Our focus the last few days has been on the power of our words in a team or organization. My focus today is on the ability we have to use the right words to create the type of culture we want within a group. A group can be your family, church, community cause, workplace, or business. Words matter because they can impact people positively or negatively. They can also dictate actions and affect morale within a group. Language has the power to reinforce attitudes and behaviors, and can shift culture in either a good way or a destructive way.

The cultural elements of faith-based standards are intended to provide unity, stability, and refinement for any group of people, whether they number two, two hundred, or two thousand. Depending on how you speak, you will either cause people who don’t want to be there to separate from you, or attract and align with those who desire to connect with your culture.

Friend, as disciples of Jesus, we are called to create and influence culture. Jesus shaped and changed the communities around him: His inner circle of friends, his family, all those who heard the Gospel, and even today, the world. Be careful what you say to your team, your family, or your community, because people are listening. It doesn’t matter if you are a participant or a leader; your words will matter, and they will have an impact. It is time for us to use our words to create cultures that reflect the Lord and His Kingdom.