"The Vision"

Ephesians 4:11-16
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Notes taken from Jeff Kern's Sermon (05/24/09):
*"Our job with our kids is to get our kids to be all that God would have them be, to be mature."
*"To be mature, as compared to Christ, to look more and love more like Jesus."
*"Be continually engaged in the process. Participate in the community of God's people."
*"The apostles were not together because they were alike. They had a common vision and a common purpose."
*Ephesians 2:12 says, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world."
*"Hear about God's love, give God's love, experience God's grace."
*"1) Learn- knowledge that goes way beyond head knowledge, when it is a deeper, personal relational knowledge. Orient our lives to live for the sake of others."
*"2) Serve- faith working through love."
*I Corinthians 13:1-3 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
*Psalms 111:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."
*Hebrews 5:14 says, "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
*"3) Worship- die to ourselves, offer our bodies, be consecrated, be on mission together."
*Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
*"The body builds itself up on love."

Psalms 100:1-2 says, "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."

Psalms 7:17 says, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

Psalms 30:4 says, "Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name."

Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Nehemiah 9:5-6 says, "And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Psalms 46:10 says, ""Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

I Peter 2:5 says, "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

I Corinthians 12:12 says, "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ."