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NOW LIVE: Moving from posture to practice in 2026 and beyond.

A Word from the Lord:

Before we go into our vision and how we plan to go about it, bookmark this scripture in your Bible and come back to it again and again. This is a word God wants us as a church to practically live out in the years ahead. Much of what you will glean from this vision Sunday review will arc all the way back to these words from Isaiah 61 becoming a reality in Word of Grace's life and ministry in increasing measure.

This is a passage that primarily talks about the ministry of Jesus, but is also a word about what God specifically (not just by association) would have us join Him in.

COMISSIONING SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 61:1-4 (Also read John 20:21-22 for context)

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor [this has happened- 1st coming-Christmas], and the day of our God’s vengeance [not yet- 2nd coming-Day of Judgement];

to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of gladness and joy instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair.
And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

What Does It Mean to "Now Live" as a person formed by Christ?

The theme for 2026 comes from Galatians 2:20:

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life that I NOW LIVE, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me."

This isn't about trying harder to be a better Christian. It's about surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to empower and enable what God is already doing in us through us. 

The underlying goal  for us as a church is simple yet profound: to be people who are known for knowing God.

Why Do Christians Struggle to Live Out Their Faith?

Many believers understand the theology but struggle with the practical application. We know Jesus died for our sins, but do we live as people truly set free from sin? We believe in the Holy Spirit's power, but do we expect Him to work through us to heal the sick and comfort the brokenhearted? The problem often lies in our tendency to rely on our own strength rather than God's power. The extremes are that we either over-spiritualize everything (waiting for God to explain every step before we act) or neglect being spiritual altogether (trying to do everything in our own power).

What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like?

Every effective ministry on spiritual formation must be built on these three pillars:

  • Salvation in Christ - Understanding what the cross of Jesus has done, live surrendered to that truth, basing our identity in Jesus alone not our good works.
  • Truth in the Word of God - Being guided by Scripture, as our authority on life and godliness, not cultural trends
  • Empowerment of The Holy Spirit - Relying on His empowerment and revelation, not our abilities and intellect.

These spiritual formation pillars become the scaffolding that God uses to build us up together. We grow into maturity, displaying Christ in greater and manifest ways. True spiritual maturity means we’ve grown into a connected relationship with God, which is visible every time we open the Bible, pray, worship, work, raise families, and every other mundane thing.

We’re not just aiming to be good christian practitioners, but people who desire to know God personally in every facet of life. Carrying God’s heart matters to us more than being perceived as the most accurate or professional christian on the block. As Ephesians 5:8 reminds us,

"once you were full of darkness, but you are now light in the Lord, so NOW LIVE as children of light".

It is a life of BEING someone more than it is one of DOING something. As we become people who have this heart 1 Timothy 4:15 gives us the practical doing part:

"Practice[NOW LIVE] these things. Immerse yourself in them so that your progress may be evident to all."

People should be able to see our growth in God throughout the year, because we carry and respond to God’s presence in very evident ways.

How Can the Church Be More Effective in Ministry?

The vision for the church is to become like a multi-tool - small, versatile, and ready to be deployed wherever God needs us. This means:

  • Being nimble and accessible to the community, not just focused inward.
  • Carrying God's presence with diverse gifts that can be used anywhere.
  • Being ready to minister without needing massive organizational structures with whatever we already have grown in.

What about Sunday?

Sunday gatherings should become an overflow of ministry that's already happening Monday through Saturday. The main ministry will occur throughout the week as believers carry God's presence into their workplaces, schools, and communities. Sunday becomes like an "all-star gathering" (minus the star attraction) where all the people and their gifts are present. We share and receive every gift the church has at its disposal, but most of the gathering structure doesn’t revolve around the stage. We get to hear what God did through them during the week - how we prayed for healing, comforted the brokenhearted, or shared the gospel with someone in need. It’s a time of encouragement and re-vitalization for the mission. 

 

How Do We Prepare for Long-term Ministry?

Looking toward 2035, the church needs:

  • Deeper spiritual formation so everyone is clear about their identity in Christ
  • New facilities to accommodate growing ministry needs
  • Developed leaders across all age groups and demographics
  • Expanded ministry areas including community care, men’s and women's ministry, marriage support, unleashing youth and kids, and care for the elderly.

What Does It Mean to Be Ready for Ministry?

As we keep growing into this vision of being a “multi-tool” church that is useful to our community, we will find ourselves at various stages of development along the road. We should not get disappointed when something doesn’t work or get frustrated because some growth is taking time to fully form in our community. It’s all part of being shaped by God for His purposes. 

Being ready means we don't need to wait for perfect conditions or complete understanding. When someone needs prayer for healing, we pray. When someone is brokenhearted, we offer comfort. When someone needs to hear the gospel, we share it. This isn't about having all the answers or being perfect. It's about being available to God and trusting Him to work through us. The power comes from Him, not from us.

I’m so grateful to God for this community and that we get to do this together! Thank you for putting your hand to the task of growing together with us.