Core Values: Concluding Study

Aim

Summarise the most important issues that have emerged from the studies and decide how to

disseminate what has been learned and how to allow the studies to shape the church community

Following Jesus Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 2:13-17; Mark 10:17-21

Foundational to each of the Core Values for a Gospel people (Worshipping, Prophetic, Inclusive,

Sacrificial, Missionary) is the phrase ‘Following Jesus in...’

The idea is that if we really took the things that Jesus said and did as the template for our lives as

individuals and communities then we would be very different and have a more significant impact on

the world around us.

Worshipping Matthew 10:1-6; Mark 1:29-35; Acts 1:4-5 & 12-14

To explore the importance of ‘a worshipping community’ which is integral to all the other

studies.

• What does the phrase ‘follow me mean to us as a church?

• How much of church life is centred around helping people to do the things that Jesus did?

Prophetic Amos 5:1-24; John 2:12-22

To begin to understand more about the nature of prophecy in the Bible, and how we

might apply that within our own church community and become a prophetic people.

• We often think of prophets as lone voices. What could be the strength of being a prophetic

community? What would a prophetic church be like?

• Alternatively, what kind of things do we wish to promote and commend? To speak prophetically

doesn’t mean you have to be negative. There should be things that we want to be positive about.

Inclusive Luke 10:25-37; Mark 2:13-17; 1 Peter 2:10

To consider how the church is called to be like Jesus in his welcoming attitude to

everyone, and to find practical ways in which we can follow his example.

• The religious leaders Jesus encountered were wary of contact with ‘sinners’ in case their faith

and purity became contaminated. Can the you think of any similar attitudes amongst religious

people today?

Sacrificial Luke 13:20-21; Mark 8:27-38; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

To consider the challenge of following Jesus in accepting the vulnerability and the

necessity of sacrifice as individuals and churches for the sake of the gospel, and working

for the Kingdom as yeast works in bread dough.

• Much of church life is about building up the church; about church growth; about succeeding as a

church. What would it mean for the church to lose itself?

Missionary John 20:19-33

To show that simply following Jesus and obeying his commands is naturally evangelistic.

When we are worshipping, prophetic, inclusive and sacrificial we become a missionary

community.

It has been suggested that the quality of living of the early believers was so distinctive and

attractive that people were intrigued to find out more and were naturally led to repentance and

conversion so organised evangelism was unnecessary. (Lohfink G Jesus and community: the

social dimension of Christian faith Fortress Press, 1984)

• Do you think this would work today?

• Would you say that our lifestyle is evangelistic?

Forgiveness as a lifestyle choice

Jesus. How significant should forgiving people be in an evangelistic strategy?