03/13/11 - Vision Sunday - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore recasts the vision of LifeGate Church in the "3 R's of Potential" this Sunday service.

Vision Sunday - 3 R's of Potential
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, March 13, 2011

www.mylifegatechurch.com


Sermon Notes:

The 3 R’s of Potential

Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” The mission, the character traits, the life Jesus meant for us to live fits us perfectly.  There is no feeling out of place, unequipped, awkward, overwhelmed. That life is full of potential.

Mark 4:26-29 “Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through (Emerge) then the heads of wheat are formed (Form), and finally the grain ripens (Mature). And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come. (Harvest)” Every person is a seed—full of potential to be realized.  The ground is what produces the potential.  The church should be fertile, rich ground where a seed can exceed its potential.

Each of us is created with a specific potential (Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”) that is only recognized, released and raised in relationship with others.  By doing life together in the Body of Christ, we find the life Jesus intended us to have and we change the world.  Our destiny is to make a difference, no blend in—to be world changers by helping others recognize, release and raise their potential.  The Church is the fertile ground God has prepared for that task. (Peter is an example of the 3 R’s)

•  Potential recognized = emerge 
•  Potential released = form
•  Potential raised = mature  (the 1st 2 R’s may happen outside, but only the church can raise potential)
•  Result = Harvest-in our own lives and in the Kingdom of God

Luke 9:28-33a “About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.   Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here!...”  The place where Jesus’ glory is revealed is a wonderful place to be.  The church is the revelation of His glory. 
(2 Corinthians 8:23b: “…they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.”)

Matthew 16:18 “…I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Acts 16:5 “So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.”
Acts 20:28 “…God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood…”
1 Corinthians 1:2 “I am writing to God’s church…to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus…”
Ephesians 1:22-23 “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”
Ephesians 3:10 “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”
1 Timothy 3:15 “…This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

What’s stopping you from connecting fully to the vision?  It is stopping your full potential.