1. Today may turn out to be one of the most important days in the history of the Rose Hill congregation! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

2. Tonight will be an open forum. Everyone will have the opportunity to speak if you want to. It’s not going to be me or the elders telling you what our vision will be. It’s going to be you sharing your thoughts, your ideas, your dreams, your vision of how you want this church to grow and prosper. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

3. Today will turn out to be one of the most important days in the history of the Rose Hill congregation! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

4. Purpose = where we should be going; what God wants us to be and do; what we read about in Scripture about the work of the church Vision = how we plan to get there; our ideas, goals, dreams for accomplishing work God has for us to do “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

5. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

6. Throughout Scripture God has shown us His purposes for His church… Ephesians 4:11-16 “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

7. ~ Mark 12:30 to love the Lord your God with all… ~ John 4:23-24 to worship God in spirit and truth ~ John 14:15 to love God and keep His commandments ~ Romans 15:6 to glorify God with one accord ~ Ephesians 1:22-23 body of Christ in subjection to Him ~ Ephesians 2:19-22 to be the temple of God ~ Ephesians 3:21 to glorify God “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 1. To love, worship, obey and glorify God

8. ~ Matthew 24:14 to preach the gospel to whole world ~ Matthew 28:19 to make disciples and baptize them ~ Mark 16:15-16 to preach the gospel and baptize ~ Acts 1:8 to be a witness of Jesus to all the world ~ Ephesians 3:10 to make known the wisdom of God ~ Colossians 1:27 to make known riches of God’s glory ~ 1 Peter 2:9 to proclaim the excellencies of God “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 2. To share the gospel with the lost

9. ~ John 13:34-35 to love one another as Christ loved ~ 1 Corinthians 12:25 to care for one another ~ Galatians 5:13-14 to love and serve one another ~ Galatians 6:2 to bear one another’s burdens ~ 1 Thess 5:11 to encourage and build up one another ~ Hebrews 10:24-25 assemble to encourage one another ~ 1 John 4:7-21 to love one another as God loves us “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 3. To love, edify, and care for one another

10. ~ Matthew 28:20 to teach all things Christ commanded ~ Galatians 4:19 to form the character of Christ in us ~ 1 Peter 2:9 be holy nation for God’s own possession ~ John 17:21-23 to be united as one in God and Christ ~ Ephesians 4:3 to preserve unity of the Spirit in bond of peace “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 4. To help each other mature spiritually

11. ~ Matthew 22:39 to love your neighbor as yourself ~ Matthew 25:34-40 to help the needy and hurting ~ Mark 10:43-45 to be a servant like Jesus ~ Acts 6:1-7 to care for the widows in need ~ James 1:27 to care for widows and orphans in distress “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 5. To be a blessing to those in need

12. 1. To love, worship, obey and glorify God 2. To share the gospel with those who are lost 3. To love, edify, and care for one another 4. To help each other grow and mature spiritually 5. To be a blessing to those in need “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Purpose

13. Not only does God have a purpose for His universal church, He also has a vision for each church. God has a purpose that is common and necessary for all of His church worldwide. But vision is something that is perhaps unique to each individual congregation. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

14. God’s vision for various individual churches may vary: ~ Depends on the makeup of the congregation ~ The people, their location, their strengths ~ Their passion, their determination, their zeal ~ Their willingness to work, to give, and to sacrifice ~ Depend on how important to reach out to others ~ Some churches will dream big and be more committed “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

15. When churches dream big and are fully committed to their vision… …that’s when God’s vision is big too! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

16. God has a vision of a church with Jesus Christ as its leader, its center, and its Lord; a church that praises the Father for the gift of His Son in the power of the Spirit. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

17. A church that is truly a house of worship. Where prayer is priority, praise is paramount and worship is more than a service or song. A church with a burning desire to know God’s word and to live it out. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

18. A church unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; one that shouts God’s word from the rooftops, and whispers grace in the ear of a world in need. Where love is real, and everyone is invited to experience it. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

19. A church for all people, where racial differences fade in the light of brotherhood; where the rich worship beside the poor, where the old join hands with the young; where the skeptic finds reason to believe, and the believer finds reason to rejoice. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

20. A church where families grow strong; where couples find each other and fullness of life in Christ; where children are treated as blessings, not bothers. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

21. A church where youth are discipled in a manner befitting future kingdom leaders; where marriages are mended, and victims of broken homes find a forever family; where older people find new purpose. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

22. A church that stands up for the cast down; whose mission takes it outside the four walls of comfort, taking Jesus to its community, its region, the dark corners, and the ends of the earth. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

23. A church that communicates the old, old story, in bold, creative ways. Where spiritual gifts are engaged, and buried talents are employed in the King’s service; where the Body of Christ is made visible. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

24. God has a vision of a church in this world that reaches the lost, grows in faith, and serves the Lord and others together; a beautiful foreshadowing of the eternal, redeemed community who will someday live forever with Christ and each other in the world to come. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

25. It can be God’s vision for Rose Hill… ~ If we will have the passion, the determination, the zeal ~ If we will have the willingness to work, give, and sacrifice ~ If we are willing to do the things necessary to grow ~ Depend on how important to reach out to others ~ Depend on how big we dream and how committed ~ Depend on our faith and our vision on what we want “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

26. I really think we should dream big and come up with a grand vision for the future of Rose Hill. We need to live by the faith we talk so much about. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

27. According to the dictionary, a vision is: “a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination; a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

28. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

29. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The vision that we’re hoping for and longing to see? “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

30. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The vision that we’re hoping for and longing to see? God already sees it!!! To Him, it’s just as plain and clear as it will be when it all comes to pass. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

31. Can we dream that big? Do we have faith to fulfill it? “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

32. Tower of Babel Genesis 11:6 “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them to do.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18

33. God gave a magnificent tribute to man and his ability to have a vision, to plan it out, and to follow through and do whatever he sets his mind to do. God knows we’re capable of doing great things! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

34. If we want to create a grand vision of what we want Rose Hill to be, then we can surely make it happen! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

35. If we want to create a grand vision of what we want Rose Hill to be, then we can surely make it happen! And guess what? As great as we are on our own, we’re not on our own, are we?! God promises to add to our power His own power! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

36. ~ Acts 2:41 three thousand souls were added ~ Acts 4:4 number of men who believed was five thousand ~ Acts 5:14 multitudes of both men and women added ~ Acts 6:1 number of disciples kept increasing ~ Acts 6:7 number of disciples kept on multiplying ~ Acts 9:35 all who lived in Lydda and Saron turned to the Lord ~ Colossians 1:6,23 gospel had been proclaimed to all creation “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

37. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” 1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” Colossians 2:19 The body of Christ “grows with a growth that is caused by God.” “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

38. How do you explain what the Macedonians were able to do in 2 Corinthians chapter 8? They were in “a great trial of affliction “ and in “deep poverty.” Yet they were able to give “an abundance of riches.” How? With help and strength from an all-powerful God! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

39. God has a great vision for this church here. He’s just waiting for us to raise our vision up to the level of His. Are we ready to do that? Will we seek to make our vision as high and noble as God’s vision for us? It’s up to us, each one of us, to make it happen. “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18 God’s Vision

40. Today can turn out to be one of the most important days in the history of the Rose Hill congregation! “I will build My church.” – Matthew 16:18