Core Values
Our core values are a statement of what we believe are the key biblial principles for what a church should focus on, and also a statement of our aspirations of what we desire to grow to be like. Our core values are as follows.
Our Core Values
Kingdom
Replication
Apostle
We believe God replenishes the earth with His presence through the reproduction of new believers, leaders and churches through intentional discipleship.
Spiritual Empowerment
Prophet
We believe God replenishes us with His Spirit as we seek to live in the presence of God
in an attitude of prayer and worship, bringing God's power and word into the daily circumstances of life.
Courageous
Mission
Evangelist
We believe God replenishes those who are spiritually lost with new life as we boldly share the message of Jesus in word and deed, even when God is leading us out of our comfort zone.
Devoted
Community
Pastor
We believe God replenishes us in the context of a spiritual family, experiencing authentic Christian
community in everyday life as we care for one another.
Gospel
Truth
Teacher
We believe that God replenishes us with His Spirit when we are shaped by the teaching of the Bible in our minds,
hearts and actions, interpreting life through the lens of
the gospel.
We believe that God's church has a most glorious calling. Paul says that it is Christ's "body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:21). We are to be a dwelling place for God's Spirit on earth, which represent him as the body of Christ on earth, filling the earth with his glory and his presence.
"He (Christ) who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:10-13).
But what are the key factors which must be present for God's church to really experience and fulfill this calling?
In Ephesians 4:11, Paul lists five leadership gifts God has given to the church to enable it to grow into the "fullness of Christ". These are: the apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, and teacher.
When you think about it, each of these five types of leaders brings a different quality to the table to stimulate the church’s growth in maturity. We have broadly alligned our five core values below around the operation of these five different leadership gifts which God gave for the growth and flourishing of the church.
- Kingdom Replication
Leading
Definition: We believe God replenishes the earth with His presence through the reproduction of new believers, leaders and churches through intentional discipleship.
The Ephesians 4 Link: Apostolic.
The apostle was gifted as a leader who would pioneer new works of God, planting churches, raising leaders, and reproducing himself in others.
The Skill Of Leading.
Biblical Examples:
Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Timothy 2:2;
What it looks like:
We desire everybody to be actively receiving discipleship from a mature Christian.
We desire everybody to be actively seeking to disciple other people.
We seek to have simple systems of church life which can be reproduced easily.
We desire to multiply our church at all levels, including disciples, leaders,
community groups and church services
2. Spiritual Empowerment
Listening
Definition: We believe God replenishes us with His Spirit as we seek to live in the presence of God
in an attitude of prayer and worship, bringing God's power and word into the daily circumstances of life.
The Ephesians 4 Link: Prophetic.
The prophet was gifted in walking in the presence of
God, hearing his voice, and delivering God’s word to the people. We think of Mary as a good example of this, who understood the value of simply sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to his word.
The Skill Of Listening.
Biblical Examples:
Luke 3:21, 4:1, 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 9:28, 10:38-42, 11:1, 22:39;
Ephesians 1:16, 2:18, 3:14, 6:18.;
What it looks like:
We We have dedicated patterns of retreat, prayer and worship, individually and corporately;
We often stop in the middle of conversations to pray for people, and expect God to
move and bring breakthrough in people's lives;
We talk about what we believe God may be impressing upon us, saying to us;
We value the importance of rest and being still to empower our work for God;
3. Courageous Mission
Liberating
Definition: We believe God replenishes those who are spiritually lost with new life as we boldly share the message of Jesus in word and deed, even when God is leading us out of our comfort zone.
The Ephesians 4 Link: Evangelistic.
The evangelist was gifted in boldly leading other people into the freedom of knowing Christ. The evangelist has a heart for reaching out to people who don’t yet know Jesus.
The Skill Of Liberating.
Biblical Examples:
Luke 10, Romans 10:14-16, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 1 Peter 3:15;
What it looks like:
We often have people in our homes for meals who don't follow Jesus.
We speak of Jesus often in our conversation to people in our life, and invite people
to take the next step in their journey with Jesus.
We serve the needy and demonstrate the love of God to them.
We seek to take the gospel to new unreached people groups
4. Devoted Community
Loving
Definition: We believe God replenishes us in the context of a spiritual family, experiencing authentic Christian
community in everyday life as we care for one another.
The Ephesians 4 Link: Pastoral.
The pastor was gifted in caring for people,
encouraging them and strengthening them in their
spiritual and practical needs.
The Skill Of Loving.
Biblical Examples:
Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Acts 20:28-32, Hebrews 13;
What it looks like:
We share our resources, homes, time, and skills with each other regularly.
We eat lots of meals together, and enjoy the good things of life together.
We communicate with honesty, dealing with conflict, practising forgiveness and grace.
We intentionally seek to speak words of encouragement, truth, authenticity and blessing to one another.
5. Gospel Truth
Learning
Definition: We believe that God replenishes us with His Spirit when we are shaped by the teaching of the Bible in our minds, hearts and actions, interpreting life through the lens of the gospel.
The Ephesians 4 Link: Teaching.
The teacher was gifted in helping people understand
the truth of God, building up the mind in the truths of
scripture, and helping them apply it to their character
and lifestyle.
The Skill Of Learning.
Biblical Examples:
2 Timothy 3:16-17, Acts 20:27; Colossians 2:6-10; Hebrews 4:12, 5:11-6:1;
What it looks like:
We read and study the Bible together, seeking to understand its story and message.
We follow the Bible's teachings rather than our secular culture or our own religious traditions.
We seek to have our character nurtured, challenged and shaped by biblical truth, which is centred in the gospel of Jesus.
We proclaim the Bible, believing in its power as the sword of the Spirit.