10 Goals for 10 Years

What will New Prospect look like in 2020? What kind of church will our children and grandchildren inherit from us? If we want the coming generations to rise up and call us "faithful," then we must begin now.

Earlier this month I outlined a vision for our church family's next decade together. These are ten goals that we want to strive after in order to be a biblical church. We strive after these things for the sake of our own souls, our children, our community and our Savior's glory.

1. Expositional Preaching - If it is the hearing of the Word that converts us, convicts us and changes us, then it is the Word alone that we want in the pulpit. Thus, we affirm expositional preaching that takes the point of the passage as the point of the message.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Ezra 8:8)

2. Commitment to the Biblical Gospel - The Gospel has been watered down and compromised to such a degree that in many cases it is almost unrecognizable in the American church, particularly in the South where we live and minister. Thus, we affirm the following:
The biblical gospel is by grace alone... we do not deserve it.
The biblical gospel is by faith alone... it is not by a human work or action.
The biblical gospel is in Christ alone... receiving Christ as both Savior and Lord.
(Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-9)

3. Dependent, Expectant Prayer - This is God's church, so we must rely wholly on God to move and act in it. He has promised to do great things when we will ask in faith for them.
(Matthew 7:7-11, John 14:13-14, Acts 1:13-14)

4. Bible-Based, God-Centered Worship - Public worship is a time to exalt Jesus Christ and to be edified and equipped to go spread His good news. Thus, we want every element of our worship gatherings to point us and others toward God.
(Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 14:24-26)

5. Community and Accountability - We want to live life together... to move beyond superficial Sunday relationships. We want to help one another physically and spiritually. And, though unpopular, we want to love each other enough to confront sin.
(Matthew 18:15-17, Acts 4:32, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13)

6. Family Ministry - The Bible teaches that the primary evangelists and disciple-makers for children and youth are mothers and fathers. Thus, we want to equip and assist parents in training their children up in righteousness. We should not take this responsibility from them.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 127:3-5, Psalm 78:4)

7. Biblical Counseling - The sins that we commit and the sins that others commit against us leave deep scars. The church should be known as a place where hurting people can go for help and answers. Thus, we want to make biblical (not therapeutic) counsel available to both church and community members.
(John 17:17, Colossians 1:28, 2:8, Hebrews 4:12-16)

8. Launch Pad for World Missions - God has called us to make disciples locally and globally. We want to be consistently sending workers into the harvest, and we want to sacrificially give of our finances to support the important work of world missions.
(Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:8, Psalm 67:1-2)

9. Every-Member Ministry - Every believer is made for ministry and has a God-given place for service. Ministry should never be viewed as the job of "trained professionals."
(Ephesians 2:10, 4:11-16, James 1:27)

10. Plural, Servant Leadership - Multiple pastors/elders who respect and value one another and who serve God's people in humility must lead the church.
(Titus 1:5, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-8)

These goals for the next decade have the potential to transform our church, our lives and our world. I hope you'll join me in asking & striving for these 10 things over the next 10 years... and beyond!