what we value
We value the WORD OF GOD. There is no higher authority for the believer than the written Word of God. It is every believer’s standard for right believing (orthodoxy) and right living (orthopraxy). Everything at Grace Church is done in light of the Bible’s teaching - we will neither violate it nor add to it.
We value the PRESENCE OF GOD. We actively seek to engage the Spirit of God in our worship, our study and our fellowship. We believe that God’s Presence changes people and that His power is available to us daily. He is not only able, but infinitely willing, to work through us in a manner that far exceeds our limited natural abilities in order to extend His kingdom.
We value COMMUNITY. We are called to be a church without walls, living in meaningful relationship with our community. We are an expression of the love and grace of God to the communities in which we live, work and learn. The lost won’t spontaneously come to our church, so we must go to them. Jesus’ final instruction to His disciples was that they, “go into all the world” (Mk 16:15) and we believe He meant what He said.
We value DIVERSITY. We hear clearly in Scripture the Lord’s call to unity and His plan that people of, “every tribe, tongue and nation,” worship him together. . Cultural divisions are to have no part in the church of Jesus Christ. All people must be treated in the light of God’s love in Christ, not in light of their gender, socio-economic position or cultural past.
We value FAMILY. God has designed us to live in community with one another - the Bible word for this is “fellowship.” No one sits alone in worship services, walks alone in suffering or stands alone in ministry. Each person at Grace Church is a gift to the body – valued and appreciated, with inherent worth and value.
We value FAMILY. God has designed us to live in community with one another - the Bible word for this is “fellowship.” No one sits alone in worship services, walks alone in suffering or stands alone in ministry. Each person at Grace Church is a gift to the body – valued and appreciated, with inherent worth and value.
We value TEAM MINISTRY. Team Ministry is the process by which every believer in the church works with one another to fulfill the call of God on our congregation. We believe our lives are not our own, they are meant to be shared. Jesus has called us to give our lives away in acts of faithful and generous service to our own family, church family, and communities. Here, every member is a minister.
We value TRANSPARENCY. Genuine love and caring relationships are key to the life of every believer. Refusing to give audience to a spirit of complaining, we will instead be courageous in solving every problem in a way that honors God and builds biblical character. We value healthy relationships by protecting the unity of the Spirit in our church.
We value STEWARDSHIP. Everything belongs to God (Ps. 24:1). Matthew 25:14-28 teaches that we are to live as stewards of all God has provided. As we use the resources He has entrusted to our care in a manner that serves and honors Him, He will, in turn, entrust us with more. When we apply Biblical principles of stewardship to our lives and God renews our spirits and heals our hearts:
- We live in contentment. (Phil. 4:11)
- We see our families have their material needs met. (Phil. 4:19)
- We give tithes to support Grace Church ministries. (Mal. 3:10)
- We are released to be generous and meet the needs of others in the church and community. (2 Cor. 9:11)
We value EXCELLENCE. God is worthy of our very best. And so a growing spirit of excellence should permeate every activity. Not perfection, but excellence with consistent evaluation and a willingness to improve for the sake of the Kingdom of God are distinctive of our ministries.