Church Is … Commissioned (Vision Sunday) pt. 1
CHURCH IS NOT
The church is not a social club
The church is not a place
The church is not a group meeting you have to attend.
The church is not a drive-through spiritual pick me up
The church is not an organization
The church is not religious tradition/roles and hoops to jump through
The church is not a self-help program
The church is not a quick hand out to pay rent when you are short
The church is not a place of entertainment
The church is not a money collection agency
The church is not the building
What thoughts come to mind when you think about what church is not?
CHURCH IS…
The church is a movement of people following a loving God and helping each other, at the very least, attempt to walk out their God-given purpose.
Does this definition of the church fit the current model you see today? Why? Why not?
Psalm 92:12-15 says the righteous will be like Palm and Cedar trees. What symbolism does a Palm and Cedar tree give us?
Deep, roots are essential for strong, healthy trees. How can we have deep roots in the church? What benefits come from having deep roots in the church?
Jeremiah 17:18a says that trees with deep roots are not bothered by heat or worry. The heat that comes our way and tries to cause us worry could be offense, change, distractions, new things etc.…
What areas in your life has the “HEAT” affected you? How did you handle it?
Christians who are rooted and grounded never stop producing fruit!
As the Church, when you INVITE others, it allows people a place where they can DISCOVER Jesus? What are some creative ways to invite others? Name some ways people can discover Jesus through the church.
At what point do you believe someone feels like they BELONG?
Church is for everyone to encounter Jesus and be changed by Him! At Church there is “SPACE FOR ALL”. Genesis 26:19-22
How do we broaden our front door?
How do we close our back door?
We have to make it easy to arrive, easy to engage, easy to stick around, easy to belong, easy to find purpose, and easy to get involved!
You are invaluable! One of the biggest lies is, if I am not there, it will not matter. As an individual person, you are called a Christian. As a group of Christians, we are called the Body of Christ! You are an invaluable part of the body of Christ! You have a purpose!
Together we are His Body! We are His hands, His, feet, His mouth, and His heart!
What is one way you can actively “BE” His hands, feet, mouth, and heart?
As an individual member of the Body of Christ, you should be “Generously INVESTED in God’s Church! Our God has created us to pour not store!
In what ways can you invest your time, treasure, and talent in the Church?
I agree and I think Church is for us/me to help us learn about Jesus and to build our relationship with him spiritually!
I agree and am excited to be part of the change
I love the new direction our church is heading in with the new leadership at hand (most importantly) I see our new pastor starting to speak on matters that us (as a society )Deal with on a daily bases ,in the hand to hand combat with the enemy. I will not desert you ,or leave The church, I look forward to your leadership and am awaiting the time we get to meet in person CONTINUE TO LEAD PASTOR CRAIG SMEE , we your congregation will fallow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love what you say here because there are so many people who feel like they are unimportant they don’t have a purpose, we need to show them they do!
As an individual person, you are called a Christian. As a group of Christians, we are called the Body of Christ! You are an invaluable part of the body of Christ! You have a purpose!
I am right along with you.
It’s been so long of a journey for me.
I started out in the Lord with twists and turns. But I was one who was active no matter where I went.
We never sat still. We were out witnessing. Helping other’s. Praying for families.
Being active to learn about the Gifts we were given to be used .
Craig it seems like there are so many places that just went asleep.
Some learned Faith and healing.
Some miracles and PROPHETIC.
Some Grace and miracles.
Some of the inner City ministries brought them in. Taught them of laying there lives down for Jesus , yet THIS DAY GOD HAS OPENED EYE’S TO HE CAME IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH THEY ,WE WERE DEAD INSIDE TO OVERCOME THE DEEDS OF IT.
GRACE STRENGTHENING US.
IT’S STILL LIKE BACK IN THE EARLY 80S WHEN WE HAD THE OUT POURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
BUT SO MANY COMING IN OUT OF DRUG’S, SEXUALLY ABUSED , BEING DOWN RIGHT MALESSED AND RAPED BY RELIGION THAT ITS SO HARD FOR THEM TO STEP OUT.
I STILL HAVE THE VISION THAT GOD GAVE ME. I HAD A 501C3 CALLED OUT AS APOSTLE OR REV. TO START A CHURCH.
THERE HAS” NOT” BEEN ONE PERSON WHO EXHORTED ME BUT TOLD OTHERS WHY I SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T BE SAVED…. OR NOTHING BUT PRIDE FOR MY ZEAL FOR THE LORD.
I DON’T AND BELIEVE IN WHAT YOUR SAYING. THAT’S WHAT I SET OUT TO DO IN THE LORD FOR THE VISION GIVEN ME. TO LEAD THEM TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT THEM. HEALED HELPERS TO LEAD OTHER’S TO JESUS TO DISCIPLE OTHER’S.
SORRY IF I SPOKE TO MUCH ABOUT FEELING’S.
OUR LIVES ARE GOD’S. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US BEFORE HE EVER CHOSE US. WE WILL NOT MISS INFORM HIM ABOUT ANYTHING.
I PRAY SUPER ABOUNDING GRACE FOR YOU CRAIG!
ALL OF MY BROTHER’S AND SISTER’S IN CHRIST.
IT’S NOT A SOCIAL CLUB. IT’S ONE WHERE WE CAN ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FREE….THE CAPTIVITY OF THE BROKEN. FREE THE PERFECTIONIST TO SEE MISTAKES WILL ARISE BUT YOUR SALVATION IS IN TACT! IT’S GROWTH IN CHRIST. HUG’S.
God is revealing so much to me. I feel myself growing in Christ. I have heard my name called out and nobody was around me. I thought I was loosing it.
I know that my God has prepared a place for me and he is preparing me for that place.
I’m very blessed that my God has chosen me. I won’t give up.
Submit to God…
Resist the devil….
and he will flee.