Church Values – 10 Values Our Church Must Have

Church Values – 10 Values Our Church Must Have                       

Excerpts from the sermon of Dr. Harold Adams,

    Radford Worship Service, Radford, VA, March 18, 2018 

A man was walking through a field and came across a valuable coin. He then buried it, went home and sold everything he had so he could buy that field. 

A field -- on the Blue Ridge Parkway - Photo by Connie Wohlford

This little story is a parable Jesus told in Matthew 13:44. Jesus likened the discovered treasure to the Kingdom of Heaven.

That man placed so much value on the treasure, he was willing to give up every other possession he owned in order to obtain that one thing. 

In a recent sermon, our pastor, Dr. Hal Adams, used Jesus’ “Parable of the Hidden Treasure” to illustrate how people assign value, whether it be to living beings, like family members and pets or to inanimate objects, like houses and cars.

Throughout his sermon, Pastor Hal eloquently talked about values and their importance in the daily life of every person. Our value systems determine how we spend our thought life, our energy, our time, and our money.

Pastor progressed in his sermon, talking about the values we should have as followers of Jesus. He then focused on values we need in our own church, Radford Worship Center.

The core of Pastor’s sermon was to emphasize the values we should have as a church—in our own church. He said, “Our values as a church will determine what we accomplish here. … What we value is also going to affect The Great Commission.” 

Pastor Hal then gave us his list of values for Radford Worship Center. I believe other Christians, especially church leaders, might find his list helpful.

Ten Values that make a difference in fulfilling or not fulfilling the vision, purpose, and commission of this church:

1.      We will regard Jesus’ deservedness, importance, and worth above all things. This must be inscribed on our hearts. God values people so we must value people. 

2.      We will honor Christ and the Church with integrity. We need to have the right heart—we must be honest before God in excellence and moral principle.  

3.      We will give up the things we love for what we love most. We do that every day. It’s an honor to sacrifice for God. We need to love what God loves. 

4.      We will believe all people are important. If we do this we’ll be willing to give up what we need to give up in order to please God. 

5.      We will do anything, short of sin, to reach people who don’t know Christ. For us to reach people no one else is reaching, we need to do things no one else is doing. 

6.      We will be contributors, not consumers. Our church must consist mostly of people who contribute not simply consume. 

7.      We will lead the way with intentional generosity. We need to truly believe it is better to give than to receive. 

8.      We will be faithful to things we value. If we value our spouse, we’ll be faithful to him or her. If we value God, we’ll be faithful to Him. If we value The Great Commission, we’ll be faithful to do our part. 

9.      We will always bring our best. To drag into worship service after staying up until 4 a.m., watching sports or the entire season of “The Walking Dead,” is not bringing our best. In essence, that says, “Now I’ll give God what’s left.” Let’s give God our very best. Excellence honors God and inspires people. 

10.  We will have fun! We have much to thank God for and we’re winners. The loosing team never celebrates a loss.  Let’s celebrate the love and goodness of our God! 

Today’s Tweets: “What we value determines what we will become.”

                       “Our values are the engine that brings fulfillment.”

Know that Christ values you. That’s why He died for you.

To get the most from Pastor Hal’s message, watch the video of him delivering this valuable message.  He calls it “Values.”  Please watch it all the way through, including his powerful prayer at the end.  I pray you are blessed and ministered to. 

Here’s the link:

https://www.facebook.com/RadfordWorshipCenter/videos/1865090990190723/

©Copyright 2018 Connie Wohlford

The First Evangelist

The First Evangelist

Who do you think of when you hear the word evangelist? For many of us, that would be Billy Graham.

By definition, an evangelist is a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching. (Google search)

Likely, you’ve never wondered who the first in that field was.

Let’s take another look at the woman at the well, as recorded in John’s Gospel. As mentioned in my last post, she was a person who would be unnoticed and disregarded by any Jew—especially any upstanding Jewish man. After all she had three strikes against her: she was a Samaritan; she was a woman; she had a bad reputation. 

Yet Jesus gave her His full attention and even told her He was, in fact, the Jewish Messiah. Other than His disciples, this unqualified woman, whose name we don’t even know, was the first person to whom Jesus revealed His identity as the Christ.

According to John, it was just after Jesus said, “I am He,” that His disciples showed up with lunch. They were shocked to find Jesus having a conversation with this undesirable person. 

The woman, by this time, was full to overflowing with living water. She left her waterpot by the well and rushed back into the city of Sychar. 

John records that she went into the city and told the men, “Come, see a man who told me all things I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:39)

Her enthusiasm must have been convincing. Can you imagine the changed countenance of this woman? She was known to the locals as tainted. She was personally insecure and guilt-ridden. But now—now—she was radiant. She had met the Messiah—the Deliverer—Who had just delivered her from her shame and her past. Now, all of a sudden, she was a change agent—an influencer in her city. 

Immediately those she told left the city and went out to see Jesus for themselves. The Gospel writer says that many people of the city believed in Jesus because of her testimony when she said, “He told me all that I ever did” (John 4:39).

The townsfolk then urged Jesus to stay with them for they were hungry for more. Like the woman, they were thirsty for the living water that only Jesus could give.

So Jesus and His disciples stayed with them in Sychar for two days, and according to John, “Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, ‘Now, we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’” (John 4:41-42).

So now this city of Sychar, in the outcast region of Samaria, is known as the first place where a large group of people became followers of Christ. And this outcast woman was the first recorded evangelist. She believed Jesus, then went out to tell her testimony to others and said to them, “Come and see.”

We learn much form John’s chronicled account. Our King will not hesitate to go to downcast places to reach downcast people. We also see here some principles of the Great Commission. As Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection, He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19a).

In obeying His command, we are to tell of our own experiences with Jesus, and invite people to come and see for themselves. We can also introduce others to Jesus, using our Bibles and by inviting them to church.

Without a pulpit or a title, we can tell others about Jesus. Eloquence is not necessary and credentials are not required. Like the woman at the well, we can each be an evangelist. We should routinely ask God to show us who to tell and invite. I know it’s not easy for most of us, but the Holy Spirit is well able to lead us. Also, He just may be preparing that person’s heart to receive what we have to say. 

There are lots of thirsty people out there and within each follower of Christ is an ever-flowing fountain of living water. We have the words of Eternal Life. Let’s tell them to, “Come and see.”

Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2016