Changing The Culture

Acts 17:6 AMP
' But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too;'

Matthew 11:16-17 NIV
' “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ ' 

EVERYONE LIVES UNDER A CULTURE

1 JOHN 4:4-6  AMP
' Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories--demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them. We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].'

HOW CULTURE IS CREATED

  • A response to a spiritual influence creates an atmosphere.
  • A sustained atmosphere creates a climate
  • A sustained climate creates a stronghold
  • A sustained stronghold determines culture

Hebrews 11:3 NIV
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

WE ARE CALLED TO CHANGE CULTURE

  1. Declare the message.
    2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
    'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ' 
  2. Gathering of the saints
    Psalm 133:1,3 NIV
    'How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! ... For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.' 
  3. Worship
  4. Giving
    1 Timothy 6:10 NIV
    'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. ' 
  5. Intercession
  6. Forgiveness
    Colossians 3:13 NIV
    'Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ' 
  7. Ministry Mantles

Romans 12:21 NIV
'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' 

Crossing Church