Our Culture Code Explained
HEALTHY PRIORITIES
The Bible tells us that God numbers man’s days. Following God’s proper order allows us to maximize the days He has given us. How we invest our time each day creates patterns in our lives that shape what is truly important to us. God gives principles that serve as a roadmap toward living a life of healthy priorities.
GOD
In Mark 12 Jesus was asked by some of the religious leaders what the greatest commandment was. He answered, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength.” In everything we do, GOD MUST COME FIRST!
FAMILY
Our first and most important ministry is to our family. Jesus set the example in John 19. While accomplishing His final mission on earth, He takes the time to ensure His mother will be cared for. Our families truly are a blessing from the Lord!
CHURCH
Acts 2:46-47 tells us, “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” There is something powerful that happens when we serve, worship and live life together.
LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 1:8 “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 end of the earth.” In the same way that Jesus was dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father’s will, we too are dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s will for our lives.
PRAYER
Prayer is vital to comprehend and carry out the will of God. Jesus said in John 12:49 “For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak.” Just as Jesus sought the Father, we must also seek God daily in prayer allowing Him to guide us.
VISION
Vision is seeing where God is taking us. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our helper or guide. As we rely on Him, He will reveal God’s vision for every area of our lives and our church.
DIRECTION
Direction is the systems, steps, and strategies we will apply as we walk towards God’s vision. We believe that through prayer and seeking Jesus, the Holy Spirit will not only reveal the vision but the blueprint we should follow to accomplish it. When we let the Holy Spirit lead, we submit to Him and lay our own agendas down, allowing Him to direct our families, our worship, our prayer life and our community.
MISSION MINDED
God’s heart passionately breaks for the lost. In order to align with His heart, we must share this passion. Every one of us is positioned to influence at least one person. When we allow that influence to point to the Gospel, we are walking out the very thing God has commissioned believers for, “To go and make disciples.” The vision of our church is to Know God intimately in order that we can make Him known. Each of us must do our part in fulfilling the heart of God.
GIVING
Giving is an essential part of missions. The mission of Christ, to seek and save the lost, is made possible through sacrificial giving. Mark 12:41-44 tells the story of the widows offering. She gave with a willing heart over an able wallet. This story reveals God’s pleasure when we give willingly. There are many ways that a person can give. Time, money, energy, resources, and prayer are a few examples.
EQUIPPING
Acts 9 shows a great example of the power and importance of equipping believers. Ananias, an often-overlooked man in the Bible, helped shape Paul into the missionary we read about today. As a result of Ananias’ influence, Paul equips us through the writings of the New Testament. As we follow this example through teaching and training, we continue the work that they started.
SENDING
Romans 10:14 says, “How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone telling them?” As Christians follow the mission of Christ, we must follow this teaching. Sending goes hand in hand with both going and giving. We give in order to equip, we equip in order to send, and we send in order to save.
TOGETHER
Togetherness is what unifies us. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” In 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul encourages us, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” In following this mindset, our goal is to be unified in this way.
GROWING
Togetherness takes time to develop and grow. It is not something that happens overnight. Proverbs states “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” As believers in Christ, we are called to grow in this unity Paul talks about that throughout the New Testament.
SERVING
Jesus made a powerful statement in Matthew 23:11, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” He also stated in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” Together, we will strive to serve like Jesus.
LIVING LIFE
In Acts 2 we see God moving upon and using the early church in powerful ways. As the church is serving in the community, worshipping in the temple and fellowshipping in their homes, a common thread is seen. They did it all together, “and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Life is better together.