Messy Church Part 3: Cultivating a Culture of Honor

In our Messy Church Series, we’ve explored the importance of getting involved in the church and using our gifts to extend the kingdom. Today, we’re focusing on creating an environment where people can serve in the church. Often, people are hesitant to volunteer because of negative experiences in the past. While we can’t completely shield anyone from hurt, we can foster a healthy culture for serving by cultivating a culture of honour.

What is Honour?

The word “honour” literally means “giving weight,” as in the weight of coins or gold. It signifies valuing someone highly. To illustrate, imagine receiving an empty, tattered box as a gift versus a box containing a brand-new pair of Vans. You’d value the second box more because of its contents. Similarly, we value people because of who they carry inside – the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV): “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”. We honour people not for their performance, but for who they carry – the Spirit of God.

Understanding Honour through Scripture

It’s often easier to honour those in positions of influence and authority. For instance, people flock around the pastor after a sermon, or they show respect to their boss at work. But we need to check our motives. Are we honouring for personal gain? Jesus challenges us in the Gospels: Luke 14:13-14 (ESV): “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Honouring those who cannot repay us brings reward from God. Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 12 by explaining that every part of the body of Christ is important and should be treated with honour. 1 Corinthians 12:21-24 (ESV): “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour…”

The Foundation of Honour – Love

Without genuine love, we cannot honour others. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV): “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

Love is the foundation of honour. We must love God first, but we are also called to love our neighbours. Sometimes, we struggle to love others because we struggle to love ourselves. We need to see ourselves through God’s lens to properly honour others.

Honour in Action

How do we put honour into action in the church and the world? First, we are called to honour those who preach God’s word. 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV): “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching.” Double honour includes both respect and financial support for those who preach. But honour doesn’t stop there.

1 Peter 2:17 (ESV): “Honour everyone…” We honour everyone because they are created in God’s image. Romans 12:10 (ESV): “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour.” Look for opportunities to honour everyone around you, including those who serve in less visible roles like sound technicians, camera operators, and children’s church teachers. When we honour people, we make it easier for them to serve with joy.

Jesus as the Model of Honour

Jesus exemplified honour by noticing and valuing individuals amidst the crowds.

• John 5:5 – Jesus noticed a man disabled for 38 years and healed him.
• Matthew 19 – Jesus welcomed children whom the disciples dismissed.
• Mark 5 – Jesus showed kindness to an unclean woman who touched his robe.
• John 9:1 – Jesus noticed and healed a blind man.
• Luke 19 – Jesus noticed Zacchaeus and transformed his life.

Honour means seeing people, listening to their stories, and showing we care.

Building a Habit of Honour

Practical Steps to Cultivate Honour:

a. Allow the Lord to Minister to You: 1 John 4:19 (NIV): “We love because he first loved us.”

Understanding God’s love for us enables us to love and honour others. Before Jesus began his ministry, God affirmed His love for Him. Saturate yourself in Scripture and grasp God’s love for you.

b. Find 5 People Every Day to Honour and Celebrate: Make honour a daily habit. Look for opportunities to “catch people doing good.” Reflect at the end of each day on how many people you honoured. Aim to do this for 21 days to form a habit.

We honour people not because of what they do, but because of who they carry and in whose image they are created. By fostering a culture of honour at Sweetwaters, we create an environment where people want to serve and use their gifts.

Let’s challenge ourselves to OUTDO EACH OTHER IN LOVE!