Five Values
Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight
for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
But what does that mean? What does a “Luke 4” Community look like?
It’s clear that God has infused Consolation Baptist Church with a unique DNA that has shaped our mission and vision. We defined what it is God has challenged us to be and do as a church.
Value 1
Servant Community (In community we serve together)
Living everyday life in community is supposed to be normal life. It has a divine precedent in the community of the Father, Son and Spirit. The true care and nurture of one another as declared almost 60 times in the New Testament leads everyone who is in a small community toward their best personal safety and spiritual growth.
But more than that, when those in community turn their eyes outward and serve together, the power exhibited to those watching is overwhelming. Those in the world see Jesus loving them. That is the way it is supposed to be. What a good idea for normal everyday life!
Value 2
Outward Focused (It’s all about somebody else)
Selfishness is the clearest symptom of our fallen nature. On the other hand, selflessness is the clearest inner-life change that reflects God’s redemption of us. When we live outward focused lives, it speaks to everyone around us of the real life change that is happening in us. The “abnormal” outward focused life draws all men’s attention to the acts of kindness and can draw them to a God who loves them.
An outward focused life changes everything it touches around the world. It’s the basis for all evangelism and all missions. It sums up our normal daily living.
Value 3
Worship (What you were created for)
What is the absolute bottom line reason that we were created? Why did God go to the trouble of making the planet and the billions of us? What does every other thing we do ultimately accomplish? Everything we know is to bring God glory. Our every day, every minute life is to worship him and bring HIM glory. For this we exist and wake up to have another day.
When this is understood, then everything else in the Bible and the stuff of life starts to make sense. Worship is the bottom line.
Value 4
Empowered Transformation (Redeemed to maturity through the Holy Spirit)
Being changed from the inside out, from a sinner to a saint, is the norm of a Christ follower. But the change happens with mystery and wonder. The Holy Spirit of God is the change agent and the worker of “grace” in the life of every redeemed man and woman. The Holy Spirit shows up with power to change a person, and transforming change happens both instantly and steadily over time as a person hears and moves forward by the guiding of the Word of God.
As the Holy Spirit leads people and works in them, they learn from Jesus and over time begin to look like he lives in their skin. What a remarkably amazing grace is now revealed—a total transformation brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit! There is nothing else like it on earth.
Value 5
Relevant (Just right for every moment)
Every fingerprint is distinct on the planet. That is the way God made it. Every tribe, nation, tongue and set of ears is unique. The one message of truth that God has given will be heard differently by different people unless the messenger adjusts the message for the unique set of ears that are prepared to listen.
Loving the world with God’s love means loving people as they are, and relating to them in their own unique circumstances so the true message can be received. The value of listening, watching and working carefully to make those adjustments and clarify the message is the profound and exhilarating work of every Christ follower with God’s message of good news.