"Building Tomorrow's Future Today"

Scripture is filled with realistic stories and lessons.

The Bible is filled with realistic stories, not just the ideal life. In fact, this is one of the reasons we can have confidence in Scripture, especially the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Big Idea Today:The future belongs to those who persevere.

This is a rare quality. Many of us, organizations included, stop when things get a little tough. If I am honest, this is probably been true of me in the past. Lord willing, not true of me in the future.

Things always start with enthusiasm.

Many times we look at what we cannot do instead of seeing what we can do. One is deficit thinking, which can lead to feeling powerless. The other is asset based and is empowering.

Fear will creep in.

We must be ready for this and also remember the words throughout all of Scripture, “Do not be afraid.” NIVThere is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.The remedy for fear is greater love. The remedy for fear is looking at our Lord and Savior. We sang this morning about what we believeThis is almost a certainty.

Our Why must be bigger than ourselves.

We must be prepared for adversity.

Our future work will demand sacrifice.

If we believe God has called us to this work we must rely He will complete the work.

The saying of Medieval Monks: “Pray and work”.

The quote by John Bunyan: the believer ‘that is resolved for Heaven, if Satan cannot win him by flatteries, he will endeavour to weaken him by discouragements.’ and again Our future work will demand sacrifice.h to Heaven but he must go by the Cross; the Cross is the standing way-mark, by which all they that go to Glory must pass by.’Brown, R. (1998). The Message of Nehemiah: God’s Servant in a Time of Change. (J. A. Motyer & D. Tidball, Eds.) (p. 82). England: Inter-Varsity Press.​We must be a praying church. But we must also be a doing church.