Sacrifice: Risky Vision Series

Three weeks we started our new series … ‘SACRIFICE’ … and we learned three principles about sacrifice – 1) Sacrifice requires love, 2) Sacrifice requires trust, and 3) Sacrifice requires obedience …

Sacrifice is NEVER easy, but God has asked us to sacrifice our time, our talents, and our treasures.

Two weeks we talked about RISK … we learned the 3 reasons why we should take risks for God … 1) God has a proven track record, 2) God has a powerful plan, and 3) God is a personal friend.

And because of that reason we are willing to RISK our time, our talents, and our treasures for Him!

Last week we had a discussion on tithes and offerings!

Proverbs 3:9: “Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best” (MSG).

We learned that the tithe is the 1st ten percent of everything and an offering is given above the 10 percent!

Tonight, I want to talk about something no one in this room can live without … you need it everyday … and for the rest of your life … do you know what it is???

VISION … a mental picture of a desired future!

A godly vision is right for the times and right for the people.

A godly vision promotes faith rather than fear.

A godly vision motivates people to action.

A godly vision requires risk-taking.

A godly vision glorifies God, not people.

We developed about 3 years ago a VISION for this youth ministry … many of those things are happening right in front of our eyes …

1 month ago we started a junior high ministry … now we have about 60 students attending each week … AMAZING!!!

On Wednesday nights we have about 80 senior high students (excluding the college students) …

And there are about 30 college students meeting in small groups!

That gives us about 170 students in our youth ministry …

We have grown so much from 6 years ago when I arrived … we were averaging about 26 students on Wednesday nights … no junior high … no college ministry …

We are almost 7 times larger than when I first came here … GOD IS DOING SOMETHING!

Our vision was and still is to build a youth ministry of 300 students … WE ARE ALMOST THERE …

This vision is not about me … it is beyond me … it is about YOU building a great place for more people to discover an awesome relationship with God!

This vision to build “a place where reality meets imagination” can only happen when we WORK TOGETHER!

It will take every student and leader to CATCH THE VISION …

Japanese Proverb: "Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."

What are the benefits of VISION?

1.Vision gives us stability … we know WHY we are here

2.Vision keeps us on the same page … we know WHERE we are going

3.Vision increases our faith … we know WHO is leading us

4.Vision gives us excitement for the future … we know WHAT we want to become

I want MSO to be stable … to be united … to have increased faith … and an excitement for what God is GOING to do in and through every one of us!!!

Joel 2 tells us that young people will see visions … a couple verses later Joel shares the greatest VISION we need to own and possess is to SEE PEOPLE LIVES CHANGED!

“And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32 – NLT).

It is the desire of my heart to SHARE GOD’S LOVE with everyone, anyone!

What will it take for us to REACH the students of our area?

I think it is going to take about 4 things.

1. Commitment

We need to be committed to what Christ was committed to … bringing people into a right relationship with God!

It is going to take some sacrifices … our time, our talents, and our treasures!

Our commitment must be “at the end of the long days and late nights did any young person hear about Jesus Christ?”

2. Compassion

We have to learn how to understand those around us … Christian or non-Christian.

We need to see students through the eyes of Christ!

Compassion for your friends that have been mistreated, abused, and neglected!

Compassion for those who trust things more than people.

3. Commonality

We have one thing that holds all of us together … VISION!

The VISION to share God’s love with everyone in the world!

That vision only comes from God Himself!

This is one VISION that all of us have in common … reaching people with the message of Christ!

4. Courage

It is going to take courage to sacrifice your time, talents, and treasures for the VISION that God has given to us …

Courage to take the risks and do some things that are pretty nutty …

HOW COURAGEOUS ARE YOU???