THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR CHURCH’S VISION

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18

Every church should do this before the first of the year starts, and that is to look at where they are, and which way they are heading. Are they truly doing God’s work, or are they just playing church.

Every church should have a Vision, a Goal, a Plan for the Future. Without out a plan the church will fail. A college professor once told me. “If you shoot at nothing, you will hit it every time.

When a person goes into business the first step is to write a business plan.

1. The name of the business.

2. The type of business.

3. The purpose of the business.

4. Financials of the business.

5. A five to ten year estimated projections for the business.

6. Location for the business.

7. Licensing for the business.

8. competition for the business.

9. Suppliers for the business.

10. Insurance for the business.

You have to do the same thing for the church, and it has to be updated from time to time. If you fail to plan, your heading for disaster.

Jesus gives us a Parable about a failure to plan

Matthew 7:24–27 KJV 1900

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

A CHURCH WITHOUT A GOOD FOUNDATION, WILL FALL DOWN IN THE STORM.

: 23-

Matthew 7:23–27 KJV 1900

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

A. Things that will keep the church strong.

Matthew 16:18–19 KJV 1900

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16

Jesus Christ

He is the foundation of this church.

A good place to start,

He is the Glory of Heaven,

He will never be:

Beaten again,

On the cross again,

Buried again.

Jesus is the only Blood Sacrifice for us.

He is God’s beloved.

He is our only hope.

HE OWNS THE CHURCH!

Grace

Grace took me as I was:

A dirty,

Rotten,

Good for nothing,

Sinner.

Grace is not something I deserve.

I ought to go to Hell.

That’s what I deserve.

But Jesus stepped in for me.

The unmerited favor of God.

(THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO EARN IT!)

e. Grace is why we are not in Hell right now.

3. Eternal Security

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:

You say, “I believe you have todo good things to keep it.”

You didn’t do anything to get it.

You can’t do anything to keep it.

John 10:28–30 KJV 1900

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.

John 10:

When God saved you He gave it to you FOREVER!

4. The Holy Spirit

You can’t get saved without the Holy Spirit!

Matthew 3:11 KJV 1900

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Matthew

He convicted you,

He drew you. (No man seeks after God),

He placed seed in you,

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1 Peter

There was a regeneration,

Titus 3:5 KJV 1900

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus

He baptized you into Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13

Galatians 3:27 KJV 1900

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:27

He sealed you.

Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

If you do something to lose it, He would have to:

Unconvict you,

Undraw you,

Unseed you,

unregenerate you,

Unbaptize you,

Unseal you,

Unborn you.

This would be an absuridity

5. Forgiveness

Remember when God forgave you?

We sometimes forget this when it comes to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let me give you the formula for a good church.

Love each other,

Forgive each other.

By the way this will work in your marriage.

Quit holding the past against your church family.

Nobody is perfect in this room.

We expect God to forgive us when we ask.

How dare you not forgive others

6. PecullarPeople

When you got saved, even though you are not perfect, there has been change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Here are a few things that ought to describe you since you got Born Again.

Different

Loves God

Love of Jesus Christ

Love of the Church

Love of each other

Become a Prayer Warrior

Pray for the Church,

It’s Ministries,

It’s Growth,

It’s Finances,

It’s Members

Pray for one another,

Pray for our Sick,

Pray for the Pastor,

Pray for yourselves

Forgivness,

Family.

Lost and Dying.

7. Become a Tither

You say, Here it comes

The preacher is going to talk about money,

I say to y’all, YES I AM.

A Church has to receive funds in order to run.

Rent 550.00

Copier payment of 120.00

Phone and Internet 85.00

Electric Bill 75.00

We have other miscellaneous bills we acquire.

There’s no one at Friendship Baptist Church that receives a salary.

Being a Good Stewardship is the responsibility of every member of Friendship Baptist Church.

You say, Well how much do I need to give?

I say whatever you can joyfully give.

You say, what do you mean by that?

Giving to God Should be JOYFUL

Should be JOYFUL

hould be JOYFUL

God, nor this Church wants your money if your regret giving it.

You what receive a blessing from God for giving, you regret giving it to Him.

You say, you can’t give to the church because you have to pay your bills

o pay your bills

I get it. I understand.

But, how are you going to explain to God that you have to pay bills and yet your out buying;

Beer

Ciggeretts

What you spend your money on is between you and God, It’s no of my business.

When you eat out what do you tip the waiter? 5%, 10%?

Where’s God’s Tip, I believe He has done a lot more then a waiter filling your drink 10 times.

Proverbs 29:18 KJV 1900

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs

You say, I can’t do it, there is no way!

Philippians 4:13 KJV 1900

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

B. MEMBERS WE NEED TO SET SOME PRIORITIES FOR THIS UP AND COMING YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THIS CHURCH?

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THIS PASTOR?

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST?

WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST?

WHAT MINISTRIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ADD?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO ATTEND MIDWEEK SERVICES?

IF SO, WHAT NIGHT WOULD MIDWEEK SERVICES BE BETTER FOR YOU?

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY (Circle One)

WHAT TIME WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU?

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN A SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP IN A VISITATION PROGRAM?

WHAT DAY AND TIME WOULD WORK BEST?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SUPPORT MISSION PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR TITHES?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO TAKE TEACHING CLASSES TO FILL IN WHEN NEEDED?

WHAT ACTIVITIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SERVE ON A PLANNING COMMITTEE?

(Women Only) WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A WOMEN’S STUDY GROUP?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SIGN UP FOR A ROTATING CHURCH CLEAN UP LIST?

DO YOU LIKE THE KARAOKE NIGHTS?

HOW OFTEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THEM?

WOULD YOU BE INTEREST IN TAKING COLLEGE BIBLE CLASSES FROM DANIELTOWN BIBLE INSTITUTE (BRO. CRIAG LOVELACE COLLEGE)?

1 Corthi