Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi guys, I'm Beth Jones and welcome to the Basics
with Beth, where learning God's word is a joy. In
every message, we will do our best to teach you
the Bible basics in such a way that it strengthens
your faith foundation. In addition, I want to empower and
equip you so that you have confidence to share these
(00:24):
Bible basics with others. So lean in and listen with
your heart. If you'd like to know more about our ministry,
just go to the Basics with Beth dot com and
get all the scoop. With all of that said, now
let's jump into today's message. How is everybody doing. We
(00:46):
are gonna pick back up with where we have been.
We are in the Inspired Life course. How many of
you have been with us for one or more of
these fantastic awesome Since week one, We've talked about our purpose,
two we talked to about our mission, then we talked
about our vision, and then today we're going to talk
about our.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Code or our core values.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
It may be that you have some core values that
you're finding God's talking to you about those to say,
you know, those are your core values, but those are
not my core values. They're not God's core values. And
so what we want to do in this session is
see how we can bring our core values into alignment
with God's highest and best for each and every one
(01:28):
of us, which is revealed and according to His word.
And that's what we're going to jump into. So I'm
going to take you inside the course again. We're going
to go into lesson number four Your Code. It's very short,
and then we'll have the panel. Another panel coming up
this week and we'll have some discussions. So let's go
into the online course. We'll watch this lesson and then
we'll be back with the panel. All right, enjoy, Welcome
(01:50):
back to the Inspired Wife. And we are in Madua
one how to Live, Smack deb and the center of
your God given purpose. And now we are in lesson
Full and in less than four we're going to talk
about something really really fun. It's called the Code, your Code,
your core values. But before I get into that, let
me just encourage you to be sure you're downloading the worksheets,
(02:10):
the handouts and make sure you're keeping up and following
along and every lesson filling in things as you can,
and then go back and really take some prayerful time.
I hope you do some thoughtful, prayerful time to complete
all of the lessons and the assignments we're doing in
this module. All right, now, let's talk about your code
or your core values. In essence, what we're talking about,
(02:33):
this is the thing you live by. This is your DNA,
this is your genetic code, this is your personal manifesto.
These are the things you love, These are the things
you believe in. This is sort of just innate in you.
It's just how you operate. It's your operating system. And
it's not something you invent necessarily. It's not like, oh
I need to come up with the code. No, really again,
(02:55):
like all of these you discover what is the code
within me? What are my core values? What do I
live by? What are the things I love and I
believe in? You know, we've said when it comes to purpose,
we've said that purpose completes the sentence I was created.
Mission completes the sentence I exist. Vision completes the sentence
(03:17):
I see the code. Your code completes the sentence I
love and I believe in these things. So, for example,
we all have our code of conduct, our code of honor,
our code and our family. This is how our family operates,
This is how I operate as a person. My integrity,
(03:38):
my ethics, you know, all of those kinds of things. So,
for example, we have a code within us of what
I love and what I believe about God, what I
love and what I believe about family, about relationships, about money,
about material things, about serving others, about church, about you.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
The list goes on, and we'll get into some of
that here in this lesson. But that's what we're talking about.
It's your core values on the inside. So let's do
some exercises.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
If you look at.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Your hand out, you'll see there's some questions to answer
just to get your thoughts going about, Yeah, what is
in you? What do you live by? All right? And
then I'm going to share with you some of my
core values just to get your wheel spinning as well.
And then I want you to sit down and just
work on your own particular core values. So here are
some questions to be asking to get things, get things
(04:29):
moving in your thinking and in your heart.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
All right?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
What kind of people do you love to be around?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Do you love to serve or you.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Love to interact with? What kind of places do you
like to go. Do you like to study at do
you like to visit with people at? What kind of
places inspire you things? What kind of things do you
love and they're really important to you? Like I love bicycles,
I love candles, I love flags. You know what are
(04:56):
the things? And you know it can be very eclectic
and quite large that list, even colors and smells and
you know things you like to taste, flavors, that kind
of stuff. All of those pieces go into your core,
your code, your core values and really the person that
you are. So you want to be thinking about those
things because that will help to then create your own
(05:18):
personal code. Some other things you want to think about.
It's in your hand up, but like what ideas and
problems do you love to solve? What kind of things
do you love to learn? Like, you know what if
you're like a code for me, a core value for
me is I have to read a book every month? Okay, cool,
that's one of your codes. And then you know, maybe
(05:39):
some other things to think about her at the end
of it all, what do you want to be known for?
Because what you want to be known for, that'll be
a massive motivator on the inside. Part of your code,
part of your DNA, because you'll live according to your code,
and what you want to be known for will be
a very strong internal compass. So you're getting the idea
(05:59):
about code. What code is core values, deeply held beliefs,
things you love and things you believe in. So I
want to conclude by just sharing a couple of mine
with you again just to give you some fodder so
you can dig in and put together your own code,
your core values. So a couple of mine, I mean
one of mine. Oh, let me just say this. Your
(06:20):
code to a degree can evolve, not that you invent
a code, because again it's just who you are, but
it changes as you change, as we grow and develop
and mature as people, then our code does begin to change.
And depending on the season that we're in, you know,
pieces of that will change. For example, with my own
personal code, one of my codes is I know I
(06:43):
am loved by God. That's a biggie and that is
a filter for me, so everything goes through that. I
don't think God's mad at me. I don't think he's
out to get me. I don't think he's trying to
hurt me. If things don't go well, like perfectly well
in my life, I don't say or think, well, why
did God do that to me? Because it's a core
value for me. It's in my DNA. I know God
(07:04):
loves me, I know his intentions towards me are for
my good and that helps me just to live out
my life the way I live it another core value
for me, and I'm sure for many of you as well.
