This morning, now that we have completed our study of James, and before we begin our new study of Philippians, I want to pause and share a message aimed at the future of our church. Last Sunday, I was blessed to attend services at Sanctuary Bible Church in Carmel Valley—they were celebrating their hundredth anniversary as a church. One way they celebrated was by recalling the previous generations of faithful Christians, people long gone, who faithfully served that community with the word of Christ in their era. It got me thinking, as I often do, about the future of our church. We are creeping up to our fiftieth anniversary as a church—and God has given us much fruit as a gospel-centered, Scripture-honoring congregation. And if Jesus delays his return, I pray we will one day celebrate our hundredth anniversary. I realize that few, if any, of us will be around for that centennial celebration, but we certainly have a part to play in it through the decisions and commitments we make in our time.

But perhaps the next fifty years of ministry here is too much for you to consider—let's scale it back to ten. What this church does over the course of the next ten (or so) years will have great bearing on the gospel's impact in this broader community. It is this next window of time I want to talk with you about today. We have told you that we want to invite you into a month of prayer for our church and its future fruitfulness, and I would like to use our time in the word today to flesh out our prayer request. There are enough clues that tell our pastoral team that we might be on the precipice of an important season for our church, so it seems prudent to spend concentrated time preparing ourselves to pray, which is what I want to do with this sermon. My heart's desire for this next month of prayer is that we would collectively sense the importance of Jesus' church. I would love for us to see this as a new day filled with opportunity, recognize afresh the critical nature of our gospel mission, and prepare ourselves to follow the Chief and Good Shepherd's leading. I would love for us to become more prepared, not just for our individual futures, but our collective future as a church.

I am not known for messages like these—I am a Bible guy through and through, so rather than give elaborate plans and vision pitches regarding our church, my normal practice is to simply and sequentially break down various scriptural books one at a time. On top of that, I do not consider myself a dynamic leader and certainly don't view myself as a church CEO, so my first instinct is not vision casting but Bible proclamation (this sounds much more altruistic than I mean for it to sound). Because of all this, some of my first feelings accompanying a sermon like this one are embarrassment and guilt.

Embarrassment, because stated plans and dreams most certainly won't come to pass in the ways I articulate them. For instance, one of the more recent times I gave a church-wide talk like this was in 2018, sharing our plans for 2018-2023 with the church body. We then proceeded to do what we'd planned, all until the events of 2020 and the subsequent fallout. A few of the items on our punch list came to pass (we paid off our mortgage to free up finances, launched a parking team ministry to maximize the parking lot, and improved our seating team to maximize seats), but many of them did not (continue to grow our Sunday Night Service, launch a Saturday Night Service, and expand existing sanctuary and kids' classrooms). Then I gave a shorter and narrower update in 2023, announcing a facility-wide refresh, and it has taken so much longer and been much more complicated than we had expected, which could be personally embarrassing. But I must push past any feelings of embarrassment because, first of all, it isn't about me, and second of all, our plans are merely our plans, submitted to the ultimate will of God. If the Lord wills, we will do this or that, and I believe he can more effectively redirect a church on the move than a church that refuses to move (James 5:13-17).

But I might also feel guilt when delivering a message like this one because of the feeling that church vision-oriented messages have little to do with your everyday life, and I know we are a people in need of the word of the Lord for our everyday lives. We arrive at the gathering on Sundays with pressures and pains and questions and fears and insecurities, needing to hear the Father's voice through his word, and then this pastor climbs up there and spends forty minutes talking to us about the church's pressures and pains and questions and fears and insecurities—and I feel guilty about that. But I must push past feelings of guilt because I know that when we enter more fully into the mission of Christ here on earth, everything about our everyday lives is improved. To seek first the kingdom is to have all the other things rightly ordered and provided for (Matt. 6:33). In fact, I believe much of the illness and decay in our everyday existence is due to the fact that we have not captured a vision for Christ's church. If we did, we would get outside ourselves, outside the individualism that is killing us, and outside our little kingdoms to live for the glory of his kingdom. We would flourish because we would be carrying out his design for our lives.

