The Chapel's Core Values

Core values answer the question, what directs the organization in what it does? Aubrey Malphurs defines the church's core values as "the constant, passionate, biblical beliefs that drive its ministry."  These values articulate what the church will stand for, and what the church will ultimately do.

The Chapel's culture has been built upon the application of the following biblical principles. These are the life principles God has called The Chapel to value, from neighbors to nations.

1. The Chapel's Greatest Obligation will be to, "point people to the holiness of God."

Holiness can be defined as, sanctity or purity.  To be holy means to be set apart for sacred use; standing apart from sin and evil.  Holiness is about being not doing.  It is about creating a culture of righteousness by believing God and His Word.  I must first be what I so desperately long for others to become.  "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God - who chose you to be his children - is holy.  For he himself has said, 'You must be holy because I am holy'." (1 Peter 1:15, 16 NLT) It is a reverent fear of a Holy God. "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed." (Revelations 15:4 NLT)

2. The Chapel's Deepest Conviction is that, "only Christ can change a life for a lifetime."

There are two truths in this value.

• First, only Christ can change a life through His finished work on the cross.  "And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it - unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place." (1 Cor. 15:2 NLT) "God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." (Ephesians 2:8 NLT) 

• Second, believers have the responsibility of sharing the Good News for transformation to occur.  "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" (Romans 10:14 NLT)

3. The Chapel's Biggest Question is: "Will the church believe God for the transformation of life?"

One of the least recognized failures of the church has been its growing dependency upon programs to see life transformation. The church must come to realize that life transformation is not about programs but about God. The church must come to understand the heart of God in reference to changing lives. The church must not fear having programs but that God doesn't need them to change lives. The point is, whether you change or remove every program from a church God will still change lives. Life transformation is an ongoing process without the boundaries of a program.

4. The Chapel's Earnest Assumption is: "It's about God's Kingdom, not our castle."

Don't build individual castles but live for God as a citizen of His Kingdom. "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior." (Phil. 3:20 NLT)

5. The Chapel's Practice will be to Promote "God's Mission for people's lives."

Every believer is given supernatural gifts to be used in the context of the church to fulfill the Mission of God. "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church." (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)

God has also given a variety of gifts to the church. "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT)

The church has a responsibility of preparing people for the work of the ministry; however, it cannot assume the role of God in people's lives.  It is God who works His will in the lives of people according to His purpose. Paul says, "So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives..." (Colossians 1:9 NLT) The Apostle Paul makes it clear that it is not the church's responsibility to tell people what it wants but to recognize that God has something for the individual and that through prayer and submission God will make them spiritually discerning to determine His will.