Hunger Mountain Christian Assembly

2010 An Uncommon Mission

HMCA
January 3, 2009
“2010 An Uncommon Mission”

A. John 17:18-19 (MsgB)  
In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
19I'm consecrating Myself for their sakes
So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

B. Introduction: Every year, I turn aside in December, to seek the Lord for a word for the New Year. As I sat before the Lord, He spoke to me about some things that I want to share with you this morning. The Lord laid two words on my heart and in my spirit for the New Year; one is uncommon and the other is mission. I will explain their meaning and how they work together for us, as individuals and us as a corporate body, in my message “2010 An Uncommon Mission.”

C. First the Lord gave me the word uncommon. What does uncommon mean?
    1. Dictionary- Not common; rare.
    2. Wonderful; remarkable.
    3. Rare, unusual, unconventional, outstanding, extraordinary.

D. Next, the Lord gave me a “motto” for Hunger Mt.
    1. “An Uncommon Church for Common People.”
    2. Common meaning widespread; prevalent. Most widely known; ordinary, average.
    3. Therefore our motto means we are “a rare and outstanding church for ordinary and average people.”

E. The next word the Lord gave me was “mission.” What does mission mean?
    1. Dictionary- What one intends to do or achieve; purpose, goal, intent, ambition, objective.
    2. Why not a vision?
    3. We’ve had one for twenty years and no one knows what it is.
    4. Vision is what you see and mission is what you do.
    5. We have to stop sitting around talking about vision and start doing something as a missional goal and objective.    
F. Next, the Lord gave me a “mission statement,” something that we all can remember.
    1. “Our mission is transition, transformation, and training for common people of our region, to become uncommon followers of Jesus Christ.”   20 words!
    2. Mission speaks to what our intention and goal is as a church.
    3. Transition speaks to harvest. Reaching out to those that do not know Jesus so they can receive Him into their hearts and lives.
    4. Transformation speaks to change. It is about care, healing, and deliverance.
    5. Training speaks to discipleship. Training in righteousness and equipping people to become “followers & disciples of Jesus Christ.”
    6. I will speak to each part of our mission statement in the next few weeks. This is not complicated or something that is beyond our ability to achieve. It is a realistic goal for 2010 and for the next decade.

G. Conclusion: The Lord by His Holy Spirit spoke some things to me as I turned aside to spend time in His presence. He gave me two words, uncommon and mission. He gave me a motto for Hunger Mt, “An Uncommon Church for Common People.” He also gave me a “mission statement” “Our mission is transition, transformation, and training, for common people of our region, to become uncommon followers of Jesus Christ.” He gave to me what I and the Elders believe is His will for this body for 2010 and for the next decade. It is now up to us to receive this mission and make it our individual goal as well as the purpose, intent, and objective of our church body. Our mission, if we are faithful to do it, can transform our entire region and affect our state and New England. Will you become a part of the “Mission Possible” team at HMCA? Start the New Year off right and let us join together in God’s mission for us.

H. Close: 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)  
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. 11Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.