One of the questions I’m asked most often is “How do I get God’s vision or dream for our church?” Frankly, a lot of pastors’ visions that I’ve heard have more to do with ego than God’s will.
I’d recommend you answer these questions:
- What has God called the church to be? What is our purpose? Why did God create His church in the first place?
This is the issue of identity and purpose. Why do we exist? At Saddleback, the answer is that we are here to fulfill the five eternal purposes of the church. These five purposes are given in the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Jesus illustrated them in his prayer for his disciples as he summed up his ministry on earth (John 17). Paul explains these five purposes in Ephesians, chapter four and the church at Jerusalem modeled these five purposes in Acts, chapter two. The church was created to worship, fellowship, evangelize, minister and disciple people. The world is constantly changing but God’s eternal purposes never change. They are the foundation of any God-given vision. - What is God doing in the world?
Where is He moving? Where is the wave of his Spirit? What does God seem to be blessing right now? Discover which way God’s sovereign winds of blessing are blowing and set your sail in that direction. Instead of praying “God bless what I’m doing” pray “God help me to do what you are blessing!” - Where is the church right now?
Evaluate your church and its relative strength regarding each of the five purposes. - What needs to be done first?
The answer to this will vary depending on your particular context. Consider the background and existing leadership of the church. Leadership is knowing where you’re going and being able to persuade people to come along with you. Obviously, if you don’t know where you’re going, nobody’s going to follow you. Take baby steps. - Why we are going to do this? What is our motivation?
This is extremely important. The why always determines the how and how long. Leading a church is difficult and if you don’t have your motivation crystal clear, you will give up when it gets tough. At Saddleback, we spend a lot of time in our membership class (Class 101) clearly explaining why we do everything we do at our church. This makes for more committed members. - What will it feel like to be going there?
Explain the payoff and reward. Clearly show the eternal, personal, and emotional benefits. People want to be in on projects that are challenging, meaningful, and fun. People are looking for significance. When you show them how they can make a difference with their lives you’ll have no trouble attracting people to be involved. - What can they do?
In a symphony, everybody plays his or her part. It may be different notes but when it’s all blended together, it’s beautiful. Effective leaders learn how to help people see how their individual contribution fits into the whole. Affirm people, believe in them, put faith and trust in them. - How specifically are we going to do it?
These are the specific steps we will take together. One of the most important values to communicate is the importance of cooperation. In the body of Christ we are more effective working together that any of us would be as individuals.
If you’d like to know more about vision and being a purpose driven church, join me at PDC 16!
We thank God for your life servant of God and appreciate your ministry for all the articles. They’ve been of real blessing to us.More grace.
Thank you for your article it was a blessing, it helps me make some decisions that can assist us with our God given mission, again thank you and be blessed.
SERVANT OF GOD. WELL SPOKEN GOD BLESS
The challenge we have now is about membership in the church. we are called to make disciples and not members. In Acts, we see the disciples planting churches wherever they went which was making disciples for the work of God to continue. when we have members, we need to build them and send them out. There is a world out there in need of Christ Jesus. the problem is we are raising congregants whom we call our church members or my people. As a result they are not strong in the world and should there be a problem, they leave to another church. lets tell them that they are Gods property and they are answerable to God. they are in his kingdom and they are not our people . let them know that in their homes, do they change parents or homes if there is any problem? Christ said, persecutions will come on his family members- church. in John he says, “take them not out of the world but be with them as you were with me.” People of God, lets leave to evangelise to people with our discipled people for the growth of Gods kingdom. Sunday ,let it be for equipping saints for the work of evangelism and be able to stand in the word of God. MATURE CHRISTIANITY IS HOW MUCH YOU ARE ABLE TO STAND FIRM IN TIMES OF DISAPOINTMENTS AS A CHILD OF GOD AND IN THE WORD.
Yes very good point you hear alot of pastors say “my church or my people” yes we belong to God
sorry ought to be “God chose them “and not small g from line 2
its the church of God. its his business. leave it to him for it is spiritual. walk in his purpose and let him do the rest. do his purpose and allow him to lead. members, god chose them to be where they are supposed to be. but only when we move out of his agenda, then the problem of the enemy comes in with his agenda. the man of God is the set man chosen by God and those who fight him ,let them know that they are fighting God himself. don’t despair as long as you walk in his purpose. as Go for guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead and direct you.
PLEASE PRAY FOR ARE CHURCH WE GOING THRUE SOME VERY DIFFICULT TIME’S AND ARE CHURCH IS BEING DIVIDED BY THE ENEMY.WE ARE IN LOS ANGELES CA.ALSO PRAY FOR ARE PASTOR BECAUSE ALOT OF THE MEMBER’S DON’T WANT HIM THERE AT THE CHURCH AS ARE PASTOR.I KNOW THIS WILL HELP ARE CHURCH.
Is this pastor making clear… the vision, the purpose for unity and giving a soul stirring and effective word. If you can say yes to the above he should stay. Although the body of Christ are ever increasingly becoming agitated in their spirits by pastors who are merely walking in the title only. Pray that God brings unity and a fresh anointing to the body of believers for the Glory of God.
Very pleased with the teachings received on the vision of a church. Precisely many faithful would like preaching on the material, financial and blessings bit like when they preach about mercy and Grace forgiving each other. The Church a difficult entity to manage. It’s fun, I work with a Rev.Pastor with more than forty years in the ministry of Christ. When our Church has experienced menances other old churches the majority of Christians have left, my Rev.Pastor told me my son leave this activity. In return I had comforted with the word of God saying it is now that we must pray more for these sheep returning to the Church .Chose made today all returned, and new members came after one year. My Rev.told me thanked last Sunday when we paid the musical instruments that I love my son Edouard as he is enduring with great vision.