“Heart Values”
The Core of the Church
August 13, 2006
Introduction: Today we are going to begin a two week look at the uniqueness of LifeQuest. We are going to focus in on the heart of our church; what makes us unique, different, and shapes the design, flow and maintenance of the ministry here. It is important that we establish the key factors of what sets us apart. We need to focus ourselves to who we are and what we are about because it helps to keep us focused and directed as we approach ministry and life.
For some of you this is not new information. Some of you have been on this journey with us now over the last four years and you have heard these things many times. The key importance for you is to understand continually that we need to re-visit these principles, especially as we look toward the future and toward what cold be here.
Every year I speak on these core values in a series and I repeat them over and over again throughout the year because it is important for us to keep them on the horizon of our vision.
For some of you, this is new information. Maybe you are new here or maybe you just have never been around when I have spoken on these things. Whatever your situation, I want to challenge you to dig in with me today as we talk about vision. These are not just principles that reflect the heart of our church; they are principles that can change your own heart.
We have made many changes around here; not just over the last four years, but in the last few weeks and months. And many changes are on the way. From the style of music to the style of dress to the way we communicate information to the name of the church community, there are many changes. Some people feel that so many changes mean we are losing our way or that we somehow are selling out what we are.
In fact, because we have our Core Values in place and we have defined what is important to us, we can make changes to our methodology and approach without fear because we are firmly grounded in what we are about.
Solid convictions offset fear of the unknown.
There is a key truth that I want to share with you as we begin today:
A value must change an individual before it can change an organization.
Think about that for a moment. In order for a value or a principle or a value to change an organization or a community, it must begin to change the heart of an individual. Jesus demonstrated this principle by asking his disciples a very straight question.
Jesus had called the disciples together to leave their comfortable homes and families and communities to follow him. This was not just to be a traveling vacation for a while to find themselves. This was a deep, purposeful and challenging time where Jesus built into them values of the heart. After about three years, Jesus asked them an incredibly tough question.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV)
For them to carry the message of salvation to the world and the hope of eternity into the hearts of man, it had to first take root in their lives. It was absolutely essential that they got it before they could translate its effect to others. The same is true for us.
For us, these seven core values are rooted deeply into the DNA of our church community. But in order for it to really make a difference, it must be driven deep into the DNA of our own souls.
1) We desire those professing a relationship with Christ to grow more intimate in their daily walk with Him. This is an act of worship.
Our desire is not that you gain more knowledge about God. Our desire is that you gain more connection to God.
We can know all kinds of information and have all kinds of facts and figures and still not have an intimate connection with a person. Information does not translate into intimacy. Connection and intention lead to intimacy.
Our desire is for those who worship at LifeQuest to have their minds changed about how they see life and then allow it to change their actions.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
The practical application of our core value is that what we know about God, affects how we live everyday.
Application: Have you been intentional about building your spiritual life? Are you reading your bible, praying and focusing on God so that you can learn how he desires you to live? I want to challenge you to be intentional about connecting with God. Set aside 10 minutes a day this week to begin reading the bible and praying about how you can grow in your walk with Christ.
2) We desire to produce a community of believers committed to taking the message of the love of Christ to those who need to hear it beyond our walls and into our world. This is an act of evangelism.
The vision and principle of our lives is to be a one of taking the message of Christ from this place into the world around us. All believers need to be committed to sharing Christ’s love with those around them.
Now, I am not talking about being obnoxious or offensive with the gospel. I am not talking about the “turn or burn” scare someone to Jesus mentality. I am not talking about “Bullhorn Guy.” What I am talking about is loving people the way Jesus loved people.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
Notice that Jesus said go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus never said go and get people to make decisions. He said disciples. To make a disciple stakes time. It takes patience and love and investment.
Evangelism is not about an emotional plea so that we can notch our spiritual belt. Evangelism is about love an intention and grace.
Rob Bell “Velvet Elvis” page 176-177
God wants our relationship with him to be driven by a desire for depth, intimacy and relationship. Those things never happen in a one time encounter. God is not a God who desires a “bar scene” type relationship. He desires commitment, passion and devotion.
In our culture today a person typically needs to hear the message of the gospel over ten times before they are ready to receive it. That only happens over time. And, it only happens when we win the right to be heard by building loving, caring and committed relationships with those around us.
Application: Are you looking for opportunities that God places in front of you to love people the way Jesus loves them? Are you building relationships with people who need to hear the message of Jesus? It is part of the mission and purpose that God has for you.
3) We desire to promote unity within the church through unconditional love expressed to one another in authentic, nurturing relationships. This is an act of discipleship.
One aspect of our heart as a community that is so important to God is that we love one another. God calls people who follow him and fellowship together in community to love one another the way that he loves us.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as we see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
The greatest mark that we can make on one another is the mark of love.
“Let love be your greatest aim.” 1 Corinthians 14:1a (Living Bible)
If we value love as one of the things that holds us together and one of the aspects of our community that makes us unique it is easier to overcome the struggles of everyday human relationships.
Let’s be really honest. There are going to be times in the midst of life where we get angry with people, or we hurt someone’s feelings or we have our feelings hurt by someone else. That is just part of life. But as we make love our highest priority, we can overcome those things easier.
“Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.” Proverbs 10:12 (The Message)
Love helps us to overcome some of the struggles and difficulties that happen in everyday life.
It is so easy in church life to get possessive of things, positions and titles. But that is not what God has called us to.
In a community of faith, we must continually seek to live in peace and love with each other.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
When we live together in unity and make it a core value of our lives, we are more likely to seek to preserve relationships and to restore hurts.
Steps to unconditional love:
1) Speak truthfully.
2) Speak lovingly.
3) Speak often.
By loving one another we are able to carry out our second core value which is to share God’s love into our world around us.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 (NLT)
Application: How are you doing at loving the other parts of the body of Christ? Are you able to overcome hurt feelings and slights by aiming for love? Are you able to love in such a way that would bring honor and glory to God? That is the goal.
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