The Importance Of A Vision (Part 3)

Bethel's God given vision is simple.  It is all about Outreach, Evangelism, Pastoral Care, Discipling, and Training.  I want to cover some aspects of our vision that are necessary for it to be effective.

1.  How A Vision Grows

The principles of a vision and how we arrive at the vision don't change.  But the methods of how

we accomplish the vision can and should change as necessary.  For example, forty years ago Training would not have involved electronic media as we know it today.  It would have been done face to face in a classroom maybe with a VHS tape and a TV.  However today with the proliferation of the internet and computers, a lot of training can be accomplished online via video and audio in the comfort of peoples homes.  The principles don't change, but the methods do.

2.  Workers/Leaders Are Our Greatest Need

Followers of Christ, activating their call and gift, is the greatest resource to fulfilling the vision.  It doesn't matter how big your facility is or how many ministries are needed to take care of the people, just know that nothing will happen without a sufficient number of workers and leaders. Jesus himself said the "harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37).  Everyone wants a church that has all the benefits and that can take care of them and their needs, but few want to ever get involved.  The greatest challenge you have before you is the decision to get involved.

3.  Things To Know In Carrying Out The Vision

There are two important principles we need to understand if we are to carry out the vision:

• Every Believer Is A Minister.  Unfortunately too many believers view ministry as "Here am I Lord send Bill or Cathy!"  Many don't want to fulfill their role in the Kingdom.  It is the responsibility for every believer to be involved in outreach, evangelism, pastoral care, discipling, and training.  Every believer can do the supernatural (Mark 16:15-20).
• Every Believer Is To Do The Works Of Jesus.  In John 14:12 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."  What did Jesus do?  He preached the gospel to the poor, he healed the broken hearted, He preached deliverance to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and set free them that are bruised, and preached the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:18-19).  You and I are charged to do the same thing.

4.  What We Must Commit To In Carrying Out The Vision

There are fives areas where we must be absolutely committed if the vision is to be fulfilled:

• Prayer -- We should commit to pray for the harvest, pray for our national and local leaders, pray for one another in the church, pray for the leadership and ministries of the church and pray that your love would abound to all people.  Commit to pray for people more than you complain about people!
• Attendance -- Fellowship of the believers is vital.  We need each other for spiritual growth. Hebrews 10:25 informs us to "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together..."  Whether it is in a home like the early church or if it is in a church building we must commit ourselves to fellowship with other believers.
• Involvement -- Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.  Do the work of the ministry. Don't sit back and expect others to do it.  You need to get involved doing what God has called you to do.
• Finances -- Let's face it, everything cost money.  Finances are extremely important to the ability of the church to fulfill it's vision.  Malachi 3:10 tells us to bring the tithe into the storehouse.  Jesus instructs us to "give and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38).  And Paul informed the Corinthians about the principle of sowing and reaping.  When we sow bountifully, we will reap bountifully.  It takes money and God has blessed you and I to give.
• Witnessing -- Every believer has to commit to being a witness.  We are all responsible for the fulfillment of the "Great Commission" to "go and teach and make disciples..."  How committed are you to fulfilling this command?

It's time we get off the sideline and get into the game!  Make your commitment today to get involved in fulfilling the vision of outreach, evangelism, pastoral care, discipling, and training.  Ask yourself, what can I do to get involved and help fulfill the vision?

-- Pastor Temple

The Importance Of A Vision (Part 2)

Any successful endeavor requires a vision and for the vision to be effective, it must be: 1) God driven, 2) individual, and 3) corporate.  In other words a local may have a corporate vision, but for the vision to be fulfilled, it has to implemented by individuals.  Each person must embrace the vision.  It is my firm belief, that God intends great things for His church, especially for those with a willingness to work the vision.

What A Vision Needs

There are four qualities to any vision:

1.  A vision needs specific action or steps in how to accomplish it.  Without the action to go with the vision, our efforts will be futile.  Vision without action is meaningless!

2.  A vision needs faith.  Faith in the power of the gospel and faith in the power of the Lord to prepare us and empower us for service.

3.  A vision needs boldness.  Boldness was a virtue displayed by the early Christians.  They had boldness to speak the Word of God no matter what the consequences.  We need that same boldness to speak what we know is the truth but to do it in a spirit of love.

4.  A vision need persistence.  Too often we give up just before the fruition of the vision.  It's important that we not lose heart because we shall reap in due time (Galatians 6:9).  Many visions are never realized because someone gave up too soon.

What Bethel's Vision Is All About

Bethel Church Choctaw has a five fold vision that God gave when the church was started.

1.  Outreach

Outreach is very crucial to the growth of the local church.  The church must have a vision to reach out into the community and world in obedience to the Great Commission.  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  It is our responsibility to do the same.

2.  Evangelism

Similar to outreach, evangelism is what God has called us to do...evangelize the world!  This  isn't a task for just one person, but the entire Body of Christ.  With each person doing their part this great task can be accomplished.

3.  Pastoral Care

This is an area to is too often neglected in the local church, but pastoral care is extremely important for people of every local church.  It encompasses counseling, home visits, caring for people in time of death and other needs.

4.  Discipling

A disciple is a follower of Christ who is able to give direction to new followers as well as encouragement, involvement, and fellowship.  Discipleship is a way of life.

