• Studying the Scriptures faithfully and applying them carefully to my daily life (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15, 2 Tim 3:16-17).
• Maintaining a disciplined prayer life (Col 4:2).
• Loving others by building community through outreach, hospitality, discipleship, service, and generosity in contrast to a self-absorbed and individualistic lifestyle (1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 4:11).
• Demonstrating commitment to Christ alone and not enslavement to the temporary pleasures of this world. Therefore leaders should not be characterized by gluttony, drunkenness, alcoholism, gambling, materialism, egotism, immorality, addictions, or things such as these (1 Cor 10:31; Col 1:15-20).
• Communicating with edifying speech characterized by love, grace, and compassion and not with destructive speech characterized by gossip, slander, and coarse jesting (Eph 4:15, 4:29-32).
• Maintaining a godly example in all of my interactions with others in contrast to engaging in conduct that makes it easy for others to stumble (1 Cor 8-10).
• Walking in the light with appropriate transparency in all aspects of my life including my sins, activities, relationships, and organizational associations (1 John 1:5-9).
• Submitting to the governing authorities in my life as those established by God (Rom 13:1-2).

• Growing as a godly spouse, recognizing that our relationship is to be a picture of Christ’s relationship to the church (Eph 5:22-33).
• Raising our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4).
• Leading our family to live in holiness and handle areas of Christian liberty in a godly fashion (Deut 6:4-9; 1 Cor 8-10).

• Attending the services faithfully (Heb 10:23-25).
• Communicating quickly and Biblically about problems and concerns (Eph 4:25-32).
• Joyfully following the leadership of our pastors and deacons (Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17).
  • Sacrificially, joyfully, and faithfully giving of my income to support the ministry (2 Cor 8-9).

• Completing my ministry responsibilities in a thorough and timely manner (1 Pet 4:10-11).
• Contributing in a way that facilitates unity in my ministry area and not disunity (Eph 4:1-3).
• Loving and praying for those to whom I minister (1 Pet 4:8).
• Attending appropriate meetings for improvement of my ministry skills and accountability for my service (Eph 4:11-12).
• Contacting my ministry leader as soon as I know that I must be absent from my responsibilities (Col 3:23-24). 

Dressing in a way that is modest and leading my family to do likewise (1 Pet 3:3-4).

Guarding against the influence of questionable forms of music (refer to the church’s Corporate Music & Worship Philosophy statement and passages therein).

Guarding against the influence of questionable television programs, videos/DVDs, movies, internet sites, and computerized media (1 Thess 5:22).

Realizing that the Scriptures do not specifically speak to every contemporary issue I will follow, with respect to these “gray areas”, the Biblical principles of:

• Avoiding activities that cannot be done as a matter of faith (Romans 14:23).
• Voluntarily restricting my liberties when it opens avenues to maximize ministry (I Cor. 8-10, esp 9:19-23).
• Remembering that just because an activity may be lawful does not mean it is always best (I Cor. 6:12).
• Avoiding practices that could enslave me (I Cor. 6:12).
• Avoiding practices that could cause someone else to stumble (I Cor. 8:9).

While there may not be universal agreement on each contemporary issue, leaders must give evidence that they and their family members handle areas of Christian liberty in this way.