Core Values

Values navigate our thoughts, words and actions. They govern all our operations. What we value will eventually determine our own sense of value or worth. Consistency in values is needed for God’s kingdom to be experienced, expressed and extended among us.

The church of Acts upheld to live continuously according to a specific set of core values. These core values became their corporate habits in order to develop a Kingdom Culture among them. Read Acts 2:42-47.

Each kingdom has its own unique culture. A kingdom’s culture is upheld by its value and vision. Jesus preached and taught one main thing: The Kingdom of God. He taught people the values and vision of his kingdom.

If kingdom values become the corporate habits of a group, they start to establish his kingdom culture in their midst. This new culture, based on kingdom values, creates an atmosphere where the King rules supremely in the hearts of people.

Based on the values given in Acts 2, we formulated a set of core values, which we encourage all youth and young adult groups to embrace and uphold. The 12 values found in the Church of Acts were categorized into the following 7 core values…

1. Connecting to the King:

   The church in Acts daily continued in prayer and in the fear of God. A wholesome connection with the King grows by developing both these disciplines. Prayer facilitates intimacy, while the worshipful fear of God works respect within our hearts, towards him as king. Our first priority is to seek the King and his kingdom! A Kingdom community is birthed and sustained by prayer and worship. Through prayer we discover the King’s will, voice, and heart. This connection enables us personally and corporately, to express or extend his kingdom.

2. Kingdom Truth:

   The church of Acts continued in the apostle’s doctrine. Apostolic doctrine is based on Kingdom truth! This doctrine is a set of beliefs that regulates our lifestyle and lays Christ as the foundation in our hearts. It continually positions the King at the centre of our thoughts and beliefs. Regular exposure to such teaching is vital for any kingdom community. The phrase ‘continued in it’ refers also to more than just listening to the apostle’s sermons. It speaks of the living out of these kingdom truths as a daily lifestyle. Together they continued to apply the truths of God’s kingdom in their everyday lives.

3. Kingdom Lifestyle:

   The church of Acts continually celebrated Communion. Communion sets our focus on Christ, reminding us of all he did on the cross. It encourages Christ-centered living! In other words, as we keep our eyes on the King, we are being changed to look and live more like him. Communion is a place of grace, forgiveness and honesty. We sincerely repent for failing to represent his Kingdom and also give forgiveness and grace to others who have harmed us. This keeps us humble and dependant as we realise that it’s not about our performance, but about Christ and his finished work! Communion helps saturate the believer’s mind and heart with the truth, reality, and power of the cross.

4. Kingdom Relationships:

   The church of Acts continued in fellowship. Fellowship goes far deeper than a glorified social club. Biblical fellowship indicates the breaking of the revelation truths (bread), received through teaching. It helps us enter into the truth by living it out as a family. This happens very effectively in small groups where we are confronted to ‘earth’ the revelation received; with questions such as; “How does this word change your life?”

   Fellowship is a place where we partake and enter into the reality of the word shared, by breaking it into bite sizes so we can absorb it into our everyday life. It’s not only about getting a hold of God’s word, but also about allowing the Word to get a hold of us! Fellowship ensures true life change as we hold each other accountable in smaller groups to apply the Word in our everyday lives.

   Kingdom cconnections are ultimately defined by our commitment to His kingdom call. The relationships between Christ’s disciples were founded upon their willingness to heed the call of following him. Today there are many unrealistic expectations towards relationship in modern generations. We however, want to seek the kingdom pattern for building friendships.

5. Kingdom Community:

   The Church of Acts shared their lives and resources to bless others! They were a true kingdom community; a group of believers unified in purpose, core beliefs, fellowship, vibrant church participation, and small group life. Here God commands his blessing, because of the unity expressed. (Ps. 133)

   • Small groups: The disciples met from house to house. Jesus started a small group in which he discipled and patterned his key apostles. In small groups we allow people to get close enough to look into our lives. It is the place where we make ourselves accountable for our attitudes and actions. It is a place of true life-change and growth!

   • Celebrations: They met continually in the Temple for corporate celebrations. A kingdom community needs to gather corporately on a regular basis to celebrate the King and his Kingdom. Corporate celebration is part of every worldly kingdom, and how much more reason do we have to celebrate together! During such celebrations a corporate anointing is released to experience, express, and extend God’s Kingdom. There is also a corporate alignment of our vision and values.

6. Kingdom attitudes:

   The Church of Acts continued steadfastly in attitudes of simplicity, generosity, joy and praise!

   • We cannot enter the Kingdom without childlike simplicity! The Kingdom of God always simplifies one’s life, in contrast to sin, which complicates it. God has designed a Kingdom so simple that children can enter it; while it confounds the ‘wise.’ This is in contrast to the cultures of modernisation which seeks to complicate our lives. Decisions become much simpler if the King has taken centre stage in our hearts and minds. Prioritising our lives according to God’s kingdom simplifies our lives. Kingdom culture is built on childlike simplicity.

   • Joy attracts people because it is an expression of God’s kingdom. (Rom. 14:17) While negativity drains us of all our energy, kingdom joy gives us supernatural strength. Gladness should be our trademark. A company’s best advertisement is the expression of joy among its employees. We have more reason to rejoice in our King and His kingdom, than any worldly kingdom. Our joy becomes contagious and draws all men to Jesus.

   • We overcome a spirit of materialism through generosity! Generous people are some of the most liberated of all! They are free to love and serve God, because mammon has no hold on them. As soon as materialism reaches out to them, they simply defeat its attempt by giving things away! The best part about being generous is that it expresses he very nature of our God and king, who gave his best for us.

   • Vibrant praise crowns Jesus as King. Praise is an attitude of continual gratefulness and flows out into vocal declaration of God’s might, love, and faithfulness. Praise releases an atmosphere of faith where all things become possible. It opens a door into the supernatural realm. Praise causes a great sense of expectation to prevail among a kingdom community. Praise turns the focus of us towards God – and set the stage for victory. Kingdom communities build a strong culture of vibrant praise into their DNA!

   God’s Kingdom is built on the condition of our hearts! It is essential to develop these and other kingdom attitudes! From our hearts flow the very issues of kingdom life!

7. Kingdom Influence:

   The church of Acts grew daily as the Lord added to their number. They reached and integrated new converts continually! There was a consistent sense of momentum and growth among them! They were an energetic people, looking for daily opportunities to advance God’s Kingdom with force! (Matt. 11:12). Influencing other for Jesus was their daily reality.

   Influence starts by taking initiative to reach others. We cannot force or manipulate people to respond to the Gospel. Convicting them is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our part is to take the first step by offering the alternative of God’s kingdom way. Our part is to knock on the door of people’s hearts, and if they open in response, to introduce our Most wonderful King and His kingdom to them.

   The church of Acts lived in the reality of having favour with God and favour with men. Kingdom citizens live with awareness that they are favoured by their king. The realisation that we are favoured by God brings and ends to striving, jealousy, competition, performance and other evils. It is this favour of God among his people that draws others into his kingdom. When people see the hand of God upon us as a church, they’ll start to join from all over.