Embracing a Vision of Hope and Resurrection
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound significance of having a long-term vision, both in our personal faith journeys and as a church community. Drawing inspiration from 1 Corinthians 15, we were reminded of the foundational truth of the Gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This sacred memory serves as our anchor, propelling us forward with hope and purpose. Just as the farmer with a 50-year vision for his organic dairy farm learned from the past to shape a sustainable future, we too are called to look back at God's faithfulness in our history to guide our steps forward.
The story of the Victorian Baptist Union, which began with a single church in 1838 and has grown to over 250 churches, exemplifies the power of standing firm in faith and adapting to change. This growth was fueled by a commitment to meet the needs of people wherever they gathered, a principle that remains vital as we envision the future. With the population of Victoria rapidly increasing, we are challenged to dream boldly, aiming to double our churches and expand our missional impact.
However, this vision is not achievable through human effort alone. It requires us to live as resurrection people, empowered by the same God who has done immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine in the past. By reflecting on our sacred memories and the mighty acts of God, we are encouraged to stand firm, engage in the present, and invest in the future. This involves stepping out in faith, embracing new initiatives, and being open to the new things God is doing in our midst.
Key Takeaways:
1. Sacred Memories as Anchors: Our sacred memories, like the resurrection of Christ, serve as anchors that assure us of God's faithfulness and call us to stand firm in our faith. These memories remind us of God's past actions and inspire us to trust Him for the future. [57:11]
2. The Importance of a Long-term Vision: Having a long-term vision provides direction, inspiration, and resilience. It helps us make decisions aligned with our ultimate goals and motivates us to persevere through challenges, knowing that our efforts contribute to a legacy beyond our lifetime. [53:00]
3. Learning from the Past to Shape the Future: By looking back at our history, we can learn valuable lessons that guide our future actions. The Bible encourages us to remember God's past deeds as a way to navigate the uncertainties of the future with confidence and hope. [55:39]
4. Avoiding the Temptation to Settle: Like the disciples at the Transfiguration, we may be tempted to settle in moments of spiritual high. However, God calls us to move beyond these experiences, engaging with the world and continuing our journey of faith and growth. [11:37]
5. Living as Resurrection People: Embracing our identity as resurrection people means living with hope, purpose, and a commitment to God's mission. It involves stepping out in faith, believing that God is doing a new thing and inviting us to be part of His transformative work. [17:08]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[45:25] - The Gospel's Foundation
[47:33] - Personal Reflections and Greetings
[48:14] - Rural Ministers Fellowship
[48:42] - The Organic Dairy Farm Story
[49:37] - The 50-Year Vision
[51:14] - Lessons from the Farm's History
[52:46] - The Need for a 50-Year Vision
[55:39] - Learning from the Past
[57:11] - Sacred Memories and Faith
[59:42] - The Growth of the Baptist Union
[01:01:10] - A Bold Vision for the Future
[01:04:10] - The Resurrection as Our Anchor
[01:09:01] - Avoiding the Temptation to Settle
[01:13:29] - Embracing New Initiatives
[01:17:08] - Living as Resurrection People
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
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Observation Questions:
1. What foundational truths of the Gospel are highlighted in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and why are they significant for our faith? [45:25]
2. How does the story of the Victorian Baptist Union's growth from a single church to over 250 churches illustrate the importance of standing firm in faith and adapting to change? [59:42]
3. What lessons did the farmer learn from his family's history that helped shape his 50-year vision for the organic dairy farm? [49:37]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of sacred memories in our faith journey? [57:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the resurrection of Christ serve as an anchor for believers, and what implications does this have for living as "resurrection people"? [01:04:27]
2. In what ways does having a long-term vision provide direction and resilience for both individuals and church communities? [53:00]
3. How can reflecting on God's past faithfulness help us navigate current challenges and uncertainties? [55:39]
4. What does it mean to avoid the temptation to settle in moments of spiritual high, and how can this be applied to our personal faith journeys? [11:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a sacred memory in your own life that has served as an anchor for your faith. How does this memory inspire you to trust God for the future? [57:11]
2. Consider the long-term vision you have for your personal faith journey. What steps can you take today to align your actions with this vision? [53:00]
3. Identify a past experience where you learned a valuable lesson from God's faithfulness. How can this lesson guide your decisions and actions in the present? [55:39]
4. Have you ever been tempted to settle in a moment of spiritual high? How can you ensure that you continue to engage with the world and grow in your faith? [11:37]
5. What new initiatives or opportunities is God calling you to embrace in your life or within your church community? How can you step out in faith to be part of His transformative work? [01:13:29]
6. How can you contribute to the vision of doubling the number of churches and expanding the missional impact in your community? What specific actions can you take to support this vision? [01:01:10]
7. As a "resurrection person," how can you live with hope and purpose in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to fully embrace this identity? [17:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Sacred Memories Anchor Our Faith
Our sacred memories, such as the resurrection of Christ, serve as anchors that assure us of God's faithfulness and call us to stand firm in our faith. These memories remind us of God's past actions and inspire us to trust Him for the future. Reflecting on these sacred memories helps us to remain grounded in our beliefs, providing a foundation that supports us through life's challenges. By remembering the mighty acts of God, we are encouraged to live with hope and purpose, knowing that the same God who has been faithful in the past will continue to guide us in the future. [57:11]
"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." (Deuteronomy 32:7, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a specific moment in your life where you experienced God's faithfulness. How can you use this memory to strengthen your faith today?
