Fireside Chat

Fireside Chat | October 1, 2023

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Slides:

We feel called to be a sending church.

Matthew 28:19-20

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Ephesians 4:11-13

And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 

We want to see discipleship happen from the inside out.

Some “inside” discipleship goals over the next 5 years:

• Small groups growth and maturation

• Leadership and process for biblical guidance 

• Building renovations/updates/maintenance

How do we think the Lord wants us to send?

• School of ministry (2025)

o Better equipped local lay leaders + vocational ministry leaders

• PreK (2024)

o Incarnational ministry to children (birth – PreK) and families.

Needs:

• Growth in our service teams

• Maturity in our finances

o Growth in ministry capacity:

▪ Ministry area budgets

▪ School of Ministry

▪ Missions/Outreach participation

o Savings 

o Debt reduction

Becoming the church God wants us to be will require great patience! 

James 5:7-11

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and [is] merciful.

Patience required for…

• The fruit/the Lord’s plans

• Ourselves

• Each other