What does the Household of ECC Hold? I want to Reminded us of the kind of Household God has called us to build here at ECC. A household where people are loved valued and considered vital to the Household of God. God wants us to be a Household of People who know their Purpose in Christ, people who can be released in their God given Potential and people who walk together in committed Partnership.
A key to reaching these goals is to create and carry a household culture that accepts and receive people being released to be and do what God has placed them in the Household to do.
The biblical analogy of the Body, clearly teaches each part of the Body/Church has a functioning role to fulfil. (1Cor 12) This means that every member of the Household of ECC has a God given role to fulfil.
1Cor 1 4I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Closed Culture
We are responsible for the Culture of this household. Culture is simple the way we do things.
God has not left us without any idea of the kind of His House wants, we seen last time he wants a House of Love, Encouragement, Teaching, Worship, Prayer, Witness, Service and Miracles.
However, there are dangers in us the church creating the culture.
A Church Culture can become closed and Traditional, refusing to accept new people who bring new ways, new ideas and new gifts.
We can pray for new people to come and help us, we can welcome new people among us, we can encourage new people to work with us but are we prepared to accept new ways, new ideas new gifts, if the existing Culture is resistant to new/change there will be a clash of cultures in the house.
There was Clash of Cultures when Lizzie became a household, we loved each other, couldn’t wait to be together in our own house. However, I soon discovered her way of doing things was not my way of doing things and I had to eventually accept my way was not the only way. I and Lizzie had to change to make our new household work, but when Emmie and Kieran joined our household they turned things upside down and messed up our whole routine so we had to change again.
The Body/Church is Built by Christ, Bound together by Christ, Brought together by Christ BUT it is up to us to make it work.
After 1Cor 1:9 Paul deals with the Clashes going on in the church that created a culture of division.
He brings advice to deal with relational difference, possible clashes
Phil 21If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Changing Culture
Culture is not truth, its not the Bible it is simply how we do things. God may have a new way, new gift, new idea all wrapped up in a new person and when God begins to unwrap His new gift to the church a church’s culture can close or clash or it can receive what God is introducing by changing it culture, not changing the truth about worship, healing just the way it has done things.
Open, Receptive and Welcoming culture
An open, receptive and welcoming culture makes room for people to fulfil their potential and is the answer to avoiding a closed culture that creates clashes.
Paul and the early church seen a need to encourage an open, receptive and welcoming culture in the churches. Because there was the danger of people closing up shop and not allowing new people with new ways, new ideas and new gifts in.
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. Acts 18:27
Paul wrote to the church at Roman “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me”. Rom 16:1-2
In 2 Cor 6:11-13 Paul asked the church to open wide their heart to him.
An open, receptive and welcoming culture is possible when present culture carriers are prepared to change, if not change then there will be a cultural clash.
Each of us create and carry the culture of the ECC household, let us maintain a Household culture of love, encouragement etc in such a way so that whatever God ordained gift a person brings to the Household of ECC there will be an open welcome and receptive culture for that person to fulfil their potential in God.
