Podcasts about greater works

Bill Horn shares a powerful word on how God multiplies His power through unity and faith. He reminds us that we are not just hearers of the Word but carriers of God's presence—called to walk in His favor, sow in faith, and believe for the greater works Jesus promised.

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

The greater work Jesus revealed wasn't about performing bigger miracles but giving eternal life to those who believe. In Him, the Father's heart and authority were made visible, showing that grace—not effort—brings life. The same voice that spoke creation into being now speaks life into everyone who trusts the Son.

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Mon 7PM

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Frank Otchere

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

September 25 2025 Thursday Your Words Matter / Week 34 Greater Works Done In Him #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word.  That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. My Prayers For The World Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT  'Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT 'When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.' Matthew 11:28  Find Rest In Jesus Christ Your Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return…  Psalm 37:4  God will give you the desires of your heart… The Galations, having launched their Christian experience by faith, seem content to leave their voyage of faith and chart a new course based on works—a course Paul finds disturbing.  His letter to the Galations is a vigorous attack against the gospel of works and a defense of the gospel of faith.   Paul begins by setting forth his credentials as an apostle with a message from God:  blessing comes from God on the basis of faith, not law.  The law declares men guilty and imprisons them; faith sets men free to enjoy liberty in Christ.  But liberty is not license.  Freedom in Christ means freedom to produce the fruits of righteousness through a Spirit-led lifestyle John 14:12 Romans 10:9-10  Salvation… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You… Romans 13:8  Live in God's Love… Romans 8:16-17  Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Revelation 1:6  We are kings and priest in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Romans 10:13  Call On The Name Of Jesus And Make Him Lord today… The Biblical Definition Of Grace Is God's Unmerited Favor… Matthew 18:19-20  I will agree with you about your prayer request… Acts 10:34  God is not a respecter of persons. He loves and cares for us all the same… Romans 12:3  God has given us His Faith… Biblical Hope Is A Confident Expectation… Romans 5:5  God has given us His Love… 2 Corinthians 5:17  We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21  We are the Righteousness of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… God's Word Is True Above All Opinions…  Romans 12:2  Renew your mind to what God's Word says… Believe God's Word Above All Opinion… Philippians 4:13  We can do all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Philippians 4:19  God will provide all your needs… Romans 10:17  Faith In God comes from hearing God's Word… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon will prosper against me… 1 John 4:4  Greater is He In All Of Us… 1 John 1:9  Confess your sins God Will Cleanse You…  John 3:3  You Must Be Born Again… Luke 15:10  Heaven Rejoices Over One Person That Repents And Is Born Again… John 3:16  Believe On The Lord Jesus Christ Your Lord And Savior… 1 Peter 2:24  Healing… Mark 10:29-30  100 Fold Return… Luke 6:38  Give and it will be given unto you… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media Website https://the-prodigalson.com What God's Word Can Do In Your Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJWTZG_x2vE&t=3s Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com YouVersion Bible App  https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 …  Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical  Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured

Hey, would Jesus Himself be a respected member of many churches today? Or do many churches “cut Jesus down to size,” limiting what He does in their lives? And what about you? Do you perhaps harbor unbelief about what God is willing or able to do in your life? Join Kevin as we examine look at how even and especially Christians often tend to limit God! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

Preached at THE ANOINTING & THE PRESENCE SERVICE, ANOINTED PEOPLE INTERNATIONAL 

John 14: 12 - 14

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Sunday evening message from the pulpit of Falls Baptist Church