Part of your code is I love and set the
thermostat for my family. Like I know that it's my
job and it's who I am. I am a thermostat setter,
(07:25):
and so in my family that's a really big part
of what I do. And so I know that if
I'm having a bad day or if I'm feeling grouchy,
my code guides me to say, hey, no, no, no, no.
You set the atmosphere in your home so you're joyful,
there's a lot of laughter. You communicate with your kids
and with your husband. That kind of stuff becomes your
(07:46):
code in seasons of life. That power like family, that'll
change because you know, when the kids are little, I'm
focused on changing diapers and potty training, but now that
they're older, I'm focused on helping kids navigate into adulthood,
into their careers, into their own families, and so on.
Other codes. For me, A huge code for me is
(08:07):
I live by God's word. Like God's word is the
plumb line for my life. I could live by my feelings.
I could live by circumstances, I could live by people's opinions.
I could live by what I could afford or not afford.
I mean, there's a lot of other things I could
live by. But my core value for me is I
live by endeavor to I mean, not perfect at it,
(08:27):
but my core is I endeavor to live by God's word.
So that's my plumb line. So again, what are yours?
And so look at the workshreets, look at the handouts,
take some time, prayerfully, begin to process through your code. Okay,
so there you go your code. A little introduction, and
as you can see, my panel has arrived and that
(08:49):
they are ready to have some discussion about core values
and about codes. So here's some categories and so let's
let's let's talk about this a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
When it comes to code. For all of us just
are working, you.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Know, things that we're going to have in our mind
as we talk about this is what we love and
it's what we believe. We're going to boil code down
core values down to what do you love and what
do you believe at the courts your operating system. As
we have said, it's interesting when it comes to being
a Christian and Christian core values. You know, in other words,
what are where are our core values come from?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
What are they measured against?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Well, they can be measured against popular opinion, the media,
the culture, your best friend, people, you respect, God, God's word.
You know, there's so many things that it can be
measured against. And so I want to talk about just
as we intro this and get some discussion from these guys.
Because of the culture we live in, how many of
you have recognized there have been many huge cultural shifts
(09:46):
and you're going to see some statistics here in just
a minute when it comes to values. So it goes
back to what is that plumb line? So here's a
definition of core Christian values, all right? A core Christian
value is having God first in our lives. This means
continuously seeking His righteousness and totally relying on him. As humans,
we have the freedom of choice to decide what is
(10:07):
right and what is wrong. But if we value God,
we will look to him for what is right and wrong.
We value God when we acknowledge that He knows better
than we do on what we need in our lives.
Matthew six thirty three talks about seek first the Kingdom
of God and his righteousness, and then everything else will
be added. Everything else falls into place. So I want
you guys to talk about this a little bit because
(10:27):
of the changing culture. What are you guys seeing in
the culture when it comes to God's word and Christian
values being the core values amongst your peers, fellow Christians,
and just in the culture we live in.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Let's talk about that just in general.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I think it's pretty obvious of the last several years
is kind of a moral decline in the United States.
And so I think noticing that, you know, within the
within a church, like how that has come into maybe
just you know, our world where it's like we do
live our lives based on what the Bible says, that
it's like we know that that's truth for our life.
(11:02):
But I think there is a lot of people who
haven't made that decision even within the church, like do
I really live by what the Bible says or to
live by what popular opinion says or what I feel
or what seems good. I don't know if you guys
notice up, but it seems like that's kind of the
trend we're in right now, or maybe just like that
season where people are trying to figure out, really what
do I believe and where do my values come from?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
I would think what you can also kind of tend
to see in our culture as well and among our
generation is that people also now are choosing beliefs not
necessarily like based on the truth of God's word. They're
just kind of going on like, Okay, yeah, this is
what they believe, So you know, I like this person,
so because they believe this, I think I believe that too.
Or I saw this post and that was funny, and
(11:43):
so now I think I do agree with that because
you know, they post about that. So it's like instead
of choosing, you know, definitive beliefs, it's kind of swayed
on what other people are saying and kind of telling
us to believe, rather than knowing the truth of the
Word of God and going to that as like that's
the core of my core values.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Let me give you some just historical facts, real quick
historical facts. Of course, in the Bible, in the Old Testament,
God's people had a covenant with God and they lived
by God's word. That was the plumb line. In fact
an Amos chapter seven, it'd be interesting to read God says,
he says, hey, what do you see? And they said, oh,
we see a plumb line. And he said, you're right,
but there's a problem. You guys have deviated from the
plumb line. And so with that comes consequences. Well, then
(12:25):
through time we see different ages. The medieval times come along,
and now it's not just God's word being the plumb
line or being the thing people come into alignment with
concerning their values. Now it's God's word and reason. Man's
reason is sort of equal to God's word. Then along
(12:46):
comes the Reformation. They get back to the word, they
get back to God's word, and then comes the Enlightenment, which,
in a lot of ways history is repeating itself. We're
almost like in the Enlightenment again almost it seems the
Enlightenment was God's words out God's words outdated. God's word
is fuddy duddy. It's more about your experience, it's more
about your own opinion. It's more about your own reason,
(13:09):
and so then what happens though in the culture, in
families and individuals lives, in all of those things is
quite significant.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
And you guys are alluding to it.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I mean, we're seeing those things happen, and then especially
we're seeing with a generational core value shift. And I
want to talk about a little bit and get these
guys to talk about it. But I want to give
you some stats of the two largest generations because it'll
sort of fit all of us. You'll find your spot here.
