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If we can transform culture on the seven mountains, we can prepare the soil of their hearts for the Gospel. By transforming culture, we mean affecting the world-view and belief systems that prevail over the hearts and minds of people. We transform culture and prepare cities to be discipled by (1)Modeling Biblical principles (2)Letting our light shine through what we do (3)Engaging in spiritual transformation. This message is a gentle reminder of our call to impact the seven mountains of society.
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This message is essential a repeat/reminder of something we have spoken of in the past. Back in 2010 we did an entire series called "The Seven Mountain Assignment" where we spoke of this in detail.

We are doing a quick review of this message today, in order to prepare us for what we will be considering the next several weeks. Next Sunday we will begin a series called "Timeless Principles for the Workplace".

The Seven Mountains Assignment

In 1975, Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade, and Loren Cunningham, founder of Youth With a Mission, had lunch together in Colorado. God simultaneously gave each of these change agents a message to give to the other. During that same time frame Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer was given a similar message. That message was that if we are to impact any nation for Jesus Christ, then we would have to affect the seven spheres, or mountains of society that are the pillars of any society.

These seven mountains are:

1. FAMILY : the institution set up by God
2. RELIGION : include the church, the people of God
3. EDUCATION : school, colleges, universities, academic and professional training  or education.
4. MEDIA : all forms of public communication, print and electronic, newspaper, TV, internet
5. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT (CELEBRATION) : arts, entertainment, and sports, all forms of celebration within a culture.  
6. BUSINESS (ECONOMY) : begins with innovations in science and technology, and includes activities such as production, sales, and service.  
7. GOVERNMENT : all of the three branches:  judicial (system of justice), legislative (establishing law), and executive (operation of government systems).  

There are literally thousands upon thousands of sub-groups in all of the seven broad spheres mentioned above.

If we are able to transform culture on each of these seven mountains, we can then disciple an entire nation.

Let's consider once again, what is happening all across our nation:

An April 2015 article in The Economist, stated that some 50 Indian cities have 1million residents or more; and forecasted that Some 300m people will move to town in the next 25 years, almost doubling the urban population. By 2051 about 60% of India's population will be in cities.

[Source:  April 05, 2014
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21600108-rapid-social-change-and-assertive-voters-will-improve-indian-democracy-we-are-connected ]


We are to preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) and to disciple entire nations

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

But how are we to disciple large cities? How are we going to impact our nation.

Loren Cunningham described it as follows:
“Salvation comes before discipleship, however, preparation comes in the soil before the seed is planted.  You see, the soil is really the world-view.  And if the soil is hard, and unprepared, or has weeds, or birds come and take the seed, that soil doesn’t produce anything.  But Jesus said one out of four soils is good.  And that’s the prepared soil.  So how do we prepare soil?  It’s tilled.  It’s also watered.  It’s also nurtured.  And then, you drop the good seed into the good soil.  And that good soil will produce out of that seed a 30-60-hundred fold reproduction.”

We prepare the soil of people hearts by transforming culture, that is, affecting the world-view and belief systems that prevail over the hearts and minds of people.

How do we transform culture?

1, Model Biblical Principles

Matthew 28:20
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

We bring the principles of the Bible – all that Jesus has taught us - into our culture by being the yeast

Matthew 13:33  
33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Bring in Biblical principles of Integrity, Excellence, Kindness, Justice – treating people fairly, Faith, etc.

Model it, teach it, coach people in to it.

2, We let our light shine by our good works

Matthew 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Loren Cunningham said that we must “use the wealth of the world to bless the world, and bless it not just those in blessing the needy, but bless it to multiply it.”

3, Engaging in spiritual transformation

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Culture is shaped in large measure by spiritual influences that surround it. The casting down of wrong mindsets, ideologies, etc. that blind the minds of people, keeping them from experiencing the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3,4) involves using the spiritual weapons of our warfare which include kingdom authority, prayer, demonstration of the supernatural power of God, etc.

We transform culture and prepare cities to be discipled by:
1, Modeling Biblical principles
2, Let our light shine through what we do
3, Engage in spiritual transformation (pray and share the Gospel)

Over the next several weeks, we equip ourselves to do these.
We will spend time learning about Biblical Principles relevant to the workplace.
What are principles from Scripture that we must use in different aspects that we engage in.

In Closing, we must understand that the Lord wants us to engage the workplace, not withdraw from it:

Luke 19:12-13
12 Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

Occupy (KJV) = 'do business' (NKJV) = earn, trade

The Lord Jesus wants us to engage the marketplace till He returns.
We are not to withdraw or retreat into seclusion, but engage the marketplace meaningfully.

All Peoples Church in Bangalore is a Spirit-filled, Word-based, Bible-believing Christian fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ desiring more of His presence and supernatural power bringing transformation, healing, miracles, and deliverance. We preach the full Gospel, equip believers to live out our new life in Christ, welcome the Charismatic and Pentecostal expressions in the assembly of God and serve in strengthening unity across all Christian churches. All free resources, sermons, daily devotionals, and free Christian books are provided for the strengthening of all believers in the Body of Christ. For further equipping, please visit APC Bible College.

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