Our Values Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• DNA, it determines a lot concerning your life. DNA is the code of life, DNA determines your eye color, hair color if you keep your hair, skin color, among many other things.

• Last week we discussed our mission is woven into our new DNA in Christ and how effectively we are driven by that DNA affects the Church.

• Let’s shift gears a bit talk about the DNA of our values. Values represent convictions and show the core of not just what a person believes, but also how they live (ethics).

• Part of the new creation we are in Christ when we are baptized into Christ is that our values should change.

• Our individual values will impact the mission and values of the church.

• When we come together as a Church, our individual values combine to show the real values we hold as a church.

• We can have slogans, and catchphrases, and those can be a good thing, but only if my values line up with said slogan and catchphrases.

• As an example, we can talk about how much we want to reach the lost souls in our community for Jesus, yet if that value is not reflected in my life, then it is nothing more than talk.

• As we talk about our DNA, we need to understand the importance of grasping what we are called to do for Jesus and how vital it is for each of us to allow ourselves to be driven by the DNA we have in Christ as new creations in Jesus.

• We will spend time this year talking about the church.

• We need to do this because there are many, including possibly some here today who do not think the church is essential.

• Before we go down that path, we need to consider a few things.

• The Word tells us that Jesus built the church (Matthew 16:18), that He shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28), that He is the head of the church (Eph 1:22), and that the wisdom of God is made known through the church (Eph 3:10)!

• Today we will examine four core values that identify the church, four core values that identify FCC.

• These core values should also be at the core of what makes us tick.

• Let’s begin our in-depth outline with our first word.

• SLIDE #2

SERMON

I. Love

• Love is the heartbeat of the Gospel, love is why God sent His Son.

• SLIDE #3

• John 3:16 (CSB) — 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

• One of the values that are intertwined into our DNA in Christ love. There are so many passages that tell us of this fact that I cannot figure out how we can miss this.

• Love should be our default setting, as a church, we must be known for our love for Jesus, love for our church family, and love for the lost.

• Jesus goes pretty extreme with this issue of love.

• SLIDE #4

• Luke 6:27 (CSB) — 27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,

• This violates our natural desire, this is not what many teach, get even if you are hurt, stick it to your enemy.

• We are not only called to love those who love us but instead, we are called to love our enemies.

• HOW in the world can we do this? Simple, God is love. Because of His love for us, we can love others, even when we do not think we possess the ability.

• SLIDE #5

• 1 John 4:7 (CSB) — 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

• This love not as our culture defines it. Our culture’s version of love is ambiguous and rooted in good feelings.

• We to do what is best for others.

• For Christians, love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13. It is patient, persevering, and courageous. It is the love that God shows his people, and we show others.

• Love is a verb, we are to not just talk about loving others, we need to show them.

• Listen, you can be technically correct in your understanding of the Bible, you can teach technically correct doctrine; however, if you do not display love and do what you do because you love Jesus, then you are missing the boat.

• Technical truth without love makes us no more than Christian Pharisees. We enjoy pointing out the struggles and fault the of other people versus being broken hearted over their situations.