CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST COVENANT ORIENTATION WEEKEND MANUAL

SESSION 4: OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Objectives
1. Inspire a desire and empower the SFCs to live out the Christian culture of CFC-Singles for
Christ.
2. Develop an appreciation for a common culture in the community that is full of passion,
life and grace.

Speaker’s Profile
Someone who is very familiar with the culture of the community and of the ministry, who lives
out the SFC culture as a way of life, and who will have many experiences to share about this.

Expanded Outline

I. INTRODUCTION

A. We have a covenant with God and with one another. We are to be His people, and our
lives are to reflect our intimate relationship with Him.
B. As part of God’s people, we are to live out a common life as Christians.
C. More specifically, we are called together in SFC to live out a culture. Part of this life is a
distinct culture as Christians in general and as Singles for Christ in particular.

II. WHAT IS CULTURE?

A. Culture is the way of life of a people.

1. It is the sum total of attained and learned behavior patterns of a people, regarded as
expressing a traditional way of life. It is the sum total of what makes a people what
they are.
2. Culture includes a people's beliefs, values, social structures, customs and
expressions.

B. Christianity is a culture.
1. As a natural consequence of Christian beliefs and values, Christians ought to have a
distinctively Christian way of life that reflects and supports such values and beliefs.

a. We ought to be distinguishable from other worldly cultures.

b. Ours is a way of life inspired by Christ’s own life.
c. In fact, Christianity is becoming a counter-culture at times.

2. Our culture as a Christian may be different from our culture as a nation.

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a. For example, we can be Christian and Filipino (or Indian, Australian, Americans,
etc.) and have unique cultural traits for each as a result of this.
b. But we should remember that we are Christians first and foremost.

III. OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

A. SFC is a Christian community with distinct beliefs, values and patterns of life.
1. Our basic Christian beliefs and values are those held in common by all orthodox
Christians.
a. Beliefs: Jesus is Lord, life after death, etc.
b. Values: What we consider desirable, e.g., loyalty, dependability, dignity of life, etc.

2. In addition, we stress the importance of marriage and family life.

B. Our "vision and mission" provides the direction and the rationale for our existence.
(SFC Vision and Mission were discussed in Talk 1 so may just be briefly mentioned here.)

1. SFC Vision – “Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ.”
a. We are to bring singles and families back to the plan of God.
b. Our lives will be centered on the fulfillment of this vision

2. SFC Mission – “Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the Poor”

a. The family is the creation of God and God wants us to rise in defense of His work.
b. God desires that we love and care for the poor (more on this in the last talk)

C. We are an evangelistic community.

We desire to bring Christ and His love to the ends of the earth. Our formation, activities,
and goals reflect this desire.

D. Our "statement of philosophy"

It contains the beliefs and ideals of SFC, which governs our vision and mission. This was
discussed with you during the CLP. (See Annex 1 for details)

IV. EXPRESSIONS OF CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

A. The way we build our lives as part of a body

1. We are one body, with a common life with brothers and sisters.
a. We are not individualistic but brethren to one another
b. We do not pursue holiness just individually, but also corporately

2. The household is the core of building our lives a body

a. The household is a concrete manifestation of the “family” in our community life

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i. It is a support system that helps us live Christian lives.

“The purpose of the household group is to build an environment for the
support of the Christian life of singles and to provide a means of encouraging
and hastening growth in the Christian life.” (From the SFC HH Heads Manual)

It is where we give and receive the support and encouragement we need

in our Christian journey. It is where we can share joys and sorrows,
knowing we are surrounded by brethren who care for us.

ii. It is a safe place to be ourselves: broken but trying.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self,
which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude
of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

iii. It is strong, trusting, and lasting relationships founded in Christ.

We will meet some of our closest friends for life in our households. These
friendships are special because they are bound together by a common love
for Christ and the desire to love one another as Christ did.
Our friendships continue to expand because of our households.
Do not resist household changes/re-shuffles.
Look at them as opportunities to meet more people.

iv. It is an environment of love. It is where true love is learned and shared.

b. We meet regularly in the household, with the Lord together with our
brothers/sisters.
i. Thus, we should keep our household meetings sacred.
ii. We set the specific days of the month when we meet as a household
beforehand so that we can block this off in our calendars.
iii. We do not miss our household meetings except for extreme cases (e.g.,
sickness) because we know the Lord awaits us and it is there that we can give
of ourselves to our brothers/sisters.

