You CAN go home again!

George Webber was a struggling author when he wrote about the family and friends of his hometown in Libya Hill.  When the book became a national best seller, George returned home to find the people of Libya Hill outraged at the way he portrayed them and their anger drove George out of the town and on a journey of self discovery.  That’s the story line of Thomas Wolfe’s classic book – You Can’t Go Home Again – but that title has taken on a life of its own and it now means many things to many people.  For some people it means that we can’t go back to our small town roots once we have traveled and seen the complexities and wonders of the larger world.  For others it means they can’t return to the glory days of their youth when they were the captain of the football team or class president.  But for many people this phrase has come to mean that they can’t return to a God they once loved and believed in because their failures, mistakes and sin has taken them too far away.

How can we return to God when we have lived away from Him for so long?  How can we return home to a God that is defined by holiness and righteousness - when our lives are anything but holy and righteous?  Can we return into a relationship with God when our attitudes and actions have seemed to deny God’s very presence?  Well the good news today is that we aren’t living in a Thomas Wolfe novel – we are living in the world our God created which means we CAN go home again because God wants us to come home.  Over the next three weeks we are going to explore some coming home stories that show us that it is possible to return to God and enter into a deep and lasting relationship with the One who created us, knows us and loves us unconditionally.

Today we are going to look at the story of Jacob who was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham.  Jacob had a twin brother, Esau, and they fought with each other from the very beginning.  In fact, while they were still in the womb it says the babies jostled with each other and when they were born while Esau came out first, Jacob was right there with his hand grasping his brother’s heel.  In fact, the name Jacob means to follow and comes from a root Hebrew word which means heel.  And that is how Jacob entered this world,  following his brother by grabbing hold of his heel.  Jacob followed after his brother the rest of his life, grabbing hold of what belonged to him.

When their father Isaac was on his death bed, Jacob devised a plan where he pretended to be his brother Esau, the first born, and stole the blessing that rightfully belonged to the first born son.  This blessing wasn’t just a prayer or some kind words spoken by a dying father, the blessing was believed to have special power that once given would help shape the future and could not be revoked or changed in way.  So Isaac blessed Jacob by saying “May God give you of the heaven’s dew and of the earth’s richness an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and people bow down to you.  Be lord over your brothers and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. (Genesis 27:28-29)  Jacob was not only receiving the blessing and wealth of his father but he was receiving the blessing of God that had been given first to Abraham and then to Isaac.  This was a big deal because what is taking place is that Jacob is now being declared the first born son. This established Jacob as the head of the family who now owned and controlled everything.  As you might imagine, Esau was furious about this and decided to just wait it out until his father died and then take matters into his own hands and kill Jacob.

When Jacob heard about his brother’s anger – he left his home and traveled to Haran where he lived with his uncle.  Through the years Jacob prospered and fathered many children and his flocks increased in size and strength until he became a very wealthy man whose power and position threatened his cousins.  In time it was now this ide of his family that wanted Jacob to leave.  First it was his brother and now it was his cousins.  No one seemed to want Jacob around.  He couldn’t stay where he was in Haran, but he couldn’t go home again – at least that’s what he thought, but God had another message for him.  Look at Genesis 31:3.  And there it is, you CAN go home again!  Not only is there a place for you Jacob, but I will be with you.
This is still God’s message today.  It’s not just given to Jacob but it is given to all of us.  You see, it doesn’t matter how long we have been away or what lies in our past – we CAN go home again – in fact this isn’t just an invitation God makes today this is a promise God made long ago.  It was also a promise he had made to Jacob years before he faced this situation.  When Jacob first left home and ran away from his brother, he didn’t make it far when he stopped for the night and had a dream.  In that dream, heaven opened up and a stairway dropped down to the earth and angels of God where going up and down and in that dream God said to Jacob, I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.  I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.  All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.  I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.  (Genesis 28:13-15)

That night God promised Jacob that he would have a home in this world and it was a home where God would bless him and watch over him and be with him.  God promises a home.  Someday Jacob would be able to come back to this place, to come home again.  The reason we can come home to God is because God has always promised us a home coming.  Jesus promised us a home coming in John 14:1-3.  Now we often only think about the home Jesus promises us as a home in heaven after we die and while there is that home waiting for us, there is also a home waiting for us right here and now.  Jesus came back after his death and his resurrection means we are forgiven and can have a relationship with God.  There is a home for us today.  It’s not a home made with brick and mortar, it’s not our hometown or favorite city or promised homeland like it was for Jacob, the home God has promised us is a relationship with God that fills us with the hope and joy and peace.  This home is a life where we experience the richness and fullness of God’s blessing.

Now many people don’t believe that this kind of home is possible for them.  At times we all struggle to believe that there is a God who loves us and honestly desires to be in a life-giving relationship with us, and even if this kind of a relationship with the living God is possible, we often don’t believe it can be for us after all the things we have done and the kind of life we have and are living.

