This time we are continuing with part 2 of a two-part series on our CCC Core Values that started on May 3, 2020. This morning we are continuing with a deeper dive into what is behind each core value. In case you missed the last one, here are our CCC Core Values:
We Live for Jesus
Because relationship with Jesus is primary, everything else flows from this. The Holy Spirit guides us in right relationship with Jesus
We Live Generously
Because life is a gift meant to be shared, our church is generous with our lives, time, and money
We Grow Together
Because community and fellowship are what we are intended for, we believe people are better together
We are Welcoming
Because everyone deserves a warm welcome and acceptance, we believe in being a relaxed, fun loving and friendly church
After much work, we’re exited to be unveiling these refreshed Core Values for this season at CCC. These values are about trying to capture the DNA of CCC, who we are, what we value, and what we want to be. Our goal moving forward is that everyone at CCC can learn, understand, embrace and live our Core Values and that they are easily understood.
What are values? The core beliefs of an organization or person. Values are not methods; they are the beliefs that guide actions and methods. How we spend our time and money shows our values, thus it’s not a value unless it’s reflected in decisions and behaviour.
To recap last time, we looked at our first two values: We Live for Jesus and We Live Generously. We believe that our values must begin and end with Jesus. He is the one we worship and it all must come back to him. On a practical level this value means that all we say and do at CCC should lead us closer to Jesus. Whether it is a conversation, program, relationship or worship service we strive to facilitate an atmosphere that is conducive to people encountering Jesus. Our second value is We Live Generously. The basis for generosity is found in Jesus’ love for people. As a church we believe that it is important to share the life that we have found in Jesus. As we’re generous with our time, lives and money we show the love and generosity of Jesus.
Let's look now at the next two Core Values.
Value #3 We Grow Together
“Because community and fellowship are what we are intended for, we believe people are better together”
The Bible is clear that followers of Jesus are meant to grow together. Christian Psychologist David Benner writes: “The Christian spiritual journey is a journey we take with others. Each of us must take our own journey, and for each of us that journey will be unique. But not of us is intended to make that journey alone. The myth of the solitary Christian making his or her way alone flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches about the church as the body of Christ (I Cor 12:12-31)…We cannot make the journey apart from spiritual companions and community,”[1]
People are meant to be together and we all need each other. How does this work out? We believe in gathering on Sunday mornings and beyond Sunday mornings. The body of Christ is meant to work together in unity, each part (person) serving its purpose. In the Apostle Paul’s view, the church cannot grow in an individualistic manner, i.e. we cannot have a bunch of diverse parts growing separately and then slap them together and hope that it works. The body of Christ is meant to grow together.
Each part shapes and encourages other parts in the body of Christ as they grow together. As a child grows, the body grows in unison. A foot does not growth without symmetrical growth in the legs, hips, bones etc. This coordination and unity in the body of Christ is only possible through Christ. “Christ is at once the One into whom all Christians grow and out of whom the church consolidates itself in love. This process depends on the interrelationship of the various parts of the body. The whole is continually being integrated and kept firm by each separate ligament.”[2]
Just going to church does not make one a Christian and it does not guarantee growth in Christian maturity. Thus, there are many ways to gather beyond Sunday mornings. People gather in small groups to study the bible and pray and people gather one on one to grow in their relationship with each other and with Jesus. We often need the help of mentors, peers, teachers, friends, counsellors, pastors and coaches to grow in maturity. We need specific friendships and relationships and these provide the links and connections that form the corporate body of Christ. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to grow in isolation. Thus, We Grow Together.
Value #4 We are Welcoming
Our fourth value is: We are Welcoming. Because everyone deserves a warm welcome and acceptance, we believe in being a relaxed, fun loving and friendly church.
Many people comment that CCC is a friendly and warm church. We really believe that that is true. Like our community, our atmosphere is casual and fun. Part of the underlying value here is that you can be who you are here, you don’t have to pretend or hide your quirks and personality. Most importantly we believe that everyone deserves to be welcomed. If we only welcome people who know and like, we’re simply not participating in all that Jesus has calls people to (Matt 5:43-48). Welcoming and accepting people does not mean that we always agree with everyone and everything, but we welcome and accept first and have discussions based on love and relationship. We trust that Jesus wants the best for people and our role is to lead people to him, not to judge.
If we have an aspirational goal in this area, it would be that we go deeper with people. We are often warm and friendly and do a great job of initial welcome, but we also need to establish deeper relationships and friendships and trust amongst each other.
That’s a wrap on our first deeper dive into our new CCC Core Values, but it’s just the beginning of our values emphasis. Going forward we believe that everything we say and do must align with these values or we aren’t going to do it. Just as people have different skills and gifts, so each church has unique personalities and talents. The process of discovery is to find what we do best and what Jesus is calling us to do in this season and pursue those things. We simply cannot do everything, so the things we do, we want to do to the best of our ability.
We live for Jesus, we live generously, we grow together, and we are welcoming.
We hope this is your experience at CCC (even online). God bless and have a great week.
[1] Vantage Point 3, Growing up Together pg 63 Quoting David Benner, Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction, 40
[2] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 769
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