The Core Values of City Harvest Worship Center

Submitted by chwclilb on Tue, 02/01/2011 - 21:21

The Core Values of CHWC

1. Build a house of prayer, praise, worship, and warfare.

2. Make disciples of all believers equipping them for service.

3. Live in relational community.

4. Walk in purity and holiness.

5. Live to minister Father’s love to others.

6. Take dominion under God—an eschatology of victory.

I. House of Prayer, Praise, Worship and Warfare

A. The tabernacle of David is the model.

Acts 15:13-18—‘After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’ SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.’’

1. 1 Chron. 15:16, 22, 24; 16:4-6—shows the tabernacle of David had continual praise, prayer and worship.

2. David and his mighty men gathered in the tabernacle to worship

before going to war.

3. People entered the tabernacle of David without blood sacrifice as a

result of David’s revelation of the lamb slain before the foundation

of the world (Ps. 22). David live in new covenant reality as did

Moses, Abraham and others which was God’s intention all along.

B. Christ has called the church to rule with Him as He rules the heavens and the earth. Through prayer, praise, worship, etc. we can rule with Christ through the weapons of the kingdom.

1. Ps. 22:3—‘Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the

praises of Israel (the people of God).’

2. Eph. 2:5-6—‘… made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have

been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’

C. Christ has called us to be a house of prayer for the benefit of the nations.

1. Mk. 11:17—‘… Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED

A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’?...’

2. Col. 4:2—‘Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an

attitude ofthanksgiving.’

3. Mat. 6:9-13—‘Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’’

4. Psalms 110:1-7—‘… The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”’ (Ps. 2)

D. Father has formed us for Himself so that we might praise Him (Is. 43:21).

1. Ps. 34:1-3—We should praise the Lord at all times as a weapon of

victory.

2. Praise is an expressions of adoration and exaltation for the Lord that is released through celebration, shouting, singing, clapping, dancing, etc. (Ps. 47:1; 98:4; 149:1-3) and using every sort of instrumentation

(Ps. 150:3-5).

3. Praise is a weapon of the Spirit that silences the enemy and binds his

power (Ps. 149:8-9; 8:2; 2 Chron. 20:17-23).

E. Father is seeking those who will worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:23-24).

1. Song of Songs—pictures our intimate relationship with Christ.

2. Revelation—shows how worship is present always in the presence of

the Lord.

II. Make disciples of all believers equipping them for service.

A. Mat. 28:18-20—‘…All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

B. Disciples are made, not born.

1. Colossians 1:28—‘We proclaim Christ, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ.’

2. Jesus demands that we pay the price as we are called to maturity as disciples!! (Mat. 16:24-26, Mk. 12:29-31, 8:34-38, 10:29-30, Lk. 9:57-62, 12:51-53, 14:26-35)

3. Discipleship occurs sovereignly by the Holy Spirit and Word of God.

(Jn. 8:31-32, 16:13, 2 Tim. 3:16-17, 1 Jn. 2:27)

4. Discipleship is aided by gift ministries. (Eph. 4:11-16, Heb. 13:17)

5. Jesus’ pattern of discipleship was a one on one method. (2 Tim. 2:2)

6. Discipleship occurs on a personal basis out of a relationship with mature saints who help you to grow in Christ. Discipleship involves practical training, encouragement, correction, demonstration, etc.

The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'.

7. 1 Pet. 4:10—‘Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’

C. As a disciple of Christ, your most important concern is your personal relationship with Christ Jesus.

1. God’s Word = spiritual food (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Ps. 119:105, Ps. 1,

Joshua 1:8)

2. Prayer=spiritual drink (Col. 4:2, 1 Thes. 5:17, Lk. 18:1)

3. Fellowship=communion with believers (Acts 2:46-47, Heb. 10:23-25)

4. Outreach=sharing about Jesus with others (2 Cor 5:18-21, 2 Tim. 4:5)

a. 80% of all converts are reached by a friend or family member

b. Your mission field is all those people you presently know—friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.

D. The church is a family of believers and an army of God. Discipleship is necessary to bring everyone into a place of maturity. Following are some of the areas of discipleship emphasis in the church:

1. Life Fellowships—learn to work together as a team to serve each other and reach out to the lost (1 Pt. 4:10).

2. Follow-up of new converts using the one on one method of discipleship.

3. Developing everyone to maturity in Christ.

a. Training and releasing laborers into the harvest.

b. Training and releasing people to lead areas of ministry.

c. Training and releasing everyone to function in their gifts.

4. Seminars and conferences with a particular emphasis.

5. Special meetings for couples, youth, singles, etc.

6. Special discipleship intensives.

7. Book library, CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs, videos, etc.

III. Live in relational community.

‘Community is the very essence of the church, and the very lifestyle

of the Kingdom. The church is community.’ Arthur Wallis

A. Community is the place of fellowship where our hearts are knit together in friendship that is built on covenant. Fellowship is the from the Greek word, ‘koinonia,’ meaning a shared and common life together.

1. Acts 2:42-47, Heb. 10:24-25—Devotion to receiving teaching together, fellowship, meals together, and to prayer.

2. Acts 2:45, 4:32—Meeting one another’s needs by sharing our finances, homes, and possessions.

3. Acts 2:46—Relationships through sharing meals, social activities, etc.

4. Acts 2:47, 4:24—Praying together so that we can reach the world together.

5. Acts 4:32, 1 Cor. 1:10, Ps. 133—Having one heart and mind together to achieve God’s purpose for the kingdom.

6. Life Fellowships—believers meeting from house to house (Acts 2:46, 5:42, Rom. 16:5)

a. Reach out to neighbors by serving their needs.

b. Build personal relationships with ‘family’ members.

c. Help apply Biblical teachings in a practical way.

d. Place where gifts and ministries can be identified and developed.

e. Place to serve one another practically.