How can the God we read about in Bible still be real and relevant in a world as complex and advanced as ours?  How can we go home again to a loving God we learned about in Sunday School and sang about as children?  How can the Jesus we read about here (Bible) accept someone who lives here – in this world – in this age – in this place – in our sin?  For many people coming home to God and home to the church just doesn’t seem possible and I’m sure Jacob thought the same thing.  How can I return home when my brother wants to kill me?  How can I return home when my past is filled with brokenness and pain?  But God says – you CAN return home.  In fact God says, I’ve always promised you a home.

There is nothing that God wants more than to welcome us home – not just into heaven but into the healing and hope and power of a relationship with him.  The Apostle Paul makes this clear to us, look at Acts 17:24-28a.  God wants us to reach out for him, he wants us to come home to him – in fact he is not far away.  Like Jacob who didn’t realize how close God was to him when he was sleeping – neither do we understand how close God is to us. today  He is right here.  Coming home doesn’t involve a long journey like Jacob, or even a day trip to our hometown – it’s travelling from here (head) to here (heart) and accepting the love God has for us.

In 1 John 4:10 it says that God loves us and sent his son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  So it is through Jesus that we are able to return home, all we have to do is open the door.  Jesus stands at the door and knocks; all we have to do is invite him in and when he arrives – we are at home – we are in that relationship with God that’s what it says in Revelation 3:20.
It has been, it is today and it always will be God’s desire and plan to bring us into a deep and lasting relationship with him which is why he promises that no matter what, we can come home again and that when we come home we will find him there.  Look at Jeremiah 29:11-13.

So we CAN go home again and we CAN find God because God has made us that promise.  When you search for me, God says, you will be find me.  So we can make that search – we can turn toward home and if you are ready to take the first step today it is simply this, a step of humility where we acknowledge our mistakes.  If we go back to the story of Jacob, as he prepared to meet his brother Esau he humbled himself.  He sent a note to his brother saying he wanted to return home and then he sent gifts to his brother in hopes of making peace.  Jacob returned home humbly, acknowledging that he didn’t always live the right way when he was there.

Returning home to God means acknowledging that we haven’t always lived the right way and that we have tried to do too many things on our own.  It means taking responsibility for our failures and saying that that we need God’s grace to forgiveness us.  Again, from 1 John 1:8-9 it says… and Acts 3:19 …

When we repent and turn to God, God forgives and then those times of refreshing come.  The blessings of God come.  Times of healing and hope come.  Times of new life come.  In Paul’s letter to Titus he says, God saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy.  It is God’s mercy that has promised us a home and it is God’s mercy that allows us to come home again today

If we want to go home again, if we want to reestablish a relationship with God that brings healing, hope and life – it’s not too late – it’s never too late because God promises a home for us, not in heaven, but right here and now.  God has made a way for us through Jesus to experience His blessing of love and life, we just need to turn and start the journey home.


Next Steps
You CAN go home again!

Remember that home is not a building or location and home is not our eternal dwelling place in heaven.
Home is a relationship with God where we experience the blessing of God’s love and life.

1.  Take time this week to read the full story of Jacob found in Genesis 25:19 – 34 and then Genesis chapters 27 – 33.
Take note of all the times God promised Jacob he would be able to come home again.


2.  Read the promises God makes with us that we can ALWAYS come home again.
• Jeremiah 29:11-14
• Acts 17:24-28
• 1 John 4:10
• Revelation 3:20


3. The first step in coming home involves humility and confession.
• Come clean before God about the ways you have let Him and others down.
• Be specific in naming sins so that you know exactly where you need God’s help in overcoming them.
• Remember God forgives!  Titus 3:3-7, 1 John 1:9


4.  There is more to understand about coming home to God, so commit to being in worship the next two weeks to see how God sustains us for the trip and celebrates our arrival.

Blessed to be a Blessing

Twice we hear in Psalm 67 one of the most fundamental truths of God that is often overlooked.  God doesn’t bless us just to make our lives easier, good or prosperous – God blesses us so that we can bless others.  Look at Psalm 67:1-2, and now 67:6-7.  God blesses us so that we can bless others and help them understand and know for themselves God’s ways and salvation and glory.  God blesses us so that we can live our lives in such a way that the people around us can see God.  The truth is that this has always been God’s plan.

When God first called Abraham and told him that he was going to make him into a great nation it wasn’t just so Abraham and his extended family would know the goodness and prosperity of God – it was so that the world would see God in them.  Look at Genesis 12:2-3.  God blesses Abraham so that he and his family would be a blessing in the world and so that the world would be blessed through him.  God’s intent wasn’t just to take care of one family but to be known and honored and worshiped by all families in the world.

Through the prophet Isaiah God says the same thing to the people of Israel – his chosen people- look at Isaiah 42:6-7.  The people had been chosen and blessed by God so that they could shine God’s light to the Gentiles so that they would be able to see the heart and mind of God by how they lived.  The way God’s people lived was to help open the eyes of the blind so they could see all that truly mattered to God.  Even Jesus didn’t call people to follow him for the sole purpose of having their lives improved, the call to follow Jesus always came with a call to be a blessing to others.  Peter was called to be a fisher of people – to draw people to Jesus so they could find life.  The disciples were to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and the light of the world (Matthew 5:14a).  In other words, their lives of faith were to be lived with such power and love and clarity that people would be able to see Jesus and the blessing and kingdom of God in them and see the power of life that Jesus had to offer the world.

