WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:02.160 It is so good to see all of you. 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:04.320 Let me add my word of greeting to Dave's earlier. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.360 My name is Chris Kuba. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.199 I have the privilege of being the lead pastor here at United City Church. 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:12.080 And welcome to Vision Sunday. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:15.759 You know, I'm just gonna let you behind the curtain a little bit and let you know. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.079 I got my fancy coat on today, all right? 00:00:18.239 --> 00:00:22.480 Because um there's certain days as a pastor that you look forward to. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:31.760 Every Saturday night, I I go to bed and I'm just excited because I know God's given me a word and God wants me to be able to speak it, and I'm just still overwhelmed that he actually called me to do that. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.359 I mean, I just am blown away. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:40.159 But I'm not gonna lie to you, I didn't sleep much last night because I was so excited for today. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.280 I was so excited to be able to have a day like today. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:44.880 I hope that you've had the opportunity. 00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:51.039 Uh, if you haven't, I encourage you to do it after the service to go look at the LED cube that is out in the lobby. 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:52.000 Pretty cool there. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.079 Uh, we've got some pictures there uh on that that show where we've been. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:03.759 We've shown some pictures uh from before, some of the uh days many, many years ago, including the dedication of this building, those types of things. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.680 We've got some pictures from where we are. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:12.640 We've also got some exciting things that we want you to see about where we believe and we hope that God is going to take us in the days ahead. 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.560 Grab your Bibles, open them up with me to Proverbs chapter 29. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:18.480 Proverbs chapter 29. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:23.840 I want to take this opportunity to greet all of the men and all of the women at our correctional facilities. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:28.000 Let's give them a hand and celebrate all of those that are joining with us today. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:35.920 Today is Vision Sunday, and we want to talk to you about the importance of having vision. 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:38.560 I hope that you have a vision for your life. 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:48.400 I hope that you have a goal, a desire, a something where you believe God has given you something because there is something powerful about vision. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:50.640 Vision inspires. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.439 Vision leads to joy. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.159 Vision leads to motivation. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:09.120 Vision causes us to move from being at a place where we just think of what isn't, and instead we get to be where we feel like God is leading us to be and look back and thank God for all that He did. 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:19.759 Dictionary definition of vision is this it's the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:23.599 There's something powerful about vision. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:32.319 Proverbs chapter 29, verse 18, it reads, Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:37.280 But blessed is he who keeps the law. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:43.039 Maybe you grew up in a church where you are more familiar with this verse in the King James Version. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:47.680 It reads like this Where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:52.639 But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:59.199 Eugene Peterson wrote a paraphrase of the Bible called the message translation or the message paraphrase. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:01.199 Here's how he interpreted this verse. 00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:08.000 He wrote, If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:14.159 But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:17.840 It's so important that you have vision in your life. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:24.879 I'm not referring to dreams or mystical visions like Abraham got when he was told that he was going to be the father of many nations. 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:32.000 I'm not talking about a dream in the middle of the night like Joseph got whenever he was basically told that he was going to be over all of his brothers. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:38.319 But I am talking about a vision where you see it before you see it. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:43.199 I had an opportunity to work with and to be good friends with Zig Ziggler. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.039 And before he died, he he used to always say this phrase. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:52.400 He would say, If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:57.840 You see, our lives were made to have meaning and purpose. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:03.759 You weren't created just to exist, take up some time on earth, and then go away. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:09.280 Instead, you were created so that you would have direction and focus in your life. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:17.680 And whenever you don't have direction and focus, it leads to a life, it says there in the proverb, to a life without restraint. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:27.360 When your life feels like it has no purpose, you you wander aimlessly, you you go around with no direction, no preferred future, no prospects of where you're going. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:32.959 It can be very disorienting, it can be very chaotic, it can lead to great turmoil. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:36.399 The proverb says, cast off restraint. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:39.839 The Hebrew literally means to run wild. 