We use the term “passions” instead of the traditional term “values” because a passion is not only valued, it is something that truly drives you. The seven passions below really drive us, and they are the standards by which all of our ministries are measured. The term “passion” is defined by Webster’s as “intense or violent emotion.” Of course the idea of violence does not apply, but we wholly embrace the notion of intensity. In other words, we want to have our hearts in what we do. We want our whole person engaged in these seven passions. They are based on the acrostic PASSION so as to be mnemonic, and we want them to be on the front burner of each person’s mind and heart at Lifeline Community.
PASSIONATE WORSHIP
We are driven by the worship of God and believe it is our job as His community to express how much we love Him with passion. We want to worship Him with all aspects of our lives, both individually and as a community, and we want that worship to be from the depths of our heart and with our whole person engaged in proclaiming His goodness. “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul” (Psalm 108:1).
AUTHENTIC SPIRITUALITY
We think it’s important to be real. Jesus abhorred hypocrisy, and so do we. We want our lives to be filled with integrity. We are not interested in putting on facades of pseudo-spirituality. We want our lives to match what we say. “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).
SUFFICIENCY OF THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible alone is God’s written Word for humanity. It is completely true, and it is our guide for what we should believe and how we are to live. It addresses all of life, so we go to it for the answers to all of life’s dilemmas. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).
SHARING THE GOSPEL
We know that the most valuable message for the world is that salvation from judgment comes only by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. God continues to give us breath to share this message. Sharing it with others is a priority in the life of our church. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20a).
IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY
We treasure the gift of family and see it as the primary sphere of influence in our lives. We believe that strong families will make a strong church, and we want to equip families to glorify God in every area of life. “These commands that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
ONENESS IN COMMUNITY
We believe that God wants our church to be unified. This doesn't mean that we are all the same, but it does mean that our hearts are knit together and committed to a common vision and a common mission. It means that we appreciate individuality within our church and allow it to be expressed without trying to make everyone else look just like us. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
NOBILITY OF HUMANITY
We are committed to recognizing the worth of every individual. We are all made in God’s image. He loved each individual enough that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for them. Therefore He expects us to treat everyone with dignity and honor. “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? Yet you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:4-5).