But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
I am fired up for Sunday.
I know… I get excited for every Sunday. But friends, I’m telling you, this Sunday is different. Why? Well, because it’s “Vision Sunday”! As we all are getting back into the swing of our fall schedules, Vision Sunday serves as a rally point for our church family. It’s a chance to look back and celebrate what the Lord’s been doing and, of course, look ahead and set the course for where we believe He’s leading us. I enjoy this weekend because it’s an opportunity to get caught up after a busy summer and to get fired up about how the mission of Jesus is moving forward. Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you’re brand new, Vision Sunday weekend is for you.
Now, when it comes to Vision Sunday, here are a couple of things we’d love for you to keep in mind. First, our vision and direction are fueled by our mission. It’s a mission rooted in the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28. To keep it simple, we say our mission is to “Make Disciples who live loved and sent to the glory of God”. Secondly, when it comes to our vision, it’s better to think less about what’s NEW and focus more on what’s NEXT. Don’t get me wrong, there are always “new” things to announce. It’s just that even the new things are really the next things. You see, our vision from the beginning has always been to see God’s “Kingdom Advance” by making disciples and multiplying churches. Because this vision will never be exhausted, you can rest assured that it is not changing. And because the pursuit of this vision brings glory to God, we get fired up about “Next” because next means the kingdom is advancing. And the Kingdom Advancing means souls are being saved, families are being restored, our community is being served, leaders are being equipped, and churches are being planted.
Are you ready for this? Are you ready for what’s next?! It’s time to advance God’s Kingdom, which is going to require us all to grow, go, and give. O’ my word. I can’t wait!
Pastor Jerry Lingenfelter
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