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:54.240 I remember whenever I went to Bailey University as a freshman, I was so excited because I was no longer under my parents' roof, and therefore I could decide what I wanted to do, I could set my own agenda, I could do whatever I wanted and make my own rules. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.560 Can I tell you, as great as that experience may be, when a college freshman gets that freedom, you know what's a little bit weird? 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:03.680 When they still have that same mentality when they're 25. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:08.720 And can I tell you what isn't cool, but instead is a real big problem? 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:14.639 Is if you're 35 and up and you still live the same way that you do as a freshman whenever you're in college. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:18.720 In fact, when someone lives this way, you would say they're aimless. 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:24.160 You would want to sit them down and say, Hey, it's time to grow up. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:38.000 The idea is this it's okay to maybe have a season where you're living just enjoying life, but it's not okay to have a life where you're living in such a way without direction and not purpose. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:40.079 I want you to understand something. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:46.959 The reason that we feel this way is because we were all made for something greater from the very beginning. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:49.279 We were made in the image of God. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:50.800 He determines all of our days. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:55.199 The Bible says every single day that was formed for us was written in his book. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:05.519 But God not only gave us the number of days that we would live, but he also cares and wants us to use those days for his purpose. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:08.639 God didn't just create us and say, Hey, good luck. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.399 But instead, God created us and said, Go do what I have created you to do. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.560 Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.680 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:25.199 Plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:28.800 This is a verse that was written specifically to the nation of Israel. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:35.120 However, I believe it is a principle that shows about the character of God that is just as true for us. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:39.120 God desires that you have a purpose and a future. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:44.000 Ephesians chapter 10, verse, or excuse me, Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 through 10. 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:45.439 It's one of my favorite passages. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:49.519 It reads like this For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:55.360 And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:07:05.920 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:19.759 This is one of the clearest passages about the fact that God in his mercy and God and his grace gave you his salvation, not as a payment because of how good you've lived your life or to somehow make even with you. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:24.800 Instead, it shows us that everything that we've received from God is a gift. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:26.800 It is not something that we deserve. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:29.839 But God, if he stopped right there, it would be enough. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.040 But he didn't. 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:43.920 Instead, the Bible says that not only did he give us his grace and his mercy, but he then went even further and he gave us good works prepared specifically for you to do. 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:50.639 God didn't just save you to sit, God instead saved you so that you could be sent. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:56.160 This is such an amazing thing to know that God has a purpose and a plan for your life. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:01.120 He's got a future that involves participation in His plan and in His way. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:09.199 Do you know the plan that God has for you, or are you wandering around without restraint? 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:15.600 It's important that we see in this passage, it's not just about having vision, there's specifics to it. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.519 Look at verse 18 again. 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:22.160 It says, Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.959 But blessed is he who keeps the law. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:32.559 This verse isn't just saying that you can choose whatever vision that you want and then you're good. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:43.039 This isn't saying that you can just basically take business principles where you say, Hey, this is where I want to be, I'm gonna write up a business plan and I'm gonna throw a little God in there, and then we're gonna be good. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.200 That's not at all what it's trying to say. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:09:01.440 Instead, what it is saying is that if you want to have a vision for your life, a vision that God is going to bless, a vision that God is gonna give behind, a vision that God is gonna lead and guide you on, then it must be rooted in Him. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:15.120 2004, in the Olympic Games in Athens, there was an Olympian who was going into the Games, expected to be the gold medalist in the 50-meter rifle shooting competition. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.759 His name was Matthew Emmons. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:21.679 Everyone expected him to literally blow away the competition. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:38.080 The 50-meter rifle shooting competition is one where basically you are literally 50 meters away, you've got that rifle, and the way that they train these shooters how to shoot with accuracy to the pinpoint accuracy that they do is they slow their heart rates down. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:49.600 They slow it to go to be so slow and calm that they literally pull the trigger in between the beats of their heart. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:57.360 Matthew Emmons going into the final round had such a large, significant lead that it was basically a given that he was going to win the gold medal. