How many of you like change? We are really creatures of habit aren’t we? If you don’t believe that just look around this sanctuary and see how many of us sit in the same places almost every time that we come to church. Some of you have so many blankets and pillows that it looks like you are planning on spending the night. But as you read through these Scriptures you can’t help but notice that there is a theme running throughout. The church was growing rapidly and change was the rule of the day and as it grew it created some issues that needed to be addressed by the church in order to enhance and continue that growth. The church responded to these issues through change. Change is fundamental to life. Someone said one time that the only people not changing are in the graveyard but even that is not quite true. Biologists tell us that our bodies are made up of millions of cells and these cells are dying and new ones are growing. Biological change is normal and healthy.
Culture
Culture is the predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize the function of a group or organization. I’ve come to believe the best definition of culture is “how things work around here.”
Culture is why some companies can have remote employees and others have to use a time clock. Culture is why all the people who work at Zappos seem a little bit quirky. Culture is the reason some churches seem to have more than enough volunteers and others can’t find any.
If you want to know why things are the way they are in your church, look no further than culture.
Few patterns which makes the church unhealthy, we may notice the church is busy but not spiritually growing.
- The church are doing everything (same people doing it all the time).
- Teaching – lack of teachings
- Values that we believe as a church is not at all practised or rarely practised.
Now we need a culture change to address or rectify these unhealthy approaches.
How the change need to be brought?
Belong, Believe, Behave
When people walk into the church, we welcome them, we make them comfortable. They eventually start belonging. We take them to the next level and help them evaluate and make decisions on their belief system. However, once they believe, it doesn’t end there, they ought to start behaving. There is where we want to see the culture being produced.
What works for a congregation of 50 will not work for a congregation of 500 hundred and vice versa. There must be an emphasis on our response towards the culture
Mission is action of the church; Vision is the sight of the church and Culture is the feeling of the church. Following are some of the actions that we follow in our church.
Culture of putting others first
Culture of acknowledging God’s supremacy and power
Culture of being hospitable
Culture of humility – knowing our limits (not limitation)
- We need to have a boundary which we cannot cross.
Culture of transparency
Growth set up a standard that will help people to behave.
- We speak the same language (culture) to enhance or show case the culture.
Gossip – we don’t talk about others
Serving – Honouring the people around us. Eg: giving your seat
Welcoming – talk to people, talk to everyone
Accepting the values of the church, we may come from different backgrounds and upbringing but there are certain values that we as a church follow and we desire that each of us do the same.
Culture states how you do it and when do you do it.
One of the values in our church is Character-
Values are what and culture is how:
Let’s do the following activity – tell me how of this value
Character: We believe that Godly character above natural gifts, talents, and abilities is the key to success in life and ministry. Our goal is to help build godly character into the lives of all members of The Church as they pursue their destiny in God.
-Culture would be to volunteer, ask people if they would like to try their hand on new skills.
– Encourage, correct, motivate and eventually get them on board.
However, there are some Barriers to this culture.
We do opposite of the culture that the church believes in. Hence we need to change.
- Sometimes we must change the structure
Not always but sometimes the structure of an organization inhibits growth and in order to produce growth you must change the organization structurally.
Look with me again to Acts 6:1-7 and notice how the ministry structure of the church changed and the addition of a lay ministry enhanced the churches ability to grow.
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6: 1 – 7
Finally,
Let’s look at how Jesus brought about this culture change
Jesus the most exceptional leader of all time spent a significant amount of time developing his followers and his kingdom culture. The culture that he developed would outlive him and would become the foundation of his organisation growth 3000% in the months after his death. What did Jesus teach about culture?
- Jesus was not afraid to set an example
Jesus set the example for everyone that would come after him. He would encourage every follower to act and make decisions according to his principles and his values. In fact, the first words that he spoke to his disciples were, “Come, follow me.”
Jesus taught is people, take the last seat.
He saw something that was wrong and he brought about a change.
Jesus at the temple : 12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]” Matthew 21: 12 – 13
What stops us from telling people that it’s not correct in our church?
Anything wrong you hear, why do we keep silent?
Maybe I haven’t built my relationship in such a way that I am unable to have a say.
