Our core values are the constant, biblical, core beliefs that unite the people who are committed to Pleasant View Bible Church, and that motivate us to serve our Lord together. Although the logical order of these values is significant, we desire to keep all of these values in balance. Identifying these values as our core values doesn't mean that we think we consistently achieve all of these completely, but we are committed to developing in each of these areas together.

OUR COMMITMENT TO GOD

    We believe that our highest priority is to seek God's will and to please Him so that He is glorified in everything we do. All of our activities as God's people should be totally dependent on Him and be for the purpose of glorifying Him.   Is. 48:11; Rom. 11:36; 15:5-6; 16:27; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Gal. 1:5; Eph. 1:3-14; 3:20-21; Phil. 1:10-11; 4:20; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:18; 

Heb. 13:20-21; 1 Pet. 5:10-11; Jude 24-25; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:13; 7:11-12; 19:1

OUR COMMITMENT TO RELEVANT BIBLE EXPOSITION

    We believe that the teaching of God's Word is central to everything we do. We want to understand what He has revealed, and obey Him. God's Word-not our personal preferences-is our final authority.   Josh. 1:7-8; Ps. 1:1-3; 19:7-11; 119:9-16, 105, 112; 1 Cor. 2:10-16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:1-5; Titus 1:9; Heb. 4:12; 5:11-14; Jas. 1:21-25; 1 Pet. 1:23-2:3; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Rev. 1:3

OUR COMMITMENT TO PRAYER

    We believe that God accomplishes His purposes in the church and in the world in response to the believing prayer of His people. Therefore prayer is central to everything we do.   Matt. 6:9-13; 7:7-11; 21:21-22; Acts 4:23-31; Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-19; 6:18-20; Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 1:9-12; 4:2-4; Jas. 5:13-18

OUR COMMITMENT TO AUTHENTIC WORSHIP

    We believe that God created us to worship Him. Each individual, and the church corporately, is called to worship Him spontaneously, from the heart. Our corporate worship should be the culmination of time spent with God all week, not an event that only happens on Sunday. Our goal in worship is to communicate with God himself and express our praise to Him. True worship involves both heart and mind, offering our best to God. Worship is our logical response to God for who He is and for what He has done for us.    Ps. 29:1-2; 100; 150; John 4:19-24; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 5:18-20; Heb. 12:28-29

OUR COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY

    We believe that God is more concerned about our character and integrity than He is about our service. All of God's people should be concerned about personal holiness and faithfulness, in order that we might please Him. This is especially true of leaders among God's people. When godly leaders lead, godly people will follow. Leaders must lead God's people in His ways, by example, by teaching, and by restoration according to biblical principles.    Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:20-24; 5:3-5, 8-10; 1 Tim. 4:12-16; 6:11; Titus 1:5-8; 2:1-14; 1 Pet. 1:13-16; 1 John 1:5-7; Heb. 12:5-11; Matt. 18:15-22; I Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10-11; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; 3:1-5

OUR COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE

    We believe that people are more important than programs or facilities. In all of our activities we should be concerned about our relationships with people. Our worship service is designed to promote our sense of oneness with other members of the body of Christ. Our adult classes encourage sharing our lives in fellowship with others. Our flock groups exist to encourage intimacy and accountability. Our concern for people motivates us to encourage people facing difficult times and to assist people with physical and material needs.   Matt. 7:12; 27:36-40; John 13:34-35; Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37; 6:1-7; 1 Cor. 13; Phil. 2:19-22; 4:10-19; 1 Thess. 1:6-12; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Philem. 7; Heb. 10:24-25; Jas. 2:8-9, 14-17, 25-26; 1 John 3:16-18; 4:7-12

OUR COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES

    We believe that healthy families are vital for developing followers of Christ. We place high priority on spending time together with our families, and encouraging one another at home to become all God wants us to be. The church seeks to help husbands and wives develop healthy relationships with one another. The family is the fundamental means God uses to train our children to follow Him also. The church seeks to help families fulfill their role. Our children's and youth ministries exist to help families teach children about God and His Word, and to prepare them to trust and to follow Him. These ministries should be vital and attractive, while maintaining their spiritual purpose and biblical integrity.   Gen. 2:18-25; Deut. 6:4-12, 20-23; Josh. 4:4-7, 20-24; 24:15; Prov. 4:1-11; 22:6; Matt. 19:13-15; 1 Cor. 7:1-5, 32-35; Eph. 5:21-6:4; 1 Thess. 1:11-12; Titus 2:6-8

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUIPPING PEOPLE FOR MINISTRY

    We believe that the church exists to edify the members of the body of Christ, and to equip them to minister to one another and to share God's love with the world.    Eph. 4:7-16; Col. 1:28-29;  2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 10:24-25

OUR COMMITMENT TO INVOLVING EVERYONE IN MINISTRY

    We believe that every believer ought to be involved in ministry, using his/her gifts in service to the body of Christ. Our leaders are responsible to help people discover how God has uniquely designed them, and assist them in finding appropriate ministries where they will be able to serve Him effectively.   Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 15:58 2 Tim. 2:20-21; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; 4:10-11

OUR COMMITMENT TO REACHING THE LOST

    We believe that God has chosen each of us as His ambassador to lead people to faith in Christ. The primary means of bringing people to Christ is not church activities, but people sharing Christ with their friends and family, within their natural network of relationships. All God's people should be involved in sharing Christ with others, beginning with that network they already have.   Matt. 4:19; 28:18-20; John 4:34-38; Acts 1:8; Rom. 10:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; Col. 4:3-4; Philem. 6; 1 Pet. 2:9; 3:15

OUR COMMITMENT TO WORLD MISSIONS

    We believe that God loved the world enough to send His Son to die for the sins of all people. People who never hear the Gospel, and thus don't believe in Christ, will spend eternity in hell. We ought to be concerned for the whole world, even as our Father cares. God calls some people to cross-cultural ministry in other parts of the world. We are privileged to participate in God's outreach to the world by praying, by sending financial support, and by considering where God wants us to serve Him. Every believer ought to consider prayerfully where God wants to use them for His glory to achieve His world-wide purpose.   Matt. 9:36-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 13:1-3; Rom. 10:14-15; 15:19-21

Revised Sept. 23, 2002