In the coming days and years, Pastor Dale is leading this church to take its place in advancing the Kingdom of God both locally and globally. He has initiated the 7-1-0-10 plan. 7 Churches. 1% of Grain Valley. 0 Debt. 10 years. That seven represented by the first number includes church planting, re-planting, and revitalization. These strategies recognize that the church is the vehicle that God has designed to accomplish his purpose in discipling the nations.
I want to meditate for just a minute on what we mean when we say that the church is the vehicle that God has designed to accomplish his purpose in discipling the nations. This might sound like a bold claim to some, but the church is a central focus of the biblical vision for new creation. We see this in the book of Revelation when John portrays his vision of the city of God coming down from heaven in chapter 21.
“1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Rev. 21:1-3)
Notice the descriptions of the new heaven and new earth. It is a new and sanctified Jerusalem. It is a bride adorned for her husband. It is a place where the dwelling place of God is with man. These descriptions are all descriptions that the Old Testament uses for the end times people of God (Lev. 26:11, 12; Isa. 35:10; 51:11; 52:1; 61:10; 65:19). This vision is a picture of the church coming to her full stature as the glory of God covers the earth as the waters cover the sea.
We see this vision becoming reality every time we talk about how the gospel is good news in our lives with our co-worker. We see this vision becoming reality every time we talk about how the gospel is good news in our lives with our neighbor. We see this vision becoming reality every time we talk about how the gospel is good news in our lives with our family member.
There will be a day, when the Lord appears with the cry of an archangel, and in that day, the mission of the church will be complete. Until that day, we press on. We speak the Word of God boldly. We declare the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ over all things. We submit to his Word in every part of our lives. We wait with eager anticipation, ready for our Lord’s return. Are you ready?
In Christ Alone,
Pastor Charles
