Statement of Values
San Saba First United Methodist Church
San Saba, Texas

We value the Bible as the authority for all things.  -

"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." James 1:22 NRSV

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NRSV

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We value a reliance on prayer: personal, corporate and intercessory in all the ministries of this church.  -

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NRSV

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 NRSV

"Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." James 5:16 NRSV

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We value the church as a means of grace, a place where anybody can come and know they are accepted and loved not only by God, but also by us.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Ephesians 2:8-10 NRSV

"..the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24 NRSV

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We value a spirit-filled Sunday morning worship.-

"O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" Psalm 95:1-2 NRSV

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24 NRSV

"Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing." Psalm 100:2 NRSV

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep of his hand." Psalm 95:6-7 NRSV

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Matthew 18:20 NRSV

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We value growth in spirit, personal faith and caring relationships for all of God's people, young and old. -

"But grown in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity! Amen!" 2 Peter 3:18 NRSV

"... to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." Ephesians 4:12-13 NRSV

"Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray." Proverbs 22:6 NRSV

"But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16 NRSV

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We value being financially responsible. -

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the Lord in Holy splendor." 1 Chronicles 16:29 NRSV

"Pay to all what is due them - taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due." Romans 13:7-8 NRSV

"Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12: 33-34 NSRV

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We value being a friendly church. -

"Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." 1 John 3:18 NRSV

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ welcomed you, for the Glory of God." Romans 15:7 NSRV

"Live together in harmony, live together in love, as though you have only one mind and one spirit between you." Philippians 2:2 NIV

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We value the strengthening of families. -

"No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice; so that the Lord may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Genesis 18:19 NRSV

"But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children." Deuteronomy 4:9 NRSV

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NRSV

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We value reaching out to the lost - visiting, inviting, and witnessing. We want to grow the church and support that process with our prayers, presence, gifts and service. -

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 NSRV

"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16 NRSV