We live out the Father’s love by valuing what He values. We endeavor to make His values our values. The way we care for others, listen to others, serve others, and share the Gospel are all ways that others will experience the affection of God that is for all people.
Biblical authority
We acknowledge the authority, reliability, and truth of God’s Word. As created beings we cannot fully understand the Creator and the world He made. For that reason we rely on the Bible to be the rule of our faith, teaching us what we do not know. (Deuteronomy 4:10, Nehemiah 8, Psalm 18:30, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 4:4, John 1:1-17, 1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:16, Colossians 1:25, Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 4:12-13, 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Peter 3:16, 1 John 2:5, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 19:9)
The Spirit’s leadership
Upon Jesus' heavenly ascent after His miraculous resurrection, He left us another personality of God, the Holy Spirit. He has come to lead every aspect of our lives notwithstanding the direction of Jesus' church in our city. (Romans 8:14, John 14:16, John 16:13, Acts 2, Acts 13:2-4, Acts 15:28)
Giving
We commit ourselves to both sharing and giving. We do so because giving has always been an act of worship to YHWH. Therefore, when He wanted to demonstrate His love towards us, He did so by giving. In sharing what we have we confess that God is the true owner and that we are only stewards and it breaks the bondage of possessiveness. (Malachi 3:10, Matthew 25:40, Luke 3:11, Acts 4:32, 2 Corinthians 9:10-13, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 1 John 3:17)
Being a witnessing community
The church should not sit back and expect unbelievers to come and find them, but that we are called and sent to be salt and light to a dark and bland world. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 13:10, Luke 15:4-6, Acts 10:42, Romans 10:14-15, Galatians 2:10)
Servant leadership
When you visit our church for the first time you probably won't know who our "leaders" are. However, just observe who's constantly walking around making sure everyone in the fellowship is taken care of and you'll find them. (Philippians 2, Matthew 23:11, Luke 22:26, John 13:1-17, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Peter 5)
Ethnic diversity
We affirm that every culture and ethnicity, while imperfect, reflects the mosaic of God’s own image and together we better glorify and serve the God of creation. We value every people, language and culture in our city and in the world. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ was meant to demonstrate the power of the gospel through reconciliation, unity, and the beauty of a multi-ethnic community. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 67:2-5, Isaiah 56:7, Acts 17:26-27, Romans 15:5,6, Ephesians 2:14-22, Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 7:9).
Age and gender diversity
We don't devalue or dismiss those who popular culture inadvertently teaches us to. Everyone has a role to fulfill in God's new Kingdom and when it's missing, we all suffer. (Genesis 1:27, Galatians 3:28, Joel 2:29, Jeremiah 31:13, Matthew 18:2-4, I Corinthians 12:14-27)
Doing life together beyond the worship gathering
We intentionally use our gatherings to model how the church should stay connected and be accountable to one another throughout the week. We don't want to reduce church to being a location that people come to sing and learn a new piece of information and then go back to living compartmentalized isolated lives. (Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32, Hebrews 13:3, Hebrews 10:25, Matthew 18:20, I Corinthians 14:26, I Thessalonians 5:11)
Art, creativity, and spontaneity
God speaks through creation and He's given us the ability to create as well and He can also speak through our creation. One of the beautiful things about art is its ability to transcend language and culture. (Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Psalm 19, I Samuel 16:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 5:19)
Empowerment
God is always on the side of those who have no one on their side. For that reason we believe the church should also stand on the side of the less fortunate so that in all things there might be fairness and equality. In so doing we stand in solidarity with the heart and work of God. Therefore, we work towards economic, educational, and spiritual empowerment. (Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Proverbs 14:31, Isaiah 61:1, Jeremiah 8:21,22, Matthew 11:5, Mark 2:17, Luke 10:19, 2 Corinthians 8:9-15).
Justice
We will live for the biblical concept of justice. We have to take a prophetic stand against all kinds of evil, not only spiritual, but also societal. All sin and injustice is the enemy of the church and the kingdom of God. In the kingdom we find ultimate justice; biblical justice is more than just punishment for wrongdoing and oppression, it is also the restoration of wholeness, equality, and peace between people and with God. Our value of justice will mean action in the places where we have power, as well as the pursuit of justice in the proclamation of the kingdom wherever we have voice. (Psalm 96:10, Proverbs 31:9, Isaiah 1:15-17, Ezekiel 34:16, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 25:40, Luke 11:42, Luke 19:8-10, Acts 6:1-6, James 1:27, 1 John 3:17-19)
A commitment to each other
We will interpret the Bible to our best abilities and use every resource available to help us understand His word. However, there may be areas where we still disagree but we are committed to being committed. We believe that God calls us into his mission together, never alone. Therefore, we won't be quick to give up on God's family. In essentials we push unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity because we are better together!
(Proverbs 15:1, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Matthew 18:20, Romans 12:4-10, Galatians 6:2-7, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 3:8-11, James 1:19).
Being a “sending” church
While we understand that our most transforming ministry will take place where we are planted and in our own city, we commit ourselves to the mission of God to reach the whole world. We believe that Jesus came as the savior, not of one people, but of the whole world. (Psalm 22:7, Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 41:9, Matt 24:14, Mark 16:15, John 1:29, John 3:16-17, John 4:42, John 6:33, John 6:51 John 8:12, John 12:46-47, John 17:21, Romans 5:18, 2 Corinthians 5:19, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:14, Revelation 14:6).
Food and fellowship
Discipling around food and fellowship was a common biblical practice. So much so that one might question if the spiritual transaction that happens when we gather is really complete if the stomach hasn't been satisfied? We view it as another way to ensure the building of an unbreakable community marked by authentic love. (Matthew 14:16, Matthew 26:26, Acts 2:46, Luke 24:35, Acts 20:11, I Corinthians 11:24-25)
“At the table we find more than fellowship, we find familia, we find more than basic substance, we find nourishment, we find more than just a fleeting moment of pause, we find a deep rest that restores life to our very bones.”
-Michael Vazquez