THE NECESSITY OF A CLEAR VISION

Vision is a biblical word. A spiritually healthy person or church must have a biblically accurate vision that they are continually progressing toward fulfilling. A participating member of a local church is a person of vision and is an important factor in fulfilling the vision. The responsibility for casting that vision rests on the leadership.

Leadership has two critical components: knowing where you are going and knowing who will go with you. The people willing to follow will face certain faith challenges and take certain risks, so you must have a clear picture of where you are headed and it must be the right direction.

An effective church must have a clear vision. Clear vision provides the church with clear direction. It enables the church to move together in unity of mind, spirit, and purpose. It also motivates people because it is the lifeblood and the driving force behind the church.

Clear, Holy Spirit inspired vision that is as big as our great God will motivate people to make sacrifices and work for the vision.

A church with clear vision has the grace factor. I see three levels of grace needed for a church with vision. The first level is individual grace. This includes every person’s unique gifts and calling. Next is family grace. There might be a medical grace given to a family that produces generation after generation of doctors, or a ministerial grace that produces generation after generation of ministers.

Then there is corporate grace, a God-given gift present in a group of people that empowers them to serve God together in a special way to produce spiritual fruit. A church with vision recognizes and pursues the corporate grace that unlocks a harvest of spiritual fruit.

A church with clear vision is effective if… its people are committed and equipped to function in fulfilling the vision. You might have a vision for the church that is grand and inspired, but the people must be divinely energized and unified to accomplish the God-given plan.

A church with vision is effective as long as it controls hindering tendencies that would stagnate and divide vision. This calls for leadership to be strong, focused, and committed to the prophetic vision which has been agreed upon. Every effort must be marshaled strategically to accomplish the vision.

A church without vision is like a glacier, fascinating to observe but going nowhere fast! Do you have a clear vision for your life and ministry?

Read more about vision in the new series called “Great Vision for a Great Church.” Click here to read more at our store. Also check out these other resources on church building:

“Leader Who Builds the Church,” sermon notes, click here
“Strong Leaders Build Strong Churches,” sermon notes, click here
“Unleashing the Power to Grow,” sermon notes, click here

Tagged as: church, leadership, Vision