Our Values
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRO:
Welcome this morning!
Last week, we had our Vision Sunday.
Shared our theme for 2020 - ALL IN
All in with Christ
All in with LHC’s Mission “Restoring Hope, Changing Lives”
All in with the Body of Christ
This week, we are going to look at the Core Values of LHC.
Turn with me to Psalm 1:1-3
You can find these Core Values in your Bulletin...
(The Church Leadership has spent time working on these values)
Core Values are what define us as a Church.
These are values that we strive for each and every person who attends LHC.
They are our DNA.
As we go through these Core Values this morning, some may resonate inside of you, and some may not.
However, we desire that one day each and every one of you will have these Core Values in your hearts!
PRAYER:
SERMON:
Our first Core Value at LHC is:
1. God’s Word
1. God’s Word
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Bottom line is this:
We teach, preach, study, and live according to the Word of God, because only His Word has everything we need to live a life that is prosperous and pleasing to the Lord.
Yes, there are great books full of wisdom and great advice… But it can not replace or contradict what the Word of God says.
In fact… Only His Word will last through the ages...
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
At Living Hope Church we will always Value His Word first and foremost.
But, It is not enough to open your Bibles only on Sundays!
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
There is a vast difference in the Power of a Christian who feeds on God’s Word daily and those who use it as a snack.
There is a vast difference in the Power of a Christian who feeds on God’s Word daily and those who use it as a snack.
For us to prosper and be blessed in all we do according to the promises we have read in Psalms 1 and James 1…
We need to be students of the Word…
Studying it daily, and then applying it and living it in obedience each and every day.
There are many great books to read and there are many great preachers to listen to...
But those cannot replace your time as a student of God’s Word. Get in it… Ask the Holy Spirit questions… Meditate on it… Consider how it applies to your life… and live it!
Let’s look at the 2nd Core Value of LHC
2. Authentic Community
2. Authentic Community
Authentic… Genuine… The Real Deal… Not fake...
We value Genuine and real community that cares for and loves one another.
Each and every one of us are a part of the Body of Christ. We must live in a healthy and real community with one another.
And that starts with loving one another.
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
I like how it is written in 1 Peter.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Loving one another deeply… from the heart.
In other words… Truly caring for one another.
Listen Church, We need each other.
None of us should be alone in this journey through life.
We each need real relationships with true unity.
We need people who care when we are suffering, and we need people who rejoice when we are rejoicing.
We need people who care when we are suffering, and we need people who rejoice when we are rejoicing.
25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Let’s value Authentic Community!
Let’s be real with one another… Helping one another… Encouraging each other… Praying for one another… and living life together in unity!
This leads us to our third Value we have at LHC.
3. Serving Others
3. Serving Others
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.
26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus Christ set the example of serving.
We should not be looking out for number 1 first.
This is the teaching of the World… But it is not the teaching of God’s Word.
Instead, we should humble ourselves and recognize that we should serve others first and foremost.
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I would dare say that one of the things we do not spend enough time doing as followers of Christ, is discovering our gifts.
Each and everyone of us have gifts…
God has given you gifts that are to be used to serve others with!
God has given you gifts that are to be used to serve others with!
What are yours?
What Gifts has God given you to serve with?
They are not gifts for you to advance your own life and future… But first and foremost, they are to be used to serve others!
Sadly Church,
There is a lack of gifts being used to serve one another in the Body of Christ today.
There is a lack of gifts being used to serve one another in the Body of Christ today.
At LHC we value your gifts and we value serving others with them.
I promise, you will discover greater joy, and satisfaction when you follow Christ’s example and serve others.
We also value serving others in our community.
Listen Church…
Don’t wait until LHC has a sponsored and organized event to participate in serving the community!
Don’t wait until LHC has a sponsored and organized event to participate in serving the community!
Look around you and find ways you can serve.
As we do this, we advance the Good News and Hope of Jesus, saving lives for eternity!
At LHC, We value serving others first.
Let’s look at the 4th Core Value
4. Courageous Giving
4. Courageous Giving
God speaks a lot about giving throughout the Word of God.
And not just giving in terms of finances. (Even though this is a big issue)
Giving is in the heart of God. He so loved the World that He gave His only Son Jesus to die for us.
Jesus willingly gave up His life for our salvation.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we must value this key quality of God and learn to live as He lived.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we must value this key quality of God and learn to live as He lived.
To live a life that courageously gives not out of our excess but out of our lack.
Trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s provision.
Here is a great example of this:
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Living this way is not easy. That’s why we call it Courageous Giving.
It takes courage to give when you most others would say, “I can’t.”
It’s when we follow Christ’s example and courageously give of our time, talents, resources, and finances that we open the door to see miracles take place and lives changed for eternity!
It’s when we follow Christ’s example and courageously give of our time, talents, resources, and finances that we open the door to see miracles take place and lives changed for eternity!
Only when Christ Courageously gave His life up, was our eternity changed!
And as we give courageously we will also be able to change lives!
Yes it will cost us…
Courageous giving will always cost you something.
Courageous giving will always cost you something.
But it is worth it each and every time for the Kingdom of God.
At LHC we strive to be Courageous in our giving.
Let’s look at the fifth Core Value.
5. Healthy Families
5. Healthy Families
Families are very important to us at LHC.
And we value to see families to be healthy.
However, at LHC we don’t believe the primary responsibility of discipling your children is ours.
We believe its the parents primary responsibility of discipling their children.
We believe its the parents primary responsibility of discipling their children.
It’s the Churches job is to reaffirm and support the parent.
Listen to this verse...
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
The Church is an amazing place for each one of us to grow in the Word of God.
And its a great place to bring your children for them to learn God’s Word.
But,
For a family to be healthy, Mom and Dad need to take the lead in discipling their Children.
For a family to be healthy, Mom and Dad need to take the lead in discipling their Children.
As we can see from Deuteronomy… This isn’t done just on a Sunday morning.
Discipling your Children has to happen daily!
Discipling your Children has to happen daily!
While you are going through the day to day activities and when you get up and lay down.
Sundays are just days to reinforce what you have already demonstrated and taught your children.
But there is an important fact I must mention this morning.
Too often today, the fathers have taken a back seat in raising their children.
This is a disaster for families!
The enemy knows that and has done a great job in removing men from this vital role.
Look at what this verse says.
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
FATHERS!
Men, you must do a better job in playing a key role in the discipleship of your Children.
Men, you must do a better job in playing a key role in the discipleship of your Children.
I don’t have time this morning, but statistics have proven time and time again the enormous impact a father has over their children if they are involved.
So men, let’s make our families healthy… Let’s get involved in our kids lives again.
CLOSING:
Will you please stand with me as I close?
Close your eyes and bow your heads…
Remember we want to be more than just hearers of God’s Word.
So I want to end today’s talk about LHC’s Core Values, by giving you a chance to reflect on these values and where you are at today.
Is there a value or two that you need to grow in?
Is the Holy Spirit drawing attention to any of these Values for your life?
This is what I am going to do:
We are turning this entire Sanctuary into an altar.
Right where you are at, just kneel before the Lord and spend some time talking to Him about what He is revealing to you today through His Word.
What area do you need to value more?
God’s Word?
Authentic Community?
Serving Others?
Courageous Giving?
Healthy Families?
PRAYER:
Prayer over those who are responding.
SALVATION CALL:
While people are responding to todays’ word…
Have them come up to me
PRAYER FOR THE SICK: