Vision 2020 revisited
Isaiah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 19 viewsAs we reopen the sanctuary, lets remember where we want to go and who Jesus wants us to be!
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Communion
Communion
September 11th, 2001 is a day, that those of us who were alive, will not soon forget. It is our generations Battle of Trenton, Gettysburg or Pearl Harbor...
It is a day, where people across the country who were alive remember the death and the fear, as well as the heroism that rose above both of those.
It stands today as a day when we remember, in the midst of tribalism and fear. It is a day that we remember that in the midst of the fallenness of man expressed through political dysfunction and systemic racism, what we are capable of when we put differences aside to simply serve and love those nearest to us.
This morning, I want to take a few minutes and pause and remember.
Let us pause … and take 30 seconds of silence
Let us pause … and invite God to quiet our hearts and minds as we prepare to worship Him.
Let us pause … and remember how great the cost of this salvation that we have received as we remember and celebrate Jesus in our midst
Let us pause … with the expectancy that as we worship, as we sing, as we shout, as we dance, as we pray, as we give, as we listen and learn that the Holy Spirit will be the Healer of our Hearts, the Comforter and Counselor of our Soul, and the Power behind our sanctification and glorification as we worship this morning in Spirit and Truth
Let us pause … to hold the cup… the cup that symbolizes the shed blood of Christ - for we know that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of our sin… And so Jesus, without a defense, without an argument, allowed them to thrust the crown upon his head, He allowed them to rip his flesh, drive spikes through his wrists and ankles and a spear into His side...
Why? Because we needed Him to and we need Him to today.
Let us pause … and behold the cup symbolizing His Blood, shed for you, shed for me, that we might experience forgiveness and be reconciled to the Father.
Let us pause … and drink
Let us pause … and behold the wafer that symbolizes His broken body. A body that bore our sins, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
Let us pause … and consider A body that bore stripes that bring healing and that would not only hang seemingly defeated on a cross, it has been resurrected to life.
Let us pause … and consider this Body that would be seen, would eat again, would teach again, and will return again...
Let us pause… with joyful expectancy as we
Pause… and eat...
Let us pause.... and pray...
Generosity Moment
Generosity Moment
You may remember this story from 5 years ago, even if you don’t remember the name - James Robertson.
See Mr. Robertson made headlines when it was reported that the 56-year-old walked 21 miles and took two bus rides everyday to get to his factory job.
The commute left Robertson with only two hours of sleep each night.
One 19-year-old college student heard about Robertson’s situation and started a project on GoFundMe.com. In the end, Robertson was given $350,000, as well as a new car.
That’s a pretty incredible story, right?
It’s also a bit sad because it shouldn’t take a news story for us to help those in need. Maybe, it’s not that we don’t want to help people like Robertson, but rather that we don’t know people - or maybe pretend we don’t know - people like Robertson.
And when we do meet those people, we aren’t paying attention.
Today, as we consider how we will be generous today, I’d like to encourage you to be open to giving. Not only now, but in unexpected ways. Keep your eyes open to the world around you, and let generosity flow from your heart and the love of God within you.
Today, you can give online, via our mobile app, or by text. the instructions are on the screen and on our web page. If you are here, we just ask that if you are prepared to give today, that you do so at the rear of the sanctuary as you are leaving today.
Thanks you, God Bless you as you implement generosity is every area of your life.
A Joyful Vision
A Joyful Vision
The last time we were here was March 15th. Much has happened since then. What are some of the things that have changed in that time?
How have suffered loss
loved ones - Nanny Gant
relationships
opportunities
How has the way we experienced church changed?
Online
Park
Connection Fellowships
Masks and stickers
The best laid plans have been put aside as we reconsider, not only what it means to do church, what does it mean to be the church?
So, as we reconvene this morning, I want to take a little time and revisit our vision for 2020… Does anybody remember what it is?
Lets Pause … and lets remember where we want to go and who Jesus wants us to be!
Life in 2020 has thrown us some curves, yet that doesn't give us an excuse to do ministry with anything less than Christ-honoring, people-serving, world-transforming passion.
I believe that Our vision for 2020 continues to be one that allows for us to grow together through the remainder of the year while also providing space for each of us to be encouraged, equipped, and turned loose - even if it doesn’t look the way we originally envisioned it or thought it would happen!
In order for us to accomplish great things in our community, we need to do the Jesus stuff well.
In order for us to accomplish great things in our community, we need to look in a mirror - because it will begin with each one of us - separately.
In order for us to accomplish great things in our community, we need to look around the room and realize that together God has given us all we need to do the Jesus stuff really well.
In order for us to accomplish great things - we need each other.
When we shared this vision we shared about a scene from Apollo 13 -
All we have is what we have - so how will we accomplish the life-saving ministry that God has called us to?
How do we accomplish that?
All it takes is complete surrender to Jesus and obedience to the Scriptures.
submission to the Authority of Christ and Accountability to One Another.
Trust and Obey
Rooted in Love...
