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In Jim Collins' and Jerry Porras' book, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, their research showed that the most successful companies were those that had a set of unchanging core values. Their products may have changed over the years, but their values were without compromise.
Think about the core values of ... The U.S.: Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, common good, popular sovereignty, democracy. The Constitution: Rule of law, separation of powers, representative government, checks and balances, freedom of religion, freedom of speech.
The Army: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage.
The Air Force: Integrity first, service before self, excellence.
The Navy: Honor, courage, commitment.
The Marines: Honor, courage, commitment.
The Coast Guard: Honor, Respect, Devotion to duty.
Consider what happens in our culture when values like these are eroded.
Now consider what would happen--and what is already happening in many churches--when biblical values are eroded.
Most, if not all, evangelical churches share similar doctrinal beliefs: the Bible as the inspired word of God, the Trinity, the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, salvation by grace through faith, etc. These are hopefully unchanging core values in your church.
However, there need to be core values in applying these biblical values. Professing biblical values is one thing--applying them correctly is another. If all we needed to do were proclaim them, then most churches would automatically flourish and grow.
The core values listed for our country- the Constitution and the military are the foundations upon which the entirety is built. The same applies to the church. Churches must be built upon core values.
"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
I appreciate that both the Navy and the Marines condensed their core values into three words: honor, courage, and commitment. Rick Warren once explained that he would distill what he learned from great books into a few pages, then a few paragraphs, then a few sentences--and, if possible, a single word. Clarity often comes through condensation.
I have observed three recurring principles in the Constitution, the military, successful businesses, and effective churches: Message, Method, and Measure.
The Message: "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Keep the message unchanged.
The Method: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). Adapt the method without compromising the message.
The Measure: "Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied" (Acts 6:7). Look for spiritual fruit.
Therefore, sow the Word (Message), live the Life (Method), and reap the Harvest (Measure). (Luke 8:5-8).