Mission and Core Values
Who We Are
A community that loves God and loves people
What We Do
Lead people into a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ
Relationships are at the foundation of every core value at Riverside Community Church. These values cover every aspect of each of our lives: our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, our relationships with others, and our relationships and interactions with those in the world in general.
The importance of regular involvement in church and a small group in developing and maintaining healthy relationships cannot be overstated. We serve God within the context of relationships.
We hold these values based on Biblical principles found in God’s Word. We hold these values within this context:
- We have one Lord.
- Within the Body of Christ there are vast differences in gifting, personality, race, gender, tradition, socio-economic standing, generation, culture, etc. These differences are not only acceptable, but they are to be highly celebrated, because God Himself gives each of us different spiritual gifts, different abilities, different ministry focuses (passions), and a unique personality within Christ.
- Continual growth as Christ-followers is the expected norm. On this side of heaven, each person is experiencing brokenness and is in need of healing. Healing and growth are built upon an ever deepening understanding of God’s love.
Listen To Pastor Mark Coffin’s Sermon on Our Core Value of Prayer & The Bible
Prayer
We believe that prayer, individually and corporately, is essential to an authentic and growing relationship with God. Constant communication between the believer and God is vital to spiritual health.
Phil.4: 6-7; 1 Thes. 5:17-18; 2 Chron. 7:14; Mark 11:22-25; Matt. 6:5-15
The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God. All truth, knowledge and understanding come from the Lord. His Word, commands, and plan for our salvation are written in the Bible. We value the presentation and teaching of God’s Word in ways that lead to the salvation of unbelievers and the spiritual growth of believers.
Psalms 1:1-3; Prov. 1:20-22; Prov. 2:1-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12
Listen To Pastor Mark Coffin’s Sermon on Our Core Value of Worship
We believe that worship is loving God by honoring Him with our lives. Worship is the loving submission of our will to the will of God, seeking to please God out of gratitude for the love He has shown us. Some expressions of worship are studying the Bible, prayer, giving, resisting temptation, corporate worship, service and outreach.
Romans 12:1; John 4:23; Psalm 29:1-2; Colossians 3:16-17
Listen To Pastor Mark Coffin’s Sermon on Our Core Value of Community
We believe that true community loves others as Christ loves us in grace and truth. Christ-followers live out their identity within the body of Christ. Every Christ-follower is a saint, servant and steward with unique God-given talents, spiritual gifts, finances, resources and time to devote to one another in sacrificial love – maintaining unity by humbly restoring those who fall into sin and encouraging one another to follow Christ.
John 1:14; Eph. 2:10; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12&14;1 Peter 2:5, 9; 2 Cor. 9:6-13; Matt. 18:15-19; Gal. 6:1-10; Heb. 10:24-25
Listen To Pastor Mark Coffin’s Sermon on Our Core Value of Outreach
We believe in investing our time on earth for eternal benefit by reaching others for Christ and by engaging in the world as stewards, ambassadors, and servants. We celebrate God’s transforming power and love toward all people, locally and abroad. Through relationships we help others overcome barriers to receiving and following Christ, and apply God’s wisdom to every person and every role in life, as family members, neighbors, church members, workers, and citizens.
Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 15; Acts 1:8, 2:42-47; 1 Cor.15:1-5; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:13-15; Col. 4:2-6; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-6; 1 Peter 3:15; Matt. 6:19-21
Listen To Pastor Mark Coffin’s Sermon on Our Core Value of Unity
We believe unity in Christ among Christ-followers reflects the nature of God. This unity also serves as an important witness to the world that God sent Jesus and that God has expressed His love for us just as He expressed His love for Jesus. Jesus prayed that His followers, across all generations, would be one. This unity is to be a testimony to the fact that Jesus is Lord, that He was sent from God, and that God loves us just as He loved Jesus.
Unity in Christ includes important differences in function, appearance, etc. – just as our own physical bodies include arms, legs, and different organs. Although members of the Body of Christ (the Church across time, culture, and geography) have different opinions on non-essential doctrines or issues, we are to be one in Christ. Unity does not mean conformity or cloning. God gloriously provides each Christ-follower with differences that serve His will and desire, but we are all created in the Image of Christ and under His Lordship. As co-heirs with Christ in His kingdom, we now all have the same Father – God. God has commanded every Christ-follower to actively work to maintain unity in Christ.
1 John 4:7-5:2; Ephesians 4:3-6; John 17:20-23; Genesis 1:28; Galatians 3:26-28; Philippians 2:1-11