Core Values (Ministry Filters) Part 1
September 12th, 2007 Posted in READ THIS!, Church at the Grove, Church
We launched a church, CATGrove, a year ago. In light of being into this endeavor for one year, I have been reflecting on our vision, mission, and strategy. We have six core values (or ministry filters as we like to call them). These filters are in place to help us focus and say “NO” when necessary. Everything we do “filters” through these values. I will post 3 today and 3 in the next day or two.
God has revealed himself through the Living Word of Jesus Christ and through the written Word of Scripture. The first and most important filter is the Bible. We receive the scriptural mandate to take the gospel to all people from God’s Word. Matthew 28:18-20 It is the final authority on matters of faith and practice for the ministry of Church at the Grove. While our methodology may be non-traditional, it will be filtered through the value of Biblical Faith.
Persuasive Compassion
Matthew records Jesus moving through the towns and villages teaching and healing the sick. He states that upon seeing the crowds, “Jesus was moved with compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36) Compassion can be defined as being moved deeply to the point of hurting in your stomach for someone’s plight and pain. Compassion doesn’t stop there but responds with action toward those in need. Compassion is “simply being broken to the core to the point of action”. Persuasive Compassion is an intentional response to those in need for the purpose of bringing them to Christ. The first generations born and raised in a post-Christian culture will need persuasive compassion from a community of Christ-following believers.
Missional Responsibility
We desire to fulfill the mission God has given the Church. See here; and here and here. In both Old and New Testaments we encounter a God who is on a redemptive mission in the world. In fact, we are astounded at the lengths to which God will go in pursuit of his mission to redeem the crowning achievement of his creation — people. In North America, the term “mission” has been associated with either sending called people to other parts of the world or giving financially toward reaching others around the world. With the United States now being among the largest mission fields in the world, and the fact that there are now multiple generations born and raised in a post-Christian culture, we must address the need for churches to think “missionally” in a local context. What if each individual believer and household could see their home as a “base” for missional operations to reach the entire neighborhood for Jesus? This is a core desire for Church at the Grove!
