Culture Building – Dobra Family Ministry

Household Prayer: Why education and community

“… God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:26-28 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.1.26-28.NASB2020

Brothers, a thought from the FLF conference: What is the “why” of education and fellowship? What is the vision? Just achieving a Christian education program, or a deep fellowship of community living in the church is not the goal, but the means.

In the classical conversations communities the goal or vision is “to know God and make Him known.” The classical Christian education and community are a means to that end.

Christian education and Community in the church are the means to build a culture that expands outside the home and church under the Lordship of Christ. A particular, local, and shared great commission and creation mandate vision to disciple the nations, take dominion and fill the earth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that we labor for a generational vision for the next 500 or more years.

By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), we get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

“Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. For by it the people of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible… who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:1-3, 33-34 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/heb.11.1-34.NASB2020

“… God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” Genesis 1:26-28 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/gen.1.26-28.NASB2020

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Genesis 2:15 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/gen.2.15.NKJV

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20 NASB2020 https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.28.18-20.NASB2020

THE GOOD NEWS

There is a God that created the heavens and the earth. We humans are created in His image.

We are sinners, we have rebelled against Him, our Creator. Our rebellion has brought “all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice… envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” to the world. Romans 1:29-31 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.1.29-31.ESV

Therefore we justly deserve our due punishment of death and damnation, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Romans 3:10-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.3.10-12.ESV

But good news! God is merciful and loving. Jesus is God the only begotten Son and He took our punishment upon Himself in our place. Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and securing the hope of our salvation.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.15.3-8.ESV

““Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”” Acts 2:36-38 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/act.2.36-38.ESV

We need only repent and believe it. Repent: turn away from our sins, proclaim Jesus is lord and savior, and we will be forgiven our sins and have life ever after! “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”” Romans 10:9-11 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.10.9-11.ESV

There is hope. Believe in Jesus! ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.16.ESV

It doesn’t matter who you’ve been or what you’ve done, God stands with arms wide open, ready to forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.1.9.ESV

Inauguration Day meditation 2025

Inauguration Day meditation

Worship

First, we have to thank God for the mercy and give Him the glory for the victory. Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭20‬

Disciple and Proclaim

Next, we the church have to get to work discipling the nation, teaching all that God has commanded. Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬, Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬-‭20‬

Build

Then get to work building God honoring households, churches, communities, and businesses.

Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

Household Prayer: God’s Patience – repent and get to work

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/rom.2.4.LSB

Brothers, meditating on Romans 2:4. God has been kind and patient with the people of America. I pray we, His church, repent and dedicate ourselves to “reach our communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” I pray we, through our homeschooling and family discipleship, “raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth.” (Jamestown Chaplain, Pastor Robert Hunt, 1607) I pray God would move us to not just “report” or complain about the pagan culture around us, but to “reform” it by making disciples, teaching them all you have commanded, and being willing “to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven” building and living out the God honoring culture we desire. (Kirk Cameron, IFI)

“We do hereby Dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this Land, along with England, be Evangelist to the World.” Pastor Robert Hunt, the chaplain of Jamestown, knelt upon the cross and offered a prayer of dedication after landing at Virginia May 14, 1607. The Founders’ Bible, 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

“Cameron said he makes a distinction between reporters and reformers. Reporters are “the huge numbers of us who spend a lot of our time ‘reporting’ to each other about developments we see in our present period of cultural setback,” he writes in “Born to Be Brave.” Reformers are those who move beyond talking, who step up and courageously act either to change or to present alternatives to that culture… Cameron said he believes that every human possesses the virtue of courage. If we can find that courage and act on it, even when that means going against a corrupt system, then we can inspire others, he said… “When false systems like communism and socialism fail to produce the utopia that they promise, eventually the cat’s out of the bag, the gig is up,” he told The Epoch Times. “The mouse trap has sprung, but if the mouse isn’t underneath the hammer bar, he has a chance to run and tell all the other mice, and they have a chance to turn the thing around.”” Kirk Cameron: A Call for Spiritual Renewal Starts at Home https://link.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/article/kirk-cameron-a-call-for-spiritual-renewal-starts-at-home-5740553?utm_campaign=app-cc&utm_source=ref_share&utm_medium=app&c=share_gift&pid=iOS_app_share

“What we need is a revival. This requires humility, prayer, and a willingness to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. Let us pray that He will revive each of our hearts with Himself, transforming our state and nation as we seek to “do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) https://illinoisfamily.org/faith/divided/

