I Believe We Can Fly
“Where there is no vision the people perish”
July 20, 1997
Morning Service
Introduction
I. The loss of dreams: Waking up and remembering part of a dream, frustration, straining to remember, longing to catch another moment of the dream
II. Personal Dreams: History teacher, God had bigger dreams for me, God has big dreams for everyone, we just have to discover what they are and where they lead
III. The pursuit of dreams: Basketball and Space Jam, I believe I can fly
I Believe I Can Fly
I used to think that I could not go on
and life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I’m leaning on the everlasting arms
If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.
Chorus
I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day, spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar, I can see me run through the open door
I believe I can fly, I believe I can fly
See I was on the verge of breaking down
sometimes life seems sold out
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me
If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.
Repeat Chorus
If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it.
Scripture Text: Where there is no vision the people perish
Body
I. What is vision?
A. Webster - the ability to see,
B. Barna - ability to view that which does not yet exist,
C. Author of Hebrews - Vision is having faith:
II. Biblical Examples of Vision
A. Prophetic: OT - Minor Prophets, Daniel and the calling of Isaiah, NT - Peter’s vision of the unclean animals, Paul’s vision of the man from Macedonia and the book of Revelation
B. Leadership: OT - David: slaying Goliath, Solomon: building the Temple, and Nehemiah: Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, NT - Barnabas: saw a thriving ministry, Peter: Ministry to large crowds, Paul: saw possibilities in pagan cities and planted churches
III. Why is Vision Important?
A. Way of God to Communicate: God directs and guides through vision, God declares His will through vision, God brings hope through vision, God leads His people through vision, God dreams big dreams
B. Vision is Life Giving: There is life in vision, there is a future in vision, there is hope in vision, where there is no vision the people perish, without a strong vision this church will cease to exist
IV. Where can Vision take us?
A. God’s Completion: God has a set purpose and plan for the church, helps us find the way to complete the plan, beginning of the blueprints
B. Fullness of Grace: God gives deeper grace, God gives deeper direction,
C. Map of Will: Vision will take us to God, Sets the course, without vision we spin our wheels, We must be on the way to somewhere or we will go nowhere
V. What is my Vision for Laurel Cliff?
A. Four Ingredients to a Successful Church: ARCH
1. Acceptance
2. Relevance
3. Community
4. Hope
B. Action to make the Vision Happen: Take our stand now, it must happen
Application
I. Purpose of Vision
A. Clarifies the direction of ministry:
B. Statement #2
II. Ministry Task Force
A. Composed of Eight People:
B. Function of Composing Vision, Mission and Purpose statements for the church
III. We can Fly
A. We can fly is God’s glory: Follow the leading, hard road, road less traveled
B. We must believe: Contagious hope, future is bright, God has big dreams for Laurel Cliff, we must see them and be them,
C. We must be persistent: Never forget, never lose hope, never lose sight of the goal
Vision
A vision without a task is but a dream,
A task without a Vision is drudgery;
A vision with a task is the hope of the world
