The Story of God's Plan
1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Ephesians 4:12 - for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Planning to Grow
1. Continue to Discuss, Refine, and Implement Our Discipleship Process.
2. Organize and Launch Our New Cluster of Ministries at Faith West.
3. Work Together as a Church Family to Develop Our Next 5-Year Strategic Ministry Plan.
Say it like a seminarian - God’s plan is to manifest the fullness of His Glory to His creation by establishing His Kingdom upon the earth in which God dwells through Jesus Christ with His people as the King for eternity.
I. Say it In One Word – It's All about Jesus
A. Just ask the Emmaus disciples
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Luke 24:44 - Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
John 5:39, 46 - You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.
B. Which explains God's goal for His children
Romans 8:28–29 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…
C. Which directs our purpose as a church
Colossians 1:28 - We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Philippians 3:13-14 - …but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
II. Say it in Three Words – Jesus Revealed in Scripture
A. Revealed in creation
John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Colossians 1:16-17 - For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:1-3 - God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…
1. This is what motivates many scientists in our church
2. This is what motivates us to honor God every day
Romans 1:18-22 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
3. This is what Jesus chose to personally identify with
John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
B. Rejected in the Fall
1. resulting in mankind constantly sinning
Genesis 6:5 - Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
2. resulting in mankind now living in a sin-cursed world
Job 5:7 - For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.
3. contrasted by the perfection of Jesus
Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
C. Magnified in redemption
Isaiah 53:10-11 - But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Revelation 21:23-24 - And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
III. Say it Practically – Seek to Give Jesus First Place in Everything
Colossians 1:18 - He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.