Kingdom Culture Over World Culture

In a world that often seeks to divide us by race, culture, and political ideologies, the Church stands as a beacon of unity. At Calvary Orlando, we believe in embracing diversity as a reflection of Heaven itself. Our community is a powerful testimony that the love of Christ is more important than cultural boundaries, making us one family in Him.

The Power of a Multicultural Church
When you walk into our multicultural congregation, you see a beautiful representation of Heaven—people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and languages worshiping under the same House. This is not by accident but by divine design. In Revelation 7:9, we see a glimpse of eternity where "a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language" stands before the throne of God. Our church embodies this heavenly vision here on earth.
However, embracing diversity is not without its challenges. Cultural differences in communication, traditions, and values can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. But as followers of Christ, we are called to put on our new identity in Him, transcending our worldly divisions.

Understanding Cultural Differences
 Pastor Maria introduced key insights from Sarah Lanier's book Foreign to Familiar, which categorizes cultures into two broad types:

1. Hot Climate Cultures (e.g., Latin America, Africa, Southern U.S., Middle East): Relationship-oriented, indirect communication, group identity, high-context cultures.
2. Cold Climate Cultures (e.g., Northern U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia): Task-oriented, direct communication, individualism, low-context cultures.

Recognizing these cultural differences allows us to extend grace, communicate effectively, and foster deeper relationships within our church family.

Biblical Foundation for Unity
 The Apostle Paul spoke of putting on a new identity in Christ, using the imagery of clothing:

1. Romans 13:12-14 – "Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ."
2. Ephesians 4:20-32 – "Put on your new nature, created to be like God."
3. Colossians 3:5-11 – "In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Gentile... Christ is all that matters."
4. Galatians 3:27-29 – "For you are all one in Christ Jesus."

In the Greco-Roman world, clothing signified racial and social identity. When Paul tells us to "put on Christ," he is emphasizing that our identity in Him supersedes all other distinctions. We are not defined by our ethnic backgrounds but by our shared faith. As the Body of Christ, we make up the church. We must not allow our differences to take precedence over the wonderful plan of God.

Key Sermon Takeaways

1. Worship Unites Us – Worship is more than music; it is a declaration of our unity in Christ, where we surrender cultural barriers and embrace Kingdom culture.
2. Assumptions Create Division – Many conflicts arise from misinterpretations based on cultural lenses. We must be intentional in seeking clarity and assuming the best in one another.
3. Heart Posture Matters – Living "above the line" means choosing faith, curiosity, and openness over fear, rejection, and bitterness. We must understand that everyone has their faults, but forgiveness is part of taking a true step forward to having a healthy heart posture.
4. Practical Steps for Unity – Engaging in cross-cultural conversations, active listening, and asking meaningful questions builds bridges rather than walls.

Walking Forward Together
To steward this gift of diversity well, we must be intentional in how we engage with one another:

1. Be Aware of Differences – Recognize that our experiences shape our perspectives.
2. Challenge Assumptions – Avoid making judgments based on cultural biases.
3. Maintain an Open Heart – Choose to live "above the line" where faith, trust, and unity thrive.
4. Invest in Relationships – Listen actively, seek to understand, and be willing to grow.

The enemy seeks to divide, but Christ calls us to unity. As we move forward, let us embrace our multicultural identity with love, humility, and a commitment to reflecting Heaven on earth.
Three responses to consider:

1. Realization – Acknowledge the beauty and challenges of diversity.
2. Realignment – Adjust our heart posture and interactions to align with Kingdom culture.
3. Repentance – Seek forgiveness where we have allowed division and commit to unity.

At Calvary Orlando, we are the Church, and we choose to walk together in love, reflecting the Kingdom of God in all we do.

This week, take some time to reflect on the message and ask the Lord to highlight areas of your life that may not be adding to the unity of the Church. Ask the Lord to show you where in your life you may make decisions based off of assumptions, you allow unforgiveness into your heart, you live “below the line,” etc. Then, follow the three steps of Realization, Realignment, and Repentance. Let’s work together to become more like the Kingdom of Heaven, here at Calvary Orlando.

Pastor Maria's Sermon Notes
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