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:06.799 In fact, all he had to do was to hit anywhere on the target, not even a bullseye, anywhere on the target, and he would win the gold medal. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:11.200 Matthew Emmons pulls up his rifle in that very final round. 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:14.639 He takes aim, he calms himself. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:18.080 He gets to the point where he can hear his heartbeat. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:19.279 He waits. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.519 And in between the beating of his heart, he takes the shot. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:26.080 Power bullseye. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.639 He was confused. 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:37.279 After hitting the bullseye, he had done it so often, it was something that was so normal and routine for him that he expected to hear a sound. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:42.399 The sound would indicate that he had hit the bullseye, but there was no sound. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:48.879 And he looked up to his horror and dismay, realized he had, in fact, hit the bullseye. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.799 He just hit the wrong target. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:59.919 He went from hitting on the target anywhere at all, and he gets the gold medal. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:06.879 To instead not getting a medal at all in the 2004 Olympics. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:15.360 This reaction that you see horrified. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:25.600 That you were so skilled to spend so much training and so much time to hit the bullseye. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:30.320 Only to discover that you hit the wrong target. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:33.600 It's a sight that I see all the time. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:44.159 I can't tell you how many times I've seen people who give all of their lives to things that don't matter. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:50.080 And they look up and they say, But I have all this stuff. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.279 Pastor D. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:55.519 L. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:57.519 Moody says it so well. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:08.480 He says, Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:15.039 Romans 11, 36 says, For from him and through him and to him are all things. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:17.200 To him be glory forever. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:17.919 Amen. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.039 What does this show us? 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:27.200 When you serve, when you give, when you live, when you enjoy his blessings, whatever you do, do it all for the sake of Christ. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:44.320 I want to help you today and encourage you and to plead with you to instead of living under the crushing burden of living for your own vision for your life, that you instead would lay that on the altar and instead realize that the greatest vision for your life is when you live for Jesus. 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:52.879 Whenever you realize that it's all for him, it's all from him, it's all gonna be to him. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:00.159 And as a result of that, everything you do begins to have purpose and meaning. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.480 Everyone needs a vision for their life. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:03.679 It's very important. 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:10.240 But most importantly, God blesses a kingdom-directed vision. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:14.080 On this vision Sunday, I want to consider two questions. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:20.320 The first question is this What is the kingdom vision for my life? 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.440 What is the kingdom vision for my life? 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:31.279 What practical things do you need to do so that you can live a God-given, God-driven purpose and meaning? 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:37.600 How can you serve and give and work and learn for the glory of God? 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:44.480 How can you pursue success in what you do for the Lord and his kingdom? 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:47.279 It doesn't mean that you won't have struggles and trials. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:54.320 We learned in the series on the journey that there are, if you're gonna do anything that is of great worth and value, it's gonna be hard. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:12.080 But we also learn that we have the opportunity to lay stones of remembrance, remembering God's faithfulness, so that when we face the trials in the future, as we are pursuing the God-given vision that He has for our lives, we can look back and remember God's gonna be faithful in the future. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.120 What is it that you need to embrace? 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.559 What is it that you need to do? 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.320 What is it that you need to confess? 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:26.960 What is it that you need to do to take your next step to pursue the calling that God has on your life? 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:31.759 I can assure you of this, the enemy wants nothing more than for you just to punt it down the road. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:36.639 But I want you to know the enemy exists to steal and kill and destroy you. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:41.440 But Jesus has come that you might have life and that you would have it abundantly. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:43.919 God has given each of you gifts. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.000 Some, he's given you natural gifts. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:50.960 Others, we talked last week, if you're a believer in Jesus, he has given you spiritual gifts. 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.759 God has also richly provided for you. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:59.039 He's provided for you financially, but he's also provided for you in your life experiences. