Recalibration 3 Creating a Dynamic Congregational Culture

Congregational Culture Jesus Focused How Jesus communed with the Father How Jesus called people to commitment How Jesus called people to love How Jesus called people to reconciliation

Congregational Culture Prayer Saturated Awareness of God’s presence and power Actively engaging in prayer at all times Integration of prayer in our personal lives and congregational life Faith that moves mountains, overcomes mountains, or goes through mountains

Congregational Culture Mark 11:22-25 (TNIV) “Have faith in God,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Congregational Culture Growth Motivated The ways of God are unsearchable What we know is an enemy to what we need to learn The purposes of God have yet to be fulfilled Emphasis is on reaching the outsider

Congregational Culture Hospitality Practiced Welcoming to the Holy Spirit Inviting to the neighbor and stranger Intentional about relationship building within and outside the church walls Structures are in place that facilitate connections

Congregational Culture Generosity Expressed Represents a different way to live in terms of time, treasure, and talents Connects us to the very being of God Demonstrates tangible love of God Generosity reproduces itself and is contagious

Congregational Culture Team Oriented Each person is valuable to the body Every believer is called to serve Ministry is done with others for others The journey together is as important as what you achieve together

Congregatoinal Culture 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (TNIV) “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Congregational Culture Local Church Evaluation Jesus Focused Prayer Saturated Growth Motivated Hospitality Practiced Generosity Expressed Team Oriented

Congregational Culture When Shaping Culture Remember that Over-Accommodation Creates Dysfunction It’s All About Consistency It’s All About Intentionality Process Matters – Timeline and Communication Familiarity Creates Blindness and Deafness

Congregational Culture When Shaping Culture What have you become blind to? What do new people see? What have you become deaf to? What do new people hear? What have you become desensitized to? What would new people immediately experience?

Triune Brain Theory Neocortex Limbic System Brain Stem and Cerebelum

Triune Brain Theory Brain Stem and Cerebelum Sometimes referred to as the Lizard Brain Fight or Flight Functions on autopilot Instinctual part of brain

Triune Brain Theory Limbic System Smallest part of brain Emotional or feeling part of brain Hosts memories Functions as decision making

Triune Brain Theory Neocortex Largest part of brain Slowest in terms of processing Hosts rational thoughts and language Functions as thinking part of brain

Congregational Culture Application of Triune Brain Theory Our natural human response to change comes from the lizard and emotional part of the brain Creating sustainable change requires time and process for people to engage the rational part of the brain Leaders need to consider this in decision making and when seeking to create a dynamic congregational culture