“… we can’t be lulled into complacency. The American experiment isn’t on autopilot; it is not “safe and secure.” Our work is far from over. Right now, we have an opportunity, a window, to fortify the moral foundation of this experiment — to restore, promote, and protect what Washington called the two great pillars of our political prosperity: religion and morality. If America is to thrive, if we are to pass this precious experiment down to future generations, we must remember this: political and economic greatness cannot survive without moral goodness. As the scriptures declare: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” https://washingtonstand.com/commentary/perkins-once-again-the-sacred-fire-of-liberty-is-preserved-

“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/gal.6.9-10.LSB

Household Prayer: A Culture Building Strategy

““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/mat.5.14-16.LSB

Brothers, today I’m thinking about strategy. Are we being pushed and pulled by life, or do we have a strategy to lead our families through life. As the worldly culture around us becomes wicked and hostile, I pray we rely on God’s word to develop a strategy. I pray we are actively building a Godly culture. I pray it starts in our homes and extends into our churches and communities. I pray that we leave an inheritance of Godly culture for our children’s children (Jeremiah 29:5-7, Matthew 5:14-16).

A Puritan Strategy: “A Model of Christian Charity”

Let’s learn from Puritan John Winthrop in their covenant “A Model of Christian Charity” that was the foundation of one of the American Colonies that would become the United States of America.

“In 1630, the Puritans [came to America], with their leader John Winthrop setting forth the terms of their covenant in “A Model of Christian Charity,” which he wrote while sailing across the Atlantic on the ship Arabella. It explained:

Herein are four things to be propounded: first, the persons; secondly, the work; thirdly, the end; fourthly, the means…’” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

First: The Persons

First, for the persons. We are a company professing ourselves fellow members of Christ…

We are each heads of households, church members, and community members and are called to lead, serve, and influence each of those spheres God has placed us in.

Second: The Work

Secondly, for the work… [It is] to seek out a place of cohabitation and consortship [fellowship] under a due form of government, both civil and ecclesiastical…

What is important when the church (we believers) is a despised minority, when the culture around us is increasingly wicked and hostile?

A culture in which we can cultivate Christian households, churches, and communities that are flourishing, faith centered, and independent communities shining a light to the world!

Unwavering worship and affection to Yahweh, community and hospitality among believers, independence from the hostile systems, and holding firm, confident, hopeful, and joyful to the convictions of the faith.

It may be tempting to feel defeated and retreat, but even in exile God’s people are called to be hopeful and joyful as they seek fruitfulness, expansion, and dominion by building houses, planting gardens, getting married, and having children (Jer. 29:5-7).

If we find ourselves longing for the ideal culture of yesterday, then we need to be building the culture we long for among ourselves.

Third: The End

Thirdly, the end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord, the comfort and increase of the body of Christ (whereof we are members), that ourselves and posterity may be the better preserved from the common corruptions of this evil world to serve the Lord, and work out our salvation under the power and purity of His holy ordinances.

The type of culture and community worth loving and fighting for! A culture and community like a city on a hill whose light shines before men, pointing to Jesus! (Matt. 5:14-16, John 8:12)

The Spartan’s were far from God, but there is “nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9-10), so when an unbelieving people have a good idea or philosophy it can often be found to originate, knowingly or unknowingly, from the wisdom of God. Such as, “[The Spartans] loved what they were fighting for… They weren’t fueled by hatred for what they were fighting, but rather fueled by love of what they were fighting for–their culture, their family, their homeland [Neh. 4:13-23]. This is why some would say that the opposite of fear is love.” Warrior Poet Profile | The Spartan Warriors https://warriorpoetsupplyco.com/blog/warrior-poet-profile-the-spartan-warriors/

“that I had men stand in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I had the people stand by families with their swords, spears, and bows. Then I saw their fear. And I arose and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not fear them; remember the Lord who is great and fearsome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”” Nehemiah 4:13-14 LSB https://bible.com/bible/3345/neh.4.13-14.LSB

Fourth: The Means

Fourthly, for the means… We must love brotherly without dissimulation [Rom 12:9], we must love one another with a pure heart fervently [1 Pet 1:22]. We must bear one another’s burdens [Gal 6:2]. We must not look only on our own things but also on the things of our brethren [Phil 2:4]… We are entered into covenant with Him for this work-we have taken out a commission. The Lord hath given us leave to draw our own articles… but if we shall neglect the observation of these articles… the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us, be revenged of such a [sinful] people, and make us know the price of the breach of such a covenant. Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck and to provide for our posterity is to follow the counsel of Micah to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God [Mic 6:8]… For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill [Matt 5:14]. The eyes of all people are upon us so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world [Deut 28:37]…’

“arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God.”

