“Living Our Vision: 

A Challenge to Thrive in 2021 and Beyond”

Part 2 [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

April 18, 2021

Introductory Comments:

Remember last week that we started a two-week series entitled “Living Our Vision: A Challenge to Thrive in 2021 and Beyond.” Last week was Part 1, this week is Part 2. 

We talked last week about living out our vision of developing disciples who love God, love the church, and love others. 

I gave each of us a challenge last week that we’ll come back to at the end of the message this morning. The challenge was to consider how you will . . .

. . . love God more. [on screen]

. . . love the church more.[on screen]

. . . love others more. [on screen]

What I want to do this week is give you some words of exhortation, or a strong message, that will push us forward as we live out our vision. 

Before we do that, let’s go to God in prayer. 

(prayer)

So, I’ve asked you to bring back your cards that we passed out last week. I’ve asked you to………………………………………………………….. pray over them, think about them, and be prepared to challenge yourself.

So, as we prepare to fill out these cards together and pray for them, let me exhort you with the following thoughts:

First, . . . 

I. Be focused [on screen]

As we think about this challenge to live out our vision, we must be focused. 

Focus makes all the difference in achieving a task, doesn’t it? When a teacher is trying to get a student to finish an assignment, when a member of the marching band is trying to memorize a movement on the field, when a marksman is aiming for a target, when a business is trying to reach a market, when you’re teaching a Bible lesson, or when you’re following directions while driving, you need focus. 

Focus helps us put attention on what is most important at the time. Well, church, at this time, the most important thing we can do as a church is achieve the vision that God has given us.There was a leader in the Old Testament that helped the people of God focus: his name was Nehemiah. 

The people of God had been defeated and removed from their homeland, but they then had a chance to come back and rebuild the city. It was a miracle and tremendous blessing of God that they could do this. However, they had a lot of obstacles in their way. Among those obstacles were some evil men that tried to discourage the Israelites and distract them from the task at hand. 

Nehemiah helped the people focus. Listen to what Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 4:14: [reference on screen]

After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”

Nehemiah said, “Don’t be afraid of them.” He wanted to make sure that nothing took away their focus from the awesome task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. 

Listen, church, there will be distractions, there will be discouragement, but don’t lose focus. We must focus on what God wants us to do here at First Baptist Church Bartow. We must focus on developing disciples who love God, love the Church, and love others. 

Second, . . . 

II. Be intentional [on screen]

I’ve said this a million times, but it’s worth repeating a million more times: if you’re going to live a faithful Christian life, you’re going to do so on purpose, not on accident. We must be intentional in fulfilling our vision statement. 

Listen to what Nehemiah said to the Jewish people to keep them focused and intentional. Nehemiah 4:15-23 says: [reference on screen]

15 When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers supported all the