Our Values

Our Values are distinctive aspects of Langdale that define us as a church. We aim to be:

1) Biblically-based

As God’s inspired, inerrant and living Word, the Bible has the power to transform lives today. We look to it as a sufficient and clear ‘source book’ for all that we believe and as an ‘instruction manual’ for Christian living. Whilst we recognise the influences of tradition, culture, human reasoning and experience, we look to God’s Word as our ultimate authority regarding our practices as a church.
References: John 17:14-17, Acts 20:32, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 1:22-25

2) Christ-centred

Christ is the object of our worship, the centre of our preaching and the focus of our evangelistic ministry; we seek to point people to him in all our evangelism and Bible teaching. We believe that Christ is the head of the church; He deserves our love, loyalty and service. While recognising the value of fellowship with other groups of Christians, the church is, under Christ, self-governing and independent of any denominational authority or hierarchy.
References: Eph. 4:15-16, Col. 1:18, Hebrews 12:2-3

3) Evangelistically-relevant

Evangelism is not an option but a mandate given to the church by Jesus Christ in order that lost people – both at home and abroad – may have the opportunity to hear and believe the good news of Jesus Christ and be saved. Members are to be committed to sharing their faith with those God brings across their pathway. Living in a fast-changing society, we aim to be ready as a church to follow the Lord’s leading in sharing the good news in culturally-relevant ways with our community.
References: Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 15, 1 Peter 3:15

4) Discipleship-oriented

We aim, not simply to make converts, but to make disciples. As followers of the Lord Jesus, we should manifest integrity of character, seeking to continue to grow and become more Christ-like. To this end, we place an important emphasis in our services upon expository teaching of God’s Word that is relevant to God’s people’s lives. It is our responsibility to not only be hearers of the word, but doers.
References: Matt. 28:18-20, Eph. 4:14-15, Phil. 2:1-5, Col. 1:28

5) Obedient Followers

We believe that obedience to all of Christ’s commands is important. However, there are two specific commands which we emphasise. Firstly, the church is to be active in baptising believers as an expression of their commitment to Jesus Christ and His cause. We practice believer’s baptism by immersion to reflect the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Secondly, the church actively encourages believers to remember our Lord Jesus Christ in partaking of the ‘Lord’s Supper’ on a regular basis. This provides a reminder of His love for us and of the cost of our salvation.
References: Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 14:22-25, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, Col. 2:6-7, 12

6) Loving People

We believe that all people matter to God, regardless of race or standing in society, and therefore ought to matter to His church. We believe that loving authentic relationships should particularly permeate every aspect of our life as a community of God’s people and that pastoral care is an important part of the church’s responsibility to all its members. We also realise that Christians hold different views on many issues. Our attitude is: in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity (love).
References: Mark 12:28-31, John 13:34, 1 Cor. 13:1-7, 1 Peter 4:8-9

7) A Functioning Body

God has given gifts to all believers; teaching, serving, encouraging, evangelising, caring, leading and giving are some of the most important. All the diverse abilities of God’s people are necessary for the proper functioning of the body and it is our responsibility, individually and as a church, to help people discover, develop and use these gifts. One way we desire to express and encourage this is at the Lord’s Supper at which different gifts may be exercised to build up and encourage the church.
References: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Cor. 14:26, Eph. 4:7-16, 1 Peter 4:10-11

8) Diligent in Prayer

We believe in a faithful prayer-answering God. It is therefore both a privilege and a responsibility for every believer to be diligent in prayer, individually and collectively in fellowship with other Christians.
References: Matt. 6:5-15, Acts 2:42, Eph. 6:18, 1 Tim. 2:1-8

9) Good Stewards

We believe that everything we possess belongs to God and that the stewardship of our goods, time and talents is a scriptural imperative. Sacrificial giving results from a heart that overflows in appreciation to God for the many blessings that He has poured out on every believer.
References: Matt. 6:1-4, 1 Cor. 16:2, 2 Cor. 8:1-15

10) Gender-Complementary

We believe that, while both Adam and Eve were created in God's image, equal before God as persons, yet distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order. In the church, this is reflected in men taking the lead in public participation, particularly in preaching and teaching.
References: Gen.1:26-27, 2:18-24; 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:12-14

11) Spiritually Discerning

We believe that all Christians are baptised by the Holy Spirit at conversion. God in His sovereignty is able to distribute spiritual gifts as He wills, but in the church gifts are to be used for edifying others, not self-fulfilment or self-promotion. We are required to test the spirits, rather than to uncritically accept all claims of spirituality.
References: 1 Cor. 12:13, 14:1-19, Heb. 2:4, 1 John 4:1-6

12) Plural in Leadership

We believe the Bible teaches that mature churches should be led, not by one person, but by a group of servant leaders who fulfil the Biblical characteristics of elders, and who should themselves be training others for this role.
References: Acts 14:23, 20:17-38, 1 Tim. 3:1-13, 5:17-20, 1 Peter 5:1-4