Our Values… at our core
Stuttgart Harvest Church and The Church In Malvern
What are we all about? Great question… and here is the answer: We Are Helping Lives Change by Loving the Father, Family, and Friends… that makes Jesus smile and we want to make Jesus smile.
Our Values, at our core, are made up of elements that guide how we work together to accomplish the great task above.
Core values… At our core… These elements come together to form our ethos and we have three levels (tiers) of values.
At our core… Stuttgart Harvest Church and The Church In Malvern Values… (Level 1 Value; the top tier: worship)
Worship: Say + Do = Worship… the question is who?
…Worshipping God with our lifestyle. True worship leads toward life change.
I know I am worshiping Jesus alone when:
Everything I have is at God’s disposal (money, time, relationships, stuff, emotional margins, etc.)
Every decision I make throughout the day is worship… the question is this… is it worshiping God or is it worshiping someone/something else?
How am I living my worship every day?
Mark 12:30
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’
At our core… Stuttgart Harvest Church and The Church In Malvern Values… (Level 2 Values… the next tier: acceptance, service, community)
Acceptance: We throw lifelines, not rocks.
…Beginning right where you are and growing one step at a time. We throw lifelines, not rocks.
I will know I am accepting others like Jesus when:
People who have hurt me/or don’t agree with me… I’m ready to see them.
The person comes in… who nobody thinks they ever will come in… other people turn their heads but I turn around and go to them.
I’m moved by love and compassion to an ongoing investment in the life of someone others just judge.
How have I proved this week that people matter to God?
Matthew 9:36
When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Service: We serve to get better.
…Investing in lives inside and outside of Stuttgart Harvest Church and The Church In Malvern. We don’t wait until we get better before we serve, we serve to get better.
I will know I’m serving like Jesus when:
I’m willing to go way outside of my comfort zone to serve someone in and out of the church.
I’m willing to do something that might be humiliating (foolish, humble).
I’m willing to try and fail and try again.
I’m willing to do anything needed.
Where am I serving in the church and who am I apprenticing?
Who is a searching person in whom I am investing?
Mark 10:45
For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Community: Care starts there.
…Experiencing life in unity as we grow. Deep life change happens as we do life together.
I will know I am in community like Jesus when:
I make being in a small group a priority over other things… Jesus did.
I have an abundance of Love, grace, and forgiveness for people who have irritated or hurt me in my small group.
What new priority is God developing in my life as a result of participating in a group?
John 17:21
My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
Romans 1:12
I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.
At our core… Stuttgart Harvest Church and The Church In Malvern Values… (Level 3 Values… the last tier: multiplication, focus, change. These are all about growing bigger and smaller at the same time)
Multiplication: We were born to grow.
…(growing bigger) Multiplying Christ-followers, Groups, and churches throughout the world. The church is not here for us. We, the church, are here for the world.
How have I helped the starting of a church this year?
When will my small group grow into two groups?
Who is the searching person I am serving toward Christ?
Acts 13:2-3
[2] One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them.” [3] So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
I will know I’m multiplying when:
I consistently have someone not deeply involved in a church sitting with me on Sundays.
I’m willing to help new groups start by joining a newly forming group and helping to lead.
I’m participating in a long distance new church launch team.
Focus: We pass by the good to grab the great.
…(growing smaller) Simply leading people toward intimacy with God, community with Christ-followers and influence with those searching. We don’t try to do everything; we do a few important things well.
What good thing have I stopped doing to make room for the best thing?
Am I keeping “next steps” simple, obvious, and narrow?
Ephes. 1:11
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
I will know I’m focusing when:
I can clearly explain to someone else our vision, our values, and our strategy.
I am more concerned about keeping the main things the main thing rather than just doing more.
I am willing to stop doing some good ideas (even if they have become traditions) so we can focus on the best ones, the clearest, most effective next steps (I have a “stop doing” list).
Change: As we grow we change.
…(becoming more and more effective) Evaluating and creatively innovating for effectiveness. Our environments are continually changing and improving.
Am I evaluating and making better everything I do with the church?
1 Cor. 9:19-22
[19] Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: [20] religious, nonreligious, [21] meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, [22] the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.
I will know I’m changing and creatively innovating for effectiveness when:
I evaluate what I participated in with SHC and come up with a list for me to do to help it be better next time.
For each step I’m involved with, I look for engaging and extraordinary ways to help next steps more obvious and clear.
In my mind and actions effectiveness is more important than tradition.