The great commission given to the church continues to make this our mission.  Look at Matthew 28:18-20.  The blessing of God’s authority and Christ’s presence with us always isn’t just for us but to be used by us to make disciples of all people.  We are blessed by God in order to be a blessing to the world so let’s look at three ways God blesses us and how we can use those same ways to bless others.

First God blesses us as he Gives and just think about all that God gives!  God gives us all that we need for life like food, shelter, clothing, and the resources to succeed and prosper.  Whatever wealth we have has come from God and whatever means we have to earn a living has come from God, but God gives more than material goods, God also gives grace, mercy and forgiveness.  When we confront the reality of our failure and sin we always know that there is one who will forgive us and give us another chance – God.  God’s grace is new every morning and his mercy is everlasting.  God gives forgiveness and grace and that blessing lifts up our lives and gives us the hope to keep going.

Because God blesses us by giving – we also need to bless others and give and the truth is that we need to give the same way God does.  First, we need to give our material goods and resources to help meet the needs of others.  We need to give food to those who are hungry, shelter and clothes to those in need, we need to give to the education and health of children in Bellefonte through our Blessing of the Backpacks and in Sierra Leone by helping support a church and build a school.  And we need to support and give and pray for our brothers and sisters fighting for their lives in Syria due to persecution and all across Africa due to disease.

One way to teach us how to give and bless others is through the offering and the giving of a tithe.  When we give on a regular basis we are blessing others.  Our offering each week goes to meeting the needs of people here in Bellefonte and in places around our community, nation and world and it helps us share our faith in Jesus with others.  Our giving gives knowledge and insight and the gospel of Jesus to others and so we need to learn how to give in ways that will shape our lives and not just give an offering here or there.  God never gives occasionally; He gives consistently, faithfully, generously and joyfully.  That’s the example God gives to us.

We also need to learn how to give grace, mercy and forgiveness to others.  Sometimes this is harder than giving money or time or our resources because forgiveness often calls us to give up our right to seek restitution.  Forgiveness means letting go of offenses and not seeking revenge and this isn’t always easy, but as we look at our world, forgiveness is needed.  Think of what forgiveness on all sides would do to the tensions we have seen this week in St. Louis between angry crowds and the police.  Think of what forgiveness and grace could mean to people who suffer with depression and what it might do to help restore marriages and strengthen families.  None of this is easy and for real life to be experienced through the process of forgiveness there needs to be truth and accountability and justice and change on all sides, but if we could begin to offer real forgiveness to others, think what a blessing that would be for our world.

God blesses us as he gives and so we need to give but God also blesses us as he Loves.  God loves us and what this means is that God sees us as his children who at our very core have sacred value and worth.  God accepts us and that acceptance and love has the power to change everything.  Think about how the love of God through Jesus changed everyone it came into contact with.  Jesus offered love to his disciples by calling them and showing them that they each had value – even Matthew the tax collector who was hated by everyone.  Jesus’ love for lepers gave them new life.  His love for children gave them honor and his love for outcast women showed them they had value and that they were worthy of respect.  Jesus’ love changed people – it blessed them and it blesses us and as we reach out to love others it is a blessing.

As we reach out to love a community it is a blessing.  When we accept and love people who come to find Jesus it is a blessing.  When we reach out to love our neighbor or treat others with dignity, value and respect it changes their lives.  Our love for others is a blessing which is why over and over again God calls us to love others.  Love your neighbor as yourself – Jesus said.  The 10 Commandments that say, do not bear false witness, do not steal or murder or covet the things that belong to your neighbors are all laws showing that we need to respect and honor our neighbors and when we treat them this way it not only blesses them but it is a witness to the world that God’s love extends to everyone.

God blesses us as he gives and loves and we are a blessing when we give and when we love, but God also blesses us with Life (Live).  God is not only the one who gives us life but God gives us eternal and abundant life through the gift of Jesus Christ.  While we turn away from God and from the life God gives us through sin, God forgives us and through Jesus offers us new life once again.  When we accept this new life then we begin to experience the fullness of life here and now AND we have the hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God.  In John 10:10 Jesus said, I have come so that you might have life and have it to the full.  So when we accept Jesus and accept the grace and forgiveness God gives us through him, then we begin to really live.  And when we begin to live this new God given life it is the most powerful blessing of God we can receive and while we can’t give people give this life – only God can – we can live in such a way that people will see God in us and come to God to find this life for themselves.

