Sermon Series: God’s Vision for the Church
This sermon series follows nicely after our look at the mission and vision of our congregation. In this series, we consider God’s vision for the church. God is very clear about who he wishes us to be as his people in this world. Throughout this series, we’ll hear about a number of different characteristics and attitudes that God wants to see in his people and in his congregations as we carry out his ministry in this world.
Week 6: A Church That Teaches the Next Generation
God is clear: His church is one that he has commissioned to teach the next generation—to proclaim his saving deeds to the our children, and they to their children … and so on, until our Lord Jesus comes again.
Week 5: A Church That Forgives as God Forgives
This week follows closely on the heels of understanding that God’s church is to be one that values accountability—people who are ready and willing to have those hard conversations when sin gets into the mix of our relationships. But just as we should be ready to do that, God wants us to be ready and willing to then offer forgiveness, just as he has forgiven each one of us in Christ Jesus.
Week 4: A Church That Values Accountability
God’s vision for the church also includes valuing accountability. This may not be a part of our lives as God’s people that we look forward to—calling sin to the carpet when needed. Yet, this is a very important part of the ministry that God has given to the church—and to each of us—as we look out for the spiritual health of one another.
Week 3: A Church That Embraces the Cross
As we continue to consider God’s vision for the church, we see that God’s vision is a church that embraces the cross. So often in life, we flee the difficult things. We want to stay far away from the hard or painful things. Yet, very frequently, for the sake of Christ’s name God calls us exactly to those things—as we embrace the cross of Christ, and embrace crosses of our own.
Week 2: A Church That Is Focused on One
As we continue to consider God’s vision for the church, we see that the church is to be a place that is focused on One. We will talk about the wonderful confession of faith that God works in our hearts in his Son Jesus, and our call to share that message with others in this world.
Week 1: A Church That Welcomes All
God’s vision for the church is to be a church that welcomes all people. As we consider God’s Word through the apostle Paul, we’ll see what it truly means to welcome all—by understanding how God has welcomed us into his family through the saving work of Jesus.
Week 7: A Church That Is Watchful as It Waits
As we conclude our series on God’s vision for the church, our eyes are pointed ahead to the Last Day when Jesus returns. God wants us to be watchful as we wait for that day—not to be down and out or defeated, but rather to rise up in God’s grace and strength to carry out the mission that he has laid before us.