Vision 2016

Today is often called around minister's circles "Vision Sunday" as preachers are trying to freshen their vision, plan and purpose for their church. I probably won't go into as much detail as most of them, but If there was ever a verse in the Bible that showed God's vision for the church in a concise and simple way I would say it would have to be Acts 16:5, lets turn there and look at what that says.

I think in recent years, one of the greatest examples of following their vision and dream would be that of Steve Jobs. He had a plan to put a computer in the hands of every person, that vision has practically been fulfilled. He created something that I really wouldn't say is necessarily better but he created something he believed in and brought about a following.

Jobs said in one interview, "If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed, The vision pulls you." -Steve Jobs.

I want to ask us this morning, do we have a vision? Maybe we need to ask the real question, explore the elephant in the room, what is vision?

So what is vision

vi·sion

ˈviZHən/

noun

the faculty or state of being able to see.

"she had defective vision"

synonyms: eyesight, sight, observation, (visual) perception; More

the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. "the organization had lost its vision and direction"

"his speech lacked vision"synonyms:imagination, creativity, inventiveness, innovation, inspiration,intuition, perception, insight, foresight, prescience

a mental image of what the future will or could be like. plural noun: visions "a vision of retirement" the images seen on a television screen.

From <https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=what%20is%20a%20vision>

Now I want us to notice that this verse is not Paul or Peter's or any other disciple or Apostle's vision, but rather seems to be God's plan and purpose for the church.

Listen to this verse again

Acts 16:5 (KJV)

5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

They were established in the faith - they had great discipleship and assimilation

They increased in number daily - they were great at witnessing and evangelizing.

Last year the board got together through much prayer and thinking we felt compelled to have a vision statement and agreed upon,

"Vision Statement : To reach our community and expand the Kingdom of God."

I trust we have not been pushing that, been letting it pull us in as something we enjoy and are excited about.

When I look at what God gave as his purpose and vision of the church, albeit a simplified version, I want us to notice about three things quickly about this vision that I hope we can in the coming year, emulate and copy in our living and worship.

A Church on Fire

People Primed & Pumped before Coming To Church - They used to tell about a couple of ladies up in North MO who were married to men who were not open to God or holiness. Sis. Penn often faced as the story was told to me, a husband who would burn her dresses so she wouldn't have anything to wear to church, she would scrimp and save, and finally come up with enough to make a new dress and sneak off to church, where she would shout and have a Hallelujah time -

Another lady hated to be late her husband would often hold her until church had started and then let her go, she would often go shouting into church. - Now we have a bad week or a bad day - they had severe persecution - they came to church shouting - we have to be pumped and primed to get going.

Pastoral Priming and pumping should not be the norm -

Priming in church should not be the norm - The Person who leads song-service is often the most ready to testify - Why don't we come with a testimony?

Passionate and Excited About Your Church - A Genuine Enthusiasm (Biblical Reasons for Excitement in Church)

A Church on Purpose

Intentional Christian Living and actions

Passionate desire to please and glorify God

A Church With Vision

A People with a proper view of who they are

A People with a proper view of the brokenness of fallen humanity

A People with a proper view of who God is and what His Grace can do

I pray that in this coming year it can also be said of each one of us - that there is a church that is established in the faith - that is increasing in numbers. I think this is definitely a standard vision we can dream of an let it pull us along. I'm not concerned about every person having a computer in their hands, but I am concerned about every person having Christ in their heart - let that pull me along.