Recasting A Vision
35th Anniversary • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Where there is no vision, there is no hope.
George Washington Carver
For the past three years, we as a church have held onto the vision of to reach, to teach, to serve. It has served us well. I feel that it should continue as our vision for the next five years as we strive to make 40 years here at North Eunice. As most of you are aware, this vision is based on the great commission.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We see here Christ cast a vision for the church to follow. A blueprint on how to spread the gospel, reach the lost, build the church, and to instill hope into His followers. Saying we will continue with our vision is not enough. We must understand that our vision as a church needs to follow Christ’s commission for the church. It is a vision of action and requires something from the church.
Vision with action can change the world.
J.A. Baker
We must take action. A vision that does not shed light upon a path will lead everyone astray and nothing will be done. So for the next 5 years, I want us to look upon this vision as a call to action.
Let’s elaborate on this by starting with our first point of our vision:
1. We are a Christ-centered, Bible believing church.
Listen church, I do not want any confusion on this point, and I do not want any question about it in the eyes of those who look at this church. We are a church that believes that our Lord and Savior was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and on the third day rose again and is now alive in heaven. We believe that all who call upon him with their mouth and repent in their heart, they are saved.
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
We also believe that this bible is the infallible Word of God. Meaning we believe everything that is in this Word. We believe that every Word may have been written down by man but it came from the mouth of God.
He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
As a church, our vision must start with an understanding that Christ is Lord and his Word rings true or we do not have a vision at all.
2. We have a longing “to reach” the lost.
As a church that states it is Christ centered, we must have a heart like Christ for the lost.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
In the great commission, the first word is GO! We can not just open the doors of the church and expect people to come flowing in. I have a challenge for the church, let’s push to double in size by this time next year by reaching out to the lost. But pastor how? By inviting your one. What do I mean by that? There is one person you know and talk to that does not know Christ or only has a surface understanding of who Christ is. I want you to invite that person to church. I am not asking you to convert them to Christianity, the Holy Spirit will do that, I am asking you to invite. So right now, take out your pad of paper and write the name of that person. If you have your phone, put their picture on your home screen. Put it down somewhere so you continue to pray for an opportunity to speak to that person about Christ. In all honesty, it is not about filling seats, it is about the lost souls that will fill those seats.
3. We have a desire “to teach” the Word.
If we also believe that this bible is the infallible Word of God. If we believe everything that is in this Word. If we believe that every Word may have been written down by man but it came from the mouth of God. Then we must have a desire to read, study and teach this Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Vision is merely hope with a blueprint. This is our blueprint. We must have in place a way to teach those that we have reached the Word of God. That consist of Sunday morning services, Wednesday night bible study, prayer meetings, and small groups.
Me , Daniel and Clara love them bones. We really enjoy playing dominoes. I bring this up because to learn how to play dominoes, you have to play dominoes. You can be shown the basics but you must be in the game to really learn.
It is the same with the Word. The only way to teach the Word is if you are in the Word.
4. We have a heart “to serve” God’s Kingdom.
After we reach, after we teach, we must utilize our gifts to serve the kingdom of God. Now please be aware, you can not work your way into heaven. But, when you feel the grace and mercy Christ has shown you, you have a heart to do good works for His church.
For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.
Christ did not call us to be stagnant saints, he called us to be a serving bride.
5. We believe in God’s Kingdom purpose
We are not our own little NEC kingdom here. We are to focus on being part of God’s kingdom purpose. We can not stand out in arrogance against everyone who is not part of NEC. We are to be set apart from this world, not set apart from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Why do we belive this? It is because when Christ calls his bride home, it will not just be NEC people there.
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.