As a new year dawns, we have an opportunity to set new goals
and new priorities. We often do this as individuals, but we can also do this as
a church. A new year affords us the opportunity to both look back and look
ahead. In looking ahead, there are some things I would like us to think about
as a church.
Every organization has core values. These core values can be
identified, or they may be accidental, but they are there all the same. Many
churches will make an effort to define core values, but what they are really
defining is aspirational values. Aspirational values are values that you would
like to define your organization. Aspirational values are not bad, but they
define a goal, not a full reality.
So, in this new year, I would like to list five values that
I hope would come to define who Northside Baptist will be in the future. Some
of these may be core values, but if we are honest with ourselves, I think we
will have to admit that most are aspirational values.
Authentic Worship – Worship must be thought of in two ways.
One, we come together on Sunday mornings to worship our Lord through the singing
of praise and the study of His word. When we join together, we want this to be
an authentic experience. We do not want to come together and simply go through
the motions. The second way we think of worship is that it is a lifestyle.
Romans 12:1 reminds us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. Paul says this
is your spiritual worship.
Purposeful Prayer – If you have been around church very
long, you know that we do a lot of praying. We start Sunday School with prayer,
worship with prayer, we pray several times during a worship service, we have
prayer meeting on Wednesday night, and we encourage personal prayer. However,
in the wash of all our praying, do we forget to really pray? It is our desire
for Northside Baptist to be known as a praying church. We want to be a church
that prays for big things and expects God to answer. We want to be a church
that steps out in faith as it relates to prayer and trust that God will do
things beyond our wildest imagination.
Naturally Occurring Evangelism – We know that we are commanded
to go and tell (Matt. 28:18-20). Unfortunately, we depend too much on our hired
hands (our pastors) and organized programs to accomplish this task. The fact
is, God intends for us to share the gospel in very natural ways as the opportunity
presents itself in the flow of life. It is our desire to see Northside be very
obedient in this area. We want to know that those people that God brings into
our path have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.
Intentional Discipleship – In considering the Great
Commission, we know that we are not simply called to make converts, but to make
disciples. A disciple is one who knows and obeys all that Christ has commanded
us. In order for people to know these things, they must be taught. We will make
it our goal to provide a clear discipleship program for Northside Baptist Church and her members.
Missional Lifestyle – While a missional lifestyle certainly
includes supporting and giving to missions, it is not limited to that. A
missional lifestyle is a way of life. A missional lifestyle recognizes that we
are called and sent by God. Everywhere we go, everything we do, and everything
we are is to be aligned with God’s call on our life. This means that every time
we wake up and walk out the door, we realize that we are entering a mission
field. As a church, a missional lifestyle means we will keep missions endeavors
front and center. As individuals, it means that we will be fully and completely
surrendered to God.
As I stated, much of what I have said would fall into the category
of “Aspirational Values.” These are values that will guide us as we seek to
define what the future of Northside Baptist Church will look like. We will
continue to give our attention to these values in a very intentional way until
they become the core of who we are, as a church, and as individuals. May God
bless us with a powerful 2018.
Honored to be your pastor,
Darrell
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