5.  Training

The final part of Bethel's vision is that of training.  The local church is under the mandate of God to train its people for service.  Strong leadership comes through training not teaching alone. Leadership must be developed, monitored, matured through discipline and seasoned with love, it doesn't just develop on its own. (2 Timothy 2:1-7).

So that's the vision! Now, what are you going to do with the vision?  It's your job to discover where you fit in!  God want's to involve you in reaching the world.  If Bethel is the place for you, then join with us and find your God given direction.  If it's not, then find another community of believers you can join with to help fulfill God's plan for the salvation of the world!

-- Pastor Temple

Your Words Matter

Today's post is a guest post from Bethel Church Associate Pastor Keith Fife.

"Sticks and stones my break my bones but names will never hurt me!"  As children we have all recited those words to someone who may have called us a name or said something ugly about us. Unfortunately, that little saying isn't true.  Calling people names, and speaking words of anger, ill will, and even hate does hurt people.

The Apostle Paul told the believers at Colosse to "Let your conversation (speech) be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6). Our conversation or speech means exactly what is sounds like it means: any word uttered by a living person!  It is anything reported in speech or conversation.  According to Paul, as a believer, our speech should have two qualities:

1.  Full of grace:  Grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: It is a "grace of speech."  When we talk and converse with others our words should be words of delight, charm, and grace. Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful (good) for building others up according to their need that it may benefit those who listen.”  Unwholesome talk is the opposite of graceful talk.  Unwholesome is that which is identified as: 1) rotten, putrefied; 2) corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out; 3) of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.  Our conversation should never be "unfit" and "rotten."  It should always be full of grace!

2.  Seasoned with salt:  Seasoned means:  1) to prepare or arrange, with respect to food. 2) to season and make savory.  Just like we spend time preparing to cook food so that it will taste good, we should also “prepare” what we are going to say so that it may "sound" good and be "received" well.  Unfortunately, too many people shoot from the lip! when it comes to their words. The words come into their head and right out their mouth.  Think about what you are saying.  Is it helping? Is it building up?  Is it beneficial?  Does it meet someone’s need?  Take the time to prepare and arrange your words so that it makes the situation better and more tasty if you will.

The purpose of salt is to keep things from rotting and becoming putrid.  Seasoning our words with salt, will make the situation better and keep it from deteriorating and rotting.  Let’s face it, salt just makes green beans taste better!  Our speech should make things taste better not bitter!

The Purpose of Our Speech

"To know how to answer everyone."  1 Peter 3:15-16:  “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”  If anyone is going to be ashamed let it be those who speak slander against you, and not the other way around.

Our words do matter!  Be careful with your words, use them to help and build up rather than to destroy and tear down!

--Keith Fife
keithfife.com

When Opportunities Appear

From the moment we receive Jesus, until we see Him face to face, our lives are filled with opportunities and should be characterized by excitement and adventure!  This is accomplished through the Lord's continual invitation for us to draw closer to Him and to participate with Him in touching the lives of others.  God wants us to be wise in our decision making and alert to opportunities that He provides.  There are seven areas that God provides opportunity for us to make a difference.

1.  To Share.  In John 6:1-14 a small boy "shared" his lunch with Jesus and as a result of what he gave, it was multiplied and thousands were fed.  Just like this little boy, you and I will rarely anticipate how God wants to use us.  So watch for opportunities to experience the joy of giving.

2.  To Serve The Lord.  Jesus called Peter to leave his successful fishing business and embark on a risky new venture of being His disciple (Matthew 4:18-20).  Because he stepped out in faith, God used him in powerful ways to help establish the early church.  Likewise, we can be confident that no matter how unqualified we feel, the Lord will always enable us to walk through the doors He opens.

3.  To Grow In Relationship With Christ.  Mary, the sister of Martha, wisely chose to listen to Jesus' teachings instead of being overly concerned with meal preparations (Luke 10:38-42).  We should never let unnecessary busyness rob us of our chance to know the Savior better.

4.  To Help Others.  In Luke 5:17-26 the paralytic's friends were determined to help their friend. And as a result they had the joy of seeing their friend not only healed but also saved from his sins. We, too, must be willing to do whatever God asks of us, even if helping others involves pressing through a challenge.

5.  To Witness For Jesus.  When Paul was in jail he had the opportunity to witness to the jailer and as a result the jailer and his entire household was saved.  We too, must be willing to do whatever God asks of us, even if helping others involves pressing through a challenge (Acts 17:22-34).

6.  To Understand Who Jesus Is.  Zacchaeus' life was transformed when he determined to understand who Jesus really was and Jesus reached out to him and went to his home.  Don't let other people or difficult circumstances discourage you from responding to the opportunities God sends your way (Luke 19:1-10).

7.  To Receive Salvation.  A rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life.  Knowing that the man's wealth was a stumbling block to his faith, the Lord answered that he should sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.  Unfortunately, the ruler chose not to heed Jesus' instruction and missed his chance at salvation.  The wisest choice anyone can make is to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ.  There is no greater thrill than to have a vibrant, personal relationship with the Make of the universe! (Mark 10:17-22).

What opportunities has the Lord set before you today?  Did He bring to mind someone who needs to hear the gospel, despite your fears of what that person might think?  Or maybe your compassionate Father is asking you to endure a circumstance He knows will bring about good, but one that also carries with it a measure of difficulty.

Regardless of what God prompts you to do, my prayer is that you will realize the promise and excitement of the Christian life as you walk carefully, make wise decisions, and lay hold of the opportunities before you.

Pastor Temple