Leading With A Clear, Compelling and Ubiquitous Culture in A Post Lockdown World
Before the law was given to the Israelites, teaching them how to behave, live together, worship together and go ON MISSION as a community…Moses created a system of leadership….leadership comes before LAW, ad leadership comes before MISSION….the same is true at the second Pentecost when we see the 120 (twelve tribes) ordered, so that the new law of grace could be released by the power of the Holy Spirit BEFORE the church was sent on MISSION into the world….
AS we emerge from lockdown…it is important that leadership is established….and we do that by leading culture….this is who we are and this is how we do things around here….so THEN we can get on with mission…and MOVING where God calls us to move to…..BUT CULTURE has to come first.
Q: How do you create a clear, compelling and ubiquitous Kingdom Culture in a post lockdown church? ..
Lead to the level of permission.
Lead the lean in first
Lead with strength, because strong leadership brings clarity….(The superpower of culture is that it attracts and repels, but it can’t do so if it is not clear)
Re-tell the culture in stories….celebrate the culture with ‘good reports’
Re-visit the culture regularly.
Let’s Revisit The Beyond Church Culture…
L.I.F.E
Romans 12:2 TPT “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will [CULTURE] as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
At Beyond Church we say we BRING a culture of LIFE.
L = LOVE
We don’t come to church to find love - we BRING love to our church.
1 Corinthians 13:5-7 TPT
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
a culture of love means: we keep short accounts, we deal with our stuff, we forgive regularity and completely,
We aren’t jealous of others opportunities, others salaries, others titles - because there is no THEM there is only US! Which means when one succeeds…we all succeed.
Love ENCOURAGES without qualification
The length of time you remain offended exposes the depth of your surrendered life.
The longer you hold that offence, the weaker your surrender grows. Because you can’t hold both at the same time…The same heart that holds the offence is the same here that is trying to hold onto Jesus.
I = INSPIRATION
We don’t come to church to be inspired.. we BRING Inspiration to church
Romans 8:15 MSG
This resurrection life is not a timid-grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next?” (MSG)
WE BRING! inspiration....
Q: Why has Jesus saved you? A: You have been saved, so that others would be saved.
Q: Who are YOU inspiring?
“if you are not discipling someone, you are not a disciple.”
Inspiration is actually all about LORDSHIP….you can’t bring what what you do not have, and unless you understand that your life is not your own…that you have been purchased with a price, the sacrifice of Jesus, you have nothing INSPIRATIONAL to bring to your world….THE RESURRECTION LIFE…(when you get it, and are surrender to it) is INSPIRATIONAL for others…..
In this lockdown season…We have seen people give up their preferences, sacrifice their time, share their gifts AND make financial contributions, to join with Jesus, to do what maters most, build His church…THAT is inspirational and THAT is the culture that we want to see in our post-lockdown church….
Here is the good news…we have people who already get it…they are already ALL IN inspirational leaders in their own right!
F = Fun
We BRING fun to church!
Church is only boring when WE are boring!
Smiling is a game changer!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/changepower/201605/the-9-superpowers-your-smile
1. Smiling can make you look younger.
2. Smiling can make you look thinner.
3. Smiling elevates your mood and creates a sense of well-being.
4. Smiling induces more pleasure in the brain more than chocolate. I
5. Even a forced smile can lead to a mood boost.
6. Smiles can predict fulfillment in marriage.
7. Smiling makes you seem courteous, likable, and competent.
8. The span of a person’s smile can predict lifespan.
9. Smiling is contagious.
Romans 15:13 TPT
Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you [culture in us] to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!
Matthew 18:3-4 TPT
“Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.”
E = Excellence
Galatians 6:4 TPT
“Let everyone be devoted to fulfil the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.”
