CATCHING THE VISION
Matthew 9:35-38
A. Wanted to get paid for: [ "Staring out the Window" ].
1. Several years ago, I remember seeing a double page ad in Time or Newsweek advertising some national product.
2. It was a picture of a large company executive, sitting in a fancy big office, at the top of a high rise building, starring out the window.
3. The caption at the bottom of the ad was, "Why does this man get paid $100,000 a year just for starring out the window?"
4. Kids in school are discouraged from starring out the window, or day-dreaming, as we call it.
5. A business executive can get paid very well for doing it.
I. CATCHING THE VISION MEANS LOOKING AHEAD.
A. This morning I invite you to stare out the window with me. I do want you to pay attention to my message this morning, but figuratively,let’s stare out the window as a congregation.
1. As you stare, let me lead you in the direction we need to consider for each one of us, our church, and our city in the future.
2. During a course I took at Bethel
Seminary, I began to dream and envision of what our church could be like in 3-5 years.
3. While I was there, I began to write down some thoughts about vision, the future, and I want to share my vision for this church and this city with you this morning.
4. I will not claim to have everything perfect, and in order. I am still in the process of working on it, and at some point; I hope we can work on a church vision together as a congregation.
B. What does the Lord want from us for the future? What does the Lord want for us for the future?
1. What does He want from you? What does He want from me?
2. Are our goals, our vision, our passion and our desires the same as Christ’s? Does our heartbeat beat with the same heartbeat as Jesus?
3. What does our Lord want from us now? What does He want to accomplish in us, in this church, and in this city?
4. READ Matt. 9:35-38. Today, we have hope!! We can experience Christ’s precious love - because He has redeemed us.
5. We are His redeemed people! Let us focus on going out in His greatest missionfield that He had given to us.
6. We can go out in His might, power, and wisdom as His witnesses!
7. What does Jesus want to accomplish in your life today; in this week, in this year, and in your lifetime?
C. What about 3 years from now? What about 5 years from now? Where should you be as a Christian and church worker?
1. Where should we be as a congregation? Where will we be as a congregation?
2. Spiritually, will you still be at the same place you are now? Emotionally, will things be different in your life than now?
3. Is it possible that we, as Bible Fellowship Church, might even be geographically located in a different area of Minot in 3-5 years
from now?
4. What will this congregation, or this church look like? What kind of ministries and people will actively be doing God’s work in this
church 3 years from now, or 5 years from now?
II. CATCHING THE VISION MEANS HAVING
COMPASSION.
A. One of the greatest areas of Jesus’ vision in His ministry was that He had compassion on the people.
1. Jesus came along side, and ministered to people where they were at. Does our vision include those kinds of people too?
2. Are you and I the kind of people who are ready to minister Christ’s love and healing where He wants us to?
3. Staring out the window! Whether you are on North Hill or South Hill. Looking over the city.
4. When Jesus looked over the city, he had compassion. Jesus had compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
5. To see the people and the crowds is really something. Looking at people in the cars around you at the red light. Looking at the people in the grocery store or the mall. At school, or work.
6. For some of you it may not be Minot; but the people around you in Sawyer, or Max, or some other community. But for most of us, it is this city of Minot.
7. It just might mean catching the vision that the Lord has for Bible Fellowship Church to accomplish in the next several years.
B. A True and Godly vision comes from God, and from Jesus Christ. God’s vision is perfect in every way. God’s vision is perfect in every way.
1. God’s vision is not only a gift; but it is a ministry of His love and compassion He wants each one of us to live out, and to show to this city.
2. But, are we ready to receive it, and to put it to work for His Kingdom?
3. One way to define our vision is to move into the future, and to work at achieving the mission, and the tasks that our God want us to do!
4. Once we have grasped what the Lord wants to do through us in our city; we must get out there, and do it! This means adults, teenagers, and kids alike!
5. And when we get out there, and do what Christ is asking each of us to do, and as a church body - we will never be the same!!
6. Something will happen inside of you that will change your life forever! And the excitement will not allow you to keep quiet!
7. It means being sold out to the cause, the work, and the will of Jesus Christ! And doing it with all your heart, soul, mind, and will!
