The values every Christian should have flow from who God is and what he has done. Five stand out: people matter because they’re made in God’s image, truth matters because the gospel really happened, authenticity matters because we’re saved by grace, healthy leadership matters because God uses leaders to help us grow, and faith-filled risk matters because nothing is impossible with God.
Everyone lives by values, whether we write them down or not. They’re the priorities that shape our choices when no one is watching. Some come from family, some from culture and some from our own experiences. For followers of Jesus, the goal is to let God’s priorities slowly become ours.
People Matter to God
People are important to God. He created them, he loves them and he sent his Son to rescue them. That means people should be important to Christians too. Every person you meet, whether they share your beliefs or not, carries a dignity that comes straight from their Creator.
Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Being made in God’s image means every person has worth that can’t be earned or erased. It’s why Christians care about the poor, the overlooked and the difficult people in their lives. You can read more about this in the good news and bad news about humanity.
Truth Matters Because the Gospel Happened
Christians believe in God and the Bible because they’re true. Christianity isn’t a fable or a fairy tale we wish were real. The events at the heart of the faith, especially the death and resurrection of Jesus, actually happened in history, witnessed by real people in real places.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Paul points to eyewitnesses because he knew faith is only as good as what it rests on. Valuing truth means we don’t need to be afraid of hard questions. It also means we speak honestly ourselves, because people who love the truth should be known for telling it.
Authenticity Matters Because of Grace
Christians don’t have to pretend to be perfect. We’ve been saved by grace, not by our performance, so there’s no reason to hide behind a polished image. We can be honest about our victories and our failures, because our standing with God doesn’t rise and fall with them.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
God said this as Samuel was looking for Israel’s next king. The impressive-looking candidate wasn’t God’s choice. The overlooked shepherd boy David was. God has always cared more about what’s real on the inside than what looks good on the outside, and churches are healthiest when they make room for that kind of honesty.
Leadership and Faith-Filled Risk
God places leaders in our lives for a reason. Pastors, mentors and small group leaders help us grow and equip us to serve. Following them isn’t blind obedience, and no leader is above Scripture, but a teachable heart goes a long way toward spiritual maturity.
Hebrews 13:17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
Good leaders also stretch us. God invites his people to trust him with things that feel bigger than they are, like mentoring someone, sharing their faith or starting a small group. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Taking risks for God isn’t recklessness. It’s faith in action.
The Takeaway
The values every Christian should have aren’t just nice ideas. They flow from the gospel: people matter, truth matters, honesty is safe because of grace, leaders help us grow and God can do the impossible. Let these priorities shape your choices, and you’ll grow more like Jesus.
