Embracing God's Vision: Love, Service, and Evangelism

Devotional

Day 1: The Dual Focus of Faith

The mission of the church is deeply rooted in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, which call believers to love God and love people while spreading the gospel. This dual focus ensures that faith is both vertical, impacting one's relationship with God, and horizontal, affecting the community. The church is not merely a building but a community of believers united in purpose, striving to make heaven crowded by reaching as many people as possible with the message of salvation. This mission is not just for the church as a whole but for each individual, emphasizing the importance of personal involvement in the church's mission. [03:12]

"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in both loving God and loving people in your daily life this week?

Day 2: Unleashing God's Power Through Belief

Belief in God's ability to do great things is crucial for unleashing His power in our lives. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, but it is according to the power that works in us. This means that our faith can either limit or unleash God's power. Believing in a God who can do more than we can imagine encourages us to think big and trust in His plans for our lives and the church. [22:29]

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to trust God for something bigger than you can imagine?

Day 3: Excellence as a Reflection of God's Glory

Serving with excellence is a way to honor God and inspire others. It involves doing our best with what we have, recognizing that excellence looks different at every level. This commitment to excellence should permeate every aspect of our lives and church activities, reflecting God's glory and drawing others to Him. By serving with excellence, we demonstrate the value we place on our relationship with God and our desire to inspire others to seek Him. [33:58]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you strive for greater excellence to honor God and inspire those around you?

Day 4: The Generous Heart of Giving

Giving is a reflection of God's generous nature and is not about the amount but the heart behind it. As we give our first and best to God, we open the door for His blessings in our lives. This principle applies to our time, talents, and resources, encouraging us to be generous in all aspects of our lives. By giving generously, we align ourselves with God's heart and become conduits of His blessings to others. [36:42]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice generosity in a specific area of your life this week, reflecting God's heart to those around you?

Day 5: Sacrifice and Evangelism for Eternal Impact

Evangelism is about reaching the lost with the message of Jesus and requires sacrifice, giving up what we love for what we love more—Christ and His mission. This involves using our time, talents, and treasures to make an eternal impact. By prioritizing evangelism and being willing to sacrifice for the greater good, we participate in God's mission to bring life, love, and value to everyone, everywhere, every day. [42:26]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can share the message of Jesus with someone in your life this week, even if it requires a personal sacrifice?

Sermon Summary

As we close out 2024 and look forward to 2025, it's a time to reflect on the incredible things God has done and to set our hearts on the vision for the coming year. This year, we moved into a new facility, a testament to God's faithfulness and provision. As we transition into 2025, it's crucial to remember the core mission of the church: to love God and love people, as outlined in the Great Commandment, and to preach the gospel to all, as instructed in the Great Commission. These are the foundational pillars upon which every church and believer should stand.

The church is not just a building; it's a community of believers united in purpose. Jesus promised to build His church, and it's the only force capable of overcoming the gates of hell. Our mission is to make heaven crowded by reaching as many people as possible with the message of salvation. This is why our vision at Abundant Life Church is to bring life, love, and value to everyone, everywhere, every day. This mission is not just for the church as a whole but for each of us individually.

As we look to 2025, we are called to think big, serve with excellence, give generously, sacrifice for the greater good, and evangelize with passion. Thinking big means believing in a God who can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. Serving with excellence honors God and inspires people. Giving is a reflection of God's heart, and it opens the door for His blessings. Sacrifice involves giving up what we love for what we love more—Christ and His church. Evangelism is about reaching the lost and making an eternal impact.

In practical terms, this means setting personal and church-wide goals that align with these core values. Whether it's expanding our facilities, launching new campuses, or enhancing our community outreach, we are committed to making a significant impact in 2025. Let's believe God for big things, knowing that He is able and willing to do more than we can imagine.

Key Takeaways

1. The Church's Mission: The church's mission is rooted in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. We are called to love God and people and to spread the gospel. This dual focus ensures that our faith is both vertical and horizontal, impacting our relationship with God and our community. [03:12]
2. The Power of Belief: Our belief in God's ability to do great things is crucial. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, but it's according to the power that works in us. Our faith can either limit or unleash God's power in our lives. [22:29]
3. Excellence in Service: Serving with excellence honors God and inspires others. It's about doing our best with what we have, recognizing that excellence looks different at every level. This commitment to excellence should permeate every aspect of our lives and church activities. [33:58]
4. The Heart of Giving: Giving is a reflection of God's generous nature. It's not about the amount but the heart behind it. As we give our first and best to God, we open the door for His blessings in our lives. This principle applies to our time, talents, and resources. [36:42]
5. Evangelism and Sacrifice: Evangelism is about reaching the lost with the message of Jesus. It requires sacrifice, giving up what we love for what we love more—Christ and His mission. This involves using our time, talents, and treasures to make an eternal impact. [42:26]
** [42:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - Reflecting on 2024
[03:12] - The Church's Mission
[04:40] - The Power of Belief
[06:44] - Building on the Rock
[07:34] - The Church as a Force
[08:58] - Expressions of the Church
[11:13] - Vision and Purpose
[12:52] - Personal Mission Statement
[15:09] - Core Values Introduction
[16:34] - Think Big
[19:07] - Overcoming Limitations
[22:29] - God's Ability
[24:44] - Believing for Big Things
[26:24] - Vision for 2025
[29:40] - Community Impact
[33:58] - Excellence in Service
[36:42] - The Heart of Giving
[40:04] - Sacrifice and Evangelism
[42:26] - Evangelism in Action

