1. November 8, 2015

6. We are a church in transition...

7. We are a church in transition...

9. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 Began almost 4 years ago with a lesson...

10. Purpose = where we should be going; what God wants us to be and do; what we read about in Scripture about the work of the church “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

11. Purpose = where we should be going; what God wants us to be and do; what we read about in Scripture about the work of the church Vision = how we plan to get there; our ideas, goals, dreams for accomplishing work God has for us to do “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

12. God’s Purpose

13. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

14. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” According to the Bible, God’s purpose for His church includes several things we are to do... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

15. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

16. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose 1.To love, worship, obey, and glorify God

17. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose 1.To love, worship, obey, and glorify God 2.To share the gospel with those who are lost

18. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose 1.To love, worship, obey, and glorify God 2.To share the gospel with those who are lost 3.To love, edify, and care for one another

19. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose 1.To love, worship, obey, and glorify God 2.To share the gospel with those who are lost 3.To love, edify, and care for one another 4.To help each other mature spiritually

20. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose 1.To love, worship, obey, and glorify God 2.To share the gospel with those who are lost 3.To love, edify, and care for one another 4.To help each other mature spiritually 5.To be a blessing to all who are in need

21. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

22. We decided to express it this way... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

23. We exist to REFLECT God’s love to our Lord in worship, to SHARE God’s love with our church family, and to TAKE God’s love to the world around us. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

24. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

25. Not only does God have a purpose for His universal church, He also has a vision for each church. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

26. Not only does God have a purpose for His universal church, He also has a vision for each church. God has a purpose that is common and necessary for all of His church worldwide. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

27. Not only does God have a purpose for His universal church, He also has a vision for each church. God has a purpose that is common and necessary for all of His church worldwide. But vision is something that is perhaps unique to each individual congregation. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

28. God’s vision for various individual churches may vary: ~ Depends on the makeup of the congregation ~ The people, their location, their strengths ~ Their passion, their determination, their zeal ~ Their willingness to work, to give, and to sacrifice ~ Some churches will dream bigger than others “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

29. God’s vision for various individual churches may vary: ~ Depends on the makeup of the congregation ~ The people, their location, their strengths ~ Their passion, their determination, their zeal ~ Their willingness to work, to give, and to sacrifice ~ Some churches will dream bigger than others SO WE DEVOTED 3 SUNDAY NIGHTS... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

30. 4 POINTS... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

31. To Magnify our Lord through dynamic and heartfelt worship and daily devotion and obedience. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

32. To Magnify our Lord through dynamic and heartfelt worship and daily devotion and obedience. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

33. To Magnify our Lord through dynamic and heartfelt worship and daily devotion and obedience. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision  Purposefully plan worship services that both glorify God and encourage worshippers to walk closer to Him  Enable our ministers to attend educational seminars  Elders help ministers to improve in how to best minister  Make improvements to better serve families with children

34. To Mature in Christ through the help of God’s Holy Spirit and diligent prayer and Bible study. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

35. To Mature in Christ through the help of God’s Holy Spirit and diligent prayer and Bible study. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

36. To Mature in Christ through the help of God’s Holy Spirit and diligent prayer and Bible study. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision  Prepare and maintain relevant Bible classes for all ages  Annual Family Vacation Bible School  Develop Fundamentals of Faith class and Ladies class  Youth participating in L2L and leading worship services  Great youth and children’s ministries with many activities

37. To Motivate one another to love and good works thru uplifting fellowship and involvement of every member. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

38. To Motivate one another to love and good works thru uplifting fellowship and involvement of every member. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

39. To Motivate one another to love and good works thru uplifting fellowship and involvement of every member. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision  Encourage others through Monday Night Care Group  Provide opportunities for fellowship: Phoebe group, sewing, potlucks, monthly singings, family fun day, retreats, dinners  Strengthen members through Family Forward Workshop and provide counseling through Pastoral Institute

40. To Minister to our world and community through helping to meet both physical and spiritual needs. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

41. To Minister to our world and community through helping to meet both physical and spiritual needs. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

42. To Minister to our world and community through helping to meet both physical and spiritual needs. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision  Help community through Brown Bag, VIP, Impact Workcamp  Work with Partners 4 Africa to feed, clothe, spread the gospel  Reaching out through VBS, Community Garden, Trunk or Treat, Friends & Family Day, Law Enforcement Appreciation Day  Teaching people about Jesus in homes, by mail, by email

43. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

44. Through all these ways, we seek to fulfill the vision that God has for us. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

45. Through all these ways, we seek to fulfill the vision that God has for us. We really do want to be the kind of church that lives up to God’s vision of what our church should be. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

46. Through all these ways, we seek to fulfill the vision that God has for us. We really do want to be the kind of church that lives up to God’s vision of what our church should be. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

47. God has a vision of a church with Jesus Christ as its leader, its center, and its Lord. A church that praises the Father for the gift of His Son, and for the power given through the indwelling of His Spirit. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

48. A church that is truly a house of worship. Where prayer is priority, praise is paramount, and worship is more than just conducting a service or singing a song. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

49. A church with a burning desire to know God’s word and to live it out in everyday life. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

50. A church unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ; one that shouts God’s word from the rooftops, and whispers grace in the ear of a world in need. Where love is real, and everyone is invited to experience it. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

51. A church for all people, where racial differences fade in the light of brotherhood; where the rich worship beside the poor, where the old join hands with the young; where the skeptic finds reason to believe, and the believer finds reason to rejoice. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

52. A church where families grow strong; where couples find each other and fullness of life in Christ; where children are treated as blessings, not bothers. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

53. A church where youth are discipled in a manner befitting future kingdom leaders; where marriages are mended, and victims of broken homes find a forever family, and older people find new purpose. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

54. A church that stands up for the cast down; whose mission takes it outside the four walls of comfort, taking Jesus to its community, its region, the dark corners, and the ends of the earth. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

55. A church that communicates the old, old story, in bold, creative ways; where spiritual gifts are engaged, and buried talents are employed in the King’s service, and where the body of Christ is made visible. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

56. God has a vision of a church in this world that reaches the lost, grows in faith, and serves the Lord and others together. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

57. A church that is a beautiful foreshadowing of the eternal, redeemed community who will one day live forever with Him. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

58. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

59. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

60. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

61. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... Blessed countless hungry, poor, homeless, in need “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

62. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... Blessed countless hungry, poor, homeless, in need 42 baptized “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

63. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... Blessed countless hungry, poor, homeless, in need 42 baptized and 119 more placed membership !!! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

64. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... Blessed countless hungry, poor, homeless, in need 42 baptized and 119 more placed membership !!! But not just because of us... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

65. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” Colossians 2:19 The body of Christ “grows with a growth that is caused by God.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

66. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

67. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... But BEWARE! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

68. Four years ago we committed ourselves to being that church that God wants us to be. And great things have happened... But BEWARE! When a church is doing well and doing good... “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

69. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 Be Ready for Satan’s Attacks!

70. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 Be Ready for Satan’s Attacks!  Treat some like Job with financial problems  Will use even those closest to you to discourage you  Destroy marriages and families and homes  Take away your good health; afflict you with aches and pains  Create trouble in your work, at school, at home  Complicate life with ball games, school events, vacations  Anything to keep you from devoting too much time to Lord

71. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

73. and destroy good churches. Satan’s goal is to divide

74. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 A Story Of One Church

75. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 A LLELUIA

76. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 A LLELUIA H ALLELUJAH

77. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:

78. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:  2 do so because of major doctrinal issues

79. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:  2 do so because of major doctrinal issues  98 do so because of interpersonal issues

80. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:  2 do so because of major doctrinal issues  98 do so because of interpersonal issues  Most dividing over minor matters of opinion

81. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:  2 do so because of major doctrinal issues  98 do so because of interpersonal issues  Most dividing over minor matters of opinion  Issues like time and format of worship service

82. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 According to Church Conflict Forum, out of 100 churches that split:  2 do so because of major doctrinal issues  98 do so because of interpersonal issues  Most dividing over minor matters of opinion  Issues like time and format of worship service  External issues related to the building, etc.

83. We cannot let Satan defeat the vision that God has for this church! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

84. It was in August 2011...

85. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 “I believe the church is a family of real people with real shortcomings and struggles. I believe a strong church family is one that is committed to each other just as a physical family is bonded together through good times and through bad.”

86. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 “Running away should not be an option. You don’t get mad and leave just because you didn’t get your own way on something. You work through these things because you are a forever family of believers.”

87. We Need To Always Be A Forever Family Of Believers “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

88. We Need To Always Be A Forever Family Of Believers

89. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 “Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). We Need To Always Be A Forever Family Of Believers