Guest Post: "The Church and Vision"

[Today marks the final installment in our “The Church and…” series. Chris Gallagher is our guest writer today. Chris lives near Charleston, South Carolina, where he preaches and also does motivational speaking. He is married to Carrie and they have three children. Chris is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman. You can check out his blog, Preacher’s Pen, here. We are grateful to Chris for taking the time to write our final installment to our series.]

November is a challenging time for every congregation of the Lord’s church; because November begins the process of budget planning. A quick look at any church budget will give an in-depth look to the vision of that congregation. Many churches are budgeting based on current needs instead of the possibilities they expect to happen. Take local evangelism for instance, many congregations do not have a local evangelism budget and as a result, many lack a congregational vision for local evangelism.

The vision of which I speak is not God speaking to people in dreams, but instead it is the foresight and confident expectation (hope) we possess based on the blessings, grace and abilities God has provided for us. God’s awesome power is always present, but many times we hinder our reception of it because we lack of vision.

Vision is that which drives the inner being to a greater focus and a greater life. Without faith in the future, we lose power in the present. If we are not casting our vision to heaven, or as Paul puts it, setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3.2), we are hindering the possibilities of what we can accomplish with the power of God.  I know that we speak of an invincible God, but too often the temporary gets in the way of the eternal. Paul’s words to the Corinthian brethren speak volumes to Christians today,

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; ESV)

As Paul’s words regarding eternal life echo through our minds, let them fall on open ears and allowing our minds to grasp the power of the present as we cast our faith to the future. Realizing the future holds unlimited possibilities, each Christian is granted a view of life differently than those without God. For all things are possible with God (Matthew 19.26) and our eternal focus should not limit the possibilities, but transform each moment into an opportunity to share the message of the Risen Savior.

When our vision becomes heavenward, our lives are blood-bought and sanctified in Christ, then our hearts cannot wait to share with others the life we live in Jesus. A heavenward focus allows us to see that each day is not another day on this Earth, but we understand it is another day bring us closer to heaven. As a result of our vision towards heaven, we will share the message so others can enjoy the eternal bliss that awaits.

Questions to Challenge Your Current Vision:

1. Do you watch more TV or read more of your Bible?
2. Do you check email more than you check on your children?
3. Do you look forward to your morning coffee more than your morning prayer?
4. Do you look at people’s social (temporary) status on the status of their eternal soul?

Our vision must be challenged each day as we walk about this secular world. Satan uses this world to overflow our minds with worldly thinking. Satan knows if he can change our vision and focus towards the material, then we will lack the spiritual. Why else would be have tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh (Matthew 4.3) and the lust of the eyes (Matthew 4.8,9)?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17; ESV)

Begin strengthening your vision. Allow your faith in the future to bring you power in the present.  Use the steps below to strengthen your vision and focus toward God.

Steps to Strengthen your Vision and Focus toward God

1. Digest Daily Spiritual Food – Begin reading the Bible every day!

2. Pray today! – Spend time in prayer….Daniel did, better yet, Jesus did!

3. Fellowship – Keep your feet moving, but move them toward the brethren. If you and the brethren grow closer to God, you will grow closer to each other.

4. Invest in New Glasses – Stop just looking at the outside of others; look internally and see they need Jesus just as much as you. (Yes, even if you do not like them, remember Matthew 5.39-44)

5. Stop Planning and Go Do It! Stop planning to reach to heaven, to reach out and to share the message…go do it!

Strengthen your vision toward heaven today, because after all, God gave you the opportunity today!

 Just some thoughts,

 Chris Gallagher

chris@preacherspen.org

http://www.preacherspen.org/

P.S. -> About the “church budget thing,” what does your budget say? Talking about where your congregation will be 20 years from now is just talk, you better be planning!

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In case you missed any of the previous posts in this series, here are the links to every post prior to this one:

Matthew Morine: The Church and the Lost

Dale Jenkins: The Church and Technology

Scott McCown: The Church and the Pulpit

Paula Harington: The Church and Children

Joey Sparks: The Church and Community

John Dobbs: The Church and Grief

David Lemmons: The Church and Her Elderly

Craig Ford: The Church and Money

Drew Kizer: The Church and Bible Study

Trey Morgan: The Church and Joy