Envision a church that sees itself as an outpost of Christ’s Kingdom, functioning as a community in terms of the New Covenant, teaching the world to observe all things the King has commanded (Matthew 28:17-20)

Envision a church that cultivates a strong community of faith which provides its members with a sense of stability and belonging while encouraging an open, hospitable reception of strangers.

Envision a church where the members look forward to Sunday morning worship: worship that follows the Word rather than the world.

Envision a church where members enjoy each other’s company so much that they do not want to go home after morning worship, a church where communion in Christ is the foundation of a common worship, a common worldview, a common way of life and a common witness; a church that guides its members into settling their differences in the way that Jesus taught. (Matthew 18:15-20).

Envision a church which draws families together under the leadership of the fathers rather than splitting families up according to age-based programs.

Envision a church that keeps its children through youth and into adulthood, not by entertainment and glitzy programs, but by claiming covenant promises and fulfilling covenant conditions (Ephesians 6:4).

Envision a church shepherded by elders (Acts 10:14,28) chosen according to the standards of scripture rather than on the basis of "professional " academic qualifications (I Timothy 3:1-7); elders that share the responsibilities of the pastorate according to their individual gifts and abilities.

Envision a church that maintains community outreach through community service.

Envision a church where your sense of belonging is so strong it provides you and your family with an integration point for your whole life.

If you can envision such a church, I think you will be catching just a glimpse of what Jesus meant when He said, "I will build My Church...."

1. God has manifested that ethics forms the core of culture (see His admonitions to His people, Genesis to Revelation);

3. A culture requires not only an ethical standard, but people interacting together throughout the spectrum of human relationships in terms of those standards (Acts 2:41-47i.e., spending time together);

4. Western Civilization has commenced a process of suicide by promoting multiculturalism and gutting the vehicles for transmitting culture from one generation to another;

5. The Church has not had any such an opportunity for growth and displacement of many cultures since the first centuries after Christ;

declare our independence from a dying nonchristian culture,

reach out to other believers, and especially those of our church community to form our most intimate friendships,

seek ways get to know each other better and to live together harmoniously in the grace of God,

and, further, to let our love and community be known to the strangers and aliens who sojourn among us, that each local assembly may be as a city set on a hill.

Amen.