Why is ‘God given’ vision so important?

““Vision for ministry, is a clear Vision for ministry, is a clear mental image of a preferable mental image of a preferable future, imparted by God to his future, imparted by God to his chosen servants, and is based chosen servants, and is based

upon a an accurate upon a an accurate understanding of God, self, and understanding of God, self, and

circumstances”circumstances”George Barna – ‘The power of vision’George Barna – ‘The power of vision’

“True vision is imparted by God, to his chosen people, to better enable them to know his mind and to do his will”

George Barna – ‘The power of vision’George Barna – ‘The power of vision’

Why is ‘God given’ Why is ‘God given’ vision so important?vision so important?

Gives us a sense of Gives us a sense of purposepurpose

Proverbs 29:18Proverbs 29:18

Inspires us to actionInspires us to action- to serve God (Romans 1:16) - to serve others (Mark 10;43)

Challenges our own Challenges our own limitationslimitations

Luke 1:37Luke 1:37

Enables change to take Enables change to take place more effectivelyplace more effectively

Nehemiah 2:18Nehemiah 2:18

Literally transforms us Literally transforms us Philippians 1:6Philippians 1:6

Glorifies God rather Glorifies God rather than us than us Romans 11:36Romans 11:36

God’s vision for His churchGod’s vision for His church

Matthew 28:16-20Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to

commission you:

MattheMatthew 28:16-20

Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit.

MattheMatthew 28:16-20

Then instruct them in the practice of all I have

commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up

to the end of the age.”

MattheMatthew 28:16-20

God’s vision for His churchGod’s vision for His church

Matthew 28:16-20Matthew 28:16-20

““We exist to help people to We exist to help people to become fully committed and become fully committed and

equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”

What is a disciple?What is a disciple?

‘‘A disciple is someone who is A disciple is someone who is entirely devoted to entirely devoted to learninglearning and and

livingliving for Jesus’ for Jesus’

Following JesusFollowing Jesus secures our true identitysecures our true identity

Following JesusFollowing Jesus re-orientates our worshipre-orientates our worship

Following JesusFollowing Jesus draws us into a new kind of draws us into a new kind of

communitycommunity

Following JesusFollowing Jesus unites us with a common visionunites us with a common vision

““We exist to help people to We exist to help people to become fully committed and become fully committed and

equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”

A church that worships God A church that worships God every day of the weekevery day of the week

A church that equips you to A church that equips you to live for Jesus where you arelive for Jesus where you are

Encouraging everyone to get Encouraging everyone to get involved in a appropriate involved in a appropriate

small groupsmall group

Encouraging everyone to get Encouraging everyone to get involved in a local community involved in a local community

group / activitygroup / activity

A commitment to personal A commitment to personal spiritual growth spiritual growth

(applying what we learn)(applying what we learn)

Individuals who joyfully Individuals who joyfully share their resources for the share their resources for the

good of the Kingdomgood of the Kingdom

A deep commitment to building A deep commitment to building a lasting and life-changing a lasting and life-changing

community that follow Jesuscommunity that follow Jesus

Hearts that are sensitive to Hearts that are sensitive to sin and wounded when we sin and wounded when we

offend Godoffend God

Learning to share our faith in Learning to share our faith in natural and unforced ways in natural and unforced ways in

everyday lifeeveryday life

People who live differently People who live differently from the norm because of from the norm because of

their faith in Christtheir faith in Christ

Spontaneous demonstrations Spontaneous demonstrations of compassion towards those of compassion towards those

who are in needwho are in need

Complete submission to the Complete submission to the Holy Spirit in both decision Holy Spirit in both decision

making and behaviourmaking and behaviour

Believers who take the Believers who take the initiative to use their gifts and initiative to use their gifts and skills for the benefit of othersskills for the benefit of others

A church that projects and lives A church that projects and lives up to its image of loving God, up to its image of loving God,

following Jesus and serving othersfollowing Jesus and serving others

““We exist to help people to We exist to help people to become fully committed and become fully committed and

equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”equipped disciples of Jesus Christ”

Living up to our callingLiving up to our calling- story of the early church

- heartbeat of God

Will you rely on God through Will you rely on God through the power of the Holy Spirit?the power of the Holy Spirit?

““We will”We will”

Will you commit to personal Will you commit to personal spiritual growth?spiritual growth?

““We will”We will”

Will you recognise that we Will you recognise that we are in this together?are in this together?

““We do”We do”