12 Operational Principles

We believe that God’s Word—The Bible—is foundational to how we are to live our lives.

Consider the following Scriptures:

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Luke 21:33 (ESV)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

We believe all the important concerns and issues of human life are addressed in the Bible. Whether we have questions about the nature and source of truth, relationships, marriage, child-rearing, personal finances, how God responds to sin and brokenness, social justice, the role of civil authority and how we should relate to those in authority, what Jesus had in mind when He created the Church, what is involved in following Jesus—all our questions will find answers in the Bible.

We don’t just to want to know what the Bible says about these things. We believe Scripture is true. We want to live our lives grounded in and guided by God’s Word.

Of course, there are those who say “Yes, we believe in the Bible, but when it comes to important issues of life—how to discipline our children, how to build our marriages, discussions on abortion or sexuality, how to build the church—we need to rely on our own ‘common sense’ and base our decisions on how we feel or modern cultural trends.”

God’s Word will be around long after our best ideas are all gone. This doesn’t mean we can’t use our brains. This doesn’t mean we can’t gather relevant information. It means we begin here—with The Bible. God’s Word is our sure foundation for how we are to live our lives.

We have been created by God for God. We were made for relationship with Him, to honor Him, to devote our lives to Him, to worship Him, to have Him as our Center. That is why the First Commandment comes before the Great Commission.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Mark 12:30 (ESV)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Our relationship with Jesus is the source of living a life that is truly worth living.

2 Peter 1:3-4 (AMP)

For His divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for a dynamic spiritual life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

It is so important that we don’t view the Presence of God as a force or a power or even a certain kind of experience. The Presence of God is a Person—the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity.

We are all encouraged to ‘Be filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Ephesians 5:18 NIV). For believers, this simply means that we are to be continually and increasingly surrendered to and dependent on the Person and ministries of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us, leads us, equips us, empowers us, transforms us, makes Jesus more real to us, in us and through us. That’s why we choose a lifestyle of surrender to and dependence on the Holy Spirit in all we do.

Exodus 40:34-38 (ESV)

… Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

John 16:7-8 (ESV)

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…

John 16:13-14 (NIV)

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and make it known to you.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

John 14:12 (ESV)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Luke 11:13 (NIV)

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

For more on the Holy Spirit’s ministries, see Romans 8:26, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:38-39, Acts 4:31, Acts 8:14-17, Acts 19:1-7, 1st Corinthians 12 and 14.

Many people are enamored with and attracted to—in some cases, beguiled by—talent, gifts, and anointing. Without character, though, it will all fall apart. We are not against talent, anointing, and charisma. But character trumps them all. Character is “king” in the Kingdom of God.

Neither Manna Church nor Paul are against spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are ways Jesus chooses to reveal Himself, help people, and build His Church family. But the exercise of spiritual gifts doesn’t make you spiritual—character does. In 1st Corinthians, Paul addresses a church that possessed many spiritual gifts, but his instructions (actually, his corrections) focused on character issues—areas which needed to be seriously adjusted. A quick reading of 1st Corinthians 13, the “love chapter,” is a great example of the priority God attaches to character.

In 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul outlines qualifications for elders and deacons. Every point is about character. He says nothing about spiritual gifts, nothing on anointing, and only one thing on abilities—that they should be able to teach (he doesn’t even say they have to be good at it!).

Anointing can be found in the microwave, but character only cooks in a crock pot.

Brokenness, humility, loyalty, faithfulness, integrity, standing by your word, generosity, kindness, sacrifice, perseverance, love—these are the things that make people spiritual.

God always was and is about people. He created people, and He created them to have fellowship with Him and to bring Him glory.

Mankind fell and God provided a way of salvation for them. Those He saved are called the Church, His people.

Matthew 1:21 (ESV)

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.

God rules in relation to His people, the Church. The Church is the centerpiece of what God is doing in the earth. The Old Testament is about Him ruling over and dealing with the nations in relation to His people Israel. The book of Revelation is about Him ruling in relation to the Church.

Revelation 5:8-10 (ESV)

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

The Church is the point. What God is doing on planet Earth is advancing His Kingdom through His Church. Governments, corporations, and entertainers are not the point. They are part of the world, but the real point—the primary focus—of all that God is doing is the Church—His people.

Of course, Satan and the world system are going to try to marginalize, resist, and attack the Church. But Jesus won the victory over Satan and the world at Calvary. And He has charged and equipped His Church to enforce and expand that victory throughout the whole earth.

Many churches think that “church” is what happens when we meet, or is synonymous with the place in which we meet. In this view, everything about church centers on the building, and those who do the ministry and who control the ministry are the professional leaders. “Volunteers” are recruited to join ministries, which usually means keeping the programs of the church running. The center of ministry is the church building.

We believe the Church is people. Church is where two or more people gather in Jesus’ Name.

We believe that ministry can occur through you wherever you may happen to be: at home, on the job, at a kid’s soccer game. Wherever you are, you bring the Kingdom of God.

The role of the “professional” clergy is to equip and coach the people. The primary job of leaders is to create an environment where people may become who God called them to become so they can demonstrate and advance the Kingdom of God in their spheres of influence.

