Living a Jesus Culture: June 28, 2026
Beyond the Sunday Bench: Building a True "Gospel Culture"
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to agree on the facts of something, but how much harder it is to actually live it out together?
In his latest sermon, Pastor Michael took us deep into the book of Acts to explore a beautiful concept: the difference between gospel doctrine (the truth we believe) and gospel culture (the way we actually treat each other because of that truth).
When Culture Clashes with Truth
Pastor Michael brought us back to a super tense moment in the early church found in Galatians 2. Peter—one of the ultimate leaders of the early church—started pulling away from eating with Gentile (non-Jewish) believers because he was worried about what some hyper-religious critics might think.
Paul called him out publicly for it. Why? Because by pulling away from the table, Peter wasn't just being rude—he was fracturing the core message of the gospel: that under Jesus, we are all equal, completely loved, and unified.
Back then, sharing a table meant sharing life, swapping germs, and becoming family. When we let prejudice or fear draw lines where Jesus drew open circles, we compromise the very truth we claim to preach.
The Hallmarks of a Gospel Community
So, what does a healthy gospel culture actually look like? Looking at the early church in Acts 2:42-47, Pastor Michael broke down a few key rhythms they were completely devoted to:
Apostles' Teaching: Staying grounded in the story, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Deep Fellowship: This wasn't a shallow "try each other's chili" kind of gathering. True fellowship meant real, open-hearted endurance—bearing each other's sufferings and building each other up.
Breaking Bread & Prayer: Turning regular, everyday dinner times into gospel-infused moments of connection and communion with God.
The early church lived life so closely together that they gladly sold their possessions to take care of anyone in need. They broke through the loneliness and individualism that so often sneaks into our lives today.
The Ultimate Welcome
Pastor Michael challenged us to combat the negative media portrayals of religion by living outstandingly joyful, sincere lives. The best summary of this call to action comes right out of Romans 15:7:
"Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ has also welcomed you to the glory of God."
Jesus doesn't stand over us pointing fingers at everything we do wrong; He welcomes us with open arms and free grace. When we open our doors and welcome others into our lives with that same radical grace, the world takes notice—and God gets the glory.
Let’s step out of our comfort zones this week, fight off the urge to go it alone, and intentionally build a culture where everyone has a place at the table.
How can you extend a "radical welcome" to someone in your community this week?
