Getting Ready for God's Future

Over the past year, First Baptist Cornelia has been preparing for God's future.  Yesterday, Sunday, May 19, our Walking by Faith team presented a vision, set of values and set of initiatives based on AGAPE to our congregation to begin the process of ownership building.

I have placed a lot of information about this new future on my blog today.  You can find the faith story behind this AGAPE vision here.  You can find the entire, unabridged version of the vision, values, and initiatives here.  

Over the past 5 weeks, I have been preaching a series of sermons to help our church see this vision, values and initiatives within the shifting changes of postmodern evangelicalism.  I have based this sermon series on a great book by Reggie McNeal called This Present Future:  6 Tough Question for the Church.  While the book was written in 2002 - it continues to challenge congregations like mine.  I am grateful to Reggie's thinking and influence since I first moved to South Carolina and heard his first presentation on a new futuring process he called Thy Kingdom of Come.  

If you would like to read my sermon series - you can find it on my blog.  Here are the link:  

Reality #1: The Collapse of Church Culture

Reality #2: The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth

Reality #3: The New Reformation

Reality #4:  The Return to Spiritual Formation (May 26) - come back to read.

I would like to publically thank of couple of other writers and congregational leaders whose thinking and writing have helped our church shape this future.  

George Bullard's Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation helped us shape our Walking By Faith Process.

Mark Tidsworth and Pinnacle Leadership Associates coached us through the process with care and wisdom.  

I hope you will take time to prayerfully read through the AGAPE Vision and Values God has given to FBC Cornelia and begin to find a way to support, encourage and live out these in our church and world.