CLARIFYING THE VISION
Acts 29 #3
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, October 19, 2025
(Titus 3:4–5, NLT) “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
(Ephesians 4:32, NLT) “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NLT) “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
(Matthew 18:15, Message) “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend.”
(Malachi 3:10, NLT) “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”
(Ephesians 5:25, NLT) “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her”
(Ephesians 5:21, NLT) “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 10:13, NLT) “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
Jesus cast the vision for a new community.
Acts clarifies the vision for the new community.
(Acts 2:42–47, NLT) “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
(Acts 2:42, NLT) “All the believers devoted themselves …”
- … to the apostle’s teaching ( 42)
(Romans 6:17, NLT) “Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.”
(1 Timothy 4:6, NLT) “If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.”
- … to fellowship ( 42)
(2 Corinthians 13:14, NLT) “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
(1 John 1:3, NLT) “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 12:25–26, NLT) “All the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”
- … to celebrating communion ( 42)
(1 Corinthians 10:16–17, NLT) “When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.”
(1 Corinthians 11:26, NLT) “For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”
- … to the ministry of prayer ( 42)
(Deuteronomy 6:5, NLT) “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
(Philippians 1:4, NLT) “Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,”
(Philippians 2:17–18, NLT) “But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”
- … to the ministry the Holy Spirit gifted me for ( 43)
(1 Corinthians 14:12, NLT) “Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.”
(1 Peter 4:10, NLT) “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
- … to joyful generosity ( 45)
(2 Corinthians 9:11, NLT) “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”
“God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.” –Randy Alcorn
(2 Corinthians 9:7, NLT) “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
- … to a life of integrity ( 45)
(Proverbs 10:9, NLT) “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.”
Woodland Church is …
- … a safe place to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically healed.
- … a place where Jesus has a place for you to grow and serve.
What God is doing at Woodland will outlast our graves.
Growthwork
- What are you giving your life to?
- Give your life to Jesus Christ today.
- Become a serious student of the Bible. Use the Notes and Growthwork prayerfully.
- Who are you building fellowship with who is open and real?
- Don’t miss celebrating Communion weekly. Jesus said, “Remember me.”
- Is your prayer life increasing?
- Discover, develop, and deploy your spiritual gift in ministry.
- Daydream about being generous with what you have now.
- Reorder your life around the Church.
- The eyes of the Lord are upon us!