Sermon Clips

"Do you believe that without Christ, the wrath of God abides upon someone's life? Do you believe that? If you believe it like I believe it, then you want to see everybody you can in heaven, born again, on fire for God. So that you and I, when we get to heaven, our friends, our loved ones, even our foes are there, praise God. They don't have to be your neighbor. I'm just saying. Even your foes are there. But the reality is, I believe this with all my heart. I want to make heaven crowded. I want to make heaven populated. I want to get everybody I can to heaven. I've said it before, and I believe this with everything in me. You ready?" [00:05:08] (39 seconds)

"That's what the church is built upon. On the fact that that Jesus is the son of the living God. That's what we build everything on, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Now watch this. The next part is very important. And I will build my, this is why it's so important that you're connected to the church. Why? It's the only thing Jesus promised to build. Jesus never promised to build a building. He promised to build a church. How many of you know the building is not the church? How many of you know the building is the people, praise God? The building is just a conduit. It's just a place where we gather. All right, it's nothing more than to a farmer, a silo. No one worships the silo." [00:07:34] (46 seconds)

"Come on, am I right, everybody? Now, that doesn't mean we don't need buildings. I'm just simply saying what's more important than the other. I will build my church, and I love this part. And the gates of Hades, hell, shall not prevail, what? Against it. So get this. The only force that can defeat the enemy in the earth is the church. It's the church. So let me just say it real, real clear. Here. The local church is the greatest and only force for the kingdom of God in the earth. It's the only force for the kingdom of God in the earth. Think about it like this. Romans says, if you will confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that Christ raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." [00:08:58] (39 seconds)

"How many of you believe we serve a big God? I got about half. All right. How many of you believe we serve a big God? Come on. He slung the world. I mean, he took six days, created everything, and took the seventh day and chilled. Our God is a big God. And I just believe with all my heart, if we're going to serve a big God, we should believe God for big things. I've said this forever. You don't have to agree, but this is the way I've always seen it. You ready? I've asked the Lord in my life, Lord, do something so big in my life that whenever people see it, they go, there ain't no way he did." [00:16:11] (37 seconds)

"That mentality, I tell you what, that's a giant killing machine right there, praise God. You can stomp on some enemy territory whenever you have that mentality. So here's the point. My point is, later on in the Bible, the Bible tells us that Israel, watch this, they... They limited the Holy One of Israel. They limited God. This is why it's so important that whenever we think big, we don't limit God. Listen to this, Ephesians chapter 3, verse 20, one of my favorite verses. Now, to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, stop right there. What God can do is not in question." [00:22:29] (42 seconds)

"Believe it or not, you and I limit God. It's not God that limits us. It's not God that limits us. It's not God that limits us. It's not God that limits us. It's us. It's us limiting God. This is why it's up to us to believe God. And it goes on to say, to him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. But the point being, now to him who is able. You should just settle it in your heart. God is able. God is able. You should tell yourself all the time, God is able. God is able to make all grace abound." [00:23:13] (31 seconds)

"Excellence honors God and inspires people. It really does. You really love excellence, and you may not even realize that. Excellent. So I'm going to ask you, and I'm going to challenge you this year. What area of your life do you say, you know what? I want to be excellent. Now, listen to what I didn't say. I want to be perfect. I mean, you know, perfection, that's something you're only going to get when you get to heaven. Come on, when you get to heaven. I'm not asking perfection. I'm not even believing for perfection for myself." [00:33:58] (33 seconds)

"Here's what I do care about and I am very passionate about. Let's do it better every week, praise God. Let's do it better. Let's do it better. Let's find a way to get better at doing church every week. Amen? Amen. Here's number three. Everybody say giving. Everybody say giving. We believe in giving. Now, you got John 3.16, for God so loved that he gave. The heart of God is to be a giver. Luke 6, 38, the Bible says, given it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together. We know that Malachi 3, 8 says, will a man rob God? Yeah, you rob me. And which way have we robbed you? In tithe and offering." [00:35:10] (37 seconds)

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