OUR CORE VALUES
BELIEVING THAT WORSHIP IS EVERYTHING
Worship is NOT something we only engage on in Sunday mornings for an hour or something done in a specific building, at a particular time. The writer of Hebrews tells us “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.” (13:15). Children of God are called to engage in Worship in “spirit and truth,” which involves going before the Throne of God with right thoughts and warm affection for who God is and what He has done. Because of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf, we have great confidence that we are invited before this Throne by The One who first loved us and continually fights for us.
DESIRING FELLOWSHIP OVER ISOLATION
The Apostle Paul and John tell us that God has called us into Fellowship with the Father and the Son, through the presence of the Holy Spirit. That Fellowship changes us and the ultimate overflow of that heavenly reality is that we would enjoy fellowship with “one another.” The enemy loves to draw us into isolation because that is where he does his best work, whispering into our hearts his many untruths. Instead, God’s children are called to a Life where we “serve one another,” “love one another,” “encourage on another,”….and many more “one another’s,” but this can only be done within community as we Fellowship together.
EMBRACING GRACE AND TRUTH FOR GROWTH & OUTREACH
Growth in Christ and embracing a lifestyle of Outreach is NOT optional for the Believer and it is NOT accomplished with hard work or great discipline. Instead, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:12-13 with these words, “ 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” The key to living out verse 12 is found in verse 13. It is ALWAYS God and His grace that works in us in such a way that we actually desire to engage in growth and good works.
DELIGHTING IN GOD’S LOVE AND THEN OFFERING OUR LOVE FOR GOD & OTHERS
The Core Message of the Gospel is that God pursues us, because He loves us. This is not because we are deserving of that love, but rather because He simply purposed to love the unlovable. Our response to this great love should be to bathe in it often and then again and again; We cannot remind ourselves of His great love for us too much. Then, as a result of what He abundantly showers us with, we are to in turn love Him back and our neighbor as well. 1 John 4 encourages us with these incredible words…..Delight in them! “ 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God
and knows God….. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”