Embracing Zoe Life: Our Mission and Values

Summary

### Summary

Hello everyone, I'm Pastor Charlie from Abundant Life Church, and I'm thrilled to welcome you to our church family. Today, I want to share some foundational aspects of our church, starting with our mission statement: "We will bring life, love, and value to everyone, everywhere, every day." This mission is rooted in the concept of "Zoe" life, which means a redeemed life free from the penalty of sin, as described in John 10:10. We aim to connect you to this abundant life, filled with God's love and value.

Our journey began in September 2001 with a small Bible study, and over the years, God has blessed us with growth and expansion. From our humble beginnings at the YWCA to our current main campus in Kokomo, our story is a testament to God's faithfulness. We have also launched multiple campuses, including our online campus, to reach more people for Christ.

At Abundant Life Church, we have ten core values that guide us: Think Big, Excellence, Giving, Sacrifice, Evangelism, Work Hard, Integrity, Serving, Change, and Life Transformation. These values are not just words; they are principles we live by to honor God and serve our community effectively.

We also hold certain beliefs that are essential to our faith. We believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the necessity of being born again. We also believe that believers can be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, which empowers us to live a victorious Christian life.

Our church structure is designed to maintain order and peace, led by a team of elders and pastoral staff. We believe in a balanced leadership approach, combining both volunteer and staff elders to make well-rounded decisions.

I hope this introduction has given you a glimpse into who we are and what we stand for. We are excited to have you join us and look forward to growing together in Christ.

### Key Takeaways

1. Zoe Life: The God Kind of Life
- At Abundant Life Church, we emphasize the concept of "Zoe" life, which means a redeemed life free from the penalty of sin. This is the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10, a life filled with God's love and purpose. Embracing this life means experiencing God's fullness and living out His plans for us. [02:23]

2. Core Values: Guiding Principles
- Our ten core values—Think Big, Excellence, Giving, Sacrifice, Evangelism, Work Hard, Integrity, Serving, Change, and Life Transformation—are not just words but principles we live by. These values help us honor God and serve our community effectively, ensuring that we are always aligned with God's will. [07:36]

3. The Importance of Being Born Again
- We believe in the necessity of the born-again experience, where one accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This transformative experience changes us from the inside out, making us new creations in Christ. It's not about a perfect prayer but a genuine heart cry to God. [19:57]

4. Spirit-Filled and Spirit-Led Living
- Living a victorious Christian life involves being filled and led by the Holy Spirit. This daily yielding to the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome challenges and live according to God's will. The Holy Spirit is the key to true life transformation. [22:37]

5. Balanced and Orderly Church Structure
- Our church structure is designed to maintain order and peace, led by a team of elders and pastoral staff. We believe in a balanced approach, combining both volunteer and staff elders to make well-rounded decisions. This ensures that our church operates smoothly and effectively. [23:58]

### YouTube Chapters

1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:26] - Mission Statement
3. [02:23] - Zoe Life Explained
4. [03:03] - Love and Value
5. [04:04] - Church History
6. [07:08] - Core Values Introduction
7. [07:36] - Think Big
8. [08:33] - Excellence
9. [09:05] - Giving
10. [10:05] - Sacrifice
11. [10:34] - Evangelism
12. [11:04] - Work Hard
13. [12:04] - Integrity
14. [13:03] - Serving
15. [13:33] - Change
16. [14:03] - Life Transformation
17. [15:03] - Essential Beliefs
18. [19:57] - Born Again Experience
19. [22:37] - Spirit-Filled Living
20. [23:58] - Church Structure
21. [25:22] - Conclusion and Next Steps

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
2. Ephesians 2:19 - "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household."
3. 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

### Observation Questions
1. What does the term "Zoe" life mean according to Pastor Charlie, and how is it related to John 10:10? [02:23]
2. How did Abundant Life Church begin, and what were some key milestones in its growth? [04:04]
3. What are the ten core values of Abundant Life Church, and why are they important? [07:08]
4. According to Pastor Charlie, what is the significance of being born again? [19:57]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "Zoe" life in John 10:10 shape the mission and vision of Abundant Life Church? [02:23]
2. Why is it important for a church to have core values, and how do these values help in fulfilling the church's mission? [07:08]
3. What does it mean to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, and how does this impact a believer's daily life? [22:37]
4. How does the church structure at Abundant Life Church ensure order and peace, and why is this important? [23:58]

