Our Culture & Core Values

1. Our culture is love.

Love is our first core value because God is love. People see and experience the love of Jesus through us as His people.

2. We know God honors honor.

Honor is our second core value. We honor everybody! Honor has lost its place in our society and it’s up to us to bring it back! Honor the honorable and dishonorable alike.

3. We can make it better.

Excellence is our third core value. Excellence isn’t perfection, it’s doing the best with what you have!

4. We have open hearts and open hands.

Generosity is our fourth core value. Generosity starts with the tithe. The tithe isn’t some legalistic rule we follow, it’s a guide to giving. We believe you can’t out-give God!

5. We share life around Jesus.

Community is our fifth core value. We believe you can’t do life alone! Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship, true koinonia is a shared experience around Jesus. This happens in connect groups.

6. We believe there’s always one more.

Evangelism is our sixth core value. We believe that found people find people! We will always be reaching out to those who are far from God and helping lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

7. We establish and expand.

Discipleship is our seventh core value. We believe growing people change! We believe a disciple is a learner under discipline. Also, a disciple produces other disciples.

8. We are a piece in the mosaic.

Unity is our eighth core value. We believe in racial reconciliation and that doing church is going to be a small glimpse of heaven. Every nation and every tribe.

9. Our position is not in a title but a towel.

Serving is our ninth core value. We believe that saved people serve people! Like Jesus, we want to position ourselves as servants.

Beliefs
These are our core theological beliefs:

The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16

Trinity
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one substance in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:19

The Father
God is great: He is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, Holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4

The Son
Jesus Christ is completely human but, at the same time, completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life, so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life.
Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16

The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ.
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Luke 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17

Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15

Man
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. The man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain the right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11

Salvation
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God, and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20

The Church
The Church is a local community of baptized believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ. The Church will be reunited in heaven at the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3

Why We Give

The matter of your giving is between you and God, and He always takes into account our circumstances. Giving should always be done with a joyful faith and hope! He knows when things are beyond our power to direct and control so God doesn’t expect you to give what you don’t have. The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for the Lord and a desire to see His kingdom advanced.

When we come to an understanding that everything we think we own is not ours and that we are stewards of God’s blessing, then it isn’t hard to give. Everyone has something to give and giving is good for you. The gift is also in the giving and as we practice the tithe it builds in us the values of generosity.

Generosity inspires generosity. Giving rarely stops with the recipient. It’s a chance to be a part of something bigger. Together we can do more when we give. Give joyfully, generously, in a timely manner. Give expectantly and cheerfully.

Helpful Scriptures on Giving

‘“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.’
Malachi 3:8-12

“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.”
1 Corinthians 16:2

“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to saints.”
2 Corinthians 8:2-4

‘Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.’
Acts 2:44-45

“…The one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
2 Corintians 9:6-7