Not all Vineyard churches are alike, but they all do share essential elements of Christian doctrine and practice. Values determine who we are and what we do. They give us our core identity as a movement. Our practices are also determined by what we value.
Listed below are our Core values that will give you insight into what we believe and practice
1. Theology and Practice of The Kingdom
- The Kingdom of God and its effects are the basis for much of the Old Testament perspectives on the coming Messiah.
- When Jesus the Messiah came, he preached and performed the works of God’s Kingdom.
- We see the Kingdom of God as an important theme that is intertwined throughout the Bible.
- We wish to see the “already and not yet” of the kingdom in our words and deeds.
- This is expressed through healing that is physical, emotional, and social.
- It is also expressed through doing justice and deliverance for those held captive physically and spiritually.
2. Culturally Current – Culturally Relevant Mission
- One of the vital purposes of the church is to reach out to those who are lost.
- The Good News should be delivered to all peoples.
- We are to “translate” the message of Jesus into the language and forms of various peoples and cultures.
- We wish to be creative and innovative in doing ministry to reach those who are far away from God.
- Simplicity – the value of the next generation.
- We don’t do things for the sake of “effect.”
3. Ministry to the Poor – Compassionate Ministry
- God has a special place in his heart for the lost, poor, outcasts, and foreigners.
- We are to reach them with the compassion of Christ.
- There must be an attitude of mercy as we reach out to the poor.
- We must value the words of Jesus “as you have done to the least of these, you have done to me.”
- We must be moved with compassion for the poor – regardless of the cause of their sufferings.
4. Evangelism – Reconciling Community
- The basic reason for the incarnation of Jesus is to reconcile people to God and to each other.
- We are committed to being a community of healing so that we can reconcile people to God where sin has separated them from him.
- Our personal preferences must be put aside to minister to those who are lost.
- We are to be a community that reconciles people to God.
- Purposely break barriers of race, culture, gender, and class for the purpose of the Gospel.
5. Worship – Experiencing God
- We respond to God and his love for us through worship.
- Since God’s presence is real in our midst, we respond to him in worship.
- Praise, adoration and expressions of our love to God are important aspects of worship.
- We value simplicity and avoid hype and manipulation in our worship.
- A natural interaction with the people and their God is our expectation in worship.
These are important core values that unite our movement. We value and cherish them in each local church. We wish to see these elements expressed and practiced in the church and the lives of the believers.
Adoor Vineyard 