On Vision Night in January, Pastor Rick shared his exciting vision for 2007 – beginning with nine values that we’re going to focus on as a church throughout the year and ending with the five ways God brings renewal. The theme for the year is: "This Is Not Your Father’s Saddleback." As we learn to live out this vision, we’re going to experience some practical changes. To get where we're headed, it's time to embrace new innovations in our church - including starting more Saddleback venues around Orange County.

Pastor Rick shared the nine values we will focus on this year, found in Isaiah 42. This Scripture passage predicts not only what Jesus would do, but how he would do it. It tells us what Jesus valued. These things that Jesus valued are the same nine values that Saddleback Church is going to focus on in 2007.

Value One: We minister with authority.
"Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, and I am pleased with him. I have put my Spirit upon him." (Isaiah 42:1)

Though we don’t have any confidence in ourselves, we have absolute confidence in God. So when we minister to others, we act with the authority of Jesus Christ.

Value Two: We fight for equality.
"He will reveal justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1b)

Jesus was concerned about injustice. And, because God has blessed us here at Saddleback, we have more responsibility to fight for justice – in our community and around the world.

Value Three: We speak with civility.
"He will be gentle—he will not shout or raise his voice in public." (Isaiah 42:2)

As we do the P.E.A.C.E. Plan and become more like Jesus, we will be criticized more. When Jesus was falsely accused, he didn’t say a word. We need to be like Jesus; we need to respond with civility.

Value Four: We serve with charity.
"He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope. He will bring full justice to all who have been wronged." (Isaiah 42:3)

Pastor Rick says, "If we're going to be like Christ, we have to be hope-pushers." When we picture our vision, we must ask: “And am I doing it in love and causing people to have hope?”

Value Five: We teach with tenacity.
"He will not stop until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction." (Isaiah 42:4)

Tenacity means we will not quit. We will not give up. At Saddleback, we will never stop teaching the truth. We are to take the truth even to distant lands. That’s why we’re doing The P.E.A.C.E. Plan.

Value Six: We live with credibility.
"God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath and life to everyone in all the world. And it is he who says, 'I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.'" (Isaiah 42:5-6a)

People would rather see a sermon than hear one. God says, “I have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.” We have to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. We have to live with credibility.

Value Seven: We trust the Father for security.
"I will guard and support you, for I have given you to my people as the personal confirmation of my covenant with them." (Isaiah 42:6b)

As we take on the biggest problems of spiritual emptiness, corrupt leadership, poverty and disease and illiteracy, we have no need to be afraid. God says, “I will guard and support you.”

Value Eight: We lead with authenticity.
“You’ll be a light to guide all nations to me. You’ll open the eyes of the blind and free the captives from prison. You’ll release those who sit in the dark.” (Isaiah 42:6c-7)

God says we will be leaders – people who guide all nations to him. If God is going to use us to give sight to the physically and spiritually blind and free the captives, we’ll have to lead authentically, guided by God’s truth.

Value Nine: We grow through creativity.
"The things I predicted have now come true. Now I will tell you of the NEW THINGS even before they begin to happen." (Isaiah 42:9)

God loves newness and variety; he is a creator and innovator. If Saddleback Church is going to be godly, we must be creative and innovative.

This Is Not Your Father’s Saddleback
The last value – creativity – inspired our theme for 2007: “This is Not Your Father’s Saddleback.” When we started Saddleback in the 1980s, Orange County was full of yuppies. Today, you look around Orange County and see all different ages and hear many different languages being spoken. This is not your father’s Orange County – and we are not your father’s Saddleback.

Venues around Orange County
The Bible says not to cling to the past. We’re supposed to watch the new things God is going to do. This year we’re changing the Concentric Circles model with the Core, Committed, Congregation, Crowd, and Community. We’re changing Community to County because Saddleback is now a regional church, with small groups in 93 cities across Southern California.

We’re running out of space to grow on our church campus. To begin addressing this issue, last Easter we started a venue off campus – Saddleback San Clemente. It’s Saddleback Church, with the same message, but it’s in San Clemente. It’s been a success, and we’re planning to expand Saddleback through similar venues around Orange County in places where we already have small groups, members, and attenders.

Our Focus for 2007: Ways God Brings Renewal
God’s doing a new thing in our church, and any time God wants to move a person or group, he takes them through five steps of renewal:

1. Personal Renewal
"There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes." (Ephesians 4:23 NLT)
Campaign: 40 Days of Purpose

2. Relational Renewal
"(You) have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free; but Christ is all and in all." (Colossians 3:10-11 NRSV)
Campaign: 40 Days of Community

3. Missional Renewal
"…be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." (1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT)
Campaign: 40 Days of Vision
 
4. Structural Renewal
"New wine must be poured into new wineskins." (Luke 5:38 NIV)
Campaign: 40 Days of Vision

5. Cultural Renewal
"You are the world’s seasonings, to make it tolerable." (Matthew 5:13 LB)
Campaign: 40 Days of PEACE

This year our church is going to go through four of these renewal steps together. We’re going to divide the year into three parts. First we’re going to cover personal renewal. All the messages and sermons will help get your personal life in order – things like how to manage your time better, how to find more energy in your life, how to refocus your life, and what you need to let go of to simplify your life.

In the second part of 2007 we’re going to talk about relational renewal. We’ll deal with gut-level issues to improve relationships between you and other people. During the third part of 2007, we’re going to focus on missional and structural renewal through a new campaign on vision.

2007 will be a year of newness. New values. New theme. New venues. And fresh renewal from God. This is not your father’s Saddleback. But it is your Saddleback. Get ready for an exciting year.