Question.Question.why do churches and ministries so often lose the essence of their founding vision

What we must doWhat we must do

We must readily acknowledge the practical inevitability of the loss of vision

We must identify, understand and adhere to the founding vision. We must find ways of keeping it before ourselves and our associates without becoming a bore.

We must take steps to live out the central content of the vision.

The drama of redemption The drama of redemption The drama of redemption The drama of redemption

Act 1: Creation

Act 2: The fall

Act 3: Israel

Act 4: Jesus

Act 5Scene 1: The New TestamentScene 2: 2013 A.D

Act 3: AbrahamAct 3: Abraham

When the men got up to leave…Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.

Act 3: AbrahamAct 3: Abraham

20 Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me.

Act 4: JesusAct 4: Jesus’ ’ disciplesdisciples

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Act 5 Scene 1: The Philippians Act 5 Scene 1: The Philippians

but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

IntegrationIntegration

If we understand Act 1 to Act 5 Scene 1 our lives in Act 5 Scene 2 will be integrated under our Abrahamic destiny to bless the nations of the world.

RememberRemember

Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him

Retirement!Retirement!

Three words have characterized our concept of retirement since the turn-of-the-century: detachment, relaxation and leisure. Detachment depicts the release from responsibilities and obligations of career and work. Relaxation describes the manner and mode of living. Leisure is activity free from toil and strain that fills the time and occupies the attention. It seems that the main objective of retirement is to change the retiree from a producer to a consumer in every aspect of life

Just donJust don’’t go backward t go backward

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

God’s causeGod’s cause

Sovereign God, Your cause, not my own, engages my heart, and I appeal to you with greatest freedom to set up your kingdom in every place where Satan reigns; Glorify yourself and I shall rejoice, for to bring honour to your name is my sole desire. I adore you that you are God and long that others should know it, feel it, and rejoice in it. O that all people might love and praise you, that you might have all glory from the intelligent world!

God’s causeGod’s cause

Let sinners be brought to you for your dear names sake! To the eye of reason everything concerning the conversion of others is as dark as midnight, But you can accomplish great things; the cause is yours and it is to your glory that people should be saved Lord, use me as you will, do with me what you will; but, O, promote your cause, let your kingdom come,

God’s causeGod’s cause

let your blessed interest be advanced in this world! O do bring in great numbers to Jesus! let me see that glorious day, and give me to grasp for multitudes of souls; let me be willing to die to that end; and while I live let me labour for you to the utmost of my strength, spending time profitably in this work, both in health and in weakness. It is your cause and kingdom I long for, not my own. O, answer my request!