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God Is Good
The first of our core values here at Christ Alive, is we firmly believe God is good. In the midst of adversity, loss, or pain, we know that He cares for us, feels what we feel, and that His plans and ways are perfect.
The way Jesus has taught us to live is for our full-beneft, and pursuing this kind of life enables us to live life to the fullest. Believing God is good doesn’t require we understand His ways or our circumstances.
It means despite our situations, we can trust who He is. God describes Himself as gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. God is good and, by nature, in a good mood.
Bible References
The message, ministry, and sacrifice of Jesus perfectly reveal the nature of God as a good Father.
John 3:16-17; Hebrews 1:2-3; John 14:6-7; Isaiah 9:6; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9; John 1:1; John 1:18; John 8:1 - 11; John 8:19.
God is a good Father; we can trust Him regardless of our circumstances.
Romans 8:28-32; James 1:12-18; Hebrews 11:6; Nahum 1:7; Matthew 10:29-31; Acts 16:23 -26.
Enemies come to steal and kill, but Jesus came to destroy demonic works and give us abundant life.
John 10:10-11; 1 John 3:8; Acts 10:38; 1 Peter 5:8-10; Ephesians 6:12; Mark 5: 1-19.
God's goodness is extravagant. As we remember and retell what He has done through our testimonies, faith is created that He is able and eager to do it again.
Romans 10:15-17; Hebrews 13:7-8; Acts 10:34-48; Revelation 19:10; Psalm 44:1-5; Psalm 119:11; Mark 5:18-21; Deuteronomy 6:17-24; 1 Chronicles 16:23-36; Joshua 4:1-9.
You Are Significant
Our 2nd value, is we genuinely believe you are signifcant. No matter your past, mistakes, successes, big or small, you have a purpose. You are so valuable that Heaven went bankrupt by giving God’s only son, just for you on the cross. You are loved. You have dreams, passions, and incredible things within you. We see you not only as you are today, but as the person God has created you to be tomorrow. We are here to grow with you through every kind of season. We have each other’s backs. You are signifcant to your family, friends, the world, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Bible References
Jesus has won absolute victory! We are forgiven and freed from the enemy's power of sin, sickness, lies, and torment. Now we live in the power of righteousness, healing, truth, and joy! Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 2:14-15; Galatians 5:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57; Revelation 1:12-18.
We are adopted as royalty into God’s family and commanded to help others be reconciled with Father and come home.”
Romans 8:14-17; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 3:1; Luke 15:11-32.
We are simultaneously joyful servants, trusted friends, and beloved children of our Lord.
John 15:12-15; Psalm 16:11; Hebrews 1:9; Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 25:23; Psalm 100:2; Galatians 1:10; Matthew 23:11-12; John 1:12; 1 John 3:1; Matthew 25:14-30.
We are new creations, not merely sinners saved by grace but saints who have been given His righteousness so we can partner with our Father God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 8:1, 30; Galatians 2:19-20; Acts 26.
Create Healthy Family
Our 3rd value, is we create healthy family lifestyles for one another and the world. When we study God’s Word, we discover the Kingdom of Heaven is designed to be a family. We have the opportunity to reach the world not only through ministries, but through the love and forgiveness of a family that grows together; the church. Family doesn’t always agree and we are not perfect. But because of God’s love for us, we can choose to consistently forgive and bless the people around us. Even those who treat us wrongly. It is our joy to create a healthy family lifestyle as we represent the Kingdom of Heaven to the world. You may have problems bigger than yourself, but you will never have a problem bigger than your family. We are one kingdom family.
Bible References
We joyfully experience the astounding, undeserved love of God and His ongoing power to transform us. His transforming love and power are inseparable from one another.
John 3:16-17; Ephesians 1:4-5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 5:6-11; Mark 5:1-20.
God scandalously loves His lost creation and extends grace to us, empowering believers to love Him and others at a higher standard than the law.
Romans 5:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-18; Romans 6:11-14; Matthew 5:21-28; Romans 8:2-4; Acts 9:1-22; Acts 26:1-23.
Deeply experiencing grace teaches us about righteousness, which empowers us to overcome sin and failure. The Father’s love keeps us from focusing on sin or hiding in shame if we fail. Ephesians 3:14-21; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Titus 2:11-13; Colossians 3:1-5; Acts 2:14-41.
God’s grace breaks the mentality that says “I am a powerless victim of circumstances” and creates a new identity that declares, “In Christ, I am a victorious overcomer, no matter the situation.” John 16:33; 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:31-32, 35-39; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Deuteronomy 28:13; Jeremiah 29:11.
Generous Like Our Father
God is extravagantly generous and our generosity is a response and refection of Him. Our 4th value is to be generous like Him. He is a good Father who gives good gifts to His children. When we tithe the first 10% of our income to the church, we are sowing into the lives and needs of others.
