Summary: The third in a series of messages on counteracting and breaking through the Christian subculture to reach more people for Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

* And that's what some of you were!

Step One:

ƒ{ Build friendships

o Get out of the bubble

o Get into the world

o Get a life

o Stop expecting non-Christians to act like Christians

ƒ{ Be a missionary

ƒ{ America is the 3rd largest mission field in the English speaking world

ƒ{ Explain Acts 2

o They all understood their language

Step Two:

ƒ{ Is the Church culture

ƒ{ Our task is to create the right soil

ƒ{ The culture is what people pick up on first

* It is often the invisible that makes the difference

Not the candles / but community

Not the art / attitude

Not the liturgy / love

The Divine Dozen

1. FORWARD THINKING

- So many churches are in a time warp

- Many churches are yesterday thinking

- You can't reach a future generation

- Being backward mindset

- Behind the time

2. SUPERNATURAL WITHOUT WEIRDNESS

- Super natural = beyond the natural

3. PROMPTNESS

- Start on time

4. ACCEPTANCE / NOT ALWAYS AGREEMENT

- In Christ Jesus there is neither

Male or female

Bond nor free

Jew nor Greek

- Everybody is somebody

- We accept all the people that pretty churches don't accept

Matthew 7:1-3

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

5. PARTICIPATION

- I like interaction -- not library -- cemetery or seminary

- Singing loud

- Talking -- coffee bar

- Worship clap

sing

dance

- Preaching

- Shout back

- It's agreement

- Active learning

- I will be active in my preaching (energy)

- I want you to be active in your learning

6. ORDER

- Most churches want a chaplain

- But they don't want a leader

- Many churches have pastors

- But they don't have leaders

- Everything should be done orderly and in order

7. INCREASE WITH INTEGRITY

- Not excess

- But success

- Joshua 1:8

"Put this law in your heart and you will have success"

- Deut 28 -- head not tail

- Above only and not beneath

- 3 John

I desire above all else for your soul to prosper and be in health"

8. Deliberately Driven

- Believe that what we don't accomplish we are training our children to

- A church with the next generation in mind

- MTV generation

- Video, lights, camera

9. IDENTIFIABLE LEADERSHIP

- Deacons aren't maintenance men

- They are elders -- spiritual overseers

- Can pray with you

- Explain them at altars

- Deacons shouldn't be elected because they are popular

- So, if they are there we've identified or qualified them

10. GENEROSITY

- Spirit of Generosity

- Love Down

- Love side-to-side

- Love up

11. THE METHOD ISN'T SACRED -- THE MESSAGE IS

12. GRACE