Driving in blinding rain or fog is a nerve-wracking experience. When you can’t see the road ahead with clarity, anxiety sets in and the simplest journey becomes an excruciating chore. When it gets really bad, there’s really only one thing to do. Pull over and wait for the storm to pass. When the weather clears you can get back on the road confident that good weather and good vision will help you safely reach your destination.

Your church has a clear command from Christ to go and preach the gospel, winning the lost in the name of Jesus and then teaching and discipling them in His ways. That’s your mission—a clear command from your Master and Commander. But how does the church accomplish that Great Commission?

We know Christ’s command carries with it non-negotiables like evangelism, discipleship, ministry, missions and worship. But while the agenda is set clearly from the start, you have some decisions to make about what you’ll do (and what you won’t do) to make it happen. That’s the kind of clarity you want and need in the blinding rain.

An intentional process to capture God-sized vision and focus includes:

• The Holy Spirit & Prayer – Prayer leads the church to appropriate divine power and understand God’s will. Read more
• Vision (Global Objective) – Start with vision clarification and define what you stand for and where God is leading you to go. Read more
  What’s your vision of the future?
  Where are you going?
  Why do you exist?
• Values (Defining Objectives) – Detail what the church will do (and what it won’t do) to achieve its vision. Read more
  What specific objectives clarify and support your vision?

So what’s the Big Idea?

Clarify God-sized vision and values through an emphasis on prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Resources

• Church Unique by Will Mancini
• Vision: Lost and Found by Tim Stevens
• “Are You a Self-Aware Leader?” on Big Ideas Blog
• “From Self-Reliance to God-Reliance” on Big Ideas Blog
• “Confidence, Uncertainty and Spiritual Leadership” on Big Ideas Blog