Empowered life: Kingdom Culture

Empowered life: Kingdom Culture | Gareth Nicholson | 29 June 2025

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Culture shapes everything: what we value, how we relate, what we celebrate. The Church is no exception — especially one as diverse as ours. So what does it look like to build Kingdom Culture — a culture shaped not by the world, but by Jesus?

Early Church Pressure: Miracles, Growth… and Conflict

In Acts 5:40 –6:3, the Church is exploding with salvations and miracles. But pressure quickly rises:

• External pressure – The apostles are flogged and warned not to preach. Their response? Rejoicing. Unity. Boldness.

• Internal pressure – A dispute breaks out between Hellenistic Jews (outsiders, immigrants) and Hebraic Jews (locals). Some widows are being overlooked in food distribution.

This tension wasn’t just about logistics — it was about culture clash and favoritism.

And what’s under threat? The table. The place of community, equality, and care.

Two Fronts of Battle in the Church

1. From the outside: Persecution strengthens the Church.

2. From the inside: Division threatens to unravel it.

The apostles didn’t ignore the conflict — they called a meeting, named the issue, and empowered Spirit-filled people to bridge the cultural gap.

What Is Kingdom Culture?

Kingdom Culture means:

• Every person matters.

• We build bridges, not barriers.

• We pursue reconciliation, not avoidance.

• The fruit of the Spirit leads our relationships, not the flesh.

When Kingdom Culture is missing, these warning signs show up:

• Avoidance of difficult conversations

• Bitterness and offense

• Complaining without solution

• Gossip instead of grace

• Domineering or controlling behavior

• Cynicism and envy

• Prejudice and division

The Call for Free Church

Free Church is growing — and with that comes pressure. That’s good! But we must:

• Pay attention to what is happening on the inside: Many cultures, but we are building one culture - a kingdom culture

• Watch for seeds of disunity before they grow.

• Cultivate Kingdom Culture with faith, wisdom, and the Spirit.

• Make it hard for disunity to live here.

The table still matters. We wash feet like Jesus. We break bread until we find unity. Because if the enemy can keep us from the table, he wins.

Empowered Life = Empowered Relationships

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”(Galatians 5:22–23)

Real spiritual maturity shows up in how we relate. Restoration. Unity. Humility.

Jesus reconciled us to the Father — now we are ministers of reconciliation.

Application

1. What does “Kingdom Culture” mean to you personally, and where do you see it thriving or lacking in your day-to-day relationships?

2. Which of the warning signs (bitterness, gossip, avoidance, etc.) do you need to watch for in your own life?

3. Who might God be prompting you to reconcile with or invite to the table?

4. What’s one step you can take this week to build Kingdom Culture where you are?