Our Values
Engaging with God
From the beginning, we see God’s desire to be in relationship with humanity. This passion continues throughout the biblical story. God shares His personal name, dwells in the tabernacle and temple, and sends prophets to facilitate Israel's return to their covenant commitment. God's longing to engage with His people appears to culminate in the incarnation of Jesus. However, His pursuit doesn’t stop at dwelling among us. God takes it a step further after the resurrection when He makes humanity itself His temple and dwells, through the person of the Holy Spirit, in all who enter into covenant relationship with Him. Our triune God wants to engage with His people. For this reason, Third Way Formation creates resources to facilitate encounters with God.
Shalom
God created and it was good. There was “shalom,” often translated as peace. However, shalom is not a passive peace, but the active pursuit of good and wholeness for one another– between God, humanity, and creation. When humanity broke that shalom, it was comprehensive. God and humanity no longer dwelt together. Creation bore thistles and thorns where people grew food. Shame, blame, and envy poisoned relationships between humans. All of creation groaned for God’s redemption. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Kingdom of Shalom was ushered in. Humanity was given the opportunity to experience it and then participate in its proliferation. It is from the depths of our shalom with God that we bring shalom to our interactions with all of creation. For this reason, Third Way Formation creates resources to embody and facilitate the practice of holistic shalom.
Unity of the Church
God created distinct humans and they lived in shalom with one another and God, bearing His image to reign over creation by His side. When shalom was broken and division prevailed, God planned to use one people group to redeem all people groups so His creation would be united and in shalom with one another. To partner in this mission, God gave the Church the ministry of reconciliation. However, even as His ambassadors on earth, we find ourselves just as influenced by pride and division, often believing we have nothing to learn from other image bearers– even those who also worship the name of Jesus. For this reason, Third Way Formation creates resources that learn from different streams of the Church. Our resources are influenced by liturgy and the Church calendar, and also by listening for God’s voice, a love for deep Scripture study, and a conviction that Jesus proclaimed a gospel that extends beyond personal salvation into actively bringing Kingdom healing to the world’s tangible needs.
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love.”
Kingdom Bringing
In the dawn of creation, Heaven and Earth were united. When humanity broke shalom in pursuit of self-governance, they rejected God’s Kingdom and found themselves enslaved in a kingdom of toil, chaos, and decay. God did not leave them there. He sought to bring His Kingdom through the people of Israel. By outlining the type of community that thrives in God’s Kingdom, He showed them a way back. Even still,they failed to break ties with the kingdom of chaos. Eventually, God incarnated in the person of Jesus to show humanity how to bring His Kingdom in every part of life, through all kinds of relationships. He invites humanity to do as He did, bringing God’s kingdom healing, justice, beauty, and compassion in all aspects of life. For this reason, Third Way Formation creates resources to help people creatively bring God’s Kingdom to fruition on earth in both the mundane and the bold moments of life. We do this while depending on God’s ability to love us into holiness as we surrender to the process of long obedience in the same direction.