Faith To Build: Vision Sunday 2023

December 4th, 2022/Casey Middle School

Pray:

Intro: Vision

The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late. - Habakkuk 2:2-3

Sight is what you see with your eyes open, vision is what you see with your eyes closed. In Habakkuk, vision means God’s revelation, what He has shown us. So vision starts with what God has revealed; from there we ask Him for eyes to see what could be.

Vision produces miracles, creates moments, and builds momentum.

We are sharing a collective vision, but it will require a personal vision to be successful.

It is time to take a step by faith into a bigger vision for your life. A bigger vision for your family. A bigger vision for the city. A bigger vision for your finances. A bigger vision for your calling.

Vision is when frustration for the present meets passion for the future.

“3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens.” - Nehemiah 1:3-4 CSB

Vision is often birthed out of brokenness. Maybe the very thing you are frustrated about or broken over, is the very thing you are called to build, called to create, called to lay down your life for.

How it all started:

1. Moving our family of 6 out to Boulder Colorado with a vision and the power of the Holy Spirit. We moved to Boulder on June 5th, 2017. Three months after landing in Boulder we started gathering together as a church.
2. September 10, 2017- first service at the Jewish Synagogue
3. Picture: First Gathering (September 10th, 2017)
4. Picture: Launch Sunday (August 19th, 2018)
5. Picture: First Sunday At Lookout (October 11th, 2020)
6. Picture: Launch Sunday At Riverside (February 21st, 2021)
7. Picture: First Sunday At Casey (April 17th, 2022)

Looking Back 2022:
Deut 6:12 Then take care lest you forget the Lord,

• Casey Location Launch
• 12 Love Boulder Projects
• 13 Salvations (103 Total)
• 14 Baptisms (70 Total)
• 74 people went through Growth Track
• 97 people on Serve Team
• Leadership Pipeline (26) & Davids Men (15)
• 16,158 total views on our Youtube Channel
• 10,592 plays and 550 monthly listeners on Spotify
• Young Adult Ministry
• First Ever VBS
• Front Range Church Planting Network (first planter coming Spring of 2023)
• $15,000 - Marshall Fire Victims
• $6,600 - Cooperative Program
• $5,000 - City Church
• Another $40k+ about to be sent out through the Movement Builders Offering (Details at the end)

Mission: GOAL

Meet people where they are and point them to Jesus

Pillars: PRIORITIES

• Creative
• Next Gen. (Kids & YTH)
• Next Steps (Hospitality & Growth Track)
• Crews
• Missions (From Love Boulder)

Values: CULTURE

• Jesus is our message
• Connection is our culture
• Generosity is our privilege
• Prayer is our priority
• Servant leadership is our calling
• Worship is our weapon
• Honor is our commitment

Looking Ahead 2023: SHARE TOGETHER

• Record songs written by PNWD Worship and release second album from conf 2022.
• Launch A PNWD Spanish Service
• Building Movement Network alongside other movement leaders here in Colorado
• Multiplication of Crews with intentional DMM coaching
• Bus Ministry
• Sunday Evening YTH Nights (launching in January)
• Growth Track going online
• Building out a missions department targeting specific movements around the world.

Previous Themes:

Every year we have sensed God speaking a theme over our hearts for the church.

1. 2019: Make Room: after we launched the church in August of 2018 we felt such momentum. We sensed God speaking over us to make room. Not to get comfortable or settled with the people around us, but to continue to reach out, invite more people, and to make room. As a result of that we saw God multiply us from 1 service to 2 services at the synagogue. We saw so much growth in our crews, church, and in our hearts.
2. 2020: Build a Bridge: We had no idea what 2020 would hold. We sensed God speaking Build a Bridge over our hearts. We desired to build bridges with organizations in our city, churches, and more. This has been the most critical year for us to stick together, to say and believe we know we are not alone and we are going to journey together.
3. 2021: Breakthrough: We believed that God wanted to bring about significant breakthrough in the lives of the people at Pinewood, but even more, we believe God was bringing breakthrough for our city. All throughout the year we heard testimony after testimony of miracles, restoration, and countless answers to prayers. God did it!
4. 2022: Rooted: Our theme for 2022 was ROOTED. There’s a time to plant and then there’s a season to become rooted. “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.” - Colossians 2:6-7 CSB

5. 2023: Faith To Build: Building Faith toward a global disciple making movement.

6. Nehemiah had a call on his life to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. It was 141 years later Nehemiah comes on the scene and hears about how his people have returned and are in distress. Not only are they in distress but also the wall of Jerusalem is broken down. The wall in a pile of rubble was a disgrace to the Hebrew people. He knew God had called him to this task and he was committed whatever the cost.

7. Nehemiah had a comfortable position as the cupbearer to the king of Persia. So making the decision to request to build the wall took great courage and meant great sacrifice.
8. The king granted him permission and showed him favor to begin building the wall of Jerusalem.
9. In this passage we see the work begin and the first opposition show up. Despite many threats, deceit, challenges, and obstacles, by chapter 6 the wall is finished in just 52 days.

Passage:

“And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us, and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?” So I answered them, and said to them, “The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”” - ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Why Faith?:

1. Because anything worth building will require a great sacrifice.
   1. Illustration: Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church,” and then He went to the cross to pay for it. You cannot build anything of eternal significance apart from significant sacrifice.
   2. Personal story of stepping out in faith:

Why Build?

1. When God called you into your purpose it was so that you could go from a spectator to a contributor in the Kingdom of God.

   1. Build using your gifts
   2. Build dependent on the Holy Spirit
   3. Build persistent in prayer
   4. Build with a spirit of generosity
   5. Build with the next generation in mind
   6. Build what?
   7. You tell me. You tell me what God has birthed inside of you, that you have yet to take a step of faith and build. You tell me what holy discontent is burning inside of you. You tell me about that one thing that seems impossible apart from God.
   8. It is called the great commission for a reason, hear me clearly, God will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The question is not “is God going to build his church “the question is, “will I join in his activity of what he is doing in this city? “
   9. Story: Zion helping me pick up sticks. Ryan helping me set up lights. Neriah helping me clean the house. Cory helping me build toy sets. Sylah helping me write songs.
   10. ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES PRESENCE WITH DAD DOESN’T FEEL LIKE WORK!
   11. “Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today,and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.” - Nehemiah 1:11

How to OWN the Vision.

1. The vision behind this year’s mission offering is to drive the movement deeper and wider. This offering is above and beyond your tithes and offering and it’s making a sacrifice for Kingdom impact.
2. We are not asking for money to pay debt or to cover bills, we are casting vision to accelerate the vision of meeting people where they are, and pointing them to Jesus. We are not asking you to empty your bank account, we are challenging you to fill your life with purpose.
3. Give Something
4. Commit to Tithe
5. Sacrificial Generosity