A couple of weeks ago the Lord woke me up early. “On January 7th I want you to preach a sermon called Vision 24.” I know I don’t always hear the Lord right or follow through when I do, but this Sunday I’m going to give you my best shot at this. Pray for me. We are praying for you and encourage your faithful attendance. This Sunday is significant and I pray you all will come to either 8:00, 9:30 or 11:00.

There are 3 questions I want to address: Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we headed? It’s a lot to answer in 20-ish minutes. It’s a special Sunday with a host of baptisms and the celebration of Epiphany. We have added people and services, increased family ministries, offered special gospel conversations, etc.

From the beginning, 13 years ago, our Biblical vision was “Follow a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.” Exodus 13:21-22. Now, look back over those years and see where and how He has taken us. The move into downtown, Covid shutdown, re- opening, growing, reaching out, inviting, transforming lives one by one. By His grace we will continue to follow a cloud and a fire, The Holy Spirit.

What the Lord has spoken to me is not just about new programs or more to do as a church, but about how we must be a faithful witness as people of exile. By that I mean for most of Biblical history, Israel and then Christianity, have lived as people in exile from the surrounding culture. Differences in values, ethics, worship, family values have separated us from the prevailing culture. I am just recently coming to this reality as I was brought up in a time when I thought the surrounding culture was largely supportive of Judaeo/Christian values. That has changed drastically.

How do we live in exile? Essayist Paul Kingsnorth maintains that our religious sensibility is slowly revealing itself, “…emerging into the light: our instincts are trying to return to their source...Religion, not as just a set of beliefs to be adhered to, but an experience to be immersed in.” This is what we lift up at ASD. The 3 streams of Scripture, Sacraments and Spirit as a way of life catalyze us for the moral and spiritual renewal.

As we move into 2024 we do so with hope born of faith issued forth in love. The people of God are always on the move, never stagnant, never completely settled and comfortable where they are.

Strengthen what is good

Activate the Holy Spirit in you to listen to Him

Pray for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual healing

Experience hope, breakthrough and freedom

Bless others

Take authority against the darkness both inside us and outside us

Practice patience

Plant churches

As Jim Denison wrote recently, the challenge is the opportunity. Begin every day by submitting that day to God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Make time to worship, pray, read Scripture, and practice other spiritual disciplines as he leads you. Walk with your Lord through the day as you pray about all you experience, seeking to think biblically and respond redemptively.

Come this Sunday. All of you.

Come and See

+Philip