Mountaintop Faith
Vision Sunday • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Welcome to VISION SUNDAY 2025. We typically will take a Sunday, toward the beginning a calendar year, to re-vision and calibrate ourselves toward God’s heart for this house.
In 2024 we focused on the opportunity to begin giving, saving, and praying to see a new facility built. Over the course of the year, we were able to give and save a total of $623,770.
If you are new to our church, I invite you to learn about it and participate with us - you can find interactive information on they kiosks out in our lobby.
A look back…
226 average number of kids on a Sunday in Faith Kids in 2024
19% of online & in-house attendance gave at least 1x last year in 2024.
341 First Time Guests in 2024;
47 baptisms in ’24, seen 397 baptisms since 2017.
11% overall attendance increase in 2024 and hovering around 400% increase since 2017.
Our church was founded in the early 1980s, under the name Faith Christian Center. My wife and I moved to FT Scott in late 2016 and became the 7th pastors to shepherd this congregation. 2017 we re-launched the church, if you will, becoming Faith Church Kansas.
Since 2017, we have used MOUNTAINS as our main icon for our logo. We’ve laid it out differently over years and even recently updated it again. When people see it, they often will ask, why mountains, don’t you realize we live in Kansas?
A psalm of David. 1 The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord; 2 for he laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers. 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who inquire of him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord of Armies, he is the King of glory. Selah
Mountains are a Biblical image for the life of faith.
Mountains are a Biblical image for the life of faith.
encounter God on mountains
Mountains are where heaven meets earth
climbing mountains to meet God, test and purify our faith (loyalty) to God.
jesus died on a mountain
Get higher perspective on mountain (ie mindset book)
Mark 11…Jesus tells us if we have faith (embodied trust) the size of mustard seed, we could abide with Him in prayer and we could see the mountains in our way be moved. Mountains, are mental maps and habits and ways we’ve been conformed to the world but are hindering our loyalty to Him.
Bible Project Video
3 Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, 6 and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” 7 After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.” So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you and will always believe you.” Moses reported the people’s words to the Lord, 10 and the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes 11 and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’ 13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.” 14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.” 17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.” 19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
God’s presence is encountered.
God’s presence delivers us and brings His goodness.
God’s goodness is His glory.
God’s goodness leads us to repent and live with holy fear of life without HIM.
Being led by the Holy Spirit and His voice is essential to a radiant life of faith.
Being led by the Holy Spirit and His voice is essential to a radiant life of faith.
(Theme Overview SLIDE)
In 2020, I believe, God seeded a thought within me during COVID, telling me “we were not going back to what used to be.” We’ve been steadily understanding what that fully meant.
2021 - practice
2022 - faith 2.0…focus on discipleship, equipping on Sunday morning..not entertainment or evangelism
2023- radiant
2024 essential…abiding..less isn’t always more.
2025 essential (con’t/part 2). Abide, flourish, prune, repeat.
As we have studied the Scriptures and put language to what God is stirring within us, we’re ready to launch into our 2.0 season.
(full graphic slide:)
Faith Church 2.0 - We bring faith to life by leading people to encounter the transforming presence of the Spirit, pursue redemptive formation in the way of Jesus, and partner in the essential mission of God.
Faith Church 2.0 - We bring faith to life by leading people to encounter the transforming presence of the Spirit, pursue redemptive formation in the way of Jesus, and partner in the essential mission of God.
(circle slide:)
THE RADIANT LIFE IS ONGOING
THE RADIANT LIFE IS ONGOING
We bring faith to life by leading people to encounter the transforming presence of the Spirit, prioritizing abiding with the Holy Spirit thru ongoing surrender.
We pursue redemptive formation in the way of Jesus becoming His apprentices.
We partner in the essential mission of The Father as ambassadors for His Kingdom.
this is not linear, nor really steps to arrive somewhere
(graphic slide:)
The Radiant Life - The radiant life is ongoing allegiance and affection for Jesus in real life. We want to create environments for that life to be produced in corporate engagement and relationally formative ways.
The Radiant Life - The radiant life is ongoing allegiance and affection for Jesus in real life. We want to create environments for that life to be produced in corporate engagement and relationally formative ways.
PRESENCE
Abiding thru Surrender of HS work: Sundays, Baptism (w/digital course), F1RST WEDNESDAY, Encounter Conference*
FORMATION
Apprentice to Jesus: Faith Church Basics, Formation Course, XO Conf, Mens Cohort*, Pre-Elder Cohort*, Practice/Formation Plan (Rule of Life).*
MISSION
Ambassadors for the King: Ministry Teams, Giving, Groups, Trips/Outreach, Invite Friends, Vocation
It is essential to live an abiding life to produce a radiant faith.
It is essential to live an abiding life to produce a radiant faith.
which prioritizes:
Engagement > Attending
online shifts to avoid attending in obscurity but be known
groups not event we attend but relationship we engage
Boring > Busy
basics are busy but they are active.
become over do
invites without pressure
lean in not sit back
Pruning > Pretending
we want to continue to see God prune the inner things, uproot the unhealthy, and heal the inward pain we have.
we are partnered with my friend therapist Brian James, who runs a group of Christian therapists to bring you quality therapy at minimal cost via online session.
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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)
The message was about our pursuit of God’s presence, formation, & mission in our life. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?
Read Psalm 24. What does this passage reveal about God? What are some other things you observe in the text?
What is one area of health, growth, or fruitfulness you saw in 2024?
Read Exodus 33:12-19. What do you observe about God in the text? How do the truths about God integrate into our daily life?
Mountains are often a place of encounter with God. Can you recall a time when you heard God speak to your recently or you know you encountered His presence?
When you hear the phrase, “we bring faith to life” what comes to your mind? What does that phrase mean to you?
