Northland 2.0: Picture of a Revolutionary Church:  What Does a Revolutionary Church Do?

Key Bible Verses

• Acts 2:42-47
• Luke 14:26
• Matthew 12:46-48
• Matthew 6:9-13
• Matthew 26:26-29
• Ephesians 4:11-13
• Deuteronomy 24:20-21
• Galatians 6:10

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Sermon Quotes

From Pastor Josh Laxton

Your WHAT flows from your WHY. If you don’t know your WHY, you’ll wing your WHAT.

They devoted themselves to CONNECTION with GOD and one another. (CONNECT)

They committed themselves to sitting under the leadership of the church and learning about the faith they had just embraced. (CULTIVATE)

The weight of our CARE will determine our IMPACT in our faith community and our CAPACITY to IMPACT our larger community. (CARE)

Every believer is a missionary. (COMMISSION)

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DIGGING DEEPER

The Bible teaches us about vision. Here are a couple of examples of Bible verses that reference vision:

• “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)  
• “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 
• For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”  (Habakkuk 2:3)

As human beings our vision is limited and often flawed. With our naked eye we can only see so much, and we might need visual aids like glasses or contact lenses to see more clearly. But our God is omnipotent and He has limitless, infinite vision. He sees all things perfectly. His truth lasts through all times from the beginning of all things until He comes again in glory.  

The Bible warns us that without proper, godly vision, we will perish. God’s vision is vital and keeps us alive. God’s vision has an appointed time and it will not lie. 

We also learn that when times are tough and things aren’t going well or according to plan, we can rest in the assurance that God will guide and protect us and our church through everything that we face. Sometimes we might need to learn and practice patience and realize that sometimes the fulfillment of God’s vision might be slower than we like, but it will surely come at God’s own perfect timing.  

So how do we discover God’s vision for us and for our church?   We embrace that God has a wonderful vision for us. By our personal studying of the Bible, praying, and seeking the wisdom and mentorship of Godly people, we can bring God’s vision for ourselves into focus.  

God has given Northland Church the vision of the 4 C’s which are connect, cultivate, care and commission. We are called, as a church body,  to connect and devote ourselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. We are to cultivate and learn and grow in our faith as disciples and leaders.  We are to care for others and for property. We are commissioned to go to our neighbors and nations with the good news of the gospel. 

We know God wants the best for us and our church. He alone gives the vision that will propel us into the future as we love and serve Him and others. It is reassuring to know that there are no limits to God’s faithfulness and to the wisdom and vision He gives us through his word, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit as we follow and obey Him in the exciting days ahead.

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WHAT NOT TO MISS

Northland's Vision

• Vision - the understanding of what we need to do to accomplish our mission, which is the why.
• In order to accomplish our mission of glorifying God, participating in His mission and engaging people to be fully alive in King Jesus, we will seek to:  

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• Connect with God and others.
• Cultivate disciples and leaders.
• Care for people and resources.
• Commission people to reach neighbors and nations.

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In Acts 1, Jesus launched a gospel revolution.

• In Jesus' death and resurrection, He launched the gospel revolution.
• Jesus is making all things new, and thus turning the world right side up.

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The Four C’s (CONNECT, CULTIVATE, CARE, COMMISSION)

1.  To accomplish our WHY we will CONNECT with God and others.
   Luke uses the word devoted which means to continue to do something with intense effort and faithfulness.

• Devoted themselves to the fellowship and to one another.

• We become a part of the family of God. (Luke 14:26 and Matthew 12:46-48)
• The church is "one body" with "many members."
• The church, the other brothers and sisters, became a priority of each believer.

• Devoted themselves to the breaking of bread.

• The Lord's Supper is a Celebration of:

       -Remembrance-remembering what Christ did
      -Renewal-confessing of sin and renewing the covenant
      -Return-looking forward to Christ's return for his bride.

• Devoted themselves to the prayers.

• The prayers may mean specific prayers that were recited by the church like the Lord's Prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13)
• Every believer communicates with God.
• The church was devoted to talking with God.
• They met in the temple courts—they went to church.

2. To Accomplish our WHY we will CULTIVATE disciples and leaders.

• The church was devoted to the teaching of the leaders.

• The church learned how to reflect the Kingdom of God as they went into the world, witnessing both through word and deed to the good news of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
• The church learned what it meant to live as the people of God under the rule and reign of King Jesus.

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• The leaders were devoted to teaching the scriptures.
• The church was committed to doing LIFE with one another.

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3. To accomplish our WHY we will CARE for people and resources.

• Awareness of needs was evident due to the “togetherness” of the body.  If you are not connected to the body, if you aren’t being cultivated as a disciple, it will be difficult to know your needs.
• Sacrificial generosity was tied to the relationship of the person or people to the body.  (Galatians 6:10)
• Stewardship occurred because belongings and possessions ultimately belong to God and are a tool for His glory and others’ good.
• We are to give of our time, talent, and treasures.

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4. To accomplish our WHY we will COMMISSION people to reach neighbors and nations. 

• Every believer is a missionary.

How will we know we are living out the four C’s?  (Connect, Cultivate, Care, Commission)

• Awe - reverence, fear, wonder, amazement for what was transpiring.
• Signs and wonders - miracles which pointed to the ultimate and greater reality of God.
• Unity - came together for a common center (King Jesus, His rule and reign, His glory) and for a common cause (making disciples of all nations, witnesses of King Jesus and God’s Kingdom).

-Unified and together as they kept the main issues of the faith.  

-Were not divided over non essentials.

• Joy - praised God with glad and generous hearts.
• Growth - the Lord added to their number of those who were being saved.  

Life Application

Write down on an index card or type into your phone or device Northland’s 4 C’s which are Connect, Cultivate, Care, and Commission and review them each day this week. Ask God to show you ways you could apply each of the 4 C’s to what you do each day. For example, you might be able to be “commissioned” and “care” for your neighbors by doing a small act of kindness like taking in their garbage can from the curb, running an errand for them, baking them some cookies, and inviting them to Northland services with you. 

Small Group Discussion Questions

• Out of all the “C” words you know what one best describes you?
• How can you connect with God and others through fellowship and prayer?  
• What can you do to cultivate and learn about your faith as you strengthen your spiritual walk with King Jesus?
• Who is God laying on your heart to generously care for with your time, talents, and resources?  
• How can you be commissioned, as a missionary of King Jesus, to your neighbors through little acts of kindness? 

Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Monday- Our Vision- Psalm 29:18; Jeremiah 29:11; Habakkuk 2:3
• Tuesday - Connect with God and Others-John 3:16; John 15:4; Acts 2:42
• Wednesday - Cultivate Leaders and Disciples- 2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:9-10; Colossians 2:6-7
• Thursday - Care for People and Resources-Matthew 25:44-45; Galatians 6:9; Luke 10:27-37
• Friday - Commissioned to Reach Neighbors and Nations- Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8

Prayer

Lord, we are excited about the vision that you have given Northland Church. We ask that you show us ways that we can connect, cultivate, care and be commissioned in the days ahead. Our heart’s desire is to live out the vision through the 4 C’s so that our family, friends, neighbors and nations will see the Good News of King Jesus as we love and serve you and reflect your glory. Give us your power, through the Holy Spirit, to be joyful, generous and unified as we fellowship and share our time, talent and treasures as tools for your glory and others’ good. 

Additional Resources

–Sign up for the Northland Newsletter

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–Start with Why by Simon Sinek

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–When the Church was a Family by Joseph Hellerman