Tithing is an act of worship that expresses our gratitude, faith, love for others, and trust in God. When we give over and above our tithe, we do so as an offering. We desire to live generously with our resources, time, and energy like our Father in Heaven. When we live this way, the world can see a refection of God’s love, trust, and generosity for them.
Begin Giving
Bible References
Our first ministry is to God. As we behold Him, we are moved to worship with joyous passion.
Psalm 27:4; Luke 10:39–42; James 4:8; Psalm 1:1–3; Psalm 23:6; Psalm 26:8; John 4:23; Psalm 22:3.
God delights in us and has always desired to be with us. We focus on His presence because we have discovered that He is focused on us.
Ephesians 1:4–5; Zephaniah 3:17; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 65:4; 1 John 3:1; Revelation 3:20; 1 John 4:19.
Purposefully cultivating a hunger for God’s manifest presence and an openness to experiencing the Holy Spirit deepens our friendship with God and our awareness that we carry His presence for the sake of the world.
Psalm 73:28; Psalm 107:9; John 1:16; Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 55:1–2; 1 Corinthians 3:16.
As a lifestyle, we practice recognizing God’s presence while we minister to others, attempting to say what He is saying and do what He is doing.
John 5:19–20; John 5:30, John 12:49–50; John 14:10; 1 John 4:16–17.
Honor Creates Trust
In everything we do, we respect and honor the people around us as sons and daughters of God; from our leaders, those we lead, and everyone in between. We confront jealousy by celebrating others strengths and success. We protect our family by strongly guarding our words in what we speak, and our ears in what we choose to hear. We choose not to gossip. Meaning, we are intentional to not speak or listen to anything except what the Lord is saying concering others. We speak His thoughts about a person, not our own.
We show honor for everyone in every comment and conversation we have no matter their
circumstance. In doing so, we enable ourselves to be protected and covered by our family
as we do the same for them. Living a life of honor matures us into deeper relationships
while showing the world that God’s church and kingdom is a safe place to love and live.
Bible References
Honor recognizes and affrms that every person is valuable and powerful. We are made in God’s image; He died to restore us to relationship with Him, thereforewe are signifcant.
Genesis 1:26-28; Ephesians 4:23-24; Psalm 139:13-16; Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:14-26; 1 Peter 2:17; Matthew 26:6-13.
Honor recognizes and celebrates the best in people, in spite of our differences.
We respond to people based on their God given identity and the honor in our
hearts, not their behavior or self-defnition.
1 Corinthians 12:14-26; 2 Corinthians 5:16-17; James 2:1-5; Philippians 2:3; 1 Samuel 24:1-10.
Honor is demonstrated through consistent respect in word and action toward
those we lead, follow, love and disagree with. While honor avoids controlling
others, it also lovingly confronts, limits, and disciplines when necessary.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7; Leviticus 19:15-18; Galatians 6:1- 2; Ephesians 4:14-15; Romans
2:4; Matthew 18:15; Hebrews 12:11-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Luke 3:10-14.
The level of honor we have for a person directly affects our ability to receive
from them.
Matthew 10:40-42; Philippians 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 4:14-20; 2 Kings
4:8-37.
Focused On His Presence
Our bodies can’t grow and live unless we eat. In the same way, our faith, character, and maturity will not grow unless we intentionally seek to know God personally through His word, study, and prayer. You were created to have fellowship with God. Sunday mornings isn’t the only time to learn and hear His word, you can do this on your own every day. Our hope is that you would become a “self-feeder,” learning how to stand on your own, mature, and become more like Christ.
Two of the primary ways we focus on His presence, is being intentional in studying God's word and developing a life-style of prayer. Jesus taught us how to be good spouses, friends, and citizens. When we desire to know Him through His word and prayer, we become more like Him, enabling us to live life to the fullest. Does this mean it's always easy? Not always. But we all can start and grow along the way. #wordandprayer
Bible References
Our frst ministry is to God. As we behold Him, we are moved to worship with
joyous passion. Psalm 27:4; Luke 10:39–42; James 4:8; Psalm 1:1–3; Psalm 23:6;
Psalm 26:8; John 4:23; Psalm 22:3.
God delights in us and has always desired to be with us. We focus on His
presence because we have discovered that He is focused on us.
Ephesians 1:4–5; Zephaniah 3:17; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 65:4; 1 John 3:1; Revelation 3:20; 1 John 4:19.
Purposefully cultivating a hunger for God’s manifest presence and an openness
to experiencing the Holy Spirit deepens our friendship with God and our
awareness that we carry His presence for the sake of the world.
Psalm 73:28; Psalm 107:9; John 1:16; Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 55:1–2; 1 Corinthians 3:16.
As a lifestyle, we practice recognizing God’s presence while we minister to
others, attempting to say what He is saying and do what He is doing.
John 5:19–20; John 5:30, John 12:49–50; John 14:10; 1 John 4:16–17.