Christ's Mission & Vision
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Turn to and read Luke 2:8-16. Pray.
Christ’s Mission
Christ’s Mission
Why did Christ come to this earth? What was His purpose?
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Christ’s Vision
Christ’s Vision
Did Christ have a vision? How was He going to fulfill His purpose? What was the driving force behind His purpose?
His vision can be described in one word: Love.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
How did Christ put all of that together?
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
While the world has conveniently forgotten; at Christmas we celebrate the fulfillment of Christ’s mission and vision just as we read in Luke chapter 2!
What about us, as a church? Do we have a mission? Do we have a vision?
I can answer both of those questions in the affirmative. However, do you know the mission of South Charlotte Baptist Church? Do you know the vision of South Charlotte Baptist Church? (For those who may be wondering about the difference between a mission and a vision, I’ll explain it this way: the mission is the “what;” the vision is the “how.”)
The Mission of South Charlotte Baptist Church
The Mission of South Charlotte Baptist Church
Proclaiming the Gospel; Experiencing the miracle of changed lives!
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Proclaiming the Gospel
Proclaiming the Gospel
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Lives
Experiencing the Miracle of Changed Lives
Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T'was blind but now I see
The mission of South Charlotte Baptist Church? Proclaiming the Gospel; Experiencing the miracle of changed lives!
The Vision of South Charlotte Baptist Church
The Vision of South Charlotte Baptist Church
Loving God by Loving Others
Loving God by Loving Others
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
How will we fulfill our mission and our vision? How, specifically, will we put our mission and vision into practice?
Allow me to introduce...
The “Welcome Team”
The “Welcome Team”
Why is a “Welcome Team” ministry necessary?
Before I give you specific answers to that question, I would like us to read an account of one of the first “welcome team” ministries.
Turn to and read Acts 9:26-27.
The church in Jerusalem did not have a “Welcome Team.” In fact, they were quite “unwelcoming.” One can only imagine how disappointed and discouraged Saul must have been after being given the cold shoulder upon his first visit to the church in Jerusalem. I wonder what kind of Google review Saul would have left had he had the opportunity? But one individual - Barnabas - stepped up to “welcome” Saul into the church in Jerusalem. Notice what happened…(Read Acts 9:28-31.) Saul got busy serving the Lord and was used by God in an amazing way. I wonder what would have happened had Barnabas not “welcome” Saul?
Why is a “Welcome Team” ministry necessary?
It allows us to fulfill our mission.
It allows us to fulfill our mission.
How can we ever proclaim the Gospel to an individual if we never have contact with them? If they never come under the influence of the ministries of South Charlotte Baptist Church?
Here is the reality: what takes place in the first ten minutes when a first-time guest arrives at your church will largely determine whether he or she returns.
How can we ever hope to experience the miracle of changed lives if we never develop a relationship with individuals? If we never have contact with individuals, we can never hope to share the Gospel with them. If individuals never come under the influence of the ministries of South Charlotte Baptist Church then we can never hope to ever see lives changed.
It allows us to fulfill our vision.
It allows us to fulfill our vision.
People in our city are hurting and looking for hope. They are searching for the truth in a world that is devoid of truth. They have tried religion and come up empty. They need to know that it’s all about a relationship. We have the hope, the truth, the relationship that people are looking for. It is our desire to be that tool that God uses to share the Gospel message and to have a part in seeing their lives changed. As soon as guests arrive on our campus, we want them to sense the love of God as we love them!
A smiling welcome.
A sincere handshake.
An offer to help.
An opened door.
A word of encouragement.
An umbrella in the rain.
Those are all small ways in which we can share the love of God with others.
It is a matter of stewardship.
It is a matter of stewardship.
Every first time guest is searching for something. We may never fully know what they are searching for but when they decide to visit South Charlotte Baptist Church it is their way of saying, “I wonder if South Charlotte Baptist Church can help me find what I’m looking for?”
Do we expect guests to come? Are we prepared when guests do come?
A “Welcome Team” ministry is a matter of stewardship because it shows that we are expecting guests to come and it shows that we are prepared when guests do come!
Allow me to elaborate on this point for just another moment. A dedicated “Welcome Team” ministry is necessary because...
Guests don’t know.
Guests don’t know.
(If you’re a first time guest, please don’t be offended.)
Guests don’t know...
where to park.
where they should go to have their questions answered.
where the nurseries are.
where the bathrooms are located.
You may respond to that, “Well, if they don’t know all they have to do is ask.” Well, guests don’t know who to ask?!?!
A “Welcome Team” ministry is just good stewardship!
It allows us to focus.
It allows us to focus.
When you come to church, what are thinking about?
I can almost guarantee you that most - if not all of us - are not thinking about guests when we come to church. I’m not saying that to be critical but simply to be realistic.
In an ideal world, everyone in our church family would take seriously this matter of welcoming and greeting guests but, we don’t live in an ideal world. (Just read in Acts chapter 9 about Saul’s first visit to the church in Jerusalem!)
We need individuals who truly understand the vital importance of a “Welcome Team” ministry.
We need individuals whose sole focus is greeting people.
We need individuals who look beyond themselves and see others.
We need individuals who are praying about the “divine encounters” they will have with first time guests.
We need individuals who understand that they are the “first line of ministry” to our first time guests.
It allows individuals to serve.
It allows individuals to serve.
Have you ever wondered, “How can I serve at South Charlotte Baptist Church?” Here’s your opportunity.
This ministry does not require a financial commitment.
It doesn’t not require a time commitment other than simply being in attendance on Sundays.
It doesn’t require any special talents or ability.
Will you help us fulfill our mission and our vision? Will you be a part of helping us become a “Welcoming Church?”