### Application Questions
1. Pastor Charlie emphasized the importance of experiencing "Zoe" life. How can you personally embrace and live out this abundant life in your daily routine? [02:23]
2. Reflect on the core values of Abundant Life Church. Which of these values do you find most challenging to live by, and why? [07:08]
3. The sermon highlighted the necessity of being born again. Have you had a born-again experience? If so, how has it transformed your life? If not, what steps can you take to explore this further? [19:57]
4. Being Spirit-filled and Spirit-led is crucial for a victorious Christian life. What practical steps can you take to yield more to the Holy Spirit daily? [22:37]
5. Pastor Charlie mentioned the importance of a balanced and orderly church structure. How can you contribute to maintaining order and peace within your church community? [23:58]
6. The mission statement of Abundant Life Church includes bringing life, love, and value to everyone. How can you apply this mission in your interactions with others this week? [01:26]
7. Reflect on the church's history and growth. How does understanding the church's journey inspire you to be more involved in its future? [04:04]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Zoe Life
Description: At Abundant Life Church, the concept of "Zoe" life is central to our mission. "Zoe" refers to a redeemed life free from the penalty of sin, as promised by Jesus in John 10:10. This abundant life is not just about material blessings but about experiencing the fullness of God's love, purpose, and presence in our daily lives. Embracing "Zoe" life means living out God's plans for us, filled with His love and value. It is a life where we are continually transformed by His grace and empowered to live victoriously.

Living the "Zoe" life involves a deep, personal relationship with God, where we are constantly aware of His presence and guidance. It means letting go of past mistakes and embracing the new identity we have in Christ. This life is marked by joy, peace, and a sense of purpose that transcends our circumstances. As we connect with this abundant life, we become conduits of God's love and value to those around us, fulfilling our mission to bring life, love, and value to everyone, everywhere, every day. [02:23]

John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to embrace the "Zoe" life and experience the fullness of God's love and purpose in your daily routine?

Day 2: Living by Core Values
Description: Our ten core values—Think Big, Excellence, Giving, Sacrifice, Evangelism, Work Hard, Integrity, Serving, Change, and Life Transformation—are not just words but principles we live by. These values help us honor God and serve our community effectively, ensuring that we are always aligned with God's will. Each value represents a facet of our commitment to living out our faith in practical and impactful ways.

For instance, "Think Big" encourages us to have a vision that goes beyond our immediate circumstances, trusting God for greater things. "Excellence" calls us to do everything to the best of our ability, as a form of worship to God. "Giving" and "Sacrifice" remind us of the importance of generosity and selflessness in our walk with Christ. By living out these values, we create a culture that reflects God's kingdom and draws others to Him. [07:36]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: Which of the ten core values do you find most challenging to live out? How can you take a practical step today to better align with that value?

Day 3: The Necessity of Being Born Again
Description: The born-again experience is a fundamental aspect of our faith. It involves accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, leading to a transformative change from the inside out. This experience is not about reciting a perfect prayer but about a genuine heart cry to God, acknowledging our need for His grace and salvation. Being born again means becoming a new creation in Christ, where old things pass away, and all things become new.

This transformation is the beginning of a lifelong journey of growing in Christ and becoming more like Him. It is marked by a renewed mind, a changed heart, and a new way of living that reflects our identity in Christ. As born-again believers, we are called to live out this new life with authenticity and passion, sharing the good news of Jesus with others and making a positive impact in our world. [19:57]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Reflect on your own born-again experience. How has your life changed since accepting Christ, and what areas still need transformation?

Day 4: Spirit-Filled and Spirit-Led Living
Description: Living a victorious Christian life involves being filled and led by the Holy Spirit. This daily yielding to the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome challenges and live according to God's will. The Holy Spirit is the key to true life transformation, guiding us into all truth, convicting us of sin, and empowering us to live out our faith with boldness and love.

Being Spirit-filled means allowing the Holy Spirit to influence every aspect of our lives, from our thoughts and attitudes to our actions and decisions. It involves a continual process of surrender and dependence on God's Spirit, trusting Him to lead us in the right direction. As we cultivate a Spirit-filled life, we experience greater intimacy with God, increased spiritual discernment, and the power to live out our calling effectively. [22:37]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to yield more to the Holy Spirit's guidance? How can you make space for the Holy Spirit to lead you today?

