Dear New Hope,

Napoleon Bonaparte once said that imagination rules the world. What Bonaparte meant is that people are more often moved by powerful ideas than by charismatic personalities, legislation, or brute force. History bears that out. Throughout the centuries men and women have expended extraordinary effort and demonstrated legendary devotion for a vision they believed in.

The history of our country is filled with examples of visionary leaders who captured the imaginations of the American people. Thomas Jefferson had a vision for a free, self-ruled democratic society. Abraham Lincoln articulated a vision of ending slavery and reuniting a nation. Franklin Roosevelt dreamed of a new prosperous society. And who can forget Martin Luther King Jr.’s, famous, “I Have a Dream” speech that compelled our country toward a racial equality that judges people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character?

Two thousand years ago, a carpenter from Nazareth named Jesus burst on the scene with a vision that changed the world. Where ever He went Jesus inspired the imaginations of the people by painting a picture of dynamic spiritual and relational life.His vision so riveted audiences that they willingly chose to forgo shelter and food to hear Him tell about God who loved them personally. They swarmed to hear Him teach about a phenomenon He called the “Kingdom of God.”  Jesus explained that this Kingdom is like a mustard seed, which starts out as a very small seed and grows so big it shelters birds in its branches.

This Kingdom that Jesus envisioned is so valuable that He encouraged children to come to it, the poor in spirit to seek it, and the rich to be willing to let go of everything they owned to enter into it.

Acts 1:8 records the birth of something so powerful that people from around the world were drawn to it. From this event God launched the greatest movement in all of history and with it, He gave the power to change the world and bring His Kingdom to Earth.  He called this new movement “The Church.”

Let’s rediscover the power and impact of when the church goes live.  Over the next 6 weeks, starting August 12, we will rediscover and imagine the possibilities of God’s biggest idea to transform the world. Would you please commit with me to “Go Live” by joining together each week and personally discovering the church He has envisioned us to be.

REpresenting Jesus,

Pastor Jason Tash