Vision Sunday 2008

Introduction

(Mat 16:13-18 NIV) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" {14} They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." {15} "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" {16} Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." {17} Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. {18} And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Who do you say that I am?

WHAT YOU SAY will depend you WHAT YOU SEE

YOUR VISION DETERMINES YOUR VOICE

  • Some looked at Jesus & saw a carpenter - "You're a carpenter"
  • "You're a good man"
  • "You're a prophet"
  • "You're a troublemaker"

But Peter - saw much more than that

  • You are the CHRIST the SON of the LIVING GOD
  • Peter saw something that the others didn't

Many people SAW Jesus - but they didn't perceive who he was

They had eyesight but no vision

  • E.g. deafblind author, activist and lecturer Helen Keller
  • Some just saw his hammer - you're a carpenter
  • Some just saw a country boy - can anything good come form Nazareth

Vision by nature is to see beyond the obvious

Vision - A mental view or image, of what is not actually present in place or time

Joh 7:24 NIV Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

  • E.g. Apple - just an apple
    • Its more than that (food, nutrition, health, tastes great)
  • Church - just church
    • It's a place where change happens
    • It's a place where potential is realised
    • It's a place where gifts are released
    • It's a place of salvation, healing, hope, learning, romance (Matt and Stacy)
    • How awesome is this place!

Gen 28:17 NIV "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."

Is that how you see church?

  • Or are you blinded to theses truths?

Naturally speaking, three things cause blindness

a) Accident - something that happened to you

  • External problem - e.g. poked in the eye
    All fun and games until someone loses an eye
  • If we don't deal with the things that happen to us - lose vision
  • E.g. death, divorce, bankruptcy, broken heart

b) Disease - something that happens in you

  • Internal problem - e.g. cancer

Pride
(Isa 6:1 NIV) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

  • When did Isaiah see the Lord - when pride died

Fear
(Mat 25:25 NIV) So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

  • His fear clouded his view of his master

c) Old age - something that happens over time

  • Eyesight deteriorates over time
  • Overtime you can lose vision for your marriage, business, church

(Prov 29:18 NIV) Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

This being true, Paul prays...

Eph 1:17-18 NIV I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (18) I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Having a vision is imperative to life because....

What you see is what you get

  • Without a dream, we're already half dead

Peter's vision enabled him to build God's house

  • 3000 added in one day
  • What he saw determined what he did

If you're going to build anything great you have to have a great vision

  • E.g. Walt Disney - Disney world opening

When Disney World first opened, Mrs Disney was asked to speak at the Grand opening, since Walt had died. She was introduced by a man who said, Mrs. Disney, I just wish that Walt could have seen this." She stood up and said, "He did." and sat down.

"Far greater it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though chequered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat!" (Theodore Roosevelt)

What I see for us this year can be summed up in 3 words

  • Build - connect - experience
  • A year of 'tangibles'

Before I get into that...

2007 highlights

  • Church grew by - 50%
  • First year of multiple services - extra work (went very well)
  • Matt and Gill released to plant their church (more on that later)
  • Started the Spanish service
  • Children's ministry intensive
  • KidGo holiday club
  • Chosen conference - women
  • Heroes camp - men

Year of transition and Infrastructure

  • Key people were added

Our vision for 2008

1. New facility

  • Looking for some time
  • Negotiating over a building as we speak

2. New Album

  • Available in April

3. New name and logo

  • Fresh and modern......just some thoughts (car & billboard)

4. New deacons

  • Andy & Tash, Geoff Bedenham, Marcus & Debbie, Fiona Hodgson, Riley & Sally, James Marcus, Ben & Elise, Trevor & Mary, Mick & Katie.

5. Connect groups

  • Fortnightly
  • Connect with each believers
  • Connect with unbelievers

6. Victory kids

  • Kidmo (see demo) 2 mins
  • Nicola - 5 kids to over 200

7. Outreaches

  • International - India...Indonesia...Hong Kong
  • Canberra - Mat and Gill (preaching here - March 3)
    • March 9 - first prelaunch meeting
    • June 8 - church Launch weekend (group to go over)
    • Fusion City Church
    • Note: Preaching here - Sun. 2nd march

8. Women's conference - Believe 08 (April)

9. Men's camps - October

10. Stepped off the NCMI team

  • Time and space in my life to get to other things around the world