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:05.519 For some of you, you have some amazing stories of how God has met you and how God has come alongside of you. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:15.039 For some of you, you've got amazing challenges along the way, but you also can look back and you can give testimony to how God was faithful in the midst of those challenges. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:19.759 All of these things represent how God has provided richly for you. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:30.240 You also have an opportunity to hear about needs, needs that come up in our church, needs that come up in the community, needs that come up in your neighborhood, in your workplace, in your school. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:42.240 And I firmly believe whenever you match the gifts that God has given to you with the provision that God has provided for you, with the opportunity to know about needs, it leads to vision. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:49.759 Gifts plus provision plus need equals vision. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.159 What is the kingdom vision that God has for you? 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:59.039 Where do you see God at work and know that you can join him there? 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:04.799 Where's God gifted you, which overlaps with what he has provided and given you a heart for? 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:12.480 What resources has God given you so that you can meet kingdom needs with those resources? 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:17.840 I want to ask, what is the kingdom vision for my life? 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:23.840 Second question that I have today is this What is the kingdom vision for United City Church? 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.840 What is the kingdom vision for United City Church? 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:38.320 On September 28th, 2003, over 20 years ago, this church dedicated and moved into this building for the very first time. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.320 This is a picture from the groundbaking ceremony. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:51.039 Uh, and this picture represents the fact that the church knew that it did not want to limit the ability to reach those who were not yet here. 00:16:51.519 --> 00:17:05.200 It had a great facility and a great campus over on South Houston Avenue, just south of uh this property here, but they decided to move out onto North uh to 1960, believing that God had bigger things for the church. 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:10.160 They wanted to reach even more people in the days ahead. 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:14.720 Because it's always been about reaching those who are not yet here. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:20.960 Take a look at some of the footage from that very special day, September 28th, 2003. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.359 September the 28th, 2003. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:39.519 And we are driving on to the campus of the Umbiler Brandy First Baptist Church. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.440 There it is, in all its beauty. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.720 Father, right now we want to just simply say to the people, thank you. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:57.519 Thank you for your faithfulness in the way that you are a God of the apostle. 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:02.720 As we look back, we can see your hand from years and years and years ago on this church. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.559 You've given this church a mission. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:07.119 We thank you for the way that you are leading us. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.559 We thank you for just being able to see the blue sky. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:16.240 Thanks for bringing us through the good times, the hard times, the difficult times, and the glorious times. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:19.839 And we as a people recognize that you are the Lord. 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:23.119 You are the one that's to get the glory, you're the one that's to get the credit. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:27.119 Help us to be so mindful that we're acting on you because you're a great God. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.920 And this morning we dedicate our building to you. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.440 We say, This is for you. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:34.799 Help us to be mindful of the agenda that you have for this church. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:39.680 Help us to be mindful of the tremendous burden that you have for the people of this community. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.640 And we've got glorious gospel. 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:49.440 It is bottled up and vessels of clay, but we want to dedicate ourselves and say these vessels of clay are available for you. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.720 Thank you for this building. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:59.680 Help us to use this as a tool to reach this community with the great gospel of the Lord Jesus, and we dedicate it to him who prayed in his name and all of God's people said. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.160 Amen. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:14.240 If you are here on September 28th, if you are here on September 28th, 2003, would you stand up and remain standing? 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:27.440 I'm gonna ask you to keep standing if you would. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.519 I just want to say a word to all of you that are standing up. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.440 He did it. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.400 Twenty years later. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:48.640 Twenty years later, the prayer that was offered up that day is that this would be a place that is a gospel lighthouse, and that the agenda would be the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:20:03.359 And now we stand here on the backs of your service, of your giving, of your faithful prayers, knowing 20 years later, God has moved in our midst. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.160 Let's give them a hand and celebrate their faithfulness. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.519 Bruce Frank, the pastor that day, he made this comment. 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.839 He said, Lord, would you help it make it clear what the agenda is for this church? 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:22.960 A lot has changed in 20 years. