This month is an especially important time in the life of North Sound Church. We have begun a new sermon series called Life Together that looks at the core values of our congregation. We believe we are in a season of renewed vision as we reflect on our mission and vision.
The mission of North Sound Church is to extend the kingdom of God by making mature disciples of Jesus Christ in the context of life-transforming communities.
In order to live out that vision, we have articulated 10 values that are of special importance to us.
10 Important Values
1. The Scriptures inform both who we are and what we do
As we develop a community of faith, the foundation of what we do is found in the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit speaks to us through God’s revelation there. They guide our life and practice as a congregation.
Relevant Verses: 2 Tim. 3:16,17
2. We affirm our reliance upon the work of the Holy Spirit, God’s empowering presence.
While we want to make a difference in our community and the lives of our people through works of service, we are committed to a spiritual ministry that changes the lives of people as they come into contact with the Spirit of God. To that end, we value the full-orbed ministry of the Holy Spirit. Ours is a supernatural work for which we need supernatural power.
Relevant Verses: Luke 4:19; Acts 1:8; Rom. 8:9-11; 15:13; 1 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 2:16; 1 Thess. 1:5
3. We are a missional church that strives to be culturally relevant and distinct.
We engage in ministry from a missionary paradigm in a desire to reach those who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. The culture in which the church is planted must be understood and the ministry contextualized to that culture. We distinguish between biblical principles and traditional practices. In a very literal sense, we believe that much of our ministry takes place “outside the box” of the four walls of the church. We desire to affirm those who are serving in ways that meet the needs of others through community agencies, service organizations, and personal ministry. Ministry is externally focused and decentralized. In an increasingly post-Christian culture, we may also become increasingly distinct from that culture.
Relevant Verses: Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 17:15ff.; 1 Cor. 9:22
4. We are in an intentional process of spiritual growth toward the goal that Christ will be formed in us.
Life-transformation involves both those special spiritual events in our lives and a life-long process of growth whereby we develop a vision of who we can become, affirm our intention for growth, and utilize the means of spiritual disciplines (habits) to allow us to more fully express the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. As a result of this principle, we strive to be a “simple” church that does a few things very well rather than develop a multitude of ministries that confuses busyness with growth.
Relevant Verses: Matt. 22:37; Gal. 4:18; 5:22-23; Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 1:28
5. We are committed to one another in the context of a life-transforming community.
At the heart of the church is the biblical affirmation that those outside will know Christians by the love they have for one another. As a consequence of the fall and our individual choices, we are broken people who need and receive God’s grace. We extend to each other love, acceptance, forgiveness, and the commitment to one another necessary for life-transforming growth.
Relevant Verses: John 13:34-35; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 13; Gal. 6:1; Col. 1:4; Eph. 2:8-10
6. We see the church as an agent of the kingdom of God.
We distinguish between the local church and the kingdom of God. The proclamation of the kingdom or reign of God was the essential proclamation of Jesus. We engage in the life-long process of bringing our own lives more fully under his reign. We do not set out to build our own kingdom but to serve the work of God’s kingdom in how we handle our resources, our partnerships in ministry, and our affirmation of others who are serving the kingdom who may work in ways different to our own.
Relevant Verses: Matt. 4:17,23; 13:24ff.; 18:1ff.; Luke 9:2; 11:2; Acts 28:31; Rom. 14:17; Col. 1:13; 4:11;
7. We believe every member is a minister.
All followers of Jesus Christ are in ministry. We recognize that God has done away with distinctions based upon race, gender, or position in life. It is the task of the leadership of the congregation to equip the people for ministry and empower them to serve. As someone has said, “It is not the task of the laity to support the ministry of the church, it is the task of the church to support the ministry of the laity.”
Relevant Verses: Eph. 4:12; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31
8. We build ministry on a commitment to prayer.
Recognizing our dependence upon God, we seek to be a people who strive to do ministry with a foundation of prayer. We follow the example of our Lord, who lived a life of communion with the Father.
Relevant Verses: Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:24; Acts 2:42; 6:12; Rom. 12:12; 1 Cor. 7:5; Col. 4:2; James 5:16
9. We seek to have corporate worship that is blessed by the manifest presence of God.
We are to worship God with our entire lives as we fulfill the purpose of bringing him glory. We also affirm the importance of corporate worship celebration in the presence and power of God. We want our celebration services to be a place where guests will be able to experience the Spirit in our midst.
Relevant Verses: 1 Cor. 14:25; Matt. 4:10; John 4:23
10. We seek organizational excellence.
We strive to be effective in how we do ministry, innovative in our approach, organizationally aligned with our mission, and flexible toward change. As our world and our ministry move quickly, our systems need to have the ability to adjust built-in.
Relevant Verses: Matt. 25:15ff
Even as we look back to these foundational values, we are looking ahead to a vision of what God is calling us to do today, some 18 years after our founding. We invite you to join us for a week of prayer and fasting beginning on Sunday, October 23rd. The elders and staff will be meeting later that week to consider the next steps in our journey together.
As we begin this time, we look forward to your participation and input as we move into the future.