This little preamble is my way of talking myself into a message like this one, but I should probably just get on with it. For this mission, I have selected one of my most loved Bible passages. It comes from the life of Joshua, the leader who replaced Moses and was tasked with bringing God's people into the Promised Land after forty years of wilderness wandering. At the point we pick up his story, he and the people have crossed the Jordan River and are in the land, facing their first major obstacle, the city of Jericho. I do not have the time today to talk in any robust way about the judgment of the Canaanites by Israel's sword (I might refer you to our study on the plagues when we were in Exodus), but suffice it to say God had given every inhabitant of the land decades, if not generations, to repent and submit to his plans, plans he had made publicly obvious through the defeat of Pharaoh and Egypt many years earlier, but they refused to soften to his obvious will and plans. But this is not my reason for selecting this text. My reason for choosing it is for the parallels between Joshua's experience and our own, using his story to help us enter more fully into God's story for our church family. Let's read:

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13–15, ESV)

1. Acknowledge the New Day (5:13)

Joshua was by Jericho (5:13). Jericho was an intimidating city—impregnable, undefeatable, and intimidating. This walled city had been under consideration all the way back in Moses' day; the Law referred to Jericho twelve times. Eleven of those mentions speak of being across from Jericho or opposite to Jericho. They had dreamed of the day God would give them victory over such fortified places—not even Jericho could stop them—but now they are no longer daydreaming about the future. They are there. Joshua is there. He is by Jericho. And he (and everyone else) knew that God could not fulfill his promises unless Jericho fell. But how?

This was a new pressure for Joshua. The man had fought Amalekites under Moses' direction (Ex. 17). He had made a habit of staying in the Tabernacle of meeting even after Moses had left (Ex. 33:11). He was one of the two spies, Caleb being the other, who believed in God's power to deliver the land to Israel (Num. 14:6). He had been trained by Moses' command, encouragement, and strength (Deut. 1, 30). And he was full of wisdom, ready for the task at hand (Deut. 34:9). He had done and lot and was prepared for a lot, but he had never done this! He had never experienced war with a city like Jericho. This moment was new, an impossible situation for a young leader like Joshua.

It would be easy to gloss over this moment as merely another in a long line of moments in Joshua's (and Israel's) life. But this was a new day. First, it was a new generation that entered into the Promised Land with Joshua, the previous generation had died off in the wilderness because of their lack of faith. Second, the waters of the Jordan had been closed behind them—there was only one direction to move in now: forward. Third, right before this, they had ceremonially consecrated themselves to God, dedicating their lives and bodies to his service. Fourth, the manna, which had sustained them for forty years, had just stopped falling from heaven—they had to go and get their food in the land from this point onward. In all these ways, it was a new day for Joshua and Israel.

It is at this point that I want to say it is important to acknowledge the new day we are in as well. First, one cannot observe the world and culture of the past few years without concluding that something feels different. The animus, the division, the confusion, the hardheartedness, the pain, and the sense that humanity is not functioning well at this time—it feels like it has all leveled up over these past few years. It's a new day filled with fresh possibilities. As Pastor Matt shared last Sunday from Paul's imprisonment in Philippi, all these modern obstacles are mere opportunities. The gospel is still the answer!

Second, I perceive a fresh work of the Spirit occurring in our midst as well. Like most congregations, we have endured much over the past few years, yet God has made himself known to us. We are still watching people enter into Christ's salvation, and many others move further into their relationship with God. A new generation of Christ-loving, Bible-honoring, Spirit-empowered pastors is being developed. And though not every Christian in this community can easily relate to this iteration of Christ's church, the Lord has given us a good reputation and long legacy as a Jesus-loving, cross-centered, Scripture-peaching church. Jesus is clearly not done with this church and has plans for it for years to come.

Third, we have only developed about half of the property and used half of the water at our disposal. We have enough water credits to essentially double our building space and enough land to house even more. This is not news—it has been the case since our last expansion in 2008. But what is news is that we have an expiration date attached to all that water—we have to put a shovel in the ground by October 2027. To me, this puts us on the other side of the Jordan River, waiting for God to show us his plans. Like Joshua and Israel, with their limited military might and undeveloped battle plans, we have limited finances and are seeking God about how to proceed. There are some good options in front of us—and I want to explain them more fully at our October 6 prayer kickoff meeting—but we need God to give us his vision. If we took the time to read on in Joshua's story, we would discover how God gave him a wild plan for "fighting" Jericho. It is just this sort of divine wisdom we need right now as we acknowledge this new day.

