Making The Vision Clear

Chris Hodges, pastor of Church of The Highlands in Birmingham shared some powerful insights.  Enjoy!

We must communicate a compelling vision that people can jump on because lives are hanging in the balance.

I don’t think the Lord made it unclear about our life’s purpose.
-  We are servants/employees of someone who already has a vision.
-  I don’t think there is a different alignment for different people.
-  Churches should be unique but aligned.
Colossians 1:28–We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

4 things we must do:
1.  We proclaim Him – Preach to people
-  We must find a way to get people saved.
-  Q? – Are we winning souls?
-  If you were to line up “lost” people heel to toe, front to back in a single file line it would wrap around the globe 34.2 times.
-  Heaven and Hell are realities and people really go there.
-  If you’ve ever lost something valuable it becomes all consuming.
- When you lose a kid the last thing you think is, I’ve got two more! NO, it comsumes you!
-  Everyone on the earth is a child of God.  We have all gone our own way and our job is to bring them back to the father.
-  I’ll take care of everything else you pray for if you just find my kids. -God.
-  We do this through dynamic weekend services where it is safe and big enough to be anonymous.
-  We have one goal on a Sunday and it is not to get them saved, teach them the Bible, or restore their marriage.  The goal is to get them to come back.  The more they come back the better the chance of healing their marriages, getting them saved, etc
-  How do you do this?
-  Constantly remind your people that IT is about OTHERS!
-  Don’t expect too much out of the weekend service.  Don’t do too much.
-  Be spirit filled and Seeker Sensitive.
-  Rom. 2:4 – It is the kindness of the Lord that Leads people to repentance.

2.  We admonish everyone (warn) – Pastor People
-  Help people work through their issues.
-  We do this by pulling people to the side.  This happens best in the safety of Relationships.
-  aspects of a persons life
- 1.  The Arena – (public side)I know and you know.
-  This is the only part we touch on a weekend.
- 2.  The Mask – (private)  I know and you don’t know.
- Every believer needs a place where the mask can come off and be real.
- You only have safe relationships if they are laterally or if they are over you.
- 3.  The Blindspots – You know but I don’t know.
-  These are areas that I am messing up but I can’t see it.

3.  We Teach everyone – have a clearly defined growth track.
-  How does someone go from being saved to being a leader?  Is it clear?
-  It is not the staff’s job to do ministry.  The job of full time pastors according to Eph. Is to be equippers.
-  Don’t hire people to do work.  Hire people who can recruit and train people to do work.
-  You will never be sorry if you will make it the goal of your life to give away what you have inside you to everyone else.
-  You will me most effective not when you fill up your auditoriums and give away ministry.
-  How do we do this?
-  Get rid of volunteerism and let it be gift oriented.
-  Have a clear track as to how people discover their gift/passion and use it.
-  Make sure your staff understands this.
-  It is the GREAT commission.  We should have the brightest and best.

4.  We must Present people Perfect – A winning DreamTeam
-  Perfect in the greek means to reach your full potential.
-  Helping people to become mature, complete, and reaching their full potential.
-  Our goal is to help people reach perfection.
When we do these 4 things we are going to get the job done in our generation.
Pastors:

Are people getting saved?

Are you in a group where you can be honest?