DESIGNING And LIVING YOUR VALUES facilitator not identified

Individually and then in small groups: 1. List 3-5 major biblical values - include Scripture references; 2. State in your own words what the values are in these verses.

FROM THE LIST CHOOSE ONE VALUE THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU.

WHY IS THIS PARTICULAR VALUE The MOST IMPORTANT ONE TO YOU?

What makes this particular value the most important one? Could you have chosen some other value? If yes, why this one and not another one?

Values a Definition:

Values: relative worth, utility, or importance; the degree of excellence; status in a scale of preferences; we know the value of a thing by the way it is sought, shunned, protected

utility, or importance; a degree of excellence; relative worth, utility, or importance; a degree of excellence; status in a scale of preferences we know the value of a thing by the way it is sought, shunned, protected Values function to: DEFINE, INFORM DECISIONS, GIVE DIRECTION TO OUR LIVES, TELL US WHAT IS IMPORTANT, TELL US WHAT IS NOT IMPORTANT, TELL US TO WHAT WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION, WHAT WE SHOULD IGNORE

SUMMARY – VALUES ARE: Ultimately important to me, my spouse and children, my church, my organization, my business, my whole life!

HOW TO DEVELOP, DESIGN, and IMPLEMENT YOUR VALUES

The Process of valuing and the use of values personally and in your organization is called valuing or determining the values of your life and/or church/organization

Valuing is to decide that something, some idea(s), some ideal(s), some actions have high worth for you and/or your church/organization; and committing yourself and all those associated with you to those values

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mt. 6:21, NIV)

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Lk. 12:34, NLT)

NINE (9) STEP PROCESS OF CREATING VALUES for yourself and your church/organization

chosen from alternatives This is a tentative position of belief, 1. Acceptance of a values which are examined and chosen from alternatives This is a tentative position of belief, but deep enough to exert a beginning controlling influence on behavior

Example: A person attaches worth to the concept of loving one's enemies as being a valid Christian principle which should be used to guide a Christian's relationships with his/her enemies.

goes beyond acceptance to the seeking out of the value, to wanting it, 2. Preference for a value goes beyond acceptance to the seeking out of the value, to wanting it, to pursuing it.

Example: A person consciously considers acts of love which he/she thinks ought to be expressed to those who might be considered his/her enemies.

is a conviction about an idea and/or ideal, with motivation strong 3. Commitment is a conviction about an idea and/or ideal, with motivation strong enough to act out the behavior of the belief;…

the commitment endures over a period of time, calls forth a considerable investment of energy; and the person often talks about his/her values.

Example: The person moves beyond the “ought” stage to the “doing” stage.

is the process of building a value system. 4. Organization is the process of building a value system. Person organizes multiple values into relative positions of dominant and minor values. Person or church/organization has a hierarchy of values.

Example: Persons are able to discriminate between their most important values and lesser values. Loving others is more important than promoting a prayer meeting.

5. Conceptualization of a value generalizes the belief to many different circumstances

Example: One begins applying “love your enemies” principle to those toward whom he has felt any alienation: antagonistic relatives, difficult people in one’s church/organization, political opponents, etc.

6. Organization of a value system assigns places of relative importance to values and synthesizes new values with the old.

Example: One has had the concept of love for family and friends in his/her value system, but now he/she strengthens this value with an affirmation of love for a group whom he/she has not made a conscious effort to love before.

This may also cause a change in his attitude about many other facets of life such as how a democratic society ought to operate.

Characterization by a value or value complex Values have become established in the value system and have controlled behavior to the point that the individual has adapted to behaving in this way without consciously thinking. He/she automatically thinks and acts in accordance with the values.

is a person's predisposition to act in 8. Generalized set is a person's predisposition to act in a certain way at a very high level of commitment and action; this allows a person to reduce and order the complex world about him/her and to act consistently and effectively in it;….

…a person's generalized set is what orders his/her personality; this is slow to develop and is the product of many different learning experiences.

Example: Given a situation involving antagonism between a person and someone else, the person would analyze the situation and move in a characteristic way, to solve the problem with attitude and actions of love, without necessarily thinking what to do.

9. Characterization The values become so much a part of a person that they form his/her philosophy of life, his/her world view.

Summary of valuing process: 1. Acceptance of values Preference for a value Commitment to certain values Organization of values into a system Conceptualization of value – generalization to other situations

6. Organization of values into system Being characterized by Summary of valuing process, continued… 6. Organization of values into system Being characterized by certain values – without thinking 8. Generalized set of values 9. Characterization – philosophy of life

CHURCH/ORGANIZATION: Questions to ask your church/organization: FOCUSING ON YOUR CHURCH/ORGANIZATION: Questions to ask your church/organization:

church or organization? What are our top 5-10 values of my church or organization?

That is, what do the leaders consider to be of utmost importance in judging what this organization should or should not be and do?

(Use whatever criteria you want Rank order the five top values of your church/organization. (Use whatever criteria you want to rank the top five.)

How are the values you have just written manifested in the successes, potentials, strengths, conflicts, problems, and weaknesses of your church/organization?