My goal is to change this church from one that focuses on maintenance to one that focuses on mission. This is not missions, but mission. This is becoming what God has placed us here to be. This is the eternal plan and purpose of God. This is purpose-driven. This begins by determining what are the values which guide our shared life and our individual lives.
The church in recent years has found many good things in which to invest itself, but it remains the fact that the church exists primarily to save people and keep people saved. We are in the outreach business. We are in the soul-saving business.
Illus: a local car dealer commercial was inadvertently cut off so that instead of saying "and I will save you money," it simply said, "and I will save you...." Now the automobile dealers are competing in salvation. The truth is that there are not many churches in this city or around the world that are competing in the soul-saving business. There are many who may compete for attendance, activities, etc.
One of the goals of this series is to get us to think seriously again about what we are called to do and be as church. Another goal is to support our renewed ministries, being developed by our leaders, especially our deacons. One goal is to encourage you to investigate the purpose- driven life which we will study individually and in small groups beginning next month. Another goal is to encourage you in prayer for your friends and neighbors for 30 days in March-April. We should utilized as many people as possible to reach out to friends and relatives.
Our climax will come on a special outreach day on April 11. Yes, that is Easter Sunday.
There are seven lessons in this series: values that guide, a spiritual family which supports, a faith that nurtures, service that enriches, leaders who shepherd, our God who empowers, the message which saves. Six values are paramount: FAMILY, FAITH, MINISTRY, SHEPHERDING, EMPOWERMENT, SALVATION
I. Values Development
II. Values-driven
We live in a society that wants to be values-neutral, but there is no such thing. We must learn the process of developing values.
Values drive ministries. All of the following are related to our values: decision making, risk taking, goal setting, conflict resolution, problem solving, priorities, roles, teams, financial management, resource utilization
III. What do values do?
IV. Values defined.
God--our God is a great God, good, glorious.
God's plan for people is for relationships, with him, and thus with others. This is our growth into God's likeness. This is nurturing faith.
How do you feel about this emphasis--values that guide us, based on Scripture, that cause us to want to reach out with the gospel. This emphasis is on reaching the lost with the gospel of Christ. In our next lesson, we begin to look in earnest at six basic values that guide this church.