Mission, Vision, Values, Culture To know who we are, we need to know where we're going.To know where we're going, we need to know what we're going to do to get there.To know what we're going to do to get there, we need to know who we're going to be doing it with. And to know who we're going to be doing it with, we need to know what we're doing. We need a clear understanding of our mission – given by Jesus Himself.We need a rallying vision – a picture of a preferred future that keeps us rooted in the mission.We need a known set of values – the things that we choose to high-center on that will hold us high-and-tight to our vision.We need a culture – an established code that defines the hills we're willing to die on that will drive our values, help us accomplish our vision, and will keep us on mission. We need a Firm Foundation. Mission >>> We are called to awaken the hearts of the hopeless, the helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' love for all people and His perfect plan for our lives. Hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritual homelessness present differently depending on where you are looking, but these three realities are the norm of the human condition. We have all been there. Some of us may be there now, experiencing a version of one or all three of these conditions. Regardless of our current situation, Jesus is always the answer. Jesus has sent The Spirit to be a Help. Jesus is the Hope of The World. And The Father sent Jesus to lay the foundation for how He desires a Spiritual Home – His Church – to be built. Bring Hope: Jesus is the Hope of the World and He has chosen His Church to be the vehicle He uses to bring hope to those who are at the end of their rope and don't know their next steps. Sometimes people just need a little hand-up to help them get back on their feet, and we are here to serve. Hope can be restored when real needs are met; and, when real needs are met, doors can open to real spiritual conversations about The Hope that Jesus provides. (Psalm 41:1-2) We exceed the need.  Be a Help: We are called to be a help to those who don't have the resources they need to thrive (James 1). Jesus promised His followers that He would send The Spirit to be a Help for His people (another Helper). When we walk with Jesus, we are guided by The Spirit, gifted by The Spirit, and empowered by The Spirit. And when the Spirit Guides, Gifts (1 Cor 12), and Empowers (Gal 5) it is always for building up and growing The Church and putting Jesus on display. When we step into these Good Works, we honor The Father in the process (Matthew 5).  We value the vulnerable.  Build a Family: We are called to be a safe space - a spiritual home - for those who need Jesus and a Church Family. The Church has been built to honor The Father. He sent Jesus to establish a new covenant with His people and to bring us into His flock. This is not easy work. And for this work to be accomplished in a God-honoring way, we must build families that are not only strong, but resilient. Families who consistently show-up. Families who serve out of an overflow. Families who give sacrificially and generously and radically. Families who bend, but don't break. Families who get back up again. Families with thick skin and soft hearts. Families who learn and grow and shine like Jesus. We build resilient families.  Multiply the Mission: We understand that it can't end with us. God has given each of us a part in this Body, and He desires for His Body to grow and multiply. As we respond to His call for His Church, we believe we will see a multiplication of ministry efforts that look and sound and feel like Venture. Ministry efforts that are born of our DNA and are committed to replicating it here, near, and far. This looks like localized ministry efforts. This looks like new-to-the-world Parachurch Organizations that see the need and meet it, find a hurt and heal it, see a problem and fix it. This looks like new church plants that take this beautiful Gospel far and wide. What we're doing is good, but it will never be enough. We need to take Jesus to more places. This will make Venture a John 14 Greater Works Church. We multiply the Mission.  Vision >>> Vision is aspiration – the picture we paint of a preferred future. The things God allows us to see as we follow Him more closely. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples (including us!) that we would be equipped with the very presence of The Holy Spirit and, through Him, we would accomplish even Greater Works than what they saw Jesus Himself do. Later in the New Testament, James talks about these ‘works' as being the evidence of our faith and belief in Jesus. These ‘works' that Jesus and James talk about always extend towards and into the segments of our population that find themselves hopeless, helpless, and, very often, spiritually homeless. As we follow Christ more closely and become more aware of how we can work for His Glory, we want to be a Church that displays our love and devotion to Jesus by being a part of these Greater Works that He calls us to and equips us for. We are called to be a Greater Works Church. We have an enemy that prowls around, seeking to devour us – especially the weak and vulnerable. He steals, he kills, and he destroys. As we embrace and step-into the hopelessness, helplessness, and spiritually homelessness that surround us, we seek to create solutions to these problems that can't be stolen, killed, or destroyed.  