Four Values That Shape Who We Are (And How You Can Live Them This Week)
Some Christians will say, “Church is boring.”
If all church is to you is a place you sit for an hour once a week… yeah, it probably will be.
But that’s not what Jesus saved you for.
You were redeemed, restored, and placed in a global, spiritual mission—a “holy competition,” you might say—between darkness and light. The enemy wants to rob God of the glory He deserves. We’ve been sent out to proclaim that glory and rescue people out of darkness into His marvelous light.
That’s why our church exists.
Our Mission & Vision (The Why and the How)
From Matthew 22:34–40, Jesus gives us the Great Commandments:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…
and love your neighbor as yourself.”
From that, our mission is simple:
We exist to glorify Jesus
by honoring Him with our lives
and serving people in His name.
Our vision is how we live that out together:
We want to be people who are…
Connected by Jesus
Growing in Jesus
Serving for Jesus
Going with Jesus
Mission = why we exist.
Vision = how we pursue it.
But there’s one more layer: values.
Values are the way we do what we do—the posture, tone, and culture we choose as we follow Jesus.
Here are our four core values, and how you can live them this week.
1. Jesus Above All
“That in all things He may have the preeminence.” – Colossians 1:18
If Jesus isn’t first, nothing else in the Christian life works right.
“Jesus above all” doesn’t mean:
- Jesus plus my preferences
- Jesus as long as it’s convenient
- Jesus in some things but not others
It means:
- Jesus above entertainment
- Jesus above money and comfort
- Jesus above kids’ sports and schedules
- Jesus above academics and success
- Jesus above my fears, anxieties, and what-ifs
And it’s not just “Jesus” as we imagine Him.
It’s Jesus as revealed in Scripture—not the Jesus of culture, personal vibes, or social media quotes.
If the Jesus you follow always agrees with you, never confronts you, and never challenges your priorities… that’s not Jesus. That’s a mirror.
This week: how to live “Jesus above all”
- Ask: “What consistently gets my best time, energy, and attention?” If it isn’t Jesus, name it honestly.
- Look at your calendar and budget and make one real adjustment that clearly puts Jesus first (a gathering you prioritize, a habit you add, a purchase you delay).
- Spend time in the Word each day—even 10 minutes—so you’re following the real Jesus, not your mental version of Him.
2. Others Above Me
“In humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3
“Others” = everyone who isn’t you:
- Friends and enemies
- Old and young
- People who think like you… and those who don’t
Biblical humility is not:
“I’m worthless, I don’t matter.”
Jesus thought you were worth dying for. You are deeply loved and valuable.
Humility is:
Not thinking less of yourself,
but thinking of yourself less.
If others are “more important,” then:
- Their wants come before your wants in non-essential areas.
- You don’t always have to get your way on style, preference, or method.
- You’re willing to let go of “my way” for the sake of love and mission.
Imagine a church where the biggest arguments are:
“No, you take the spot.”
“No, you sit where you like.”
“No, we’ll do it the way that serves them best.”
That’s what “others above me” looks like.
This week: how to live “others above me”
- At home: intentionally choose your spouse’s or kids’ preference on something you’d usually push for.
- At church: let someone else take the seat, role, song, or style you’d normally prefer—and do it joyfully.
- In conversation: ask more questions than you give opinions. Listen longer than feels natural.
3. Unity Above Most
“They were together and had all things in common.” – Acts 2:46
The early church didn’t magically agree on every like, dislike, and preference.
What they held “in common” was deeper: a shared worldview.
They agreed:
- Jesus is Lord.
- The gospel is central.
- The mission matters more than my preferences.
Unity doesn’t mean:
- Uniformity on every minor doctrine or opinion
- Everyone liking the same music, service style, or ministry method
We must have unity on the essentials of the faith.
But on secondary and tertiary issues, we can disagree and still walk in love and partnership.
Here’s the principle:
Unity on something second-best
is better than division over “my” best
(when we’re not talking about essential doctrine).
If a method is biblical and effective in reaching people—even if it’s not your favorite—unity says:
“I’ll gladly support it for the sake of the gospel.”
This week: how to live “unity above most”
- Stop and ask, “Is this an essential gospel issue… or just a preference?” before you argue or complain.
- Choose one thing you’re tempted to grumble about at church (style, programs, methods) and instead pray for the people leading it.
- Look for someone in your church family who’s different from you (age, background, preferences) and intentionally encourage them.
4. Generosity Above Ability
“They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.” – 2 Corinthians 8:3
This isn’t just about money.
It’s about time, abilities, and resources.
The Macedonian church was poor, but Paul says they:
- Gave what they could
- Then stretched to give beyond what seemed possible
That’s not pressure. That’s want-to, not have-to.
When you’ve truly experienced the generosity of Christ—His time, His attention, His sacrifice—your heart moves from:
“How little can I give and still be okay?”
to
“How much can I give and still be wise?”
This week: how to live “generosity above ability”
- Look at your week and ask: “Where am I giving my best time—to me or to God and others?”
- Say no to one non-essential event or expense so you can say yes to something kingdom-focused (serving, giving, showing up).
- Ask God: “Where do You want me to stretch—time, talent, or treasure?” Then act on one nudge.
So… Who Are We, Really?
We’re not just a group that meets on Sundays.
We are a people who want to:
- Glorify Jesus above everything
- Love others more than ourselves
- Fight for unity where it matters most
- Give generously of who we are and what we have
And all of this flows from one starting point:
being saved by Jesus, surrendered to Jesus, and shaped by Jesus.
This week, don’t try to fix everything at once.
Pick one value:
- Jesus above all
- Others above me
- Unity above most
- Generosity above ability
…and ask:
“Lord, what’s one concrete step I can take in this area today?”
Then do it.
That’s how a sermon becomes a lifestyle—and how “who we are” moves from words on a page to a church on mission.