Vision Sunday – Chapter 2025
A summary of what we have been preparing for 2025 and a prophetic word of what we expect to see God do in our church.
Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.—Proverbs 16:9 TPT
What Kind Of Church Are We Personally? – Proverbs 2
LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART.
DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES
HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH
DO NOT DESPISE THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE
SEARCH DILIGENTLY FOR WISDOM AND FIND IT
DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT
DO NOT PLOT HARM AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR
DO NOT ENVY A VIOLENT MAN OR CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; they will grow like a cedar
of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the
courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay
fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock…”—PSALM 92:12-15
The righteous flourish. We will be growing spiritually and walking in strong faith.
Grow, Thrive, Prosper, Increase.
THE TRUE STATE OF PLAY
You have needs in your life and no one to meet them.
You have hurts to share and no one to listen to them.
You have love to give and no one to receive it.
We should be flourishing, but we can also be spiritually dry.
We should be thriving, but our hurt has us emotionally withering.
We should feel connected, but this world has us relationally barren.
We ought to be prospering, but we are constantly financially stressed.
We should be fulfilled, but we constantly search for something that matters.
PALMS & CEDARS
CEDAR: Durable—(Solomon) Beams, columns, roof—Centuries)
Attractive, Pleasant aroma.
PALM branch—Symbol Triumph and Victory.
Romans awarded Olympic champions: Palm Branches.
Jesus entered Jerusalem—Triumphal entry—Palm Branches.
They are both Evergreens: Thriving—Producing life year-round—Flourishing.
COLLECTIVE VALUES OF THE EVERGREENS
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
The values that are yours ARE the collective values of the local church.
A great piece of music is more than just the sum of the individual notes. •
In the context of organizational behavior, synergy is the ability of a group to outperform even its best individual members.
A man and a woman, both flawed, frail human beings, fall in love and get married. And the marriage is far greater than the sum of the two individuals: they encourage each other; they support each other; they overcome each other’s weaknesses, and they may produce and nurture children. As a result, they accomplish far more than they ever could have accomplished individually.
We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone. Resist revenge, and make sure that no one pays back evil in place of evil but always pursue doing what is beautiful to one another and to all the unbelievers. Let joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.—1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 TPT
VALUE-DRIVEN CHURCH
…To become a church that builds the values of its members to become valuable to the community it serves.
…To become a church where our individual Proverbs 2 values are exploded in the collective.
Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them. Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.—Acts 2:42-47 TPT
BECOMING A VALUE DRIVEN CHURCH…
A church that loves the Word.
A church whose members seek unity and peace above opinion and agenda.
A church whose members enjoy each others company and pray together both privately and corporately.
A church that is reverend and focused on pleasing God.
A church that is not just in the city but is for the city.
…That are an irrationally generous bunch of people.
…That want to praise and worship God together.
Joyful, happy, fun-loving, purpose-embracing seed throwers and firestarters, young and old. Joining together with anyone who is keen to learn and tell the story of Jesus.
YOUR LIFE IS A SEED
A seed can only grow if it’s planted. (Matt 13)
Those who are planted in the house will flourish!
“Going to church” isn’t the same as being planted.
Going vs. Planted
When the going gets tough, those going stop going.
WHEN YOU ARE PLANTED
- Your roots grow deep.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or long months of drought…—JEREMIAH 17:8a
- Your roots produce fruit.
…With roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.—JEREMIAH 17:8b
IF YOU CALL THIS YOUR CHURCH…
Read God’s Word!
Serve in church!
Join a Group!
Start tithing!
Pray daily!
OUR MISSION STATEMENT?
It has been given to us already.
YOUR VALUES – PROVERBS 2
OUR VALUES – ACTS 2
We Will Be Intensely Devoted Disciples of Jesus
We Will Lead The Way With Irrational Generosity
We will unapologetically share the love of Jesus.
The Church does not exist for us – we are the church, and we exist for the world.
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