Romans 1:16-17

As we continue in our sermon series titled “Church on Purpose”, we will find that in order to see lives changed, and our community transformed, we must be centered on the Gospel. In our text this morning Paul explains to us that he is not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God in our savior Jesus Christ. Where the Gospel is proclaimed there is no mission that is too grand. Let’s look at how we can be centered on the Gospel, so that we can step into God’s mission of seeing the entire Eastern Fraser valley transformed by the Gospel, for His glory, and for the good of all people.

Roman 1:16-17

If we are to realize the audacious vision of seeing the entire eastern Fraser Valley transformed by the Gospel for the glory of God and the good of all people, we must be centered on the Gospel. This sermon will explore what the Gospel is, why it is so powerful, and how we can center ourselves – both as a church and individually – so that we stay true to the mission that God has given us: To be authentic followers of Jesus who lead other to follow Him.

The gospel is not about what you must do to be made right with God but about faith in what Jesus has already done to make you right with God. Every other philosophy of religion says “do” but Jesus says it’s “done”; they say “work” but Jesus says “rest”; they say “strive” but Jesus says “it is finished”. We are centred on the gospel because the gospel changes absolutely everything.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

God calls the church to do incredible things.  Not because the church is amazing, but because God is amazing.  Our calling as a church is always dependent on God working miracles in people’s lives. 

Ezekiel 37:1-14

God has given our church an impossible vision – impossible for any human, but possible for Him! A picture of His preferred future for our end of the Fraser Valley is for spiritual life and flourishing to emerge amid intense spiritual dryness. Total transformation – for His glory and the good of all people.

If we’re honest, our vision that aims to see the entire eastern Fraser Valley transformed by the gospel for the glory of God and good of all people seems like nothing short of a pipe dream and an impossibility. Almost as impossible as a valley of dry bones being brought back to life. Yet God can do both. What if we actually believed that our community could be transformed by the gospel and we lived to that end?

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Our vision statement at Central is audacious. We want to see Gospel transformation impacting tens of thousands of people. But what would that look like? How would our society be impacted by such transformation? And at the end of the day one has to ask the question: is such transformation actually even possible?

Mark 1:14b-18

It is easy for a church to get distracted.  Distractions might be good or bad things, but if they lead away from the calling of God for the church, they are harmful for the church.  As we look at the mission of the church, we start with the foundation of what God calls us to do as believers, to follow Jesus.

Mark 1:14b-20

Our mission at Central is that “We exist to be authentic followers of Jesus who lead others to follow him.” This is our God given goal as we seek to fulfill Christ’s great commission. But what does an authentic follower of Jesus look like exactly?

Mark 1:14b-20

Every successful person or organization will live with some level of intentionality which is clearly stated and then lived. The same is true – especially true – of the church. If the church is to be successful in fulfilling God’s will, she will live with purpose. This sermon is the first in a series called Church on Purpose, and it is all about the mission that God has given to Central Community Church.