These 17 values are the foundation on which Terry Virgo built Newfrontiers (the family of churches I am a part of). They express the kind of church that he spent decades planting. Each of the over 800 Newfrontiers churches in existence today reflect these values, in varied extent. As we go forward no doubt some of the new apostolic spheres will vary a bit in how they express these concepts in their context. But these shared values are part of our foundational history. Terry Virgo saw a clear vision of the church. For me it is a compelling picture, one that is worthy of devoting our best efforts to reproducing. Much of this picture will also be relevant to those from other groups of churches.
Thanks to the wonders of the internet we can watch Terry discuss these values and what they mean to him in a series of intimate videos with his son. I will post them in a series on my blog and highlight key aspects of them as I do so. Think of this series of videos as an opportunity to share a number of cups of coffee with a man God used to found a group of churches that has grown to over 800 in more than 60 nations. Each video is short, but together they may shape your view of church forever.
1. A gospel-preaching church that is loving, righteous in its lifestyle, involved in world mission and reaching the unsaved in its community by both public and personal evangelistic activity.
- What makes Terry Virgo tick? Relational, evangelistically relevant churches
- “I got all my friends to church once”
- Restoring churches to New Testament model must lead to evangelism
- The authority of Scripture and the vital place of preaching
- Speak with confidence about the central things
- Terry’s favorite preachers.
- Avoiding drift away from the Bible
- Sermon Preparation
3. A church whose people are assured of the grace of God in their lives and are clear about the full New Covenant benefits of being in Christ.
- Valuing Grace Part 1
- Valuing Grace Part 2
- Valuing Grace Part 3
- The Dangers of Grace
- How to live in the good of grace
- How does grace affect the way Pastors lead a church?
4. A church whose people are baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit, and brought into a genuine life in the Spirit.
- Baptism in Water is not optional.
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit Part 1
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit Part 2
- Gathering to meet Jesus
- Self-indulgent and introspective?
5. A Church where God’s presence is prized and where God is enthusiastically worshipped with genuine freedom for men and women to worship publicly in the Holy Spirit, to use spiritual gifts and to participate in ‘body ministry’.
- Informality a value to treasure in church life?
- Encountering God
- The presence of God
- Spiritual Gifts Part 1
- Spiritual Gifts Part 2
- Spiritual Gifts Part 3
6. A church which is a loving community, meeting both publicly and house to house, sharing and caring for each other’s needs, both spiritual and material.
7. A church where Biblical family life is highly valued, where husband and wife embrace male servant leadership and joyful female submission, where godly parenting is taught and practised and where the special value of singleness and its unique opportunities are affirmed.
8. A church led by male elders (one of whom is clearly understood to be gifted to be lead elder) who are ordained by the Holy Spirit, recognised and confirmed through apostolic ministry. These men are to be helped in fulfilling their calling through ongoing fellowship with trans-local ministries.
9. A church where elders are honoured as servant-leaders caring for the flock and providing appropriate spiritual disciplines where necessary.
10. A church freed from complacency and endeavouring to grow in gospel impact, faith, prayer, generosity, action and influence.
11. A church whose individual members are equipped for their role of service within the church and community, including the release and training of those called to trans-local ministry.
12. A church which is fully involved in our shared apostolic mission to extend the kingdom of God globally through the recovery of New Testament church life, making disciples, training leaders and planting churches by all means, including wholehearted financial commitment, welcoming trans-local ministries, regularly attending corporate gatherings, promoting our publications and communicating our news.
13, A church which is serving and empowering the poor within its own ranks and beyond.
14. A church which wholeheartedly embraces the New Testament teaching of the one new man, demonstrating love and respect between the races, cultures and sexes.
15. A church which is proving to be both salt and light in its location, impacting the culture of the community.
16. A church that is committed to excellent relationships with other Christians and churches in its community.
17. A church desiring and welcoming encouragement and correction from trans-local ministries in the fulfilment of these objectives.
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