CBC VALUES
In order to reach people for Christ, we hold to the following Biblical principles as our core values:
1. Sound biblical teaching must be first in our lives and all relationships. God's Word reveals His love and His truth as inseparable and liberating. Each verse brings meaning, but the Bible must be rightly divided to faithfully honor the God of the Bible. When our minds are changed by God’s clear intended meaning on the pages of His word, our lives will change, others will be impacted, and God will be honored for His love. "But the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith."
1 Timothy 1:5
2. Jesus calls His own to be disciples. He wants his followers to bear fruit. This means we are to be disciple makers, to minister to others as unto Christ, and to do the good works God has always planned for us to do. As we serve others and involve ourselves in the mission of Jesus, we become more and more like him and find our own lives fulfilled and meaningful.
3. Evangelism is for all believers. God’s word tells us to have answers and boldly, yet graciously, share the Gospel. This is central in our love for the Lord and others. Understanding Jesus' sacrificial death on our behalf and his unmerited favor and love toward us, we desire to reach out to others as he reached out to us by proclamation, personal witnessing, and lifestyle evangelism.
4. Prayer is a vital ministry in and of itself. It is how we pour out our hearts to God and seek his direction and blessing on all we do in his name. Committing ourselves to pray for our church body and its ministries assures us we have confidence in God's ability and not our own. This gives us hope as we wait and anticipate God's marvelous grace.
5. God has given spiritual gifts to his people. Every believer is equipped by God to serve in some capacity within the church, and each one has unique talents or spiritual gifts that are needed by the church. We are, in fact, commanded to eagerly desire spiritual gifts that strengthen the body of Christ. We only attain true wholeness and completeness as we both offer and exercise all our gifts for the good of the church.
6. Relationships of mutual love, trust, and respect are critical to the development of the church body, which is comprised of individual members. These individuals have needs and seek acceptance and encouragement in a safe environment. As Jesus demonstrated his love by spending time with needy people, we also must take time to get to know each other, being open and vulnerable.
1 Timothy 1:5
2. Jesus calls His own to be disciples. He wants his followers to bear fruit. This means we are to be disciple makers, to minister to others as unto Christ, and to do the good works God has always planned for us to do. As we serve others and involve ourselves in the mission of Jesus, we become more and more like him and find our own lives fulfilled and meaningful.
3. Evangelism is for all believers. God’s word tells us to have answers and boldly, yet graciously, share the Gospel. This is central in our love for the Lord and others. Understanding Jesus' sacrificial death on our behalf and his unmerited favor and love toward us, we desire to reach out to others as he reached out to us by proclamation, personal witnessing, and lifestyle evangelism.
4. Prayer is a vital ministry in and of itself. It is how we pour out our hearts to God and seek his direction and blessing on all we do in his name. Committing ourselves to pray for our church body and its ministries assures us we have confidence in God's ability and not our own. This gives us hope as we wait and anticipate God's marvelous grace.
5. God has given spiritual gifts to his people. Every believer is equipped by God to serve in some capacity within the church, and each one has unique talents or spiritual gifts that are needed by the church. We are, in fact, commanded to eagerly desire spiritual gifts that strengthen the body of Christ. We only attain true wholeness and completeness as we both offer and exercise all our gifts for the good of the church.
6. Relationships of mutual love, trust, and respect are critical to the development of the church body, which is comprised of individual members. These individuals have needs and seek acceptance and encouragement in a safe environment. As Jesus demonstrated his love by spending time with needy people, we also must take time to get to know each other, being open and vulnerable.
LONG TERM GOALS
In 10 years time Community Bible Church will consist of believers whose desire is to know Christ intimately and make Him known to others. This will be an imperative, motivated by their belief in the imminent return of Christ. This motivating factor will cause CBC to be an integral part of the community, having expanded and enhanced teaching and outreach capabilities. This will result in the following means and ministries:
A. The building of a Ministry Center equipped to meet the needs of CBC's expanded membership and its service and outreach ministries.
B. Being an integral part of the community and committed to lifestyle evangelism, we will make our facilities available to local groups in support of community activities and especially those related to children and families.
