Core Value 10

We contribute rather than consume

Motivated by eternity that is set before us, we partner in ministry through generous giving and active serving. God doesn’t exist to serve us; we exist to serve Him. So, we are neither consumers nor spectators.

Resources picked special just for you!

Below are carefully curated resources for this core value. Check out all the books and other resource to help in your next step through your faith journey. You can also see all of our resources for ever one of our Core Values by clicking the button below.

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Core Value 10 We contribute rather than consume

The Call of Missions - Giving & Going

Motivated by eternity that is set before us, we partner in ministry through generous giving and active serving. God doesn’t exist to serve us; we exist to serve Him. So, we are neither consumers nor spectators.

Nabeel Qureshi
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity

Providing an intimate view into a loving Muslim home, Qureshi shares how he developed a

passion for Islam before discovering, almost against his will, evidence that Jesus rose

from the dead and claimed to be God. Unable to deny the arguments but not wanting to

deny his family, Qureshi struggled with an inner turmoil that will challenge Christians,

Muslims, and all those who are interested in two of the world's greatest religions and the

quest for truth.

Qureshi--with great courage and intimacy--wrote this book with three major purposes in

mind:

To tear down walls between two of the world's major religions by giving non-Muslim

readers an insider's perspective into a Muslim's heart and mind.

To equip the reader with facts and knowledge, showing the strength of the case for the

gospel contrasted with the case for Islam.

To portray the immense inner struggle of Muslims grappling with the gospel, including all

the sacrifices and doubts that rise up along the way.

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is more than the memoir of a man's pursuit of answers to the

most important issues of life and faith. Ultimately, it's the story about the transformative

grace and mercy of the one true God.

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David Platt
Follow Me

What did you leave behind when you chose to follow Christ? For some, the answers are

obvious. If you struggled with habitual sins or addictions like alcoholism, drugs,

pornography, violence, or promiscuity, the choice to follow Christ often marks a distinct

ending of your old life and beginning of a new one. Or, perhaps you grew up in a culture

unfriendly to Christianity, where your conversion would mean instant alienation from

friends and family, maybe even a threat to your life. In these situations, the cost of

following Christ seems clear.

But what if you didn't have a dramatic life-changing encounter with Christ? What if you've

always grown up in the church and been immersed in Christian culture your whole life?

What does it mean for you to count the cost and follow Him?

In Radical:Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt sought to expose

the ideas in American Christianity that are antithetical to the gospel, to show what we

must let go of in true discipleship. In Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live., Platt seeks to

show whom we must take hold of. In order to live as authentic disciples, Platt believes we

need an authentic encounter with the person of Jesus Christ, who He is, what that means,

and to count the cost of truly following Him.

Look afresh at the invitation Jesus offers, and discover perhaps for the first time, the joy

and purpose that comes from abandoning your life to His.

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John Piper
Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions

A passionate plea for God-centeredness in world evangelization. In this enhanced and

updated anniversary edition of his best-selling work, Piper frames gospel outreach as an

essential act of worship—underscoring a vision for cross-cultural missions anchored in

sound theology. Affirming God's supremacy over all things, the author addresses issues

including prayer, suffering, universalism, annihilationism, spiritual warfare, and more.

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Elisabeth Elliot
Through Gates of Splendor

In January 1956, a tragic but inspiring story broke in headlines across the world. Five

young men had dared to make contact with a Stone Age tribe deep in the Jungles of

Ecuador. The goal: to establish communication with a people whose only previous

response to the outside world had been to attack all strangers. The men's mission

combined modern technology with innate ingenuity, sparked by a passionate

determination to get the gospel to a people without Christ.

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Eric Metaxas
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

A gripping story of moral courage in the face of unspeakable evil! This groundbreaking

biography details previously unknown facts about Bonhoeffer's life---including his

decision to return to Germany and his romance---and documents the role he played as a

double agent in the plot against Hitler.

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Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret

A spiritual biography of the "father of modern missions,"Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret

poses one question: What empowered Hudson Taylor's ministry in China?

The answer is unfolded in these pages. Written by Taylor's son and daughter-in-law, it

shows us a man with fierce faith who believed that God truly would fuflill all He promises

in Scripture.

For Christians longing for the inward joy and power that Hudson Taylor had, they can find

the secret to it here. The secret, it turns out, is available to any who call on Christ's name.

"An easy, non-self-denying life will never be one of power," Taylor said. "Fruit-bearing

involves cross-bearing. There are not two Christs—an easygoing one for easygoing

Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ.

Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?"

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Evan Tell
The 1615: A Podcast by Evan Tell

Mark 16:15 tells us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Join us

as we talk with ministry leaders, evangelists, and missionaries about how to live out that

commission and share Jesus naturally in today’s culture … and have some fun along the

way.

The 1615 is here to inspire believers like you to share your faith boldly and equip you with

the tools to spread the good news of the gospel wherever you go.

Get ready to be motivated, encouraged, and equipped to make a difference and share

your faith. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or EvanTell’s

YouTube channel!

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David Platt
radical.net

Website with content from the Radical organization which exists to make Jesus known

everywhere.

