what shapes our culture
Core Values
01
jesus is our foundation
We build everything around Jesus.
Jesus Christ is not simply part of what we do; He is the foundation of who we are.
Our worship, teaching, relationships, leadership, decisions, and service are centered on Him. We want people to know Jesus, follow Jesus, become more like Jesus, and help others do the same.
scripture John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Colossians 1:15-18
02
we expect more
Our expectation is rooted in the unlimited ability of God.
E320 was born from the promise of Ephesians 3:20. We believe God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we can ask or imagine according to His power at work within us.
Expecting more does not mean expecting an effortless life. It means refusing to allow our present circumstances, past experiences, fear, or limited thinking to define what God can accomplish in and through us.
We pray boldly. We think beyond limitations. We prepare for growth. We make room for possibility. And when God opens a door, we are prepared to walk through it.
scripture Ephesians 3:20-21; Mark 9:23; Hebrews 11:6
03
we honor people
Every person has value because every person bears the image of God.
Honor determines how we treat people – not their title, status, position, background, influence, or what they can do for us.
We choose respect. We listen before assuming. We recognize the contributions of others. We celebrate people rather than compete with them. We protect dignity even when correction or difficult conversations are necessary.
At E320, people should experience honor whether they are standing on the platform, serving behind the scenes, attending for the first time, or have been part of the church for years.
scripture Genesis 1:27; Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 2:17
04
love leads us
We want people to experience the love of Jesus through the way we treat them.
Jesus taught that love would distinguish His followers.
Love influences how we welcome people, serve our community, navigate differences, extend grace, forgive, communicate truth, and care for one another.
We can disagree without dishonoring. We can correct without humiliating. We can maintain standards without losing compassion.
Truth and love belong together.
scripture John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-8; Ephesians 4:15
05
integrity is non-negotiable
Who we are when no one is watching matters.
Character matters more than charisma. Accountability matters more than appearances.
We pursue honesty, transparency, responsibility, and consistency in our personal lives, leadership, relationships, finances, communication, and ministry.
When we make mistakes, we acknowledge them. When something needs to be corrected, we address it. When accountability is necessary, we welcome it.
We do not expect perfection from people. We do expect integrity.
scripture Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 11:3; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Titus 2:7-8
06
we serve first
Leadership is an opportunity to serve, not a position from which to be served.
Jesus modeled leadership through service.
At E320, titles do not determine importance. Every role contributes to the mission, and no assignment is beneath us when it helps someone encounter Jesus.
We lead with humility, take responsibility, develop others, share credit, and use our influence for the benefit of people rather than ourselves.
The higher the responsibility, the greater the obligation to serve.
scripture Mark 10:42-45; John 13:12-17; Philippians 2:3-5
07
we live generously
Because Jesus gave, we give.
Generosity begins with God.
The Gospel itself is the ultimate demonstration of generosity. God loved humanity so deeply that He gave His Son, and Jesus willingly gave His life as a ransom so that we could be forgiven, restored, and reconciled to God.
Jesus did not simply teach generosity. He demonstrated it with His life. Because He gave, we give.
At E320, generosity is more than an offering. It is a way of living. We believe God entrusts us with time, resources, abilities, relationships, influence, opportunities, and finances so that we can use them to make a difference in the lives of others.
We give to people by meeting needs, encouraging others, sharing resources, and strengthening those around us.
We give to our community because a healthy church should make its community better. We invest in initiatives that strengthen families, create opportunities, address real needs, and demonstrate the love of Jesus in practical ways.
We give to the mission so that people can encounter Jesus, become disciples, discover purpose, build meaningful relationships, and make an impact.
And we give beyond ourselves.
We believe Kingdom impact is bigger than one church. We support missions, ministries, organizations, churches, and like-minded people who are strengthening communities and creating pathways for people to encounter Jesus Christ.
We do not have to receive the credit to celebrate the impact.
We want to be known not simply for what we gather, but for what we give away. He gave. So we give.
scripture John 3:16; Mark 10:45; Acts 2:44-47; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Philippians 2:3-8; 1 John 3:16-18
08
we grow on purpose
Healthy people never stop becoming.
We believe spiritual maturity requires intentional development.
Discipleship is more than acquiring biblical information. It is allowing what we believe to transform how we think, live, lead, love, serve, steward, and make decisions.
We remain teachable. We welcome appropriate feedback. We develop our gifts. We strengthen our character. We build healthy relationships. And as we mature, we help others mature.
We are not simply developing church attenders. We are developing disciples who develop disciples. God works in us so He can work through us.
scripture Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:11-16; 2 Timothy 2:2
09
we choose healthy conversations
We address issues with people, not around people.
Healthy relationships require honesty, clarity, accountability, grace, and the willingness to have difficult conversations.
We do not allow gossip, avoidance, passive aggression, unnecessary offense, or unresolved conflict to define our culture.
We communicate expectations clearly. We give feedback constructively. We receive correction with maturity. When conflict occurs, we pursue resolution directly and biblically.
Healthy conflict does not weaken healthy relationships. Handled correctly, it strengthens them.
scripture Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:15; Ephesians 4:25-32; James 1:19
10
excellence is intentional
We honor God and people by preparing well.
Excellence is not perfection, extravagance, or performance. It is giving thoughtful attention to what God has entrusted to us.
We believe excellence happens before the moment arrives.
We plan. We prepare. We communicate. We rehearse. We anticipate needs. We solve problems early. We evaluate what we do and continually make it better.
Whether preaching a message, welcoming a guest, teaching a child, preparing a worship experience, managing resources, or serving our community, we bring our best because what we do matters.
scripture Proverbs 21:5; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Colossians 3:23-24
These are more than statements we want E320 to communicate. They are the culture we choose to live.