The church development people refer to vision as seeing God’s preferred future for the church. That means, as we have faithfully worked at our mission to make disciples, certain preferred outcomes will take place as God leads and blesses. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts about vision for the future:
Vision interprets our mission. Unquestionably our mission is to make new disciples for the kingdom of God. That means we work together in love and cooperation to seek undiscipled people in our community and include them somehow in meaningful learning relationships. That is our sole purpose for existence. Vision asks the question, “Who does not know Jesus in our community?”
Vision determines our work. Once we identify our mission field, then we can determine how best to reach the people in it. Vision asks, “What are the main problems the unchurched in our community face? What are their most pressing needs? What will communicate with them?” Only after we have a clear vision for our community can we begin to plan and implement strategies to make disciples in it.
Vision identifies our capabilities. Jesus teaches us the importance of understanding our capabilities before starting a project. Vision honestly and soberly identifies the resources at hand and helps us to use them wisely. We have at our disposal a unique array of spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities – all to be used in disciple-making. Vision asks, “How can we match what we have to the problems and needs we have discovered?”
Vision foresees outcomes. Vision focuses on the people who do not yet know Jesus and devises a customized process of moving them from non-discipleship to mature Christianity. It looks deeply and lovingly into the lives of hurting people without Jesus and seeks to gather them into the community of the believing, showing them how God has helped us and how God can help them. It does not emphasize building an organization and getting people to participate in programs.
Vision interprets our mission. Unquestionably our mission is to make new disciples for the kingdom of God. That means we work together in love and cooperation to seek undiscipled people in our community and include them somehow in meaningful learning relationships. That is our sole purpose for existence. Vision asks the question, “Who does not know Jesus in our community?”
Vision determines our work. Once we identify our mission field, then we can determine how best to reach the people in it. Vision asks, “What are the main problems the unchurched in our community face? What are their most pressing needs? What will communicate with them?” Only after we have a clear vision for our community can we begin to plan and implement strategies to make disciples in it.
Vision identifies our capabilities. Jesus teaches us the importance of understanding our capabilities before starting a project. Vision honestly and soberly identifies the resources at hand and helps us to use them wisely. We have at our disposal a unique array of spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities – all to be used in disciple-making. Vision asks, “How can we match what we have to the problems and needs we have discovered?”
Vision foresees outcomes. Vision focuses on the people who do not yet know Jesus and devises a customized process of moving them from non-discipleship to mature Christianity. It looks deeply and lovingly into the lives of hurting people without Jesus and seeks to gather them into the community of the believing, showing them how God has helped us and how God can help them. It does not emphasize building an organization and getting people to participate in programs.
I have discovered that vision is much more than hoping more people will show up at church next Sunday. Vision means getting actively involved with what the Lord wants us to accomplish in making disciples. It is cooperating with God to bring about his preferred future in our community.
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