And what our codes are, what our core values are. Okay,
(13:36):
baby boomers thirty five percent of baby boomers subscribe to
core biblical beliefs thirty five percent, Millennials four percent.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
That's a big shift. We're talking about core values based.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
On God, based on godly principles, based on God's word.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Huge shift.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Okay, So you guys talk about that sum just the
differences in your own experience and even as a professor
at school as you deal with millennials, and I'll talk
about some of those things and the impacts.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Well, I think it's just something we already talked about,
but just reiterating that we live in a world that
basically denies absolutes, and so when you say the word
of God is an absolute truth, it quickly gets denied.
And as you alluded to earlier, it's much more experiential.
So my experience is going to drive my beliefs. But
(14:28):
that's dangerous because we all have different experiences. So heading
back to the absolute of God's word is that foundation
that you know we've found, but so many out there
are denying that and saying experience determines, and so experience
by itself is a dangerous thing. And so I think
we're seeing, unfortunately, the fruit of that, you know, in
the in the times we live in.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
You know, if I think of college students, and most
of them are millennials. I have two millennials at home
and one Gen Z and what I do love about them,
and I actually, if I had to whose between those groups,
which ones I'd rather hang out with Rather hang out
with millennials, So go millennials, just say why because they
(15:11):
seem to want truth more so it seems a little contradictory,
But they're more blunt, they're more in your face to you,
and you can be right back to them with the
same thing. So I just find it's actually easier to
witness to them because they blunt they saying, please, there's
no real God. What are you talking about? Like there's
(15:32):
a spiritual realm? Are you crazy? You come right back?
Oh yeah, you can be way more in your face.
As opposed to people that think they know it all.
They've been in church all their lives and they assume
they got it all together. These millennials know they haven't
and they want truth. And there's so much social justice
(15:55):
in the Bible that there's those things they attracted to. Hey,
they have hungry people, they're poor people, and they're attracted
to that kind of thing, so that there's great hope.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Now let's talk about that on the truth front.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
That's the good thing.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
The good thing is that no matter what generation you are,
truth is truth. And even if you disagree with it on.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The outside, inside.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
How many of you know when you hear the truth,
you can't denize the truth. You know Jesus said concerning him,
he said, I am the truth, I am the way,
I am the life. So I mean, when people hear
about Jesus, they may have a lot of arguments in
their head, but in their heart of hearts, there's something
that resonates, truth, resonates with truth, and the Bible tells
us the Holy Spirit always witnesses, bears witness, confirms truth.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And this is a good thing for.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
All of us because there's a lot you're hearing out there.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
In the culture these days.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
It's a good thing to know, you know, Lord, thank
you that I have the Holy Spirit who will bear
witness with me and tell me that's true.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Bing bing bing bing.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You'll hear something else. No, that's not true. It sounds good,
but it's not the truth. And that really is the
foundation for our core values, for this code that we're
all that we all already have and maybe need to
make some tweaks to. Okay, So let's talk about you
guys's core values, your code, things you love, Okay. Because
God is interested in all of the different parts of
our life. God is interested in the holistic part of
(17:14):
our life, with the spiritual part of us our relationship
with Him being a number one.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
But then there is the rest of.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Our life that we all have with our kids, our families,
our interests, our jobs, and so on. Okay, So in
that light, for you guys, give us some of your
personal codes when it comes to.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
What you love.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
So I love working with high school students and I
love working with that generation and helping them just to
see the truth of the Word of God. And I
just I love like the humor they have. I love
that they're crazy and fun and that they can like
just allow me to be crazy and they think it's
like funny or they just are like, yeah, Okay, you're weird.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
So I love that, like I can just be myself
with the high school students. Other things I love and that,
you know, just as my life has progressed, things I've loved.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I've loved sports.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
I played volleyball and so I was you know, I
loved being in the gym, and I loved interacting with
you know, other teammates, girls on my team, people on
other teams at the school I went to. So just
some of the little things I love and that's affected,
you know, even just how I live, because you know,
I want to be around the things I love and
the people I love, and it makes life more enjoyable
when you just love where you're at.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
What about with family, I mean, Eric, you guys have
a young family, So what about a family code? Do you?
And Eric? Have you guys discussed it yet, are you
in that season where it's like, this is how our
family's operating system will be and how does this core
value piece play into that? Totally?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah, we're still like defining it right now as we're
walking out, but as we have a kindergarten now who
leaves and is a school more than she is at home.
Right now, we're realizing it, Oh my gosh, Like the
things that we're speaking over, the things that we are
making priority and at the home are really forming and
shaping her and either giving her that confidence to go
out and be a Christian in a secular world, right yeah,
(18:50):
or to be swayed by people's opinions and her classmates
and all of that. And so we have a lot
of talks. Our code at home is, hey, we're going
to talk, and we're gonna talk about every thing. We're
going to talk often, how is your day? Tell me
about it? Did you see anything that kind of you know,
frustrated you? And all that, And so we're trying to
get our kids to talk about that so that we
cannot just force them here's what the Bible says, whatever,
(19:10):
but have a conversation. Yeah, I believe this next generation.
They don't want to be told exactly what they do.
They want to have an open dialogue and a conversation.
But ultimately we always point it back to the Word
and what's God's truth and what's God's best for their lives.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
So it's good Annie and Megan and growing up in
our house. What what are some core values you guys
remember that we're just part of our family, Like, hey,
if you're a Jones, this is how we operate. Can it?
