Transformation

Speak of last prayer meeting.

We want to begin this process, where we want to remain throughout; Abiding in Christ.

We asked God specifically to allow us to Abide in Christ through three C’s.

Abide in Christ through commitment to our faith and prayer.

Abide in Christ through community at church.

And Abide in Christ through commission. Remembering that we are co-laborers with Jesus on his mission to seek and save the lost by reclaiming creation and making disciples of all nations. Remembering that he is with us always.

Father allow our hearts to abide.

Seeing Our Area Through God’s Eyes

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Shema meaning

What Jesus said about it

This is for us, but we often fail to follow it, as the Israelites did. But there is grace in Jesus!

He offers us so much more in faith

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

What do we not see that faith will allow us to see?

What does our area look like through God’s eyes?

Where can he take people through our faith?

When I ask those questions, the word he consistently puts before me is Transformation.

Just as he commanded long ago through Moses to the Israelites, we are to love the Lord with our entire being. And when we do, our hearts will be transformed, the way we interact with our households will be transformed, and the way we interact with our communities will be transformed. When God’s love convicted me and broke down the walls around my heart allowing me to experience Jesus as a beautiful savior, this is exactly what he did. He transformed my dead heart to life. Now through my faith, through my desire to remember him and return to him, he continually transforms my marriage, my parenting. And he continually transforms how we love and serve our community. God is a God of transformation. And we want to plant a church that reflects that. A church that moves people toward transformation.

A people pointing to Jesus through transformed hearts, transformed households, and transformed communities.

Transformation leads to:

INVITATION - Reach the lost.

CULTIVATION - Train Disciples.

DEMONSTRATION - Model the Gospel.

ACTIVATION - Serve on Mission.

& CELEBRATION!

Lord Jesus we call on you to send your Spirit to this place and do the transformative work that only you can do.

Would you help us to establish a church that moves people toward transformation by reaching out to the lost in our area?

Would you help us to establish a church that moves people toward transformation by training disciples for the work of ministry in our area?

Would you help us to establish a church that moves people toward transformation by modeling the gospel of grace with our lives in our area?

Would you help us to establish a church that moves people toward transformation by continually serving on your mission in our area?

Some other things you can do:

Fast until sundown one day each week, or as long as you are able. You can fast from food, devices, or your choice! If possible pick a day to do this in community. Spend the time you would normally eat, check your phone or watch tv in intentional prayer.

Find quiet time each day to be with God. This can be as simple as sitting quietly and listening, praying these prayers, or reading his Word.

Enjoy a Sabbath day. Intentionally STOP, REST, DELIGHT, and WORSHIP the Lord your God preferably with community.

Schedule time in prayer. Try the 8-2-8 method of prayer. 8am, 2pm, 8pm…or whatever works best for you. But prioritize these times on your calendar, or you will neglect this call!