Habakkuk 2:2

1. Habakkuk 2:2

2. Let’srevisit the vision of Summit Church. • I want to do this for several reasons: • Some of you have never heard it. • Those who have need to be reminded of it. • Having a clear vision for our church is extremely important. • A vision will answer the questions: • Why are we here? • Where are we headed? • What is our focus?

3. There are a lot of good ideas of what we as a church should be doing. • Nearly everyone has an opinion. • But, what is God’s plan? • We don’t just want good ideas. • We’re after the God ideas.

4. Summit Vision reminds me of the view at Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state of WV at 4,863 ft. • Your vision is clear and nothing obstructs it. • When you are at the highest point, you can see further than you can from any other vantage point. • It is the view from the summit or Summit Vision.

5. Spruce Knob at the Summit

6. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about the importance of a vision: Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish . . .(KJV) Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. . . (NIV) Proverbs 29:18 – When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild . . . (NLT)

7. The idea conveyed: without a vision, the people are scattered. • They go in all directions and everyone does their own thing. • There is no unifying force to keep everyone focused in the right direction. • It is like during the time of the Judges—Every man did what was right in his own eyes. • Without vision there is total chaos. • This is what a vision does—it keeps us focused and moving in the right direction.

8. It is similar to the idea that is conveyed in: Matthew 9:36 – He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. (NLT) • Without a shepherd orwithout a vision, the people are helpless and scattered. • If sheep are not fed, led to water and taken care of, they will die. • They do not know how to take care of themselves. • They need help.

9. A man without a plan is always subject to the man with a plan. • If you don’t have a goal, you will hit it every time! • This is what a vision does for us: • Keeps us Focused • Keeps us United • Like a Map (shows direction) • Provides a Standard to judge ourselves. • How are we doing? • Inspect what you expect.

10. Most churches do not have a vision, and you can usually tell. • They don’t know where they are going, and because of that, they don’t know if they will ever get there. • Like leaving for a trip and not knowing your destination.

11. Habakkuk 2:2-3 – Then the LORD said to me, "Write My answer [vision] in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. 3 But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”(NLT)

12. Several important points concerning vision: • Write it down • Make it plain and clear (keep it simple) • Everyone should be able to explain it. • Run with it! Just do it! • Start the train moving in the right direction. • The job of the shepherd is to keep casting the vision. • Growth is often slow, but it will come. • Get on board with it, and stand in faith. • Vision is unique to each church.

13. Let’s put all this together. AVision • keeps us united • focused • moving in the same direction • easy to articulate

14. Let’s look at our name—Summit Church: • When a person’s name is mentioned, what do you think or feel about them? • Abraham Lincoln • George Washington • Madonna • Bill Clinton • Ronald Reagan • Billy Graham • Barack Obama

15. A name brings up thoughts—good, bad or neutral. • But, you always associate a reputation with a name. • In fact the Bible teaches us that a good name is to be desired more than riches and fame. Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (NIV) Ecclesiastes 7:1 – A good name is better than fine perfume . . . (NIV) • This shows the importance of a good reputation that is connected to aname.

16. Summitencompasses our vision for this church. We want to bring people from the deep valleys of life to the mountain top where they can meet Jesus—where they can have their own summit experience! • When you think of the name, you will be reminded of the vision. • Many verses speak of going to the Mountain Top or to the Summit to meet the Lord! • Let’s look at one of them.

17. Isaiah 2:2 – In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house will be the highest of all [the summit]—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 6 Aspects of Summit Vision: • Local and Global in Scope • The church gives well over 10% of its annual income to local outreaches and to foreign missions. • We are sending teams to the nations. • Developing local outreaches in the near future. • Dead Sea vs. Sea of Galilee

18. . . . people from all over the world will stream there to worship. • Worship – this will be a place of anointed, life-changing worship. • We are already seeing this happen. • Quarterly times of Worship and Prayer Nights • More people are learning to enter into worship and have an encounter with the Lord. • More hands are raised and clapping all the time. • Please pray for God to bring in more anointed musicians.

19. Isaiah 2:3 – People from many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob's God. There He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths." For the Lord's teaching will go out from Zion; His word will go out from Jerusalem.

20. . . . There He will teach us His ways . . . • Teaching Center – a place where people are taught how to live for the Lord. • Emphasis on teaching in our services. • W.O.W., Iron Men’s, Vertical Youth & Children’s ministry • Website: reports from people downloading our messages and listening to them. • CD’s are going out from here as well. • The mantle of teaching is strong here, and it will only continue to grow.

21. . . . There He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. • Integrity/Right Living • Teach how to live a godly life—His ways • Emphasis placed on the right living & victorious living. • Create a Culture of Right Living, based on our relationship with God, as opposed to a Culture of Compromise.

22. . . . For the Lord's teaching will go out from Zion; His word will go out from Jerusalem. • Sending Center – We see Summit being a church where people go out from here to other places. • We envision training, equipping and releasing people to fulfill their call. • This is what the local church is called to do: • To help believers discover their call, giftsand develop them. • Then release them to run with it.

23. Media Center – We will use all forms of the media to reach this generation. . . . and people from all over the world will stream[our services online] there to worship. • Through the website, PowerPoint, videos, the projector and etc., we are using the different forms of the media to reach a Sight and Sound Generation. • We have plans to begin to produce videos and dramas from within our church. • Candlelight Service is a good example of using our in-house skills to combine media and worship.

24. Youth and Children’s Ministry • We will always be a church that emphasizes children and youth ministry. • We have a heart to reach this generation of young people. • To help them discover their personal callings. • And, to start using their gifts now.

25. This is the bottom-line: • We want people to have an encounter with God here where they will never be the same. • We desire for them to have their own Summit Experience! • If that happens, this church will grow. • Why? • When the needs of people are being met, people will come.

26. Some will say, I don’t want to grow. I like it the way it is. • But, take a step back and look at that statement. • Notice who the center of that statement is: “I” • It is really selfish to not want the church to grow. • If we’re growing, that means: • lives are being transformed into the image of Christ • people are having an encounter with Jesus & • experiencing the answers to their prayers • That’s what it is all about—Bringing people from the deep valleys of life to the summit where they will have a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

27. The local church has a two-fold purpose: Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone . . . (evangelism & outreach) Matthew 28:19 – Go and make disciples . . . (equip) • The local church is to reach the people in the valleys. • And, introduce them to Jesus, but our job is not over then. • We also have a mandate to disciple new believers and help them to discover their callings. • Reach + Equip + Release & Repeat • That is our goal here at Summit Church.

28. New Building • We need a new sanctuary to be able to more effectively fulfill God’s plan for this church. • As most of you know, we are moving forward to develop plans to build a new sanctuary. • In our present facility, we are limited in fulfilling our visionto reach and equip. • We believe a new sanctuary will greatly enhance our ability to reach people and to impact this community. • FOCUS: It’s NOT about a building; it’s about reaching and discipling people for the Kingdom!

29. Commit to Pray • As the lead pastor, I’m asking you to commit to praying for this process on a regular basis. • There are countless details that need to come together in order to make this vision a reality. • We have new Prayer Cards to help you in praying with us. Behind every work of God you will always find some kneeling form. —D. L. Moody

32. Building Fund • A monthly special offering for the Building Fund on the last Sunday of the month. • .25 or $25 or $250 or more . . . Offering Buckets • Why? • Buckets are more discreet. • Buckets are more secure and will keep the money from dropping to the floor. • Buckets will aid in the flow of the service.

33. Habakkuk 2:2