Values

Holy Worldliness

As disciples of Jesus we are called to be like our master who lived a holy life while deeply immersed in the world. Like Jesus we must model the values and practices of God’s kingdom, not the values and practices of the world. On the other hand, like Jesus, we must live out these kingdom values and practices in the world, entering into its life as fully as possible, sharing in the joys and sorrows of those around us. We must neither adopt the values and practices of the world in an attempt to be relevant, nor withdraw from the world in an attempt to be holy. (Matthew 5:13-16; John 17:15-19; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

Holistic Ministry

As the consequences of sin affect us theologically, psychologically, socially, and physically, so too the gospel of Jesus Christ brings healing to every aspect of our lives. In bringing the gospel to others, then, we must be concerned to minister to the whole person by both our words and our deeds. (1 Peter 4:10-11; James 2:14-17).

Relational Focus

Our God is a personal God, seeking to enter into relationship with us as persons, through the ministry of other persons. Therefore, we believe relationships provide the proper context for all biblical ministry. Developing healthy relationships with those inside and outside the church will be a focus of everything we are trying to do as a church community. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

Gospel Diversity

The gospel message of Jesus Christ transcends the barriers of race, class, age, gender, and culture, bringing together people who otherwise would have nothing in common. The church community in every place should as much as possible strive to reflect this gospel diversity as a sign to the world of the reconciling power of the gospel and what the kingdom of God will be like when it appears in its fullness. While accepting that we have real limitations, and that our ministry will be more effective to some than others, we wish to encourage gospel diversity and interaction across the barriers that typically divide us. (Galatians 3:26-28).

Christian Liberty

Healthy church communities follow the biblical principle of distinguishing between primary and secondary issues of belief and practice. We seek to emphasize the essentials of the Christian message while allowing liberty in those areas that are important but not essential to Christian faith. We want to learn how to agree and disagree in a way that reflects our love for one another as followers of Jesus. (1 Corinthian 15:1-3; Romans 14:1-12).

Spiritual Disciplines

While the Spirit of God is the source of all Christian growth, spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible reading and meditation, fasting, chastity and fidelity, spiritual direction, and others like these are the ways in which we open ourselves up to the transforming work of God’s Spirit in our lives. We want to encourage one another in the practice of such disciplines as we believe they are essential to our becoming more like Christ. (1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 5:22-23).