Bring hope that can't be taken awayBe a help that brings lifeBuild a Family that can't be destroyedMultiply the Mission We will accomplish this by launching multiple interdependent ministry efforts across the metroplex, surrounding areas, and globally – each seeking to partner with and potentially even share space with like-minded and spiritually-aligned organizations that serve the needs of their local community. This presents solutions to multiple problems at once:1.    We serve our partnerships with their biggest need: volunteers and resources!2.    We sharpen our focus on the thing that that The Church is uniquely commissioned to: provide Peace and Hope for the soul!3.    We rally resources to meet the indigenous needs of each ministry effort's community4.    We redeem each community's specific needs, hurts, and problems into Greater Works opportunities Per our Elder Mandate and, as we develop practices for spiritual maturity and create environments for leadership development, we will build pathways to multiply ministry efforts. Develop healthy disciples / Cultivate leaders worth following / Build resilient families / Multiply the Mission We bring Hope / We are here to help / We build resilient families / We multiply the Mission  Values >>> Values are the things an organization hold in high-esteem – they are Values because they are valuable to us. Values are valuable because they drive culture up and down and left and right and in and out and all throughout the organization. Some of these Values and Culture pieces are actual, others are aspirational. And that's ok – we should always be on the path to valuing the things that make us more like Jesus.  We value deep roots … because in a world that doesn't stop changing, we need a firm foundationWe want Venture to be the church you can always call Home We value open hands … because it's how people can see the Jesus in us·      Jesus gave His life to love and serve and so will we We value movement … because we're all on the path to becoming more like Jesus·      It's ok to be where you are, but we believe God wants more for you We value true worship … because it aligns our heart and minds with The Father·      How we love, live, and lead should point people to Jesus We value the vulnerable … because everybody needs somebody to love them·      Jesus trusts the vulnerable to the care of His Church We value leaving a legacy of faith … because the next generation must not be the last generation·      We're here to help you take your next step with Jesus  Culture >>> Culture are the things that we do, say, and put into action that make us unique. Not better, simply unique. There has never been a Church like Venture because, as Jesus taught us, a Church is a Body. A living organism and, although most bodies have the same body parts, each part is unique to that particular body. Never before has this collection of Christ-followers been united to form this Body. And as unique as it is today, we desire it to be unique each day moving forward as The Lord adds new Members to His Body known as Venture Church. These cultural elements are hills worth dying on. When we protect the Culture, we protect our Values. When we protect our Values, we protect our Vision. And when we protect our Vision, we ensure that we stay true to our Mission – To awaken the hearts of the hopeless, helpless, and spiritually homeless to the reality of Jesus' Love for us all and His perfect plan for our lives. 1: We are here to serveWe serve because it prioritizes our lives properlyNo strings attached·      See a need, meet the needIf something catches your attention it deserves your attentionSee a need and meet itFind a hurt and heal itFind a problem and fix it  2: What we do matters, but you matter moreWe don't sacrifice relationships on the altar of ministryPeople > TasksWe can use people to get ministry done, but we'd rather use ministry to get people done 3: We have a Heart for The HouseWe want Venture to be The Church you will always call Home 4: We have a Heart for The CitiesYou live where you live because God wants His Light to shine there 5: We are defiantly joyfulWe choose joy even when we don't feel like itWe are thermostats, not thermometers – we set the temp 6: We are all hands in, all hands openWe are outrageously generousWe give until it hurts and then we give some moreWe serve and we give because what we do together matters 7: We make it feel like homeWe turn an old grocery store into a HomeWe open the door and save you a seatThere's a seat at the table for youWe appreciate the privileges and embrace the responsibilities 8: We have eyes for the sunriseTomorrow > YesterdayUnderstand your part in the bigger pictureEyes for opportunityWe're not there yet 9: We Love the 99, AND go after the 1We seek to serve to hopeless, the helpless, and the spiritual homelessThe room is never full 10: We believe God can do itIf He's in it, He's going to do it – and we want Him to use us

