Values Statement:
The Foundational Truth about Abundant Life
We believe that the Abundant Life of Jesus is God’s gift to all through faith in Jesus Christ. This Abundant Life is fully experienced by those who believe Jesus’ promises and give of themselves to serve Him and others. We believe that this message is the central message of the bible – the only source of absolute truth. John 10:10; Matthew 16:25.
Praise and Worship
We believe that worship should be a celebration of the Good News of Jesus Christ and an encounter with the living God. Through an engaging and winsome proclamation of the Word of God and the faithful celebration of the Sacraments, God draws His people closer to Himself and they are equipped to love and serve God and our neighbors. Psalm 98; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Great Commission Ministry
We believe that God’s mission is to save the world through His Son Jesus Christ. We have been co-missioned with God in bringing Jesus to all people and all people to Jesus. The Abundant Life of Jesus Christ is to be lived and shared: God’s people are called to confess and demonstrate God’s love in Jesus Christ to others in words and through acts of kindness, mercy and love. Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21; Revelation 22:17
Faithfulness
We believe that God’s word is true and that He calls us to be faithful in teaching and living that truth. This calls for us to believe God’s promises in Jesus and to live a joyous, hope-filled and Abundant Life. We are thankful for the witness to Jesus Christ through the past decades by the people and pastors of St. John. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 5:22-23
Discipleship
We believe God’s Holy Spirit calls us to be disciples – learners and followers and servants – of Jesus Christ, and to strive for continued growth in love, trust and knowledge of God and His word. Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:1-8
Prayer
God commands that we pray, and promises that He will hear and answer us when we pray in Jesus’ name. We are to pray for all kinds and conditions of people as well as for God’s guidance and blessing on the church’s mission – with confidence that God knows what is good for us and that He gives His gifts in abundance to those who ask. Matthew 9:35-10:1; Romans 8:31-32; 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Christian Education
God’s people are to grow in their faith throughout their lives. We believe that the Christian individual’s responsibility is to participate in and support programs of education and training in righteousness. This involves the ministry of the Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, St. John Early Childhood Ministry and St. John School, as well as Adult Bible classes and Bible Studies. Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Peter 1:5-8
Godly Leadership
We believe that God leads his people through those men and women who are called to positions of authority and responsibility and whom God has equipped for these tasks. These leaders are held to a higher standard. They must be faithful and true to God’s Word as well as winsome and diligent to lead the church forward church forward in fulfilling her mission under Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-13
The Sustaining Truth about the Vital Work of the Holy Spirit
We believe that all these values are sustained and lived out only by the grace and work of God through the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives gifts which sustain the church’s ministry. Only by His continued work do we live to God’s glory. 1 Corinthians 12; John 16.
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