Sermon Summary: NEXT, Part 8: Multicultural

It was a joy to worship one Sunday morning with a church in Uganda. There were no guitars or drums or keyboards, just 5-gallon buckets. The children played them and lifted up their voices a cappella. The result was stunning, absolutely beautiful.

Another time, I had the privilege of worshiping with some members of the Cree people in northern Canada. They sang in Cree, a powerful reminder of the gospel's ability to bridge cultures.

These experiences were foretastes of a coming glory—a glimpse of the “beautiful community” that reflects the unity and diversity of our Triune God. Each voice, each language contributing to the symphony of praise points us to an eschatological vision of heaven itself.

But as we pursue this vision of a multicultural church, we must make one thing clear: While our diversity takes many forms, our doctrine does not. We are unwavering in our commitment to the historic, orthodox Christian faith. Our unity is built upon the unchanging truth of the Gospel, and our diversity beautifully displays the scope of its reach.

The Beauty of God’s Multicultural Vision

Imagine the scene from Revelation 7:9-10:

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

It’s a scene of breathtaking diversity and perfect unity. Different languages, different faces, different stories—all singing one song of praise. But notice their unity is grounded in a shared confession of faith: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” This unity is not in shared backgrounds, ethnicity, culture, or preferences but in shared truth.

Ephesians 2:14-16 tells us that Christ “has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” to create “one new humanity.” Our call to be a multicultural church is not merely sociological or political; it is profoundly theological. It reflects the reconciliation and unity achieved by Christ, calling us to live out that unity today.

This vision of a multicultural church isn’t about worldly political correctness, globalist agendas, or borderless trade. It is about God’s design and desire—His glory reflected in a people redeemed from every tribe, tongue, and nation, unified under the Lordship of Christ. It is about embodying, here and now, a foretaste of the heavenly reality where a great multitude stands before the throne, worshiping the Lamb.

The Body of Christ

But what does it mean to be a multicultural church? While it includes ethnic diversity, the gospel calls us to something even greater. It is about embracing the full breadth of human diversity within the Kingdom of God—men and women, young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated, people from every background and walk of life.

All who come to Christ, by grace through faith, are made one in Him—one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Our unity is not found in sameness but in the shared identity of being made new in Christ, where all barriers are reconciled in Him (Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:14-16). For instance, Galatians 3:28 says,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

God’s vision isn’t about erasing our unique, God-appointed identities. It’s about celebrating God’s creativity in our differences while finding our ultimate identity in Christ. We don’t gather as a uniform people but as a united people—united by a shared faith in the historic, orthodox Christian gospel. Accordingly, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 reminds us:

"For just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ… For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Diversity within the body of Christ is not a liability or a flaw; it is a design feature, intended by God to display the beauty and complexity of His image in us. Each person's unique gifts, stories, and backgrounds contribute to the Church's health and mission.

Think of our musicians—our praise team, adult choir, student band, and kids’ choir. Their distinct voices and instruments come together, creating beautiful harmonies. These ensembles are a small portrait of God’s design for His Church.

Likewise, Ephesians 4:15-16 says:

"… we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

When every part of the body is contributing, when each voice is heard and valued, we become a fuller expression of Christ’s body on earth.

But let’s be clear: our unity is built upon a common confession of faith, not a compromise of it. As such, Jude 1:3 urges us to: "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." This strikes at the core of our shared identity.

Our God-ordained diversity glorifies God by reflecting the fullness of His image, but our shared confession keeps us rooted in truth. Our unity is in Christ and His Gospel.

The Blessings of Our Multicultural History

Our journey began as a community of Swedish immigrants. They gathered to worship God in their heart language because they knew the importance of worshiping in a way that spoke to their identity. But as the community around us changed, so did they. Our church transitioned from Swedish to English, expanding its reach and welcoming others.

Just as our forefathers adapted to their changing context, we are called to adapt to ours—a community that is beautifully diverse. This isn’t about losing our identity; it’s about expanding it to reflect the Kingdom of God more fully.

But while our methods and expressions may change, our message does not. We hold fast to the historic Christian faith—unchanging, authoritative, and sufficient. We don’t change the Gospel to reach people; we reach people by living out the Gospel’s unchanging truth in culturally relevant ways.

The Barriers to a Multicultural Church

Pursuing a multicultural church is beautiful, but it’s also challenging. It requires us to lay down our preferences and prioritize others. It means being open to new ways of worshiping and navigating cultural misunderstandings with humility and grace. With this in mind, Romans 15:7 calls us to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

Imagine a family dinner table. Different foods, different stories, different experiences—but one shared meal. That’s the vision of a multicultural church.

But let’s be clear: We don’t compromise our doctrine to make others feel comfortable. We invite all people to the same table, but the feast is the same—the unchanging Word of God, the same confession of faith. Our unity is in Christ and His Gospel.

Some Encouragements: Building Bridges Between Cultures

We are called to reflect the Kingdom of God more fully—every nation, every tribe, every tongue, and every kind of person. Just as our church’s founders adapted to their context, so must we.

But as we embrace a biblical vision for the multicultural Kingdom, we must do so with clear theological conviction: Our diversity takes many forms, but our doctrine on the essential truths of the faith does not. We hold to the historic, orthodox Christian faith and the true gospel—unchanging, authoritative, and sufficient.

Here’s how we can start:

Pray: Seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and power to pursue a fuller expression of God's multicultural vision for His Church, here and around the world.

Pursue and Promote Relationships: Invite someone from a different background to lunch or coffee.

Practice Hospitality: Open your home or meet at a restaurant and share a meal. Supper Clubs and our upcoming potlucks are great opportunities!

Participate in the Community: Participate in outreach initiatives that serve our local, multicultural community. The White Oak Community Clean-up Day is coming — on Saturday, April 26, 2025. We want a big First Free presence there! 

Prioritize Listening and Learning: Be willing to learn about different cultures, perspectives, and experiences.

Our Example: Emmanuel, God with Us

May God give us the courage, humility, and love to answer this call. May we be faithful in our generation, just as those before us were in theirs. And may our worship today be a foretaste of that heavenly reality where every nation, every tribe, and every tongue sings together before the throne of God.

Our diversity reflects the scope of the Gospel, and our doctrine reflects its truth.

Let’s Pray.