1) RUN WITH THE VISION: 1-10-10

#1) PURPOSE FOR THE VISION

Ø  Hab 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  3.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Ø  Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

o   "Where there's no vision, people move to another parish" - Rick Warren

#2) VISION IS SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOU ARE!!!

Ø  Ephesians 3:17-21  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  18.  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  19.  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  20.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  21.  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

#3) VISION IS PROGRESSIVE

Ø  2 Peter 1:5-8  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  6.  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  7.  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  8.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

#4) UNDERSTAND THE VISION

Ø  Daniel 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

The theme for 2010 is, “RUN WITH THE VISION.” The relay race is a very popular sporting event that is only successful with a whole team working together. In order for AU to continue to grow, it is going to take all of us “RUNNING” together. Another key component of the relay race is that the runners have complete focus. Therefore, we have organized the church into six key biblical imperatives that all of our ministries and activities will fall under.  These AU Values are extracted from Acts 2:42-47:

Ø     Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (DISCIPLESHIP) and fellowship (FELLOWSHIP), and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (MINISTRY) 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house (FAMILIES), did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47. Praising God, (WORSHIP) and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (EVANGELISM)

The AU values are as follows and we will be teaching, preaching, and living these principles for the rest of the year and for time to come:

Ø   V.ALUE IS OUR WORD FOR FAMILIES

o   Counseling Seminar with Rev. Stanley Russell ~ February 28th

o   Soul’d Out Quartet in Shipshewana, IN ~ March 26th

o   Quarterly Wednesday Family Nights 

o   Men’s Activities (Meets Monthly: 1 Prayer, 1 Fellowship) ~ Pastor Morehead

o   Women’s Activities (Meets Monthly: 1 Prayer, 1 Fellowship) ~ Dr. Morehead

o   Continuation of Family Month in September

Ø   I.NSTRUCTION IS OUR WORD FOR DISCIPLESHIP

o    AU MEMBERSHIP CLASSES ~ Pastor Morehead

§  101: BEGIN THE FAITHWALK (Committing to AU Membership)

§  201: STRETCH FOR THE RACE (Committing to Discipleship)

§  301: RUN WITH THE VISION (Committing to Ministry)

o   ONENESS REVIVAL: May 12^th through May 16th: Rev. Talmadge French

o   Train 20 “Search for Truth” Bible Study Teachers

o   Teach 40 Bible Studies

o   Train 20 Prayer Partners

Ø   S.EEK IS OUR WORD FOR EVANGELISM

o   Adoption of Adrian Village

o   Visit Adrian Village once a month and pass out bags of food/drinks or items of need along with flyers, postcards, newsletters, etc. notifying them of the current events at AU and inviting them to join us.

o   Implementation of the visitor’s center

Ø   I.NSPIRATON IS OUR WORD FOR WORSHIP

o   Adult Choir, Youth Choir, Children’s Choir, Praise Singers, more musician’s, New Sashes for Robes

Ø   O.NE ACCORD IS OUR WORD FOR FELLOWSHIP

o   May 30th ~ Memorial Day Picnic

o   July 4th ~ Celebration of July 4th & Sr. Pastor’s Birthday

o   September 5th ~ Dinner and Auction / Labor Day

o   September 12th ~ Youth Day Breakfast

o   September 19th ~ Kidz Day Breakfast 9:00 am

o   September 26th ~ Family Breakfast 10:00 am

o   November 21st ~ Thanksgiving Dinner After Service

o   December 12th ~ Christmas Party 5:00 - 7:00pm

Ø   N.EEDS-CENTERED IS OUR WORD FOR MINISTRY

o   PRAYER PARTNERS TRAINING: February 7th & 14^th ~ 10:00am - Sis. Strawcutter

o   BIBLE STUDY TUNEUP: March 14th & 21st ~ 10:00am - Sr. Pastor

o   SECRETARY TRAINING: March 6^th ~ 12:00 - 3:00 ~ Candice Thayer

o   YOUNG ADULTS MINISTRY TRAINING: March 6^th ~ 7:00 - 9:00 ~ The Thayer’s

o   PUBLIC SPEAKING TRAINING (Bible Reading/Announcements) TBA ~ Pastor David

o   SOUND & MEDIA TRAINING ~ TBA ~ Keith Beasley / Amy Gilbert

#5) RUN WITH THE VISION

Ø  Psalm 18:29 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

Ø  Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Ø  Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Ø  1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

2) HURDLES: OBSTACLES OF THE RACE: 1-17-10

The doctors told Dick Hoyt that his infant son Rick should be institutionalized. There was no hope, they said, of Rick being anything more than a vegetable.

