Our Core Values are the foundational principles that shape and guide us as we pursue our mission and vision. At SPPC we are shaped and guided by the following values.
The Glory of God – God is most passionate about one thing; the display and enjoyment of His own glory in all things (Romans 11:36). Therefore, we seek to be a church that makes God’s honor and fame, not our own, our highest aim and our joyful motivation for all we do in fulfilling our mission.
The Gospel – The gospel declares this life-changing truth: We are more sinful than we ever imagined, but we are more loved than we ever dared hope, at the same time, through Jesus Christ. The gospel (good news) is the power of God to transform the hardest heart from a state of rebellion against God to one of glad submission to His will (Romans 1:16-17). It is not only what we believe in order to enter the kingdom of God, the gospel is what we believe in order to make continual progress in our Christian life (Galatians 3:1-3). Therefore, we seek to be a church which boldly and winsomely declares that the only hope for change in our own lives and those of our unbelieving friends, is in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Faith – Faith is not only the means by which we are justified (declared legally righteous) before a holy God, it is also the means by which we daily receive God’s power in the gospel in order to obey and please Him (Romans 1:5; Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, we seek to be a church that matures spiritually, not by trying harder to be better, but by turning from our sin (repentance) and believing the gospel (faith).
Love – The gospel frees us from self-centeredness and empowers us to love others as Christ loved us. Love is the distinguishing mark of those who belong to Christ. (John 13:34-35). Therefore, we seek to be a church that shows, in word and deed, the love of Jesus for one another and our friends, neighbors and associates who are without Christ.
Kingdom Extension – God expects His kingdom to grow, both in quantity and in quality. The kingdom grows in quantity as more and more people place their faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:35-38; 13:31-33). And the kingdom grows in quality as Christians are conformed more and more to the likeness of Jesus. Therefore, we seek to be a church that equips its members to confidently share the gospel with unbelievers, to discover and use their spiritual gifts for ministry, and to use all the means of grace in order to grow in holiness. (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Peter 2:1-3).
Prayer – We can accomplish nothing of eternal value apart from complete dependence upon God (John 15:5, 7-8). The clearest way we can demonstrate that dependence is through prayer. Therefore, we seek to be a church sustained through a concerted ministry of prayer, both personal and corporate, asking God to do in and through us far beyond what we could ever possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21; John 16:24; Matthew 6:9-10).