KINGDOM OF GOD PRINCIPLES
These Kingdom Principles are based on the teachings and life of Jesus as well as those taught in the remainder of the New Testament. We feel called to follow Jesus and walk in the manner that He walked.
(scroll down for a full explanation of each item)
GOD CENTERED (VS. MAN CENTERED)
CHRIST-LIKENESS
KINGDOM
FOCUS AND GOSPEL-CENTERED APPROACH (ABOVE
A LOCAL
CHURCH FOCUS)
AGAPE-LOVE RELATIONSHIPS (ABOVE MINISTRY, FUNCTION, OR VISION)
PRAYER
AND WORSHIP
AUTHENTIC POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT(VS. RELIGIOUS EFFECT)
PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP
UNITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING TRUTH
FATHERING/MENTORING AS THE DISCIPLESHIP MODEL
STEWARDSHIP OF ALL OUR RESOURCES
We embrace a GOD CENTERED (VS. MAN CENTERED) approach to all that we are and do. The focus is seeking intimacy with the Father through Jesus Christ, and pleasing the Father before ourselves and each other. We seek to lift up Jesus Christ and to walk by the Holy Spirit in life and ministry. This is a shift from ‘what do I get’ to ‘what can I give’.
We embrace CHRIST-LIKENESS. We desire that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' love, mercy, grace, truth, purity, power, and integrity would shine through all that we are and do. (Eph. 5:2; Gal. 5:22) We seek to speak the truth, deal honestly, and live uprightly with our words, deeds and finances. (Eph. 4:15)
We embrace a KINGDOM FOCUS AND GOSPEL-CENTERED APPROACH (ABOVE A LOCAL CHURCH FOCUS). The Kingdom of God is mentioned about 106 times in the gospels, and the church is mentioned only 3 times in the gospels. Jesus’ focus clearly was the Kingdom of God, stating in the Sermon in the Mount, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” The church is built by Jesus Christ as we focus on His Kingdom.
We embrace AGAPE-LOVE RELATIONSHIPS (ABOVE MINISTRY, FUNCTION, OR VISION). The value of non-negotiable, agape love for God, our sisters and brothers compels us into action for God, with each other, and against satan. The world will know that we are His disciples if we agape (love) one another.
We embrace the PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS AND SERVANT LEADERSHIP. The five fold ministries are for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. If there are those gifted among us, they must be servants and not dictators. It is the responsibility of leadership to humbly teach the members to recognize their giftings, to hear the Lord for themselves and to equip them to minister in their sphere of influence while being connected to the body.
We embrace UNITY (WITHOUT COMPROMISING TRUTH). We seek to maintain unity by embracing those who call on Jesus' name and by seeking reconciliation with all parts of the Church. We recognize that true unity only comes as we all align ourselves with the Truth of God's Word. We seek to minister through cooperative efforts without a spirit of competition. We recognize that diversity in styles of praise and worship, cultural expressions and denominational emphases is good and healthy.
We embrace FATHERING/MENTORING AS THE DISCIPLESHIP MODEL. True learning happens best when we are in regular, personal relationships with those who are mentoring/teaching us. The ideal expectation is for each person to be mentored by a more mature believer and also to be mentoring someone younger in the faith.
We embrace the AUTHENTIC POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (VS. RELIGIOUS EFFECT). We aim to live by the Spirit and to walk in the Spirit. We desire to see real, true supernatural works of God. We wish to do nothing for "religious effect" but rather to minister humbly in our Holy Spirit giftings, giving all the glory to the Lord.
We embrace PRAYER AND WORSHIP as the very breath of our spiritual lives. We believe that prayer and worship are essential because they are the means of communion with our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe prayer is one of God's primary means of accomplishing His purposes in the world. (1 Thes 5:16-18; Phil 4:6)
We embrace STEWARDSHIP of all our resources as a central and integral part of our worship and walk together. This includes time, talents, gifting, finances, possessions, the environment and our ministries.
