INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• DNA, it determines a lot concerning your life. DNA is the code of life, DNA determines your eye color, hair color if you keep your hair, skin color, among many other things.
• Last week we discussed our mission is woven into our new DNA in Christ and how effectively we are driven by that DNA affects the Church.
• Let’s shift gears a bit talk about the DNA of our values. Values represent convictions and show the core of not just what a person believes, but also how they live (ethics).
• Part of the new creation we are in Christ when we are baptized into Christ is that our values should change.
• Our individual values will impact the mission and values of the church.
• When we come together as a Church, our individual values combine to show the real values we hold as a church.
• We can have slogans, and catchphrases, and those can be a good thing, but only if my values line up with said slogan and catchphrases.
• As an example, we can talk about how much we want to reach the lost souls in our community for Jesus, yet if that value is not reflected in my life, then it is nothing more than talk.
• As we talk about our DNA, we need to understand the importance of grasping what we are called to do for Jesus and how vital it is for each of us to allow ourselves to be driven by the DNA we have in Christ as new creations in Jesus.
• We will spend time this year talking about the church.
• We need to do this because there are many, including possibly some here today who do not think the church is essential.
• Before we go down that path, we need to consider a few things.
• The Word tells us that Jesus built the church (Matthew 16:18), that He shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28), that He is the head of the church (Eph 1:22), and that the wisdom of God is made known through the church (Eph 3:10)!
• Today we will examine four core values that identify the church, four core values that identify FCC.
• These core values should also be at the core of what makes us tick.
• Let’s begin our in-depth outline with our first word.
• SLIDE #2
SERMON
I. Love
• Love is the heartbeat of the Gospel, love is why God sent His Son.
• SLIDE #3
• John 3:16 (CSB) — 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
• One of the values that are intertwined into our DNA in Christ love. There are so many passages that tell us of this fact that I cannot figure out how we can miss this.
• Love should be our default setting, as a church, we must be known for our love for Jesus, love for our church family, and love for the lost.
• Jesus goes pretty extreme with this issue of love.
• SLIDE #4
• Luke 6:27 (CSB) — 27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,
• This violates our natural desire, this is not what many teach, get even if you are hurt, stick it to your enemy.
• We are not only called to love those who love us but instead, we are called to love our enemies.
• HOW in the world can we do this? Simple, God is love. Because of His love for us, we can love others, even when we do not think we possess the ability.
• SLIDE #5
• 1 John 4:7 (CSB) — 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
• This love not as our culture defines it. Our culture’s version of love is ambiguous and rooted in good feelings.
• We to do what is best for others.
• For Christians, love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13. It is patient, persevering, and courageous. It is the love that God shows his people, and we show others.
• Love is a verb, we are to not just talk about loving others, we need to show them.
• Listen, you can be technically correct in your understanding of the Bible, you can teach technically correct doctrine; however, if you do not display love and do what you do because you love Jesus, then you are missing the boat.
• Technical truth without love makes us no more than Christian Pharisees. We enjoy pointing out the struggles and fault the of other people versus being broken hearted over their situations.
• Also, we need to note that Jesus did not scowl at people. ?
• Jesus told us to love the Lord God without all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
• Then He commanded that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Then Matthew 22:40 He said all the Law and Prophet depend on these two commands.
• Love is in our DNA, love has to show in all we do. Love has to be our motivator, our love for Jesus and our love for others.
• When people come through the doors of this church, the only way they are going to experience love is if we all show it.
• The world will only experience the love of Jesus if we show it to them.
• In our mixed-up world, we can have a difficult time with a balance that we need to have with our next value.
• SLIDE #6
II. Truth
• A trap that we must avoid is leaning so far toward love that we sacrifice sharing the truth with people.
• There is an essential reason for this, one we may not have considered.
• Truth is not just knowledge for its own sake, but knowledge that changes our lives.
• We cannot allow the fact that truth can be uncomfortable at times, to keep us from having the courage to share the truth.
• In our society, if you do not agree with and fully embrace the lifestyle choices of everyone, you risk being called names, and you risk being called hateful.
• This has led some churches to water down the truth so much that truth no longer exists.
