Forest Community Church

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging culture requires intentional humility and adaptation.

Paul’s approach to diverse cultures was not one of retreat but of intentional engagement. He chose to adapt his methods to connect with people where they were, not where he was most comfortable. This requires a humility that prioritizes the gospel and the person over personal preference or cultural comfort. Such engagement is a conscious choice to step into another’s world for the sake of Christ. [15:50]

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
(1 Corinthians 9:19-22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you could intentionally step outside your cultural comfort zone this week to show Christ’s love to someone different from you?

Day 2: We engage culture to participate in the gospel’s work.

The motivation for cultural engagement is not merely strategy, but a deep desire to participate in the ongoing work of the gospel. This participation is both a present reality and a future hope, allowing us to share in the blessings of the Kingdom now and the joy of heaven later. It is about joining God in His mission, not just executing our own plans. [26:49]

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
(1 Corinthians 9:23, NET)

Reflection: When you consider the idea of ‘participating’ in the gospel, what aspect of that feels most alive to you right now, and what feels most challenging?

Day 3: Intentional engagement requires spiritual discipline and training.

Just as an athlete trains with discipline and purpose for a race, we are called to train ourselves to engage across cultural lines. This is not a natural impulse but a spiritual discipline that requires self-control and intentionality. It is a focused effort to run the race set before us, not aimlessly, but with the eternal prize in view. [31:14]

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you could exercise more spiritual discipline to better prepare yourself for engaging others with the gospel?

Day 4: Simple acts of love can break down significant cultural barriers.

Meaningful engagement does not always require grand gestures; it often begins with small, tangible acts of kindness. Sharing something personal, like a family recipe, can express care, love, and a willingness to invest time and resources. These simple actions can build bridges of relationship where deeper conversations about faith can naturally occur. [38:26]

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.
(Hebrews 10:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is your ‘cinnamon roll’—a simple, personal gift or act of service you could offer to a neighbor or colleague as a first step toward building a relationship?

Day 5: God calls us to engage, not retreat from, our changing culture.

Our instinct when faced with rapid cultural change may be to retreat into familiar enclaves or to flee. However, God’s call is to stand firm and engage, trusting that He has placed us in this specific time and place for a purpose. We are to be active participants in our communities, reflecting Christ’s love without fear. [22:05]

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.
(Acts 17:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been tempted to retreat from or avoid the cultural changes around you, and how might God be inviting you to engage instead?

Sermon Summary

The Collin Baptist Association’s century-long work appears as a backdrop for urgent cultural engagement. The county now holds roughly 1.2 million people and faces explosive growth that could double or triple the population by mid-century; that demographic shift brings rapid cultural change and daily encounters with many languages, ethnicities, and stages of acculturation. Local church networks pursue three tasks: serving existing congregations, equipping ministry leaders, and planting new, intentionally diverse churches across the county. Sociological observation notes that American culture remakes itself at an accelerating pace, and that pace provokes fear, flight, or defensiveness unless met with deliberate engagement.

Biblical theology from 1 Corinthians 9:19–27 frames engagement as missional strategy rather than mere cultural accommodation. Paul’s example — becoming “all things to all people” — functions so believers may participate in the gospel across cultures. The Greek term sukoinonos emphasizes present, active participation in gospel work, not only future reward. The athletic metaphors from verses 24–27 call for disciplined, purposeful effort: spiritual witness demands the same self-control and long training as athletes who prepare for the stadium race. Such discipline counters the natural human tendency to cluster with similar people; intentionality must displace default social comfort.

Practical application appears through a simple hospitality practice: sharing homemade cinnamon rolls with neighbors. That recurring act of care opens relational space for service, crisis response, and eventually serious faith conversations. Refusing cultural retreat requires small, repeatable practices that communicate time, resources, and love. Engagement brings real consequences — emotional labor, humility, and intentional sacrifice — yet it also generates mutual care and gospel opportunity in everyday settings.

