CFC Singles for Christ

CFC Singles for Christ

Covenant Orientation

1st Year Formation Track

TALK No. 4: OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Speaker’s Outline

I.Introduction

A.We have a covenant with God and with one another. We are to be His people, and our lives are to reflect our intimate relationship with Him.

B.More specifically, we are called together in SFC to live out a common life. Part of this life is a distinct culture as Christians in general and as SFC in particular.

II.The New Testament Teaching

A.What did God do for us? Colossians 1:13.

1.From darkness to God's kingdom.

2.Christians, because of their new birth in Christ, are to be a new people, God's people, with a new way of life which is in harmony with God's nature and purposes.

B.What is our response? Ephesians 4:1718.

a.Involved in this transfer of kingdoms is a concrete change in behavior. Ephesians 4:2224.

b.Spiritual ignorance alienates people from the life of God and results in a corrupted way of life. Ephesians 4:1819.

The form of human culture depends on its spiritual relationship with God. If we do not explicitly acknowledge and obey the one true God, it will contain distortions of true righteousness, and will oftentimes result in immoral practices.

C.Our new identity as Christians. 1 Peter 2:911a.

1.From darkness to light.

2.Once no people, now God's people.

3.Also, we are strangers and in exile.

a.We live in the midst of other people whose way of life is different from us.

b.We are "resident aliens", subject to the laws of a country but also a "nation apart", bound by a separate district culture.

III.What is a culture?

A.Culture = the way of life of a people.

1.It is the sum total of attained and learned behavior patterns of a people, regarded as expressing a traditional way of life. It is the sum total of what makes a people what they are.

2.Culture includes a people's beliefs, values, social structures, customs and expressions.

B.Christianity is a culture.

1.As a natural consequence of Christian beliefs and values, Christians ought to have a distinctively Christian way of life that reflects and supports such values and beliefs.

We ought to be distinguishable from other worldly cultures. In fact, Christianity is a counterculture.

2.We can be Christian and Filipino (or Indian, Australian, Americans, etc.). But we are Christians first and foremost.

IV.Our Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ

A.SFC is a Christian community with distinctive beliefs, values and patters of life.

1.Of course, our basic Christian beliefs and values are those held in common by all orthodox Christians.

a.Beliefs: Jesus is Lord, life after death, etc.

b.Values: What we consider desirable, e.g., loyalty, dependability, dignity of life, etc.

2.In addition, we stress the importance of marriage and family life.

B.Our "statement of mission" provides our direction and the rationale for our existence.

1.The family is a creation of God and God wants us to rise in defense of His work.

2.We are to bring singles and families back to the plan of God.

C.Our "statement of philosophy" contains the beliefs and ideals of SFC, which govern our thrust and mission.

1.We believe that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we safeguard its sanctity by being pure in thought, word and deed.

2.We believe in the sanctity of human life and the right of the unborn child.

3.Our gifts, talents and resources are given by God to serve and glorify Him.

4.Marriage is indissoluble and is created by God for love and procreation.

5.Both man and woman have equal personal worth and dignity. God's order for the family is expressed in roles, with husband as head and wife as helpmate.

6.Family life is important in plan of God.

7.The family shares in the life and mission of the Church.

a.Prayers

b.Evangelization

c.Service to others

8.Christian family renewal is best achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and the full use of all charismatic gifts.

V.Expressions of Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ

A.The way we relate to one another.

1.Honor and respect.

a.This is as befits each one's dignity as a child of God.

b.We are one family, brothers and sisters in the Lord.

2.Loyalty and commitment.

a.We should be loyal and committed to one another and to the body. We are to look out for the good of the other.

b.We should resolve conflicts in the Lord.

3.Christian speech.

a.Our speech is of tremendous importance for the life of the body. Proverbs 18:21a.

b.We are to avoid slander, gossip and negative humor.

c.Our speech must be gracious. Colossians 4:6. Ephesians 4:29.

Express praise and affection.

Correct with meekness.

Communicate faith and joy.

Show courtesy.

4.Our goal in the way we relate is to build one another up in love, and to build up the body, SFC. Ephesians 4:1516.

B.Faith. We are to be men and women of faith.

1.What is faith? Hebrews 11:1.

Have the faith of our ancestors (Hebrews 11:440).

2.We can depend on divine providence. Luke 12:2231.

3.Jesus is our focus. Hebrews 12:2a.

C.Prayer and Scripture.

1.We are to have a daily conversation with God.

Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2.

2.We are to receive wisdom, guidance and life from God's Word.

Colossians 3:16a. Hebrews 4:12.

D.Order in the family.

1.The Christian family is at the very center of God's plan.

As the basic unit of society, the condition of families will determine the condition of societies.

2.We need to strengthen the family.

a.God's order: headship and submission. Ephesians 5:2225.

b.We are to fulfill our responsibilities in the Lord.

Husband: govern, provide, protect.

Wife: partner, support, homemaker.

Parents: raise children in the Lord. Ephesians 6:4.

We, therefore, must help our own fathers take on the responsibility of headship in our families.

Single men should learn to take on responsibility and headship while they are not yet wed.

Single women should support and encourage the men in SFC to take on responsibility and headship in the group and its activities.

c.Always have Jesus at the center of family life.

E.Life as a body.

1.We are one body, with a common life.

a.Not individualistic, but brethren.

b.Not pursue holiness just individually, but also corporately.

2.One concrete expression is the household.

a.A concrete manifestation of being "family".

b.Our weekly "spiritual filling station".

c.A place to truly love our brethren.

3.Respect for order and authority in the body.

a.We need order and authority for the body to function effectively.

b.The Lord places various people in positions of authority. We are to obey and respect them. Hebrews 13:17.

4.Christian finance.

a.We have a common responsibility to support God's work.

b.We are to make available to the Lord not just our time and our talents, but also our treasure.

c.SFC's work is supported by the freewill contributions of its members. While giving money to SFC is not a requirement for membership, we are encouraged to be generous.

VI.Conclusion

A.SFC is one body throughout the world, with one vision, one mission, and also one culture.

B.God wants to create a new humanity, one that would live His life on earth. We are to be witnesses to His work in our lives.

C.Our response will determine the effectiveness of our witness. Our positive response will keep us united and will enable the Lord to use us for mission.

D.