Legacy Sunday: Embracing Purpose, Community, and Future Vision

Devotional

Day 1: Discovering Purpose and Community

In life, discovering one's purpose and finding a community can lead to profound transformation. This journey often begins with a personal testimony, as individuals realize they are created with unique gifts meant to influence the world around them. The church serves as a place where people can find significance and purpose beyond their circumstances, offering a supportive community that nurtures growth and transformation. By embracing this purpose, individuals can become beacons of hope and service in their communities, just as Influence Church has done. [01:35]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt a strong sense of purpose. How can you use your unique gifts to serve and influence your community today?

Day 2: Vision for Future Generations

A vision that extends beyond the present is crucial for impacting future generations. This vision involves serving and influencing not only locally but also nationally and internationally. By focusing on the next generation, communities can ensure that their legacy continues to inspire and transform lives. Influence Church is committed to this vision, aiming to create a lasting impact that transcends time and geography. This commitment calls for intentionality in nurturing the next generation to carry forward the mission of faith and service. [19:30]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (1 Chronicles 16:24, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can contribute to a vision that impacts future generations. What steps can you take today to invest in the lives of those who will carry on your legacy?

Day 3: Establishing a Permanent Home

Just as the Israelites moved with the tabernacle, Influence Church has been a portable church. However, the time has come to establish a permanent location to better serve the community. A permanent home will enable the church to fulfill its mission more effectively, providing a space for worship, outreach, and community engagement seven days a week. This step is not just about a physical building but about creating a stable foundation for continued growth and service. [21:44]

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the importance of having a stable foundation in your life. What steps can you take to establish a "permanent home" for your spiritual growth and service?

Day 4: Practicing Financial Stewardship

Financial stewardship is a vital aspect of living a life of faith. By encouraging cheerful giving and offering financial classes, communities can learn to manage resources wisely. Following biblical principles of stewardship allows individuals to experience God's blessings and give generously to others. Influence Church emphasizes the importance of financial stewardship as a means to empower the community and support its mission. [41:26]

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice financial stewardship in your life today? Consider one specific way you can honor God with your resources.

Day 5: Embracing a Win-Win-Win Vision

A vision that benefits the church, investors, and God's kingdom is a win-win-win situation. By thinking creatively and outside the box, communities can support ministries and create sustainable sources of income for future growth. Influence Church's vision includes building a venue center to support local, national, and international ministries, creating opportunities for collaboration and impact. This approach ensures that the church's mission is not only sustained but also expanded. [39:50]

"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 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a creative way you can contribute to a win-win-win vision in your community. How can you collaborate with others to support a cause that benefits everyone involved?

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Sermon Summary

Legacy Sunday is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and envision the future of Influence Church. Over the past three years, God has been at work in our community, and we are excited to share the journey and the vision for the next 300 years. Our story begins with a personal testimony of transformation, from growing up in Romania under communism to discovering purpose and community through the church. This journey led to the founding of Influence Church, which has become a beacon of hope and service in our community.

Our mission is to serve and influence our community and beyond, with a vision that extends to local, national, and international missions. We are committed to being a church that is deeply embedded in the community, serving through acts of kindness, worship, and outreach. Our legacy is not just about what we have done but what we can do, and we are called to be intentional in five key areas: the church, the next generation, local missions, national missions, and international missions.

As a portable church, we have been setting up and tearing down like the Israelites with the tabernacle, but we believe it is time to pursue a permanent location. This will allow us to serve the community seven days a week. We have a purchase agreement for land in Hanover, contingent on due diligence, and we aim to raise $100,000 as a down payment. Our vision includes building a venue center to support local, national, and international ministries, creating a win-win-win situation for the church, investors, and God's kingdom.

We are also committed to financial stewardship, encouraging cheerful giving and offering financial classes to help our community manage resources wisely. Our goal is to empower the next generation to continue the work we have started, ensuring that Influence Church remains a pillar of faith and service for decades to come.

Key Takeaways

1. Win-Win Vision:** Our vision includes creating opportunities that benefit the church, investors, and God's kingdom. By thinking outside the box, we aim to support ministries and create sustainable sources of income for future growth. [39:50]
** [39:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:35] - Personal Testimony and Purpose
[02:45] - Founding of Influence Church
[14:47] - Community Engagement and Vision
[17:37] - Legacy and Future Vision
[19:30] - Five Legacy Lanes
[21:44] - Pursuing a Permanent Location
[27:15] - Local Missions and Impact
[28:25] - National and International Missions
[29:40] - Vision for a Venue Center
[37:31] - Financial Goals and Stewardship
[38:34] - Empowering the Next Generation
[39:50] - Win-Win-Win Business Model
[41:26] - Encouragement for Generosity
[41:26] - Closing and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

"We have a long vision because we believe and we think that church is not just about us. It's also about the next generation." [00:01:35] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"I realized that I am not what my father used to call me like, I'm not insignificant. I'm not stupid. I'm not a failure and actually my youth leader helped me realize that although my father did not want me, I was created with a purpose for a purpose with talents and gifts." [00:02:05] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"We have a vision for what we can do in the future, to love more, to serve more, to influence more. We have a vision, and as a church, we will steadily take step after step after step in making that vision a reality." [00:19:12] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Building a legacy is not about what we are already doing. It's actually what we could do. We are going to keep doing what we are doing because we love what we are doing. But what more could we do? And what's the legacy? What legacy do we want to leave behind?" [00:20:04] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"But think about Influenced Church in a box or in the trailer like Israel was setting up the tabernacle and turned down, setting up and turned down. And they did it for quite some time. But we think we are called to pursue a permanent location because we are here to stay." [00:22:02] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Having our own building will empower us to be able to serve the community seven days a week instead of only when we can rent space for a few hours." [00:22:26] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"At Influence Church, we believe that the church is called... to be out in the community. Serving others, inspiring others, bringing hope and wholeness. When we talk about legacy, our goal is not only to keep doing what we've been doing, but to do even more." [00:26:40] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Our final two legacy lanes are, as I mentioned, national and international. You might say, whoa. You don't even have a building. Why do you start thinking about national or international? Yes, we do." [00:28:41] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Our goal at Influence Church is to bring you to a place where you will be able to be a blessing to others. In fact, in next quarter, I'm going to teach again the financial class." [00:45:57] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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