Sermon Tone Analysis

Next Steps

We look only one direction for guidance

We seek only one for perspective

We go to only one for direction

We seek the face of only one

Only one King and Kingdom that we seek

When we do so - When we seek God - only then are we satisfied, only then are we made complete.

Only God takes dirt and makes it into a watered garden.

I am finally getting to plant some things in the garden and I am excited - but we all know what will happen if I don’t water the plants - they die.

This is the picture in Isa.

58 - a watered garden has these qualities: 1.

It stands tall 2. It Grows 3. It produces.

- if we are looking to God to guide our steps and lead us - we will see those in out lives as well.

Our next steps will lead us to one of two places.

Trusting God

Trusting Self

Trusting God - means that we walk before we know results

Trusting Self - means we live in fear, and are held captive by the “what if’s” instead of knowing “God can”

it boils down to faith over fear.

Now - it may sound like this is a doom and gloom message - IT IS NOT.

However, there is the need for some ground work.

A Couple of BAD Words.

CHANGE & NEW

Change - most people do not like change but the only thing constant in life is change.

We all change (do you look the same as you did at 10, 20,30?)

The Christian life is based on change - listen: Jesus CHANGES our life, God CHANGES out direction, Jesus CHANGES our destination (heaven / hell)

For some reason in this life though - if we hear the word change we freak right out!

Sometimes downright refusing to change the way things are done, the way we do things, and we build an attitude of stubbornness and we often even end up taking that same attitude towards God.

Spiritually Speaking - our entire life is based on Change.

We are made new to live new - New is not a bad thing.

Our life in Christ begins with a major change.

2 Cor 5:17

CHECK THIS OUT: -IS-

a current state of being at the same time as being a perpetual action.

He -is- in Christ, meaning will continue to be (old self passed away)

-IS- a NEW creation

the old struggles with the NEW.

It is also attempt to stop the growth of the new life.

We are looking forward to a NEW heaven and NEW earth - will we complain about that?

BUT IT WILL BE NEW

Mose was trying to lead people of israel in the direction God gave him - they complained the whole way - because it was new: new food, new direction, new ideas, new lodging, HE WAS TRYING TO GET THEM TO WHERE GOD WANTED THEM.

BUT EVERYTHING WAS CHANGING.

GOING a NEW DIRECTION

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING

Change & New are bad words in churches, organizations, and relationships because “new” brings uncertainty.

HOWEVER - when we feel uncertainty concerning new things, over new processes, over new ideas, over new directions - then we need to evaluate where our faith and trust falls.

Let me challenge us today - NEW IS NEW - ALL NEW IS NOT BAD - NEW IS OFTEN GOOD & NEEDED.

-a new car, a new stove, a new house…ALL CHANGE IS NOTE BAD - it is needed.

Process needs to change, the way it’s done, the way we think, the way we allow God to use us.

You know the type - “I am not doing it like that” - I been doing this for 55 years and I am not changing.

I don’t like new things - I am NOT changing.

- ok, then just like MOSE - we will keep moving forward and just let you have your pitty party (sorry that’s what it is) because we have a direction, a vision, and a plan to make an impact for Christ in our community and we cannot afford to nurse egos - so we need everyone, one every team, in every pew, rowing the gospel ship in the same direction to reach our goals, our vision, and our community for the Kingdom.

It is said that you find out what a church (or person) worships when you change things.

Vision Matters

Revelation = vision.

This does not mean a “new word” from God. we dare not add to the word of God nor take away from it.

We don’t take away - we don’t add.

We pray - we seek God’s direction - and we follow.

v18 - No Vision - meaning there is no instruction in God’s word, which (at this time) was given by the prophets through visions - Now it is given by God’s word, prayer, and communion with God.

Godly vision - leads to both the new, and to change- as we seek to do the best we can for His kingdom, and to take the gospel to the world.

Here is my promise to you - God will always be the spring or the well of living water - I will be the pump - I need all of us to come together to be the sprinklers for the kingdom - spreading the good news, keeping with the vision, headed the same direction.

ALLOW ME TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

OUR RESPONSE IS VITAL

Bridging the Cap between Rearview comfort and Forward Motion Ministry.

It’s okay to remember how things were - I do too!

It’s not okay to live there - and worship the old way of doing something.

We must grow past the comfort of the familiar to the sometimes painful areas of growth.

(even me)

Sometimes this means making sure the right people are on the teams and that they are passionate about where they serve.

Other times it means not allowing the wrong person access to the boat.

Some people will sink the ship just because they will never be captain.

It take time to build the right team - and when it is built, and functioning within the ministries - nothing can stop it.

BUT it is building.

Yesterday we had a great meeting with most of the serve team members and leaders and I want to tell you it is exciting to see many things coming together.

Maybe a few new ways of doing things maybe a change here and there - But all headed towards the same goal - The Kings Kingdom.

Using RISE, doing the work of the Lord together.

We Know God is at Work BUT we must also given mention that Satan is as well.

The moment we all come together in unity-Satan and his little demons get all up in arms - they will try to destroy the work and ways of Kingdom Living, Kingdom Life, Kingdom Principles, and Kingdom Service.

Don’t believe me - start serving in church and do it passionately.

Start praying with your family and do daily, Start standing for the gospel, start showing up every sunday for worship - watch satan and them little demons get all up in ya business.

If so - you look at them and the situation and just say:

Not today - I claim victory!

By the blood and in the name of Jesus!

I AIN’T HAVING IT!

I Want you to be here next week and please go ahead and bring some people with you - I am bringing the message reminding all of us that God can take the ordinary and make it Extraordinary - When God calls your name - your whole life changes.

CHALLENGES BEFORE US.

Every church, business, family - have challenges and we are not immune.

I want you to know that these things are not easy to talk about - but they need to be addressed - I want God’s best for us, so I’ll be uncomfortable for a few minutes.

I want to spearhead some of these things that have been looming over us for some years now, and I also want you to know that we have serve teams working on solutions right now.

Many have asked about attendance and why there are fewer people - national research has shown that churches dropped dramatically after the pandemic - people fell into one of three groups.

The Lazies (no longer feel the need to attend, but will come when they feel like it) loss of desire.

Loss of connection

The continual fear of illness - some still feel that the danger of illness is too great.

Sick or declining health.

Some of these we can help, others we cannot help.

What we can do is do our best to remain faithful to the calling of God on this church.

For what we can help- a ministry serve team will be evaluating ways to re-connect both members and the community to FBCP

2. Small Groups -yes, it is very important for you to get involved in a small group.

This is the community / building arm of our church.

We are looking at ways to offer more classes and even offering them of different nights of the week.