Unstoppable Vision

We had an awesome message at church today! There were so many great points and it was right up my alley, considering it was very much like what I loved so much about the messages in "Crazy Love" and "The Hole in our Gospel."

Today was all about Lifepoint 2.0. In other words, as a new church, we've come this far and where are we going to go next? What is our mission? What kind of church do we want to be? Yes, it was specific to our church, but the message was universal..........it was one that every church should think about.

Our Pastor started out by saying that God will accomplish His vision with or without you. He won't force it on you though. It's your choice to settle for an average existence. He said that if our choice is the status quo, then we might as well close the doors. God's vision is unstoppable, but it's unstoppable because of Him, not because we are so great. It's His vision and we have to be available for Him to use us. When we have church members who love nothing but God and hate nothing but sin, things will happen.

He told us that from the first times of him and some other members first meeting around the dining table, discussing their dreams for Lifepoint, up until now has been about 3 years in the making. The work that's been done so far, the people God has brought to Lifepoint, etc. has been amazing so far. But, what they envisioned in the beginning was not about religion, it was about a revolution. It was about what God could do if they started Lifepoint. It's easy to play it safe. Do we want to risk it all with Him or play it safe without Him?

Lifepoint's mission is to help people point their lives up, out, and in. Up to God. Out by investing in the lives of others. In by living in community with other believers. We need to be connected and walk the journey with other believers. Our Pastor asked us this question today:

Will you sacrifice your life for the mission?

It is our nature to prefer comfort. Many churches are like this. You go to church on the weekend only. It has its own place and time on the schedule. We don't want Him telling us what to do so we make the decisions.

Mark 8:34 says that "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Jesus did this and it was what He asked us to do as well. He was shamed and mocked, ridiculed, and insulted. Christ didn't call us just to go to church sometimes, read the Bible, and pray. It's not all fun. It will cost you everything to be totally committed, but nowhere else will you find fulfillment and joy. The disciples were average and ordinary, but they changed everything. The church in Acts 2 looked like this. Our Pastor asked us if we had an expectation of what God would do in our life today when we came to church or did we just come because church was on the schedule?

There are several things that we want our church to be. We have a vision for a church where:

1. Everyone is welcome.

We cannot be appalled by the sin of those who don't know Christ. We can't expect them to know. We are to love people when they least expect it and when they least deserve it. Could you do that for your worst enemy? We can't pick which sins we accept. We want to connect with those who feel like outsiders. We want to make people feel welcome in our community.

2. Everyone is needed.

For whatever reason, those of us who are at Lifepoint are there to do certain things that God has equipped us to do. Our Pastor said that there are things that he does and struggles with that other members could do in their sleep. He said he needs us to step up and do those things. We need to work together. He told us not to be a "but". You know, "but I can't, etc...." LOL! We are called to function in this body, to make a commitment to buy into the mission. Every day, we should be asking God what He can use us to do. This would apply to any church, not just Lifepoint.

3. Everyone is changed.

God's plan for you does not end at the moment of salvation. He's not finished and you're not done, completed, or perfected yet. Are you tired of the status quo? Do you want something better? It is not acceptable to be ordinary. Don't exchange good for God's best! Give God complete control. Give your life and sacrifice for the mission. Be sold out. That means that you don't give any room to any competing forces in your life. That means that your life is taken and Christ calls the shots. There's no seats left for anyone or anything else. It means to be used regardless of what it costs you.

Will you give your life to the mission?