1. What is a diverse church?
2 Culture Verses Church
3. A Culture of love
Question 1
How can a diverse church be built?
1. What is a diverse church?
Matthew 16:19 “Here is what I tell you. You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church...”
It is a Christian church community that intentionally include and reflect people from different backgrounds and cultures.
This includes different nationalities, ethnicity, languages and ages - Africans, Asians, south Americans, British etc.
How can a diverse church be built?
Among other things;
• Worship- Diverse,
• Welcome,
• Interpretation of teachings,
• Communicating in a common language- English.
Question 2
What is a cultural shock?
What distinguishes one culture from another?
2. Culture Verses Church
What is culture?
• The way a group of people live, think, behave, communicate and understand the world.
This includes
• Beliefs and values
• customs and traditions
• Languages and communicating style
• Food, clothing and music
• Social norms
Is culture important?
1. Identity and belonging - who we are
2. Values and moral framework
3. Communication and understanding
• Shapes how people speak, listen, and interpret behaviour
4. You can understand people through their culture
Christ’s church
Matthew 16:19 “Here is what I tell you. You
are Peter. On this rock I will build my church...”
What church is Christ building?
• Christ intends his church to be a diverse church, it has been so in the old and new testament.
Acts 2_ when the Holy Spirit was poured different cultures were present.
Acts 1: 8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will tell people about me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria. And you will even tell other people about me from one end of the earth to the other. “
• He expects the church to be a gathering of people of all cultures.
• Rev 7: 9 “After this I looked, and there in front of me was a huge crowd of people. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. There were so many that no one could count them. They came from every nation, tribe and people”
• All culture gather together in heaven
For a Diverse Church; what culture will reign when we gather together?
● The Church is not called to reflect any particular human culture, but the culture of Christ.
● God desires people from every culture and nation to be transformed by the values the word of Christ in His Church.
● When human traditions or cultural identities take precedence over Christ's culture, they can become a hindrance to the growth, and mission of His Church.
Our primary identity is not found in our nationality, ethnicity, or background, but in Christ. we are called to live according to His Kingdom culture—love.
• Mark 7:13 (NKJV) “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
• Mark 7:8- 9 (NIRV) You have let go of God’s commands. And you are holding on to teachings that people have made up. 9 Jesus continued speaking, “You have a fine way of setting aside God’s commands! You do this so you can follow your own teachings.
• Christ brings us into a new tradition that is superior to all human traditions
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15
“ Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
We have to move from the human cultures to Christ new culture! All other human cultures are inferior!
Col 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ..”
1 peter 1:18- 19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Question 3
● What makes people view one culture as superior or inferior to another?
3. Culture of love
Romans 12:9 - 10
9 Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.
Honor one another by valuing others above yourselves—the culture of Christ.
Galatians 5:6 “Circumcision and uncircumcision aren’t worth anything to those who believe in Christ Jesus. The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love.”
Galatians 5:14 “The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
1 John 4:7-8 “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become a child of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Love shows that we are born again.
The church in Ephesus had love for all believers, and Paul commended them for it.
Ephesians 1:15 “ I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I have also heard about your love for all God’s people. That is why”
Conclusion
God wants that to be the trade mark of the Church.
1 Thes 3:12 “May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else. May it be just like our love for you.”
• All men, all cultures
1 Thes 5:8 “But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put on our chest the armor of faith and love. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet.”