The overall call insists on active cultural engagement rather than isolation. Churches and ministries in rapidly changing regions must train for sustained outreach, cultivate humility to cross cultural lines, and adopt concrete practices that build relationships. The theological claim holds that Christians should pursue cultural connection so they can be true participants in the gospel now and into eternity, exercising disciplined hospitality and intentionality to reach the diverse neighbors arriving in transforming communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Engage cultures, never retreat Intentional cultural engagement flows from obedience, not comfort. Retreat from changing contexts often masks fear or a desire to preserve familiar identity; engagement requires humility and a willingness to enter awkward spaces for the sake of gospel relationship. Treat cultural change as a mission field that demands learning, patience, and consistent presence rather than defensive withdrawal. [16:32]
2. Become a participant in gospel Participation in the gospel emphasizes present involvement, not merely future hope. The Greek term sukoinonos underscores sharing in the work and blessings of the kingdom now by valuing relationships above cultural preferences. Entering another’s world demonstrates that the gospel seeks fellowship, not merely converts, and invites shared life together. [24:34]
3. Discipline for intentional cultural engagement Cross-cultural witness requires the same training and self-control athletes use for competition. Habitual practices, accountability, and long-term commitment break the natural pull toward homogenous social circles and create readiness for gospel opportunities. Discipline converts good intentions into lasting, faithful outreach. [27:14]
4. Hospitality opens doors to gospel Simple, repeated acts of care dismantle barriers more effectively than debates or programs. Sharing food, time, and presence communicates worth and safety, often leading to practical service and spiritual conversation in times of need. Small gestures become the bridge to deep, gospel-centered relationships. [33:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:01] - Opening Prayer
[05:04] - Collin Association Overview
[07:08] - Church Planting & Diversity
[08:45] - Personal Story: Cultural Adaptation
[09:05] - Rapid Growth in Collin County
[16:32] - Paul’s Example in 1 Corinthians 9
[24:34] - Gospel Participation (sukoinonos)
[27:14] - Athletic Imagery and Discipline
[33:51] - Cinnamon Rolls: Practical Hospitality
[40:07] - Final Charge and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 (ESV)
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Observation questions

According to verses 19-22, what specific groups of people did Paul choose to adapt his approach for, and what was his stated purpose for doing so?
What athletic imagery does Paul use in verses 24-27 to describe the Christian life, and what specific actions does he say are required of an athlete?
What simple, repeatable practice was shared as an example of building relational bridges with neighbors? [33:51]
What is the specific Greek word used in verse 23 that emphasizes present, active participation, and how was it translated in the sermon? [24:34]

Interpretation questions

Paul says he became "all things to all people" to save some and share in the gospel's blessings. What does it mean to "share" or "participate" in the gospel's blessings in the present, not just the future?
The natural human tendency is for "birds of a feather" to flock together. [31:14] Why does engaging people from different cultures require such intentional discipline, and what fears or comforts make this so difficult?
How does the story of sharing cinnamon rolls demonstrate that practical acts of service and care often precede and pave the way for deeper spiritual conversations? [35:40]
Paul uses the extreme discipline of an athlete training for a major race. In what ways is the effort required for cross-cultural gospel engagement similar to the intense training of an athlete?

Application questions

God calls us to engage our changing culture, not retreat from it into comfortable enclaves. [21:31] What is one area of cultural change (technology, demographics, social norms) that tends to make you feel fearful or defensive, and what is one practical step you could take to engage it with gospel intentionality this week?
Participating in the gospel means valuing relationships above our own cultural preferences. Is there a relationship in your life where differences in background, age, or beliefs have created a barrier? What is one humble, curious question you could ask them to better understand their world?
Cross-cultural witness requires the same self-control and training as an athlete. [27:14] What is one spiritual discipline (prayer, scripture memory, accountability) you could strengthen to better "train" yourself for opportunities to engage someone different from you?
Simple, repeated acts of care can dismantle barriers more effectively than debates. [33:51] What is your "cinnamon roll"—a simple, personal gift of time, food, or skill—that you could use to show intentional care for a neighbor or coworker you don't know well?
Intentionality must displace our default social comfort. [31:34] Look at your calendar and social interactions from the last month. Who are you naturally gravitating towards? What is one intentional step you could take to place yourself in a context where you will meet people who are not like you?

