http://bible.com/events/7077465

Vision Sunday – March 1

Our new mission together….
Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ.

Background of today’s Scripture
-Joshua is leading the nation of Israel into the Promised Land
-This text is a moment sandwiched between these two great miracles
-Joshua 3-4 is the account of the parting of the Jordan River
-Joshua 5 is the account of victory over Jericho
-This is a pivotal moment in Joshua’s life and for the nation of Israel

Joshua 5:13-15
God is telling Joshua: “I haven’t come to be a part of your story, I have come to discover if you want to play a role in my story”

While this was true in Joshua’s life, it is true for us today
-You and I have been invited to play a role in His story
-It’s not about who is for me, it’s about who I am for
-“Leaving my mark is too small a thing to spend my life on” Andy Stanley
-Ultimately, if life is simply about what can I do, inviting God to bless what I’m doing, then it’s just not worth it  

Bottom Line:
God will do whatever He wants through an obedient church.

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 At the end of his life Joshua recognizes an incredible crossroads for the nation of Israel
-“Choose today who you will serve”
-“Will you ask God to bless what you do? Or will you choose to join God at work?”

The invitation to step out in obedience:
1. Go
2. Give
3. Serve

For more information on these specific steps, check out cotnaz.org/eastrock

http://bible.com/events/7065900

February 23

The Future is Now: The Call to Outreach

At HFCN we are committed to living lives of complete obedience to God. So we sense His love compelling us to worship Him wholeheartedly but, more than that, we will reach beyond our walls to welcome the outsider, the broken, the lost, the hopeless. Our work to bring hope to others through the person of Jesus Christ will make us relevant and valuable in our community.

NEW MISSION STATEMENT:
Transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Remembering the call in 2 Corinthians 5:14-17:
• The love of Jesus compels us
• Jesus died for all and we are compelled to no longer live for ourselves
• We no longer live according to a worldly perspective
• We are transformed, new creations finding our identity in Christ
• All of this is rooted in obedience to God  

Paul goes on to remind us (two times):
• God reconciled us to himself through Christ
• God initiated the work of grace
• God initiated the work of forgiveness
• God initiated the work of redemption
• God invites us to the same ministry of reconciliation
• We are his ambassadors and representatives in the world  
• We are extensions of his grace, forgiveness and redemption

If this is true, then how do we get it so wrong?
• This is a call to rescue, a call to redemption, a call to reconciliation
• The church is often known as isolated, disconnected, disengaged
• There is an incredible call to experience Godly community, to gather, and to build one another up. But we are never called to do that at the detriment of the world around us.

If this is true, wouldn’t the church look different?
• Wouldn’t we be spending just as much time focused on those outside of the church than those within?
• Wouldn’t we be building relationships with those who are different than us? Who believe differently
• Wouldn’t we be showing up in the lives of hopeless people?

The bottom line:
The church that does not go is not the church.

• The call to be Christ’s representatives in the world (ambassadors) is the call to “go”
• Obedience leads to transformation in our lives, and as we are transformed we are compelled to go!  
• If we are not obedient in this way, then we are not who God has called us to be

John 17:20• Jesus is praying not just for believers, but for the future believers
• For Jesus, the source of future believers is our message

Other Texts for Further Study/Reflection:

“So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.” Matthew 28:18-20

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you. Then you will be my witnesses to testify about me in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“I’m not ashamed of the Good News. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes, Jews first and Greeks as well.”
Romans 1:16