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:28.079 There's a whole lot more cars on the road in the last 20 years, is there not? 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:31.839 There's a whole lot more buildings on the road in the last 20 years. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:37.440 And maybe in 20 years they'll finish 1960 and we'll be able to have some traffic flow at some point. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.559 Who knows? 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:44.559 But one thing that hasn't changed is the agenda for this church. 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:52.160 It's always been how do we reach those who are not yet here? 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.759 We believe our greatest days are ahead for us as a church. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:04.960 Today I want to publicly announce a brand new serve team that we are creating called the Vision Team. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:18.000 The vision team is not going to be responsible for helping determine the vision of United City Church, but this team is going to help determine how fast we see the vision of United City Church accomplished. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:23.839 I want to present to you this vision team, and I want to think about it in five different lanes. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:39.200 Think about these not as options that you have to choose from, but instead I want you just to think about five different buckets or five different categories, if you will, that help to process how we can think about where we believe God is leading us as a church. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:44.160 The five different lanes are this there are UC campus projects. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:51.359 There's next generation, local outreach, national outreach, and global outreach. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:58.319 As I walk through each and every one of these lanes, what I think you'll quickly discover is that there's not a lot of new things on there. 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:04.720 I don't want you to think that I'm About to lay out for you a vision for United City Church that's a redirection from where we've been. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:11.519 No, we're just going to keep going in the way that we've already been going, and the history of this church has always been leading us to. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:25.680 What this is going to do is allow us to take bold, significant steps, moving in that direction to be able to see God accomplish his purposes and for us to be able to reach Northeast Houston with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:28.960 The first one is the UC Campus Projects. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:31.200 Simply put, this is our building. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.640 This is our facility. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:43.279 Just as we prayed 20 years ago that God would use this place, we want to continue to allow this building to be a means to help us to reach Northeast Houston. 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:52.000 Here's a question that I think about a whole lot whenever I come up and drive up onto the property, whether that be on the weekends or whether that be throughout the week. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:23:00.319 What do we need to do in order for our church to double in size and multiply our impact? 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:07.200 What do we need to do in order for our church to double in size and multiply our impact? 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:14.559 Before you think that's too far-fetched and too out there, let me just mention a little bit of our current reality. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:22.240 Two years ago was the largest number of baptisms that we've ever had in a single year in the history of this great church. 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:27.279 Last year was a top five baptism year in the history of our church. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:36.880 And right now we are on pace to have the largest number of baptisms ever in the history of United City Church. 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:37.839 Right now. 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.640 These are very conservative numbers. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:52.559 In every area of our church, including giving, we are up 10% over last year. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:58.400 And many of them are significantly above where we were even just a year ago. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:04.880 We've seen 235 professions of faith in this church this year alone. 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.799 235 people. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:10.079 171 new members who've completed Growth Track. 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:21.119 Not just they've attended one or two weeks, that's the number is significantly higher, but 171 who've completed Growth Track, signed a membership card, and have joined with us in official membership. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:33.680 In the last few months, our Espanol ministry and our youth ministry have had to relocate over to the worship center because they have outgrown the youth building where they currently were meeting before. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:37.519 Telling you, here is my point. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:51.680 We have to address our facility in order to allow and prepare us not only for current growth, but to address our facility to make sure that we have an immediate need for our church to be able to continue to grow. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:55.599 The bottom line is this if we wait until we're ready, it's too late. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:58.160 Let me walk you through what this can look like. 00:24:58.559 --> 00:25:04.240 I want to see an expanded lobby that happens in the front of our campus right over here on this side. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:16.319 This expanded lobby will allow us to have a premier children's entrance so that we have a lot easier way to get into the building as opposed to just through this little corridor and hallway from a security standpoint. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:30.240 It will allow us to also be able to have an incredible facility that almost screams that our arms are wide open to the 60,000 cars that drive by 1960 each and every week past our church. