“Strengthen what Remains”

2025 annual theme

Vision Sunday Sermon Outline: "Strengthen What Remains"

Theme for 2025: Strengthen What Remains Text: Revelation 3:1-3 "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God."

Objective: Unite the church around the vision to grow spiritually, relationally, and numerically by strengthening our faith, foundation, and impact for the sake of fulfilling God’s mission.

Key Hooks:

"Strengthening what remains means realigning with what matters."

"Our future impact depends on how we strengthen our foundation today."

"What we strengthen today will flourish tomorrow."

"The greatest growth comes from our greatest challenges."

"We grow not for our sake but for God’s mission."

I. Strengthening What Remains Means Realigning with What Matters

Text: Revelation 3:1-2 "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die..."

Context: The church in Sardis had a reputation for life but lacked true spiritual vitality. Jesus’ command to "strengthen what remains" calls for realignment with His mission and purpose.

Application to Our Church:

Realignment to God’s Mission: As a church, we must recalibrate to focus on fulfilling the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Critical Mass Concept: Growing to 500 isn’t about the number; it’s about building the infrastructure to reach more people for Christ, fund Kingdom work, and sustain transformative ministry.

Hook: "Strengthening what remains means realigning with what matters." Illustration: Like a compass recalibrating to true north, our church must realign its focus to align with God’s mission. Action Step: Commit to a week of prayer and reflection: “Lord, where do I need to realign my priorities with Your purpose?”

II. Our Future Impact Depends on How We Strengthen Our Foundation Today

Text: Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Building for the Future:

A strong foundation—rooted in faith, unity, and mission—is essential for sustainable growth.

Why 500 Matters:

Enables life-changing ministries to grow and flourish.

Supports missions work like Africa Oasis.

Allows us to reach deeper into our community with the gospel.

Key Phrase: "Each number is a life, each life has a story, and each story matters to God." Hook: "Our future impact depends on how we strengthen our foundation today." Illustration: A tree’s ability to bear fruit depends on the strength of its roots. Similarly, our growth as a church depends on the strength of our spiritual foundation. Action Step: Commit to strengthening your foundation through personal discipleship, small groups, and serving others.

III. What We Strengthen Today Will Flourish Tomorrow

Text: Philippians 3:13-14 "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Focus on the Mission:

Critical Mass and the Mission of God: Growing to 500 enables us to partner with global missions like Africa Oasis to meet physical needs (digging a well) while sharing the gospel. This reflects our commitment to the Great Commission.

Tangible Goals: By strengthening what remains today, we can:

Send more missionaries.

Fund larger outreach efforts.

Disciple and equip more leaders.

Hook: "What we strengthen today will flourish tomorrow." Illustration: A farmer plants seeds today, knowing the harvest comes later. Similarly, our investment in 2025 will bear fruit for years to come. Action Step: Commit to contributing to the Africa Oasis project and inviting others to join this life-changing mission.

IV. The Greatest Growth Comes From Our Greatest Challenges

Text: Ephesians 4:16 "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Growth Requires Stretching:

Growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones.

Personal Challenge: Who is your “one”? Begin praying for and inviting someone to church this year.

Corporate Challenge: Commit to unity, generosity, and serving to strengthen our church’s capacity for growth.

Hook: "The greatest growth comes from our greatest challenges." Illustration: Like muscles grow through stretching, our church will grow when we embrace God-sized challenges. Action Step: Begin today by praying for one person you can invite and committing to an area where you can serve or give generously.

V. Vision for 2025: Strengthening What Remains

Text: Habakkuk 2:2 "Write the vision and make it plain..."

United Vision:

Strengthening our foundation: Growing deeper in faith and unity.

Expanding our reach: Growing numerically to increase our capacity for God’s mission.

Fulfilling our mission: Partnering with Africa Oasis to bring living water—physically and spiritually—to those in need.

Tangible Goals for 2025:

Double attendance from 250 to 500.

Increase small group participation by 50%.

Raise $20,000 for the Africa Oasis well project.

Timeline for the Year:

January: Launch prayer and fasting initiative.

Spring: Small group kickoff and leadership training.

Summer: Community outreach events and youth emphasis.

Fall: Africa Oasis missions rally.

Call to Action: Strengthen What Remains—Step Into the Vision

Imagine this: By the end of 2025, our church is not just a place where 500 people gather weekly—it’s a movement of people whose lives have been transformed, whose hearts are united, and whose faith is changing this community and beyond. Imagine families restored, relationships deepened, and communities impacted by the love of Christ—all because we chose to strengthen what remains today.

This is the vision God has given us. It’s bold, it’s ambitious, but with God’s power and our faithfulness, it’s possible. Today, the challenge isn’t just to hear the vision—it’s to own it.

To step into it with passion, purpose, and a willingness to ask, “What is my role in strengthening what remains?”

Three Specific Steps You Can Take Today:

Commit to Prayer: Every great move of God starts with prayer. Commit to praying daily for this vision: for our church, for your role, and for the lives God will transform through this mission.

Engage with the Mission: Find your place in the vision. Whether it’s serving in a ministry, joining a small group, or stepping into leadership, strengthening what remains requires every person doing their part.

Invite and Invest: Growth happens when we reach beyond ourselves. Commit to inviting one person to church and sharing the gospel with them. Partner with us to fund the Africa Oasis project.

Memorable Closing Statement:

"God isn’t asking us to wait for a better time or more resources. He’s calling us to act now—to strengthen what remains, to realign with what matters, and to step boldly into His vision for 2025. Let’s own this together, trusting that as we do, God will do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine."

Closing Prayer:

Lord, thank You for calling us to be part of Your mission. Today, we commit to strengthening what remains. Open our hearts to see the role You’ve prepared for each of us. Give us the faith to act, the passion to persevere, and the unity to move forward as one church. Use us to transform lives, our community, and the world for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.