What is our vision? We’ve explored so much over the last few years but this much is clear: God has not called us to a ministry of maintenance.
But what has he called us to be and to do? It’s really important that we remember at all times that we are called both to be the people of God and to do the work of mission and ministry. It’s not an “either/ or” it is a “both and” situation.
It’s “both and” because what we do arises out of who we are, and it should always be that way around.
Let’s remind ourselves then what is at the core of being Cotton End Baptist Church.
#1 A people of values
Five core values:
- A clear commitment to Christ
- Genuine, authentic Christian lifestyle
- Commitment to one another
- Committed to serve and to reach our community
- The centrality of prayer and worship in everything we do
#2 A people on a mission
Our mission statement is: To know God and to make God known
I can’t think of a simpler way of describing the mission of the church. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was he responded with a well-known abbreviation of the Ten Commandments. Paraphrased we would probably answer that question like this: to love God wholeheartedly, to love others in the same way we want to be loved.
For me, our mission statement defines our strategy. When I’m asked, “What’s the mission strategy of the church?” my answer is, “We’re going to love God and we’re going to make him known”. I know there’s more to be worked out about the how’s and when’s, but at it’s simplest this is our strategy.
#3 A people with a purpose
So, we have a mission and we have some values, but to what end? What’s our purpose?
Today is a day for spelling things out in simple terms, terms we can all take away, reflect on, and commit ourselves to playing a part in fulfilling.
So here’s a simple statement of our purpose:
To love people into a deep and growing relationship with God.
Our mission, our values and our vision are all caught up in this single purpose. We are here that the world might believe in the one who came into the world and was not recognised by the world.
This is why we reach out with God’s love and kindness through the car washes and the Christmas gifts. We want people to know that God loves them.
We know that judgement is coming, that one day everyone will face God and be judged. We know that we will be found wanting, and we know that the only way of dealing with the consequences of our failure is through Jesus. We want everyone to know this, to experience it for themselves, to know that God loves them rather than that the church condemns them.
#4 A people of vision
We are a visionary people.
Over the autumn we explored what it meant to be part of God’s big plan as we studied the early church in Acts. We saw how God moved his purposes forward step by step through the early church. We saw how the promise of Jesus in Acts 1:8 was worked out through Peter, Paul and all the others who committed their lives to the kingdom of God.
God has not stopped calling visionary people to take risks in his hands for the sake of the kingdom.
How would we define our vision?
Firstly, it’s not about building a big church, but a great church.
A great church is one where we can believe together, belong together and build together.
A great church is a church where relationships are deep not superficial, where broken lives find healing, where God is honoured and worshipped.
A great church is a church that the community would miss if it were not there, a place where people come to find answers to life’s big and small questions.
A great church will be a part of the DNA of the community that it serves.
Secondly, we would define our vision in terms of building a church within local communities. I’m thinking here about the opportunities in Cotton End, Shortstown and the Wixams.
#5 A people in partnership
1 Cor.12 paints a vivid picture of partnership. In the middle of his discussion about spiritual gifts, Paul presents is with this image of the church as the body of Christ.
Everyone has a role to play, a gift to employ, a purpose to fulfil. We’re all one body says Paul. And we are all partners too.
First we are partners with God.
We are co-workers with the God who made it all, sustains it all, and will bring it all to completion.
It’s his vineyard, his harvest-field, his kingdom, his call. He leads, we follow. Our question is simple: What are you doing Lord, how can I help?
Second, we are partners with each other.
We have four things in common:
- A shared vision
- A shared set of values
- A shared ministry
- A shared mission
The simple question is this? Are you going to be a partner in this place this year?
Do you share the vision, the values, the ministry and the mission? Then give yourselves wholeheartedly to God. Become a partner with him and a partner with each other for the sake of the kingdom of God.
