At Wayside, our goal is simple and straight-forward:
Love God. Serve People. Preach the Word.
To this end, we've adopted 5 scripture-based core values that, if upheld, will allow us to naturally, intentionally and biblically achieve the stated goal above. If loving God, serving people and preaching the word of God is the heartbeat, think of these core values as the arteries that help keep things pumping and flowing...
1. Scripture
We firmly believe that the Bible in its entirety is the inspired, preserved, perfect and unchanging word of God that is forever settled in Heaven, enduring forever. It is the mind and heart of our Creator God; therefore it does not change because he does not change.
In all we do as a church, we look to it for guidance, wisdom, protection and prudence. It controls our polity, passions, pulpit and practices. Every service is built on it. Every message is saturated by it. Every song we sing flows from it. Every meeting we have begins with it. Our children learn and memorize it, our elders teach it and every generation joyfully holds to it. It is our final authority on all things.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learnedand hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,which are able to make thee wise unto salvation throughfaith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and isprofitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, forinstruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnishedunto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering anddoctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sounddoctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, andshall be turned unto fables.
2. Singing
God gave the body of Christ an incredible joy and opportunity when he called us to sing together. Outside of praying and preaching, there are very few things more important to the health of the local church than sound, biblical, corporate singing. When we gather and sing together as the children of God, our hearts are fed, our faith is strengthened and our relationships are edified.
We believe that singing within the church should be entrusted to and exercised by the entire gathered assembly. Corporate worship is melodically confessing the word of God before the pastor verbally preaches those same truths. This is not to be relegated to a certain few on stage.
We intentionally involve our children and whole families into our corporate singing and song leading.
Psalm 30:4
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanksat the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 149:1
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song,and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;teaching and admonishing one another in psalms andhymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in yourhearts to the Lord.
3. Shepherding
Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. He is the Chief Shepherd that faithfully guides and guards the sheep of his Father's pasture.
We also believe he has entrusted the shepherding of his people to God-called, church-appointed pastors and elders, or "under-shepherds", if you will. They are not to Lord over or drive the flock of God, but rather feed them, lead them and be an example of Christ to them. We believe that all leaders within the church should share the Chief Shepherd's heart, shepherding all those they lead with a loving heart and steady hand.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed,and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nailsfastened by the masters of assemblies, which are givenfrom one shepherd.
1 Peter 5:1-4
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but beingensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
4. Stewardship
Simply put, we are managers, not owners.
Everything and everyone within the church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is his church, and he is doing a great job with it! When he entrusts people, property, prizes or possesions into our hands, we must steward them well. From the smallest remodel to the largest building project--from the youngest child in the nursery to the oldest saint in the pew--we strive to steward well what and who Christ has given us.
We believe that we will give an account one day for how we managed what Christ left in our hands. May we be found faithful on that day!
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ,and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be foundfaithful.
1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifoldgrace of God.
5. Service
Christ set the perfect example for this. All throughout the Gospels, you will find him serving others. Even hours before his death, he was serving a meal and washing the feet of his disciples. He exemplified the servant's heart.
We believe that we are called to have the same heart. Whether it's in a parking lot, on the security team, rocking a baby in the nursery, singing on a stage or preparing behind the scenes, we should all have a mind to serve one another.
We don't serve for recognition or reward. We don't serve to climb the ministry ladder or gain clout or applause. We serve for the honor and glory of the One who bled and died for us. We serve because we're called to. We serve because we've been served.
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Galatians 5:13-14
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only usenot liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serveone another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Ephesians 6:6-7
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servantsof Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: