Leading With Vision

Leading With Vision

2004049

Topic # 1233

Introduction:

A. Began this series in Sept. Talking about leadership.

1. Idea for series came from request to talk about men preparing to serve as deacon/elders.

2. So far…talked about :

a) leading with integrity

b) leading with optimism

3. Tonight – talking about leading with vision.

B. Too many young men start off after obeying the gospel w/little or no thought on what is necessary to be done to become leaders in future years in the church.

1. How many start off – living in such a way that their capacity for leadership is greatly damaged by hypocritical living?

2. Don’t work to have a strong marriage.

3. Don’t work to raise god-fearing children who surrender their lives to God.

4. Don’t work to have a godly home.

5. Don’t work to progress as they should spiritually – still struggle with issues that should have dealt with years before.

6. How many do we know that give over to mediocrity? Never live up to the great potential they have?

C. As you look at your spiritual life right now – what are your goals for the future?

1. Heaven? Of course! That’s the default answer. But… need to get more specific. What must we do in order to get there?

2. What are your goals for spiritual growth? Do you hunger/thirst for spiritual knowledge?

3. What are your goals for your marriage? Are you committed to having a godly and happy marriage?

4. What are your goals in your prayer life?

5. What are you goals in parenting?

6. What are your goals in becoming a leader when the time is right?

D. Vision is necessary to get you there.

1. Spiritual progress doesn’t just happen.

2. Can’t wake up one morning in a leadership position after years of spiritual neglect and a life that is damaged by poor influence.

3. Vision is the foresight to look down the road and see the kind of person/leader we wish to be and do whatever it takes NOW to reach that goal.

E. If you’ve looked at your life and it is:

1. Spiritually weak.

2. without plans for the future

3. Romans 13:11-13 – its time to wake up and take charge of your spiritual life!

4. Begin moving today with trust that God will mold you into the kind of person He desires!

F. Phil. 4:13; Eph. 3:20 come to mind! Nothing is impossible with God!

I. Having a Vision is Biblical!

A. Prov. 16:1-3 - Planning = biblical thing. It is a statement of our faith!

B. Jesus had a vision – Isa. 2:2-4

1. A spiritual kingdom. Isaiah prophesied of this.

2. He worked toward that goal – everything in His ministry centered on this goal.

3. Envisioned an international theocratic kingdom of peace.

4. Envisioned his own people; cleansed from their sin; serving and singing praises to Him.

C. Paul had a vision – Phil. 3:13-14 – encouraged this in others. To spread the gospel no matter what it took.

1. Specifically…Paul had a picture of where he was going – A vision!

a) Acts 22:10; 26:16-17 – sent to Gentiles to preach…

b) Ananias – 9:15-16 – Paul appointed to be sent to Gentiles – to suffer for Christ.

c) RESULT: vision shaped his plans – Rom. 1:13

1) Went to Rome to reap fruit of gospel.

d) This vision explained his actions – 2 Cor. 10:13-16 – labored where no one else had.

e) Note words he used: planning; sphere;…it is clear that he had a picture in his mind of where he was going; goals to meet; all w/the Lord’s help.

D. Having vision is a statement of faith!

1. I believe that God will bring these plans to fruition.

2. Goals/planning are absolutely biblical & help build our faith.

II. Why is a Vision Important?

A. A Vision challenges us.

1. Ex. 23:20-33 (20, 25-27) – God gave a bunch of ex-slaves a mission – a vision!

2. How many accepted? See Num 14:7-9 (Joshua/Caleb)

3. Israel thinking only on their own might/strength = failure!

4. Same holds back individuals in the Lord’s church today! How?

a) Some take their own limits in their field of vision for the limits of the world!

b) Looking at self – we might say: We can’t accomplish much

5. Having a vision challenges people to do more than they think they can do! Eph. 3:20

B. A vision solves problems/difficulties.

1. See Prob. 19:21. Our vision must be made prayerfully. Verse talking about way man thinks. We are not to be unstable.

a) Eph. 4:14-15 - not to be tossed to/fro by every wind of doctrine. Not to be unstable/doubting in our faith…We can be pulled in different directions.

b) When have a mission – we have a direction – and are not going around in circles.

c) Blind man…stumble around…think have impassible problem….man w/vision learns to overcome problems.

2. We must counsel w/God. Pray. Act. Trust Him.

C. A vision gives direction – Prov. 29:18

1. OKJV: where there is no vision – the people perish.

2. We need to see where we are going. Needs to be a clear connection b/t today’s activities & tomorrows goals! What do you dream of accomplishing spiritually?

a) What’s the connection? A Vision. A mental image…path…goal.

b) Direction is what we need and a vision gives direction.

c) John Maxwell: Biggest gap in the world is between “I should & I did.”

D. A Vision supplies energy.

1. Has the status quo ever motivated you? Mediocrity?

a) A challenge will – it is attractive. Look at what we can accomplish w/God’s help!

2. Planning builds momentum. Begin to see things ahead of you…snowball effect…

3. Because acts of faith inspire us. (Paul; Nehemiah; David)

III. Many Christians have no vision!

A. What about you? What direction are you headed? What are you going to do to get there?

B. Are you on your way to heaven?

1. You can be – if you are a child of God.

2. Already a Christian but falling short? I call on every Christian who member of this church to evaluate their spiritual life & deepen the commitment to serve God & get involved in His work.

