What's Most Important to UsTop Ten Values:
Note: The first five are more tangible and will be the primary focus in the initial stages of the church plant. They are also listed in order of importance and priority. They will determine what kind of church we will be. We will make decisions, invest money, take risks, solve problems, set goals, determine priorities, and act in line with these values.
1. Biblical Teaching
God's Word, purely taught and lived, saves and transforms lives now and forever.
John 8:31-32 (NIV)
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
Timothy 3:16-17 (TMNT)
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
2. Seeking People
Looking for people who need the Lord and helping them experience the love and life of Jesus Christ is everyone's priority.
Luke 5:29-32 (TMNT)
Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. "What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?"
Jesus heard about it and spoke up, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out."
Luke 19:10 (GWT)
Indeed, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save people who are lost."
Matthew 28:19 (NCV)
So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
3. Multiplying Groups
We discover the best in Christian care, discipleship training and vital prayer through growing and multiplying home groups.
Luke 6:12-13 (NIV)
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Acts 2:46-47 (GWT)
The believers had a single purpose and went to the temple every day. They were joyful and humble as they ate at each other’s homes and shared their food. At the same time, they praised God and had the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord saved people, and they were added to the group.
Acts 5:42 (NCV)
Every day in the Temple and in people’s homes they continued teaching the people and telling the Good News—that Jesus is the Christ.
4. Extraordinary Ministries
Everyone is discovering God’s calling and gifts and using them to do extraordinary things.
Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (TMNT)
Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
John 14:12-13 (TMNT)
The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.
5. Inspiring Worship
Our worship is God-pleasing, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, culturally relevant and fun.
PSALM 150:1-6 (NCV)
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his Temple;
praise him in his mighty heaven.
Praise him for his strength;
praise him for his greatness.
Praise him with trumpet blasts;
praise him with harps and lyres.
Praise him with tambourines and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
Praise him with loud cymbals;
praise him with crashing cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
6. Loving Relationships
Strong relationships and acts of selfless service permeate everything we do, wherever we go.
John 13:34-35 (TMNT)
"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."
Matthew 22:37-39 (TMNT)
Jesus said, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’"
Philippians 2:1-5 (TMNT)
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
7. Empowering Leadership
Our leaders empower us to become all God wants us to be, multiplying leaders and ministries.
Timothy 2:2 (NLT)
You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
Acts 6:2-5 (NLT)
"We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said. "Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word."
Ephesians 4:11-13 (TMNT)
He handed out gifts of …evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
8. Passionate Spirituality
God is transforming each of us into passionate disciples of Christ who live out the faith with prayer, action and contagious enthusiasm.
John 15:7-8 (GWT)
If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours. You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.
Colossians 3:17 (TMNT)
Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Ephesians 4:14-16 (TMNT)
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
9. Courageous Faith
We are a bold church, praying and trusting God to lead us as we try new ways and structures to accomplish God's mission.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (TMNT)
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
Joshua 1:9 (NLT) I command you—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
10. Missionary Mindset
We support missions and will plant new churches to seek lost people outside of our immediate reach.
John 20:21 (NIV)
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
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