2040? (1 John 4:7-14)

Title: 2040?

Text: 1 John 4:7-14

Link: 2040? 1 John 4:7-14

What will 2040 look like?  Do you ever think about that?  It is now 2015 and many of us are left questioning where 2014 went.  But at the end of the 2014 and beginning of 2015 I brought this challenge about what 2040 will look like, b/c if we are going to shape 2040 we will need to make the right investments in 2015.  I also laid out our vision to spur us on to 2040.

So what do you think the church in America will look like in 2040?  Do we really believe that it will look the same as it does today?  Do we really think that we will be meeting in buildings like we do today?

FBC's mission is to "Transform lives for the glory of God"

FBC's vision is "That everyone in the greater Delavan area and beyond has an opportunity to experience a life transforming relationship with Jesus that leads them to love God, love others and touch (or transform) the world.

If we own that vision we better get moving.  We better be asking ourselves "What do we need to be doing to accomplish this."

Here we took a walk through 1 John 4:7-14

Transformation begins in the heart of God...flows to us as demonstrated on the cross...should lead us to loving God, others and testifying about that love.  B/c of God's love your transformation can happen and from there the world.  If you do not understand how much God loves you, you will love Him and others little....

I encourage you to take time to listen and wrestle with these verses.

Application:

1. We are called to radically re-orientate our lives

Our Head, Heart and Hands need to line up.  If our head knowledge lines up with what our hearts believe our hands will be moved to action.

2.  We are called to invest our lives

The deeper you go with God the higher level of commitment...

How old will you be in 25 years?  Who will be the leaders of the church in 25 years?  Many of us at FBC will be in our 60s...who do we need to be investing our lives in now, so that they are ready for leadership in 2040?  Costly choices paid now equals a return in 2040....

We at FBC are in a paradigm shift to becoming a Missional/Incarnational Church.  In that the lowest level of commitment is the Sunday morning Gathering...from there the next level of commitment is being in a Missional Community or Community Group and the deepest level is being in a Life Transformation Group...there is a cost going deeper in that model...but if we radically re-orientate and invest our lives this is the path to depth and the way to accomplish our vision...

3.  We are called to be on mission together

We are sent ones...as sent ones we need to ask some tough questions.  If we were suddenly dropped into Timbucktoo as missionaries what would you do?  You would figure out where the food and restrooms were, seek to learn the language and understand the culture.  The sad thing is that most of us think we understand the culture around us and yet in reality the culture around us is in flux and changing...we need to be asking do we understand it and what do we need to keep doing and what do we need to do differently.  To fulfill our vision we are going to need to ask tough questions.

If we are going to be on mission together we need more individuals to become "Company people."  I do not know how to say it other than that...We are going to need to get on the same page and communicate/sell where we are going.  To help us get on the same page Pastor Ross is going to start doing training on Saturdays...

Again take a listen...we can shape 2040 by the choices we make today...

Blessings,
PT