Vision Sunday

Now, when we came five years ago, the Lord had already established a phenomenal church here. The spirit of the congregation was welcoming and uplifting. The honeymoon of this new journey was a lot of fun! There were primarily two active families with children and there were Sundays with no infants in the nursery.

We had a single children’s church class at 10:30 AM, but no active teen group or midweek children’s discipleship plan. The core of this church when we came stepped out in faith and extended an invitation to our family, and we by faith accepted and joined the partnership here.

I remember as we met with the leaders of the church that first night and I mentioned the importance of a website, and Elsie Lynch leaned over to Chuck Young and said, “I guess that means we need to get internet here at the church.”

Heidi and I paid for that first website out of our own savings because the church was in debt and I was scared to spend money on anything. n fact, I bought a stapler for my office from the church funds that was on sale for 97 cents and I almost felt bad about it.

Five years ago, we came here with the hopes of under-shepherding a group of people to follow Jesus. By God’s grace, He has allowed our family to invest in our community and our faith family here, and we are so thankful for what He has done.

We set out that first Sunday to be a church that was loving, learning, and living for God together. And although we are far from perfect, the journey to this point has been a great blessing.

Now as we look forward to whatever the Lord may lead us through, we continue to pursue Him through His Word with a clarified vision to come.

If you would this morning, join me in Revelation 2.

This past month I have been finishing up a study through the NT this year in Revelation, and as I mentioned a few weeks ago, it’s been riveting.

As you look to the book of Revelation, it is primarily a prophetic book, written by the apostle John while in exile on the island of Patmos, just off the coast of present day Turkey.

This letter is addressed from Christ to 7 actual churches in present day turkey.

We will begin this morning looking briefly at these churches then transition into the application of that here at Fellowship. Kevin DeYoung gives a great comparison of each church to today that we will highlight in a bit.

Beginning with the church at Ephesus, we see the loveless church.

Revelation 2:2–6 NKJV

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Ephesus was your listless, loveless church. They were orthodox, moral, and hard working. But they weren’t concerned about the lost and may not have been too concerned about each other. They were doctrinally sound, naval-gazers. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Love.” - DeYoung

Then we see the persecuted church in Smyrna

Revelation 2:9–10 NKJV

9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Smyrna was your persecuted, 10-40 window church. They were afflicted, slandered, and impoverished. But they were spiritually rich. They were vibrant, but fearful. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Be faithful.” - DeYoung

We also learn of the compromising church in Pergamos

Revelation 2:13–16 NKJV

13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Pergamum was your ungrounded, youth-infused church. They were faithful, passionate witnesses. But they had compromised with the world and accommodated to their sexually immoral and idolatrous culture. They were missional, but misguided. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Discern.” - DeYoung

The fourth church written to was the corrupt Thyatiran church. Jesus writes:

Revelation 2:19–26 NKJV

19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

Thyatira was your warm-hearted, liberal church. They were strong in compassion, service, and perseverance. But they undervalued doctrinal fidelity and moral purity. They were loving, but over-tolerant. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Think.”

Then in chapter 3 we learn of the dead church at Sardis

Revelation 3:1–5 NKJV

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Sardis was your flashy and successful, but ultimately shallow megachurch. They were like your big Bible-belt churches chocked full with nominal Christians. They had a great reputation. But in reality, they were spiritually dead. They were the church of the white-washed tombs. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Wake up.” - DeYoung

We also find the refreshingly faithful church at Philadelphia

Revelation 3:8–11 NKJV

8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Philadelphia was your small, storefront, urban church. They felt weak and unimpressive. But they had kept the word of God and not denied his name. They were a struggling, strong church. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Press on.”

And finally we find the Lukewarm church of Laodicea.

Revelation 3:15–21 NKJV

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Laodicea was your ritzy, influential church out in the leafy part of town. They thought they had it all together. But they were as spiritually poor as they were materially rich. The church was filled with affluence and apathy. To them and to us, Jesus says, “Be earnest.” - DeYoung

As you hear from Jesus to these churches you find commendation, criticism, and comfort. Can you imagine for a moment with me this morning if Christ wrote a letter to Fellowship. Not as an overview of the highlight reel, but of the real, nitty-gritty issues from His perspective. Friend, as I read through these chapters, if I am honest, I see a glimpse of each, good and bad, within our church too.