We help God offer people life by living our lives with abundance and joy and passion and power.  I continue to say that faith and trust in God is more often caught than taught, which means that people will come to Jesus more by seeing Jesus lived out passionately in our lives day by day than by any teaching we have to offer.  It gets back to those principles of passion and courage where we learned that living with passion ignites passion in others and living with courage inspires others to be courageous.  Living our lives of faith is the blessing that helps other people come to faith, so the more we live for God, the more others will see God themselves and live.
God blesses us by giving, loving and filling us with life and so we bless others by giving all that we can to God and to those around us.  We bless others by loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  We bless others by living life to the fullest knowing that our lives will help others live fully.  God blesses us so that we can be a blessing so let us give and love and live to the fullest so that the world can be blessed.



Next Steps
Blessed to be a Blessing

GIVE:
Name 5 things you are thankful God has GIVEN you.

What 5 things can you GIVE to God? Your Family?  Others?

Ask God to forGIVE you and then accept His blessing of mercy.  Who can you bless by forgiving this week?

LOVE:
Name 5 people in your life that you need to tell this week that you LOVE them.

How has God’s LOVE changed your life?

In what practical ways can your LOVE change the people of Centre County?

LIVE:
Name 5 ways you LIVE differently today because of the values of God’s kingdom and the way of Jesus.

Does how you LIVE bless others?  If not – change how you LIVE.

Commit to memory John 10:10
I have come so that you might have LIFE, and have it to the full.  ~Jesus

Principles for Everyday Leaders ~ Vision

Today we are finishing up our look at principles for everyday leaders and if there is one truth I want us all to leave here knowing it is this, we are all leaders.  We might not see ourselves as leaders – but God does.  We may not see ourselves as someone who can add value to our family, church, community or world – but God does.  We may not see ourselves as the kind of men and women God will use to bring in the power, justice or love of His kingdom – but God does.  We may not see ourselves as someone who can really change things - but God does!  God sees us all as leaders and so the principles we have been exploring this summer are for us.  We all need to grow in our passion, courage, commitment, generosity and wisdom and we need to learn how to celebrate and take the initiative because we are all leaders who can do anything and all things because God has tapped us to be leaders.

Today we are going to finish by looking at a man in the Old Testament whose story is often overlooked.  When we think of the people of Israel making their way out of Egypt and into the Promised Land we think of leaders like Moses, Aaron and maybe even Joshua who actually led the people on the final leg of their journey across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land.  But there is one leader whose story we might not know but he was an everyday leader who teaches us about vision because he saw things the way God saw things.  He saw what could happen if the people trusted God.

After Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, it took them about two years to come to the edge of Canaan, which was the land God was going to give them.  Moses sent 12 men into the land to see what it looked like and what the people looked like who were living there.  When they returned they told Moses and the people that the land was very good and produced a huge harvest but that the people who lived there were also huge.  This is the report they gave – Numbers 13:26-29.

10 of the 12 men said that they should not enter into the land because of the people living there – Numbers 13:31-33.
But there were two men who saw things differently and the first one to speak was a man named Caleb.  Caleb didn’t see big people or big problems; he saw the power of his big God.  Numbers 13:30.

Caleb saw something very different from the rest of the men that day and so from him we learn about vision.  While there are many different definitions of vision we could use, we are going to use one from Bill Hybles and his book Courageous Leadership.  Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.  Vision does involve looking into the future, but it’s not just seeing something, it is seeing something so good and powerful that it motives us to move forward because it fills us with passion  The first week of this series we defined passion as the underlying force that fuels all of our emotions and gives us energy, excitement and enthusiasm.  So vision is seeing a preferred future, a better future, or maybe we should say God’s future that stirs our emotions and gives us energy excitement and enthusiasm to go for it.

When Caleb looked at the land of Canaan he didn’t see the big problems or people that confronted them, he saw the power of God who could overcome those things and lead the people into a land that was very good.  What he saw, God’s people living in this land, excited and energized him so that Caleb was ready to move forward.  He issued the rallying cry for the people to move forward because with God’s help he could see them all settled in the land and enjoying the bounty of the harvest, but why did Caleb see that preferred future while the rest of the men that day could only see the present reality?  What made the difference in vision?  The difference wasn’t what they saw with their eyes but what they believed in their hearts.  

In Numbers 14:24 God said because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to and his descendants will inherit it.  Caleb had a different spirit and a different heart which helped him to see things differently.  He trusted God and followed God completely so when he looked at the land he could see what God had in store for them.  Caleb was already living a passionate life for God and it was that passion and commitment that gave him the courage to move forward.  It was his wisdom and generous spirit thinking about how this would help all the people which gave him the  initiative to act.  So Caleb was passionate, courageous, committed, generous, wise and willing to take the initiative – he already embodied 6 of the 7 principles we have looked at this summer and my guess is that if we knew more about his life we would find out that he was a man who knew how to celebrate as well.  So he was living as a leader and his vision came from that life of faith.

