Truth in Love
Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” God has revealed himself to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God preserved this historical truth in his Word, which has been put together in one book, the Bible. God’s Word defines and determines truth. Therefore, we seek to teach God’s Word and to live life informed by it. Honestly, there will be times when it will be hard to hear the truth, and it is saddening that some Christians present the truth with a judgmental, arrogant, and “holier than thou” attitude. This is not the way Jesus deals with truth, so we shouldn’t either. The fruit of the Holy Spirit involves gentleness – therefore will seek to speak the truth in love.

Mercy
The body of Christ can function only with the liberal application of God’s mercy. Everything we do should be bathed in the mercy and love of God. It is his mercy that determines what we do. Whether talking to friends, teaching the Bible, holding people accountable, or feeding the poor, every aspect of our lives should be shaped by the compassionate mercy of God. This means acting out of concern and love for the individual and the unity of the body.

Worship
The act of worship is adoring Christ in response to his love. It is ascribing worth to him – ultimate worth, the highest worth, incomparable worth. God is the creator of the universe, the one who saves us, the one who forgives us, the one who loves us endlessly and provides for us daily. Because of this, we worship him with music, words, and life.

Community
God created us to live in community, not to be islands. We learn and grow from each other. Different people have different gifts and abilities to help, serve, and teach. The broader variety of people, the more opportunity for learning and growth and encouragement. In a healthy community, people’s honesty about questions, struggles, and doubts will be met by love and support.

Prayer
We would probably not expect to have a healthy, deep relationship with someone we never talked to. The same is true in our relationship with God. Even though our forgiveness and salvation are not dependent upon how many hours per day we pray, communicating with God is foundational in following Jesus.

Mission
God desires to be known by all people. This is the mission of the church. The church is not to be a “holy huddle,” but a body of people that loves, serves, and engages the world and culture in which in which it finds itself.