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Vision Sunday | Acts 13
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Welcome to Vision Sunday at Grace Church. Today we're reflecting on our vision as a church community and looking forward to what God is calling us to step into over the next 12 months.
I know that Vision Sunday lands differently for different people. Some of you love it because you want to know what success looks like and where we're heading. Others might wonder why we even need a Vision Sunday—shouldn't we just follow what's written in Scripture about loving one another and fulfilling the Great Commission?
Regardless of where you stand, here's the beautiful truth: our vision isn't something new we've invented. It's rooted in ancient biblical foundations. We're looking at what healthy church looked like in Scripture and asking, "How can we be more like that?"
Take the church in Antioch described in Acts 13. Don't you want to look like that church? We don't want to resemble Sardis—a church that seemed alive but was actually dead. We want to embody the vitality and faithfulness of healthy biblical churches.
Let me make an observation that should blow our minds: God speaks. The God who created the universe, who gives us breath in our lungs, who willingly went to the cross for us—He speaks to His people. He did this in Antioch, and He does it now.
When the early church gathered to worship, they waited on the Lord. And through His Holy Spirit, He spoke: "Set apart for me Paul and Barnabas." They responded in faith, and these men went out to plant churches across Cyprus and beyond.
The reality is that the God we read about in Scripture has not changed. The one who was speaking then speaks to us right now. He's in our midst. He's working.
For those of us who have been part of a church community for years, we can take this for granted. But stop and think about it: the God who created everything is interested in us. He speaks to us. He provides for us. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. What a privilege and joy it is to be a follower of Jesus.
When God speaks, He often gives His people a vision for the future. The word "vision" in Scripture is used in two ways:
Literal visions—where people actually see pictures or sequences of events unfold. Think of Jacob's ladder, Daniel's prophetic dreams, or John's revelations on Patmos.
Vision through words—where God paints a picture with words, describing His purposes and plans.
My favorite biblical example is Moses and the burning bush. When the Israelites were oppressed with seemingly no way out, God spoke words of life:
"I know their sufferings. I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of the land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey." — Exodus 3
God has a track record of taking people in difficult situations and lifting their eyes to what He has planned for them.
So what has God laid out in Scripture for the church? Here's what we see:
There's a breathtaking vision in Revelation: one day there will be gathered people from every tribe, every nation worshiping God forever. And we as the church get to play our part in proclaiming Him.
God has a plan and purpose for your life. And a key part of that is worked out through the local church. We're not here simply to sing songs, chat with people, listen to a message, and drink coffee. Church is far more than that. We have a mandate to carry out the Great Commission and fulfill God's kingdom work.
Our vision statement contexualizes what I've just described for 21st-century Nottingham:
We are to build a thriving community that reaches Nottingham with the gospel and multiplies beyond.
A thriving community is one that is holy and united, using spiritual gifts, built on a foundation of love, where we care for one another and cheer each other on.
Reaching Nottingham with the gospel and multiplying beyond means living out the Great Commission—proclaiming that Jesus changes everything and empowering others to do the same.
Our foundation is Jesus, the cornerstone, our rock, our deliverer, our strength. As the Heidelberg Catechism beautifully says:
He is my only comfort in life and death. He has paid fully for all my sins with his precious blood and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He preserves me so that without the will of my Father, not a hair can fall from my head. All things work together for my salvation. By His Holy Spirit, He assures me of eternal life and makes me willing and ready to live now for Him and forever.
Jesus changes everything. So let's proclaim Him with all that we have.
Here's an honest question: Is there a difference between what you read in Scripture—the picture of the glorious, vibrant church—and what we experience week after week? Yes, there is.
Why? Much of it is because church has become part of our routine. And when anything becomes routine, it can become mundane. We forget how special it is.
Imagine planning a holiday cycling through the Netherlands for two weeks. It sounds wonderful! But if that became your life—cycling a few days, camping, cycling again, camping again—eventually it would feel mundane.
So how do we prevent this from happening? Two ways:
One of the best ways to remember is through hearing people's stories. When I ask people, "What difference has church made to your life?" I hear things like:
Church with God at the center is like nothing else on earth. It's kingdom-shaking. It's life-changing.
When we determined our priorities as a church, we looked at what was practically needed and what God was speaking spiritually. Then God graciously highlighted Acts 13 to someone, and we realized our three priorities are perfectly expressed in that passage.
The church in Antioch didn't rush into things for the sake of activity. They sought the Lord and focused on Him.
The early church changed the world not by simply staying busy, but by seeking the Lord. We're in a season of doing the same.
We received a prophetic word from Pipper Cheeseman that beautifully captures what waiting well means:
I had a picture of a small flame at the end of a match, and the sense that the Lord is about to turn the gas on—an image of His Spirit being poured out on the church and His kingdom coming significantly. But before this happens, there will be a season of hunger where people begin to really seek the Lord in a new way. A period of desperation, being on your knees before Him as a church, seeking His kingdom, repenting, and being discontent with the way things are.
Waiting well means getting on our knees, praying, seeking the Lord, and asking Him what He's calling us to rather than coming up with our own agenda. That's how the world is changed. That's how Nottingham is changed with the gospel.
We're launching prayer and fasting times right after Vision Sunday. Come to Tuesday lunchtime sessions and evening sessions Tuesday through Thursday. Let's seek the Lord. He is the head of this church, and let's see what He actually says to us.
After encountering God, the church in Antioch couldn't wait to invite others. They weren't content being their own little holy huddle.
It's a challenge, isn't it? We can get comfortable at a certain size. We like our home groups the way they are. But the reality is God is adding people to our number. We've had a 16% increase in adult attendance over the last year. If you're part of that 16%, we don't refer to you that way—we call you by name, because God calls you by name and He loves you.
What are we called to do?
We're also launching new discipleship resources because God has brought us so many new people and because people are genuinely asking faith questions. Use these resources to disciple someone, to get alongside them, and talk about Jesus.
Be a blessing to others, and you'll be blessed as a result.
Paul and Barnabas weren't people who just wanted to lead right away. They were plugged in. They were doing the work. They were seeking the Lord and praying. Then they felt God's call to go out—and it changed the world.
This year we're focusing on developing and multiplying leaders across every area of church life. We have a leadership course coming in the spring term. More details to follow.
Here's what we'll be doing as we step into these three priorities:
But remember: it's not our hard work. It's not us being double busy that makes the difference. The reality is that God has chosen, in His grace and wisdom, to change and transform the world through His local church.
As He says in Ezekiel:
I am the Lord. I have spoken and I will do it.
He's spoken incredible things over the local church. He's used the local church in wonderful ways throughout the millennia to declare His plans and purposes. And He's going to continue to do that.
We've got a part to play at Grace Church.