What Caleb teaches us about a strong God given vision is that it doesn’t always lead to a life of faith and leadership but comes from a life of faith and leadership.  Caleb had a different spirit before he entered the land of Canaan which meant it was that different spirit or his life of faith, trust and leadership that helped him see God’s future which just ignited MORE passion, courage, commitment, generosity and wisdom which then moved him to want to take the initiative and move forward despite everyone else saying no.  While vision comes from all the principles of faith and leadership we have looked at this summer it also brings all of those into focus so that we see exactly what it is God wants for us.

Vision comes from a life of faith which means that vision starts within us.  Vision always starts within because at its core vision is God working in us.  With his eyes Caleb didn’t see anything different than the other people who entered Canaan that day, so we know that vision doesn’t come from outside of us but inside of us.  A strong vision of the future comes from God igniting our passion and giving us wisdom and courage to act on it.  If vision comes from God moving in us then we have to ask God to move in us and then we have to be willing to allow God to move in us.  This means being open to the spirit of God and following that spirit each and every day.  It means learning how to live with passion, courage, commitment, generosity, celebration, wisdom and initiative because God doesn’t give vision out of thin air, it comes from a vital and growing life of faith.  It comes from God in us.
But vision also draws from history, both our history and God’s history or God’s story.  As Caleb walked through the land and saw the large people he remembered his life’s story and God’s story.  Caleb was there when God sent the plagues on the people of Egypt which subdued a people and nation much bigger and more powerful than they were.  Caleb was there when they saw the hopeless situation of the Red Sea and the power of God which not only parted the sea allowing them to get to safety but he saw the waters come crashing back down on the horses and chariots of the Egyptian army that were pursuing them.  So once again Caleb saw the power of God subdue a people and army much larger and stronger than they were.  Caleb thought back on his own life and he remembered how God had moved in the past to subdue larger people and he realized that since God was bigger than the Egyptians, God was bigger than people living in Canaan and God could overcome them.  Caleb’s vision of victory in the land came from his own life’s story and God’s story.

If we are going to have a vision that ignites passion and gives shape to what God wants for us then we have to draw upon our own life’s story and God’s story.  What have we seen and experienced in the past?  How has our unique life’s journey prepared us for the future God has for us?  My life’s story is that I have always found meaning and purpose and joy in my connection to the local church.  I loved being in church as a child.  I was a leader in my church as a teenager, my faith exploded when I was part of a fellowship as a young adult and I finally saw God’s vision for my life and a glimpse of what I believe God wants for the world by seeing the power of the local church when I was in Seminary.  My life’s story has always been seeing life and power and finding meaning and purpose as part of a local community of faith, a church, so it’s not surprising that I am here today.

But it’s not just my story that shapes my vision, it is God’s story too because when I read the Bible I see that God has always worked in the world through a community.  He worked through Abraham and his family.  He worked through the people of Israel, through the fellowship of believers that formed around Jesus and the greatest force for good in the world has been the Christian Church.  The church is the front lines of mission and ministry because this is where God raises people up and equips his people to build his kingdom.  This is where it all happens so the church is God’s story and it’s my story and when I finally saw that – I became passionate about serving in the local church and helping the local church become a vital place of life and faith and transformation.  A vision for my life was formed through history, my personal history and God’s history or God’s story.  When our history and God’s story come together we begin to see a clear and compelling vision of God’s future and it can be a vision that ignites our passion, renews our commitment and propels us forward.

One way to know if the vision we have is from God or just our own is to see if the vision includes others.  Our vision needs to help meet the needs of others and not just our own because God’s story has always been about reaching out to others.  The world was created because God wanted to reach out himself, which means that a true God given vision has to include reaching out to others.  Caleb’s vision wasn’t just for himself or his family to enter into the Promised Land – it was for all of God’s people to enter the land.  He wasn’t doing this alone and it wasn’t for personal glory or fame – it was for God’s glory and God’s people.  Caleb’s vision wasn’t just for himself – it reached out to others and it also needed others.  

A vision that God gives also needs others, it can’t be done alone.  God’s vision will draw the gifts and resources of others into the work.  Any vision of God is going to be larger than what we can accomplish ourselves; it will require the gifts, talents, resources, money and leadership of others.  Caleb needed others to agree with him and be willing to commit to God’s vision.  When that didn’t happen – the vision couldn’t move forward.  It wasn’t that Caleb’s vision wasn’t strong; it was that the people refused to trust God so they didn’t give their lives to moving forward, which meant that for the rest of their lives they wandered in the wilderness and it was only Caleb and Joshua who finally entered into Canaan.
Vision from God will gather in the resources of others, even Jesus shows us this.  Jesus didn’t work alone.  Jesus’ vision of God’s kingdom on earth included the help of fishermen which is why he called Peter to take the initiative and become a fisher of people.  Jesus needed Peter and many others to step out in faith to continue his work.  If we want to know if our vision for the future is from God then we need to ask ourselves if it requires the gifts and skills and resources and passion of other people.  God’s vision can’t be done alone.

