Sermon
8-16-15 Proverbs 29:18-23 vision
18 Where there is no
vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
19 A servant will not be
corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
20 Seest thou a man that
is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
21 He that delicately
bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the
length. 22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a
furious man aboundeth in transgression. 23 A
man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
What
is the vision of WCC
Why
is this discussion important? With no vision, people perish. They
die on the vine.
If
the trumpet would not give a clear call, what would the army know what to do
if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare
himself to the battle? 1 cor 14:8
Bill Hybels – vision leaks
Our mission statement is connecting
people to jesus Christ
Have
them say it with you.
Everyone
should know it or learn it
I
love it because it does two things………
Points
to jesus
Word
connecting is intentionally vague. It recognizes that people come to
Christ in various ways
Consequently,
we are going to be a diverse church. Lots of different kinds of
people.
Republicans,
democrats …………. Etc
This
is what th e kingdom looks like.
Three kinds of churches
Cruise
ships, battle ships and aircraft carriers
The
life saving station
On a rocky seacoast , where shipwrecks were frequent there was
once a ramshackle little life-saving station. It was no more than a hut and
there was only one boat, but the few people who manned the station were a
devoted lot who kept constant watch over the sea and, with little regard for
themselves and their safety, went fearlessly out in a storm if they had any
evidence that there had been a shipwreck somewhere. Many lives were thus saved
and the station became famous.
As
the fame of the station grew, so did the desire of people in the neighbourhood
to become associated with its excellent work. They generously offered of their
time and money so new members were enrolled, new boats bought and new crews
trained. The hut too was replaced by a comfortable building which could
adequately handle the reeds of those who had been saved from the sea and, of
course, since shipwrecks do not occur every day, it became a popular gathering
place-a sort of local club.
As
time passed the members became so engaged in socializing that they had little
interest in life-saving, though they duly sported the life-saving motto on the
badges they wore. As a matter of fact, when some people were actually rescued
from the sea, it was always such a nuisance because they were dirty and sick
and soiled the carpeting and the furniture.
Soon
the social activities of the club became so numerous and the life-saving
activities so few that there was a showdown at a club meeting with some members
insisting that they return to their original purpose and activity. A vote was
taken and these troublemakers, who proved to be a small minority, were invited
to leave the club and start another.
Which
is precisely what they did-a little further down the coast, with such
selflessness and daring that, after a while, their heroism made them famous.
Whereupon their membership was enlarged, their hut was reconstructed.. and
their idealism - smothered. If you happen to visit that area today you will
find a number of exclusive clubs dotting the shoreline,. Each one of them is
justifiably proud of its origin and its tradition. Shipwrecks still occur in
those parts, but nobody seems to care much
http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2015/07/the-church-isnt-a-cruise-ship-its-an-aircraft-carrier.html
we
must constantly fight the temptation to make it about me – cruis e ship.
We
must never beat people up – battle ship
We
must actively work to remain outward focused……… aircraft carrier
From the book – the barefoot church
primer
Pg
154
Paradigm shift
Old
way
healthy way
Pastors
serve the
congregation
pastors equip the congregation to serve
People
learn about
Jesus
people learn to live on mission for Jesus
Pastors
providing services, programs and
events
pastors exposing need and people engaging the need
Pastors
trying to motivate people to grow
spiritually
people taking initiative for their own personal growth
Our values
Joy
authenticity and excellence.
Joy = kindness.
Positive. Constructive. Playing well with others
Even
in times of stress and change……..
Authenticity = be who you are.
No
pretending. What was jesus like?
Honest.
You
are expected to think. No easy answers.
A
faith that is not satisfied with going thru the motions……… ask the hard
questions……….. real change
Excellence……. It’s the most
difficult
Excellence
does not mean perfection but………..
Constantly
working on how to make things better.
That
is painful.
Because
we must address difficulty
If
you don’t, trouble is on the horizon
You
lose good people
Conversely,
great people want to be a part of something that is exceptional
And
so we spend a good deal of time
Applying
our resources to whatever is the challenge of the moment.
Rick
warren on vision………..
Very little of
Saddleback’s ministry was preplanned. I didn’t have any long-range strategy
before I started the church. I simply knew God had called me to plant a new
church built on the five New Testament purposes, and I had a bag of ideas I
wanted to try out. Each innovation we’ve developed was just a response to the
circumstances in which we found ourselves. I didn’t plan them in advance. Most
people think of “vision” as the ability to see the future. But in today’s
rapidly changing world, vision is also the ability to accurately assess current
changes and take advantage of them. Vision is being alert to opportunities.
We
have tried to stay focused
We
have tried to remove barriers to growth
We
have tried to apply our abilities, gifts and resources to the needs at hand
And
so the game of vision is hard to paint into a picture of a 3 year 5 year, 7
year plan
Results of all of this……….
I
have painfully enjoyed the chaos that takes place in a church when people hear
Gods call and act to live it out in their lives…….
The
pain of change…….i hear about it
I
know it………..
But
we have a choice, either fight to keep it the same, and die, or allow the
spirit to lead us.
Lead
us out of Egypt, into the wilderness
Out
of our comfort zone, to a land that he will show to us.
David
hyatt and the church near st Louis that wanted to win young people
The
results of all of this is A church that has grown……
outside
of our comfort
welcoming
many more over the years – on a mission for god
A
church that deploys people in mission
Close………
I
invite you to understand what we are trying to do
I
invite you to join me in a fight against what comes naturally to us, which is
to make it bout our comfort..
I
invite you to join me in connecting people to jesus Christ
In
fulfilling our potential to do that in every way that we can.
Without a vision the
people perish, but when we let go of our preference and follow the holy spriti,
god can do great things.
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