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Turn to and read Luke 2:8-16.
Pray.
Christ’s Mission
Why did Christ come to this earth?
What was His purpose?
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.
How did Christ put all of that together?
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
Proclaiming the Gospel; Experiencing the miracle of changed lives!
Proclaiming the Gospel
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
Loving God by Loving Others
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”
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
Have you ever wondered, “How can I serve at South Charlotte Baptist Church?” Here’s your opportunity.
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