DNADNA

GatheringGathering

What are you a part ofWhat are you a part ofThis morning?This morning?

3 Questions…3 Questions…

DNA?DNA?Heartbeat?Heartbeat?Mission and Vision?Mission and Vision?

History=History=

Mrs. LaymanMrs. LaymanMid '80sMid '80s

Layman Memorial Layman Memorial Baptist ChurchBaptist Church

"Layman Church""Layman Church"

Baptist Attachment…Baptist Attachment…NominallyNominally

Not defined by:Not defined by:Denomination or PastorDenomination or Pastor

Not defined by:Not defined by:

Tradition and Human RulesTradition and Human Rules

Not defined by:Not defined by:

What we're againstWhat we're against

Not defined by:Not defined by:

PoliticsPolitics

Defined by:Defined by:

Our KingOur King

Our goal is to beOur goal is to be biblicalbiblical

We are a FamilyWe are a FamilyBrothers and SistersBrothers and Sisters

Under one FatherUnder one Father

This is FamilyThis is Family

Worship Area=Worship Area=Living RoomLiving Room

6 Core Values6 Core Values- Hills upon which we'll die- Hills upon which we'll die

Love, Unity, FaithLove, Unity, FaithCommitment, Freedom, ChangeCommitment, Freedom, Change

Love- Without love, Love- Without love, nothing elsenothing else we do counts for anythingwe do counts for anything

Love= Love= Seeking the other person's…?Seeking the other person's…?

Whether they…?Whether they…?

Even if…Even if…

If I speak in the tongues of men If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbalclanging cymbal

And if I have prophetic powers, And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and and understand all mysteries and

all knowledge, and if I have all all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove faith, so as to remove

mountains, but have not love, mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.I am nothing.

If I give away all I have, and if I If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothingbut have not love, I gain nothing- 1 Cor. 13- 1 Cor. 13

The metric isn't numbersThe metric isn't numbersOr even coming to faithOr even coming to faithOr baptisms or membershipsOr baptisms or memberships

It's love- It's love- Love God, Love peopleLove God, Love people

A cold multitudeA cold multitudeIs never preferableIs never preferable

To a loving FamilyTo a loving FamilyOf believersOf believers

This is what we wantThis is what we want

This is what we wantThis is what we want

This takes a crossThis takes a crossAnd a committed discipleAnd a committed disciple

UnityUnity

We don't share a brain…We don't share a brain…Nor Nor shouldshould we we

UnityUnity

God's people uniting for God's people uniting for God's purposesGod's purposes

While respecting each other's While respecting each other's individual callingindividual calling

We can only have unityWe can only have unityAround something higherAround something higherThan our own plans and opinions Than our own plans and opinions

We carry a cross and serveWe carry a cross and serve

Make Make every effortevery effort to keep the to keep the unity of the Spirit through the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peacebond of peace- Eph. 4- Eph. 4

Unity glorifies GodUnity glorifies God

May...God...give you the same May...God...give you the same attitude of mind toward each attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one that with one mind and one voice you may glorify...Godvoice you may glorify...God- Romans 15:5-6- Romans 15:5-6

Jesus prayed for itJesus prayed for it

It tells the world It tells the world More than anything elseMore than anything elseThat Jesus is the real dealThat Jesus is the real deal

Affects:Affects:Decisions and VotesDecisions and Votes

Robert's RulesRobert's RulesPrayerPrayer

Our Words and GossipOur Words and Gossip

We will seek unityWe will seek unityAbove customer-based religionAbove customer-based religion

And will- each of us- confrontAnd will- each of us- confrontGossip, slander and divisivenessGossip, slander and divisiveness

For glory and growthFor glory and growth

Because…who wants to beBecause…who wants to beIn a place where the tensionIn a place where the tensionIs palpable and people Is palpable and people Love to hate?Love to hate?

FaithFaith

Taking God at His WordTaking God at His WordAnd Trusting him for the resultsAnd Trusting him for the results

Always involves riskAlways involves risk

Can't be justified by Can't be justified by Mere human reasoningMere human reasoning

Pleases GodPleases God

Without faith it is impossibleWithout faith it is impossibleTo please GodTo please God- Hebrews 11- Hebrews 11

Not the checkbookNot the checkbookOr the loudest voice at a meetingOr the loudest voice at a meetingOr the one who gives the mostOr the one who gives the most

But prayer, seeking GodBut prayer, seeking God Taking steps as he leads Taking steps as he leads

We will take steps of faithWe will take steps of faithAs God leadsAs God leads

And it will be a riskAnd it will be a riskThat pleases GodThat pleases GodAnd grows our faith in HimAnd grows our faith in Him

CommitmentCommitment

A decision of the willA decision of the willBacked by the integrityBacked by the integrityTo carry it out when To carry it out when

Others would boltOthers would bolt

Commitment brings maturityCommitment brings maturity

We Commit to ChristWe Commit to ChristWe Commit to One AnotherWe Commit to One AnotherWe Commit to Be DisciplesWe Commit to Be Disciples

Who Make DisciplesWho Make Disciples

We don't build towers withoutWe don't build towers withoutFirst considering the costFirst considering the cost

We don't put the hand We don't put the hand to the plow and then look backto the plow and then look back

We do a Membership CovenantWe do a Membership Covenant

- God may move people on- God may move people on- Circumstances shouldn't- Circumstances shouldn't- We commit to Engage, - We commit to Engage,

Represent, BelongRepresent, Belong

We call for commitmentWe call for commitmentBecause Christ doesn't callBecause Christ doesn't call

