A Vision for OakwoodGrowing roots…bearing fruit…branching out

August 2012

Why Do We Need a Vision?

- Our Identity – Our Congregational Calling- Specific to our gifts, make-up, and community- A destination – requiring change and movement forward

- Definition: “a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to his chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self, and circumstances.” George Barna

Vision & Mission

Vision – our God-given dream of what God is calling us to become – our unique identity

Mission – how we are going to get from here to there – worship, discipleship, outreach, fellowship – common to Biblical churches

Benefits of a Communicated Vision

• It Inspires• It Attracts• It Filters• It Prepares for Change• It Provides Continuity

Kingdom Vision

Godly Leadership

Effective Ministries

Creative Resources

Oakwood’s Mission StatementChurch Planning Document – February 2011

“By the grace of God in Jesus Christ, Oakwood exists to glorify God,

exalting Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through Biblical worship, discipleship, outreach, and fellowship ministries.”

Like most mission statements, this could describe any and every true church.

What is Oakwood’s Identity?Church Planning Document – February 2011

Convictions• High view of God’s Word and

Preaching• Grace-orientation (Gospel-

centered)• Reformed Theology / World

& Life View• Unity in Diversity – Pietists,

Doctrinalists, & Culturalists• Passion for Holiness• Sending Out Disciples

Values• Prayer• Christian Education• Holiness – Fellowship,

Accountability• Small Groups• Evangelism – Word & Deed• Administration• Leadership Development

Trees - A Biblical ThemeBlessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.He is like a tree planted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Psalm 1:1-4

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Growing Roots, Bearing Fruit

“I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great…Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches…” Daniel 4:10-12

“Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds. The waters nourished it; the deep made it grow tall… All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.” Ezekiel 31:3-6

A Kingdom Like a Tree

[Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31,32

“ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing… If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.”

John 15:4-8

Trellis or Vine?“…structures don’t grow ministries any more than trellises grow vines…most churches need to make a conscious shift – away from erecting and maintaining structures, and towards growing people who are disciple-making disciples of Christ.”

“Thus the goal of Christian ministry is quite simple, and in a sense measureable: are we making and nurturing genuine disciples of Christ?...our goal is to grow the vine, not the trellis.”

Marshall and Payne, The Trellis and the Vine

Bearing Fruit“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit… Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

Matthew 7:17-19

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22,23

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.

Hebrews 13:15

Meaning in the Metaphor

• Planted by the Lord• Well-Rooted• Well-Watered– Health and Growth– Strength, Perseverance

• Abundant, Consistent Fruit

• Beauty• Shelter and Food for

Birds and Beasts

• God’s Sovereign Grace• Biblical Doctrine• Preaching, Teaching

• Holiness, Evangelism, Service, Worship

• Holiness• Missions, Blessing to

the Nations

Oaks of Righteousness“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed meto bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:1-3

A Passage for Oakwood“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:1-3

• Gospel-centered

• Evangelism & Mercy Ministry

• Preaching, Doctrine

• Fellowship, Accountability, Bearing One Another’s Burdens

• Worship

• Holiness, Unity, Worship

“By God’s grace, we long to become ‘oaks of righteousness’, growing roots deep in God’s Word,

bearing fruit of God-centered holiness and worship, and branching out with Gospel-centered witness

and service to State College, Penn State,Central Pennsylvania, and the world.”

Growing roots…bearing fruit…branching out

Oakwood’s Vision