Our Core Values
Norfleet Baptist Church is a body of unique and diverse individuals with Christ as our Head. To foster unity and purpose, we uphold the following core values:
Biblical Faithfulness – We believe that God’s word is the ultimate and final authority. It will be our guide for life and conduct, and the catalyst for transformation, not the constantly shifting views of the world. Scriptural references: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 1:23-25, Hebrews 4:12.
Prayer – We believe that the goal of the Christian life is to know God, not just to know about Him. Jesus modeled this during His earthly life and ministry by often withdrawing to spend time with the Father in prayer. We will follow Jesus’ example. The mark of a true believer and of the church of Jesus Christ is that they seek God with all their heart, pray honestly, pray continually, and pray in faith. Scriptural references: Luke 5:16, Jeremiah 29:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 5:16, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:26-27.
Fellowship – We believe that God created us for relationships with others, and that loving relationships should saturate our lives. We will live out a caring commitment to each other in the community of faith. Scriptural references: John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7-8, Romans 12:13-16, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42.
Discipleship – We believe that as followers of Jesus, our goal should be to grow more like Him daily. We will personally pursue this through regular worship, devotions, and prayer. We will corporately pursue this by spurring and equipping one another toward spiritual maturity. Scriptural references: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Ephesians 4:11-13, 2 Timothy 2:2, John 8:31, 1 Peter 2:21, Luke 14:26-33, John 8:31.
Evangelism – We believe that sharing the good news about Jesus is the responsibility of every believer. People matter to God, so they should matter to us. We will engage lost people in the hopes that God might use us to help bring them to saving faith in Him. Scriptural references: Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 19:10, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Matthew 4:19, John 4:35, Matthew 9:37-38.
Community – We believe that people need people. God has called us to use our gifts, talents, abilities, and resources to impact others. We will serve those God has providentially placed around us for His glory and their good. Scriptural references: Galatians 6:10, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 12:16-18, 1 Peter 2:15-17.
Missions – We believe that the mission of the church is to bring God’s love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. We will support the cause of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth by praying, giving, going, and educating, until all people everywhere have heard the good news about Jesus. Scriptural references: Acts 1:8, John 20:21, Romans 10:13-15, Isaiah 6:1-8, Matthew 10:5-15, Matthew 24:14, 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8.
Worship – We believe that, as Warren Wiersbe writes in his book Real Worship (Kingsway Publishing 1986), “Worship is the believer’s response of all that he is...to all that God is and says and does.” Worship is the ultimate purpose for which humans were created, so we will pursue a lifestyle of biblical, authentic, God-focused and Christ-centered worship in the church. Scriptural references: Hebrews 10:24-25, Hebrews 12:28-29, John 4:23-24, Isaiah 29:13, Romans 12:1, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19.
Generosity & Stewardship – We believe that everything belongs to God but, as Christ-followers, we are not to hold onto our possessions or use them selfishly. We will use what God gives us to build His eternal kingdom and to serve those in need, giving generously and stewarding the church’s resources wisely to pursue our mission. Scriptural references: Malachi 3:10, Matthew 25:29-30, 2 Corinthians 9:6-9, 1 Peter 4:10, Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 21:1-4.
