Our 6 Core Values: Loving -Contributing – Sharing – Connecting - Growing - Family
NOTE: See our media page for a sermon series on these Values preached Jan - Feb 2010 Entitled "Lets do this well."
Core Value 1: Love - We love God through "total life worship"
- We seek to live in enriching relationship with God through Jesus
- Worshiping God includes music, but is much more than just song.
- Worship is the expression of our attention and affection every day.
- We are always worshipping, we want to avoid the tempation of worshipping anything else other than God. (see Jesus' temptations in John 4)
- Our highest privilege as humans is to "love God and enjoy Him forever." (Revelation 4:11; 21:3-4). We were created for God's pleasure, and therefore we want to check our lives to be sure we are pleasing him and not seeking self pleasure ( II Tim 3:4)
- Both corporate and private worship are vital to a thriving Christian life. (Psalm 95; Mark 1:35). We need both. Worship is more than attending church, worship starts in our hearts and homes.
- God desires a voluntary life giving daily relationship with us. (John 15:14-15; Romans 12:1) Worshipping God is our choice, therefore we make this choice everyday.
- Church should be a place where people are free to worship from their heart. (Psalm 22:22, 35:18). We are aware that there is a danger we can worship with our voices but our hearts not be near to God (Math 18, 8-9)
- We see worship is much more than just singing, it is the total expression of our life and proper use of our time. Therefore, our greatest goal is to live every day as an act of worship to the Lord. (Romans 12)
- When we worship corporately, we may have to lay down style preferences for the sake of the whole body. (Romans 14:19; John 4:24)
- We are to work for and take responsibility for maintaining a loving atmosphere in our church. (Romans 12:10; 1 Thess. 5:11)
- We love God by the way we treat each other, starting in the home and flowing to every other area of life. (Deut. 6:4-9; 1 Timothy 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:11)
Core Value 2: Contributing - "Serve God by Giving of ourselves"
God has a fulfilling plan for all of us to make our unique, meaningful contributions to the Kingdom of God
- God has made us all unique and gifted us all differently for the purpose of serving.
- We can all contribute to the Kingdom of God and his local church, in this sense every Christian is a minister.
- Serving includes our attitude, not just our actions. Phil 2.
- We find fulfillment in spending our life, not saving it.
- Serving is both a high calling and responsibility. (1 Cor. 12:12-31)
- God has made everyone with different abilities, backgrounds, and passions to make our contribution effective. We teach the importance of understanding our God given S.H.A.P.E. (1 Cor. 12:12-31)
- We try to build ministry around the people God sends to join with us. We know people serve best in areas they are equipped and impassioned to do. (1 Cor. 12:12-31)
- We need and will pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for effectiveness in ministry. (Ephesians 6:18)
- Ministry starts in the home.
- We seek quality ministry, not quantity.
- We seek to do ministry in teams, working together and supporting each other. (Phil. 2:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8)
- Our goal and vision is to help everyone in our church find their place to serve, 100%. I Cor. 12:12-31)
- We receive offerings, the church is financed by the tithes and offerings of God’s people. (2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2)
- A contributing heart is formed in the home as parents and children serve together in mission related projects.
Core Value 3: Sharing - "We share to help others know God and grow"
We seek to help others find a personal relationship with Jesus
- God loves everyone and wants them to know His Son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:21)
- The gospel is the power of God for salvation, it always has been and always will be.
- We are committed to sharing and not losing our outward focus. (Matt. 9:37-38, 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
- We want to grow from attracting people not presently connected to an evangelical church and encouraging to know and live for the Lord.
- We work strategically; while at the same time put our entire reliance on the power of God's Spirit and His Word to transform people. (Titus 3:5; Rom. 1:16)
- It is our responsibility to adapt to reach people where they are at helping them to know Jesus from there. (Acts 8:29-38; Luke 24:13-27)
- We can find exciting ways to reach the un-churched community.
- We are willing to invest our lives and resources locally, nationally, and internationally to reach people. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
- Family is first front for effective evangelism. (Deut. 6)
Core Value 4: Connecting - "We grow best in relationships with others"
Sharing life and faith through supportive relationships with other followers
- We are called to belong, not just believe. (Acts 2:42; Rom. 12:10)
- A person is designed by God to grow in community with other believers. (Acts 2:42; Heb. 3:13, 10:24; 1 Cor. 15:33)
- Christianity is not a spectator sport. (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
- Support, accountability, fellowship, sharing life and sharing faith happen best in small groups. After attending New Life, we will strive to help people join an appropriate Small Group.
- Commitment to a local church family produces relational and ministry strength, so we will provide membership opportunties.
- Carrying anothers burdens, encouraging each others, and praying for each other are vital to the life of a church body.
Core Value 5:Growing - God's Love Motivates us to grow in to the person He wants.
God wants us to become more and more like Jesus
- God wants every Christian to become like Jesus. (Matt. 5:48; Phil. 2:5; John 13:15)
- God meets us where we are and helps us grow from there. (Luke 24:13-27)
- Continuing growth is natural to a person who has given their heart to Christ. (Col 2:6)
- Love (not guilt) motivates healthy spiritual maturity. (1 Cor. 13:8-13)
- Discipleship is a process, not a one time event. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23)
- As we mature spiritually, it is evidenced by our renewed mind, the attitudes of the heart, and in our actions. (Gal.5:16-26)
- Discipleship must be intentional, practical and applicable to life.
- Discipleship must be more than INFORMATION; it must lead to Biblical TRANSFORMATION. (Rom. 12:2; Acts 9:1-31)
- We know we are to train ourselves to be godly, but we do so only in strong cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Every parent needs to be encouraged and assisted in the task discipling their own children. The church will support the effort in the home with childrens programs. (Deut. 6)
Core Value 6: Family - Faith Building begins at home
Gods plan is the home first, and church second
- Faith must be applied to everyday life to be real (James 1:22 / James 2)
- Faith when it is brought and taught in the home it effects all generations and brings Gods life and blessing to a household. (Deut. 6)
- A parents first task is to train their children in the ways of Lord. (Eph 6)
- Faith is better caught at home than taught in a class.
- Those without Christian parents need spiritual mentors which the church should provide.
- Single parent homes need extra support from a church family.
- See our faith at home page
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