Hi Newport Church Family,
We hope that you are doing well and have been experiencing God’s grace, favor and presence in ever greater ways.
Engage! – A Call to Action
The prophet Habakkuk wrote to God’s people, “write the vision, make it plain, that those who read it may run with it!”
Last Sunday we shared our 2022 Vision Focus as a church, which is encapsulated in the word “ENGAGE!”
At a time when the disruptions of the last two years have presented unique challenges that have caused so much disengagement, we have a deep sense that God is saying to each one of us, “Engage!” It’s a call to action for every one of us, to engage with God, our church and our world with renewed vision, focus and energy.
The word Engage is defined in the dictionary as, “to participate or become involved in, to attract or involve someone’s interest or attention.”
It’s a word that has so many applications when it comes to our lives and our walk with God.
This year we are encouraging our church to, Engage with God, our Church and our World in a greater and more focused way than ever before!
As we do, God promises that He Himself will work in and through us in extraordinary ways.
God is looking for people to who are engaged with Him.
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
Those who are engaged with God, “whole heartedly devoted, loyal, whose hearts are completely His, with a heart of perfect trust in Him (Hebrew: Shalem),” will know God’s strengthening power, provision and presence in their lives!
Without Engagement there can be no Depth of Relational Connection
The level of connection and depth of relationship with God and the people in our world will always be determined by the level of our engagement.
“Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.” David Spangler
Without Engagement there can be no Forward Movement
Just as we must engage the gears on a car before it can move, there can be no forward movement without engagement.
Without Engagement there can be no Acceleration of our Vision
The acceleration of our vision, for our lives and our church requires engagement. The speed of our vision will always be determined by the level of our engagement.
Without Engagement there can be no Overcoming of Opposition
We must engage every form of opposition we face in life, with the authority we have in Christ.
As we focus individually and as a church community on our Vision for 2022 let’s Engage with God, our Church and our World with greater intentionality and whole hearted commitment than ever before, and see what God will do in and through us all!
Our prayer is that each one of us will respond by asking God, “how can I be more engaged with You, with our church and my world in 2022?”
The word “Engage” is a call to action!
Here are three simple but powerful ways that we can do that:
Engage in Worship
God encourages us to be engaged in our worship of Him:
Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.
John 4:22-24 Message
God also encourages us to gather together in worship on a weekly basis.
Jesus exemplified this with His custom of attending the synagogue.
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
Luke 4:16
The writer of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of our engagement in worship together.
This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning. Hebrews 10:25
Let’s renew our commitment to gathering together and invite our family and friends to join us, never forgetting that our presence makes all the difference as we welcome people home!
Engage in Serving
As we engage in serving with our time and talent, we contribute and participate in the growth and health of the community that we are a part of.
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16
Each one of us has something unique that we can bring to the table as we serve God, our church and community
You can click here to see the many different ways you can join a team and serve this year. You will find this to be one the most rewarding things that you do this year.
It’s a medically accepted fact that people who serve others are happier, healthier and live longer, so it’s no surprise that God encourages us to serve our generation!
Engage in Generosity
This year we all have an opportunity to engage in taking the next step in our generosity and giving.
When we do, we not only partner in God’s vision to engage a lost world with His love and mercy, but God promises that He will multiply the seed we sow, so that we can be ready to be generous on very occasion.
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT
If you click here you can see the different levels of commitment to Vision 2022 that we encourage you to prayerfully consider.
Let’s never forget that it’s our generosity that will determine the speed of our vision, and it’s the measure that God uses to multiply the seed we sow!
If you would like to give your weekly donations or tithe now, you can do so by clicking here.
May God multiply the seed you sow according to His promise!
This Sunday!
We can’t wait to see you this Sunday, either in person or online. It’s going to be a great morning and it won’t be the same without you!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NIV
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Pastor Jonathan & Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors