Embracing God's Vision for Liberty Church 2025

 

Summary

Summary:

Today marks Vision Sunday, a pivotal moment for Liberty Church as we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2025. Reflecting on the past year, we celebrate the significant milestones achieved, including impactful events like the Easter extravaganza, summer camp, and fall festival, which collectively reached over 2,000 people. We also rejoice in the baptism of 10 individuals who publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ. As we transition into the new year, we embrace a fresh vision and mission, symbolized by a new logo and a simplified approach to our ministry. Our vision is to see all people encounter the love of God, experience true freedom in authentic community, and be equipped to lead with purpose and passion. Our mission is to reach all people with the good news and great joy of Jesus, without exclusion.

As we move forward, we are committed to focusing on people, reaching them with the gospel, and transforming our community. We are introducing new initiatives like the culture class to integrate new members and foster a sense of belonging. We are also expanding our leadership team to better serve our congregation and community. Our faith is anchored in the belief that God is doing something new, and we are called to be active participants in His work. We are challenged to look through the eyes of faith, trusting in God's provision and stepping out of our comfort zones to engage fully in His mission. This year, we are praying bold prayers, expecting God to do the impossible, and believing for growth, transformation, and miracles in our church and community.

Key Takeaways:

1. Community and Connection: The purpose of gathering as a church is to encourage and strengthen one another, providing a support system that helps us face life's challenges. Isolation is a tactic of the enemy, and being part of a community helps us stay grounded in faith and connected to God's purpose. [14:59]

2. Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future: While we celebrate past victories, we must not let them hinder future breakthroughs. God is continually writing our story, and we are called to focus on what He wants to do now and in the future, rather than dwelling on past successes or failures. [49:17]

3. Faith and Vision: Seeing through the eyes of faith means believing in what God is doing, even before it is fully revealed. We are encouraged to trust in God's plan, knowing that He has already laid the foundation for His work, and we are invited to be part of it. [57:20]

4. Trusting God's Provision: In times of scarcity, God provides miraculously. We are reminded to trust in God's resources and provision, even when circumstances seem unlikely. Our faith leads us to expect the unexpected and to rely on God's faithfulness. [01:03:40]

5. Active Participation in God's Mission: We are called to engage fully in God's mission, stepping out of our comfort zones and being present in prayer, service, and giving. Our role is to plant seeds of faith, trusting that God will bring growth and transformation in His time. [01:09:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [13:13] - Purpose of Church Community
- [14:59] - Avoiding Isolation
- [16:20] - Reflecting on 2024 Achievements
- [18:32] - Impact of Community Events
- [21:19] - New Faces and Growth
- [27:06] - Vision for 2025
- [30:58] - New Mission and Vision Statement
- [32:37] - Clear, Simple Life
- [33:26] - Introduction of Culture Class
- [37:22] - Leadership Team Introduction
- [43:32] - Challenge to Reach Three People
- [45:18] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [49:17] - Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
- [57:20] - Faith and Vision for Growth

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 43:16-21

Observation Questions:
1. What significant events from 2024 were highlighted as milestones for Liberty Church? How did these events impact the community? [16:20]
2. What is the new vision and mission statement for Liberty Church, and how does it reflect the church's goals for 2025? [30:58]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in seeing God's new work before it is fully revealed? [57:20]
4. What examples were given in the sermon of God's provision in times of scarcity? [01:03:40]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the passage from Isaiah 43:16-21 relate to the concept of honoring the past while embracing the future? [49:17]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that community and connection are vital for spiritual growth and support? [14:59]
3. How does the sermon encourage believers to actively participate in God's mission, and what does this look like in practical terms? [01:09:11]
4. What does it mean to see through the eyes of faith, and how can this perspective influence one's actions and decisions? [57:20]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a past success or failure in your life. How can you honor that experience without letting it hinder your future growth? [49:17]
2. How can you actively engage with your church community to avoid isolation and strengthen your faith? What steps can you take this week to connect with others? [14:59]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's provision. What practical steps can you take to rely more on His faithfulness? [01:03:40]
4. Think of a situation where you need to step out of your comfort zone to participate in God's mission. What is one action you can take this week to move in that direction? [01:09:11]
5. How can you incorporate the church's new vision and mission into your personal life? What changes might you need to make to align with these goals? [30:58]
6. Consider a bold prayer you can pray this year. What is one specific area where you are asking God to do the impossible, and how will you prepare for His answer? [01:09:11]
7. How can you use your unique gifts and talents to contribute to the growth and transformation of your church and community? What is one step you can take to get involved? [01:06:40]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Community and Connection
In a world that often promotes individualism, the church stands as a beacon of community and connection. Gathering as a church is not just a routine; it is a vital practice that strengthens and encourages each member. Being part of a community helps individuals face life's challenges with a support system rooted in faith. Isolation is a tactic that can lead to spiritual stagnation, but being connected to others in faith keeps us grounded in God's purpose. The church community is a place where people can find encouragement, accountability, and a sense of belonging. [14:59]

Bible Passage:
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25, ESV)

Reflection:
Think of someone in your church community who might be feeling isolated. How can you reach out to them this week to offer support and connection?


Day 2: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
While it is important to celebrate past victories, it is equally crucial not to let them hinder future breakthroughs. God is continually writing our story, and we are called to focus on what He wants to do now and in the future. Dwelling on past successes or failures can prevent us from seeing the new things God is doing. Embracing the future means being open to change and trusting that God has a plan for what lies ahead. It is about honoring the past but not being bound by it, allowing God to lead us into new beginnings. [49:17]

Bible Passage:
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)

Reflection:
What is one past success or failure that you need to release to embrace what God is doing in your life now?


Day 3: Seeing Through the Eyes of Faith
Faith is about believing in what God is doing, even before it is fully revealed. It requires trusting in God's plan and knowing that He has already laid the foundation for His work. Seeing through the eyes of faith means looking beyond the present circumstances and believing in the possibilities that God has in store. It is an invitation to be part of God's unfolding story, trusting that He is at work even when we cannot see the full picture. [57:20]

Bible Passage:
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." (Hebrews 11:1-3, ESV)

Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully, even though you cannot see the outcome?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Provision
In times of scarcity, it is easy to doubt, but God provides miraculously. Trusting in God's resources and provision means expecting the unexpected and relying on His faithfulness. Even when circumstances seem unlikely, God is able to provide in ways that surpass our understanding. Our faith leads us to believe that God will meet our needs and that His provision is always sufficient. Trusting in God's provision is about having confidence in His ability to provide, even when we cannot see how. [01:03:40]

Bible Passage:
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:19-20, ESV)

Reflection:
Reflect on a time when God provided for you in an unexpected way. How can this memory strengthen your trust in His provision today?


Day 5: Active Participation in God's Mission
We are called to engage fully in God's mission, stepping out of our comfort zones and being present in prayer, service, and giving. Our role is to plant seeds of faith, trusting that God will bring growth and transformation in His time. Active participation means being willing to take risks and be involved in what God is doing in the world. It is about being open to new opportunities to serve and share the gospel, knowing that God is at work through us. [01:09:11]

Bible Passage:
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection:
What is one specific way you can step out of your comfort zone this week to participate in God's mission?

Quotes

"Listen to me. When you're not at church, not only do we miss you, but the purpose of church, can I just encourage you for just one moment? The purpose of church is for us as a body to come together. And to be able to encourage one another. How many of you understand that, right? The purpose of church is for us to gather together, encourage one another, strengthen one another, because when we leave those doors, the enemy wants to do nothing but separate you from the body of Christ." [00:13:36]

"Listen, the worst thing that the enemy has convinced Christians is when they're going through a rough time. Listen, the worst thing that the enemy has convinced Christians is when they're going through a rough time is to isolate. And that's the place when you isolate where the enemy can take you and destroy your life. And you don't need to isolate. That's for free this morning for all of you folks. Amen? If you're going through it today, don't let the enemy tell you that it doesn't get better, because I promise you, it gets better. Amen?" [00:14:51]