Day 2: Long-term Vision Provides Direction and Resilience
Having a long-term vision provides direction, inspiration, and resilience. It helps us make decisions aligned with our ultimate goals and motivates us to persevere through challenges, knowing that our efforts contribute to a legacy beyond our lifetime. Just as a farmer plans for the future of his farm, we are called to envision a future that aligns with God's purposes. This vision encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when faced with obstacles, trusting that our efforts will bear fruit in God's timing. [53:00]
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one long-term goal you believe God is calling you to pursue? How can you take a step towards this goal today?
Day 3: Learning from the Past to Shape the Future
By looking back at our history, we can learn valuable lessons that guide our future actions. The Bible encourages us to remember God's past deeds as a way to navigate the uncertainties of the future with confidence and hope. Reflecting on the past allows us to see patterns of God's faithfulness and provision, equipping us to face new challenges with courage. As we learn from our history, we are better prepared to embrace the future with a sense of purpose and direction. [55:39]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a lesson from your past that has shaped your faith journey. How can this lesson guide your decisions moving forward?
Day 4: Avoiding the Temptation to Settle
Like the disciples at the Transfiguration, we may be tempted to settle in moments of spiritual high. However, God calls us to move beyond these experiences, engaging with the world and continuing our journey of faith and growth. It is important to recognize that spiritual mountaintops are not destinations but rather points of encouragement along the way. We are called to take the insights and strength gained from these experiences and apply them to our daily lives, continually seeking to grow and serve in new ways. [11:37]
"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (Philippians 3:12, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a recent spiritual experience where you felt tempted to settle? How can you use this experience to propel you into further growth and service?
Day 5: Living as Resurrection People
Embracing our identity as resurrection people means living with hope, purpose, and a commitment to God's mission. It involves stepping out in faith, believing that God is doing a new thing and inviting us to be part of His transformative work. As resurrection people, we are called to live in the power of the risen Christ, allowing His life to flow through us as we engage with the world. This identity empowers us to face challenges with courage and to participate in God's redemptive work in our communities and beyond. [17:08]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can live more fully as a resurrection person? How can you take a step towards this today?
Quotes
He said he had a 50-year vision for his farm he had a vision that that he would hand on a a a a viable a sustainable business a sustainable Farm to his children who would be able to pass it on to their children and it would be be it would be in better shape in 50 years time than it is today. [00:49:12]
The farmer is actually on to something when he looked back at the history of of of his of his uh business of his family business as he looked back over that he learned a lot of lessons and in fact the Bible continuously tells us to remember the past doesn't it to look back it continu L tells us to do that. [00:55:40]
The story of uh adapting when crisis comes and changing and and and responding to that positively I've also seen the challenges and the tough times and what comes from not investing not thinking about the future not investing in technology not investing in in in our footprint and I'm going to make sure that as we go forward I learn from those lessons. [00:52:02]
The Apostle Paul seeks to correct this false Doctrine by reminding the Corinthians of the greatest sacred memory of all the gospel the death burial and resurrection of Jesus so basically what goes on in chapter 15 he says the death burial and resur resurrection of Christ is the foundation for Christian faith it is the Anchor Point we're looking back on to propel us forward. [01:04:22]
The God we worship right can he can right he's he's able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine he's done it in the past and he's the same God yesterday today and forever he will continue to do it and so we are a movement that started way back in 1838 one solitary Church in the city today. [01:02:32]
Sacred memories provide a call to stand firm the Apostle Paul says Paul anchors his appeal in the resurrection of Jesus this sacred memory that we have assures us that God's faithfulness calls us to stand firm the BV the Baptist Union Victoria started with one tiny little church way back in 1838. [01:05:26]
We have a bold dream to double our churches a and dream of new expressions of the church or for every Church to multiply and to continue to multiply as we go forward now this is not humanly possible and we can't do it in our own strength right it's it's just very very hard it's hard to keep the doors open of one Church isn't it. [01:01:47]
We have a history of God's activity in our lives and we have a story an amazing story and we need to reflect on that story in fact we need to reflect on the many stories that we might have the many episodes in that story and let them strengthen our resolve to stand firm in our faith in the midst of the challenges that we face today. [01:07:32]
We are Resurrection people we have a hope we have a future we have a mission and if we live with this disposition as Resurrection people people not of the past people who have who are who have got a great story that can compel us forward imagine the impact we could have on the community on the state and the country. [01:17:11]
The disciples wanted to do what many Christians I think what many churches have done over the years stay in this place where they thought they had reached the Pinnacle of their faith experience but imagine if they stayed there so let's just set up camp on the mountain this is as good as it gets we're not going anywhere else that's it. [01:09:57]
We want to bring people to Jesus we want to make disciples we want to bring transformation to to this to this state and so but can we reach I don't think we can reach maybe 12 plus million people with 35050 churches we're going to need more than than that and so yeah we have a bold dream to double our churches. [01:01:25]
The resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of Believers we gain a resurrection body and we are a resurrection people that means we have victory over death therefore he says therefore my dear brothers and sisters let nothing move you always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor is not in vain. [01:04:48]
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