17 Vision and Devotion

The Bible says that God disciplines those that He loves, and as we lead people in the house of God, it is vital that we don't forget about this. Church discipline is an important and life-giving element of every healthy church.

Building on what we see in the book of Acts, we know that the church has always been intended to be a community of devotion. Likewise, let us continue to fervently devote ourselves to the vision and the ways of the Lord Jesus today.

Have we lost our devotion to prayer and to the word? Throughout the bible we see that the children of God are those who are called to live from a place of conviction, having deep confidence in what they believe about the Lord.

God desires for His church to be built His way, not ours. Therefore, as we endeavour to plant churches and to be involved with leading the Lord's sheep, we need to follow the holy example that Jesus Himself set. Ultimately, our lives need to reflect the glory and goodness of God, especially if we have been called to serve the church.

Andrew explains that it takes a unified group of people with a passionate love for God and each other in order to advance the kingdom. God's plan to build the church is not to focus on the ability of one leader but on the participation of every member of the body.

As we go out to plant, it is crucial to remember that we have been called to labour in the field, where it will not always be easy. God would want to remind us to always be filled with courageous faith and to stand firm in our conviction of the Lord Jesus, holding on to His vision for the church.

We are all called to make disciples of the nations, reaching out of our comfort zones to see lives be impacted by the love of Jesus. It is important to understand that the Kingdom of God is advanced by one step at a time and through one person at a time as the body of Christ grows together.

The Bible says in Psalm 23 that the Lord is the Good Shepherd, leading and caring for His sheep well. In our hopes of ever caring for the church in a way that honours the Lord, we have to start by taking a look at how God is a shepherd, and then imitate Him in this.

As church planters and leaders, it is important to remember that we must always be on the watch for newcomers to the fellowship. In this session, Andrew looks at some of the practicalities of showing the love of Jesus to visitors in the church and making them feel welcome.

In order to build church effectively, it is vital that we submit to God's authority and sovereignty, being led by His Holy Spirit. Ultimately He is Lord, and He desires for His church to be built His way, not ours.