My aim and desire in my second year with United Presbyterian Church is to form a vision - not just for the church - but a vision that integrates both personal spiritual growth and discipleship and life together in the church. So, I begin by saying that ...
Our Vision is ...
For all people to become all they can be in Jesus Christ.
Luke 19.10
The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.
(We become all we can be in Christ when our relationship with Him is fully restored and that which was lost to us through our disobedience is restored to us as well ... Most importantly, the opportunity to escape the second death ... Revelation 20.14-15 ... and to have eternal life with God.)
John 10.10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(We become all we can be in Christ when we live out the fullness of Christ-life experience ... In contrast to the agenda of the Enemy of our souls, which is nothing short of our total destruction!)
John 15.1-5
I am the vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean (pruned) because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. If a person remains in Me and I in him, that person will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.
(We become all we can be in Christ when we allow Him to work in us and through us to produce fruit that will last ... Including work that follows us beyond this life ... See Revelation 14.13 ...!)
Romans 12.1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.
(We become all we can be in Christ as God renews our minds ... our thinking ... our outlook ... our perspectives. Then we will have clarity in to know the will and way of God.)
Philippians 1.6
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
(We become all we can be in Christ, because Jesus has personally committed Himself to our personal and spiritual maturity and well being. He's not about to abandon His work in us, either!)
Philippians 2.13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
(We become all we can be in Christ as God gives us the desire to obey Him ... that is put His directives in to practice in our personal lives ... and the power to please Him daily.)
Colossians 1.27-29
To them God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is: Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, ... so that we may present everyone perfect (mature) in Christ ...
(We become all we can be in Christ as He moves into the center of our lives ... Christ in us ... and as He moves us ever more closely to the maturity of spirit and character He has created us to have.)
Colossians 4.12
Ephaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, ... is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
(We become all we can be in Christ as we move into the center of His perfect will, which will result in a life of maturity ... that is, a deepening of character shaped by our walk with Jesus ... and a spirituality that is both confident and competent in the situations we face ... that is, "fully assured.")
2 Timothy 3.14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have come convinced of, because ... [of the] Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(We become all we can be in Christ as the Word of God ... the Scriptures ... shape our outlook ... our actions ... our perspectives. We cannot be mature in Christ and become all He desires us to be apart from knowing, meditating and practicing what is called for from the pages of Scripture.)
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