The apostle Paul, who wrote the majority of the NT, wrote a letter to Titus, another Pastor and said these words:

Titus 1:5 NKJV

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

It is God’s design to raise up leaders within local congregations to help set in order what is vital for the health of that congregation. And that is what we aim to renew and clarify today.

As our deacons pass out these vision statements we want everyone to have one.

As they pass these out, we will take a moment to walk through them and in the first 12 weeks of 2020, we will clarify each aspect of this vision so you will want to be here.

We have a new logo and will roll out our new website this week. Our bus will be branded this same way too in the coming weeks.

And the purpose of all of this branding and emphasis is to constantly remind us of the vision forward of our faith family.

You will notice with me our vision statement as:

We exist to glorify God by making spiritually and relationally healthy disciples.

When Christ was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law of God was in Matthew 22, he replied

Matthew 22:37–40 NKJV

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Friend, our very existence is for the purpose of glorifying God, by making spiritually and relationally healthy disciples.

We find that here from Christ himself - Love God, Love People

NEW SHIRTS!

sipritually, we desire that you would love God

relationally, we desire that you would love people.

You can’t completely have one, without the other.

These are directly corelated.

1 John 4:20 NKJV

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

So we desire a church that glorify’s God through loving Him and loving His as healthy followers of Jesus.

Now, how we do this is through emphasizing some external manifestations of the gospel.

which are:

1. Gospel-centered Worship

2. Gospel-centered Transformation

3. Gospel-centered Relationships

4. Gospel-centered Service

5. Gospel-centered Outreach

Now friend, the Gospel is where it all begins, and where it all continues in, and is where we center our lives on.

At the center of it all is the gospel!

The truth that God extends His righteousness to the unrighteous through faith in Christ's life, death, and resurrection changes everything! The gospel changes our worldview and the way we progress through the Christian life. As we study, apply, and live out the truths of God's Word, the gospel continually molds our worship, spiritual transformation, relationships, service, and outreach. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the why that formulates the what of our faith family.

Gospel-centered Worship

The heart cannot love what the mind does not know, which is why our worship of God is grounded in treasuring His Word. As we diligently study the Bible to know Him greater, our knowledge of God overflows into praise to Him for who He is and what He has done. Worship involves every affection, attitude, and action because they ascribe worth to what we value. When we gather together, and when we don't, God alone is the focus of our worship.

Gospel-centered Transformation

Slowing down sufficiently for the will and presence of God to fill our lives doesn't happen naturally. We intentionally embrace our limitations and strive to allow the rhythms of our lives to reflect the grace and goodness of God. Centering our hearts and schedules on the gospel transforms the way we pray, rest, relate to others, and work. Although perfection is not a reality on this side of heaven, progressive growth is a result of a life impacted by the gospel daily.

Gospel-centered Relationships

The Christian faith is not intended to be lived in isolation, but in community with other believers. Our affections leak, so our gatherings remind us of our mutual love for God. The local church is not something we attend but a people to whom we belong, and as we get together, we do so with mutual love, grace, consistency, and authenticity. Our care for one another is an overflow of Christ's care for us through the gospel.

Gospel-centered Service

The church thrives when the body ministers to the body. Embracing the grace of God to us individually through the gospel, we extend grace through humility, generosity, and hospitality. We do not spectate, but wholly participate by using the gifts God has given us for the building of our church family and the glory of God! One way our salvation shows itself is through how we serve others.

Gospel-centered Outreach

As disciples, our mission is to make God known wherever we are and wherever we go. God providentially directs our lives; therefore, we live with intention in all we pursue. From interacting in our everyday relationships, to missional outreach opportunities both locally and abroad, meaningful purpose infuses our lives. Sharing the good news of the gospel through tangible ways is how we live our lives on mission.

It is with these five manifestations of the Gospel within us, that we endeavor to emphasize as we move forward in the next season of ministry here.

As we dive deeper into the heart level understanding and the implication of these over the next 12 weeks, we will see how living on mission for God’s glory is the best place to be.

Church, I ask that you take these sheets home and look over them well this week. As we move forward, dependent on God’s grace, empowered by His Spirit, and directed by His Word, my prayer is that he burns within us a greater desire to know Him and glorify Him in every area of our lives, both corporately and individually.