Vision Series Talk 2

Introduction

Last week we looked at where we have been. We looked at our past year and how we worked through our vision statement.

This week we are going to use our vision statement again to talk about the future, what we are doing and how you can join in.

“We are a Community of People who Exist to Encourage, Disciple and Train Each other In Christ”.

Community of People who Exist to Encourage, Disciple and Train Each other in Christ

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Provoke one another, do not neglect meeting together, encourage each other.

Does all this sound familiar, it should it is the heart of our mission statement. It is really important that as Talmadim of Christ that we meet together to build each other up.

Over the past decade there has been a shift in church culture. In the past it was considered normal to expect people to come to church, youth group, bible study, what ever it is on a weekly basis. Week in and week out it was based on sense of duty. You have to be there.

Nowdays Ministers are told to expect a committed person to come along to Church approx. 1 in 3 weeks, and this trend is heading towards 1 in 4. It is really tempting for me to lay the guilt trip on you all and make you feel bad about this and how meeting together is good for you etc.

We all know this. But life is exhausting isn’t it. We work more and more hours, we are expected to take our kids to more and more things; plus the million of other things on our lives. It is no different for our young people, now that they are getting jobs, sport, study, etc. get to the end of the week and we are knackered, and church is exhausting.

But the truth is that

On Friday’s we are going to take a different approach, we are trying to build a community that is enticing and recharging to come along to. That as the business in the week drowns us we look forward to Youth because it recharges the batteries, puts us back into contact with God. As such we are continuing our meals and WORSHIP: Your Way! this is because these are social times and even for the introverts (PUT HAND UP) amongst us they are good.

As we eat together and worship together we are encourging and building each other up. As we explore spiritual practices together and how they have impacted our lives we pour energy into each other and receive that love in return we are lifted; as the Holy Spirit moves amongst us we are refreshed.

The push for togetherness in scripture is not to say what am I getting out of it, if we do that it will never be enough because we close ourselves down to the Holy Spirit. But if we understand that the very act of rocking up for Worship, or Church, or the community meal I am making someone life better, encouraging them by telling them just by your mere presence that they are not alone, that as you belt out that song of praise you are reminding those around you of their God’s amazing work you are opening up yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit in your own life and he will recharge you as much as you are recharging others.

So one of our practices for Friday Nights is that there will be space to do that intentionally, be it the sharing of testimonies, opportunities to pray for each other, and other small things that encourage our young people in their faith.

(ADULT ONLY BIT)

I also want to invite all of you to join us. There is an hour and a half on Fridays that is open to the entire Church Community. It is the Hub Dinners and WORSHIP: Your Way! This time is designed to be for all ages, not just the kids. It is a time where as a community we can just hang out together, eat together and love on each other.

I want you to seriously consider coming along at 6 and sitting down with us for a meal. It costs $5 per person, or $20 for a family, we sit down and we eat together and just hang out. For my family and myself this is a highlight of our week, and I know that other families who come weekly are encouraged by this time.

Then at 7pm we have WORSHIP: Your Way! where we come over here to the chapel and have a mini worship service. The Youth are becoming increasingly involved in running that time and we welcome people of every age to that time because I think the things that effect our young people affect us as well.

This year each term is broken up into 2 parts. The first part will look at part of Matthews Gospel, the second part will explore a Spiritual Discipline. Your presence there will recharge our young people as they journey in their faith. @ 730 our young people have their programmed time and we go off and do our thing.

Final point I want to make is that what you make time for shapes your priorities. There is a risk

I want