Creating a Culture of Honor

What is honor, what does it look like, and how do you create a culture of honor within your microchurch?

Honor. It is not just to respect those in authority, or to recognize those who have made a significant accomplishment. This should be a given. But as a follower of Jesus it is much more. Honor starts with humility and becomes a lifestyle.

Our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing. He humbled himself and therefore God exalted him to the highest place of honor. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Honor is usually not the default setting, it doesn’t happen by accident. Honor has to be cultivated. Jesus does not just tell us to love those who are lovable and are doing good, but also to love and bless our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Scripture speaks much about honoring your parents, your spouse, your neighbor, your leaders, governing authorities, orphans and widows, and all people. It’s not so much about acknowledging them based on their positional authority or some noteworthy achievement, but more so valuing them for who they are, and all of us are made the image of God.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10). So how do we put this into practice? There are many ways to honor those around us, starting within our own families. From speaking well of your spouse all the time to giving your microchurch members a voice within the group, when we intentionally live out a vision to lift up and edify those around us we cultivate a culture of honor.

What does this look like within your microchurch?

Honoring your members

To honor others is to… choose to value them and make them feel important

To honor others is to… rejoice in their wins not their weaknesses

To honor others is to… listen and respond accordingly

To honor others is to… celebrate their accomplishments not their failures

To honor others is to… learn their love language and love them well

To honor others is to… consider others above yourself

To honor others is to… speak well of them

To honor others is to… let them have a say in decisions being made

To honor others is to… bless them and thank them

To honor others is to… serve others (maybe at a potluck) before serving yourself

From celebrating birthdays, treating your leaders to a meal, to allowing members to contribute with any ideas or suggestions, honoring others requires intentionality and we as microchurch leaders set the example.

Honoring your leaders

1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

A few ways to honor your leaders include speaking well of them and defending them against slander, praying for them regularly, submitting to their wise counsel and direction even when you disagree, and be attentive to ways that could potentially serve them. Creating a culture of honor has the potential to turn a negative environment or situation for the better because it releases people to celebrate each other and this needs to be modeled and protected. Ultimately when we honor others we are honoring the Lord.

Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.