Committing to Core Values Part I: What Are Core Values? Pastor Joe Pursch Chinese Grace Bible Church Sunday, April 1, 2012

Introduction

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

I.The Essentials of Core Values A. The ____________ To Know: Definition “The constant, passionate core beliefs that drive our ministry.”

I.The Essentials of Core Values A. The ____________ To Know: B. The ______________ To Understand Definition Dimensions

I.The Essentials of Core Values A. The ____________ To Know: B. The ______________ To Understand C. The ____________ To Expect Definition Dimensions Difference

II.The Example of Core Values In The Early Church (Acts 2:42-47)

A._____________ Evangelism

Acts 2:41 (ESV) 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:47 (ESV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

A._____________ B._____________ Evangelism Instruction

Acts 2:42 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

A._____________ B._____________ C._____________ Evangelism Instruction Fellowship

Acts 2:42 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:44-46 (ESV) 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 2:44-46 (ESV) 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Acts 2:44-46 (ESV) 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

A._____________ B._____________ C._____________ D._____________ Evangelism Instruction Fellowship Worship

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

A._____________ B._____________ C._____________ D._____________ E._____________ Evangelism Instruction Fellowship Worship Service

Acts 2:43 (ESV) 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

III.The Elements of Our Church’s Core Values

Bible Teaching 聖經教導 We value the inspired Word of God as the highest authority in faith and life. We believe that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). 我們重視把神的真道 做為我們信仰和生活 上的最高權威。 我們相信聖經是神所 默示的，於教訓、督 責、使人歸正、教導 人學義，都是有益的 ( 提後三 16) 。

Timothy 3:15-16 (ESV) 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Timothy 3:15-16 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Worship 敬拜 We value the exaltation of God. We believe that God is worthy of glory, honor, and power (Revelation 4:11). 我們重視對我們的 主和天父的崇拜。 我們相信神是配得 榮耀、尊貴和讚頌 的（啟四 11) 。

Revelation 4:11 (ESV) 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Fellowship 團契 We value fellowship. We believe that God commands us to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34- 35). 我們重視團契生活。 我們相信神命令我們 要彼此相愛如同主愛 我們一樣 ( 約十三 ) 。

John 13:34-35 (ESV) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

John 13:34-35 (ESV) 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

World Missions 海外宣教 We value global evangelization. We believe that God commands us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). 我們重視海外宣教的 大使命。 我們相信神命令我們 使萬民成為祂的門徒 ( 太二十八 19-20) 。

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Evangelism 本地福音 We aspire to be a locally evangelistic church. We believe that God commands us to make disciples in our own community. 我們立志成為一個在 本地傳福音的教會。 我們相信神命令我們 在本地造就更多人作 祂的門徒。 ( 太 Matthew 28:18-20, 林前 1Corinthians 10:31-11:1)

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Prayer 禱告 We aspire to be a praying church. We believe that God wants us to pray (Matthew 6:9-13, Colossians 4:2). 我們立志成為一個禱 告的教會。 我們相信神要我們禱 告 ( 太六 9-13, 西四 2) 。

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Service 服事 We aspire to be a church that serves one another. We believe that God wants us to serve one another so that the body of Christ may grow in unity and maturity (1 Corinthians 14:1-5, Ephesians 4:11- 13). 我們立志成為一個彼 此服事的教會。 我們相信神要我們彼 此服事從而使基督的 教會在合一和成熟中 壯大（林前十四 1-5, 弗四 11-13) 。

Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV) 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV) 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV) 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV) 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV) 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Unity 合一 We aspire to be a church that works together. We believe that the gospel has made us one body in Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6, Romans 12:3-5). 我們立志成為一個互 相合作的教會。 我們相信我們在基督 裏已經成為一體 ( 弗 四 3-6, 羅十二 3-5) 。

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV) 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV) 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV) 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Family 家庭 We aspire to be a church that supports families. We believe that healthy families are a testimony to Christ’s love for His church (Ephesians 5:22-6:4, Colossians 3:18-21, Psalm 127). 我們立志成為一個支 持家庭的教會。 我們相信美滿的家庭 是基督愛教會的見證 ( 弗五 22-6:4, 西三 18-21, 詩一百二十 七 ) 。

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 30 because we are members of his body.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Ephesians 5:22-6:4 (ESV) 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Discipleship 門徒訓練 We aspire to be a church that disciples. We believe discipleship is the responsibility and privilege of every born-again saint. (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 6:40). 我們立志成為一個訓 練門徒的教會。 我們相信作門徒是每 一個重生得救的聖徒 的特權與責任。（太 廿八 18~20; 路六 40 ）

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Conclusion