So vision starts within – it starts with God in us.  Vision starts with God working in us and our willingness to step out in faith and trust to work with God.  Vision starts by seeing ourselves as the leader God calls us to be and then being willing to move forward.  Vision then draws on our history and God’s story, it meets the needs of others and it gathers the resources of others.  Vision is refined and refocused and even restored as we continue to walk with God and allow God to work in us.  So vision comes from a life of passion, courage, commitment, generosity, celebration, wisdom and initiative but then vision ignites deeper passion which leads to courage, commitment, generosity, celebration, wisdom and initiative and then all those things lead to a clearer vision which keeps the entire process moving forward.

But there is one final thought about vision that is important to know.  If we aren’t going to own the vision God gives us and move forward with it, God will give that vision to someone else.  Esther was a woman in the Old Testament who had a vision of God saving his people through her but she had to agree to step out and be a leader.  It was a difficult choice for her because it took courage and commitment and initiative on her part and there was a lot of risk involved, in fact she was risking her entire life.  Esther struggled to know what to do and in the course of her decision making her uncle said to her, Esther 4:14 – If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish.

A number of years ago that passage hit me hard because it reminded me that as a leader, if I don’t rise up and be part of what God is doing and work with God to make His vision a reality – God will still do the work, but it will be through someone else.  The truth is that the 10 men who weren’t willing to be part of God’s vision to bring his people into the land of Canaan all died.  They didn’t own the vision presented to them through Caleb and Joshua so in the end it was only Caleb and Joshua who were delivered into the Promised Land.  If we aren’t going to embrace God’s vision and make it our own and if we aren’t going to work for it with others, God will give the vision to someone else and without vision, the Bible says, the people perish.  Without a vision for our lives from God – life isn’t being lived to the fullest.  This means we not only need to grab hold of  God’s vision for our lives when it comes but it also means we need to work with others and give all we have to give to God when we see that their vision is from Him and needs what we have to offer.

So vision comes as we live out the principles of an everyday leader and when that vision comes it helps us become even stronger leaders who develop a clearer and more compelling vision of God’s future.  If God is speaking to you today about becoming a leader – step out and follow him and if God is giving you a vision today that will fill you with passion – share it with someone who can join you in making it a reality.



Next Steps
Leadership Principles – VISION

1. Vision comes from God in us.  Whether you have done it before, or if this is the first time, ask God to enter into your heart and life.

God, today I invite you to into my heart and ask you to give my life and faith vision.  I yield my spirit and my plans to Yours as I step out in faith to live for You and with You.  Open my eyes and the eyes of my heart so I may see You and all You have for me.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  AMEN.

2.  Vision calls for listening.  Spend time in quiet prayer and reflection listening for God to speak.  Spend time in God’s work listening for his voice and learning God’s story.

3.  Vision needs others.  Ask others for wisdom, clarity and direction.  Seek the resources and help of mentors, partners and experts.  (Join us for this week’s Global Leadership Summit.)  Invite others to be part of God’s vision or join the God-given vision of others that ignites your passion and connects with your life.

4.  Vision must be owned.  If you are beginning to see God’s vision for your life, make it your own by sharing it and living it out one step at a time.

4. Vision is just one leadership principle that comes from all the others and strengthens all the others.  Review the principles of passion, courage, commitment, generosity, celebration, wisdom and initiative and continue to work the next steps from the entire series.

Sermons from this series can be found online at www.bellefontefaith.com 
All Next Steps can be found in the lobby.

Principles for Everyday Leaders ~ Initiative

An important quality for leaders to possess is the ability to not just see an opportunity in front of them but the willingness to step out and act in response to that opportunity.  This can involve meeting a need in the marketplace with a new business idea or invention.  It can involve meeting a need in the community by starting a new outreach program like Faith Church did over 10 years ago with the Faith Centre and for us in the church it often involves seeing a spiritual need in children, youth, families or even other countries so we step out to pray, love and share Jesus with those around us and those around the world.  

Whenever someone takes that leading step forward to do something new and fresh we call that initiative.  While many people might be able to see opportunities in front of them, it is the leader who steps out and does something.  Effective leaders are those who take that first step forward and push themselves into action even if the change they implement causes tension and conflict.  New things often challenge the status quo and so those who take the initiative often find themselves working in difficult situations, but they move ahead anyway.  What these leaders do may not always be fully effective and there is always some risk involved, but leaders are those who are willing to put it all on the line and do something.  Peter was a leader who clearly shows us what initiative looks like.  

Peter was a fisherman when Jesus called him.  He ran his business with his brother Andrew and was probably connected to, or partners with, James and John.  With all the fishing boats around the Sea of Galilee and all the fishermen Jesus could have reached out to – he chose Peter for a reason.  In Peter, Jesus saw a man who would take the initiative.  Peter was someone willing to step out and do something when others wouldn’t and that is what makes an effective leader.  Let’s look at Peter’s story: Luke 5:1-11.  

