Church core values reflect the heart of both the church leaders and the church body.
Those values define the beliefs, actions, reactions, speech, behavior and feelings of the organization.
Church core values are the resume of what the church is and what the church does.
Be sure to visit our Prayer page for more bible verses, inspiration and encouragement.
Since those values are what the world sees in the church it is important to clarify what qualities accurately reflect what your church represents.
They are the governing principles that are the foundation for church teachings, fellowship, ministries and finances.
Core Values of a Healthy Church
A healthy church has core values that accomplish 3 main things.
Glorify God – Core values are a reflection of what your church beliefs, teachings and outreach ministries do to glorify God. Our main purpose is to glorify God in all that we say and do.
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Roadmap – Core values provide the roadmap and clear direction for leaders and church members in all areas: teaching, learning, sharing the gospel and serving others.
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Measurement – Core values provide a means to accurately measure church behavior and if actions of the church are accomplishing the purpose of the church.
For example, if one of your core values is to love your neighbor you can identify your neighbor (scope of ministry outreach) and what programs you have that accomplish that goal lived out (food pantry to feed the hungry (quantifiable results.)
In the Bible James 1:22-25 states “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Church Core Values – Growth Inside and Outside
Identification of church core values allows opportunities for growth – both in leadership, membership and reaching the outside world.
It will be the magnet that attracts what people are looking for to satisfy their needs spiritually, physically and by belonging.
The main things that people really want and need to feel fulfilled in life are:
1) Need to know their purpose in life and that their life has meaning and value;
2) Fellowship and Communion with God and Other People; and
3) An outlet to caring about others and sharing in life. People have a need to belong.
Examples of Church Core Values
Here are some examples of church core values.
Glorify God – Truthfully preaching, teaching and sharing the Word of God.
Worship in songs, praise, music and hymns.
Sharing the gospel through church services, meeting and missionaries.
In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus says “And he said unto them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Fellowship as in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Providing for widows and orphans and helping the poor. Love others.
Roadmap – Beliefs: what to preach and teach. Actions and attitudes: welcoming everyone.
Programs that reach out to all ages and all in the community.
Finances: what you spend money on to further the church core values.
Measure – Programs and how many people reached.
Giving and accountability for using the funds.
Evangelize – when, where and how much.
Seeing how many families, couple and individuals respond to programs and services you provide.
Church Core Values Worksheet
Pray and seek God’s Direction.
Identify Core Values and what you want the world to see in your church. Are you family friendly, a place for couple and singles?
Do you want to reach young people? Do you want in service attendance or online presence. Are missions important?
Identify the size of your congregation at present and the ability to meet the core values through programs and outreach.
Be realistic with the starting point and gradually increase your outreach.
Determine how music fits into your core values: traditional, contemporary, instruments, a mixture.
Have a detailed plan to welcome visitors and make them feel at home. They should feel loved and want to return.
Determine what your church will offer. Sunday school or small groups? VBS for children? Youth groups? Hospital and nursing home outreach?
Define the church core values that should be evident in those programs and services.
Finances. Determine the ability of the area you are reaching and make your budget fit within those means.
As you glorify God and expand your love and ministry your budget will expand to fill the need.
God has promised to provide in Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Measurement – Set goals that align with church core values and regularly meet to see if those values are being shown in every program and attitude in leadership and the church body.
Are people being reached, saved, confirmed or baptized? Are the poor and needy getting help they need through your ministries?
Are young people being given enough opportunities to grow in the church?
Continuously praise the congregation and workers for being the kind of people that exemplify what the church and God values.
Is there a spirit of thankfulness throughout the church?
Offer alternative solutions if there are any issues that need to be adjusted.
Keep evaluating and aligning until the you have core values of a healthy church showing up in every area of ministry and service.
Summary
Church core values link the foundation and principles to the actions of the church. First and foremost they should glorify God. They should be evident in the leadership and congregation as well as in all areas of ministry. Church leaders should continuously evaluate and measure to be sure that the core values established are being shown and lived out both inside the church and in reaching the world.
To read about core values in general and see an alphabetical list see our article:
Core Values List: {Alphabetical List of Over 70}
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