Delta Values ReDux 2008
VALUE #1: LOVE
John 13:35 “But his all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”
John 13:14 “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Love cannot be programmed or created, for true love comes only from God. Love is illustrated by attitude and action as we honestly care for one another, sacrifice for one another, and serve one another.
VALUE #2: FAMILY
Mark 3:33-35 “And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.””
1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.”
Faith in and obedience to Jesus is what creates real family. Wherever our earthly families fall short, God’s family makes up the difference and more. Children are gladly welcomed in community as they are our spiritual heritage, and their presence allows us to teach the next generation what a Christ-centered community looks like.
VALUE #3: STORY
The Gospels; Acts 26
The Bible is the true redemptive story of God saving mankind. The Gospels tell the story of Jesus. Paul testifies with his story of coming to know Jesus. Each person has a story to tell; we need to be eager to discover and listen to the story of people, share our own stories, and discover how we are a part of the Grand Story of the Gospel.
VALUE #4: FEAST
Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God.”
Acts 2:42,46 “And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking bread and the prayers…and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
Luke 22:14-23
Sharing a meal and having drinks simply bring people together and creates the opportunity for conversation. Food and drink not only allow Christ-followers to deepen their community, food and drink also create an unforced, natural pathway to build relationships with those who do not yet follow Jesus. Additionally, a meal called Communion (the Lord’s Supper) is the highest act of worship in the church, remembering the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
VALUE #5: BLESS
Genesis 12:2 “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”
Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Matthew 5:1-12
The blessing that we receive from Jesus is to be poured out onto the people around us. We love, serve, help, and give to all not because we get anything in return, but because we have already received so much in the Gospel. The world is not ours to condemn, the world is ours to love by living out the Gospel by sharing our possessions, our gifts, our love, and the Gospel.
VALUE #6: MISSION
Acts 1:8 “…and you will be my witnesses…”
Acts 2:47 “…having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
The Church is a community on mission. Everything the church does is not just for itself, but to point people to Jesus as Savior and Lord. Being on mission is not viewing people as “projects”, but is radically changing how we perceive all of our lives: where we live, where we work, where we shop, where we recreate, etc.; because there are people everywhere who do not follow Jesus.
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