Did anything come to mind?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I just put them on the spot.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
A couple of core values. I would say that was
a big one for our family too. We talked all
the time, and my mom would come into our rooms
at different times and just want to talk to us
and talk about our day and just talk about our
beliefs and just talk about everything. And we talked all
the time as a family. It was awesome. Our dinner
tables were so rowdy and so loud because we were
just we're talking the whole time. So I love that.
I would say another core value in our house was
(19:59):
that we laughed a lot, and I think that made
life more enjoyable, That made our relationships with one another
more enjoyable because we were light hearted, we laughed, we
just had fun with each other. And then another big
core value that has affected all of our lives is
our commitment to the Church. We were committed to the
Lord and committed to a relationship with Jesus Christ. And
my parents did a good job of helping all of
us to find our own relationship with the Lord. And
(20:22):
then to just instill that core value and instill that
code that like, hey, we value the church, we honor
the church, we speak well of the church. And just
like the code or the core value at VFC is
that we champion the church. That really was what we
experienced at our house, our entire lives as we champion
the church.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
So okay, good, that's good, thanks man.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Let's talk about then the second piece of core values,
which is not just what you love.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
And again there's a lot of things on your worksheet
for you guys to spend some time thinking about, but then.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
What you believe.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
And this is what I want to share with some
of you because you may not have done this, and
if you haven't, I highly recommend it.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It was nineteen seventy nine.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
I was just coming off from a summer project at
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire with campus You're Saved for Christ
heading back to college and I remember saying to the
Lord he had done it work in my heart that summer,
and I remember saying to the Lord, Okay, Lord, from
now on, two things are different from now on, Like
starting now, from this point on, I'm going to base
my life. I'm going to live my life the best
(21:18):
of my ability, with your help, base.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
My life on your word. Your word is my new standard.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I'm going to base my life on the word of God.
Now I didn't know much of what the Word said,
but I.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Knew it was truth. That was the thing.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I knew it was the truth. So Lord helped me
know more about what your word says. But that's what
I'm going to live by from now on. Number two,
In that during that summer, God really spoke to me
about living for eternal things, living in light of eternity,
and I said, okay, Lord, with you know your help
help me from here on out, we're going to live
in light of eternity. Those are core values. You couldn't
take them from me.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
That's what a core value is, a core belief. It's
so rooted in you. It drives all your decisions.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Okay, so for you guys, and I'm sure those two
are probably similar for you guys as well, but maybe
talk about it if there was a time that you
made a decision about a particular.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Core value those or others that you were like, no,
from here, I know. This is how I operate. Okay,
so makes sense. I believe this. You can't take it
from me. This is how I operate.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
That's so good, like knowing and then believing. So it
makes me think of I was sixteen. It was a
few hours before my dad passed away, and I was reading,
flipping through the Bible, and then suddenly I saw this verse.
It was Psalm sixty eight something and it said I'm
a father to the fatherless. And that's when it clicked
(22:35):
for me at like, bounst, I'm really God's daughter. And
then a few hours later my dad did pass away,
but ready that verse was just a stealth first. And
my dad was an awesome dad.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I loved him. It was my hero.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
It was tough, but I had that verse, and so
that reality of I am God's daughter. Wherever I go,
the angels might be whispering. Jack That's God's daughter, you know,
just as I'm sure past does daughters feel a sense
of that's my identity.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
But hey, the most High God, I'm his daughter.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
So that reality, when it went from knowing to really believing,
has stuck with me my whole life and given me
a confidence.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
In His love.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So that's great.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
One for me is when I was probably similar age
sixteen or seventeen, being at summer camp and just God
dropping into my heart my purpose and like what he
had called me to do. But beyond just that, that
understanding that God has a purpose and a plan for
every life, that every single soul on this planet. God
(23:44):
has a purpose on your life. And I you know,
read the scripture that says you know, And it's fun
now being pregnant because I'm even thinking.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
About you know what it says.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
And Pulm was about you know, before you were born,
like I formed you, I had every day of your
life planned before you lived to one of them. There's
a book written it has your life life planned before
you even were born, And I just think that's incredible
and so knowing that God has a purpose on your life.
Jeremiah twenty nine to eleven of famous verse that he
for God knows the plans He has for you, plans
for good and for your benefit, not to give you,
(24:15):
not for evil, not to harm you. That God has
actually purpose on your life. And so as a believer,
it's one thing to know that and to walk in that.
But then it gives you compassion for people because everywhere
you go you see people not just as people, but
you see them as someone who has purpose on their life,
and so you can help pour that into them. And
I feel I feel so passionate about that with my
friends or people in my world that I want them
(24:36):
to know and discover the purpose God has on their
life and fully live it out. And so it's even
this Inspired Life series is so designed to help you
discover your purpose and to live it. But I just
know that I know that God has a purpose on
your life.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
That's cool, that's awesome, motivating.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
It's really important that we just get with God and
determine what is it that we love and what is
it that we believe. According to his plumb line, all
the people said, Hey, guys, thank you so much for
joining me for today's message. If you'd like to access
more of our teaching online courses and other resources. I
(25:13):
want to invite you to download our brand new Basics
with Beth app from the Apple Store and then go
to the Basicswidthbeth dot com to select the plan you'd
like and you'll receive your login credentials. The app is
the central headquarters, the hub for all of our teachings,
(25:36):
and you'll have everything at your fingertips. If you like
what you're receiving through the Basics with Beth and want
to help us reach more people, I invite you to
partner with us because it's your financial donations and generosity
that enable us to take the Gospel Basics.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
To the world.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Thanks again for joining me today. God bless you, and
I'll see you next time here on the Basics with
Fath
Hi guys, I'm Beth Jones and welcome to the Basics
with Beth, where learning God's word is a joy. In
every message, we will do our best to teach you
the Bible basics in such a way that it strengthens
your faith foundation. In addition, I want to empower and
equip you so that you have confidence to share these
(00:24):
Bible basics with others. So lean in and listen with
your heart. If you'd like to know more about our ministry,
just go to the Basics with Beth dot com and
get all the scoop. With all of that said, now
let's jump into today's message. How is everybody doing. We
(00:46):
are gonna pick back up with where we have been.