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:48.559 In addition, in the back of our property, we want to have an expansion and change a lot of the exterior on the north side to allow us to have some body life opportunities, to be able to take out a lot of that parking and to be able to make a bunch of turf, not only in the outside of this area, but also all the way over to the student building. 00:25:48.799 --> 00:26:20.319 One of the common things we have to deal with is the fact that we just don't have usable space outside to be able to do things, and we want to make sure that that is not the case because we know of at least one large event that we could have in this space already that's not even counting the things that we believe could take place on a continual basis as we begin to think through what it looks like on a beautiful day like today to be able to have food trucks right outside there and be able to have everyone hang out with all of their families and to be able to be together as a church. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:23.680 We believe this is vital as we move forward. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:31.359 In light of this, we also want to renovate our youth building, turning it into a multi-purpose space that can meet the growing demands of our church. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:51.359 We host so many different community events, and we need a space that will allow us to not only continue to do that type of ministry, but also a space that will allow us to grow our women's ministry, our men's ministry, our young adult ministry, and any new ministry that God decides to be able to launch from this place in the days ahead. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:53.200 There's so much more we want to do. 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:56.160 This is just a taste of what it looks like. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:59.599 The next lane I want to mention to you is the next generation. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:10.720 I've said to you since the day that I arrived four and a half years ago that I would give more time, attention, resources, dollars, staffing, and building to the next generation. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:14.720 I said that not as a way to exclude any other generation. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:19.680 I said that because I firmly believe that is a strategy to reach all generations. 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:28.720 And when you don't prioritize the next generation, what you will end up looking and seeing is that you have lost an entire generation of people in the church. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:32.960 And so, therefore, we have prioritized the next generation in every way. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:38.000 We have an amazing staff, both in our kids' ministry as well as in our youth ministry. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:42.400 God has blessed us in profound ways through the team that He has brought here. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.319 He has allowed us to have a presence in so many local schools. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:53.440 It is truly amazing to see how the doors have been flung wide open, but we want to do even more. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:28:00.880 We know that it's going to require us to be able to invest through staffing and even more so into the next generation. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:10.480 But we also have this burden, and this burden exists because we know it is the responsibility of the Church of Jesus Christ to be able to raise up the next generation of church leaders. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:17.759 And so we want to raise up the next pastors and the next church planters and the next uh folks that are gonna serve in kids' ministry and youth ministry. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:26.880 And so, therefore, we believe it is vital for us to merge those two things together and to start a residency program here at United City Church. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:46.400 This residency program would basically allow us to bring people here on the team who would not only learn about ministry and learn through their schooling, whether that be college or whether that be in seminary, but let me just ask you this: if you had surgery scheduled for this week, would you want someone operating on you and all they've done is read some books? 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.559 You wouldn't. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:29:00.559 Instead, what you want is someone who has experience, someone who's gone through a residency to be able to be equipped and prepared to be able to do the job that they are going to be performing on you. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:08.880 Folks, we believe that while your surgery is really important to you coming up this week, what's even more important is the Church of Jesus Christ in its longevity. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:26.960 And because of that, we believe that it is vital for us to be able to bring people onto our team and to be able to not only give them experience through learning, but also practical ministry experience that, oh yeah, by the way, is gonna help us reach even more people with the gospel in Northeast Houston. 00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:32.480 I cannot wait to see how God's gonna expand and use this ministry in the days ahead. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:34.720 Local outreach is another lane. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:36.720 Let me mention to you what that's all about. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:40.640 Local outreach through the generous contributions already. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:48.480 Uh, we we believe that God is allowing us to be able to go into the prisons in a way like never before. 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:54.480 You hear me every week say, I want to welcome all of those who are joining us on men and women at our correctional facilities. 00:29:54.640 --> 00:30:03.680 We have an amazing partnership with Bill and Stephanie Everts, who lead a ministry called Less Than Lease Ministries, and we now show our services in various chapels in the area. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:07.440 There's an opportunity that we have through what's called a Pando app. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.559 You can download it yourself. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:15.680 Over 300,000 prisoners across the United States have a tablet, and there's pre-approved apps that get on that tablet. 00:30:15.839 --> 00:30:18.720 One of those pre-approved apps is the Pando app. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:30.960 We have the opportunity to be able to allow our services to not just be seen by you and by those who watch on demand, but also when we've no clue when we thought about this, how God would open up the door. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:36.160 But our mission statement is everyone, every day, crossing every divide to live united in Christ. 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:45.920 We have the opportunity to cross the divide of prison cells, something I could have never possibly imagined by being on the Pando app. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:48.960 In addition, our Espanol ministry, y'all need to pray for me. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:53.759 I'm preaching this same message in Espanyol at one o'clock today, and I don't speak Spanish. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.599 All right, so that's gonna be interesting. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.079 L. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:59.839 So I'm sure he can clean up whatever I mess up. 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:03.039 But Espanyol ministry is blowing up in less than a year. 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:06.960 We already are averaging over 130 people in our Espanol ministry. 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:10.160 They've moved from the youth building to the main worship center. 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:17.680 If you want to be blessed, then you need to hang out and stay for the one o'clock service. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.519 Just know this it'll be a ghost town. 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.559 Nobody shows up at one. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:23.359 About 1:30, everybody's here, and it's awesome, okay? 00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:24.079 They're all late. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:27.759 It scares me to death every week, but it always comes through. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.680 You English people, that's not what you need to do, by the way. 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:33.599 You need to be here early, okay? 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:39.119 Here's the bottom line: we didn't budget the Spanish ministry. 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:44.400 We put some money towards it and we put some dollars towards it, and we're gonna be preparing for that in the future. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:49.039 But we believe that God wants to pour gasoline and fuel on this like never before. 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:57.920 And so, therefore, we have some exciting opportunities outside of the budget that can really enhance our Espanol ministry, and we need the church to fund it. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:02.319 There's so many other things that I haven't even got time to go into. 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:07.599 We've got an opportunity with the local pregnancy center that's going to be moving here and an incredible presence. 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:26.960 Elijah rising, I have a meeting this week with those involved in sex trafficking on the front lines to see how we as a church, who we've already given to them, can set up more strategic partnerships in the days ahead through things like Serve Day and other ministries to be able to be a part of a growing epidemic that is taking place in our city. 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.079 There's so many more in this lane of local outreach. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.960 Another one is national outreach. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:35.440 We've said a lot about church planting. 00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:44.240 Uh we got a text message this morning from a church planner uh that was asking us to pray for him in Colorado, who has a staff potential staff member. 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:48.079 I want you to understand we don't just give money, we have relationships with these people. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:57.119 We have 15 people right now that are on a mission trip out to LA and they are working with uh City Connect Church and they are also working with Royal City Church. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:04.640 Andrew Carter preached at our Church Planner Weekend, and they are there celebrating his two-year anniversary as a church. 00:33:04.720 --> 00:33:05.599 They are there this morning. 00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:11.920 Josh Thomas, our young adult pastor, who's often singing up here on this stage, he's leading worship at one of our church plants. 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:18.240 Julia Panco, who is our girls' minister, who also at times leads worship here, she's leading worship at one of the other church plants. 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:21.359 Folks, this is an incredible partnership God's allowed us to have. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:24.559 It's amazing to think about what could be. 00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:28.480 And I hope that you'll go on one of these future trips to visit our church plants. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:33.359 And we have a desire to help fund and to help other church plants that are out there. 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:36.000 But can I tell you what I believe God really wants us to do? 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:43.680 As great as it is for us to give money and relationships, which we will continue to do towards other church plants that have already existed. 00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.920 I believe God wants us to plant churches. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:50.799 I believe God wants us to plant 10 churches from United City Church. 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:58.400 Can you imagine what it would look like if a resident, which by the way, I forgot to mention this, are gonna live in your spare bedroom, just FYI? 00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:14.880 Get trained here at United City Church, help us to reach this community in significant ways, and then all of a sudden, is developed and led and sent out with not just relationship, but resources and knowledge to go plant a brand new church. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:22.800 And I'm gonna stand him up here in front of all of you, commissioning and praying for him, asking you to consider whether God wants you to move and go join him. 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:30.000 Because I believe what God desires for us is not just to multiply leaders, but to multiply churches. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:42.239 Folks, we want to see God move in significant ways through United City to where we are leaving gospel outposts, not just here at this location, but all across the world. 