C. The activities and ministries developed will be based on CBC's Core Values and will provide channels of ministry within the church body as well as channels of ministry to the community and world around us. This means that CBC will have developed a process for helping its members recognize and be encouraged in their spiritual gifts as well as a means of helping members identify, create, or contribute to appropriate service and ministry opportunities.
D. We will have several major efforts under the following categories of service:
B. Being an integral part of the community and committed to lifestyle evangelism, we will make our facilities available to local groups in support of community activities and especially those related to children and families.
C. The activities and ministries developed will be based on CBC's Core Values and will provide channels of ministry within the church body as well as channels of ministry to the community and world around us. This means that CBC will have developed a process for helping its members recognize and be encouraged in their spiritual gifts as well as a means of helping members identify, create, or contribute to appropriate service and ministry opportunities.
D. We will have several major efforts under the following categories of service:
1. Relationships - Providing opportunities and means for believers to be refreshed and renewed in their relationship with Christ and their relationships with one another: retreats, small groups, special Bible studies, and/or prayer times, etc.
2. Media - Making Christ known through developing and distributing whatever media is most likely to reach a wide audience or a particular age or social group: radio programs, internet information and features, tracts/fliers, music/concerts, movies, lectures, drama, art, and special events, etc.
3. Biblical Counseling - For Christians and non-Christians alike, in an effort to show the love of Christ to those in need: for salvation, for finances, married couples, singles, unwed mothers, new believers, those struggling with pornography, homosexuality, drug addiction, alcoholism, etc.
4. Evangelism - Training for and actual presentation of the Gospel message in and through various creative evangelistic forums to include Lifestyle evangelism: seminars/classes on presenting the gospel, special speakers, setting up a booth for Highland Day, sharing Christ with neighbors in various and creative ways, etc.
5. Studying Current Trends Biblically - Living in the world but not of it: understanding current world views, philosophies, and lifestyles against the backdrop of the Bible. The purpose is to effectively respond in love to those we seek to reach for Christ in: creation vs. evolution, single parenthood with its challenges and effects, abortion, the economy and financial stability, issues of life, death and dying, beliefs in multiple ways to God, etc.
6. Serving The Body - Creating, supporting, and participating in ministries within the church, to build up the body in love for each other and for Jesus Christ: ministry to youth, music/worship, small group ministries, etc.
7. Serving The World - Creating, supporting, and participating in ministries serving our community and the world around us with local ministries focusing on meeting needs and lifestyle evangelism: participating in foreign and domestic mission trips, learning about and supporting more missionaries, hosting and leading a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group, leading a prison ministry, setting up a food pantry, helping the poor, homeless, elderly, hospitalized or handicapped, Vacation Bible School, tutoring children, etc.
2. Media - Making Christ known through developing and distributing whatever media is most likely to reach a wide audience or a particular age or social group: radio programs, internet information and features, tracts/fliers, music/concerts, movies, lectures, drama, art, and special events, etc.
3. Biblical Counseling - For Christians and non-Christians alike, in an effort to show the love of Christ to those in need: for salvation, for finances, married couples, singles, unwed mothers, new believers, those struggling with pornography, homosexuality, drug addiction, alcoholism, etc.
4. Evangelism - Training for and actual presentation of the Gospel message in and through various creative evangelistic forums to include Lifestyle evangelism: seminars/classes on presenting the gospel, special speakers, setting up a booth for Highland Day, sharing Christ with neighbors in various and creative ways, etc.
5. Studying Current Trends Biblically - Living in the world but not of it: understanding current world views, philosophies, and lifestyles against the backdrop of the Bible. The purpose is to effectively respond in love to those we seek to reach for Christ in: creation vs. evolution, single parenthood with its challenges and effects, abortion, the economy and financial stability, issues of life, death and dying, beliefs in multiple ways to God, etc.
6. Serving The Body - Creating, supporting, and participating in ministries within the church, to build up the body in love for each other and for Jesus Christ: ministry to youth, music/worship, small group ministries, etc.
7. Serving The World - Creating, supporting, and participating in ministries serving our community and the world around us with local ministries focusing on meeting needs and lifestyle evangelism: participating in foreign and domestic mission trips, learning about and supporting more missionaries, hosting and leading a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group, leading a prison ministry, setting up a food pantry, helping the poor, homeless, elderly, hospitalized or handicapped, Vacation Bible School, tutoring children, etc.