2019 was a year of devotion - emphasizing 5 priorities found in
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
word, worship, prayer, evangelism, community
How did growth occur? The Lord
Who benefitted? The Church
Church growth, whether numerically, spiritually or relationally is ultimately God's business - not ours to control.
This is one reason we are excited for opportunities to partner, and actively pursue those opportunities, because we are excited to see people come to know Jesus - without regard for where they might attend on Sunday.
Our vision for 2020 continued the theme of devotion while incorporating the Jesus Stuff in such a way that Jesus oozes out of pores and throughout our ministries and most importantly - in our relationships.
Now, what’s the Jesus stuff I keep referring to?
They also happen to be what Karl Vater describes as the 4 Ingredients for a Healthy Church
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
love and worship Jesus
How many of you remember this:
Jonathan Edwards: Love is putting your happiness in the happiness of the other so that the other persons happiness is your own.
Jonathan Edwards: Love is putting your happiness in the happiness of the other so that the other persons happiness is your own.
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
Luke describes her as a “woman of the city”
Simon, the Pharisee describes her as a sinner
Jesus asks “Do you see this woman?”
Jesus doesn’t ask us what we see - Love asks us “Who do you see?”
And why do we love like this?
Because, like this woman, we have been forgiven much.
So as we continue to live into our 2020 Vision, lets remember to keep our eyes open for opportunities to see people, like James Robertson and this woman so we can love in a way that shows that their happiness is our happiness.
I mean, Jesus did say:
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
In order to Love, serve, and make disciples of others, we need to pay attention.
In order to pay attention I want to suggest that we need to
Pause… and see Jesus clearly.
Pause… and see the cross clearly.
Pause … and see others clearly.
Pause … so we can love clearly and dearly.
Campfire - blowing on it
you can see the fire and right around it, however, it limits your vision outside the circle....
Maybe, focusing on and fanning the flames on FB or in conversations causes us to see from a the thing we are fanning without concern or the ability to see who else is around...
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
We are not just called to love those near us, we are called to Love those who might oppose you (perfect love casts out fear....).
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
So, let me ask you a question - who needs your prayer?
Now, who needs your forgiveness?
Now, who have you closed your heart to that needs to see that you are no longer living for yourself. Who needs to see, that due to the fact that you are compelled by Christ’s Love that in spite of your differences and disagreements and the hurt and the pain of broken relationships - that you love them, as Jesus loves you...
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Love each other - deeply!
Who needs prayer today? Who needs to experience the power and presence of God today. Please, stand where you are!
We are going to love one another by prayer for one another right now!
This is a small part of what loving each other deeply looks like.
Bob Goff sums it up in the sub-title of his book, “Everybody Always.” The subtitle is: Becoming Love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people.
Now doesn’t that just about sum up 2020?
setbacks
difficult people
difficult social and political climates
Tim Keller’s suggests becoming love means we need to live radically, deeply, unselfish lives in every area of life.
That looks like welcoming people into our living space, treating strangers as family, so God can turn some of them into friends.
It just might need to be a little more intentional and thoughtful in this social distancing world in which we find ourselves right now.
We wanted to be and will continue to be devoted to the Word, worship, prayer, evangelism, community and we will live these out through the lens of love so that we can see clearly with both eyes.
In the social and political climate that we are in - Love, true devotion to Christ, our neighbor, our enemies, and maybe most importantly, one another is going to be needed more than ever.
If we want to glorify Jesus in our lives and want our friends, classmates, co-workers, and everyone else that crosses our paths to know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnesss, gentleness and self-control - then we must ask the question:
Who do I Love?
Who would my family and friends say I love?
Here’s another way of looking at this:
How many people and generations will be influenced by the decisions we make about how we will live out the vision for the rest of 2020?
Mark Batterson, Double Blessing; pg13.
"Legacy isn't measured by what we accomplish in our lifetimes. It's measured by our coaching tree, our mentoring chain. It's measured by the fruit we grow on others peoples trees. It's measured by the investments we make in others that are still earning compound interest twenty years later. Its measured by every blessing we bestow."
What will your legacy and the legacy of Crossroads be, as together we venture into the future together?
So this morning, a couple things to consider and pray into for this week:
• What has been your highlight at Crossroads this year?
*What would you like to see us do differently in the remainder of the year?
• What would you like to see us do differently in the next year?
• Who is God calling you to love?
• That might be your pray 4 one this year!
At the center of all of this is Jesus.
We are only able to have this conversation if Jesus is the One whom we are joyfully expecting to return.
As we celebrated at the beginning of our service...
Let us pause … and remember where Jesus has brought us from… personally and corporately …
Let us pause … and remember that Jesus has called us, separately and together, to love Him
Let us pause … and remember that He is sending us, separately and together, to Love our neighbors
Let us pause … and remember that He has challenged us, separately and together, to love our enemies
Let us pause … and remember that He has commanded us, separately and together, to Love each other
Let us pause … and remember, that Jesus willingly surrendered Himself, so that separately and together, we might experience His Grace and we might choose to live a life of vision, devotion, and love.