We are in the Inspired Life course. How many of
you have been with us for one or more of
these fantastic awesome Since week one, We've talked about our purpose,
two we talked to about our mission, then we talked
about our vision, and then today we're going to talk
about our.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Code or our core values.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
It may be that you have some core values that
you're finding God's talking to you about those to say,
you know, those are your core values, but those are
not my core values. They're not God's core values. And
so what we want to do in this session is
see how we can bring our core values into alignment
with God's highest and best for each and every one
(01:28):
of us, which is revealed and according to His word.
And that's what we're going to jump into. So I'm
going to take you inside the course again. We're going
to go into lesson number four Your Code. It's very short,
and then we'll have the panel. Another panel coming up
this week and we'll have some discussions. So let's go
into the online course. We'll watch this lesson and then
we'll be back with the panel. All right, enjoy, Welcome
(01:50):
back to the Inspired Wife. And we are in Madua
one how to Live, Smack deb and the center of
your God given purpose. And now we are in lesson
Full and in less than four we're going to talk
about something really really fun. It's called the Code, your Code,
your core values. But before I get into that, let
me just encourage you to be sure you're downloading the worksheets,
(02:10):
the handouts and make sure you're keeping up and following
along and every lesson filling in things as you can,
and then go back and really take some prayerful time.
I hope you do some thoughtful, prayerful time to complete
all of the lessons and the assignments we're doing in
this module. All right, now, let's talk about your code
or your core values. In essence, what we're talking about,
(02:33):
this is the thing you live by. This is your DNA,
this is your genetic code, this is your personal manifesto.
These are the things you love, These are the things
you believe in. This is sort of just innate in you.
It's just how you operate. It's your operating system. And
it's not something you invent necessarily. It's not like, oh
I need to come up with the code. No, really again,
(02:55):
like all of these you discover what is the code
within me? What are my core values? What do I
live by? What are the things I love and I
believe in? You know, we've said when it comes to purpose,
we've said that purpose completes the sentence I was created.
Mission completes the sentence I exist. Vision completes the sentence
(03:17):
I see the code. Your code completes the sentence I
love and I believe in these things. So, for example,
we all have our code of conduct, our code of honor,
our code and our family. This is how our family operates,
This is how I operate as a person. My integrity,
(03:38):
my ethics, you know, all of those kinds of things. So,
for example, we have a code within us of what
I love and what I believe about God, what I
love and what I believe about family, about relationships, about money,
about material things, about serving others, about church, about you.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
The list goes on, and we'll get into some of
that here in this lesson. But that's what we're talking about.
It's your core values on the inside. So let's do
some exercises.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
If you look at.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Your hand out, you'll see there's some questions to answer
just to get your thoughts going about, Yeah, what is
in you? What do you live by? All right? And
then I'm going to share with you some of my
core values just to get your wheel spinning as well.
And then I want you to sit down and just
work on your own particular core values. So here are
some questions to be asking to get things, get things
(04:29):
moving in your thinking and in your heart.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
All right?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
What kind of people do you love to be around?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Do you love to serve or you.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Love to interact with? What kind of places do you
like to go. Do you like to study at do
you like to visit with people at? What kind of
places inspire you things? What kind of things do you
love and they're really important to you? Like I love bicycles,
I love candles, I love flags. You know what are
(04:56):
the things? And you know it can be very eclectic
and quite large that list, even colors and smells and
you know things you like to taste, flavors, that kind
of stuff. All of those pieces go into your core,
your code, your core values and really the person that
you are. So you want to be thinking about those
things because that will help to then create your own
(05:18):
personal code. Some other things you want to think about.
It's in your hand up, but like what ideas and
problems do you love to solve? What kind of things
do you love to learn? Like, you know what if
you're like a code for me, a core value for
me is I have to read a book every month? Okay, cool,
that's one of your codes. And then you know, maybe
(05:39):
some other things to think about her at the end
of it all, what do you want to be known for?
Because what you want to be known for, that'll be
a massive motivator on the inside. Part of your code,
part of your DNA, because you'll live according to your code,
and what you want to be known for will be
a very strong internal compass. So you're getting the idea
(05:59):
about code. What code is core values, deeply held beliefs,
things you love and things you believe in. So I
want to conclude by just sharing a couple of mine
with you again just to give you some fodder so
you can dig in and put together your own code,
your core values. So a couple of mine, I mean
one of mine. Oh, let me just say this. Your
(06:20):
code to a degree can evolve, not that you invent
a code, because again it's just who you are, but
it changes as you change, as we grow and develop
and mature as people, then our code does begin to change.
And depending on the season that we're in, you know,
pieces of that will change. For example, with my own
personal code, one of my codes is I know I
(06:43):
am loved by God. That's a biggie and that is
a filter for me, so everything goes through that. I
don't think God's mad at me. I don't think he's
out to get me. I don't think he's trying to
hurt me. If things don't go well, like perfectly well
in my life, I don't say or think, well, why
did God do that to me? Because it's a core
value for me. It's in my DNA. I know God
(07:04):
loves me, I know his intentions towards me are for
my good and that helps me just to live out
my life the way I live it another core value
for me, and I'm sure for many of you as well.