To a hobby or a convenienceTo a hobby or a convenienceAnd we want mature disciplesAnd we want mature disciples Not mere attendance Not mere attendance

We need this We need this For ourselvesFor ourselves

From those whoFrom those whoLove usLove us

Freedom= the one ValueFreedom= the one ValueChurches trample upon mostChurches trample upon most

For the Believer:For the Believer:Freedom is the ability to be Freedom is the ability to be

exactly who God made you to be exactly who God made you to be And to make your own decisions And to make your own decisions

in areas that the Bible in areas that the Bible does not addressdoes not address

Legalism- Placing convictions Legalism- Placing convictions On othersOn othersAs a standard of righteousnessAs a standard of righteousnessAnd basis for judgmentAnd basis for judgment

Legalism removes the pointLegalism removes the pointOf Christ's triumph overOf Christ's triumph over

Man's religion andMan's religion andThe Old Covenant's LawThe Old Covenant's Law

It is for freedom that Christ has It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of burdened again by a yoke of slavery.slavery.

… …if you let yourselves be if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no circumcised, Christ will be of no

value to you at allvalue to you at all- Gal. 5- Gal. 5

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedomthere is freedom2 Cor. 3:172 Cor. 3:17

Context: OT LawContext: OT Law

As a ChurchAs a ChurchWe've embraced freedomWe've embraced freedom

Knowing that there are plentyKnowing that there are plentyOf other churches in the ValleyOf other churches in the ValleyFor those who prefer rulesFor those who prefer rules

We'll be challenged in itWe'll be challenged in it

It won't be easyIt won't be easyBut it will be worth itBut it will be worth it

ChangeChange

The Holy Spirit is a SpiritThe Holy Spirit is a SpiritOf changeOf change

New Creation in ChristNew Creation in ChristNew CovenantNew Covenant

New Family including GentilesNew Family including GentilesNew SongNew Song

New wineskinsNew wineskins

The message doesn't changeThe message doesn't changeThe method can, does and willThe method can, does and will

We were never calledWe were never calledTo guard a methodTo guard a methodAnd sanctify a ritualAnd sanctify a ritual

But to worship a Risen KingBut to worship a Risen KingAnd reach a dying cultureAnd reach a dying culture

We embrace changeWe embrace changeNot for the sake of changeNot for the sake of change

But to follow ChristBut to follow ChristBy faithBy faith

"Layman Church""Layman Church"Projector, Chairs, FloorProjector, Chairs, FloorWebsite, Facebook, EmailWebsite, Facebook, Email2 Service Times/Small Groups2 Service Times/Small GroupsWomen's Ministry?Women's Ministry?Multiple Worship TeamsMultiple Worship Teams

As a peopleAs a peopleWe will be open to God's SpiritWe will be open to God's Spirit

And follow by faith, embracing And follow by faith, embracing His leading for his gloryHis leading for his glory

Love, Unity, FaithLove, Unity, FaithCommitment, FreedomCommitment, FreedomChangeChange

Which one resonates?Which one resonates?Which is an area of growth?Which is an area of growth?

Mission and Vision:Mission and Vision:"We train disciples to change "We train disciples to change

their world for Jesus by their world for Jesus by Teaching the Scriptures for Teaching the Scriptures for

real life-changereal life-change

And intentionally creating And intentionally creating opportunities for opportunities for Community, Prayer Community, Prayer and Worshipand Worship

so that God will be glorified and so that God will be glorified and people will become whole"people will become whole"

Not to take over the ValleyNot to take over the ValleyOr become "the" churchOr become "the" churchIn our areaIn our area

But to train disciples toBut to train disciples toChange Change theirtheir worlds for Christ worlds for Christ

Heartbeat:Heartbeat:

Heartbeat:Heartbeat:To be a refugeTo be a refugeA place of healing and hopeA place of healing and hopeTo those who've been hurt byTo those who've been hurt byAnd turned off to churchAnd turned off to churchAnd the religion of our ValleyAnd the religion of our Valley

From here:From here:

This past yearThis past yearThis year comingThis year coming

- Leadership classes- Leadership classes

- Greater connection/Groups- Greater connection/Groups

- Responses to growth- Responses to growth

- Outside the walls- Outside the walls

- Making an impact and- Making an impact andServing the "least of these"Serving the "least of these"In and out of the FamilyIn and out of the Family

Maybe?Maybe?

5 Services5 ServicesTransitional HousingTransitional Housing

Loaner CarsLoaner CarsMessage as Far as God AllowsMessage as Far as God Allows

Why I should leave:Why I should leave:- I'm never gonna care about- I'm never gonna care about

helping othershelping others- I want to be served, not serve- I want to be served, not serve- I'm a consumer, not Family- I'm a consumer, not Family- I thrive on creating division- I thrive on creating division

Why I should be Family:Why I should be Family:- I believe God makes broken - I believe God makes broken people whole…and I want itpeople whole…and I want it- I want my life to count- I want my life to count

for something great than mefor something great than me- I want to walk close with Jesus- I want to walk close with Jesus

Questions/CommentsQuestions/CommentsDisagreementsDisagreements

MembershipMembership

Baby DedicationsBaby Dedications

PicsPics

SurveysSurveys

No obligationNo obligationGreat way to exploreGreat way to explore

Plugging inPlugging in

Christmas OfferingChristmas Offering

Please pray!Please pray!

Christmas DecoratingChristmas Decorating

Now!Now!