Day 5: Balanced and Orderly Church Structure
Description: Our church structure is designed to maintain order and peace, led by a team of elders and pastoral staff. We believe in a balanced approach, combining both volunteer and staff elders to make well-rounded decisions. This ensures that our church operates smoothly and effectively, providing a stable environment for spiritual growth and community impact.

A balanced church structure allows for diverse perspectives and gifts to be utilized in leadership, fostering a collaborative and unified approach to ministry. It also provides accountability and support for leaders, ensuring that decisions are made with wisdom and discernment. By maintaining order and balance, we create a healthy church environment where members can thrive and God's work can flourish. [23:58]

1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV): "But all things should be done decently and in order."

Reflection: How can you contribute to maintaining order and balance in your church community? What role can you play in supporting your church's leadership and mission?

Quotes

1. "We will bring life. Now whenever we say life, we're not talking about existence. We're talking about Zoe in the original. It's the original Greek, okay? Zoe life. It means redeem life. It means life free from the penalty of sin. It means the God kind of life. We want to connect you to the God kind of life. That's what we want to do here at Abundant Life Church." [02:23] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We will bring life, love, and value. Love and value. You know the word love there is agape. It's the word we're talking about. It means unconditional love. That means we accept people where they're at and try and get them along to where they're getting on. To the things that God has for them. All right? So there's the first part of that. And value. Obviously, even in this video, we want to bring value to you. We want to add value to your life." [03:03] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Think big. We will go big or go home. I love it. Don't you love it? We refuse to insult God with small thinking. We serve a big God who does big things. That's right. You get that? Think big. I've said this for years and I believe it to be true. You ready? I want to do something so awesome for God that whenever people look at it, they go, wow, that can't be Charlie Riley. That can't be that staff. That has to be God." [08:05] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Excellence. Listen to this. We will do all that we do with excellence. You know, if you go back into the book of Daniel, it says that Daniel had an excellent spirit in him. You know, we want to be people of excellence. We want our buildings to be excellent. We want our conduct to be excellent. Whenever people look and see what we're doing, we want them to say, wow, that's excellent. We believe it honors God and it increases our influence." [09:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We will win the lost. I would like to say it this way. It's not written this way, but I like to say it. We win the lost at all costs. But here it is. We will win the lost. We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don't know Christ. That is the truth. Anything short of sin. We will start campuses. We will reach them online. We will build new buildings. We will do anything short of sin to reach people for Jesus. You know, there's a world out there that needs Christ." [10:34] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We will work hard and laugh harder. If you haven't figured it out, I love to laugh. I love to smile. I love funny movies, not sad movies. I like funny movies, alright? So in light of that, we will work hard, but we will laugh harder. Nothing is more fun than serving God with people we love. I tell you, whenever you think about church, a lot of times it's not associated with laughing and working hard. But I believe with all my heart, we need to work hard and laugh just as hard, if not harder." [11:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Integrity. We will honor Christ and His church with integrity. If we live with integrity, nothing else matters. If we don't live with integrity, nothing matters. I've been doing this long enough to tell you, there have been some great men of God, some great women of God, who have ruined the ministry that God had for them because of integrity. We never want to be those type of people. We want to be the people that whenever people look and see who we are, we are what we say we are, and we do what we say we're going to do." [12:04] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Serving. We are spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers. We want to contribute. You know, God has put something on the inside of you that is there to impact the world. And we want to allow you to release that. I believe with all my heart, God has something big for you to do for his kingdom. And I believe with all my heart, the church plays a role in that. So listen to the remainder of this. The church does not exist for us. We are the church and we exist for the world." [13:03] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Change. This is a big one. Because I know and I'm sure you've been a part of churches where change is something that people fight. Here at Abundant Life Church, we're always changing. I tell people all the time, if it's not broke, break it. I'm always trying. I believe that we should be the people that change quick. And we should be all about change. What does that look like? We will change. The church must continually move with God. The message is the same. Did you hear that? The message is the same for over 2,000 years. But now watch this. You ready? The methods must progress with culture." [13:33] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Life transformation. We will have life transformation not behavior modification. We want each and every person that walks into church to experience a life transforming experience with God. We believe with all our hearts, God, when He touches you, He changes you. So we want people to be touched by God so that their lives are changed." [14:03] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?