• When we withhold the truth or water down the truth because we think it is more loving than sharing the truth in love, we are actually being crueler because we are intentionally helping people stay in bondage to their sin.
• SLIDE #7
• John 8:31–32 (CSB) — 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• The TRUTH will set you FREE! What is the truth? Is it whatever we feel like it is, do my feelings have any bearing on what is the truth?
• In the context of this statement, Jesus said in verse 31 that for one to be His disciple, they had to continue in HIS word!
• To be a disciple of Jesus, you must continue/remain/live in his word. This is more than studying Jesus’ teachings or memorization of Scripture. Remember, John has presented Jesus as the Living Word of God (1:1, 14). To “live in his word” means that we have a living relationship with Jesus. Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998). John (Jn 8:31–32). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.
• The expression to CONTINUE has great significance in the original text.
• We abide in Christ when we place ourselves in him and continue there, drawing life from his words.
• This produces ongoing discipleship. A true and obedient disciple will find the truth by knowing the one who is the truth, Jesus himself (1:17; 14:6). This knowledge frees people from their bondage to sin (see 8:34). Barton, B. B. (1993). John (p. 180). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
• We want to be a place where people can hear the truth that the world is sinful and broken but that it can be redeemed and changed. In a world full of lies and “fake news,” we want to be a people of truth because the truth will set people free (John 8:32).
• Are we modeling truthfulness, whether or not it's convenient for us? If we aren't modeling it ourselves, no one will take our claims about the Lord seriously.
• Each one of us must stand on the truth, we must live the truth, and we are called to share the truth in love.
• SLIDE #8
III. Fellowship
• Another aspect of our new DNA in Christ is the desire to have fellowship with one another.
• Look at Acts 2:42 with me.
• SLIDE #9
• Acts 2:42 (CSB) — 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
• One of the core values of the church should be a commitment to fellowship. For that to be a reality, each one of us needs to be committed to fellowship.
• Fellowship which comes from the Greek word Koinonia (COIN O KNEE A) is the act of sharing in the activities and privilege of an intimate association or group.
• The tie that binds us all together is Jesus.
• This word denotes a union such as the one that should be found in a healthy marriage.
• It is caring for each other, it is spending time with one another.
• We are family. We are a part of a “family of believers." In our world family can be taken for granted.
• The early church was unified and lived life together (Acts 4:32–35).
• SLIDE #10
• Acts 4:32 (CSB) — 32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
• This example only happens when folks feel like family.
• We are born again in Christ, and those who are also in Christ are our brothers and sisters. We want to create a loving environment where we as family can worship, learn, share life, and ultimately grow together.
• The church should be our extended family!
• We are not called to show up at the last minute, to sit quietly by ourselves, and leave before anyone can speak to us.
• We have to be committed to wanting to be with each other!
• Let's always be a church that values one another and that wants to be together as much as we can. There are so many lonely people, let's be a place for them to find Jesus!
• The last word we will examine is…
• SLIDE #11
IV. Transformation
• Have you ever done something in your life that still haunts you today? Do you know someone who is living in that terrible condition?
• How often have you felt worthless because the world has told you that you are worthless?
• Are you broken and feel defeated because of your past?
• We need to be people who see people not the way they are but rather how they can be when Jesus gets a hold of them!
• We need to see that Jesus can change a person so that they are the new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks of.
• We need to let people know that when they walk through those doors, we seem then not for what they have been, but who they can be in Christ!
• I do not care about the past, I care about the present and the great future you can have in Christ!
• Jesus changes everything. Our spiritual DNA has not just given us a new place to go when we die but ultimately changes us in our present life.
• Love, truth, and fellowship all come together to change us at the center of our being.
• We are being transformed by the renewing of our minds in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• SLIDE #12
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (CSB) — 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is always present in our lives transforming us to become more like our DNA in Christ. We are people being changed, and we want to see other lives changed. Changed lives = Changed communities.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us that our inner self is being renewed day by day!
• Each one of us needs to believe in transformation!
• I do because Jesus transformed me!
CONCLUSION
• Our values reflect what is important to us. Our values are the driving force behind what we do and how we live.
• We are called to be a people that love well, speak the truth, fellowship in community, and are transformed.
• When these things come together, we will impact our lost world like never before!
