This week at church it was Vision Sunday, and Pastor Jonny presented his vision for Light & Life for 2021.
Vision isn’t a perfect plan or a step-by-step guide. Instead, it’s much more like a direction or a compass. Through much prayer, the vision is a compilation of suggestions following the 21 days of prayer and fasting.
Some relevant Scriptures about vision:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
(Proverbs 29:18)
2Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald b may run with it.
(Habakkuk 2:2)
24One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:24, 25)
Vision and goal-setting are important as they help build resolve against temptation when it comes to working towards a goal. For example, in a weight-loss journey, it helps to have a target weight. In a financial journey, saving up for something, it helps to have a target savings goal.
The church vision is for everyone in the church, helping everyone see the direction that the church is going in.
When people sent Jonny suggestions, some recurring words kept cropping up: building, family, growth, sanctuary, expand, stand firm, enlarge, God first, hope.
So this year’s vision is to “enlarge” in everything we do.
4 areas to focus on
Individually enlarge our relationship with God.
We need to be going to deeper with God. This is the most important point because God calls us to walk in step with His Spirit, go deeper into His Word and spend more time in prayer. We need to be pursuing holiness, crucifying our sinful flesh and its desires, and pursuing God, aiming to be more like Jesus. To develop a Christ-like character is our first calling.
Enlarge the church in unity
We are to be church-people, committed to the church and one another. This means we pray for each other when people are sick, we deliver food to people who are unwell, we babysit for each other’s children, we celebrate birthdays together, we pursue fellowship with one another. If you’re on the sidelines, start by joining a life group!
Enlarge the number of people in the church
While salvation is of the Lord, we be the instruments in God’s hands and share the Gospel and invite people to church. If we step out and invite people to church, we provide opportunity for people to see how Christian community functions, as well as exposing people to the Gospel for what might be the first time.
Enlarge the Kingdom
Light and Life is a little local church, but we are part of the Church, God’s Kingdom that He has been building for thousands of years. Christians at Light & Life are a small number of the millions of people who have their name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This means that we ought not to see ourselves as the only church on earth, but we should be seeking friendship with church planters and ministries that we can help partner with in our walk with Jesus.
Remember that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed according to Jesus. It started out as the smallest seed on earth, but has grown for the last 2000 years and will continue to grow as the Gospel spreads in the future!