Sermon Central
-
Why A Vision?
Contributed by Chris Mccall on Feb 2, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: People who fail to make a plan, have made their plan to fail.
WHY A VISION?
VISION IN TERMS OF MINISTRY EXISTS BOTH ON A PERSONAL LEVEL & ALSO A CORPORATE LEVEL.
Ten Reasons
WHY?
1. Clarifies Direction
2. Invites Unity
3. Facilitates Function
4. Enhances Leadership
5. Prompts Passion
6. Fosters Risk Taking
7. Offers Sustenance
8. Creates Energy
9. Provides Purpose
10. Motivates Giving
1. Clarifies Direction:
Proverbs 4: 25 – 27a (NLT) Look straight ahead, & fix your eyes on what lies
before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path & stay
safe. Don’t get side tracked…
2. Invites Unity:
Romans 15: 5 - 6 (NLT) May God, who gives this patience & encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other---each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.
Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise & glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Facilitates Function:
Matthew 28: 19 (NLT) Therefore, go & make disciples of all nations…
4. Enhances Leadership:
Matthew 5: 13 – 16 (NLT) You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out & trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world---like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand & let it shine for all.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.
5. Prompts Passion:
Hebrews 12: 1 – 3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish…Think about all He endured when sinful people did such horrible things to Him, so that you don’t become weary & give up.
6. Fosters Risk Taking:
Matthew 14: 28 Then Peter called to Him, “Lord,” if it’s really You, tell me to come to You by walking on water.
7. Offers Sustenance:
Habakkuk 2: 2 Write the vision, & make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it.
8. Creates Energy:
Nehemiah 2: 18b & 20a (NLT) They replied at once, Good! Let’s rebuild the wall! So they began the good work.
The God of heaven will help us succeed. We His servants will start rebuilding this wall.
9. Provides Purpose:
Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
10. Motivates Giving:
2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 8 (NLT) Remember this---a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up in your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need & plenty left over to share with others.
Proverbs 29: 18 “Where there is no Vision, the people perish………….
One person said, another rendering of the word perish is they are scattered.
2 Samuel 5: 1 – 12 READ!
David’s vision energized the Hebrew nation far beyond anything Saul had ever imagined. Notice what the vision of David did for the Israelite nation:
1. Vision unites (vv. 1-3).
For the first time in years, “all the tribes” & “all the elders” came together.
2. Vision provides a center for leadership (vv. 4, 5).
David began his reign from Hebron, but desired to unite a divided land & lead from Jerusalem.
3. Vision dominates inner conversation (vv. 6-8).
All of us indulge “inner conversation.” David’s vision focused his men as they
neared Jerusalem.
4. Vision inspires greatness (vv. 9, 10).
David’s dream for Jerusalem helped him & his people realize a great goal together.
5. Vision attracts others to the leader (vv. 11-12).
Once David had taken Jerusalem, others began to join the cause.