There is a spiritual and physical aspect. Like King David’s message to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22:19, “David urges Solomon, ‘set your heart and your mind to seek the Lord your God’ and to ‘arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God.’ David’s message still hits home today, urging us to dedicate ourselves to seeking God and advancing His kingdom.” John G. “Jay” Johnston, D.Min, National Prayer Director and Chaplain, Family Research Council Prayer Post, June 25, 2024

Leading ourselves in seeking God. (Mark 12:29-30, Matt. 6:33)

Leading our households as an independent governing sphere under God (Mark 10:6-9, Jeremiah 29:5-7, Eph. 5:1-6:9, 1 Timothy 3:4-5).

Leading our families into the household of households, the local church, to worship Yahweh (Acts 10:2, Heb. 10:25, Acts 2:42).

Leading our households in intentional community fellowship and hospitality (1 Peter 2:9-10,4:9, Romans 12:10,13).

Leading with firm confidence and joy in the convictions of the faith (Matt. 5:14-16, Eph. 5:1-21, 1 Peter 1:13-16).

By faith (Heb. 11:1-3,4,5…), get to work subduing and ruling, working and keeping, being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15), and making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Rule yourself well, rule your household well, and bring God’s truth and grace into every sphere of life that you enter into until every nation proclaims “Jesus is Lord!” – Amen

“Our Forefathers forged a covenant; our Founders laid the foundation. Christ has ever been the True Cornerstone, for it is from Him that our freedom flows. Those who have followed have built upon those values, many wisely, some foolishly, but thankfully a glorious nation emerged. Its people have climbed that mountain and lit a beacon of freedom that has shone brightly for lo these many generations. For ourselves, and for posterity, with all the eyes of the world upon us, let us not stumble now. We cannot, must not, and will not let that light go out.” The Founders’ Bible, NASB 1995, Copyright 2012, Shiloh Road Publishers https://thefoundersbible.com/

Household Prayer: Sowing and Cultivating Christian Culture

““You are the salt of the earth… “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:13-14 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.13-14.NKJV

Brothers I’m praying about sowing and cultivating distinctly Christian culture in our homes, churches, and communities. Flowing from our love and worship of God, from the redemptive power of the gospel in our lives, and the joyful labor of subduing, ruling, working, and keeping as husbands and fathers. (Gen 1:26-28, 2:15) I pray, Oh LORD, that by faith our sowing would cast a bright light of Your glory in the world. (Matt. 7:20)

Any idea that consistent Christianity must undermine or diminish concern for the tasks of civilization should be dismissed once and for all.”—J.I. Packer and Thomas Howard, “Christianity: The True Humanism”

Matthew 5:13-14 (NASB)
[13] “You are the salt of the earth…
[14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden

“Our Christian faith is to affect all areas of our life in obvious, overt ways (Mt. 5:13–16)… culture is the concrete expression of a society’s religious and philosophical commitments; it flows out of the heart—as it were—of the society which produces it (Prov. 4:23).” Plowing in Hope: Towards a Biblical Theology of Culture by David Bruce Hegeman

Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)
[23] Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

“If I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.” —Martin Luther

A Biblical theology of culture

“man’s “cultural mandate”—the call to rule, fill, and transform the earth—was established before the Fall and exists independently of man’s need for redemption… we may properly call culture (along with the other “pre-redemptive” institutions of marriage and worship) normative for mankind…

culture is, at its foundation, about building and not about conflict. Doing culture from a positive, earth-transformational perspective will help us build a more comprehensive, radical, holistic culture in line with the principles of Scripture, and it will provide us with less opportunity to compromise with the anti-biblical values and beliefs embedded in the pagan, unbelieving cultures we might encounter. …

The human race was called to fill, rule, work, and keep the earth before the Fall—before sin and evil had ever entered the hearts, thoughts, and actions of men and women. Man’s culturative activities must therefore be seen as a normative, good, and holy calling received from a loving and holy God. Marriage, work, the development of the earth’s resources, and a careful stewardship of nature must all be seen as intrinsic to who we are. It is clear from the rest of Scripture that our culturative calling was never rescinded after the Fall (e.g., Gen. 4; 9: 1–2)…

As the Word of God, Scripture is over culture and offers an infallible, perfect standard by which all cultures are to be judged and evaluated.”
Plowing in Hope: Towards a Biblical Theology of Culture by David Bruce Hegeman https://a.co/7jpUp3f

““To affirm and bask in the goodness of the world, to praise God for the wonders of creation, to practice responsible stewardship of this small planet, and to honor its Maker by using its resources wisely for the welfare of the race and the enriching of human life are all integral aspects of the work that Christians are called to do. Any idea that consistent Christianity must undermine or diminish concern for the tasks of civilization should be dismissed once and for all.”
J.I. Packer and Thomas Howard, “Christianity: The True Humanism” quoted in “Plowing in Hope: Towards a Biblical Theology of Culture” by David Bruce Hegeman https://a.co/bq8q9J8