Life Of A DiscipleSample

Jon Tyson

Scriptures:
Colossians 1; Genesis 1, 3; Matthew 28

We are made in the image of God. But if we start our story as humanity with sin, we point to the problem of people, but not the destiny or purpose of people, losing sight of their value and their calling in the kingdom of God. So when we start from the understanding that we were made in His image, it re-establishes who we are called to be. The goal of culture is to have God at the center and we make things in our world for His glory and our good.

Culture is religion externalized. So whatever is at the center of who we are will echo from what we create and what we pursue. God has put us on this earth to create culture - this is central to creating us in His image. We are given an opportunity to be alive, to take the raw materials around us and create beauty and shape culture for the glory of God. When we look at how culture became broken - that is, created a culture centered around ourselves and not around God - we must remember the satanic influence to introduce sin to all humanity, those called to carry God’s image. If we do not retain this truth, we will make people the enemy, rather than sin and the devil. 

Everywhere you go, you are creating and cultivating culture. We were not meant to condemn, critique, copy, or consume culture, but rather to create culture. As followers of Jesus, we are made to let the central reality of His love and discipleship in our lives be the foundation of the culture that we cultivate in the world around us. 

So, today, ask yourself the following:

1. What kind of culture are you creating around you?
2. How are you impacting the culture of the world?
3. Being a disciple of Jesus means bringing the kingdom to earth. What does the culture of heaven look like?
4. What can you do this week to look at people, and culture, from heaven’s perspective?