Vision Sunday 2024

Follow Along with the Message

Mark 8:34–38 (NIV)- Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Luke 5:1–11 (NIV)- One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the
word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of
fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Our Five Points:

1. Our

Is to do whatever it takes to help all people have a  relationship with Jesus.

"The church is to be rooted in scripture and active in mission."- N. T. Wright

2. Our

 with Jesus.

John 15:1–8 NLT- “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”

 like Jesus.

Luke 6:39–40 NLT- “Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”

 what Jesus did.

John 14:12 (NIV)- Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

3. Our  - a set of values that we live by.

1. We care about spiritual rhythms.

Mark 1:35 (NIV)- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

2. We care about relationships.

John 13:34 (NIV)- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

3. We care about choosing joy.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)- May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. We care about our city and the nations.

Acts 1:8 (NIV)- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

4. Our

• Prayer - we pray first and often
• Sabbath - we stop and enjoy God in our rest.
• Scripture - we grow to know God in our Bible reading.
• Solitude - we slow down and enter into spaces of quietness.
• Fasting - we center our longings and desires on God.
• Generosity - we give our money, time, and talents to give God glory.
• Community - we flourish in relationships and small groups.
• Service - we serve locally and globally.
• Witness - we share what God has done.
• Hospitality - we invite people to share a meal around a table.
• Unity - we work through the tough stuff.

1 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV)- Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

5. Our

Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)- Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

As we think about resiliency for our church. We must develop a deep root system in the historic Christian faith, understand our cultural context and be able to adapt resourcefully and creatively to new circumstances, challenges, and opportunities that serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our church will someday be passed off to another generation, and that generation must also be deeply rooted in Jesus.

Matthew 22:37 (NIV)- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Isaiah 5:20 (NIV)- Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Practical Steps:

1. Start small.
2. Be slow.
3. Give grace.