VISION24

Dear City Church,

Proverbs 16:19 says, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” 2024 is a year to walk led by the Holy Spirit in humility and obedience. Although we all have our plans for the year ahead, I’m believing it’s a year of God - guided steps. Every day God wants to use his people (his church) to change the world for His glory. That can seem an overwhelming responsibility but if we simplify the task to listening to what Gods asking us to do personally and then following through in obedience then we can walk in sync with the Holy Spirits plans for us. Let’s keep our hearts open and posture ready to respond to the God prompts, divine interruptions, and ultimately God’s master plan each day above our own will. A church that puts Gods will above their own comfort and convenience is an effective church. With God’s grace and strength within us we can arise to the calling upon our lives and bring the love of Jesus to a lost world. Here’s some practical ways we can stay on mission this year.

REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU
There are people around us every day that are searching for the meaning of life and we have that in Jesus. We have a clear call from Jesus to “Go and make disciples”. As we listen to the God prompts in our heart to reach out to people and share Gods love we believe there are stories of transformation and testimony to follow. The invitation to ‘follow me’ from Jesus is a simple one but it’s important we take this message to the people in our world.

RISE UP IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Jesus wants to reveal himself to you in deeper ways and his greatest desire is to have a genuine and growing relationship with us. This year is a new opportunity to draw close to God in the spiritual disciplines of prayer, bible reading, worship, fellowship and serving Jesus. The invitation from Jesus is not to a one-time decision to follow him but to a lifetime of discipleship and maturing in our relationship with him. We can walk in step with him on that journey. Our spiritual formation starts and continues to grow through our personal relationship with Jesus.

RELEASE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING TO THE WORLD
The gifts and calling God has uniquely placed within each of us to build the body of Christ, bless the world, and build disciples for Jesus is something to be released. The very nature of the word ‘gift’ means that we are meant to give it away to others. Your family, friendships, workplace, school, university, church, and social groups need your unique gifts unlocked and released for the glory of God. We can influence the world through the power of God working through us. Our prayer this year is that we would all be responsive to Gods call to his church to make disciples by committing to Gods plan above our will. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

Much Love.

OUR PRAYER FOR YOU
11  So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.  12  Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honoured because of the way you live, and you will be honoured along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“The hard work of prayer is getting yourself into a state of mind in which you prefer the will of God over your own”. – A.W. Tozer

SOME SCRIPTURES TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS YEAR

Proverbs 16:19
The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Psalms 33:11
But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Psalms 32:8
The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

2 Peter 1:3
3  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NLT)
2  I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.  3  In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO
REACH PEOPLE
RAISE DISCIPLES
RELEASE LEADERS