Vision..Clarity...Focus
Thu/30/Oct 2008
Each month I write an article in our church’s
newsletter. Below is this month’s article. If your
interested in keeping up with the goings on of our
congregation, you can access archived
newsletters
here.
Vision.....Clarity.....Focus
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
- Zig Ziglar
The above sentence is one of my favorite quotes. It points out the need to make decisions based upon purpose and values, rather than impulse. It is also a great way of describing why the church, like any organization, must be intentional about its future. We must know who we are, why we exist, and what we are trying to accomplish. If we lose sight of those fundamental values, we will fall into a perpetual cycle of “wheel spinning” that demands energy and resources but never accomplishes the mission. Think about the implications of this truth. How difficult is it to win if no one has defined how to keep score? How hard is it to remain united if no one agrees upon the goal? This is why our decisions as a church need to be centered around three things: vision, clarity, and focus. As we quickly approach another new year, let's briefly look at these three things.
Vision
The vision for our church can be summed up in one sentence. To Exalt Christ by Equipping the Church and Extending to our Community. Our central purpose for existing is to exalt Jesus Christ. We believe the bible teaches that we accomplish this task by focusing on equipping those within our church to fulfill their individual calling, and to extend grace and mercy to those outside our church. By claiming this sentence as our vision statement, we commit to making decisions based upon what it says. This is the filter by which we shape our budget, our calendar, and our ministry. Every moment of decision should invoke this question: “Which option best accomplishes the vision of our church?”
Clarity
A vision statement is useless if it is not understood and embraced by the congregation. This is why clarity of purpose is essential. Every ministry of the church should clearly exhibit our vision statement in the way it is designed and carried out. This prevents the church from allowing itself to drift away from our central purpose. In this busy world, it is easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of ministry and forget why we started in the first place. Every ministry should be able to clearly see how it is contributing to the overall vision of the church. We should be able to clearly see whether each ministry is exalting Christ by equipping the saved, and/or exalting Christ by extending to the community.
Focus
This is the hardest part. Drafting a vision statement and creating ministries that reflect a stated vision is exciting. The dreamer in me loves to think about new ministries and new ideas. But the challenge is to remain true to the plan over the long haul. This is where focus comes into play. Focus requires us to say “no” to things that do not work to accomplish the mission. Focus challenges us to say “yes” to things that are essential to the mission but force us to sacrifice in other areas. Focus is seen in faithful dedication to the mission, even when it would be easier to drift away from it.
As your pastor, I ask you to pray that the coming year would bring about a fresh and exciting passion for the stated vision of our church. I ask that you will seek clarity in understanding how every ministry in which you take part fits into this grand vision. I ask you to serve the church with a non-negotiable focus upon the vision God has placed before us. I ask these things of you, not because I believe I have all the answers, but precisely because I know none of us have all the answers. The only game plan that has any chance of succeeding is God's game plan. It is His church. We are His people. We are called to serve His kingdom. We are commissioned to follow His vision. We can not win as a church if we do not enthusiastically embrace this vision together, seek clarity together, and keep it in focus together.
Vision.....Clarity.....Focus
“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
- Zig Ziglar
The above sentence is one of my favorite quotes. It points out the need to make decisions based upon purpose and values, rather than impulse. It is also a great way of describing why the church, like any organization, must be intentional about its future. We must know who we are, why we exist, and what we are trying to accomplish. If we lose sight of those fundamental values, we will fall into a perpetual cycle of “wheel spinning” that demands energy and resources but never accomplishes the mission. Think about the implications of this truth. How difficult is it to win if no one has defined how to keep score? How hard is it to remain united if no one agrees upon the goal? This is why our decisions as a church need to be centered around three things: vision, clarity, and focus. As we quickly approach another new year, let's briefly look at these three things.
Vision
The vision for our church can be summed up in one sentence. To Exalt Christ by Equipping the Church and Extending to our Community. Our central purpose for existing is to exalt Jesus Christ. We believe the bible teaches that we accomplish this task by focusing on equipping those within our church to fulfill their individual calling, and to extend grace and mercy to those outside our church. By claiming this sentence as our vision statement, we commit to making decisions based upon what it says. This is the filter by which we shape our budget, our calendar, and our ministry. Every moment of decision should invoke this question: “Which option best accomplishes the vision of our church?”
Clarity
A vision statement is useless if it is not understood and embraced by the congregation. This is why clarity of purpose is essential. Every ministry of the church should clearly exhibit our vision statement in the way it is designed and carried out. This prevents the church from allowing itself to drift away from our central purpose. In this busy world, it is easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of ministry and forget why we started in the first place. Every ministry should be able to clearly see how it is contributing to the overall vision of the church. We should be able to clearly see whether each ministry is exalting Christ by equipping the saved, and/or exalting Christ by extending to the community.
Focus
This is the hardest part. Drafting a vision statement and creating ministries that reflect a stated vision is exciting. The dreamer in me loves to think about new ministries and new ideas. But the challenge is to remain true to the plan over the long haul. This is where focus comes into play. Focus requires us to say “no” to things that do not work to accomplish the mission. Focus challenges us to say “yes” to things that are essential to the mission but force us to sacrifice in other areas. Focus is seen in faithful dedication to the mission, even when it would be easier to drift away from it.
As your pastor, I ask you to pray that the coming year would bring about a fresh and exciting passion for the stated vision of our church. I ask that you will seek clarity in understanding how every ministry in which you take part fits into this grand vision. I ask you to serve the church with a non-negotiable focus upon the vision God has placed before us. I ask these things of you, not because I believe I have all the answers, but precisely because I know none of us have all the answers. The only game plan that has any chance of succeeding is God's game plan. It is His church. We are His people. We are called to serve His kingdom. We are commissioned to follow His vision. We can not win as a church if we do not enthusiastically embrace this vision together, seek clarity together, and keep it in focus together.