B. Loving one another.

1. Jn. 13:35—‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’

2. 1 Cor. 1:10—‘I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.’

All members are expected to protect the unity of the church by acting in love towards other members, by refusing to gossip and cause strife, and by following the church leadership.

3. Speak well of one another. Eph. 4:29—‘Do not let any unwholesome word come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.’

4. Heb. 13:17—‘Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.’

5. Overcoming all prejudices. Eph. 2:14-16—‘For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.’

IV. Walking in purity and holiness—Rom. 6:11-14

A. 1 Pt. 1:13-17—‘Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.’

As we walk in holiness and purity as a people, the spirit of holiness will protect us from the defilements of the world. To the degree that you walk in purity of heart and mind, to that degree will you be able to reveal the Holy Spirit.

B. God requires us to walk in holiness and purity, individually and corporately, in our relationship with Him and in our relationship with others.

1. Titus 2:11-15—‘…deny ungodliness and worldly desires…’

2. 1 Jn. 3:6-10—‘…no one who is born of God will continue in sin…’

3. 1 Cor. 6:9-11, Gal. 5:19-21—the unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom

4. 1 Cor 6:16-20—‘…glorify God with your body…’

5. Heb. 12:14—‘…without holiness no man will see the Lord…’

6. 1 Tim. 5:1-2—‘…treat the younger women as sisters in all purity…’

7. 1 Thes. 4:1-8—‘…learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable’

8. 1 Cor. 7:1, 27, 32-35—give undistracted devotion to the Lord

IV. Live to minister Father’s love to others.

A. Mat. 5:13-16—‘You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’

Christ has called everyone to be an example of kingdom life to the world.

As we ‘display’ the kingdom through our lifestyle, we will reveal the

Father and His life to others.

1. 1 Pt. 4:10—‘As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one

another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’

2. 1 Cor. 12:5-11; Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:11-16

3. 2 Cor. 5:18-20—‘Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.’

V. Take dominion under God. See Paradise Restored—recommended reading

A. Gen. 1:26-28—God’s original mandate for mankind—‘Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”’

Salvation restores man to his original purpose in exercising dominion under God over the earth. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17, 21) who have been recreated in God’s image (Eph. 24; Col. 3:10) clothed again with the glory of God (Rom. 8:29-30) and stand securely in Christ who is our salvation. Biblical salvation turns back the curse (Gal. 3:13), brings back Edenic conditions, reconciles personal and social relationships, and blesses the earth, ‘For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.’ (Is. 11:9).

B. Christ is King of all the heavens and the earth NOW!! (Mat. 28:18, Dan. 7:13-14; Acts 2:30-36, Ps. 110; 2)

1. He sits at the right hand of universal rule of the Father (Mk. 16:19;

Lk. 22:69; Acts 7:55-56; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20-22; Col. 1:13; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pt. 3:22).

2. His kingdom was established when He came. It continues to grow until all the earth is leavened with kingdom culture (Mat. 13:31-33).

3. Our resurrection (new birth) is an extension of Christ’s resurrection

(1 Cor. 15:20, Rom. 6:1-7) as we are now one with Him (Gal. 2:20) and seated with Him in heavenly places to rule with Him (Eph. 2:6).

4. When Christ returns (i.e. after all His enemies are made a footstool for His feet) all will be resurrected, the righteous and the wicked, and all will stand before Him (Acts 24:15; Jn. 5:26-29; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 20;11-15; 1 Cor. 15:20-26).

C. Ps. 110—most quoted Psalm in New Testament revealing the revelation

of the apostles that lead to turning the world upside down for Christ.

1. Mat. 28:18-20—‘And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’

2. The great commission gives us the insight to fulfill the prophetic scriptures that speak of the kingdom of God transforming the earth (Is. 2:2-5; 9:2-7; 11:1-10; 32:15-17; 40:4-11; 42:1-12; 49:1-26; 56:3-8; 60:1-22; 61:1-11; 62:1-12; 65:1-25; 66:1-24).

3. Worship in David’s tabernacle released songs of victory for God’s people (Ps. 22:27; 37:9-11; 46:8-10; 47:1-3; 66:4; 72:8-11; 86:9;

138:4-5; 149).

4. Our civilization and culture will either rise of fall based on our obedience to the covenant of God (Dt. 28) because the blessings of covenant are conditional.

D. We believe that Mat. 24 and most of the book of Revelation were historically fulfilled in the first century in the destruction of Jerusalem 68-72AD. We live in the millennial reign of Christ now (Eph. 1:19-23, 3:10, 4:10-16, Col. 1:18, Mat. 28:18-20, Rev. 20:1-6) and see that His purpose through His church is to bring all His enemies under His feet as His kingdom increases throughout the earth and all the nations come to serve Him alone (Is. 9:6-7, Ps 22:27-28, 24:1-10, Mat. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-20).

**See CHWC website for teachings on Mat. 24 and Revelation.

E.Jesus gives a mandate for complete social transformation.

1. Mat. 5:13-16—‘You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.’ (Mat. 13:33)

2. Mat. 16:18-19—‘…upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”