Part of your code is I love and set the
thermostat for my family. Like I know that it's my
job and it's who I am. I am a thermostat setter,
(07:25):
and so in my family that's a really big part
of what I do. And so I know that if
I'm having a bad day or if I'm feeling grouchy,
my code guides me to say, hey, no, no, no, no.
You set the atmosphere in your home so you're joyful,
there's a lot of laughter. You communicate with your kids
and with your husband. That kind of stuff becomes your
(07:46):
code in seasons of life. That power like family, that'll
change because you know, when the kids are little, I'm
focused on changing diapers and potty training, but now that
they're older, I'm focused on helping kids navigate into adulthood,
into their careers, into their own families, and so on.
Other codes. For me, A huge code for me is
(08:07):
I live by God's word. Like God's word is the
plumb line for my life. I could live by my feelings.
I could live by circumstances, I could live by people's opinions.
I could live by what I could afford or not afford.
I mean, there's a lot of other things I could
live by. But my core value for me is I
live by endeavor to I mean, not perfect at it,
(08:27):
but my core is I endeavor to live by God's word.
So that's my plumb line. So again, what are yours?
And so look at the workshreets, look at the handouts,
take some time, prayerfully, begin to process through your code. Okay,
so there you go your code. A little introduction, and
as you can see, my panel has arrived and that
(08:49):
they are ready to have some discussion about core values
and about codes. So here's some categories and so let's
let's let's talk about this a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
When it comes to code. For all of us just
are working, you.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Know, things that we're going to have in our mind
as we talk about this is what we love and
it's what we believe. We're going to boil code down
core values down to what do you love and what
do you believe at the courts your operating system. As
we have said, it's interesting when it comes to being
a Christian and Christian core values. You know, in other words,
what are where are our core values come from?
Speaker 2 (09:22):
What are they measured against?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Well, they can be measured against popular opinion, the media,
the culture, your best friend, people, you respect, God, God's word.
You know, there's so many things that it can be
measured against. And so I want to talk about just
as we intro this and get some discussion from these guys.
Because of the culture we live in, how many of
you have recognized there have been many huge cultural shifts
(09:46):
and you're going to see some statistics here in just
a minute when it comes to values. So it goes
back to what is that plumb line? So here's a
definition of core Christian values, all right? A core Christian
value is having God first in our lives. This means
continuously seeking His righteousness and totally relying on him. As humans,
we have the freedom of choice to decide what is
(10:07):
right and what is wrong. But if we value God,
we will look to him for what is right and wrong.
We value God when we acknowledge that He knows better
than we do on what we need in our lives.
Matthew six thirty three talks about seek first the Kingdom
of God and his righteousness, and then everything else will
be added. Everything else falls into place. So I want
you guys to talk about this a little bit because
(10:27):
of the changing culture. What are you guys seeing in
the culture when it comes to God's word and Christian
values being the core values amongst your peers, fellow Christians,
and just in the culture we live in.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Let's talk about that just in general.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
I think it's pretty obvious of the last several years
is kind of a moral decline in the United States.
And so I think noticing that, you know, within the
within a church, like how that has come into maybe
just you know, our world where it's like we do
live our lives based on what the Bible says, that
it's like we know that that's truth for our life.
(11:02):
But I think there is a lot of people who
haven't made that decision even within the church, like do
I really live by what the Bible says or to
live by what popular opinion says or what I feel
or what seems good. I don't know if you guys
notice up, but it seems like that's kind of the
trend we're in right now, or maybe just like that
season where people are trying to figure out, really what
do I believe and where do my values come from?
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
I would think what you can also kind of tend
to see in our culture as well and among our
generation is that people also now are choosing beliefs not
necessarily like based on the truth of God's word. They're
just kind of going on like, Okay, yeah, this is
what they believe, So you know, I like this person,
so because they believe this, I think I believe that too.
Or I saw this post and that was funny, and
(11:43):
so now I think I do agree with that because
you know, they post about that. So it's like instead
of choosing, you know, definitive beliefs, it's kind of swayed
on what other people are saying and kind of telling
us to believe, rather than knowing the truth of the
Word of God and going to that as like that's
the core of my core values.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Let me give you some just historical facts, real quick
historical facts. Of course, in the Bible, in the Old Testament,
God's people had a covenant with God and they lived
by God's word. That was the plumb line. In fact
an Amos chapter seven, it'd be interesting to read God says,
he says, hey, what do you see? And they said, oh,
we see a plumb line. And he said, you're right,
but there's a problem. You guys have deviated from the
plumb line. And so with that comes consequences. Well, then
(12:25):
through time we see different ages. The medieval times come along,
and now it's not just God's word being the plumb
line or being the thing people come into alignment with
concerning their values. Now it's God's word and reason. Man's
reason is sort of equal to God's word. Then along
(12:46):
comes the Reformation. They get back to the word, they
get back to God's word, and then comes the Enlightenment, which,
in a lot of ways history is repeating itself. We're
almost like in the Enlightenment again almost it seems the
Enlightenment was God's words out God's words outdated. God's word
is fuddy duddy. It's more about your experience, it's more
about your own opinion. It's more about your own reason,
(13:09):
and so then what happens though in the culture, in
families and individuals lives, in all of those things is
quite significant.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
And you guys are alluding to it.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
I mean, we're seeing those things happen, and then especially
we're seeing with a generational core value shift. And I
want to talk about a little bit and get these
guys to talk about it. But I want to give
you some stats of the two largest generations because it'll
sort of fit all of us. You'll find your spot here.
