Core Value #1: Jesus is our Foundation

Written By Steve Akins

Every church has core values. But not every church is clear about what everything else rests on. For us, it’s simple: Jesus is our foundation. This isn’t a slogan. It’s the bedrock of who we are and how we live. Built on the Rock In Gospel of Matthew 7:24–27, Jesus tells a story about two builders. Both build houses. Both experience storms. But only one house stands. The difference isn’t effort. It isn’t intention. It isn’t sincerity. It’s the foundation.

Jesus says the wise builder is the one who hears His words and puts them into practice. The foolish builder hears the same words—but doesn’t act on them. The storm reveals what the foundation concealed. Everyone Is Building on Something

Whether we realize it or not, we are all building our lives on something:

  • Success

  • Stability

  • Politics

  • Family

  • Reputation

  • Religious activity

None of those things are strong enough to carry the weight of your soul.

Only Christ is.

When pressure comes—loss, suffering, doubt, cultural shifts—what you are built on determines whether you stand or collapse. Hearing Isn’t the Same as Building

One of the most sobering truths in Jesus’ story is this:

  • Both builders heard His words.

  • Attendance alone is not a foundation.

  • Agreement is not a foundation.

  • Knowledge is not a foundation.

A foundation is formed when trust leads to obedience.

To build on Jesus means:

  • We trust who He is.

  • We believe what He says.

  • We shape our lives around His truth—even when it costs us something.

Why This Matters for Our Church

Saying “Jesus is our foundation” means something very practical.

It means:

  • We don’t build on trends.

  • We don’t build on personalities.

  • We don’t build on comfort.

  • We don’t build on cultural pressure.

  • We build on Christ.

That shapes:

  • Our preaching — Scripture-centered and Christ-exalting.

  • Our worship — focused on Him, not performance.

  • Our discipleship — obedience over information.

  • Our leadership — humility over platform.

  • Our mission — faithfulness over popularity.

If Jesus is not the foundation, nothing else we build will last. Storms Will Come Jesus never promised storm-free living. In fact, He guaranteed the opposite. The rain falls on both houses. But the one built on the rock stands firm. Our hope is not that we avoid hardship. Our hope is that we are anchored in Someone unshakable.

As the apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 3:11, “No one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

A Personal Question

This core value isn’t just about our church structure. It’s about your life. What are you standing on? When the winds rise—emotionally, spiritually, culturally—what keeps you steady? Jesus doesn’t invite us to admire His words. He invites us to build on them. And when we do, we discover something powerful: When everything else shakes, Christ remains unshaken.

Steve Akins
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