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This list of values is a description of the enduring,
no-compromise principles that will guide Three Rivers’ pursuit
of its mission and vision.
1. Living with grace and truth
Our desire is to graciously provide a safe place where people can
process the timeless truths of Scripture. At the same time, we
want to balance grace by encouraging loving accountability for
the application of the Scripture. We deceive ourselves if we “merely
listen to the word”, and do not “do what it says.” (James
1:22) In all our relationships we intend to imitate Jesus Who lived
His life “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14; Romans
3:22-24; Ephesians 4:15-16)
2. Talking with God
To keep us in step with God, we are committed to saturating this
ministry with continual communication with our prayer-hearing Father.
Following Christ’s example, we intercede in behalf of the
world and the church. We want to be “a church where everyone
is prayed for everyday by somebody.” John Bunyun puts prayer
in perspective: “You can do more than pray, once you’ve
prayed. But until you’ve prayed, you can’t do more
than pray.” (Daniel 10:12ff; Colossians 4:2ff; Ephesians
6:18; I Samuel 12:23; I Peter 2:9-10; Philippians 4:6f; James 5:13-16;
Hebrews 4:15)
3. Living sacrificially
Though time usage and the other components of our lives ought to
comply with God’s directives, Jesus concludes that the way
we use our material possessions stands out as a reliable indicator
of our spiritual vitality. Our attitudes toward our “stuff” clearly
indicate where our faith and allegiance lie. Wealth is not to be
despised nor hoarded, but used as a manager uses the Owner’s
resources to effectively accomplish the Owner’s goals. Our
motto is “equal sacrifice, not equal giving.” (Luke
16:10-15; I Timothy 6:6-10, 19; Malachi 3:10; Psalm 24:1; II Corinthians
9:6-8; II Samuel 24:24)
4. Telling your story
Sharing our faith in Jesus was never meant to be “canned” or
artificial. It was meant to be relational. We emphasize lovingly
reaching out to others through webs of relationships and spheres
of influence and association. Whether it is a local or global effort,
we encourage people to share their story of how Jesus changed their
lives for eternal life is found in no one else. (Matt. 28:19-20;
Mark 5:19-20; John 1:40-42; 5:24; 17:3; Acts 1:8; 4:12)
5. Doing life in small groups
In our desire to do life deeply as the family of God, we want to
encourage everyone to be intimately involved in a small group (4-12
people). We believe this is where we can best develop our sense
of belonging and, in a confidential setting, take the risks of
being vulnerable. Life change is more likely to take place where
we can be lovingly held accountable for all the “one another” commands.
We seek to follow the pattern of Jesus ministry and the early church
experience. As a practical result, the basic spiritual nurture
of those who attend this church will be delegated to small groups
and their leaders. (Matthew 10:1-4; John 13:34-35; 17:20-22; Acts
2:42-47; Ephesians 4:1-5:2; Exodus 18:24-26; Ezekiel 34:1-16)
6. Building Healthy Marriages and Families
Marriage and family are our transcendent God’s good ideas.
We believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman that is
(a) monogamous; (b) sexually exclusive; (c) the morally legitimate
context for raising children; and (d) permanent. We encourage husbands
and wives, parents and children to live by the biblical principles
for their roles in the family. This church will aid parents in
the spiritual nurture of their children and youth, but it can never
replace their influence. Godly husbands and wives are the best
example of the love relationship between Christ and the church
to those looking for the gospel truth. Healthy marriages and families
provide the basic building blocks of our church and a foundation
stone for a stable, healthy, and productive society. (Gen. 1:26-28,
2:18, 22-24; Eph. 5:22-6:4; Deut. 6:1-9; I Pet. 3:1-7; Jn.17:23)
7. Growing intentionally
To keep us from just drifting into the future, we intentionally
set specific goals to measure our progress and to evaluate our
needs. This helps us clarify our sense of direction and align our
annual efforts to accomplish our mission and experience our vision.
We measure what we value. Our order of priorities: the Prince,
the principles, the people, the program, and the property. Over
all our plans we write, “If it is the Lord’s will.” (Matthew
6:21, 33; Mark 4:24; Proverbs 16:3,9; 19:21; Ephesians 5:15-17;
Psalm 25:12; James 4:13-17)
8. Enjoying the journey
If anyone ought to enjoy life and creation it ought to be those
who know the Creator. In fact, God is most glorified in us when
we broadcast how satisfied we are with Him. We want to do our best
to express our pleasure with Him by living our lives, both individually
and as a family of believers, as an enthusiastic, joyful celebration
of Jesus’ life in us. (John 17:3; I Cor. 10:31; Psalm 37:1-4;
Isaiah 56:7; Acts 14:17; Colossians 3:23,24; Psalm 100)
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