7 Values
The Seven Values of a Fully Devoted Believer...
"I have come to give you life, and life more abundantly". . . Jesus
Victory Church does not strive to be "church as usual" , instead we are designed to be church UNUSUAL. The Seven Core Values you will learn about here are the yardsticks with which we measure the spiritual growth of every member. We are not content to see you just "join" our church, we're not happy until you are growing towards God and achieving your potential.
You are valuable! That is why God created you. We want to add to your value by developing these Seven Core Values in you. And, we want you to discover your own value and put it to use in the service of God.
"Our church exists to inspire you to be more like Christ" . . . Pastor Mike Ware
Senior Pastor Mike Ware has organized these seven values as spokes in a wheel, each one traveling towards the center, towards the heart of God. We call this "The Circle (or Wheel) of Life". Our small groups, services, meetings, sermons, staff, weekend encounters, and all of our ministries are organized around these Seven Core Values, so that once you know where you are on the Circle of Life, you can begin to take your "next steps" towards God. We believe that the needs of the people cannot be met until the people meet the call of God.
"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do" . . . God
If your life lacks vital Godly foundations, it's time to change. We have Seven Core Values that will keep you on the path to Christ. Come and join us, and we will run the race of life together.
"Discovering truth will often irritate you before it will liberate you." . . . Pastor Mike Ware
The Seven Values
LOVING GOD
"And you must love the Lord your God will all your hear, soul, mind, and with all your strength." "If you love me, you will keep my commands.". . . Jesus
Loving God is the gateway to becoming a Fully Devoted Believer. We must love Him with our thoughts and imaginations, with every breath that is in us, with every decision we make, with our feelings and emotions, with all our might and ability. We must accept all that God is, if we are to love Him this was. In all of this, God wants a loving relationship with us. The Bible says, "We love Him because He first loved us." Therefore, we set our hearts to love Him deeply and completely.
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Loving God"
Trust - Do you do things your way or God's way? It is believing that God actually told you the truth! Proverbs 3:5-6
Trade - What things haven't you given to God? He traded one Son in hopes of gaining many sons and daughters. John 3:16
Time - God offers you eternity, how much time do you offer Him? You can't date God - you must slip the ring on forever. Matthew 26:40
Truthfulness - Do you defend things in your life that are worthless? Be honest with God, honest with others, and honest with yourself. Matthew 23:28
Teachable - How willing are you to let God "make you" into a fully devoted believer? You can't change what you are until you change what you learn. Ephesians 4:11-13
Tested - Is your love for God strong enough to endure testing? God always tests love to determine if it is true. Luke 18:18-23
Treasure - What do you think on, dwell on, build on and count on? "For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.". . . Jesus Matthew 6:21
COMMUNITY
"And you must love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, mind, and all your strength... and love your neighbor as yourself." ...Jesus
Jesus said we are to love God and love people. Loving God is our upward devotion and loving people is our outward devotion. Everything God does is through relationships, and He wants everything we do to be through relationships, too. God always sent people out by twos or more, never alone. "We are fitly joined together so that every joint will supply" . . . Paul. Therefore, if you are not joined to others, then you will not be supplied and you will not supply others. No member cut off from the body lives.
Christ is the head, we are the body. But we're meant to be a partnership, not a membership! We can't meet as a bunch of disconnected body parts! Are you a body part, or are you a part of the body?
Seven Ways to measure your value of "Community"
Connected - Are you a participator or a spectator? You are connected if you are helping to grow the body of believers. Ephesians 4:16
Compassionate - Are you moved by sympathy or frozen by apathy? Every time Jesus "had compassion" on people, he did miracles! Ephesians 4:2, 32
Changed - Do you still live the way you lived before you met Jesus? The relationships you permit determine the standards you display. Ephesians 4:17
Character - Have you put off old ways and begun to speak the truth? Those of great character do nothing that could hurt the body of believers. Ephesians 4:22-26
Choices - Do your words and actions build unity or divisions? "I...beseech you to walk worthy of your calling...to keep the unity of the Spirit" . . . Paul Ephesians 4:1, 3
Complete - Do you allow others to correct and complete you? You can't crucify yourself - you can get all the nails in but one! Ephesians 4:11-13
Committed - Do you only participate when it's convenient? Commitment begins when love and fear make us what we otherwise would not be. Ephesians 5
Purpose
"Without a vision my people perish." . . .God
We need to know why we are here. Our lives are a search for significance. We are in danger of becoming fully devoted wanderers if we fail to embrace this value. God has given you something unique and valuable. You have a particular combination of skills and abilities, giftings and experiences, and they are all related to God's purpose for you because you were "fearfully and wonderfully made" by God (Ps. 139:14). We get frustrated when we try to achieve an unknown purpose, but understanding our one, true, God-given purpose is a master motivator in our lives. However, you weren't created for your will, but for His will.
Just remember, "You don't ask an invention what its purpose is, you ask the inventor." That inventor would be God.
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Purpose"
Decision - Are you choosing to pursue God's purpose for your life? If you give your time to something that is not your purpose, you've just stolen life from your purpose. Ephesians 5:16
Discover - What do your talents, giftings, experiences, interests, and personality indicate that God has created you to do? If you want to discover your purpose, ask your Creator. Job 12:10
Define - What are you focusing your life on? "Many are the plans of man but the purposes of God will prevail." ...God Matthew 7:21-23
Develop - How are you redirecting your life to achieve God's purpose for you? God loves it when you develop towards your purpose. 2 Peter 1:3-8
Dedicate - What obstacles are still preventing you from God's purpose for your life? If you're going through hell right now, don't stop! Move on! Philippians 3:7
Demonstrate - What have you done that demonstrates God's purpose for you? "Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all" . . .James 2:17-18
Destiny - Have you grown enough in your understanding of God to know what He wants you to do with your life? Destiny is to disappear into the purpose of God. John 17:21-23
Personal Growth
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength...Love your neighbor as yourself." . . .Jesus
Becoming a "Fully Devoted Believer" means developing every aspect of your personal life. This includes the spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, and relational elements of your life. We must each grow and be healthy in every one of these areas if we are to experience the abundant life in Christ. If we are weak, sickly, or fail to develop in even one of these areas, it can threaten our effectiveness in every other area of our service to God and His people. We are not interested in helping people feel better about how they live; we want to help people live better! God has given you the ingredients - let's do the baking!