And what our codes are, what our core values are. Okay,
(13:36):
baby boomers thirty five percent of baby boomers subscribe to
core biblical beliefs thirty five percent, Millennials four percent.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
That's a big shift. We're talking about core values based.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
On God, based on godly principles, based on God's word.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Huge shift.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Okay, So you guys talk about that sum just the
differences in your own experience and even as a professor
at school as you deal with millennials, and I'll talk
about some of those things and the impacts.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Well, I think it's just something we already talked about,
but just reiterating that we live in a world that
basically denies absolutes, and so when you say the word
of God is an absolute truth, it quickly gets denied.
And as you alluded to earlier, it's much more experiential.
So my experience is going to drive my beliefs. But
(14:28):
that's dangerous because we all have different experiences. So heading
back to the absolute of God's word is that foundation
that you know we've found, but so many out there
are denying that and saying experience determines, and so experience
by itself is a dangerous thing. And so I think
we're seeing, unfortunately, the fruit of that, you know, in
the in the times we live in.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
You know, if I think of college students, and most
of them are millennials. I have two millennials at home
and one Gen Z and what I do love about them,
and I actually, if I had to whose between those groups,
which ones I'd rather hang out with Rather hang out
with millennials, So go millennials, just say why because they
(15:11):
seem to want truth more so it seems a little contradictory,
But they're more blunt, they're more in your face to you,
and you can be right back to them with the
same thing. So I just find it's actually easier to
witness to them because they blunt they saying, please, there's
no real God. What are you talking about? Like there's
(15:32):
a spiritual realm? Are you crazy? You come right back?
Oh yeah, you can be way more in your face.
As opposed to people that think they know it all.
They've been in church all their lives and they assume
they got it all together. These millennials know they haven't
and they want truth. And there's so much social justice
(15:55):
in the Bible that there's those things they attracted to. Hey,
they have hungry people, they're poor people, and they're attracted
to that kind of thing, so that there's great hope.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Now let's talk about that on the truth front.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
That's the good thing.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
The good thing is that no matter what generation you are,
truth is truth. And even if you disagree with it on.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
The outside, inside.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
How many of you know when you hear the truth,
you can't denize the truth. You know Jesus said concerning him,
he said, I am the truth, I am the way,
I am the life. So I mean, when people hear
about Jesus, they may have a lot of arguments in
their head, but in their heart of hearts, there's something
that resonates, truth, resonates with truth, and the Bible tells
us the Holy Spirit always witnesses, bears witness, confirms truth.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
And this is a good thing for.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
All of us because there's a lot you're hearing out there.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
In the culture these days.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
It's a good thing to know, you know, Lord, thank
you that I have the Holy Spirit who will bear
witness with me and tell me that's true.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Bing bing bing bing.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
You'll hear something else. No, that's not true. It sounds good,
but it's not the truth. And that really is the
foundation for our core values, for this code that we're
all that we all already have and maybe need to
make some tweaks to. Okay, So let's talk about you
guys's core values, your code, things you love, Okay. Because
God is interested in all of the different parts of
our life. God is interested in the holistic part of
(17:14):
our life, with the spiritual part of us our relationship
with Him being a number one.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
But then there is the rest of.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Our life that we all have with our kids, our families,
our interests, our jobs, and so on. Okay, So in
that light, for you guys, give us some of your
personal codes when it comes to.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
What you love.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
So I love working with high school students and I
love working with that generation and helping them just to
see the truth of the Word of God. And I
just I love like the humor they have. I love
that they're crazy and fun and that they can like
just allow me to be crazy and they think it's
like funny or they just are like, yeah, Okay, you're weird.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
That's cool.
Speaker 5 (17:49):
So I love that, like I can just be myself
with the high school students. Other things I love and that,
you know, just as my life has progressed, things I've loved.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
I've loved sports.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
I played volleyball and so I was you know, I
loved being in the gym, and I loved interacting with
you know, other teammates, girls on my team, people on
other teams at the school I went to. So just
some of the little things I love and that's affected,
you know, even just how I live, because you know,
I want to be around the things I love and
the people I love, and it makes life more enjoyable
when you just love where you're at.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
What about with family, I mean, Eric, you guys have
a young family, So what about a family code? Do you?
And Eric? Have you guys discussed it yet, are you
in that season where it's like, this is how our
family's operating system will be and how does this core
value piece play into that? Totally?
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah, we're still like defining it right now as we're
walking out, but as we have a kindergarten now who
leaves and is a school more than she is at home.
Right now, we're realizing it, Oh my gosh, Like the
things that we're speaking over, the things that we are
making priority and at the home are really forming and
shaping her and either giving her that confidence to go
out and be a Christian in a secular world, right yeah,
(18:50):
or to be swayed by people's opinions and her classmates
and all of that. And so we have a lot
of talks. Our code at home is, hey, we're going
to talk, and we're gonna talk about every thing. We're
going to talk often, how is your day? Tell me
about it? Did you see anything that kind of you know,
frustrated you? And all that, And so we're trying to
get our kids to talk about that so that we
cannot just force them here's what the Bible says, whatever,
(19:10):
but have a conversation. Yeah, I believe this next generation.
They don't want to be told exactly what they do.
They want to have an open dialogue and a conversation.
But ultimately we always point it back to the Word
and what's God's truth and what's God's best for their lives.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
So it's good Annie and Megan and growing up in
our house. What what are some core values you guys
remember that we're just part of our family, Like, hey,
if you're a Jones, this is how we operate. Can it?
Did anything come to mind?
