We believe in Jesus’ commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. At the Vinelife Church we love God, love people, and pass it on.
All Vineyard churches share five core values that make them part of the Vineyard movement. These core values are central to our identity and define the way we do ministry, and how we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The Theology and Practice of the Kingdom of God
The primary message of Jesus in his earthly ministry was the kingdom of God (the kingdom of God is upon you, the kingdom of God is near you, you are not far from the kingdom, the kingdom of God is like . . .) and his teachings were accompanied by the works of the kingdom, both natural and supernatural. Because this was the focus of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we also make his teaching and practice of the Kingdom our focus. We believe that the Kingdom is not just the future universal reign of God, or simply the Christian Church. We believe that the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God both in its present manifestation of salvation, deliverance, healing, etc. (Mark 12:34, Matthew 9:35, 12:28), and in its final manifestation of the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21).
- Experiencing God
Experiencing God is not just our commitment to know about God, but to know him intimately, encounter him through worship, prayer, salvation and the present manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, and in divine guidance (dreams, visions, prophecy, words of knowledge, words of wisdom, discernment and much more). It also means to reveal the Father heart of God to those who do not know God, and to come into a full knowledge (heart, mind and soul) of his great love for humanity, and for the individual.
- Reconciling Community
By Jesus’ reconciling us to himself, by taking on our sin and not counting our sins against us as we deserved, he gave to the church the ministry of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:18-21). We share this gospel of reconciliation by pointing others to this same forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ, by demonstrating this same spirit of forgiveness, not harboring bitterness and resentment in our hearts toward others. Jesus put to death the enmity that exists between male and female, Jew and Greek, slave and free through his body so that we might be one (Ephesians 2:14-21). Therefore, wherever there is division, tribalism, racism, sexism, or any other division among people, we are called to be a people of peace and reconciliation, and not to contribute to the sectarianism of the world.
- Compassionate Ministry
We believe our actions must reflect Compassionate Ministry. The works of the church should be filled with compassion even as the Father heart of God is filled with compassion. Jesus did not come to the earth simply because he was duty bound, or it was the right thing to do. He was not compelled by the law or anything greater than himself, but by the love of the Father for the world, that no one should perish but through faith in Jesus Christ they should have everlasting life (John 3:16).
- Culturally Relevant Mission
Ministry should be contextual, treating every place the gospel is preached as an outpost of the kingdom of God; not as our homeland, translating the good news into the vernacular of the recipients. While cultivating a Culturally Relevant Mission mindset, we recognize that our values are different, our worldview is different, and our priorities are different from those who are of the world. As saved and set-apart people, our thinking is different. Therefore, we must be like missionaries, learning afresh how to speak the language of our city, the next generation, and the people of this world. This never means compromising the truth, lowering the standards of right and wrong, or messing with the message. We simply go afresh to the old, old story, and think through what is culture and what is the Word of God. That which is culture can be rethought, and repackaged. That which is Scripture must be held onto and fought for without change or compromise. We don’t mess with the message, but we do adjust the medium by which we share the message.
- In addition to these we value beauty.
God is beautiful and His creation reflects His beauty: God created man and woman in His image and likeness who also create works of beauty. For this reason we value the arts, expression, and creativity.