Our Culture

REVIEW

Our Identity - Saved, Baptized, and Committed to North Point Chapel in Membership.

Our Priority - Concern, Character, Commitment, and Contribution to the Great Commission.

Our Worship - At Home, Work, and in the Community as Individuals, Families, and a Church.

Our Culture -

We furthermore engage to watch over one another and do life together in a spirit of brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech;

to be slow to take offense, but always ready to welcome reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

Science Project - Swabbing the school and growing bacteria in a petri dish.

A living thing becomes a culture when it is placed somewhere that it can grow. We want our church to be the greenhouse where God plants His life-giving Gospel.

A Christian That Grows in Culture Won’t Quit in Crisis

As Members of North Point Chapel, we commit:

To care about the faith and lifestyle of other members

Galatians 6:1–10 NASB95

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

To care about each other when we are sick or in trouble

James 5:13–20 NASB95

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

To care about the feelings of other members

Philippians 2:1–4 NASB95

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

To care about the way we speak to one another

Colossians 3:8–15 NASB95

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

To care about being right with our church family

Ephesians 4:1–6 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

We assume the best about others, and we don’t give Satan a foothold by waiting.

We moreover pledge that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.

A Church That Grows in Grace Won’t Die in Division

Amish Friendship Bread on Wikipedia:

“A common cycle is based on the addition of one cup each of sugar, flour, and milk every five days, with bread baked and extra starter shared every tenth day. The ten-day cycle produces five cups of starter, which must be either used to bake bread, given away, or used to start a new cycle. A common suggestion is to bake one loaf of bread, give away three cups of starter, and to save the remaining one for the next cycle.”

Healthy Cultures Multiply By Dividing

Starting new churches

Romans 10:8–15 (NASB95)

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Without a living starter, the dough cannot rise and become bread. If starter is not given away or used, the culture will die.

A church that doesn’t see church planting in its future is a church that doesn’t have a future.

Helping an existing church

Revelation 3:1–6 NASB95

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

According to King Arthur Baking, it is possible to revive a starter culture that appears dead. In the most extreme cases, the culture has to be pulverized. Once everything is mixed up, water is added and then the culture is fed.

If God wants to restart or revive a church He will often tear down idols, remove unbelieving members, and humble the remaining believers. After that He adds the living water of His Holy Spirit and begins to feed the church with His Word.

As members of North Point Chapel, we must pray and prepare for God to make us a starter culture that He will use to restart and revive other churches.

CONCLUSION

Members Stand and Read

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and upon profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We also engage therefore by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love to strive for the growth of this body of Christian maturity, purity, and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions, to diligently train our children; to seek salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world, to practice integrity in all our dealings; to be an example in our conduct, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We furthermore engage to watch over one another and do life together in a spirit of brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready to welcome reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover pledge that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.

2 Corinthians 13:11–14 (NASB95)

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Connect Cards and Doxology