washingtonstreet CHURCH OF CHRIST A Four Year Vision to Seek God

washingtonstreet CHURCH OF CHRIST A Four Year Vision to Seek God

Today s Agenda Brief Introduction (Daniel Eldridge) Scriptures and Prayers 2 Peter 1:3 11 (Curtis Brown) 1 Thessalonians 3:11 13 (Ron Kerbo) Colossians 1:9 11 & 2 Timothy 3:16 17 (Allen Alcorn) Prayer (Curtis Ashby) Personal Growth (Rick Patterson) Family Growth (Daniel Eldridge) Congregational Growth (Mark Clark) Community Growth (JB Cox) Implementation Timeline (JB Cox) Entertain Questions and Comments (All) Introduction of Elders and Deacons and Closing Prayer (John Ed Underwood)

Background and Summary Desire to seek God s will and be used by Him Scriptural examples Noah noble character Abraham strong faith David pure heart Samuel willing obedience Nehemiah unwavering commitment Elders and Deacons have been in prayer and discussions for months Fairly long term (4 years); provides a general direction and framework while being flexible and open to God s direction

Background and Summary Overall Goal: Four, 1 year areas of focus Involves every member of the congregation Helps to focus all current ministry areas and influences future ministry areas Provides a general framework for annual budget development, Bible class curriculum, special activities; etc.

Four Areas of Growth Individual Family Congregation Community

Tools for Growth Preaching Church Attendance Closer to God Women s Retreats Closer to each other Sharegroups

Spiritual Growth 2 Peter 1:3 11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self control, and in your selfcontrol, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Spiritual Growth 1 Thessalonians 3:11 13 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Spiritual Growth Colossians 1:9 11 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

Spiritual Growth 2 Timothy 3:16 17 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Year 1 Focus Area: Individual Growth 2017 Individual Make Bible study a priority Spend time alone with God Identify areas of weakness Cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit Forgive Pray with purpose Let Christ shine through you Tame the tongue Stop negative speech/attitudes Love Be truthful Surrender your will to God s Encourage Give etc Family Congregation Community

Year 1: Indicators / Goals By the end of 2017: 80% of all members involved in Sunday School class 70% of all members involved in share group 60% of all members actively works in at least one ministry area Individual Family Congregation Community

Year 2 Focus Area: Family Growth 2018 Individual Family Make Bible study a priority Spend time together with God Cherish your spouse Teach your kids Be hospitable Select a ministry to do as a family Talk about hard things Pray for each other Make sacrifices for a Godly cause Respect each other Spend your time wisely Slow down Reject materialism Be mindful of how you speak to each other etc Congregation Community

Year 2: Indicators / Goals By the end of 2018: Have at least 75% of families having regular, in home family Bible studies at least once throughout the week Offer at least one family focused class study, one family retreat, and one marriage enrichment class during the year (50% participation in at least 2 activities) Establish a prayer support system in which family units pray for other families; rotate monthly Other ideas/programs TBD Individual Family Congregation Community

Year 3 Focus Area: Congregational Growth 2019 Individual Family Congregation Pray with purpose Seek God s direction Be united Show love Build new relationships Get to know each other better Share joys and burdens Be known for our passion Challenge ourselves Get out of our comfort zone Renew our first love Care for each other Notice who is hurting Overlook each other s faults Practice and promote forgiveness Community

as a Congregation Renew our First Love The church at Ephesus was chastised in Revelation 2:4 Seek Congregational: Unity Humility Passion for Godliness and service Love and Service for others Find New Ways to Serve Openness to Repentance and Forgiveness Be Aware of and Serve Others Here at Washington Street We must first know each other! Look around the auditorium: Can you name everyone in here? If not, how can we change that? Know who is here, who is absent, who is hurting, etc. Communicate effectively: The Voice, e mail, Twitter, Sunday morning handouts, etc. More Meaningful Congregational Worship How can we better focus on Him? Scripture Reading, Prayer, Singing, etc. New A/V system will be a great tool for this purpose!

Sometimes It Helps to Quantify Things Historical Attendance Data June 2016 258 June 2015 266 June 2014 271 June 2013 362 June 2006 312 June 1997 282 Proceed with Caution: Only God Knows Our Hearts Numbers do NOT tell the whole story. Spirituality does NOT have a metric.

Year 4 Focus Area: Community Growth 2020 Individual Family Congregation Community Meet needs Be visible Get our hands dirty Use our resources to Glorify God Move in the direction that God is working Invest our time in eternal things Walk by faith Show Christ Challenge ourselves Be welcoming Prepare for criticism; respond with love Be innovative Give all credit and thanks to God Don t think too small or limit God etc

Year 4: Indicators / Goals By the end of 2020: As we grow as individuals, families, and a congregation, we will be praying for God to provide opportunities to serve our community more effectively. Goals will be prayerfully developed as we approach 2020. Individual Family Congregation Community

Kickoff Timeline: Preparing for God s Growth Grow for Him vision presented to congregation for prayers and input Elders/Deacons/Ministers begin time of earnest prayer for God s guidance, wisdom, and discernment Class teachers begin planning and praying for implementation Congregation begins time of intensified preparation: guest speakers, retreats, special studies and prayer time, etc. Initial Planning Meeting Deacons present ministry area implementation plans and budgets Kick Off!