Outward-Focused Dream 

I am gripped by a reoccurring outwardly focused dream that gives me hope for the future, passion for the present, and a strong sense that God’s smile is upon me every time I endeavor to turn this dream into reality. 

I have a dream for communities of Christian faith everywhere; from the inner city, to the burbs, to the small towns and villages all the way out to remote areas in the country.

I have a dream that someday faith communities would awaken to the reality that the greatest missionary force the world has ever seen walks in and out of its doors each week and the best mission’s money ever spent would go towards equipping God’s people to be moment by moment missionaries in their Monday thru Saturday world.

I have a dream that someday faith communities would balance their budgets by spending more money on going and being the church than they do on "doing" church week after week, year after year.

I have a dream that someday faith communities would lay aside their doctrinal differences and team up together unified in Jesus name and in their commitment to reach a hurting and broken world.

I have a dream that someday God’s people would build bridges of inclusiveness across the us / them divide by humbly confessing the sins of their community to those who have been driven away by those sins.

I have a dream that someday Christ-followers would be known more by what we are for than what we are against and our kindness would eclipse our dogmatic sense of “rightness”.

I have a dream that someday the body of Christ would reclaim what it looks like in this day and age to be called "a friend of sinners" and stop confusing acceptance with endorsement.

I have a dream that someday sowers and harvesters would forever renounce offering the world an either/or proposition and join together to bring the whole gospel to the whole person.

I have a dream that Christ followers everywhere would learn how to make God's invisible Kingdom visible in practical,  doable, natural, and authentic ways.

What would your faith community look like tomorrow if it embraced this outwardly focused dream today?