Jesus could see that Peter would be the kind of leader who would take the initiative which is why with all the fishermen along the sea of Galilee he could have chosen that day, he asked to use Peter’s boat and with that invitation, Peter saw the opportunity to be part of something new and special with Jesus.  When Jesus then asked Peter to go out into deeper water and let his nets down to catch fish, Peter had some doubts, but he once again took the initiative and agreed.  At the end of the story when Jesus invited Peter to be part of something much larger than catching fish for the rest of his life – without knowing all that lied ahead of him, Peter left his nets and boats and followed Jesus.  Peter knew he wanted to be part of something larger than himself – something new that seemed to be God ordained - so he grabbed hold of the opportunity, took the risk, and stepped out in faith.  Peter went with Jesus and that is initiative.  

Among the disciples, Peter was always the one who took the initiative and did something.  It was Peter who fist proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah.  It was Peter who asked Jesus if he could step out of the boat and walk with him on the water.  It was Peter who took out his sword to fight when Jesus was betrayed in the garden of Gethsemane and it was Peter who followed along in the shadows when Jesus was arrested and led away.  It was also Peter who not only ran to the tomb when the disciples heard it was empty, but it was Peter who ran into the tomb to see what was going on.  And then it was Peter who stood up and preached the first Holy Spirit inspired sermon that helped transform more than 3,000 people who chose to give their hearts and lives to Jesus.  Taking the initiative that day changed the world because it created the Church.  Peter was always the one who was willing to take the initiative and throughout his life he shows us what is needed to take the initiative and lead.  

In his book The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, John Maxwell outlines four qualities that are needed if we are to be leaders with initiative and we see these 4 qualities in Peter:

1. Know what you want

2. Push yourselves to act

3. Take more risks

4. Be willing to make more mistakes.  

Leaders who take the initiative first know what they want.  This doesn’t mean we always see clearly what we are to do or where we are going to end up, sometimes it just means knowing that we want something more so we move forward.  Peter had no idea what it meant to be a fisher of men and women, but he knew that Jesus was a pretty amazing man and he wanted more of what Jesus had to offer.  Peter could see God’s power in Jesus and he knew he wanted to be part of something like this - he knew what he wanted.  Knowing what we want doesn’t mean we know where we will end up, or what the journey will look like, but it does motivate us to act when opportunity comes.

So what is it that we want?  While the specifics of what we all want to experience in life will be different, what most of us want is simply more.  Now when I say we want more, I’m not just talking about more money or position or power, although those aren’t bad things.  Many businesses start or expand because people want more money or market-share and some people step out in politics or community service because they want more power to bring about needed change.  So money and power aren’t always bad things, but that’s not really what I’m talking about when I say we all want more.  I’m talking about more of those things that are intangible, like meaning or purpose or peace.  

What motivates many people to take that leaning step forward is a desire to experience more meaning or purpose in life.  What motivated me to leave my job at the movie theater and go to seminary was knowing that I wanted more than popping popcorn and selling movie tickets.   It was a good job and I had opportunities to advance and move on in business – but I knew it wasn’t for me.  I was looking for something different, something more.  Wanting more will move us to act and take that leading step forward when we see an opportunity that connects with our desire.   

It is also my hope that we will all want more of Jesus and more of God’s grace and love and power both for ourselves and others.  Jesus came to bring people more of God’s kingdom which includes justice, peace, righteousness and love and I hope we all want to experience more of this kingdom and then share more of God’s kingdom with others.  Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations and that means sharing more of God with more people.  

Wanting more and working more for God’s kingdom does mean we have to push ourselves to act because taking the initiative and stepping out in new ways often brings change and change challenges the status quo and challenging the status quo creates conflict and stress.  Leaving behind his nets and boats for a new life challenged Peter’s world.  Walking on water challenged Peter’s sense of reality and preaching the power of Jesus resurrection challenged the religions and political leaders and authority of his day.  These things were not easy, yet Peter always seemed willing to push himself into action.

It is too easy today to be complacent and allow someone else to take responsibility and work for change.  We hear about needs all around us and opportunities to make a difference in the world but many times we leave it up to someone else to do the work.  We think it will be someone else who will volunteer at the food bank or care for those who are sick or help out in the kitchen.  It will be someone else who will work with the children, give to the work in Sierra Leone, go on the mission trip, or pray for those in need.  We let others do the work because taking the initiative is work.  

But if we always sit back and let someone else do the work, not only will nothing get done, but we will miss out on everything.  We will miss out on the experience of feeling God’s power working in us.  We will miss out on the blessing of feeling God’s peace and hearing God say – well done, my good and faithful servant.  So we have to not only look for the opportunities to step out but then we need to push ourselves and actually do something.  The time of sitting on the sidelines and watching other people enter the game is over – we need to act.  

Now if we are going to do something, it will mean taking more risks.  Stepping out often means getting involved in new activities we may not do well and might be beyond our abilities.  We might look foolish or have to admit we need help, but taking risks is all part of being a leader.  Think of the risk involved when Peter stepped out of a boat and walked on water.  Think of the risk involved in standing up in a hostile city to preach about Jesus when you fully expect the local authorizes will throw you into jail or send you to the cross.  Peter took huge risks, but being a leader means taking risks.   