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I just put them on the spot.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
A couple of core values. I would say that was
a big one for our family too. We talked all
the time, and my mom would come into our rooms
at different times and just want to talk to us
and talk about our day and just talk about our
beliefs and just talk about everything. And we talked all
the time as a family. It was awesome. Our dinner
tables were so rowdy and so loud because we were
just we're talking the whole time. So I love that.
I would say another core value in our house was
(19:59):
that we laughed a lot, and I think that made
life more enjoyable, That made our relationships with one another
more enjoyable because we were light hearted, we laughed, we
just had fun with each other. And then another big
core value that has affected all of our lives is
our commitment to the Church. We were committed to the
Lord and committed to a relationship with Jesus Christ. And
my parents did a good job of helping all of
us to find our own relationship with the Lord. And
(20:22):
then to just instill that core value and instill that
code that like, hey, we value the church, we honor
the church, we speak well of the church. And just
like the code or the core value at VFC is
that we champion the church. That really was what we
experienced at our house, our entire lives as we champion
the church.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
So okay, good, that's good, thanks man.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Let's talk about then the second piece of core values,
which is not just what you love.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
And again there's a lot of things on your worksheet
for you guys to spend some time thinking about, but then.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
What you believe.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
And this is what I want to share with some
of you because you may not have done this, and
if you haven't, I highly recommend it.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
It was nineteen seventy nine.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
I was just coming off from a summer project at
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire with campus You're Saved for Christ
heading back to college and I remember saying to the
Lord he had done it work in my heart that summer,
and I remember saying to the Lord, Okay, Lord, from
now on, two things are different from now on, Like
starting now, from this point on, I'm going to base
my life. I'm going to live my life the best
(21:18):
of my ability, with your help, base.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
My life on your word. Your word is my new standard.
That's it.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
I'm going to base my life on the word of God.
Now I didn't know much of what the Word said,
but I.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Knew it was truth. That was the thing.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I knew it was the truth. So Lord helped me
know more about what your word says. But that's what
I'm going to live by from now on. Number two,
In that during that summer, God really spoke to me
about living for eternal things, living in light of eternity,
and I said, okay, Lord, with you know your help
help me from here on out, we're going to live
in light of eternity. Those are core values. You couldn't
take them from me.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
That's what a core value is, a core belief. It's
so rooted in you. It drives all your decisions.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Okay, so for you guys, and I'm sure those two
are probably similar for you guys as well, but maybe
talk about it if there was a time that you
made a decision about a particular.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Core value those or others that you were like, no,
from here, I know. This is how I operate. Okay,
so makes sense. I believe this. You can't take it
from me. This is how I operate.
Speaker 7 (22:14):
That's so good, like knowing and then believing. So it
makes me think of I was sixteen. It was a
few hours before my dad passed away, and I was reading,
flipping through the Bible, and then suddenly I saw this verse.
It was Psalm sixty eight something and it said I'm
a father to the fatherless. And that's when it clicked
(22:35):
for me at like, bounst, I'm really God's daughter. And
then a few hours later my dad did pass away,
but ready that verse was just a stealth first. And
my dad was an awesome dad.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
I loved him. It was my hero.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
It was tough, but I had that verse, and so
that reality of I am God's daughter. Wherever I go,
the angels might be whispering. Jack That's God's daughter, you know,
just as I'm sure past does daughters feel a sense
of that's my identity.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
But hey, the most High God, I'm his daughter.
Speaker 7 (23:11):
So that reality, when it went from knowing to really believing,
has stuck with me my whole life and given me
a confidence.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
In His love.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So that's great.
Speaker 4 (23:23):
One for me is when I was probably similar age
sixteen or seventeen, being at summer camp and just God
dropping into my heart my purpose and like what he
had called me to do. But beyond just that, that
understanding that God has a purpose and a plan for
every life, that every single soul on this planet. God
(23:44):
has a purpose on your life. And I you know,
read the scripture that says you know, And it's fun
now being pregnant because I'm even thinking.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
About you know what it says.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
And Pulm was about you know, before you were born,
like I formed you, I had every day of your
life planned before you lived to one of them. There's
a book written it has your life life planned before
you even were born, And I just think that's incredible
and so knowing that God has a purpose on your life.
Jeremiah twenty nine to eleven of famous verse that he
for God knows the plans He has for you, plans
for good and for your benefit, not to give you,
(24:15):
not for evil, not to harm you. That God has
actually purpose on your life. And so as a believer,
it's one thing to know that and to walk in that.
But then it gives you compassion for people because everywhere
you go you see people not just as people, but
you see them as someone who has purpose on their life,
and so you can help pour that into them. And
I feel I feel so passionate about that with my
friends or people in my world that I want them
(24:36):
to know and discover the purpose God has on their
life and fully live it out. And so it's even
this Inspired Life series is so designed to help you
discover your purpose and to live it. But I just
know that I know that God has a purpose on
your life.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
That's cool, that's awesome, motivating.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
It's really important that we just get with God and
determine what is it that we love and what is
it that we believe. According to his plumb line, all
the people said, Hey, guys, thank you so much for
joining me for today's message. If you'd like to access
more of our teaching online courses and other resources. I
(25:13):
want to invite you to download our brand new Basics
with Beth app from the Apple Store and then go
to the Basicswidthbeth dot com to select the plan you'd
like and you'll receive your login credentials. The app is
the central headquarters, the hub for all of our teachings,
(25:36):
and you'll have everything at your fingertips. If you like
what you're receiving through the Basics with Beth and want
to help us reach more people, I invite you to
partner with us because it's your financial donations and generosity
that enable us to take the Gospel Basics.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
To the world.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
Thanks again for joining me today. God bless you, and
I'll see you next time here on the Basics with
Fath
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