2. Recognize the Mission is Critical (5:14)

So there's Joshua by Jericho without any obvious next move to make. Everything seems to be a death trap, but the people await direction. What would Joshua say?

It is at this point the story takes a fascinating and vital turn. Joshua lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand (5:13). Joshua pressed the man, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" Joshua asked (5:14). The man replied, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come" (14). The man's meaning was clear: I do not belong to you or to them, but to the Lord. I lead his armies and am now here to fight his fight here on earth. This, as we will think about next, threw Joshua into worship, but for our purposes, I would like to pause to ask a question: Why was the commander of Yahweh's army interested in Jericho?

I hinted at this earlier, but the biblical record shows us that the Canaanite people were ripe for God's judgment. He had given them time to repent, correct themselves, and submit to God's plans, but they had not. So perhaps this commander arrived because the time of God's judgment had arrived.

Additionally, it is possible he is there so that humanity can know God. The Lord had promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that specific land, so perhaps giving them the land would standout as a testimony to the nations of the reality of Yahweh. Some wonder if Israel is part of God's general revelation to humanity, a way for people to wonder about God when they wonder why such a small people group and a small piece of land make such a big impact on human history. And perhaps that's part of what is happening here—God is going to make himself known through Israel's conquests.

However, whether he was there primarily for judgment or revelation, one thing is certain in the biblical data. Israel would eventually produce the Messiah, the figure who would somehow reverse the calamity and curse caused by sin in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15). He had not yet arrived, and Israel, living in that land, would be the delivery system when he came. He would be an Israelite of the tribe of Judah, born to a virgin in the city of David, raised in Egypt for a time, and called a Nazarene. So this commander of the Lord's army was present, at least in part, because of the mission-critical nature of the moment.

The church, of course, is on the scene far after the Messiah figure arrives. The Son of God (God the Son) came in the flesh as a man named Jesus to suffer and die for the brokenness and sin of the world. He rose from the dead on the third day. And now he lives enthroned above, commissioning his church to declare him until he returns. Our job is to proclaim him, both with our lives and our words, and this is a critical mission.

I hold the conviction that for all the great ministries and organizations that should flow from gospel-centered, biblically faithful churches, none of them are as important as the presence of gospel-centered, biblically faithful churches. If strong, healthy, Jesus-proclaiming churches are upstream, then good outreach, recovery, and care ministries will be downstream. In other words, the church and its work are mission-critical.

This is where my temptation to feel guilty about talking to you about the work of the church begins to melt away. Jesus was on a mission, is still on that mission, and invites us into that mission. He said he came "to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). He said he came "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He said he didn't come "into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17). He said he came "into the world as light, so that whoever believes in (him) may not remain in darkness" (John 12:46).

And Jesus invites us into his original mission. He told his church to go into all the world to make disciples, baptizing and teaching those new converts (Matt. 28:18-20). He said, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you" (John 20:21). He taught us to pray that God would send out laborers to join him in his work of harvest (Luke 10:1-2). He made his followers into fishers of men (Matt. 4:19), telling them to "go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:15).

He promised that he would be with us by his Spirit in this work—I am with you always, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Matt. 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). He said that "whoever believes in (him) will also do the works that (he did), and greater works" as well (John 14:12). And he left the church as a pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), giving it apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers to equip the church for ministry effectiveness (Eph. 4:11-12).

Part of the reason I am sharing this emphasis on the critical nature of our mission is that the expressive individualism of our society has bled into the church, so we often fall prey to a consumeristic mentality when it comes to our church experiences. At the end of Joshua, he said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). Sadly, for many, this has been replaced with, "As for me and my house, our spiritual needs are met," but this misses out on the joy of joining in God's mission to reach more people with the transforming power of the gospel! Let us remain outward in orientation, thinking about bringing the mission-critical gospel to the lost and dying community in which we are embedded.

