Who's In pt. II

Proverbs 29:18 ESV

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

A godly vision is imperative for God’s people.

Working together under a godly vision is how God advances His Kingdom on earth.

We're going to spend the next month or so talking about vision. What is a vision, how do we turn a vision into reality …? The vision I am proposing is that we become a church it helps people reach their potential in Christ: physically, spiritually, and emotionally - and what does all that mean? That’s the focus.

What is a vision?

“It is a future solution to a current problem. A vision is born from a dissatisfaction with the way things are. It’s not about something that could be done, but about something that should be done.” ~ Rich Weigel.

For example, we do not have a youth ministry. That is a current problem. Creating a future solution to that problem would be the vision.

In a variety of ways God reveals the vision - He reveals a need. Usually starts with a burden to make right something that’s wrong. But a vision in and of itself is not enough.

A vision must be put into practice by a community. A vision must have people who collaborate with God and with each other by employing their skills, strengths, and talents to accomplish the vision.

That’s called teamwork. For instance, God gave Moses a vision. Moses then gave that vision to Israel. Eventually, Moses did his part and then passed the vision onto Joshua. Joshua and Israel then worked together to accomplish the vision of conquering the Promised Land. A vision requires people working together.

Look at Ephesians 4 - bird’s eye view.

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Generally speaking, every follower of Jesus has been called - invited to participate with God in redeeming the world - advancing God’s Kingdom. To walk worthy of that invitation means submitting our skills, talents, strengths, gifts, our lives to the authority and direction of Christ. It means that we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1).

Romans 6:13 NIV

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

The word instrument references a tool that is used to repair other things. So God is saying, “I want you to offer your bodies to Me as an instrument so I can repair the world through you.” Have you done that?

We’re to offer our lives to God’s agenda, purposes, will …. How?

Ephesians 4:2–8 ESV

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

It's indisputable - Jesus gave gifts or graces to all His people - give empowerment to men, women, young and old. God has invited each of us to partner with Him.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have gifts and talents and skills that are essential for the advancement of God's Kingdom.

You have something to use for God’s glory. You have something that God wants to use to redeem the world. Do you know what He has given you?

Everyone has gifts and talents and skills, however Jesus selected some for specific offices within the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Raise your hands - how many of you personally know an apostle? How many of you know a prophet? How many of you know in evangelist who’s helping equip the Body? How many of you know a Bible teacher (we have a lot - but not at the local level)? How many of you know a pastor? How many of you know several pastors?

What’s the problem here? Jesus gave the Church a team (Dream Team) of people who have the responsibility to train and equip - but where’s the team? I don't know any apostles or prophets. This is part of the problem in the Church - we focus almost exclusively on pastors to lead when it's supposed to be a team equipping the Church. What does this mean?

1) This Team has the responsibility to lead and equip. The people have a responsibility to follow and be equipped.

It’s a two-way street, but we’ll talk more about that later.

2) Pastors are missing four other team members.

Since we rarely have this Team, this unduly puts a lot of pressure and expectation on pastors (this is not just about me or us, this is a nationwide problem - pastors in this country are dropping out. A lot are alone, no partners, hurt, tired of pushing and pulling congregations that don’t want to be pushed or pulled …). Met with a friend this week who abruptly resigned from many years in ministry because he was hurt and tire.

This team concept also tells me that people are not heeding the call of God. If God’s plan is for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers to equip, but all we have is predominantly pastors at the local level, there’s a problem there.

3) God does not stop calling people - people stop hearing God's call.

Remember,

A vision must have people who collaborate with God and with each other by employing their skills, strengths, and talents to accomplish the vision.

Let’s rephrase that a little bit. It’s redundant but necessary.

A successful and effective congregation will be led by a team who exercise their strengths, skills, and spiritual gifts for the unified purpose of influencing the congregation to accomplish the vision in order to build up the body of Christ.

Even Paul, when he wrote to Timothy and Titus said, “You are the overseers of the church, and you can’t do it alone. So select deacons, godly men who will assist you.” This is God’s design - a team of godly people leading the church.

Back to Ephesians.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Remember, this is just the bird’s eye view. Some closing thoughts.

You've been called.

Christ has called you first to Himself in relationship.

You've been called.

Christ has called you secondly to participate with Him in the redemption of this world.

Because you've been called,

Participation in ministry is not optional - what ministry looks like is.

Because you've been called,

Christ has equipped you through His Word and His Spirit.

Because you've been called,

You have something to offer.

Each one of you.

Where do we go from here? First, we’re forming a new leadership team or church board which will be elected in March at our 30th Annual Meeting and celebration. I need people who have a desire to help lead Sunnyside, who are talented in administration, problem solving, strategic thinking and planning, who are Kingdom minded, who are willing to put in some extra time and effort, and have a willingness to learn how to lead a church. Need to know by January.

Secondly, if you do not believe that you have something to offer or if you don't know what your strengths are, I want challenge you because it is a biblical truth that you have something to offer the Kingdom of God. I want to help you discover what your strengths are, and I can do that if you’ll let me. We just need to talk.

Lastly, everyone needs to pray for godly leadership of Sunnyside.

Next week, we’ll start talking about what the vision actually means. Hope to see you in Sunday school.