May be I am indifferent about it
Fear of losing my friendship or being in good books of the person.
- Jesus taught/equipped his followers
Jesus taught his followers. Jesus taught stories and shared ideas that would help his followers to be ready to lead at the right time. Jesus was a master teacher. He crafted stories and shared ideas to make essential points that his followers would always remember.
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. – Luke 7: 40 – 43
Whatever we have been teaching it is not applied or caught. (expected to be learnt with observations).
What are we teaching in our church?
Somethings are caught, some are taught.
What are some Barriers to listening?
Because we have the herd mentality. Wherever there is more, I will go there.
Pharisees are unable to change – no healing on sabbath. The pharisees didn’t want to change that. For years we have been following. I will not change / I will not learn.
- Jesus engaged with His disciples
The disciples spent three years with Jesus, and Jesus packed those days with one event after another. The disciples would remember how scared they were in the middle of the lake during a violent storm and Jesus would calm with a word. They would never forget seeing Peter walk on water. They would retell for generations the story of seeing the empty tomb and placing their fingers in the holes of his hands. Good leaders know that culture is created when people walk with the leader frequently and often.
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8: 23 – 27
What are the barriers for not engaging?
Time constraints
Other priorities
Only at my convenience and space I will be able to engage.
What experiences are we giving them?
How often do we talk with our leaders and walk with them. Are there any memorable instances created in our lives where we will follow it like praying over, staying with them for a discipleship meet.
- Jesus taught equality, never neglected anyone.
Jesus pulled twelve different followers from different backgrounds with different gifts. In spite of their differences, He called them to work together for a greater purpose. He taught them about how to consider the team more important than the individual. He washed their feet as an example of the thoughtfulness that they should show to each other. Great cultures see each other as equals and peers. They recognize that every team member has value and importance.
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:3-5
What are some of the barriers for neglecting people?
Groupism
Status
They are not my type , my age group
Too busy with my own people
Is everyone seated around me as important? Do we know each other?
- Jesus empowered His disciples
In Jesus’ last interaction with his disciple Peter he gave him this command, “Feed my sheep.” Peter had fallen and needed to be restored. Jesus not only restored him but also gave him a more prominent vision of what he needed to be doing for the rest of his life. Jesus was empowering Peter to become the leader after he left. Leaders are to empower their followers to accomplish more than the follower themselves think is possible.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” John 21: 15,16
What is the barrier in entrusting people with task?
They are not capable.
They take time to understand the requirement, so we don’t have time to teach them.
We are not giving them an opportunity.
We haven’t trained them yet (for years)
Dr. David Livingstone (1813-1873)
As a child, he worked in the cotton mills to help support his poverty-stricken family. David Livingstone learned perseverance and went on to put himself through medical school and become a doctor before following in the footsteps of Robert Moffat and going to Africa as a doctor and a missionary. Missionary, explorer, and champion of the anti-slavery movement, Dr. Livingstone used his influence and experience to fight great wrongs in the society of his day and to blaze a path for other missionaries to follow in the villages he went to. He believed that he was not called to preaching as much as he was called to finding routes and resources for trade that would displace the profit in slave trading and worked tirelessly towards this end. He was loved by many and respected by the tribes with whom he had contact.
Mary Slessor (1848-1915)
Growing up in the slums of Aberdeen, Scotland, with an alcoholic father and little hope of changing your circumstances doesn’t seem like a promising start for anyone. But for Mary Slessor, her childhood taught her a tenacity and a strength that would serve her well in her years spent living in Nigeria. Mary grew up hearing her devout mother read the mission paper every month. In her heart grew a desire to share Jesus with others. She was 27 when David Livingston passed away, and she decided that she would go and continue his work to reach all of Africa. Mary’s work began in Calabar, and she lived and worked in places where no European had ever been. She faced life-threatening illness and hardship, but “Mighty Mary” did not once consider giving up. She lived with Okoyong and Efik people for 15 years, learning their languages and helping them settle disputes; working tirelessly to educate and overcome superstitions, such as twin-killing and women’s rights. She earned their love and respect and as a result was able to spread the gospel to areas no other missionary could.
Sandra wife of Virjil, The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel, Church in Karanjade because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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