Sermon Clips

But listen to me, church. God has never called us to run or retreat from anything except sin. I'm gonna say it one more time. God has never called us to run a retreat from anything but sin. We have to be careful or since a retreat can slip into our faith communities where we seek retreat from the cultural change around us and we fail to engage those around us. [00:21:27] (34 seconds) #DontRetreatFromCulture

And then it comes around to Christmas, and we start having conversations about faith, about her sister who's just passed, about her sister's faith and what that means. And so over the past couple of years, this cinnamon rolls has led to being a caretaker for a lady to make sure that she's well to now having faith conversations of an extremely serious state. Engaging people of other cultures is as easy as cinnamon rolls. Now what does cinnamon rolls express? Care, love, time, resources. [00:37:37] (59 seconds) #CinnamonRollHospitality

when we respect our weaker brothers and sisters, when we explore cultural differences of food and tradition with those that are not like our own, we show a humility that places the importance of the gospel in relationship with the person for the sake of the gospel above ourselves. And what that does is that allows us to be a participant in the gospel. This friends is Christianity. This is what Christ did. He changed you'll talk about culture change. You know what he did? He emptied himself into the form of a servant, a human being. [00:25:00] (57 seconds) #ServeWithHumility

So what do I need to do to be a participant in the gospel? Here it is. I need to exercise self control and discipline myself so that I'm intentional about engaging anyone I can cross paths with. Now this is important. Let's sit here for just a minute. Listen. Birds of a feather flock together. There's a social theory on that where we gravitate toward people that are more like us. Okay? [00:30:58] (30 seconds) #DisciplineToEngage

can't why can't God just use people that are similar in culture to share the gospel? I get this all the time in my job. Like, you need to find we need someone of this ethnicity to share the gospel with this ethnicity. We need somebody of this background to share the gospel with this background. And listen. That's that's great. We do that. I do that. I'm actively recruiting people to start church in that way. But listen, that even though we do that, that doesn't give us a pass to just say, I'm never going to engage anyone other than the people from the same culture as me. [00:22:43] (42 seconds) #BeyondSameCulture

we have to get to a point where we admit that, and then we have to say to ourselves, for me to engage people that aren't like me, it takes self discipline and intentionality. Make sense? Okay. So it takes making a decision to do it and sticking to it. It's it's like sticking to a quiet time or stick sticking to a prayer time. Engaging people that aren't like us takes the same sort of work because we're not gonna naturally gravitate toward people that aren't like us. [00:31:29] (40 seconds) #IntentionalCulturalEngagement

Now what's cool about Greek here is that the Greek doesn't just mean that he can be a participant in the future. Like, you know, when we die we go to heaven sort of thing. We participate in the gospel by being saved when we die. The beautiful thing about Greek here is it also means that we participate here and now in the gospel in the blessings of being part of the kingdom as well as the future. [00:26:20] (32 seconds) #LiveTheGospelNow

So my wife and I, made a decision, and I just wanna propose to you this afternoon. I almost said this morning because I usually preach in the morning. I propose to you this afternoon that it's as easy as cinnamon rolls. Okay? Engaging people of different cultures may be as easy as cinnamon rolls. Now you fill in whatever sugary great dessert fits your culture and background. For me, it's a cinnamon roll. Okay? And in particular, a homemade recipe of cinnamon roll by the lady on the Food Network named the Pioneer Woman. Okay? [00:33:35] (39 seconds) #SimpleActsBridgeCultures

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Forest Community Church

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging culture requires intentional humility and adaptation.

Day 2: We engage culture to participate in the gospel’s work.

Day 3: Intentional engagement requires spiritual discipline and training.

Day 4: Simple acts of love can break down significant cultural barriers.

Day 5: God calls us to engage, not retreat from, our changing culture.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Forest Community Church

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