Join us in this episode as we dive into the power and significance of promises, drawing from teachings found in John chapter 14. Discover how these promises emphasize our role as believers, advocating for faithfulness and integrity in keeping our word. Learn how the promise of greater works and the assurance of answered prayers highlight the profound connection between divine promise and human action. Understand the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to perform these "greater works" while navigating trials and tribulations. This episode explains how embracing these promises strengthens your faith and deepens your relationship with God, reminding us of the reliable nature of God's promises.

A new MP3 sermon from Berean Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Greater Works in His Name Subtitle: John - Jesus Is The Christ Speaker: Sean E. Harris Broadcaster: Berean Baptist Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 7/27/2025 Bible: John 14:12 Length: 46 min.

In today's Bible Study we looked into the origins and authenticity of the Bible, focusing on the concepts of inspiration, canonicity, and the historical context of biblical manuscripts. We also explored the significance of the Old and New Testament texts, the role of prophets, and the authority of scripture, emphasizing the importance of understanding the translations and manuscripts that shape biblical interpretation.For more information or to obtain of copy of the slides, please visit www.greaterworksdiscipleship.comTo take courses with Greater Works please visit https://greaterworksdiscipleship.thinkific.com/

This weeks GW podcast will recap our Juneteenth conference and will continue a fruitful Q&A discussion with Urban Apologists Damon Richardson & Alfredo Valentin. One of the main questions concerns modalism - the belief that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are different manifestations of God. If you missed the Juneteenth conference you can catch the replay here: https://greaterworksdiscipleship.thinkific.com/courses/juneteenthconference2025Our mission at Greater Works is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37) through the intentional education, equipping, and empowering of healthy disciples of Jesus the Christ. Connect with us in all of our content here: poplme.co/kevinlurrell

What did Jesus mean when he said “Greater works you will do”? How do greater works relate to the Holy Spirit? What are the greater works? The Holy Spirit brings forth unlimited great works. Surrender to the Holy Spirit's plan.To listen to more podcasts and information on books: davidcfriendauthor.comTo subscribe to podcasts: cpnshows.com

John 14:12 Speaker: Guest Pastor Nate Prater

Delivered by Pastor Brad Smith 20/06/25. There is an intriguing scripture in the gospel of John that reveals that our works surpassing that of Christ's. 'John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father'. It is interesting for two reasons... the first is the statement that we will have the potential to do the works of Christ (miracles)...and the second, which is the most amazing, reveals that we have the potential to do even greater works than Christ... how can that be? What is something that Jesus didn't do, or couldn't do while he was on earth as opposed to what we can do while he is in heaven? The best way to solve this problem is to look at the changes that occurred after he left. We don't need to go too far into the book of Acts to find the answer. A PDF copy of the talk notes is available to view or download at: https://www.brf.org.au/articles/articles.jsp?category=9 A MP4 video is also available to view or download at: https://www.brf.org.au/videos/videos.jsp?category=2 And/Or A YouTube link to the uploaded video. https://youtu.be/NbceEl49Wf8

The internet is full of people claiming to deconstruct from the Christian faith. Faith deconstruction is the process of reevaluating your core beliefs or evaluating whether the religious belief system you were nurtured in is worthy of embrace. Damon Richardson and Alfredo Valentine the "BK Apologist" join our panel to answer the questions of how the Christian community can deal with these times of deconstruction.Tune in every Thursday for a new podcast episode with Greater Works on all streaming platforms and be sure to subscribe and give us 5 stars!Register to attend virtually or physically attend our "Dealing With The Times" Juneteenth Conference here: https://greaterworksdiscipleship.thinkific.com/courses/juneteenthconference2025For more information about the ministry of Greater Works visit our website at www.greaterworksdiscipleship.com.Register For Courses W/Greater Works: https://greaterworksdiscipleship.thinkific.com/