C. I N V I T A T I O N



Leading With Vision 2004049 Topic # 1233 Introduction: A. Began this series in Sept. Talking about leadership. 1. Idea for series came from request to talk about men preparing to serve as deacon/elders. 2. So far…talked about : a) leading with integrity b) leading with optimism 3. Tonight – talking about leading with vision. B. Too many young men start off after obeying the gospel w/little or no thought on what is necessary to be done to become leaders in future years in the church. 1. How many start off – living in such a way that their capacity for leadership is greatly damaged by hypocritical living? 2. Don’t work to have a strong marriage. 3. Don’t work to raise god-fearing children who surrender their lives to God. 4. Don’t work to have a godly home. 5. Don’t work to progress as they should spiritually – still struggle with issues that should have dealt with years before. 6. How many do we know that give over to mediocrity? Never live up to the great potential they have? C. As you look at your spiritual life right now – what are your goals for the future? 1. Heaven? Of course! That’s the default answer. But… need to get more specific. What must we do in order to get there? 2. What are your goals for spiritual growth? Do you hunger/thirst for spiritual knowledge? 3. What are your goals for your marriage? Are you committed to having a godly and happy marriage? 4. What are your goals in your prayer life? 5. What are you goals in parenting? 6. What are your goals in becoming a leader when the time is right? D. Vision is necessary to get you there. 1. Spiritual progress doesn’t just happen. 2. Can’t wake up one morning in a leadership position after years of spiritual neglect and a life that is damaged by poor influence. 3. Vision is the foresight to look down the road and see the kind of person/leader we wish to be and do whatever it takes NOW to reach that goal. E. If you’ve looked at your life and it is: 1. Spiritually weak. 2. without plans for the future 3. Romans 13:11-13 – its time to wake up and take charge of your spiritual life! 4. Begin moving today with trust that God will mold you into the kind of person He desires! F. Phil. 4:13; Eph. 3:20 come to mind! Nothing is impossible with God! I. Having a Vision is Biblical! A. Prov. 16:1-3 - Planning = biblical thing. It is a statement of our faith! B. Jesus had a vision – Isa. 2:2-4 1. A spiritual kingdom. Isaiah prophesied of this. 2. He worked toward that goal – everything in His ministry centered on this goal. 3. Envisioned an international theocratic kingdom of peace. 4. Envisioned his own people; cleansed from their sin; serving and singing praises to Him. C. Paul had a vision – Phil. 3:13-14 – encouraged this in others. To spread the gospel no matter what it took. 1. Specifically…Paul had a picture of where he was going – A vision! a) Acts 22:10; 26:16-17 – sent to Gentiles to preach… b) Ananias – 9:15-16 – Paul appointed to be sent to Gentiles – to suffer for Christ. c) RESULT: vision shaped his plans – Rom. 1:13 1) Went to Rome to reap fruit of gospel. d) This vision explained his actions – 2 Cor. 10:13-16 – labored where no one else had. e) Note words he used: planning; sphere;…it is clear that he had a picture in his mind of where he was going; goals to meet; all w/the Lord’s help. D. Having vision is a statement of faith! 1. I believe that God will bring these plans to fruition. 2. Goals/planning are absolutely biblical & help build our faith. II. Why is a Vision Important? A. A Vision challenges us. 1. Ex. 23:20-33 (20, 25-27) – God gave a bunch of ex-slaves a mission – a vision! 2. How many accepted? See Num 14:7-9 (Joshua/Caleb) 3. Israel thinking only on their own might/strength = failure! 4. Same holds back individuals in the Lord’s church today! How? a) Some take their own limits in their field of vision for the limits of the world! b) Looking at self – we might say: We can’t accomplish much 5. Having a vision challenges people to do more than they think they can do! Eph. 3:20 B. A vision solves problems/difficulties. 1. See Prob. 19:21. Our vision must be made prayerfully. Verse talking about way man thinks. We are not to be unstable. a) Eph. 4:14-15 - not to be tossed to/fro by every wind of doctrine. Not to be unstable/doubting in our faith…We can be pulled in different directions. b) When have a mission – we have a direction – and are not going around in circles. c) Blind man…stumble around…think have impassible problem….man w/vision learns to overcome problems. 2. We must counsel w/God. Pray. Act. Trust Him. C. A vision gives direction – Prov. 29:18 1. OKJV: where there is no vision – the people perish. 2. We need to see where we are going. Needs to be a clear connection b/t today’s activities & tomorrows goals! What do you dream of accomplishing spiritually? a) What’s the connection? A Vision. A mental image…path…goal. b) Direction is what we need and a vision gives direction. c) John Maxwell: Biggest gap in the world is between “I should & I did.” D. A Vision supplies energy. 1. Has the status quo ever motivated you? Mediocrity? a) A challenge will – it is attractive. Look at what we can accomplish w/God’s help! 2. Planning builds momentum. Begin to see things ahead of you…snowball effect… 3. Because acts of faith inspire us. (Paul; Nehemiah; David) III. Many Christians have no vision! A. What about you? What direction are you headed? What are you going to do to get there? B. Are you on your way to heaven? 1. You can be – if you are a child of God. 2. Already a Christian but falling short? I call on every Christian who member of this church to evaluate their spiritual life & deepen the commitment to serve God & get involved in His work. C. I N V I T A T I O N