“More Heart Values”
The Core of the Church
August 20, 2006
Introduction: Last week we began looking at the foundation of the values and beliefs that shapes the core of LifeQuest. Today we want to continue that study looking at the final four core values of our church community and how they apply not only to us as a community, but also to us as individuals.
Last week we looked at these three values:
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.
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.
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.
If you were not able to be here last week and would like to order a copy of the CD, please fill out the communication card in your bulletin.
I want to remind you of a couple of things before we get started:
A value must change an individual before it can change an organization.
It must sink into our personal spiritual DNA before it can sink into our collective DNA.
We are focused on what makes LifeQuest unique.
I have no intention of putting down other churches or pastors. I simply am painting a picture of who we are compared with the experience you may have had with other churches.
Outside on our property you will see all kinds of survey stakes and boundary markers. These serve some very important functions. They help us to know what we are building on, and what we are building to. They give us definitions and parameters. In much the same way our core values are survey stakes.
Core Values serve as the markers for the life of the church.
4) We desire to empower each member of LifeQuest Church to be actively involved in serving others in the body of Christ and serving those outside the church by helping them discover their spiritual giftedness, heart passions, abilities, personality, and experiences. This is an act of ministry.
At LifeQuest, we believe you were created for a purpose. Everyone seeks to live their lives with meaning and purpose, but al to often we try to find that meaning and purpose by serving our own needs and our own desires.
Meaning and purpose for our lives are best found in serving God and serving others.
The best place to begin to find purpose for your life is outside of yourself.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
God designed each member of his body to be able to do certain things to influence and serve the other members. We are at our best when we are doing what God created to do within the environment he created us to do it.
The first mention of the Spirit of God indwelling someone to give them the ability to perform a specific gift is in Exodus 31.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.” Exodus 31:1-5 (NIV)
Notice that this person was not created to preach or teach or gifted to lead others. He was gifted by the Spirit of God to work with his hands to build furnishings for the tabernacle.
The style of your gift is not important; the dedication of your gift is important.
It doesn’t matter what God has gifted you to do. He may have gifted you to be out front and leading or he may have gifted you to follow and be the support. Whatever it is God has gifted you to do; you need to be doing it to God’s honor and glory.
Our goal at LifeQuest is to equip people to use their God given abilities and gifts to build the Kingdom of God. We want to help you to find a place to serve and to plug you into serving in that area. When you do those things, you are doing so not for the praise and honor of man, but for the glory of God.
“Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:17 (The Message)
The key is what are you doing with what God has given you?
Steps to Serving:
1) Discover your S.H.A.P.E. (shape profiles available; mark communication cards.)
2) Serve where you are gifted.
3) Get off of your seat!!!!
5) We desire to promote within the members of LifeQuest Church a common sense of purpose and accountability to the mission, vision, and goals of the church. This is an act of fellowship.
Fellowship is more than just getting together for small talk and coffee. It is creating environments of honesty, integrity and accountability with other members of the body of Christ.
“Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25
Accountability is not a topic many of us like to hear about and it is definitely counter-cultural to our society today. But we need accountability in our lives. We need honesty spoken in love to us by those who are seeking God and who are on the journey of faith with us.
Accountability serves as moral, spiritual and relational protection in our lives.
We desire to create a community where accountability and authenticity go hand in hand. Life is messy and the best place to deal with the messy issues of life is in the community and family of the church. But we must create an honest and open atmosphere for that to happen.
6) We desire to promote a community based on authenticity and trust. We desire for those who worship at LifeQuest Church to have a safe place to deal with the issues of life and to live out their salvation before the Lord. It is more important for us to be real and honest before God and one another than to put on a mask to hide our true pains and emotions.
“Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in some churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, and superficial politeness but shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real fellowship.” Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
Steps to Authenticity:
1) Honesty over superficiality.
2) Relationship over image.
3) Grace over judgment.
“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7b
We must strive to meet people where they are and not where we desire them to be.
7) We desire for LifeQuest Church to embrace a culture of change in order to share the message of Jesus Christ in a relevant way to those seeking to know Him. Our values and doctrine will remain steady and in line with scriptural teaching, but our heart will embrace new methods and new ministries so that we may be an effective tool in presenting the gospel to an ever changing culture.
The reason that most people don’t like change is fear.
When things change they move us outside of our comfort zone and into areas of the unknown. That causes us incredible anxiety and fear because we are no longer in control.
Although our method may change, our message remains constant.
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” 1 Corinthians 9:19
We like our routine because it seems safe, but routine is no guarantor of safety.
John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk On Water You have to Get Out of the Boat. Pg. 20
Change is not the enemy. Change allows us to grow, to re-invent and to fulfill the dreams, passions and plans that God has for us.
Today we have talked about
1) service
2) accountability
3) authenticity
4) change
All of these things are part of the heart of LifeQuest. It is what makes us who we are. But they also need to be a part of your individual life. They need to shape you and mold you so that you can be all that God desires you to be.
How are you doing in these areas? What do you need to work on? What steps can you take to begin to allow the values of this community to become values in your life?
