First Notes: A Preview of Vision Sunday
Dear First Baptist Family,
I'm so glad to be back after a few weeks in Croatia and Germany with our mission partners. God is up to some really good things around the world — offering hope, helping people have what they need, drawing people to Christ — and we get to be a part of it in our little corner of the world.
But where are we going together as a church?
I've been praying for God's direction for our fellowship and speaking with a lot of leaders about their hopes and dreams for our church. I've also been searching the scriptures for what our church is called to be in a time like this.
This Sunday is “Vision Sunday.” During my sermon time I will be sharing some thoughts on where I believe we need to be going as a church, but also inviting you to offer some prayerful feedback about our future.
Here’s a preview of some of what I plan to share.
Our Mission: We Help People Find and Follow Jesus
Jesus is the center of our fellowship and the only One worthy of our best effort and praise. We want as many people as possible to come to know him as Savior and follow him as Lord.
For many years, we have talked about how we are “in the center of the city with the Savior.” That is certainly true. But it doesn’t tell us about what we are called to do together in the center of the city. At a time when so many people are stepping away from church life, we can't take for granted that people will come to us to the center of the city to meet Jesus.
Instead, our mission needs to be an active engagement with people throughout our city as well as a welcoming presence downtown.
Our Horizon: Stretching Out
One scripture that has been meaningful to me in recent weeks is Isaiah 54:2 (NIV): “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
By “the place of our tent,” I take that in a metaphorical sense to represent our people. What is the state of our current congregation and what are the “curtains” we have closed to limit what God can do through us? The cords represent the way that we reach out, while the stakes could be taken to mean our core beliefs and teaching.
I believe that God is calling us to expand the circle while making sure we disciple and love those who are already here.
Our Expectation: God’s Abundance
Another verse that has been very important to me in the last year is Ephesians 3:20 (NLT): “…all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Whatever we dream we can accomplish as a church, God always dreams bigger. God is the one who supplies the power. God is the one who gets the glory.
This Sunday and in the coming weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to weigh on what dreams God has prayerfully placed on your heart for our church. You'll be invited to “ask” and “think” in a big way.
We need a God-sized vision that can only be accomplished with God’s help. But we want it to be the right vision, one based on God’s agenda, not our own.
Please pray in advance for Sunday. I hope you will be present if you are able. I believe it’s going to be a great day, and I want you to be a part of it.
With love,
Pastor Brent McDougal
I'm so glad to be back after a few weeks in Croatia and Germany with our mission partners. God is up to some really good things around the world — offering hope, helping people have what they need, drawing people to Christ — and we get to be a part of it in our little corner of the world.
But where are we going together as a church?
I've been praying for God's direction for our fellowship and speaking with a lot of leaders about their hopes and dreams for our church. I've also been searching the scriptures for what our church is called to be in a time like this.
This Sunday is “Vision Sunday.” During my sermon time I will be sharing some thoughts on where I believe we need to be going as a church, but also inviting you to offer some prayerful feedback about our future.
Here’s a preview of some of what I plan to share.
Our Mission: We Help People Find and Follow Jesus
Jesus is the center of our fellowship and the only One worthy of our best effort and praise. We want as many people as possible to come to know him as Savior and follow him as Lord.
For many years, we have talked about how we are “in the center of the city with the Savior.” That is certainly true. But it doesn’t tell us about what we are called to do together in the center of the city. At a time when so many people are stepping away from church life, we can't take for granted that people will come to us to the center of the city to meet Jesus.
Instead, our mission needs to be an active engagement with people throughout our city as well as a welcoming presence downtown.
Our Horizon: Stretching Out
One scripture that has been meaningful to me in recent weeks is Isaiah 54:2 (NIV): “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.”
By “the place of our tent,” I take that in a metaphorical sense to represent our people. What is the state of our current congregation and what are the “curtains” we have closed to limit what God can do through us? The cords represent the way that we reach out, while the stakes could be taken to mean our core beliefs and teaching.
I believe that God is calling us to expand the circle while making sure we disciple and love those who are already here.
Our Expectation: God’s Abundance
Another verse that has been very important to me in the last year is Ephesians 3:20 (NLT): “…all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Whatever we dream we can accomplish as a church, God always dreams bigger. God is the one who supplies the power. God is the one who gets the glory.
This Sunday and in the coming weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to weigh on what dreams God has prayerfully placed on your heart for our church. You'll be invited to “ask” and “think” in a big way.
We need a God-sized vision that can only be accomplished with God’s help. But we want it to be the right vision, one based on God’s agenda, not our own.
Please pray in advance for Sunday. I hope you will be present if you are able. I believe it’s going to be a great day, and I want you to be a part of it.
With love,
Pastor Brent McDougal
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