These are the big ideas that are the heartbeat of UPCC - the things that guide all that we do. Each core value description is followed by its supporting Scripture references.
Teaching and Living God’s Word
Our goal is to be a cover-to-cover church. We intend to teach the entire Bible “as is”. We want to be culturally relevant and Biblically accurate. We trust that as we teach the Bible in a literal way, believers will live it out in a literal way.
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 | Deuteronomy 11:19 | Psalm 119:9-11 | Psalm 119:97-105 | Proverbs 22:6 | Matthew 5:19 | Matthew 28:19,20 | Acts 4:32 | Romans 8:9-16 | 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 | Philippians 4: 8-9 | Colossians 2:8 | Colossians 3:16 | 1 Timothy 1:3-11 | 1 Timothy 4:11-13 | 2 Timothy 2: 14-15 | 2 Timothy 3:16-17 | Titus 2:6-9 | James 1:19-25 | 1 Peter 2:2
Selfless Service
It is so easy to become selfish as believers. Our desire at UPCC is to create an environment that provides many ways for every age group to live life in a creative and selfless way. We plan to do that through personal example and intentional teaching.
Deuteronomy 11:13 | Joshua 22:5 | 1 Samuel 12:20 | Psalm 2:11 | Psalm 100:2 | Micah 6:8 | Malachi 3:18 | Matthew 4:10 | Matthew 7:12 | Matthew 20:28 | Luke 1:74 | Luke 4: 7-8 | John 13:14 | Acts 4:32-25 | Acts 20:35 | Romans 12:4-8 | 1 Corinthians 12:5-28 | Galatians 5:13 | Galatians 6:2-5 | Ephesians 4:11-12 | Ephesians 5:17 | Ephesians 6:6-7 | Philippians 2:2-7 | Colossians 3:23-24 | 1 Timothy 4:14-15 | 2 Timothy 1:6 | Hebrews 6:10 | 1 Peter 4:9-11
Relational Living
The Bible is a book that teaches a lot about relationships. It gives us personal examples and principles about how to live out our Christianity with the people God places around us. We plan to create an environment where genuine and transparent relationships can naturally occur and be developed. It is our dream that we will see a caring community that naturally lives out God’s relational principles in our daily lives.
Exodus 20:5-6 | Leviticus 19:18b | Deuteronomy 6:5-6 | Proverbs 3:16 | Proverbs 27:9 | Nehemiah 1:5 | Matthew 7:12 | Matthew 22:35-40 | Mark 9:50 | John 13:34-35 | John 17:21-23 | Acts 2: 44,45 | Acts 4:32 | Romans 2:10, 16 | Romans 13:8-10 | Romans 15:7 | 1 Corinthians 13:13 | Galatians 6:2-3 | Ephesians 5:21 | Philippians 2:1-4 | 1 Thessalonians 5:13, 15 | Hebrews 3:13 | Hebrews 10:24-25 | James 2:1-8 5:16 | 1 Peter 1:22 | 1 Peter 3:8 | 1 Peter 4:7-8 | 1 John 2:5-10 | 1 John 3:11, 23 | 1 John 4:7-12 | 2 John 1:5
Developing Authentic Disciples of Jesus Christ
We know that to be all that God wants us to be as believers, we must be committed to moving forward in our Christian life. This must be planned out and intentional in a church Body. Our desire is to create opportunities and accountability to see every believer take steps toward maturity in their Christian life.
Matthew 5:14-16 | Matthew 7:21 | Matthew 9:37 | Matthew 16:24-25 | Matthew 28: 18-20 | Mark 10:35-43 | Luke 14:27 | John 8:31-32 | John 15:1-8 | John 21:15-19 | Acts 14:20-22 | Romans 12:1-2 | Ephesians 4:30-32 | Philippians 1:9-10 | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 | 1 Thessalonians 5:11 | Titus 2:1-8 | 1 Peter 2:2 | 1 Peter 3:8
Utilizing Natural Opportunities for Evangelism
God brings us into contact with non-believers almost every day. The question is, how do we use these natural opportunities get to know these people? Although, every contact may not result in an immediate opportunity to share our faith, as we intentionally live out our faith through love, and as we are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, we will see God use us to draw people to Himself. Our dream is that we, both individually and corporately, would see God use us to bring many to know Jesus Christ as Savior.
Psalm 103:12 | Isaiah 53:6 | Mark 16:14-16 | Luke 23:40-43 | John 1:1 | John 3:16 | John 3:36 | John 5:24 | John 14:6 | John 14: 16, 26 | Romans 3:22-26 | Romans 10:9-13 | 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 | 1 Corinthians 16:13 | 2 Corinthians 5:7 | Ephesians 2:8, 9 | Philippians 2:9-11 | 1 Timothy 6:12 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | 1 Peter 1:7, 21 | Hebrews 11:1, 6
Give Generously
We are all created in the image of God! At UPCC we challenge our church body to reflect that image in the sharing of time, treasure, and talent in an abundant, joyful manner. Jesus came that we might live life and live it abundantly. What better way to do so than to live our lives with an open palm, not holding tightly to God’s many blessings in our lives. Giving cheerfully and abundantly of all that God has given to each of us is one way for us to worship God every day.
2 Corinthians 9:15 | Acts 2:42-47 | Matthew 25:31-46 | 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 | Ephesians 2:10 | Matthew 6:19-21 | 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 | Leviticus 25:35-37 | Psalm 119:36 | 2 Corinthians 8:12-15 | Proverbs 11:24 & 25 | Proverbs 19:17 | Matthew 10:42 | I Timothy 6:17-19 | I John 3:16-18 | Luke 6:37 & 38 | Luke 21:1-4 | John 3:16 | Acts 20:32-35
Church Planting
A healthy church is a planting church. The purpose of church planting is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this as a local body through Sunday morning worship, by evangelizing the lost, equipping believers, and training future leaders. Our goal in planting new churches is to participate in God’s expansion of His Kingdom. Church planting and church growth are a demonstration of God’s blessing and divine initiative, executed in part through man’s faithful stewardship and humble leadership.
Matthew 28:19-20 | 1 Peter 2:5 | Psalm 127:1 | John 15:5 | Titus 2:1-15 | 1 Corinthians 3:6 | Mark 4:26-29 | Acts 13:1-15 | Acts 2:42-47 | Ephesians 4:12