Sharing Transcendent Values…

1. Sharing Transcendent Values… with those who may not share them

2. The Identity of the Church;a Bride and a City “And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” – Revelation 21:2 (1st Peter 2:5-17) The Bride of Christ Holy City

3. What is Culture? “The application of labor or other means to improve good qualities in, or growth, as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.” - Webster’s 1828 Dictionary “Culture is religion externalized, and it is the development of man and his world in terms of the laws of his religion.” -R.J. Rushdoony

4. What produces Culture? “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” – Proverbs 4:23 (see also Matthew 12:34; James 3:2) Issues – (Hebrew) – “to go out, to go forth” – produce, germinate, promulgate Issues – “event, consequence; end or ultimate result.” – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary Culture is the atmosphere created by behaviors that flow from the heart – it is reason incarnate

5. God’s Sovereignty created man with The Law of Reason FORM – Reasoning is multi-jurisdictional Plan - “It is not good that the man should be alone.” Evaluate – “there was not found a helpmeet for him” Execute – “…God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam” Genesis 2:18, 20, 21 POWER – God is all-powerful “I will make a helpmeet for him” - Ge.2:18 Men and Women are created by God to reason – a mark of being the highest of God’s Creation

6. GOD, Logos and Logic (truth) • “In the beginning God…” – Genesis 1:1 • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1 • Word is “logos” in Greek – “the divine word or reason incarnate” (a complete expression) • Logos also means “computation, proportion, explanation, argument, principle, law, debate… • Logic is reasoning on premises, using principles to apply this in wisdom for real solutions

7. Reasoning: Face to Face Relationship • Isaiah 1:18 – “…let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” • Revelation first (spirit) – revealing the Word • Reason second (soul) – based on the Word • Exodus 33:11 – “…the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend…” • Reasoned with the Word – an intercessor • Mark of maturity (1st Corinthians 13:12)

8. 1st Peter 3:15 – Preparation of the Heart and Mind • “…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts…” • God (and His Word) must be our source… • “be ready always to give a reason for hope” • Plan ahead – be ready… prepare to think clearly… • Evaluate – a reason - clothing faith relevantly • Execute – to all who ask… timing of leadership • “…with meekness and fear…” • The right attitude makes it easier to be received • An assumed relationship with the culture (v. 13)

9. The Nature of Biblical Wisdom “…that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is!” – Job 11:6 1 - Knowledge (from Hebrew) – analysis “to take things apart” (rudiments) 2 - Understanding (Greek) – synthesis “to put things together” (usefulness) Wisdom is living according to God’s Word

10. Seven Pillars of Wisdom merged with the Ten Axioms Genesis 2:15-24 reveal creation wisdom for mankind Note: TranscendentValues applies to all the others… (1) “dress the garden” – Genesis 2:15 (labor – service) (2) “keep the garden” – Genesis 2:15 (management - limits) (3) “of all trees thou mayest freely eat” – Genesis 2:16 (liberty – self-govt) (4) “…you will surely die” – Genesis 2:17 (consequence – localism / results-based reality) (5) “I will make a helpmeet for him” – Genesis 2:18 (power – jurisdiction Note: family is one of the jurisdictions) (6) “and Adam named the animals” – Genesis 2:19 (variety - justice) (7) “and shall cleave unto his wife” – Genesis 2:24 (covenant - trust)

11. Relating / Reasoning to those without Transcendent Values • Colossians 4:2-4 – Pray for relationships • “doors of utterance” to open… • Speak the “mystery of Christ” as I ought to… • Walk in Wisdom – toward those without • Understand jurisdiction – church / community (Creator / Redeemer distinction) • Seek common ground (unity) wherever found • Redeem the time (buy back lost years) • Speak with grace seasoned with salt (service)

12. Understanding Wheat and Tares Mt. 13:24-30; 36-43 • Know when to unite and when to separate… • Enemy sows tares “when the righteous sleep” • Wheat and Tares are together by God’s design • Separation is insulation, not the extremes of… • An indulgence with tares leading to isolation which undermines the growth of the wheat • An ignorance of the wheat leads to mixture which accepts tares as if they are wheat (compromise)

13. Luke 16:1-8 - Why Transcendent Values? • These are principles, values that transcend cultures, creeds, saved and unsaved… • They are put by God in all Creation (natural) • Principles shared with cultural terminology • What is God doing in the heart of your culture? • How can you build relational bridges to those in your neighborhood, marketplace and city? • Principle-based policies are primarily sharing biblical values that work efficiently, and it is here that we will find common ground

14. Examples of Transcendent Values • Self-Government – internal obedience to laws • Take the initiative – volunteer early and often • Do your job – return emails, accomplish tasks • Service-Based Power – service-based power • Bless those you serve – be interested in others • Attempt to make others successful and get credit • Localism – decision making on lowest level • Emphasize local responsibility and jurisdiction • Encourage those closest to the problem to provide the solution – most efficient

15. Luke 16:9 - Making Friends of “unrighteous mammon” • The marketplace is the joining ground • We can avoid being unequally yoked if we understand jurisdictions of church / culture • We serve together every way we can… • Mammon is the love of money • It cannot overcome true love, service and giving • When it fails to solve the problem, we will be asked to “give a reason” for the hope within • These are the “everlasting tabernacles”

16. Three-dimensional Christianity • Friend of “publicans and sinners” • Publican – “tax collector” – civil magistrates • Sinners – people – let us love working with them • Blessings of friendship with people in the culture but outside the church – Lk. 16:10-13 • We love and serve vs. revenge (Mt. 5:43-44) • We listen more than speak (James 1:19-27) • We serve rather than be served (Mt. 20:25-28) • We are legitimate vs. illegitimate (1st Peter 2:12) • We are allies vs. being enemies (Eph. 6:10-18)