Our Fully Alive Vision: Vision drifts as they say, so here is a little vision revision to remind us where we are going as a church. Our CityLife Church's vision for 2022-2026 is “We see CityLife Church as a spirit-filled movements where each person is becoming fully alive in Christ so that every city overflows with Kingdom life.” As we have pursued that vision over the last three years, we first focused on Spirit Life (2022), then Shared Life (2023), and then Kingdom Life (2024). The focus areas each emphasized in turn the upward, inward, and outward dimensions of Christian life. They are all part of becoming fully alive in Christ.
A Spiritual Health Check: Each year over 800 people at CityLife Church have completed our spiritual health check. The results are measured on a scale of 1-10. They show that we have grown over the last three years especially in the upward and inward areas of our spiritual walk—Spirit Life and Shared Life. The outward area of our spiritual walk (Kingdom Life) has also grown, which is very encouraging (see table below).
The SO THAT In our vision statement: However, I see a missing area in these upward, inward outward rhythms of our Christian walk. That is the “onward” dimension—where is God taking us? What is the purpose of becoming fully alive in Christ? The two words SO THAT in our vision statement point to that purpose. The purpose of becoming fully alive in Christ is SO THAT every city overflows with Kingdom Life. That is why our Vision focus over the next two years will be on overflowing life. Here then is our next vision focus in a sentence:
Overflowing Life: Over the next two years (2025 and 2026)
we see God’s kingdom life of love in action
overflowing from every community, city and
nation where we live to the next. An Overflowing Cup: The image of an overflowing cup in Psalm 23:5 can be a powerful catalyst to help us see what overflowing life might mean for us as individuals and a church. For example, the verse highlights that our cup can overflow even in the presence of our enemies. It also challenges us to think about who is filling our cup—our Shepherd, or other things. But I am also challenged that a filled and overflowing cup spills the water unless it is poured out into another cup. So how am I pouring my life into others? Overflow also spreads beyond the limits of the existing container and outwards into other places—it has a spatial dimension.
New Locations. This geographic element of our onward call as Christians can be seen many times in the scriptures. Jesus was always looking to take the gospel to the next town (Mark 1:38). The disciples were called to be witnesses in Jerusalem first but then also Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8-9). Paul sought to preach the gospel in many cities (Romans 15:19-20); and towards the end of his ministry this was expressed in his strong desire to go to Rome (Acts 19:21; 23:11). So where is your Rome? Where is the next area of ministry where God is calling you to multiply. Where is Rome for us as a church?
A S.M.A.R.T goal for Overflowing Life. To help answer that question in these overflowing life years, we have developed a church-wide S.M.A.R.T goal or key outcome. Over these two years, the church aims to multiply healthy sites, Life Groups, and ministries into over 100 locations by the end of 2026. We believe this goal is Specific, Measurable, and Achievable. It is Relevant to our call as a church and God’s people. Finally it also has a clear Time boundary. So, in strategic planning language it is S.M.A.R.T.
How Can You Participate? How can we all be a part of this vision and strategic plan for overflowing life? That begins with asking – Where is my Rome? For you in your church ministry roles that could be multiplying your life group or being part of a ministry team in a new location leading eventually to a new site. Or it could be a necessary step in that direction by becoming a life group leader, inviting new people to your life group, or simply inviting someone to church and then connecting them to church life in different ways. All of these are ways of pouring our lives into the lives of others. Practically speaking, all of them are also steps which have the potential to lead to new ministries in new locations.
A Full House and an Overflowing Church. God wants his house to be filled to overflowing (Luke 14:23). He has also promised the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Habakkuk 2:14). And he has chosen us to be the channels through which that overflowing life is poured out to fill the earth (Ephesians 3:20-21). So how will you be part of our overflowing life vision in the next two years? Where is your Rome?
Discussion Questions: - What does the illustration of an overflowing cup in Psalm 23:5 say to you?
- What are some practical ways to ensure that we are filled with God's spirit and serving out of overflow rather than lack?
- How does Paul’s purposeful mission from city to city and eventually to Rome, speak to you in your context, ministry, and vocation. Where is your Rome?
- How can we apply the vision of "Overflowing Life" in our daily lives and interactions with others?
- How can we participate in the church's goal of multiplying healthy sites, Life Groups, and ministries into 100 locations by the end of 2026?
- What are some challenges we might face in achieving the vision of "Overflowing Life," and how can we overcome them?
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