Core Values

Anchored on the bedrock of core beliefs, Greenville Oaks Church of Christ is built on the solid foundation of five universal values and four unique values. Our universal values are generally accepted by most churches as core values. Our unique values are more specific to our congregation. Together these values define the essence of our identity; they define what we are all about; they drive everything we do.

Universal Values

  • Connect - We value connecting with God and other people in a community of faith where we truly belong and learn to love God and each other as a healthy family.

“. . . so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Rom. 12:5)

  • Grow - We value corporate and personal Bible study that challenges us to grow stronger in our faith and be transformed to become more Christlike in our thoughts, feelings and actions.

“Let your roots grow down into Christ and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth.” (Col. 2:7 LB)

“As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

  • Serve - We value serving others (within the church, our community and beyond) with our time and resources, and our unique talents, gifts, skills and abilities as worship to God.

“. . . equip the saints for the work of ministry.” (Eph. 4:12 NRSV)

“God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. … Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory.” (I Peter 4:10-11 NLT)

  • Share - We value seeing God at work in our lives so clearly that we are compelled to share the joy and hope we’ve found in Christ with all who do not know Him.

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (1 Thes. 2:8)

“Those who believe in the Son of God have a testimony of God in them.” (I John 5:10a GWT)

  • Honor - We value truly honoring God in simple, authentic worship through the daily outpouring of our praise and devotion that comes as we see God working in our lives and experience the transforming power of His grace.

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” (Matt. 4:10)

“… worship Him continually.” (Psalm 105:4 TEV)

 

Unique Values

  • Freedom in Christ - We value the same type of radical freedom and innovation that was the hallmark of the first century church and that led the fathers of the American Restoration Movement to seek to unite followers of Christ and to break down barriers between people.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

  • Unity - We value the powerful unity that comes when we lovingly accept and respect one another in spite of our differences.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:1-3)

  • Prayer - We value prayer and believe God hears and answers our prayers in powerful and effective ways.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

  • Family - We value and strive to strengthen all families. We recognize that the family is the core of all society and we seek to strengthen the relationships between husbands and wives and their children and between single parents and their children and between those who live alone.

“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor you father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4)