Sermon Summary: NEXT, Part 2: Our NEXT Vision

Summary

This message introduces the church’s new vision statement: "To see people forgiven and set free to flourish in Jesus Christ." It highlights the foundational role of forgiveness, which lifts the weight of guilt and shame, enabling spiritual transformation. It then celebrates freedom in Christ as liberation from the power of sin and death, empowering believers to experience and encourage flourishing through loving and grateful obedience. 

Big Idea

Our vision is bold but simple: to see people forgiven and set free to flourish in Jesus Christ

Introduction

Last week, we shared our new mission statement: We are on a mission to love God and love people, making disciples who make a difference.

We see this statement as foundational. It describes why we're here and what we're called to do.

Today, we take the next step by exploring our vision as a church family. This vision answers the questions: Where are we headed? How do we imagine God transforming lives through the mission He's given us?

When my family lived in Central Florida, we had a front-row seat to NASA's rocket launches. On those evenings, the night sky would brighten in the east, and we'd see the rocket streak into space. Those launches weren't random; they followed precise plans and trajectories.

In the same way, our vision as a church provides a trajectory for fulfilling our mission. It gives us a picture of what life could look like when people encounter the gospel's transforming power.

Transition

Our vision is bold but simple: to see people forgiven and set free to flourish in Jesus Christ. Today, we'll explore what this means by unpacking its three key aspects: forgiveness, freedom, and flourishing.

Forgiveness

I'll never forget leading a Bible study on God's grace a few years ago. One man sat quietly on the margins, visibly burdened. For years, he had carried guilt over the choices he had made, believing he needed to earn his way back into God's favor. But as we read Ephesians 2:8-9 together, something shifted:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

In that moment, the truth of God's forgiveness broke through. His tears were not of sorrow but relief and joy. He realized forgiveness wasn't something he could achieve; it was a gift he could receive. That realization changed the trajectory of his life.

Forgiveness is the starting point of all spiritual transformation. Without it, we live under the crushing weight of guilt, shame, and fear of condemnation. But in Christ, God offers forgiveness that brings peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of His love. Through the gospel, He declares, "I will remember their sins no more" (Hebrews 8:12).

As a church, God calls us to proclaim this forgiveness with clarity and compassion. Yet, we face unique challenges. Traditionally, most Americans wrestled with a works-based view of salvation, believing they must earn God's favor. However, many more Americans today see no need for forgiveness, assuming God (if He exists at all) is a benevolent figure who overlooks sin.

Our task, therefore, is to preach both law and gospel. The law reveals our need for forgiveness, showing us the weight of sin and driving us to Christ. As Charles Spurgeon said, the law is the needle that pierces, allowing the silken thread of the gospel to mend.

The gospel then declares that Jesus has met every demand of the law on our behalf. In His life, death, and resurrection, He has secured forgiveness for all who believe. When we trust the gospel, we are set free—not temporarily, but eternally.

Imagine our church as a community where people experience this forgiveness firsthand—where the Spirit of Christ lifts burdens, renews hearts, and God's grace transforms lives.

Freedom

Forgiveness paves the way to freedom.  Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). This freedom is not merely freedom from sin's penalty but from its power. It's the ability to live the abundant life God has designed for us.

My wife and I recently visited a pet store. We not only saw fish, lizards, snakes, and a tortoise named Sheldon, but also beautiful birds. They're stunning and marvelous to behold. Even so, a large part of my heart wishes all those creatures remained in the wild, not in cages. They're meant for that kind of freedom. 

Have you ever seen a bird released from a cage? At first, it hesitates, unsure of its new reality. But as it begins to spread its wings, it soars. That is the kind of freedom Christ offers—not just the absence of chains but the power to fly.

This freedom means we are no longer defined by our failures or enslaved by sin. It means we can walk in newness of life, filled with the Holy Spirit, and empowered to live in obedience to God's will.

However, this freedom is not a license to do as we please, a cheap (and destructive) knock-off of true freedom. It is a freedom to love, to serve, and to live for God's glory - to realize our true potential and purpose. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:13, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

As a church, we are called to walk alongside one another in this freedom. We encourage, equip, and remind each other of the gospel's power to break every chain. Imagine a community where people live free from fear, shame, and the lies of the enemy—a place where freedom is celebrated as a gift from God.

Flourishing

Forgiveness and freedom culminate in flourishing. Psalm 1 describes the flourishing life as a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season:

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers" (Psalm 1:3).

This is not a picture of worldly success or ease but of spiritual vitality and growth—a life rooted in God's Word and nourished by His grace.

Flourishing means living out our God-given purpose. It's becoming who God created us to be, reflecting His image in every area of life. Jesus said, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples" (John 15:8). Flourishing is about fruitfulness—the outward evidence of a transformed heart.

It also means growing in the fruit of the Spirit, which Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." These qualities aren't the result of human effort but the work of the Holy Spirit in a life surrendered to God.

Consider Jesus' promise in John 10:10: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." This abundant life isn't about material wealth or a trouble-free existence. It's about the deep satisfaction of knowing and walking with God, no matter the circumstances.

In flourishing, we also find rest for our souls. Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

A few Sundays ago, we likened our lives and church to a garden carefully tended by the Master Gardener. Each of us is a unique plant with a place and purpose in His design. When we stay connected to Christ, the true vine, we bear much fruit:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Flourishing is not an individual pursuit but a collective calling. Together, we form a community that testifies to God's power and grace. Imagine a church where people thrive in every aspect of life—spiritually, relationally, and emotionally. A place where forgiveness leads to healing, freedom leads to purpose, and flourishing becomes a radiant testimony to the world.

Three Challenges

Again, our vision is bold: to see people forgiven and set free to flourish in Jesus Christ. It's an invitation to serve God in His work of redemption and renewal.

So, how will you respond? Perhaps it's time to trust God's forgiveness and let go of guilt. Maybe it's stepping into the freedom Christ offers by surrendering an area of struggle. Or maybe it's committing to grow deeper in discipleship and community.

1. Memorize our new Vision Statement: To see people forgiven and set free to flourish in Jesus Christ.
2. Pray intentionally: Ask God to bring forgiveness, freedom, and flourishing to individuals, our church, and our community through the power of the gospel.
3. Reflect personally: Where do you need more freedom in your life? Where do you long to see greater flourishing? How will you pursue these as a forgiven child of God?

Let's commit these steps to prayer, asking God to transform lives, our church, and our community. May we become a place where forgiveness flows freely, freedom is celebrated, and lives flourish for His glory.

Let's pray toward that end.