F I R S T C R O S B Y & VALUES
F AMILY
We value your family! Healthy families promote the spiritual, physical, relational, and psychological health of their members. Our ministries and schedules will reflect the value our church places on your family.
"And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." Ephesians 5:21 (NASV)
I NSPIRATIONAL WORSHIP
We value inspirational worship that inspires, encourages, uplifts, and challenges worshipers to enjoy their relationship with God. We value worship that connects in culturally relevant ways with those we are reaching as well as those currently in our fellowship.
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers." John 4:23 (NASV)
R ESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES
We value the responsible management of financial and personal resources. We will teach everyone possible the blessings that result from faithful management of money, time, relationships, and spiritual gifting.
"In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one be found faithful." I Corinthians 4:2 (CSB)
S TAFF AS EQUIPPERS
We value the equipping ministry of our staff members. As staff members exercise their gifting through servant leadership our members are enlisted, equipped, engaged, encouraged, and evaluated to enable each member to be most effective in their God-given ministry. Our staff leads by example.
"And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12 (CSB)
T ELLING OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
God calls every member to share the love of Jesus Christ and God's way of salvation through Christ alone with every person possible. We value this God-given assignment and will equip every willing member to share their faith.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NASV)
C HANGE
Change is the prerequisite to growth. We can have change without growth but we cannot have growth without change. Therefore we embrace change.
"And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Revelation 21:5 (NASV)
R EAL LIFE PREACHING AND TEACHING
We value preaching and teaching that connects the whole message of God's Word with the practical issues of everyday life.
"And the common people heard Him gladly." Mark 12:37 (NKJV)
O VERCOMING AS THE ATTITUDE FOR VICTORY
Life comes with roadblocks, hindrances, and discouragements. We recognize a positive approach and an overcoming spirit as the birthright of every child of God and our Lord's church. We choose to be overcomers through God's grace.
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world---our faith." I John 5:4 (NASV)
S MALL GROUP/AGE GRADED/BIBLE STUDY
Small group, age-graded Bible study (a.k.a. Sunday School or Fellowship Bible Group) is our basic organized approach to fellowship, discipleship, ministry, evangelism, and assimilation. This organization is our church organized to carry out the Great Commission.
"When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles." Luke 6:13 (NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42,47 (NIV)
B IBLE
The Bible is the basis for all we believe and do. The Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter.
"All scripture is inspired by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." II Timothy 3:16 (NASV)
Y OU
We value you! We value your individuality and the uniqueness God has built within you. We value your spiritual gifting, experiences, relational style, vocational skills, and enthusiasm. We believe you, and every other believer, should have at least one ministry through which you serve our Lord as a valued member of the church.
"Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God."
I Peter 4:19 (CSB)