And whatever we do as a church, let's make sure it keeps us moving forward as an advancing gospel community. Less "pretty stained glass to inspire us" and more "expanded seating capacity to go beyond us." Less "pickle-ball courts to entertain us" and more "classroom space to help disciple us." Less "a gym to house a Christian workout space" and more "actual houses so a new generation of biblical pastors can break into and rise up on the Peninsula." We must maintain a constant desire to see the fame, glory, honor, and esteem of Christ increase in our cities. We must crave that human hearts—in initial gospel mainshock and ongoing aftershocks—resound with a love and appreciation for what Christ has done. We must long to see Christ and his message advance throughout this community.

3. Prepare to Follow (5:14-15)

So we should acknowledge the new day and recognize the mission is critical, but we should also become prepared to follow our Lord. When Joshua heard the commander's voice, he fell on his face to the earth and worshiped (5:14). The man told him he was standing on holy ground—this was Joshua's Moses-at-the-burning-bush-moment! (5:15). So Joshua took off his sandals and asked, "What does my Lord say to his servant?" (5:14-15).

I imagine a massive burden being lifted from Joshua's shoulders. He did not need to invent a plan. His yoke became easy, and his burden light as he realized the Lord would reveal and execute his plans for Jericho at the proper time. The psalmist promises, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you"—at this moment, Joshua is sustained (Ps. 55:22).

I suggest to you that the all-important words Joshua said were his inquiry, "What does my lord say to his servant?" Like Samuel who came after him, Joshua was effectively asking, "What do you want, Lord? What is your plan?" And, as I said earlier, the plan God gave him would have been inconceivable to the mind of man—"Walk around Jericho once per day for six days. On the seventh day, walk around it seven times. Then blow some horns and shout. That's the plan."

I believe now might just be the time our Lord wants to reveal some previously inconceivable plans to our church, and I will talk about some of the possibilities next Sunday night. There are some things on our hearts and minds that previously seemed impossible, but now the Lord seems to be moving. But we must first stop and pray. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, lean not on our own understanding, acknowledge him in all our ways, and watch him make our paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6).

I want us to know that Joshua's request to hear the Lord's voice had a context. Before this moment, Joshua and all of the people consecrated themselves to God. The men participated in a long-ignored Abrahamic ceremony of circumcision. It was a way to tell God they were completely devoted to him and wanted to be part of his covenant promises here on earth. It was a way for them to submit to God's leadership. This meant that Joshua's worship of the Lord in this episode was not empty but was backed by the full force of the congregation. I pray our worship and seeking of the Lord could have the full backing of our consecration, that each one of us would say, "My life matters. I will devote myself to him." The biblical and historical record seems clear: when a congregation devotes itself wholly to God, the Spirit moves in power in that congregation.

Conclusion

As I conclude today, I want to leave you with five points of application.

Come out next Sunday night (or watch the video update). That meeting will be a time for our church to launch into prayer more intelligently and unitedly.
Join your pastors in a selective fast during October. You don't have to fast from all food all month, but perhaps there is something you could give up for the month. Every time you desire it, pray for your church instead.
Pray all month long. Keep this on your prayer list all month. Here is a simple prayer: Father, when it comes to my church, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will pray along those lines at our weekly prayer gatherings and would be happy to have you join.
Address long-held sin. If this is also a time for consecration, perhaps October is the month to confess to God and others if there are known sins you have held onto.
Trust Jesus. The Chief Shepherd loves this church. For nearly fifty years, he has supplied our every need, blessed the work, and opened doors. Let's trust him to do the same in the years to come!

Study Questions

Head

What are some of the parallels between Joshua's experience at Jericho and our own experiences in the church today?
Why did the manna stop falling from heaven for the Israelites at this point in their journey? What does this signify?
What are the three points that illustrate the "newness" of the day for the church?●

Heart

How do you feel about the idea of the church being on a mission? Do you feel like you are a part of that mission?
Is there anything in your life that might be hindering you from fully embracing God's mission for the church?
What excites you about the potential for God to do "previously inconceivable plans" in and through our church?

Hands

What is one specific way you can practically support the mission of the church in the coming weeks and months?
Are you willing to join a selective fast during October, praying for God's guidance and direction for our church? If so, what might you fast from?
Is there any "long-held sin" in your life that you need to confess to God and others as an act of consecration and surrender?