Community Life at Cedar Springs

Community Life Values

What values shape the way we live before God and with one another?

Mission - Focused:

[1] God has strategically placed each of us for a specific time in proximity and history to play a role in His will being done and His kingdom coming. [2] Likewise, CSPC has too been placed sovereignly in a certain place and time in history. The church's mission is "to fill the earth with the experiential knowledge of the glory of God." Our lives, individually and corporately are to be about Him and others. [3] God has strategically placed each of us for a specific time in proximity and history to play a role in His will being done and His kingdom coming. Likewise, CSPC has too been placed sovereignly in a certain place and time in history. The church's mission is "to fill the earth with the experiential knowledge of the glory of God." Our lives, individually and corporately are to be about Him and others.

Gospel - Centered:

As others have said, we are one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. Clearly, there is nothing for us to boast of; however we have much to give away because of the abundance given to us. [4] We are people in process, quick to lend a hand to a brother or sister, crossing our path on their journey. [5] Each believer has been given gifts and talents (for the building up of the body) to give away; they are needed for the well-being of the whole. [6] We are to be slow to judge and quick to forgive because of the generous grace and forgiveness offered to us. [7] We are people in process, quick to lend a hand to a brother or sister, crossing our path on their journey. Each believer has been given gifts and talents (for the building up of the body) to give away; they are needed for the well-being of the whole. We are to be slow to judge and quick to forgive because of the generous grace and forgiveness offered to us.

Relationship - Oriented:

God has designed us and wired us for relationship. [8] All the Law can be summed up into loving God and others well. [9] God's word is filled with instructions of " one-anothering". All "one-anothers" require authentic relationships, some acquaintances and other intimate. Jesus lived a life of relationships; He spent His time investing in others. We must love and value most what God does and that is people, His image-bearers. All the Law can be summed up into loving God and others well. God's word is filled with instructions of " one-anothering". All "one-anothers" require authentic relationships, some acquaintances and other intimate. Jesus lived a life of relationships; He spent His time investing in others. We must love and value most what God does and that is people, His image-bearers.

Pursuing Unity:

In Jesus, departing prayer for us, one of His focuses was our unity- with God and each other. [10] The illustration of the "body" of Christ reflects individual parts working together for the whole. [11] We will be exponentially more effective and powerful if we move in concert, like the difference between an individual musical instrument compared to a well conducted full orchestra. Any individual not engaging his or her gift leaves the "whole" less than her potential. [12] The illustration of the "body" of Christ reflects individual parts working together for the whole. We will be exponentially more effective and powerful if we move in concert, like the difference between an individual musical instrument compared to a well conducted full orchestra. Any individual not engaging his or her gift leaves the "whole" less than her potential.

Creating Counter - Culture:

The disciples of Jesus are to be marked by their love one for another - branded by love. [13] We are to relate to God, others, and the world according to the beatitudes. [14] The fruit of the Spirit is to be evident. [15] We are to die in order to live and be last in order to be first. [16] This culture will be so appealing if lived in proximity to others it will encourage all towards God; it gives opportunity to reveal and show off God's goodness and glory. [17] As docents (guides) help explain and expose the beauty/interest of art in a museum, so we are docents of God's glory as we live consecrated and transparent lives with one another and before a watching world. We are to relate to God, others, and the world according to the beatitudes. The fruit of the Spirit is to be evident. We are to die in order to live and be last in order to be first. This culture will be so appealing if lived in proximity to others it will encourage all towards God; it gives opportunity to reveal and show off God's goodness and glory. As docents (guides) help explain and expose the beauty/interest of art in a museum, so we are docents of God's glory as we live consecrated and transparent lives with one another and before a watching world.

Summary of Community Life:

We are the Body of Christ, called to carry his presence and ministry into the world: teaching His word, proclaiming the good news of his Kingdom, healing the broken, and building a community in this world that reflects the life of the world to come.

Our Mission Statement:

For God's glory, the Community Life group of CSPC is committed to the care of and deployment of members for service throughout the greater Knoxville area and throughout the world, who are loving God, one another, and their neighbors in a way that the watching world will be drawn to the person of Jesus Christ.

Motto: Delighted in Worship, Discipled for Service, and Deployed for Christ

  • [1] Psalm 81:13-16; 145:14-19; Isaiah 43:7; 46:9-10
  • [2] Acts 17:26-28; Deut. 32:8; Acts 8:4; Job 12:23
  • [3] John 13:34-35; Matt. 16:24-26; Leviticus 11:44-45
  • [4] Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 6:14-15; Eph. 2:8-9; John 4:28-29; 1 John 4:7-11; II Cor. 4:4-7
  • [5] Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 1:5-8; 1 John 4:21
  • [6] Eph. 4:1-12; I Cor. 12:4-7
  • [7] Eph. 2:8-9; I Cor. 1:27-31; Eph. 4:32
  • [8] Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 8:14-16; Isaiah 50:11; Jeremiah 31:31-34;
  • [9] John 1:34-35; John 15:12-14
  • [10] John 17:20-23
  • [11] Phil. 2:1-4
  • [12] I Cor. 12:14-19
  • [13] John 13:12-15; John 15:12-13;
  • [14] Matthew 5:2-16
  • [15] Galatians 5:22-24
  • [16] Matthew 19:30; Gal. 2:20
  • [17] John 13:34-35

Community Life Resources