Remember, Rejoice, and Refine

Remember, Rejoice, and Refine

THREE GOALS: 1. Remember what God has done over the last 18 months.

THREE GOALS: 1. Remember what God has done over the last 18 months. 2. Rejoice in all that God has accomplished in and through our church.

THREE GOALS: 1. Remember what God has done over the last 18 months. 2. Rejoice in all that God has accomplished in and through our church. 3. Refine our vision for the future.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: Began meeting as a team of about 35 adults in May 2016.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: Began meeting as a team of about 35 adults in May 2016. Focused service efforts in Altoona/Bondurant/Pleasant Hill for M2TC 2016.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: Several Downtown families moved to Altoona Summer 2016.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: Several Downtown families moved to Altoona Summer 2016. Neighborhood invitation and outreach efforts throughout the summer.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: August 2016 purchased 107 6th St. SW, Darrin recognized as a pastor.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: August 2016 purchased 107 6th St. SW, Darrin recognized as a pastor. September 2016 Community Groups formed and began meeting in homes.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: September 11, 2016 launched first service at Altoona Elementary.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: September 11, 2016 launched first service at Altoona Elementary. December 2016 began demolition and poured footings for our atrium.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: April 2017 began construction and renovation of building.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: April 2017 began construction and renovation of building. January 21, 2018 Stasos recognized as a pastor.

BRIEF HISTORY OF WCA: April 2017 began construction and renovation of building. January 21, 2018 Stasos recognized as a pastor. January 28, 2018 open new building.

1. Remember

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people. Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season.

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass that extended as far as Adam,

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah the Dead Sea was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the ark of the

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 Lord s covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua: Choose twelve men from the people, one man for each tribe, and command them:

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 Take twelve stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe, 5 and said to them, Go across to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan.

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, What do these stones mean to you?

JOSHUA 3:14 4:7 you should tell them, The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan s water was cut off. Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.

REMEMBERING IN THE BIBLE: 1. The people of God have a tendency to quickly forget His faithfulness in the past.

REMEMBERING IN THE BIBLE: 2. The principle and example we see in the Bible is to find ways to intentionally remember God s faithfulness and goodness in our lives.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes.

2. Rejoice

PSALM 103:1-2 My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits.

If we are rightly and regularly remembering God s faithfulness and graciousness toward us, it will produce rejoicing and praise.

3. Refine

PROVERBS 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.

Walnut Creek Church exists to make authentic disciples of Jesus Christ who love and worship God in all they do, and to spread the message of the gospel.

TWO COMPONENTS TO OUR MISSION: 1. Make disciples of Jesus The Great Commission

MATTHEW 28:18-20 Then Jesus came near and said to them, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name

MATTHEW 28:18-20 of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

COMMISSION: A mission, assignment, or duty issued to a person or group of people.

The Great Commission serves as the foundation of what God has commanded the church to do.

TWO COMPONENTS TO OUR MISSION: 1. Make disciples of Jesus The Great Commission 2. Make AUTHENTIC disciples The Great Commandment

MATTHEW 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?

MATTHEW 22:34-40 He said to him, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.

MATTHEW 22:34-40 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.

TWO COMPONENTS TO OUR MISSION: 1. Make disciples of Jesus The Great Commission 2. Make AUTHENTIC disciples The Great Commandment Spread the message of the gospel.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-20 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them,

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-20 and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ s behalf, Be reconciled to God.

The message of reconciliation that Paul is referring to is the gospel.

What is the gospel? Gospel = good news

APPLICATION 1. Are you an authentic disciple of Jesus?

APPLICATION 1. Are you an authentic disciple of Jesus? Get in a Community Group

APPLICATION 1. Are you an authentic disciple of Jesus? Get in a Community Group Get involved in one-to-one discipleship

APPLICATION 2. Are you engaged in the mission to make disciples?