Soil
Identity & Values Team Story Network
Just as the type of soil impacts the growth of a plant, so the culture of a church impacts the spiritual growth of people. The soil is the culture of the church. It is what you feel when you come to a worship gathering or meet as a Village in a home. For example, most people struggling with an addiction would say the church is the last place they would turn because the church will just condemn them. The soil of a church matters. Our soil consists of Humility, Authenticity, Team, and Celebration.
Humility- Don’t expect to find superstars or people who think they are God’s gift to the church. We are messy people serving a holy God. We know that our worth as humans does not come from our abilities, net worth, doing good, or amount of Bible we have crammed in our brains, but from being God’s children. He alone is the source of anything good in our lives.
Authenticity- This is more than being real. Going to the tough places in each of our lives is not enough. Biblical Authenticity is rooted in the desire for holiness. We must acknowledge the sin in our lives in order to grow in relationship with God. Authenticity is necessary soil for God to bring about Life Change.
Spirit of Team- On a team, everyone is valuable. On a team, everyone is needed. On a team, everyone feels a sense of ownership. Scripture tells us that God gives us different gifts but the same goal…to build up the Body of Christ.
Celebration- Nothing should bring us greater joy than to gather with other followers of Christ! One who visited our church said, “The thing that stuck out to me was that everyone wanted to be there!” We do not come together to worship, learn, pray, and play out of duty. Jonathan Edwards said, “The chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever.” To this end, we celebrate.