These are the Core Values by which each Home Fellowship will operate:

1. Spirit-Directed Flexibility: to Grow and Adapt to Change (John 5:19)

"Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape".- Texan proverb


2. Self-Disclosure: to Know and Be Known (Acts 2:42-47)

"Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came." - Cheers Theme Song.

"True community is more than being together. A person does not develop trust in others simply by being in a group where members study together, pray together, and share a common group leader. Trust involves relatedness. Relatedness is more than a presence although that is the beginning. To relate, one must know, and to know one must work at being open to trust. [1]


3. Care Giving: to Love and Be Loved (John 15:13)

"But if one of you has enough money to live well, and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help - how can God's love be in that person?" (1 John 3:17 NLT)

"Loving requires active listening and thoughtful remembering, especially in a small group relationship - active listening honors others, expresses love, and puts Scripture into action. [2]


4. Humility: To Serve and Be Served (Colossians 3:12)

"Serving others may sometimes go unnoticed. But not serving others stands out like a sore thumb. [3]

"Christlike giving - includes discovering needs, then serving and loving someone who may be unable to give back. This kind of giving creates and atmosphere of humility in a small group. [4]


5. Truth-Telling: To Admonish and Be Admonished (Colossians 3:15-16)

"The ministry of admonishing calls people to change, then provides encouragement and teaching to help them change. It is an expression of genuine love and truth from which there can be no turning. [5]

"Without admonishing one another, our group life becomes shrouded in pretense, shaped by false assumptions, filled with unmet expectations. Emotions retreat underground, pain is medicated but never relieved, and the relationship we long for becomes just another name on a long list of acquaintances. [6]


6. Affirmation: To Celebrate and Be Celebrated (Hebrews 10:24-25)

"We have seen groups really take hold of the practice of celebration. Some put members in the center and speak words of affirmation. Others pause virtually every meeting to honor what God is doing in a life in the group. Groups take photos, paint pictures, write affirming letters, give gifts, and sing praises to make sure that ministry and life are celebrated. [7]"


7. Spiritual Leadership: To Train and Be Trained (2 Timothy 2:2)

"It is the responsibility of the church to identify and develop new leaders so that the mission of the Gospel can be accomplished and so that people can be shepherded. Jesus modeled this with the twelve disciples, and Paul exhorted Timothy to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2). [8]

[1] Gorman, Julie. Community that is Christian. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor, 2000. page 50. [2] Donahue, Bill and Russ Robinson. Building a Church of Small Groups. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001. page 63. [3] Ibid. 64 [4] Ibid. 65 [5] Ibid. 66 [6] Ibid. 68 [7] Ibid. 70 [8] Donahue, Bill. Leading Life-Changing Small Groups. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Page 67.