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.880 Final one is global outreach. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:49.760 This lane will include expanding our international outreach through church planning globally. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.400 We don't just want to send teams. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:35:00.880 I've told you before, we desire that we can see 500 unique people in the next five years go on a mission trip outside of this area in this region. 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.280 We hope many of them are gonna be international. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:08.719 But we also want to see God allow us to be able to plant churches globally. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:15.039 I've told you only a small sample of what the vision is for the future of this great church. 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:17.440 There's so much more that I haven't shared. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:20.800 This is just a taste, a tease of what could be. 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:28.320 And for the last 20 years, it has not been about us, but about those who we can reach. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:37.119 It's about those people that are moving in next to you that God desires for us to be able to have influence and to reach them with the gospel. 00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:45.199 I want you to listen to the words from Pastor Bruce Frank on that September 28th, 2003 Dedication Sunday. 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:48.079 And then I want you to hear a word from him today. 00:35:49.199 --> 00:36:04.000 But as we celebrate today, what he wants to tell First Baptist Church is this he says, the reason that I brought you out here, although it'll be a great time for us as a people, is not just for us, it's for those people driving down 1960 by our church right this very moment. 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:07.519 It's for those people that are building a home right beside you. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:12.320 It's for the people who are moving into your subdivisions, for that new person at your workplace. 00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:14.239 That is who this is for. 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:19.519 It is to reach them so that we have this thing, we don't just eat our cake, it's like it's about me. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.119 Hey, United States Church. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:27.360 My name is Bruce Frank, and I had the privilege of being the pastor of your church from 1999 to 2008. 00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:33.039 It is one of my fondest memories in my entire life being able to do life with you for those nine years. 00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:36.320 And it's awesome now to hear all these stories of God at work. 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:44.400 Uh, here I am halfway around the country, and I get to hear all these awesome stories of people being saved and baptized and all these great things going on so well done. 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:48.159 When I think about United City Church, two scriptures come to mind. 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:55.360 Scripture number one, Philippians chapter one, the Apostle Paul tells the church there, he says, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. 00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.239 And that's what I do. 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:58.800 And I look back at you, I think I'm so grateful for you. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:02.159 I'm grateful for you being a missional church and not just a maintenance church. 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:06.480 I'm grateful for you saying I will do whatever it takes to reach the next generation. 00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:10.159 The second scripture that comes to mind is Revelation chapter 3, verse 8. 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:13.920 When he tells the church there, he says, I have opened a door for you. 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:16.000 Doors in the Bible are opportunities. 00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:19.679 He's telling that church, I have given you a unique opportunity. 00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:22.400 And that's what I think about when I think about church church. 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:29.920 God has strategically and sovereignly put you in one of the most dynamic growth corridors and one of the most dynamic cities in the country. 00:37:30.079 --> 00:37:33.599 And so God is bringing, literally bringing the mission field to you. 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.960 So keep staying focused. 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:40.800 Stay focused on the glory of God, stay focused on the mission of God, keep declaring and demonstrating the gospel. 00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:44.320 Can't wait to hear the stories over the next couple of years. 00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.679 Be blessed. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:53.599 Question is this What are we gonna look like in 20 years? 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:56.000 We got a choice. 00:37:57.280 --> 00:38:00.320 We can either look up and say, hey, we had a good run. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:02.159 I mean, it's awesome. 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:06.239 We had some years of God moving and baptisms, and it was awesome. 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:08.320 It was a celebration, and it was so much fun. 00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:15.280 My family was blessed personally, and I got to grow spiritually, and all of those things are great. 00:38:16.239 --> 00:38:24.719 Are we gonna look up and be able to say whether God has us right where we are, or whether God has us halfway across the country? 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:29.920 I can look back and I can say, Man, I'm so grateful for the seeds that I planted. 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:33.119 I'm so grateful for the investment that I made. 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:41.840 Because not only did I get to experience that, but God was able to do far exceedingly above all that we could ask or imagine. 00:38:42.800 --> 00:38:44.159 What's it gonna take? 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:49.679 First of all, it's gonna take our serve team to expand significantly. 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.440 God's blessed us. 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:53.840