Whose Mission Vision Values MissionThe Great Commission Mission

Whose Mission, Vision, Values? • Mission--The Great Commission Mission: to go and make disciples • Vision--Our part in God's Mission Vision: of the of Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond • people Strategy--Prayer & Meaningful Relationship Strategy: through prayer & meaningful relationships based on the Person and Message Jesus Christ “to go and make disciples of the people ofof. Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond through prayer and meaningful relationships based upon the Person and Message of Jesus Christ”

Whose Mission, Vision, Values? • Mission--The Great Commission Mission: to go and make disciples • Vision--Our part in God's Mission Vision: of the of Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond • people Strategy--Prayer & Meaningful Relationship Strategy: through prayer & meaningful relationships based on the Person and Message Jesus Christ “to go and make disciples of the people ofof. Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond through prayer and meaningful relationships based upon the Person and Message of Jesus Christ”

Whose Mission, Vision, Values? • Mission--The Great Commission Mission: to go and make disciples • Vision--Our part in God's Mission Vision: of the of Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond • people Strategy--Prayer & Meaningful Relationship Strategy: through prayer & meaningful relationships based on the Person and Message Jesus Christ “to go and make disciples of the people ofof. Honolulu, the Pacific, Asia and beyond through prayer and meaningful relationships based upon the Person and Message of Jesus Christ”

r p r e y a l u s f g p n i i h n s a e ion m at l re

Say “Yes!” To God 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15: 13 -16, ESV)

Say “Yes!” To God You will probably recognize this well-known Bible phrase: “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15: 22 -23). But are you aware that this truth is repeated through Psalm 40: 6 -8, Proverbs 21: 3, Isaiah 1: 11 -17, Jeremiah 7: 22 -23, Micah 6: 6 -8 and Hebrews 10: 6 -9? While we can learn much from a comparative study of the lives of King Saul and King David, the greatest difference between these two kings may have been how they responded to God’s grace and goodness toward them. David didn’t live a perfect life but he consistently returned to the place of reverent fear, repentance, appreciation of and obedience to God. He said “yes” to what God revealed and obeyed what God told him to do. Will you say “yes” to God?

1. You were chosen not just to serve God but to become His friend. (John 15: 1 -17) 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15: 13 -16, ESV) a) You were made in the image and likeness of a divine community to be loved and to love. b) Don’t allow pride, selfishness or rebellion keep you from loving God by serving others.

2. Offer yourself to God by humbly serving others. (Romans 12: 1 -21) 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12: 3 -8 , ESV) a) Offer your heart, soul, mind and strength to love and serve God by loving and serving others. b) Learn to discern the will of God, develop your gifts and character, make your best contribution.

3. Say “Yes” to God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. (Ephesians 2: 1 -22) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2: 4 -10 , ESV) a) Recognize what God has done for you and then show and tell others what God has done. b) What does it mean to say “Yes!” to God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength?

Conclusion While some of us may the necessary lack physical or financial strength to serve and support others, the spiritual strength expressed through intercessory prayer is still a great contribution! However, I believe that for most of us, it should not be a matter of giving OR serving, but of giving AND serving in love and gratitude for the great work of calling, justification and glorification (Romans 8: 30) God is working in us. What has God entrusted you with? How has God gifted you to serve? What are your Godgiven relationships, roles and responsibilities? How will you grow in love, faithfulness and fruitfulness in 2020? Say “Yes!” To God