Last Saturday, the session spent several hours together learning about healthy leadership, which is essential for any congregation, and critical when looking toward a future that most certainly requires change. During the conversation, it became apparent that we have forgotten our core values. For the next few weeks, I plan to revisit the core values that were adopted by the session over ten years ago. Those core values are:
- Scripture,
- Godly Relationships,
- the Lordship of Christ,
- Christian Education,
- Outreach, and
- our Reformed Heritage.
The official definition of our core value reads thus: Discovering God’s truth through biblically-centered preaching and teaching. Scripture is the keystone core value. This is the core value that informs the rest of our core values, and much of the way we live out our faith in Christ. What this core value means is that as a church, we view preaching centered on scripture, and Christian education that thoroughly teaches the scriptures, to be a centerpiece to our life as a church. For the Christian, scripture must inform how we live out our faith in every arena of our life. From home, to work, to school…in friendships, in community, and when we meet a stranger, God’s Word informs how we should live.
Therefore, intentional study of God’s Word is essential. We proclaim God’s Word in worship. It is taught to all ages during the Sunday School hour. It is expounded upon in Bible Studies and small groups. It is also important because it serves as an objective check for us. We might feel a certain way about something, even convinced, but we must check with scripture, and let God bend our will to what we find when we read.
I encourage every one of us to be sure that God’s Word is filling our life in some way, and not only on Sunday mornings. Listen to sermons when you have the time, read the Bible, and learn what God’s Word is teaching. As you do so, you will discover why it is the bedrock core value of CTPC!
Blessings,
Pastor John