"2025, I believe, is going to be a year that we see God move in lives, move in homes. And we're going to see people come in to this church. Amen. How many of you believe that? All right. Now, with 2025, there are going to be some new things that come along in 2025. Right? What are some of those? What are some of those new things, Pastor? What are some of those things that look like? Well, first and foremost, everybody look at that wall right there. Or if you've got a tithe envelope, that has been our logo for... You all know that Liberty Church, we're not just a standalone church here in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. We're part of a larger church, Liberty Church, based out of York, South Carolina. And we also have a second campus or a third campus in Clover, South Carolina." [00:22:06]

"Vision Sunday today isn't just about me sharing our new logo and all of those things. What Vision Sunday is about is aligning our hearts with God and His call to step boldly into what He has for us as a church. Right? Isaiah 43, 16 through 21, as we just read, God is speaking to His people during a time when they needed hope, when they need direction, and they needed a reminder that He was not finished with them yet. And what this passage reveals is how God calls His people to step into something new and into something fresh and into something bold and into something faith-filled." [00:46:44]

"So many times churches die and churches go away because they talk about what it used to be, and they're not focused on what God wants to do. I preached earlier on this end of year that we will look at what God has done. We will look, oh, at one time we were a church of 200 people. At one time we were this. At one time we were that. I was a church at one time of this or that or whatever. And we focus on the past, and we don't look at the past. We don't look at the present. We don't look at the at what God wants to do in the future." [00:49:42]

"Stop dwelling and start expecting. The new thing God's doing begins with faith. We have to open our eyes to the new things that God wants to do. Verse 19 says, For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. God is not asking if he's doing something new. He's not asking you if he can do something new. God is doing something new. And the question is, are we going to be a part of what he's doing? Hear me." [00:56:29]

"God doesn't need us to fulfill his purpose on this earth, but he wants us to partner with him and be involved in his purpose on this earth. God already laid the foundation for what he's doing. He wants us to walk the path out for us to reach people for Jesus. We just have to be active in doing it. Jesus already died on the cross. The path is already there. We just have to walk the path and share the gospel and share the good news of Jesus with people. Are we going to be a part or are we not?" [00:57:30]

"That's our job, is to plant seeds, and God will bring growth from the seeds that we plant. We planted over 2,000 seeds in three events. We planted seeds, of people that came and watched others get baptized. We planted seeds on Friend Day. We've planted seeds at Coal Ferry Elementary. We've planted seeds at different locations and different places. And I believe that as we continue to plant those seeds, we will begin to see the growth come out of those seeds. Why? Because God just called us to plant seeds." [01:00:03]

"When God brings a new vision, He always provides for it. Even in the most unlikely places. When you read this scripture, the wilderness represents places where resources feel scarce. I'm going to be honest with you. There's times that I sit in that office and I think, God, how are we going to do it? But God. A random check comes in the mail. We've had that happen this year supernaturally. I believe God's going to begin to send people into the wilderness. He's going to send people into our church that are going to give financially of their time that they're going to buy into this thing and they're going to be a part of who we are. God provides the resources." [01:03:22]

"Your job this year is to reach people for Jesus. You have people in your circle that I don't have access to. You have the opportunity to share Jesus with them. Are you going to be an active participant in that? We talked about it many times in 2024. God didn't call us and save us just to sit on it. He called us to do something with it, and that is to take it into a world who needs it. The wilderness isn't the end. Israel is in the wilderness, and they're walking in circles for 40 years, and they're cursing, and they're fussing, and they're building idols to a false God, and they are just wondering what is happening." [01:06:40]

"How many of you have faith this year that God is going to do something amazing at Liberty Church? Come on, how many of you really have faith this year? Isaiah 43, 19 says it all, for I am about to do something new. I have already begun. Here's what I'm asking you to do with us this year, is to pray bold prayers. Ask God how you can be a part of what He wants to do in Wilson County and in Liberty Church. Now listen, if all you want to do is come to church and you don't want to do anything else, that's between you and the Lord." [01:08:07]

"Step out in faith and then engage fully. Be present in prayer. Serve, give, and be involved for what God wants to do. At the end of the day, when I stand before God and we're all going to stand there one day, I want to hear, well done, good and faithful servant. I don't want to hear, oh, you made it by the skin of your teeth. I want to hear, well done. Here's what you're going to get from your pastor this year. You're going to get a guy that prays harder than he's ever prayed." [01:09:58]

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Transcript
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