Community Values
The Community Values below inform the shape and practice of biblical community at Sound City Bible Church. These biblically-derived values provide us with a shared set of priorities and expectations to guide our efforts to grow in Christ together, side-by-side as brothers and sisters in Christ—just as the Bible instructs. Additionally, while these values may be lived out in slightly different ways depending on the community expression, each value remains foundational to every expression of biblical community we pursue.
1. Biblically Centered. Scripture is our highest authority and guide, and the interactions within our group pivot around what God has to say through his Word (the Bible) on any given topic—even when our feelings or culture might tempt us to believe otherwise.
Key Passages: 2 Tim. 3:15–16; Psalm 1, 119
2. Discipleship Oriented. Actively growing as disciples/followers of Jesus is highly prioritized; seeking to identify how discussions/topics connect back the day-to-day living out of our faith in Christ.
Key Passages: Matt. 28:18–20; Eph. 4:15–16; Col. 1:28
3. Mission Minded. Connecting group discussions to the mission of God whenever possible; cultivating missional awareness and action in light of the connections between the topics brought forward in biblical community and local outreach and service in the name of Jesus Christ.
Key Passages: Jam. 1:22; Gal. 5:13–14; Heb. 13:16; Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:4; Prov. 19:17
4. Grounded in Grace. Progress in the life of faith is a high priority and goal, but grace for one another is the rule. Said another way, it’s the standard of progress not perfection that fight for in biblical community, realizing that to ask more than that is to ask for something that none of us can give.
Key Passages: Eph. 4:29–32; Col. 4:6; Luke 6:36
5. Committed to “One Anothering”. Being biblically centered and discipleship oriented necessitates a commitment to living out the Bible’s “one another” passages in community with one another. This set of Scriptures commands and instructions are among those that just can’t be adhered to alone.
Key Passages: Jn. 13:34–35; 1 Pet. 4:9; 1 Thes. 5:11; Jam. 5:16; Gal. 6:1; Col. 3:12–13, 16; Gal. 5:13
6. Committed to Transparency. Pursuing depth of relationship and honest Christian friendship in biblical community means risking to share the highs and lows of life with one another, bringing our trials and struggles out into the light, and bear one another’s burdens—for God’s glory and our good.
Key Passages: Jn. 3:19–21; Gal. 6:2; Jam. 5:16; Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9
7. Committed to Meeting Regularly. “Life happens”, so grace and understanding are the rule, but the Bible calls us to meet together regularly to live out these biblical values (above) and others like them, so we don’t take that lightly. While it may look differently throughout a given year, with breaks here and there at times, being in biblical community means being involved in some expression of living out these values regularly. What does “regularly” mean? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but we can’t imagine it means monthly, or only when you feel like it. As a guideline, shoot for weekly as often as you can. After all, we all need encouragement, care, admonishing, and encouragement at least that often if we’re really honest, right?
Key Passages: Heb. 10:24–25; Acts 2:42–47; Eph. 5:15–16