Bakersfield First Assembly

Part of helping broken people must include a deep feeling of compassion that you cannot ignore. Compassion is more than just a superficial, religious coat that we put on, it is what drives us to see and help the broken the way Jesus did. We are a compassion-driven church not because we sit in church pews and feel sorry for the lost and broken world that surrounds us, but because, like Jesus, we are willing to serve those in need.

It is no surprise that part of our vision of helping broken people includes missions. This is not about what you have or what you can do, it’s about believing and trusting in God as he enables you. You are a pencil in God's hands and He wants to use you to write a story. Could that story include helping broken people become spirit filled followers of Jesus? Take a step of faith and find out.

The Holy Spirit is not limited to a specific event that happened 2,000 years ago, but it is something that is at work in our lives today. It is the eternal source of our power and is not confined to the walls of a church building. The Holy Spirit is an unstoppable, uncontainable force that cannot be denied.

Values are like fingerprints in that they are unique to every one. Our values fuel our mission and keeps us all united . They are not a list of what we are not, but rather they are a description who we are. When the world sees a church united in the same purpose, mission and direction; they will see Jesus.

Now more than ever it is important for the church to be equipped with all that God has to offer. One of the greatest tools God has given us is the Holy Spirit. A spirit-filled life brings unity into the church. If we listen to and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can expect the miraculous to be done today.

This is the first message in a vital new series on the unfolding vision for our church. Our mission as a church is "Helping broken people become Spirit-filled followers of Jesus who help broken people." Over the next several weeks we will examine where God is taking us as a church body and how this applies to our daily lives.

God has a plan to restore this city. He wants us involved, working together in His plan. God has called us to go and help the broken people in our area. What God plans is always greater than what we can do on our own. Know that all things are possible when the Sprit of God is involved.

There is something in each and every one of us that is unique. For Christians, it is our desire to follow Jesus Christ and by his command, decide to love one another as He loved us. Love as a commandment has nothing to do with how you feel. It is a decision to obey God in Christ to love others because we know in our hearts, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.