Core Values
There are certain unchangeable values that we hold dear. The church can be involved in a great many things, but by focusing on the values that the New Testament emphasizes, we are able to focus on what is most important.
We value God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
All scripture is theopneustos, which means God-breathed. That means it is without error and carries with it absolute authority. When preaching from God’s word, we usually do so expositorally. This means that we preach through passages of the Bible and books of the Bible to convey the authors’ original intent and how that applies to us today. We also have multiple Bible studies throughout the week and before the service on Sunday Mornings.
We value prayer (Philippians 4:6)
Our Sunday night meetings are devoted to praying together. We believe that our prayer meeting is the unseen agent that powers the ministry we do throughout the week. We also pray for missions, those in authority, and any other concerns that the Lord brings to our attention. In addition to the Sunday night meeting, we also incorporate prayer in everything we do, and the members of our church are encouraged to make prayer an important part of their daily lives.
We value authentic community (Acts 2:42-47)
Jesus died for his Bride, the Church. The Church is meant to operate as a body, each member connected to the others. Each member of the body has spiritual gifts, which are meant to be used for the edification, or building up, of the whole Body. As such, we value spending time together, praying for each other, and sharing our lives with one another outside and within the walls of the church building.
We value sharing the Gospel with the lost (Romans 1:16-17)
Even as the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost, our hearts beat and our feet move toward those who do not yet know Christ. We preach repentance and faith to all, understanding that we have been commissioned to preach the Gospel, and to make disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19). We believe that our part in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ starts right here in our backyard and extends to the ends of the earth. We share this message through teaching, evangelism, and missions, and through equipping and supporting other believers in each of these areas.
We value serving others sacrificially (2 Corinthians 9:12-13)
Accompanying our confession of the Gospel, we seek to bring praise to God by serving people. This means devoting time, energy and resources to help those in need as the Lord leads.
We value life-transforming discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20)
We work out our salvation with fear and trembling, even as the Lord works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Christ’s righteousness is imputed (credited) to us when we believe, but the process of sanctification needs to be ongoing. By the act of being discipled (or taught), we are increasingly conformed into the image of Christ.