1 Peter 2:5 (ESV)

...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priest-hood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…

“Traditional church” is a model of doing church which sees the people in the stands watching and the “professionals” playing the game (ministering).

Manna’s model sees the people on the field doing ministry, the “professionals” equipping and coaching, and the “great cloud of witnesses” in the stands (see Hebrews 12:1)

God loves to take ordinary, everyday people and equip them to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom. That’s why we believe in people. That’s why we are committed to having more faith for people than they may have for themselves.

“Inward churches” see the Church as a field—the focus of ministry, the place where ministry is done.

“Outward churches” see the world as the field and the Church (the people) as the force.

Manna Church is an “outward church.”

Our mission statement does not use “minister” as the core action verb. We use “equip.” Ministry is available at Manna because the people are equipped to do it. And our Small Groups provide the ideal environment for people to discover, develop, and deploy their individual giftedness and callings.

People are called by God to reach their world, their spheres of influence.

• Bed (where you live, your immediate relationships)

• Buck (your occupation—work, school, etc.)

• Burden (your God-given passions, causes)

Acts 17:26 (NASB)

...and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation…

Just as there are hospitals which provide care for people, and teaching hospitals who care for people and equip future physicians, we are a church that cares for people and trains people to do ministry.

People grow best in a grace-filled environment, so we create a place where failure is not fatal. We prize taking steps of faith, trying news things, innovating, learning from our failures and mistakes.

We are a permission-granting, not a permission-withholding church. We want to encourage and equip, not control and limit.

Leadership authority is given by God to equip and empower people to operate in their callings, not to control or intimidate people.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

Generosity is our default. If you are going to err, always err on the side of generosity. Our heart is to lead with an open hand.

Grace is more than just a gift and certainly more than a doctrine; it is a lifestyle. It is how God grows and empowers people. Jesus did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He raises us up and He places us in circumstances where we can walk out our calling, using our gifts to take His message all over the world.

Grace does not mean “soft on sin.” Grace without justice is not grace. Love and truth must exist together to remain balanced.

We believe in people, so we invest in people. We believe in helping people take everything God has put in them to advance His Kingdom wherever they go. That’s why we “do church.”

Everything God made, He made well. God is the Creator and His creation is beautiful. He created, and therefore loves, diversity. At Manna, we love diversity as well.

Division by race, socioeconomic status, fame, or intellect is unbiblical. God is no respecter of persons. We do not accept African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or Whites because they are Christian African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Whites. We don’t look past their race and say things like “I don’t even think of you as a white person/black/Latino.” Just the opposite is true. Our heart is to communicate “I do think of you as white/black/Latino because that is who you are, and I love you as you are.”

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV)

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

1 John 4:20 (ESV)

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

The church is to provide a culture of healing and reconciliation. Therefore, it is to be without walls. Religion builds walls to keep “good” people in and “bad” people out. Christianity tears down walls and seeks to deliver the healing message of the Gospel to all who need it.

Of course, there is order and (when appropriate) discipline in the Church, but the doors of the Church—namely, our hearts—are always open to others who are “outside.”

Outreach is not an option; it is a mandate from Jesus. The Great Commandment (love the Lord your God) is followed by the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 8:1-4 (ESV)

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word.

Jesus died for real people and sent real people to reach them.

As real people, we have had both success and failures, lived through many unique circumstances, experienced many challenges and difficulties.

Many of the people with whom we have contact will have some of these things in common with us.

There are people in your oikos who are just waiting to hear parts of the story of what Jesus has done and is doing in your life. So, it’s important we are equipped to understand our life message, be comfortable sharing the Gospel, and confident in the faith we are living. (In this week’s “Going Deeper,” we’ve included questions from a portion of Growth Track’s First Step which help you better understand and share the story of your journey with Jesus.)

Our best testimony is a life well-lived—a life wholeheartedly devoted to following Jesus.

Outreach includes every part of the globe and every people group on the planet. At Manna, we are especially drawn to the most difficult and dangerous places and people groups.

Jesus created the Church to be the vehicle to advance the Kingdom of God throughout the world. Because this is His plan, growth and success are expected. At the same time, we fear neither risk nor failure. Our expectation is simply this: once we see the vision He reveals, and set our hearts to work fearlessly toward that end, He will provide the results He intended us to have.

We are committed to stick to the vision and work the plan that God has given us. We can’t do everything, but we’ll do what we are called to do with all we have!

We believe that, ultimately, every church really has the same calling. We are committed to do our part in the way that God has called us to do it. And every step of the way, that plan includes you!

So, start with the people who are close to you—your families, co-workers, neighbors, those who you have a passion to come to know Jesus. Let’s reach out to those people and see what God does!

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Excellence = relentless improvement.

For example, Manna’s Worship Experiences are designed to honor God, engage people, and portray a spirit of excellence befitting the worship of our awesome God. That same spirit of excellence should extend to everything we do. We are talking about excellence, not perfection. Pay attention to the Law of Diminishing Returns which says that as you add elements, the overall quality can tend to decrease. We don’t aim for mediocrity, “good enough,” or perfection. We aim for excellence.

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