Rick was attending public school two years later, when a five-mile benefit run was held for a local lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Rick wanted to participate. Dick was not a runner, but agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair. During the run, Rick felt as though he simply wasn't handicapped anymore - he was just one of the runners. Wanting to give Rick this feeling as often as possible, Dick ran in an increasing number of events with his son.

Four decades later, Rick and Dick Hoyt have competed over 65 marathons, 206 triathlons and hundreds of other events as a father-son team. Rick, whose father was told he was incapable of intellectual activity, graduated from Boston University in 1993.

Ø Galatians 5:7 YE DID RUN WELL; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Ø Matthew 11:2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

AN EPILOGUE OF JOHN’S IMPRISONMENT

“The new prisoner has arrived, Captain.”

“Is the rumor true?” the Captain responded.

Without answering, the guard held up a piece of papyrus for Protheus to see.

“Herod has lost his mind. He will yet be found as mad as his father.

“Making this man a prisoner,” he continued, “may very well set off a revolution.

The common people are enraged.”

“Sir, forgive me, but I must speak. I do not like this,” said one of the guards in a voice shaking with emotion. “I do not want him here. I do not want his blood on my hands. I fear that man. I listened to him once, in the desert. I fear what God might do to us
for imprisoning such a man.”

“Do your duty soldier. Prepare a cell.” “Only one is empty, sir.” “Prepare it then.”

“There is nothing to prepare, sir. It is the third cell.”

“The pit? We shall see a holy man of God vanquished to that?”

“I cannot say I disagree with you,” sighed Protheus.

At that moment the door at the head of the stairs swung open. In the doorway could be seen the silhouette of two soldiers and a prisoner.

“I wonder how long Herod will let him live,” thought the captain to himself.

LESSONS FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST

Ø  Luke 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Ø  Freedom from offense is essential for every Christian because Jesus said it is impossible to live this life and not have the opportunity to be offended.

o   Offense imprisons countless Christians

o   Severs relationships

o   Widens the existing breaches between us

1) OFFENSE CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE

Ø  Matthew 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and PUT HIM IN PRISON for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. 4. John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

2) EVEN STRONG CHARACTER CAN BE SHAKEN

Ø  Matthew 11:6 Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

o   Put yourself in John’s place. You have been the man on the cutting edge of what God is doing. Now you’re in prison. The temptation to become offended grows greater the longer you are in prison. “If He is the Messiah, why doesn’t He get me out of this prison? Now you hear stories of how this Man and His disciples live a very different life from yours.

o    JOHN: You have lived a life of self-denial.

o    JESUS: They eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners.

o    JOHN: You have lived eating locust and wild honey and fasted often.

o    JESUS: He and disciples don’t even fast.

Jesus responds by saying, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Matthew 11:6)

3) WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE TRIAL

Ø  Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

§ Christ notices in John his steadiness. Was he not ever steady and uniform in the testimony he bore to me?

Ø  Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:

§ As far as we know, John never knew about the high praise that Jesus gave to him.

§ Oftentimes we don’t have the privilege of knowing how the outcome of our trial

Ø  John didn’t know the whole picture or plan of God, just as we don’t know the complete picture today. Jesus was encouraging him, saying, “You’ve done what was commanded of you. Your reward will be great. Just stay free from offence with me!”

HURDLE: OFFENSE

The question is not:

Ø   “Why is God doing this? Why is He like this?”

Ø   “Why does He not answer me?”  

Ø   “I need Him desperately, and why does He not rescue me?”  

Ø   “Why did God allow this tragedy to happen to me, to my children, to my wife, to my husband, to my family?”  

The question before the house is this:

Ø   “Will you follow a God you do not understand?

Ø   “Will you follow a God who does not live up to your expectations?”

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.