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Introduction to DNA Culture - The importance of Church culture

Numbers 11:16-17

So the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to

be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that

they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the

Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the

people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.

In a way, God took the DNA of Moses’ ministry and passed it on to others so that the work required could continue effectively.

2 Kings 2:2 (NIV)

Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as

the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

Even Elisha did not get a portion of Elijah’s power and influence until he had walked

long enough to catch his spiritual DNA. In the New Testament, Paul implores with the churches everywhere he went to be

united in mindset.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in

harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind,

united in thought and purpose.

Philippians 2:2 (AMP)

Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in

purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and

intention.

The vision of C3 Church Townsville: “To connect the people of Townsville with the miraculous love of God”

This unity that Paul is talking about is more than being united in the vision of the Church. It’s a mindset kind of unity - how we appropriate our faith on a day to day

basis. A better word to describe this kind of mindset unity and application of our faith is CULTURE. (culculculcul⋅⋅⋅⋅tureturetureture ---- the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group) The culture of C3 Church is powerfully captured in our Mission Statement, summarised

with the following 3 words: 1. LOVE, 2. ENCOURAGE, 3. IMPART

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WEEK 1 – Love

1. What is love? 2. Let’s put it into practice. 3. The Local Church 4. What are some of the things we value at

C3 Church?

1. What is love? The Bible says that love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)

Love never fails.

To fully benefit from the power of love (that never fails) it’s important that we:

1. Understand what love is.

2. Put it into practice.

Love is the most talked about topic in the world and yet the most misunderstood topic. The world has a lot to say about love and it generally conflicts with what the Bible says, for example Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says: Love is any of a number of

emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong affection or profound oneness.

The Bible has a lot to say about LOVE. Read the following verses and discuss.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Romans 5:8

Importance of love Description of love Demonstration of love

Job 34:4 (NIV)

Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

So lets define (or discern) love accurately, so we can put it into practice effectively.

Read the following verses and discuss what they say about love.

John 14:21 John 15:10 1 John 5:3

According to the Bible, true love has to do with obedience to God, not necessary emotions or

affection. However, we need to remember that New Testament obedience is not about our capacity

to love God and obey His commands, but Jesus’ love for us and His obedience to the cross.

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Romans 5:19 (NKJV)

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience

many will be made righteous.

Romans 6:13-15 (NKJV)

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

John 1:16-18 (NKJV)

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through

Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

• The “law” represents Old Testament obedience – men’s obedience, men’s capacity.

• “Grace” represents New Testament obedience – Christ’s obedience, His capacity, His

accomplished work on the cross.

The power to live our best life does not rest on our capacity to obey (the law), but on Jesus’

obedience (grace).

Jesus alone met all the requirements of the “law” and through His obedience we are given free

access to God and our best life. To love God simply means to identify with Jesus’ obedience on the

cross, His accomplished work for you.

The apostle Paul puts it this way:

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life

which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for

me.

“To love God is to personally identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

in your everyday life, everyday decisions, situations and circumstances.”

Ps Jorge El-Khouri – C3 Church Townsville

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2. Let’s put it into practice.

a. Love God Loving God is for our benefit. He completes us, He satisfies us and we connect with our

best life.

Discuss the OT scripture below in the context of NT obedience.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NIV)

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you

today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees

and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land

you are entering to possess.

b. Love People

God loves people. A heart that loves people is a heart that lines up with the very heart

beat of God.

Discuss the scripture below in the context of God’s love and our response.

John 3:16 (AMP)

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten

(unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish

(come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

c. Love Life

We were created to live and enjoy life. We were created to thrive and not just survive.

God wants to give us abundant life right now (not just in heaven).

Discuss the scripture below in the context of God’s love, NT obedience and our

response.

John 10:10 (AMP)

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and

enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

God’s desire is that you live an abundant life. This represents success in every area of our lives –

marriage, relationship, finances, health, dreams and aspirations, etc.

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3. The Local Church

During DNA 1 (Foundation) we dedicated a whole study to this topic simply because we believe that

the local church is foundational in our journey of faith. A healthy appreciation of this biblical truth

will help us progress into our best life. If you haven’t done this study during DNA 1 we thoroughly

recommend you do it (or at least go through the notes).

This is so ingrained in our culture and so important that it’s worth a brief review.

Loving the local Church is also for our benefit. It’s through the local Church that we can effectively

be a part of the body of Christ and an expression of His continuing ministry on earth – to make a

positive difference in the lives of people and build His Church in our community.

God is so passionate about building His Church that He has made a connection between flourishing

in “His courts” to being “planted” in the local Church. His plans for our lives are connected to the

local Church.

Psalm 92:13 (NKJV)

“Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

Discuss the meaning of - “the courts of our God”.

Get “planted” in Church, get behind the vision and the culture of the Church and watch every area of

your life flourish.

Isaiah 61:3b (NKJV)

“..., That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be

glorified.”

Discuss the above scripture in context also of Psalm 92:13.

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4. What are some of the things we value at C3 Church? The culture that we nurture has a direct influence in what we value. Every week during DNA Culture

we will look at some of the things that we value at C3 Church.

1. Hearing the voice of God and getting into the word each day.

Acts 2:42

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the

breaking of bread, and in prayers.

2. Family, marriage and sexual purity – living exemplar and attractive role-model lives to our generation.

Ephesians 5:2-4 (NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering

and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all

uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting

for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not

fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (Amplified Bible)

For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set

apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual

vice, that each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his

own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor, Not

[to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true

God and have no knowledge of His will,

3. Responding with open hearts in praise and worship.

Hebrews 2:12

I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing

praise to You.

Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is,

the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

4. Loving, giving and connecting with one another in and outside of Church.

Acts 2:44 – 47

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their

possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So

continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to

house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and

having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those

who were being saved.