How can we learn to become risk-takers?  Maybe the key is to start taking small risks and learning what it feels like to experience the fear and anxiety that comes with the unknown.  Peter didn’t start by walking on water or preaching to thousands, he started by allowing Jesus to use his boat and then put his nets down into deep water when he didn’t think there would be any fish there.  That day led to the next, and then the next, and then the next.  I’m sure there was fear and anxiety that came each day Peter walked with Jesus, but he learned to live with those feelings and then worked through them.  Peter learned to trust Jesus each day they were together.  What small risks can we take today in order to help us be more comfortable with risk-taking tomorrow?  

At work it might mean speaking up when we have suggestions to improve the organization.  In the community it might be making suggestions for needed improvements and then be part of the team that works for those changes.  In the church it might mean stepping out to join a group, signing up to help with the Blessing of the Backpacks or just speaking to the people around you on the way out after worship.  If we learn to take risks in small areas of life and faith it might help us be more confident when God asks us for the big steps of faith, like leading a Bible Study or sharing our faith with a friend or even starting a new congregation or going into the mission field.  More often than not, God wants to lead us into deeper faith not push us off the deep end.  

One of the risks involved when we take the initiative is making mistakes and if there is any leader who knows something about making mistakes, it’s Peter.  Peter was the first one who proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah, but in his next breath he failed to understand what that meant and so Jesus rebuked him.  Jesus actually said to Peter, “get behind me Satan.”  Peter was the only one who stepped out of the boat to walk on the water but it didn’t last long because when he got scared Peter started to sink.  Peter was the only one to act when Jesus was arrested and he took out his sword and struck one of the guards, but again, Jesus rebuked Peter and told him to put his sword away.  Peter often failed – but those mistakes where not futile and those failures were not final.  

We often think that failure is futile.  Why take the initiative and do something if we are going to fail?  If we were to ask Edison that, he will tell us that each failure leads us closer to success.  It took Edison hundreds of tries before he found an electric light bulb that was viable.  All inventors, carpenters, builders, athletes and business leaders will tell you that no success is possible without making mistakes along the way.  Many times we learn more through our failures than we do success so we need to remember that failure is not futile, it is how we learn, grow and succeed.  

Our failures are also not final – ask Abraham Lincoln.  He was defeated twice in his bid to become a US Senator and he lost his bid to become the vice president but none of those failures were final because as we all know he went on to become the president of the United States.  Failure only means the end if we stop taking the initiative and if we stop acting.  The clearest symbol of failure not being final stands before us today - the cross.  At the time of Jesus, the cross was the symbol of finality because it was a symbol of death and death was final – until Jesus.  Today we know that even death does not have the final word and with the resurrection of Jesus comes the truth that no failure is final.  In fact it is the work of God to redeem all things.  In 1 Corinthians 15:54b it says Death has been swallowed up in victory and if death has been destroyed then we know that no failure is final because victory will prevail. 

So mistakes are not futile because we can learn from them, and failure is not final because God redeems all things, so we can’t be afraid to try and fail.  Good leaders make mistakes so we can’t be afraid to try and fail.  Failure is nothing to be feared – what is to be feared is never trying anything at all.  What is to be feared is never taking the initiative to do what God is calling us to do and missing out on all God has for us.   

We need to learn how to take the initiative in life and faith.  Peter shows us that what is involves is 

1. knowing what we want,

2. pushing ourselves to act, 

3. taking more risks 

4. being willing to make mistakes.

If we will do these things – the rewards are priceless.  The reward for Peter was walking with Jesus and bringing God’s kingdom into this world.  It was seeing miracles performed and performing miracles himself.  It was seeing lives changed and the world changed.  It was knowing God’s power and peace for himself.  When we are willing to take the initiative in life, in relationships and in faith and step out to work for change the reward is the opportunity to experience for ourselves the fullness and abundance that only God can offer.  The reward is experiencing the purpose of God in our lives and the peace of God in our hearts and seeing the power of God working in us and through us.  So let’s take the initiative and reach out for more - more of all that God has to offer.  

Next Steps

Leadership Principles ~ INITIATIVE

1.  Read the stories of Peter who always took the initiative:

• Matthew 14:22-33

• Luke 5:1-11, 9:18-36, 

• John 13:1-16, 18:1-11, 20:1-9

2.  Start and complete one project you have been putting off.  

• Take on a project at home, in your yard or at work 

• Attend to a strained relationship

• Begin or finish a book you have had on your list

• Engage in an activity you have wanted to try

Take the leading step forward and do something this week.

3. Look for new opportunities at home, at work, in the church, community and world.  

• Where do you see needs that you can address?  

• Who is looking for the gifts, skills and passions you have to offer?  

• What dreams and goals can you pursue?  

• Where is God calling you to step out in faith?  

4.   Act on one of the new opportunities you identified in #2.  

5. Take a risk and be willing to make a mistake.  What one activity have you wanted to try but have not been willing to take part in for fear of failure?  Take a risk and try it this week.  

Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.