Effective Christian Leadership (4) The Leader’s Most Potent Weapon “The Power of Vision”

Effective ChristianEffective ChristianLeadership (4)Leadership (4)

The Leader’s MostPotent Weapon“The Power of

Vision”

Why Vision?

“Vision. It’s the most potent weapon in a leader’s arsenal.”

“It’s the weapon that unleashes the power of the church.”

• Hybels, p. 50

Why Vision?

“Vision is the fuel that leaders run on. It’s the energy that creates action. It’s the fire that ignites the passion of followers. It’s the clear call that sustains focused effort year after year, decade after decade, as people offer consistent and sacrificial service to God.”

-- Hybels, Courageous Leadership, p. 31

Ministry Without Vision Is Like . . .

A cow loose in the pasture—just grazing A flashlight without batteries—willing but

powerless A car without gasoline—capable of

movement but lacking the necessary fuel A preacher who has not prepared the

sermon—an intersection of arrogance and ignorance!

-- Craig Sider, Bishop of the BIC Atlantic Conf.

Vision Quotes “My interest is in the future because I’m going to

spend the rest of my life there.” (Charles Kettering) “When it comes to the future, there are three

kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” (John Richardson)

“One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have an interest.” (John Stuart Mill)

“In the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails.” (Peter Senge)

“If a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Bible Visionaries

Abraham To lead Israelites to

a new land, to build a moral community based on unswerving devotion to the One true God and thereby become a blessing to all people

Gen. 12:1-3; 13:15; 15:18

Bible Visionaries

Moses To deliver the

Israelites from oppression and lead them to God’s promised land while establishing a universal code of conduct

Exodus 3:7-10; Deut. 26:16-19

Bible Visionaries

Nehemiah To rally the people

of Israel to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem as a testimony to the true God and the spiritual revival of the Jews

Neh. 2:17; 9:1-3

Bible Visionaries

Paul To establish the

Christian church among the Gentiles through church plantings and encouraging believers to reproduce themselves spiritually

Rom. 15:16-20; Gal. 2:7-10; Eph. 3:7-12

Why Vision?1. Vision provides a clear sense of direction

and increases ownership– Brings the future into focus– “A clear articulation of what a particular church

(or ministry) is about also offers, by implication, a clear statement about what it isn’t about.” (Hybels, 47)

– Gives people a reason for doing Vision unifies a ministry.

1. Why doesn’t “fellowship” unify as well as vision?!2. “In the absence of a great dream, pettiness

prevails!” (Peter Senge)

Why Vision?

3. Vision allows navigation of change.– Ephesians 4:14 application

4. Vision energizes and motivates people.– Neh. 2:18 – “Let us arise and build!”

5. Vision enhances stewardship.4. People give more based on vision than need!!

6. Vision provides a reference point for evaluation.5. “If you don’t know where you are going, you

will never know if you are on the way!” (Bishop Craig Sider)

Why Vision?

7. Vision reduces the trauma of leadership succession in a ministry

• Without vision-succession, people will say and act, “this too shall pass”

• Remember the “law of momentum”

8. God wants and uses men and women of vision!

What Is Vision?

“Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.”– Hybels, p. 32

How To Get A Vision

Maximize your “heart condition”– Fully yield to God and His will– Come empty before God– Pray and fast– Wait on God– Weed out distractions and “noise”– Read, visit and talk widely to people

to see what God is doing

How To Get A Vision

More of a right brain, intuitive process

Recognize God’s involvement in the process

How To Get A Vision

Ask God to prepare your heart and open your eyes

Involve key people in the process Study the Scriptures to develop an

understanding of the heart of God, and how He has worked throughout history

How To Get A Vision

Identify and kill “vision limiters” Memory of parents telling us we

would never amount to much; Words of teachers who quenched

creative juices (“We don’t ask those questions around here.”

Myth of aging (Nothing new for me anymore; just think of the good old days)

How To Get A Vision Expand your “creative capacity” –

practice “creative calisthenics”* Use “productive triggers” of life (travel,

reading, special events and occasions, reflection)

Do mind-stretching games (chess, puzzles) Go to the arts (concerts, museums) Learn a trade or hobby outside of your

job/ministry Use wide and wise reading (scanning

articles at doctors offices, etc)[*Howard Hendricks, Color Outside the Lines, Word,

1998]

How To Get A Vision

Practice “creative calisthenics” . . . Spend time with creative and

visionary people (Prov. 17:17) Ask questions/develop your

curiosity quotient

How To Communicate A Vision

A leader must see the vision– Listening to God– Prayer and fasting– “More likely, though, one sees the vision

through witnessing or experiencing a work of God that’s already being done by someone else.” (Hybels, p. 33)

A leader must feel the vision so as to inspire others– To energize others, you must be energized

yourself!

How To Communicate A Vision

A leader must own the vision– Embody it!– Personify it!– Live it out!– E.G. Jimmy Carter with Habitat for

Humanity– Make it a “must have” in your life

journey

How To Communicate A Vision

One-on-one vision casting– Takes courage;

the “big ask”– Takes initiative– Takes insight– The “who” matters– The “when”

matters

How To Communicate A Vision

Cast the vision publicly– Takes more courage– Takes consensus building

• Key people—a “vision direction team”• Have your personal vision in mind• Study, pray and share together

– “Who” shares the vision matters– “When” it is shared matters

• Key church transition times

How To Communicate A Vision

Keep It Simple Sam! (K.I.S.S.)– It should be “the main thing”– Crisp, to-the-point– Repeatable– Recitable

The Bottom Line

You see it in their faces

You feel it in their emotions

You hear it in their comments

You experience it in their lives

Your Turn

Q&A

Next Time:Next Time:Turning Vision Turning Vision

Into ActionInto Action

“Getting It Done Leadership”(Chapter 3)