If I were starting a church today…
I’d gather my team and start with the obvious: mission and vision.
Every church needs these directional statements. They clarify our why and point us toward where we’re going.
But that’s not enough.
Next, we’d lock in our values—not just some buzzwordy poster on a wall, but real-deal, culture-shaping convictions.
Why? Because your strategy will always flow from your culture. And your culture is shaped by your values.
The Problem with Most Church Cultures
Every church has a culture. The question is whether yours was created on purpose or by accident.
Too many church cultures are built by unintended behaviors that reflect unspoken values no one ever agreed to.
And that’s a problem because your culture is either fueling your mission… or fighting it.
Healthy churches take time to define the kind of culture that will best accomplish their God-given mission. Unhealthy churches? They drift.
Culture Isn’t Separate from Mission. It’s a Servant to It.
If your mission is why you exist, then your culture should be designed to make that mission unstoppable.
And here’s a hard truth: if your current values aren’t helping, they’re hurting.
Worse? Many church values sound great, but say nothing. Words like “excellence” and “trust” are fine, but they’re the bare minimum. They don’t call anyone to action. They don’t define a culture that moves people forward.
8 Bold Church Values That Actually Drive Growth
If I were starting a church today, here’s the kind of culture I’d build on purpose:
1. We’ll Do Whatever It Takes to Overpopulate Heaven
Anything short of sin, if it helps heaven win.
This is the Great Commission in action—go, reach, and teach all nations. We lead and love people individually and collectively with eternity in mind.
2. The Resurrection Sets Our Every Direction
If Jesus didn’t rise, nothing else matters.
Everything in our church—our teaching, programming, hope—hangs on the resurrection. It’s not just a belief. It’s our blueprint.
To this point, I’d never preach a message that wasn’t dependent on the resurrection. Otherwise, it’s just a motivational speech.
3. We’re Loyal to the Mission and the Movement
Our loyalty lives in the mission, not in personal preference or comfort.
Anything working against the mission is on borrowed time. Missional mediocrity? Not welcome here.
4. Nothing but the Gospel Is Sacred
The message is sacred. The method isn’t.
We’re allergic to sacred cows. If it doesn’t move the mission forward, we’ll kill it. Our preferences don’t get a vote—only effectiveness does.
5. People Are the Point and Progress Is the Purpose
We exist to move people forward in faith.
Discipleship is a journey, not a destination. If it doesn’t help people grow, it’s just noise.
6. Conservative Theology. Liberal Ministry.
There’s a difference between what’s real and what’s ideal. Theology gives us hope. Ministry helps people take steps toward it. I’d set a conservative theology as our target, but we’d cast the widest net possible to help people begin taking incremental steps toward God.
7. Truth and Grace in Full
All truth, all grace. All the time.
Truth without grace is legalism. Grace without truth is fluff. We’ll speak hard truths, but always through the lens of love and empathy.
8. Designed With Men in Mind
Brace yourself. This one stirs the pot.
Church often feels too soft, too sentimental, too… unrelatable for the average guy. That’s a problem. Because when you reach a man, you often reach his family and his future.
We’re not talking toxic masculinity. We’re talking intentional design. Strong, courageous, Gospel-centered culture.
What About Your Church?
Let’s be honest.
You probably like these—even if secretly. At least the first seven.
Why? Because you want to lead something that matters. Something that moves people forward and changes lives.
You weren’t called to lead a lightweight, missable church.
You were called to advance the Great Commission.
This is a passion project, not a passive routine.
Maybe Try This:
✅ Take a hard look at your current values.
✅ Ask: Do these inspire action, or just agreement?
✅ Are they tired, or do they create urgency, clarity, and culture?
You don’t want to just manage ministry. You want to lead it with confidence.
And the best place to start? Clarify your cultural foundation.
If your ministry feels stuck, stagnant, or off-track… your values may be the silent culprit.
Quotes to Share
“Culture is either fueling your mission—or fighting it.”
“The message is sacred. The method isn’t.”
“If your values don’t move the mission forward, they’re just decoration.”
Want Help With Your Church’s Values and Culture?
This is one of my specialties. Reply to this email if you’d like to discuss how I may be able to serve you and your church.
You can also:
Join a FREE Pressure Valve Session: I host a monthly Pressure Valve Session to help pastors like you tackle one of these seven pressures head-on.
Attend a Leadership Lab: Attend a digital strategy lab and walk away with a practical plan to confidently lead under pressure. Or I’ll come to you and host a retreat or a 1-day workshop.
Take the Pressure Inventory: This free, 5-minute assessment helps you identify where the pressure is heaviest for you.
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Until Next Time,
Dr. Gavin Adams
