.

II. Gospel-Centered Ministry – LifePoint Church is a missional church that seeks to share the Gospel visually and verbally with Elizabethtown and the world. We believe in the power of the Gospel! We believe the Gospel should be shared regularly, precisely, and passionately.

III. Growth-Centered Discipleship – God has purposed for those who have repented and believed in Jesus Christ to become more like Him. This occurs within the faith community as we observe, instruct, love, and correct one another.

In 2 John 1-11 the apostle writes at the close of the Apostolic age to sure up some things, and within this we can see some crucial core values. This morning I want to us to think about, what are core values, why are they so important, and why we should concern ourselves with them?

2 John 1–11 NKJV

The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Let’s note a few things about John’s letter to this elect lady and her children:

Most every Bible scholar sees the elect lady and her children as the church and its members. The Greek root for lady is kyri from which we get kyrios that means the Lord’s and kyriokos which mean Lord’s house from which we derive the word church. So, John is addressing the church and its members.

Second, in 13 verses John mentions truth (five times), love (four times), commandment (four times), walk (three times), and teach (three times).

He lays out I believe 5 core values for the church:

The church is the Lord’s. He is the object of worship.

Two, the church is to value the truth — the Word of God, and the Gospel are the means by which the church is grown.

Three, the church should walk in obedience, in the principles we find in the Word of God, which is the epitome of discipleship.

Four, we value and love one another and the corporate church. Mother and child relationship. Verse 1: John loved the lady and her children, but so did everyone who loved the truth.

Five, we guard against the corruption of our core values.

Now, let’s quickly answer a few questions about core values. First…

What are Core Values?

Maybe the best place to start is with what they are not:

Core values are not property, programs, and policies.

Are property, programs, and policies valuable? Yes, temporarily. They may have a monetary or practical value, but they don’t define us. They don’t shape us, form us, guide us, or correct us. They must be a means and our values be the end.

Second, Core values are not marketing schemes.

They are not pithy statements that attract customers or slogans that will draw people in. They are not catch-phrases.

Most people think of them this way. If they are this, then core values are not worth the paper they are written upon. In fact, they are sort of deceptive if we are not working towards them.

Core values are things that we believe to be true, self-evident, essential, and of utmost importance. John rooted them in truth.

Core values are truths that we are willing to suffer and sacrifice for.

Core values are things that we believe define us as a church and without them we are a church by name only. They are things that we feel that we must do.

Let me give you a common earthly example of core values, see if you recognize it:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Our founding fathers held as core values liberty, equality, self-government, and the rule of law. This was a declaration of independence, and the signers of this document believed so deeply that they lost their lives, freedom, and fortunes.

Without core values a church holds nothing to be self-evident, true, essential, of utmost importance, or priority.

Why are Core Values Important?

John gives at least three reasons for laying out these essentials:

First, There are many deceivers that have went out into the world that would warp, skew, corrupt or compromise the truth. Listen to me there is always someone, something, some philosophy, or some warped self-interest within us that is coming against the truth. A church must nail down what is true and of utmost value to us.

Second, he said look to ourselves that we do not lose those things that we have worked for. I see a lot of churches working to build, but what their building isn’t worth anything because its not built on truth. We are working that those who have not heard of Jesus, hear, and those who have heard become more like Him.

The only true work that will last is genuine conversion followed by sincere discipleship. If we grow wide without growing deep we will lose our reward.

The third reason John said core values are essential to discern who to receive or reject. Who is truly part of the church and who is not. 2 John 10

2 John 10 NKJV

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

Let me share four very practical reasons core values are important for LifePoint Church.

One, unification. We rally around what we believe. Truth unifies, confusion divides.

Two, core values give a rubric to measure success. There must be a better way to measure than nickels and noses. Because you can have people and money and not be strong.

Three, core values give potential members the rationale for joining and assimilating.

Fourth, it provides a standard for reform.

The lack of core values and emphasis upon them leave the church in a state of confusion. Creates division and compromise. Core values are important for a healthy church community and steady healthy growth.

Let me say that value-based growth is not quick growth, but in the long run it is strong, healthy, growth.

Why Concern Ourselves with Core Values?

Because, what we do is important. This is not a Sunday show, it is a church! A body, a family, the household of God.

The decisions that we make as a body tantamount in reaching our community.

We need every member of the body growing in their relationship with Christ.

We need every member of the body striving to fulfill the biblical values that are our foundation.

What about Jesus, do you think His work was important and that He possessed core values? He was the embodiment of truth.

John 6 tells a story that we are very familar with: Young lad with 5 loaves and two fish. Jesus feeds 5,000 plus women and children. Many of those continued to follow Jesus around but they didn’t believe in Him.

Jesus send the disciples to the other side of the sea of Galilee by boat, and He walks across the water. These unbelieving followers notice Jesus is gone the next morning and come to the other side. Pretty dedicated huh?

The story takes a shift in John 6:26-27

John 6:26–27 NKJV

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Jesus then lays out His purpose for coming and what He will accomplish. These followers just want more bread and more signs.

Jesus gives them a hard statement. You must eat my flesh and drink my blood. In other words you must believe in me and find your satisfaction in me. He is the Bread of Life. Listen to John 6:66-67

John 6:66–67 NKJV

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

Why would Jesus do such a thing? Because what He was building needed a strong foundation. Why build, if what you’re building isn’t worth anything when you finish.

He cared enough about hungry to tell them the truth.

He cared enough about the disciples to keep them walking in the truth.

He cared enough about His mission, not to be distracted by those who demanded to be fed and shown signs.

He cared enough about us to preserve the truth and the integrity of the Gospel, so we could hear and believe.

Church we concern ourselves with values, because Jesus died to set apart a people for Himself. A people that freely and fully believe in Him, love the truth, and desire to love one another as they walk together in the truth. We cannot fail and we cannot compromise the message we have been given.