No matter what our circumstances, God’s purposes for us to love Him with all of who we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves doesn’t change. What we do to live out His purposes, our mission, could be the same regardless of the times in which we live, at least in broad terms. We still will show love to God by learning more about Him, praying, and worshiping Him. We still will show love to people by sharing the Gospel with those who don’t know Jesus, fellowshipping with and discipling those who do know Him, and doing good to all.
But, we may need to develop a new vision for getting there. How will we do that which shows love for God and others, as a Church, in changing times … when what we used to do no longer works?
First Step to Grasping and Implementing a New Vision for the Church
Before striving to come up with how to get there, stop and acknowledge the God we have and the power He makes available for us to be on mission with Him as His Church, fulfilling His purposes, regardless of the world in which we now live.
We might face challenges and we might have to overcome some obstacles, but we have a God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20).
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. (Isa. 40:28)
The Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide encourages us to cease striving long enough to acknowledge the God described in Isaiah 40:28 which should help us head forward with Him at the helm. In addition to a leader’s responsibility in vision and goal-setting, this resource also looks at 24 other leadership tasks or responsibilities.
All Posts about Vision Casting & Goal-Setting:
- Have a Vision that Expresses Your Purpose?
- Have a Vision That Clarifies Your Purpose?
- Have a Vision Challenging Enough to Reach Your Purpose?
- Who Sets the Vision?
- Behind the Great Commission
- Good Example of Mission & Vision
- No Specific Examples of Goals in the Great Commission?
- Christ-like Intent in Vision & Goal-Setting
- Christ-like Pursuit of Vision & Goals
- Christ as the Focus, Not the Vision & Goals
- Power to Grasp and Implement a New Vision for the Church
- Vision and Goals Born Out of Prayer
- Vision and Goals Grounded in the Gospel
- Vision and Goals Enveloped by Grace
- Vision and Goals Guided by the Holy Spirit
- Vision and Goals Pursued Through Spiritual Gifting
- Where Might God Want to Take Your Church?
- Vision Casting That Engages People
- Goal-Setting to Reach Our Vision
- Vision and Goals Protected by Spiritual Means
- Vision Problems Solved
- Vision and Goals Reflect the Hope We Have?
- Vision and Goals Rooted in God’s Word
- How a Leader’s Roles Affects Vision and Goals