2020 will bring vision and clarity! Decades ago, futurists predicted what the world would look like in this milestone-year in human history. They said we would have self-driving cars, vote electronically from home, depression would be a primary disease, people would live on mars, and that we would work 26 hours a week. Some predictions were spot-on, while others have alluded us. Some of us dreamed of “Jetson’s” lifestyles with robot-maids and travel by spaceships. What will be your 2020 predictions for marriage, parenting, business, and church? Will you be happy this year? Where will you be by the end of this decade? Will the derailing compulsions, addictions and unhealthy patterns still haunt you? As a church, what will be the future? Will we reimagine God’s kingdom in church community? Will we find peace, joy and fulfillment? Will we see ourselves with a futuristic clarity? This year will be the beginning of something special!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
WHEN YOU THINK OF
GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?
_____________________
WHAT you think about
WHEN you think about
GOD, LIFE and CHURCH
will DEFINE EVERYTHING else
ABOUT YOU!
_____________________
WHAT SHOULD WE THINK OF
WHEN YOU THINK OF
GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?
LOOK FIRST AT JESUS!
_____________________
LUKE 4:16–21 TPT JESUS read where it is written (in Isaiah), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has ANOINTED me to be… FREEDOM for the BROKENHEARTED, and NEW EYES for …Then he added, “These Scriptures CAME TRUE TODAY in front of you.”
ISAIAH 61:3, 7 TPT 3 …to STRENGTHEN those CRUSHED BY DESPAIR who MOURN … to give them a BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET in the place of ASHES, the OIL OF BLISS instead of TEARS, and the mantle of JOYOUS PRAISE instead of the spirit of HEAVINESS. …7 Because you received a DOUBLE DOSE OF SHAME AND DISHONOR, you will inherit a DOUBLE PORTION OF ENDLESS JOY AND EVERLASTING BLISS!
_____________________
1 JOHN 4:17-19 NKJV LOVE has been perfected among us in this: that we may have BOLDNESS (parresias) in the day of JUDGMENT (krisis); because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is NO FEAR in LOVE; but PERFECT (teleios - integrity or integrated – wanting nothing to feel enough) LOVE casts out FEAR, because FEAR INVOLVES TORMENT. But he who FEARS has NOT been made PERFECT IN LOVE. 19 We LOVE Him because He first LOVED us.
BOLDNESS – Parresias – To speak openly and confidently without fear of embarrassment, retaliation or exploitation – to be fully seen in one’s beliefs.
JUDGEMENT - KRISIS - a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.
FEAR – PHOBOS – Plato used as “one concerned with future events” or “concerns with one’s reputation”
_____________________
LOVE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY
TO HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS!
_____________________
YOU CAN KNOW
THE CONCEPT OF LOVE
AND NEVER EXPERIENCE
LOVE’S TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING!
_____________________
JOHN 3:16-17 NKJV [Jesus said] For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him should NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE.
JOHN 17:20-23 NKJV [Jesus said] I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be ONE, as You, Father, [are] in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are ONE: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made PERFECT in ONE, and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW that You have sent Me, and have LOVED them as You have LOVED Me.
_____________________
IS IT POSSIBLE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE LOVE EXPERIENCES?
_____________________
A group of people established and devoted to the promotion of a particular cause!
_____________________
MATTHEW 16:18-19 NLT (Jesus said) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I WILL BUILD my CHURCH, and all the POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT.
_____________________
CHURCH IS AN“ASSEMBLY”
A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN DYNAMIC, INTERDEPENDENT, AND TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIPS,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES!
_____________________
HOW WOULD GOD
ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM
CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL
LOVE EXPERIENCES?
_____________________
HOW WOULD YOU
ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM
CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL
LOVE EXPERIENCES?
_____________________
BONDING WORSHIP – LOVE GOD
PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – LOVE PEOPLE
HEALING SKILLS – GROWING IN LOVE
VOLUNTEER STAFFING – LOVE WITH GIFTS & TALENTS
INVITING OUTSIDERS – NEW EXPERIENCES IN LOVE
_____________________
ACTS 2:42-47 NIV They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the APOSTLES' TEACHING and to FELLOWSHIP, to the BREAKING OF BREAD and to PRAYER. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed …. 45 They sold property and possessions TO GIVE TO ANYONE who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ATE TOGETHER with glad and sincere hearts, 47 PRAISING GOD and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER daily those who were BEING SAVED.
“…added to their number daily… saved” – INVITING OUTSIDERS
“…devoted to fellowship…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS
“…devoted to apostle’s teachings…” – EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
“…gave to anyone who had need…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING
“…devoted to prayers… praising God” – BONDING WORSHIP
_____________________
[Paul said] We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me.
“We proclaim Jesus…” – INVITING OUTSIDERS
“…admonishing…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS
“…teaching everyone…” – HEALING SKILLS
“…present everyone perfect in Christ…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING
“…labor…with all energy” – BONDING WORSHIP
_____________________
HOW WOULD YOU
ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM
CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL
LOVE EXPERIENCES?
_____________________
GOD CAN
ONLY PROMOTE
WHERE WE ALL ARE
WILLING TO DEVOTE!
_____________________
SUNDAYS
GROUPS
WORKSHOPS / RETREATS
TEAMS
