Cornerstone’s Core Values

We tried to distill the things we value most highly into a simple “Top Ten List,” but then we realized that each of these values could be exhibited very differently in diverse communities. So to generally explain how Cornerstone lives out these traits we’ve explained them more fully below.

1. Relationship… to God & others
2. Acceptance
3. Collaboration
4. Effectiveness
5. Generosity
6. Selflessness
7. Stewardship
8. Strategic
9. Truth
10. Worship

Defining Value: Relationship… to God & others

1. CORNERSTONE ~ The cornerstone that this church is built on and for everything we do is Jesus. (Eph. 2:20, 1 Pet. 2:6-7)

It’s all about Jesus. Our goal is a close, covenant relationship with Him. Anything that aids that is good, anything that takes us away should be avoided. (John 15:5) We strive to:

  • have a heart for Jesus things. We long to see others and situations through Jesus’ eyes and be His hands and feet. (Eph. 1:18, Matt. 25:45, John 14:12)
    endeavor to live a life worthy of our calling to be like Him. (1 Pet. 1:15-16; 1 Thes. 4:7; 2 Tim. 1:9)
  • keep Jesus’ book, the Bible, central. We preach/teach the Bible in context – the whole Bible, even the hard parts. We strive to align our personal lives and our church with the Bible. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12)
  • live in the true freedom that Jesus gives: in worship (Col. 3:16), in lifestyle issues (Rom. 14) and from sin (Gal. 5).
2. COMMUNITY ~ We realize we have a much bigger purpose than just living to please ourselves. (Rom. 12:5; Phil. 2:13)

God intends us to live in community. That means our internal church family, our geographic location, the greater community of believers around the world and those who don’t yet know Jesus. (Matt. 5:16)

  • We desire to tangibly fulfill the “one another” mandates of Scripture, living out community starting in multi-generational small groups. The young need the wisdom of the old and the old need the vitality of the young. (Rom. 12:5; 1 Pet. 5:5)
  • We seek opportunities to collaborate with other churches/ministries. It’s ok to share people/resources to further the kingdom here or there. We can do so much more together than independently, and win-win relationships are better than give-take. (Luke 10:1; 2 Cor. 8:13; Heb. 13:16)
  • We cherish the lost and the least over the found and the most! We try not to duplicate services others are already doing well, and rather than just waiting for people to come to us we seek out the disenfranchised and forgotten. (Luke 15:4; 2 Cor. 9:13)
  • We pray for, equip and send harvest workers to go across the street or around the world. Our goal is to always follow God’s call, but never confuse the need with the call. We desire to actively participate in the ministries God puts in our path, asking “who will do it,” not only “what needs to be done.” (Luke 10:2)
  • When Jesus calls, he calls us to crucify self and come join the community of Christ-followers. We don’t manage self, reign in passions and desires and appetites, but crucify them. We encourage trading in self-esteem for God-esteem. (Rom. 6:6 & 12:1-3)
  • As an enthusiastic Christ-following community we desire to be known for our love, joy and integrity. (John 13:35; Phil. 2:3-4)
3. CHURCH ~ Cornerstone is God’s church. (Matt. 16:18)
  • The church is God’s people. The people are gifted by God to fulfill the mission He gives them. Size, facility, format and multiplication are up to Him – our part is to be obedient.
    We respect people over program, implementing what people need instead of making people fit into programs, imported or devised. (1 Cor. 12:24-25; Phil. 2:12)
  • We put people over facility. Cornerstone is not facility-based on purpose in order to pour resources into people rather than building maintenance. (1 Pet. 4:10; Luke 10:5-7)
  • We give because God gives and he wants us to be generous. A tithe is a base line and then our ministry dollars follow our people in ministry. We don’t give just to need, out of a sense of duty or obligation, or from an emotional appeal. People are encouraged to give freely and joyfully; directly to the ministry/person, during the once a month offering march, in the box at the back on any Sunday morning, or anytime during the week at the office. We love matched giving! (John 3:16; Mal. 3:9-10)
  • We are flexible, to be where God wants us doing what He wants us to do to fulfill the great commission and great commandment. We are adaptable to change. (Mark 13:35; Phil. 4:12)
  • We decentralize decisions, authority, and ministry. We’ve established a permission giving culture. The answer is yes until there is a reason for no. (1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Cor. 1:10)
  • We strive to be strategic and shrewd. It’s not good enough to reach just one, we want to reach one that reaches one – or households! We like going where there isn’t anything rather than doing what everyone else is doing. We love to make a new believer, new leader, or new group a priority and love to launch or help existing churches! (Matt. 10:16)
  • We are God-confident – confident in God and who He has called Cornerstone to be, in who we are individually and corporately in Him, and confident that God’s purposes will be fulfilled in His time and in ways known to Him! (Eph. 2:10; 1 John 2:28)
  • We seek to communicate fully, appropriately, and transparently according to scriptural principles. We talk to people – preferably face to face – not about them, and believe communication flows in more than one direction. If there is a problem, we encourage conversation (not confrontation) between the parties to find the way to reconciliation. (1 Cor. 13:1; 2 Cor. 5:18-21)
  • We believe God gifts the church to do the mission He has for her. (1 Cor. 12:4-6) The goal isn’t necessarily ecstatic, passionate, get-carried-away spirituality. Instead, we seek daily, moment-by-moment joyful living, filled with so much God that He enables you to be fully in control of yourself, not driven by passions, desires and appetites. (2 Tim. 1:7; Rom. 12:1; Gal. 5:22-24)
  • We keep thing simple in worship, in planning, in everything we do. God’s good news is simple and easy so we don’t need to complicate it. (Matt. 11:28-30; Col. 3:16)
  • We realize that Cornerstone isn’t for everyone. If it isn’t the right fit for you, we’ll help you get to where you need to be. (John 10:16; Acts 16:10)