E50 The Power of Culture

In the book of Acts we find the expression of the first Church of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. The church was filled with signs and wonders, great fellowship, generosity, and God added to their fellowship daily! How many of us would like to be a part of a church like that?! Well if you flip a couple pages ahead to Acts 4:32, you’ll discover what I believe is a powerful secret to their success: “All the believers were united in heart and mind.” Acts 4:32 NLT The opposite is also true… “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” Luke 11:17 NLT The Acts 2 Church was part of a powerfully unified community connected by shared values and purpose. The culture was so countercultural that people were drawn into their community. You see, if the culture isn’t right, nothing else really matters, and that’s because culture always wins! If you have a great culture, your church will thrive. A great culture enables you to do great things! In our current series: Our Tribe - we will clarify what Living Stones is all about! We will talk about the 7 things we value here, and how these values shape what we do! Our culture must be incarnated! Our 7 values: 1. Daring Love: Love that is courageous 2. Bold Faith: Faith that believes for big things 3. Pregnant Hope: Hope filled with anticipation 4. Covenant Relationships: Relationships that last forever 5. Kingdom Generosity: Giving that overflows 6. Growth Mindset: Reaching our full potential 7. Increasing Excellence: Always offering our best