8. Prov. 29:18 reminds us, "Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint."
9. Unless we have a definite purpose and direction from our Lord - we will live or move without a cause, or without purposeful direction.
C. How can we know God’s vision for Bible Fellowship Church and Minot; or the community you live in?
1. First, we need to know our God. "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection!" (Eph. 3:10).
2. To know Him more means to grow into a greater love relationship with Jesus. This comes through prayer, devotions, Bible Study, and worshipping together.
3. Second we need to know ourselves. What are we capable of? What are you good at doing?
4. How can you and I use our abilities, talents, and gifts as a means of sharing Christ with others and bringing them into the Kingdom of God?
5. Third, Know good advice. Where are we getting our advice from? God, the world, or from evil people who are working against God’s work in this world?
6. Seeking God’s vision for us at Bible Fellowship in Minot means seeking Godly advice, and being in tune with His ways for our lives, and for our Church!
7. Vision exists to provide a link between mission and action. What is our mission? How are we going to get there? Who is going to carry it out?
8. Vision is a part of the process, or the means to reach to goals that we set for this church, and for our Lord.
9. Vision provides guidance to help us influence others with why we exist, and the Good News of the Gospel that we have to share with our broken world.
10. Vision is not about making sure that all our church programs go well, or big presentations. Vision is about relationships, and pointing people to Jesus - probably just one soul, and one person at
a time.
D. My vision for this church is to see not only new people coming in; but to see new ministries started.
1. As you have the vision for it. As you feel the Holy Spirit working in your life, and directing and equipping your for a special
kind of ministry.
2. To see new ministries started as they are needed. And as others catch the vision, and see the need.
3. Or maybe you will feel that the Lord is directing you to keep working and serving in the ministry or ministries you are doing for Him now.
4. My vision for this church is to see us growing, and making an impact in this community - not because of what are church name is, or who we are;
- but because of who we worship, who Jesus Christ is, and whose Kingdom we are a part of!
5. This City needs the Lord! There are many down and outers out there! There are people who need the Jesus you serve who are in your classroom; at your place of work; in your family; and in your neighborhood.
6. We must pray to our God that these people will meet Jesus. What if they would die today, tomorrow, or within a few weeks?
7. Vision is necessary, even though it cannot work by itself. It must have goals, and it must have Godly people to implement it, and to carry it out!
8. Vision through Jesus Christ, our Lord brings hope, joy, peace, and victory!!
9. If you have God’s vision for your life, others will hear it in your conversation. They will see it in your behavior, in your actions, and who you are as a child of Christ.
CONCLUSION
A. Who are we? Where are you headed? Where are we as Bible Fellowship Church headed for the future?
1. What is your goal, your vision of what you want to accomplish for the Lord today, this week, in this year, in the next 5 years?
2. What are the goals of our church?, What is our vision of what we want to accomplish for the Lord today, this week, in this year, in the next 5 years?
3. As you stare, let me lead you in the direction we need to consider for each one of us, our church, and our city in the future.
4. I want to invite you to start dreaming, to start envisioning for the future, and for eternity!
5. I am not talking about envisioning some great huge multi-million dollar church building, and thousands of people. Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this earth..."
6. Like I have reminded us in past Sundays, let us vision, and build for His Kingdom that is in Heaven.
7. "Why does this man get paid $100,000 a year for starring out the window?" You will not get paid $100,000 for dreaming and visioning; but what you work at will be for eternity. You cannot take
money with you into eternity.
8. What does the Lord want for our church? Where does He want us in a year? In 5 years from now?
9. READ 9:36-38. How does the Lord want to use me, as a part of this church, to get to that place where He wants us by then? Am I willing to do my part?
10. Envisioning the future of how our Lord wants you and His child, as His witness, and as Bible Fellowship Church in Minot, ND becoming excited about who we are;
- and fulfilling His mission and goals in our lives, and in this Church!
B. As we enter into the time at the Lord’s Table; let us remember that
we do this in Remembrance of Him who has done so much for us.
1. As we think about vision, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper
together; let us ask ourselves what are we going to commit ourselves to
do for Him?
