Resource Details

"Humans are not driven by the past,
we're pulled forward by the future we're most committed to."
Dr. Benjamin Hardy
Principles for Forming Your Future
1. Principle of Faith: God works with your faith as he forms your future.
"As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.' He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not."                                                            Romans 4:17 (NIV)

"God makes the dead live again and speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past." Romans 4:17 (TLB)

2. Principle of Surrender: Your unknown future is best when you surrender it into God's hands.

"Look here, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.' How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.' James 4:13–15 (NLT)

ACTION PLAN: Try out a palms-up, palms-down posture in prayer. Write down a list of things that feel like a burden to you. As an act of surrender, practice this exercise. Begin with your palms up and put that list into your hands. Talk to God about each item on your list, the pain, the weight, the worries you carry about them. When you have gone through your list, turn your palms over and name each thing on the list, releasing each of them into his care.

3. Principle of Vision: Nothing will motivate you to move like a picture of a better future.

"Faith shows us the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 (NLT)

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

ACTION PLAN: If you can't imagine how things can get better and your future seems hope-less instead of hope-filled, remember that God is our source of hope and he'll fill you completely with joy and peace when you trust in him. Ask God to give you vision and memorize Ephesians 3:20-21. Recite it as praise to God as you remind yourself that he is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

A Vision of Saddleback Church in 2050 on its 70th Anniversary:

• Over one hundred thousand people have publicly declared their faith through baptism.
• Over fifty campuses in North America plus fifteen international campuses.
• A church plant in every major metropolitan area in North America.
• Over one tenth of our church being sent out on mission trips every year.
• Exponentially increased reach through technology and a network of churches.
• Customizable digital tool to disciple people and help them grow in their faith in Christ.
• A Bible, a believer, and a local body meeting in every people group on the planet.
• A Global Prayer Center focused on praying for largely unreached people groups.
• Non-stop prayer to accomplish the Great Commission and live prayer for every service.
• A local Saddleback Leadership College training people to be leaders around the world.
• Over one hundred thousand people gathering in small groups as well as in large groups.

Why Are These Great Things Happening?

1. God Is choosing to move in our church in this way.

"Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted."     Psalm 127:1 (NLT)

2. We are a church that builds on the solid foundation of God's promises.

"Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:10–11 (NLT)

3. We are a church who believes and asks God for the Impossible.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20–21 (NLT)

ACTION PLAN: In the 2050 vision, there is a recurring theme – "Reach one more for Jesus." The foundation for any of these accomplishments will be prayer. To deepen your understanding of prayer, watch The Purpose and Power of Prayer individually or as a small group.

4. We are a church who depends on God with humility.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."                   James 4:6 (NIV)

"Then if the people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."                               2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

5. We are a church who says YES to sacrifice for God and his mission.

"As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing."       2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NLT)

Great Churches Are Not Built on the Talents of a Few,
but on the Sacrifices of Many People

"So Jesus told them this story: 'If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!'"                                                                                             Luke 15:3–7 (NLT)