3. The teaching nights, assemblies and conferences edify our formation.

a. Avenue for deepening the formation through the teachings and sharing of
experiences by brethren.
b. Opportunity to experience the bigger SFC family beyond the household or the
chapter in communal worship and prayer

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c. Members/leaders should not forego the households and just attend these
gatherings. The household remains to be the foundation of our relationships and
these teachings/assemblies support this foundation.

4. Respect for order and authority in the body

a. We need order and authority for the body to function effectively.
b. The Lord places various people in authority. We are to obey and respect them.
Heb. 13:17
i. For those in authority, avoid the temptation to hang on to power. A leader’s
anointing is not permanent nor irrevocable.
ii. For those who are called to take on leadership roles, do not be afraid. God
equips the leaders He chooses.
c. The order in the body is the same order designed for the family
i. The SFC structure mirrors the family
ii. God’s plan and order for the family: headship and submission (Eph 5:22-25)
Single men should learn to take on responsibility and headship while they
are not yet wed
Single women should support and encourage the men in SFC to take on
responsibility and headship in the group and its activities.

B. The way we relate to one another.

1. Honor and respect.

a. We treat each one with dignity as a child of God.
b. We are one family, brothers and sisters in the Lord.

2. Loyalty and commitment.

a. We should be loyal and committed to one another and to the body. We are to
look out for the good of the other.
b. We should resolve conflicts in the Lord. We avoid taking sides but rather, work
towards peace and reconciliation.

3. Christian speech.
a. Our speech is of tremendous importance for the life of the body. Proverbs 18:21a.
b. We are to avoid slander, gossip and negative humor.
c. Our speech must be gracious. Colossians 4:6. Ephesians 4:29.
Express praise and affection.
Correct with meekness.
Communicate faith and joy.
Show courtesy.

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4. Our goal in the way we relate is to build one another up in love, and to build up the
body, SFC. Ephesians 4:15-16.

C. The way we relate to God.

(Note to speaker: The other talks in the Covenant Orientation discuss these in more
detail.)

1. Prayer - We are to have a daily conversation with God.

a. Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2.

2. Scripture -We are to receive wisdom, guidance and life from God's Word.
a. Colossians 3:16a. Hebrews 4:12.

3. Faith. We are to be men and women of faith.

4. Christian finance.
a. We have a common responsibility to support God's work.
b. We are to make available to the Lord not just our time and our talents, but also
our treasure.

V. CONCLUSION

A. SFC is one body throughout the world, with one vision, one mission, and also one
culture.
B. God wants to create a new humanity, one that would live His life on earth. We are to be
witnesses to His work in our lives.
C. Our response will determine the effectiveness of our witness. Our positive response will
keep us united and will enable the Lord to use us for His mission.

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SFC STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

1. We believe that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we safeguard its sanctity
by being pure in thought, word and deed.
2. We believe in the sanctity of human life and the right of the unborn child.
3. Our gifts, talents and resources are given by God to serve and glorify Him.
4. Marriage is indissoluble and is created by God for love and procreation.
5. Both man and woman have equal personal worth and dignity. God's order for the family
is expressed in roles, with husband as head and wife as helpmate.
6. Family life is important in plan of God.
7. The family shares in the life and mission of the Church.
a. Prayers
b. Evangelization
c. Service to others
8. Christian family renewal is best achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and the full
use of all charismatic gifts.

GROUP ACTIVITY: CULTURAL FASHION SHOW

(Group participants into groups of 5 to 7.)

One of the aspects of culture is a people’s manner of dressing or their costume. Knowing the
Christian culture of SFC, its values, beliefs, and practices, design an “SFC costume” that will reflect
the important aspects of our culture. Use ordinary and recycled materials to create a sample of
this costume. Dress up one of the group members in this costume and present to the rest of the
body in a cultural fashion show. Each group explains the design of their costume.

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