Those who accepted His message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching (Spiritual Growth) and to the fellowship (Community) to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Worship). Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts (Community). They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people (Worship). And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Missional Life).
Though much of Acts is descriptive, telling the story of the early church, the values that the new community held are timeless. They look different and are contextualized differently into new cultures and times throughout history, but they continue to define what the church is to be about and look like. Each value that we see speaks into every culture, for in them God fulfills the deepest needs that humanity has.
At Grace, we value:
- praising and worshipping God
- individual and corporate spiritual growth
- hospitality
- supporting and developing families
- developing and deepening relationships
- mission service to others
And these core values may be best said in these simple words: Spiritual Growth, Worship, Communty and Missional Life.