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Core Value 10 We contribute rather than consume

What is a Deacon and Elder?

Motivated by eternity that is set before us, we partner in ministry through generous giving and active serving. God doesn’t exist to serve us; we exist to serve Him. So, we are neither consumers nor spectators.

Jeramie Rinne
Church Elders: How to Shepherd God's People Like Jesus

What does effective church leadership look like? In this conversational book, pastor

Jeramie Rinne sets forth an easy-to-understand “job description” for elders drawn from

the Bible’s teaching on church leadership. Offering practical guidance for new elders and

helping church members better understand and support their spiritual leaders, this

succinct volume will encourage elders to embrace their calling with grace, wisdom, and

clarity of vision.

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Matt Smethurst
Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church

Deacons are essential to a church’s health—yet confusion abounds regarding their

biblical job description. What’s their God-given role in a local congregation and how do

they relate to the church’s overall mission?

In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants

called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of

the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions,

Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to

flourish.

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Matt Smethurst
5 Questions About Deacons

An article from The Gospel Coalition answering five common questions about the role of

deacons in the church.

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Benjamin Merkle
The Organization of the Church

An article from The Gospel Coalition providing a summary of the organizational structure

of church government.

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Core Value 10 We contribute rather than consume

Spiritual Disciplines

Motivated by eternity that is set before us, we partner in ministry through generous giving and active serving. God doesn’t exist to serve us; we exist to serve Him. So, we are neither consumers nor spectators.

Donald Whitney
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Spiritual discipline sounds great in theory, but putting it into practice takes time and

determination! Updated and revised for a new generation, Whitney's guide reveals the

importance of the disciplines; shows how they'll help you grow in godliness; and offers

practical suggestions for cultivating them in your daily life. Includes in-depth discussions.

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Valerie Hessand Marti Watson Garlett
Habits of a Child's Heart: Raising Your Kids with the Spiritual Disciplines

Teach your children the basics of the spiritual disciplines. Broken down into bite-sized,

age-specific exercises, the foundations of the Christian life will become lifetime habits.

Practice the spiritual disciplines as a family by:

Serving others in a practical way

Simplifying schedules and possessions

Developing new habits of worship

Meditating on specific Bible passages

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Compelling Truth
Are the spiritual disciplines in the Bible? What benefit are the spiritual disciplines?

An article from Compelling Truth that discusses the spiritual disciplines.

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More Core Values

Check out all 10 of our core values! We've got even more resources waiting for you—stick around and keep exploring.

  • Core Value 1 We exalt Jesus

    He is King of kings and Lord of lords, our Savior and our God, and the object of our worship.

    Core Value 1
  • Core Value 2 We Focus on the Bible

    We love God’s word. As our source for truth, we teach it, study it, and apply it to our lives. When culture and Scripture conflict, we unapologetically go with God every time, sharing all truth ( even difficult truth ) in love and grace.

    Core Value 2
  • Core Value 3 We Make the Gospel Prominent and Clear

    Christianity is not about what we do for God, but about what God has done for us through the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus. We recognize the gospel of grace is our only hope, so we love it ad lift it high in all we do.

    Core Value 3
  • Core Value 4 We Embrace Authenticity

    We do messy because, except for Jesus, that's the only kind of people there are. So, we are real and down-to-earth. Yes, God embraces us as we are, but He loves us enough no not leave us there. We don't expect perfection, but we live for and celebrate ongoing transformation in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

    Core Value 4
  • Core Value 5 We Choose Relational Communities

    Making and growing disciples is rooted in love for the people around us. Our individual “communities” of family, church family, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates are where we invest in intentional relationships. We come alongside, life-on-life, to know and be known, introduce others to Jesus, and grow in our faith.

    Core Value 5
  • Core Value 6 We Champion Reconciliation

    As we embrace the gospel of reconciliation between God and man, we are freed to pursue reconciliation with one another. We passionately strive to protect the unity of the church, and grow in our love for one another that transcends race, culture, politics, and all that seeks to divide us.

    Core Value 6
  • Core Value 7 We Insist on Integrity

    The Church is both beautiful and imperfect. Sadly, the great message and ministry of the Church throughout history has been stained by lack of godly character. We strive for and safeguard integrity throughout all aspects of our ministry because Jesus values not only what we do, but how and why we do it.

    Core Value 7
  • Core Value 8 We Equip the Next Generation

    Our passion for ministering to kids and students is built upon a true partnership with parents and grandparents. Therefore, we’re committed to resource, encourage, and equip parents to train-up and disciple their kids in the context of hime, believing God designed the family as the primary place for discipleship.

    Core Value 8
  • Core Value 9 We Do Good Works That Lead to Great Work

    Our serving to meet practical needs in our communities is a joy and important “good work”. We do so in love for others and a desire to advance to the “great work” of sharing the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

    Core Value 9
  • Core Value 10 We Contribute Rather Than Consume

    Motivated by eternity that is set before us, we partner in ministry through generous giving and active serving. God doesn’t exist to serve us; we exist to serve Him. So, we are neither consumers nor spectators.

    Core Value 10

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