A Vision for Salisbury Baptist Church Introducing… ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’ Proverbs 29:18 ©NIV

Outline What do we mean by ‘Vision’? What do we mean by ‘Vision’? How does it work? How does it work? What is our vision? What is our vision?

Definition of a vision 1. ‘Being able to see’ 2. ‘A supernatural revelation from God, often given in a dream or trance-like state’ eg Abraham, Isaiah, Mary 3. ‘The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom’ Source: COED

Developing our vision 1. Having a strategic view – where are we going? 2. Mission statement – how do we get there? 3. Objectives - how will we know?

Do churches need vision? ‘Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ’ Matthew 28:18-20©NIV

So what is our vision? …and how did we get here?

‘For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.’ Ephesians 2: 10, 19-22©NIV Christ in…

‘ 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. ’ Ephesians 4: 10-16©NIV (Also 1 Corinthians 12) …the Community

Community 1. God is a community – Trinity 2. We grow in community with God – discipleship 3. We are a community – fellowship 4. We live in a community – evangelism 5. Our nation is a community – witness 6. This world is a community – mission 7. We are part of a greater community - saints