4. What it feels like to be going there. People want to be in on fun – and they want to be fulfilled. No one wants to be left out of excitement. To get people behind your vision, you need to communicate to people how fulfilling it will be to join God in what he’s doing through your church. People are looking for significance. You’ve got to let people know they’ll find significance by investing their lives in seeing God’s kingdom expand.
5. What people can do. As a part of vision-casting you need to help individuals in your church see what they can do. Everybody will need to play his or her part in realizing the vision of the church. You’ll need to give your congregation practical and immediate parts they can play in the process. You’ve got to help them see that their individual ministry contributes the progress of the whole. A good leader does that.
6. How you’re going to do it. Share with your congregation how you’re going to move forward. Be specific. As soon as you share your vision for your church, people will want to know how you’re going to do it. Let them in on the strategy. It’s going to help the vision become more reachable in the minds of your congregation.
7. What the rewards will be. Tell your church what the benefits will be for fulfilling the vision that God has for you. Focus on the spiritual and emotional benefits. What will it be like when Jesus tells you, “well done good and faithful servant”? That’s the most important reward we’ll get from doing what God calls us to do.
Vision-casting is an important part of your role as a pastor. God has a vision for your church. Your job is to help your parishioners get behind that vision. You’ll need to communicate these seven things when you do that.
About Rick Warren
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Thanks Pastor Rick. I am always blessed whenever I read of you. I pray for more grace to you.
Pls, is there any way to allow us read your sermons online freely?
Basically, we need to let people know – Who, When, Where, What, Why and How.
Great stuff; this and Wil Mancini’s article on “uncaging the vision.”
One trick I’ve learned about vision casting: teach the church leadership team and each ministry leader how to cast the vision within their circle of influence. And then the pastor has to communicate the vision in as many different ways as possible – be creative. Help them to see, feel, taste, hear what the fulfilled vision will be like!
And when you’re sick of communicating the vision because you fear you’ve become repetitive, and that they’re tuning you out – that’s when they’re only just beginning to “get it.”
Then, once they start to get it, it’s time to do a complete ministry audit of everything the church does to make sure they all fit with the vision. Revamp as needed.
Next year, rinse and repeat.
It’s unsafe to share vision these days, even with Christian leaders. Just too many dogs.
l am so glad to have those blessing teachs
Good stuff and very practical. May I add two more short and helpful suggestions;
First – write this down, pray over it, revise and continue to percolate over it till it settles. During the percolating stage share it only with a few close friends. Once it settles, then you can cast a wider vision.
Second – be able to share God’s call and vision for you within 3 minutes verbally. I met a very committed and energized person the other day and it took her almost 15 minutes to explain her ministry. While all the information, stories and passion were exciting almost no one would stick around to listen. They may sit through it but they changed channels long before she got to the good part.