Mission and Values
Working Out Contributes to a Healthy Body
Jun 19, 2004

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to do that which is His good pleasure.” What are we to do in order to work out our salvation?

One way Dayspring members do this is by trying to create relationships that demonstrate authenticity, community and integrity. We work out our salvation in part by seeking such relationships. Thus, we do our best to be real (with God and each other) and to take off our masks. 

The children learn about God.

This contrasts with many places where Christians engage in a gentle co-conspiracy. “Let’s all behave, speak and act as we imagine Christians ought to do, even though we have to fake it, because to admit otherwise might discourage people, bring disgrace to God’s name, or produce hurt and rejection by some of us against others.”

When we decide to work out our salvation through really speaking the truth about ourselves, the result is risk--the possibility of betrayal or rejection is ever real. The Holy Spirit has protected Dayspring from that risk in great measure. Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness are powerful realities in our common life through Jesus Christ. 

Such a decision also results in reward. Dayspring is a community where many people sense a kind of Christian community that they have not experienced before. It’s authentic, transparent, warts-and-all real, yet full of hope and encouragement.

People often act as though they can serve God in isolation as “Lone Ranger Christians.” Nothing could be more false.  If I am an island, how will I obey God’s commands to:

Love one another,

            Serve one another,

            Be kind to one another,

            Bear with one another,

            Comfort one another,

            Forgive one another,

            Submit to one another,

            Teach one another,

            Exhort one another,

            Admonish one another,

            Confess sins to one another,

            Pray for one another,

            Be hospitable to one another,

            Minister gifts to one another,

            Greet one another,

            Bear one another’s burdens.

Obeying the “one another’s” means living in relationship, real relationship with our fellow Christians in the local church. There is no room for phoniness or faking or pretending to be something we are not. Let me make it plain: God commands all of us to live our lives in this way. To refuse Him is to be outside of His perfect will. How’s that for the practical meaning of “work out your salvation”? 

Open your life up to your brothers and sisters in Christ, corporately and in home groups, as we are open to you:

Three qualities that we seek after in the life of Dayspring are:

• authenticity
• community
• integrity.

Three gifts we seek to offer to ourselves and others are: 

• love
• acceptance
• forgiveness.

© Copyright 2002 - 2003 Dayspring Fellowship
Content from www.dayspringfellowshipnc.com
Dayspring Fellowship exists to equip its members in using their God-given gifts, abilities, and resources to fulfill the Great Commission, bringing Christ to Durham and the world. Three qualities that we seek after in the life of Dayspring are: authenticity, community, integrity. Three gifts we seek to offer to ourselves and others are: love, acceptance, forgiveness.