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Personal Growth"
Focus - What are you doing right now to better yourself? Personal growth is achieved by intentional focus. You will go where you're looking. James 1:8
Fruit - What are the fruits of your spiritual life so far? We reap what you sow. We eat what we grow. The fruits of the Spirit are the evidence of a healthy spiritual life. Colossians 1:10-12
Fun - Are you enjoying the fruits of your labors? Having good, clean, fun is the evidence of a healthy emotional life. Psalm 16:11
Foundations - What are you studying to learn? Strong foundations of knowledge are the signs of healthy intellectual pursuits. 2 Timothy 2:15
Friends and Family - Are you sharpening others in your relationships? Having a strong family and good friends is the evidence that you maintain healthy relationships. Proverbs 27:17
Fitness - Do you keep your body as a fit temple for the Holy Spirit? Your fitness is the evidence of a healthy physical life. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Finish - What will you look like when you cross the finish line? Your finish will be the evidence of your personal growth. Philippians 3:8-14
Servanthood
"Those that would be greatest among you will be servants of all." . . . Jesus
When God calls you His "servant", it's the greatest title you can receive. Servanthoos is the same as sainthood to God. We discover God's abundant life for us by living the servant's life. Greatness in God's eyes comes when we humbly discover, develop, and use what God has already given us for the sake and service of others. Servanthood is all about giving your life and service to Christ. Jesus, our example to follow, said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me." It's about giving over to the Lord every gift, talent, ability and resource you have to be used by and for God. You are, "created to do good works"!
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Servanthood"
Surrender - Are you doing God's work or your work in God's name? Surrender to God is the foundation of Servanthood. James 4:17
Submitted - Do you HAVE to do God's will, or do you WANT to do God's will? Submission to God is the attitude of Servanthood. James 4:7
Sacrifice - What are you willing to give up to serve Christ? Sacrifice is the price of Servanthood. Mark 10:29-30
Sharing - What do you have that someone else needs? Sharing is the demonstration of Servanthood. Philippians 2:4
Skills - How must you develop to become a stronger servant? "Skills" are the development of Servanthood. 2 Peter 1:3-4
Secret - When did you serve Christ and no one else knew about it? Secrecy is the maturity of Servanthood. Matthew 6:3-4
Stand - How are you being absorbed into constant service? To Stand constant in service is the result of Servanthood. Ephesians 6:13
Generosity
"Freely you have received, freely give." . . . Jesus
We need to walk in the path of Generosity. It's not the least important of our Seven Values. In fact, Generosity clearly describes the character, nature, and spirit of Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus offers this world - forgiveness, mercy, grace, blessings, hope, eternal life and more - are motivated by His generosity. God said we are made in His image. That means we are to be just like Him. God put a generosity "gene" in us. To be Fully Devoted Believers, we must activate that "gene" and become absorbed in His spirit of Generosity.
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Generosity"
Responsibility - How is your life generous? Responsibility is the call to Generosity. 1 Peter 4:10
Release - Are you planting seed or, holding on to it, or eating it? Release is the expectation of Generosity. Galatians 6:7-8
Reap - Where have you already sowed seed for a harvest? Reaping is the reward of Generosity. Luke 6:38
Reverse - Are you on the path of growth or greed? Reverse is the path of Generosity for those who turn from greed. Matthew 3:8
Recover - What can your generosity restore to your life? Recovery is the restoration of Generosity. Joel 2:21-26
Revealed - Are you going to die as broken as Jesus? Christ revealed in us is the destiny of Generosity. Matthew 6:3-4
Remember - What acts of generosity will you be remembered for? Remembering is the legacy of Generosity. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Sharing Faith
"Go into all the world and share the Good News." . . . Jesus
The sharing of your faith with others not only demonstrates your love for God, but it is also the bedrock proof that you love God. Why wouldn't you want to share all that He has done for you? If you really are in love, you can't contain yourself. This is why God created you to have influence and impact on others so that, "none should perish but that all would find eternal life". Jesus didn't call you to "come to Him", but to "go for Him". After all, two thirds of God's name is "GO"! If you won't go, who will?
Seven Ways to Measure Your Value of "Sharing Faith"
Wisdom - Why should you lead people to Christ? Wisdom is the desire to win souls to Jesus. Proverbs 11:30
Weakness - Do you let your weaknesses rule your faith? Our weakness is whatever Jesus overcomes in us so we can share our faith. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Wrestling - Do you use your armor to protect you or to send you? Wrestling is the battlefield of sharing faith with others. Ephesians 6:11-20
Watch - Are you a lookout asleep on the wall? "Watch" is God's strategy for us to share our faith. Ezekiel 33:3-6
Willing - Are you willing to allow others to go to hell? "Willing" is your attitude for sharing our faith. 2 Peter 3:9
Works - Who will you present to God as the fruit of sharing your faith? Works is the evidence that you share your faith. James 2:16-20
Witness - Is your Christian life worth sharing with others? Witnessing is the lifestyle of sharing faith with others. Acts 1:8