Anointed For Greater Works | The Standard | Pastor Sean Thomas

To celebrate Pentecost Sunday, today we'll be teaching about Pneumatology: The doctrine of the Holy Spirit! In this broadcast we'll examine: The Importance, Personality, and Work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer!Thanks for listening to the Greater Works Discipleship Ministries podcast.  Our mission at Greater Works is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37) through the intentionaleducation, equipping, and empowering of healthy disciples of Jesus the Christ. You can follow us Spotify, Apple Podcasts and anywhere all major platforms.  Please don't forget to share this broadcast, rate us and please give us 5 stars…if you give us 4 stars I am inclined to believe that you are a hater and the altar is open for you! All Links:  greaterworks.poplme.co/kevinlurrell

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Greater Works Christian Church in Lancaster gas been experiencing a powerful move of God.Healing, Prophecy, the Gifts of the Spirit, etc have been breaking out. We've heard Angels during worship and experiencing the sweet aroma of heaven.

Join us for our latest podcast as we interview Dr. Vince Bantu and discuss the release of his newest book: "The Book of Mystery of Giyorgis of Sägla." Giyorgis of Sagla, aprominent 14th-century Ethiopian monk and scholar, was born in the Tigray region to a noble family. He became a leading figure in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, renowned for his theological writings and contributions to monasticeducation. His works, composed in Geʽez, addressed various aspects of Christian doctrine and practice, reflecting his deep commitment to the faith.You can pre-order Dr. Bantu's book by visiting https://bookofmystery.org/.Thanks for listening to the Greater Works Discipleship Ministries podcast.  Our mission at Greater Works is to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:37) through the intentionaleducation, equipping, and empowering of healthy disciples of Jesus the Christ. You can follow us Spotify, Apple Podcasts and anywhere all major platforms.  Please don't forget to share this broadcast, rate us and please give us 5 stars…if you give us 4 stars I am inclined to believe that you are a hater and the altar is open for you! All Links:  greaterworks.poplme.co/kevinlurrell

The Right Reverend Jeffrey W. Mello, Bishop Diocesan of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, joins the podcast this week to discuss the Gospel and other readings for Pentecost. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy talk to him about the renewed spiritual hunger in the Church, how the Spirit shows up in familiar moments, and how the liturgy prepares us for life. Plus, what are the "greater works" Jesus said we'd do?Want to have your question or comment featured on the podcast? Leave a voicemail on our Rev'd Up hotline! Call (203) 442-5002.Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

Join me for Part II in our series on Spiritual Gifts! Last time, we laid the foundation by exploring the purpose and power behind the gifts God gives His people. Tonight, we go deeper—examining each individual gift, what it means, and how it functions in the life of the believer and the body of Christ. Whether you're discovering your gift or seeking to walk in it more faithfully, this session will equip and encourage you. Don't miss this!For a copy of these slides please visit our shop at www.greaterworksdiscipleship.com

In this episode, we're diving into the powerful and often misunderstood topic of spiritual gifts. What exactly are they? Who receives them? And why did God give them to us in the first place?We'll explore key Scriptures like Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 to unpack the purpose and power of these gifts—and how every believer has a role to play in building up the body of Christ. Whether you're trying to identify your gift or just looking to understand how the gifts function today, this conversation is for you.

John 14:12-18 | Greater Works Will Be Done_05.25.25 by Calvary Chapel Lynchburg

APTTMH new episode

Why Jesus Said We Would Do Greater Works Than He Did: Daily Scripture Reflection (recorded 2024) by Priests for Life

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Greetings, my friends.God, who desires our success, has a deeply personal plan for each of us, uniquely tailored to our individual strengths and circumstances, and is intimately involved in every assignment He gives us.God's unwavering love for you and me, coupled with His promises and His Holy Spirit, provides the power to transform our mindset and to accomplish every task.God has not just works but 'greater works' in store for you and me. This profound truth should inspire us and ignite a fire within us to aim higher and achieve more, knowing that we are capable of extraordinary things. Here is how God instructs us to develop His way of thinking. I believe God is showing us to have our thoughts aligned with His as we accomplish more significant works.Tony