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the Purpose of The Core is to glorify God and serve and enjoy him as through worship, discipleship, fellowship and outreach.
Glory - We all exist for the glory of God. The sole purpose of all creation, especially humanity, is to demonstrate the goodness of God, and to enjoy him forever. "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we eagerly wait for you, for your name and your renown are the desire of our souls." Isaiah 26:8
Worship - to express our love for God, giving him all glory, and enjoying him now and forever. Many people use the word "worship to refer only to music, singing or a church service, but such a definition is drastically short-sighted. Worship is not an event, an act, or even a behavior. It is a mindset and a lifestyle. A church with a dramatic and fervent musical experience may or may not have "good worship"... because good worship is a matter of love, sacrifice, commitment and humility. In fact, it envelops the other three purposes of discipleship, fellowship and outreach. Without these things, worship does not exist. "...[The believers had] glad and sincere hearts, praising God" Acts 2:46b-47a
Discipleship - to live out the love of God by growing in godly character. Often the idea of "discipleship" is reduced to a creed, a catechism, or a Bible study. Much like worship, discipleship is far broader than commonly perceived. Discipleship is best understood as the life-long process, beginning at birth, of growing closer to God, and the understanding of his truth. This growth should occur by means of authenticity, accountability, mentorship and community. It must also be understood that discipleship is a process that occurs both before and after an individual commits his or her life to Jesus Christ."...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching" Acts 2:42a
Fellowship - to share the love of God with other believers and gather together regularly. Often "fellowship" is the name given to church picnics or potluck suppers. Once again, this is a painfully narrow concept. The key word, often forgotten, when it comes to fellowship, is "community". In the gospels, Jesus talks constantly about the Kingdom of God, and this should be evidence enough that faith in him is not something to be experienced alone. In fact, it cannot be, because the essence of the Christian faith lies in one's interactions, namely, in loving one's neighbor. We envision the return of authentic community to the life of the church; sharing one anothers' burdens and joys. "...they devoted themselves to... the fellowship" Acts 2:42b
Outreach - to spread the love of God by going into the world and communicating the good news of Jesus. The world has watched with disgust as the outreach of the Church--the attempt to fulfill Jesus' great commission to share the gospel--has been slowly reduced to a sales pitch. As we strive to follow Christ, we need to remember his greatest commandment by far, to love God, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is only in the course of loving those around us that we will share the good news with them in a way that is authentic, consistent, winsome, and truly Christ-like. Often this involves simple listening or caring--using no words at all. "...and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47b