Today I want to help you understand that Envision needs leadership! Without leadership your ability to envision is balderdash. Columbus did not sail the ocean blue just because he could envision it! He sailed it because he could lead and organize! Henry Ford changed the auto industry by developing the assembly line. It was not just an idea or dream in his head! He had to lead! He had to organize, plan, raise funds, work through the problems…face his critics! What am I saying? I am saying Columbus had to lead…Henry Ford had to lead! The question is not…am I leader? It is…how good of a leader am I going to be? Here is the thing about leading…You must lead yourself well…before leading others.

I want to be clear and honest with you. I chose this day…September 11, 2016 for this message. Why? Because it is my hope…that this message will come alive today in a special way! Today is a special day in the life of the United States. This weekend we have been and will be reminded of the tragic events that took place 15 years ago today. In fact, this date is so significant in the American Psyche that we simply use the date to refer to all the events of that day. If I were to ask you where you were on 9-11 most of you would know exactly where you were. This message is about this day, but it is more than that…it is about Jesus telling us how we are EQUIPPED TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES...all of our enemies…our personal enemies…and the enemies of this nation.

This morning we begin a new series called “Equipped!” Did you know that God has equipped you with everything you need to be a faithful follower of Christ! Hebrews 13:21 is our theme verse for this this series. It tell us that God will equip you/us with everything for doing HIS will! Let’s look at Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV) 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. God has equipped you!

Today I want to talk to you about eternity! The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27… each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. It is my firm belief that the church needs a fresh vision of eternity!

Reconciliation is how we resolve conflicts between two people. It is one of the neglected topics that affects our ability to follow Christ. How many of you know that sometimes there is conflict in the church? Sometimes there is conflict between 2 people in the church. Conflict is never fun! There seems to be at least 4 main issues relating to conflict in the church. (1) some people do not know what the bible teaches (2) some people do know what the bible teaches but do not do it…they are disobedient (3) some people want to do what makes them feel better, (4) and some people just want to avoid conflict altogether.