This Vision Is for You
Take a moment to look back at how far you've come. You've caught the excitement of moving from programs to process. You've chosen how you'll go through the course. You've laid a foundation by comparing the two approaches, and you've explored how a church-wide pathway and individual options work together. That's a lot of ground. Well done.
Now, before we start building, I want to invite you to do something a little different. I want you to dream.
I'm not asking you to write a vision statement for your church yet. That will come later, and it will be something your leaders shape together. This lesson is about you. It's about the picture that you carry in your own heart and mind of what your church could become. Because here's the thing: you can't lead people toward a place you can't see yourself.
Every leader who has ever led lasting change started with a picture. They could see it before anyone else could. And on the hard days — and there will be some — that picture is what kept them going. So let's take some time to see it clearly.
Why Vision Matters
You might be wondering, "Do I really need to spend a whole lesson on this? Can't we just get to the practical stuff?" I understand the feeling. But vision isn't fluff. It's fuel. Here's why it matters so much.
Vision gives you direction. When God gave Habakkuk a message, He told him:
"Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." — Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV)
A clear vision helps people run. It tells them which way to go. Without it, even the most dedicated leaders end up running in circles.
Vision keeps you going when things get hard. Change is tough, and you will face some pushback. Think about Nehemiah. He heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and he wept. But then God gave him a picture of those walls rebuilt. When he shared that picture, the people said, "Let us rise up and build" (Nehemiah 2:18, KJV). Later, when opposition came, it was that vision that kept him on the wall. Even Jesus, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2, KJV). He kept His eyes on what was ahead.
Vision protects you from drifting. Scripture says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). Without a clear picture of where you're headed, it's easy to slip back into the old patterns. A new program pops up, the calendar fills back up, and before you know it, you're right back where you started.
Vision is contagious. People don't follow plans; they follow a picture they can believe in. When you can describe what your church could look like with passion and clarity, others will start to see it too.
Vision reminds you who's really building. A God-given vision is always bigger than what you could do on your own. Paul reminds us that God "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20, KJV). So dream big, and trust Him with the rest.
Imagine With Me
Let's try something. Find a quiet spot, take a deep breath, and imagine your church three years from now. The shift from programs to process has taken root. Read slowly, and picture it as clearly as you can.
It's Sunday morning. A young couple walks in for the first time. They're greeted warmly, and before they leave, someone sits with them over coffee and explains in plain words how people grow at your church. They leave knowing exactly what their next step is.
Down the hall, a man who came to faith last year is teaching a newcomers' class. Eighteen months ago he was the one sitting in that class. Now he's helping someone else take the same step he took.
On Tuesday night, the small group that meets in a living room across town is talking about who God is calling them to serve. One woman just finished a mentoring relationship and is ready to start investing in someone younger in her faith.
At the staff meeting, nobody is asking, "How many people came?" They're asking, "Who took a next step this month, and who needs help taking theirs?" The calendar is simpler than it used to be. Your volunteers are rested. Your leaders aren't just busy; they're bearing fruit.
And when someone asks a long-time member, "What's this church about?" they don't list off programs. They describe a path. They tell you where they started and where God has brought them.
Take a minute and sit with that picture. What feels most exciting to you? What part of it do you long to see most? Now, make it your own. Swap in the faces, the rooms, and the ministries of your church. That's the beginning of your vision.
Writing Your Personal Vision
Now it's time to put your picture into words. Remember Habakkuk: write it down and make it plain. A vision that stays in your head tends to fade. A vision on paper becomes something you can come back to, pray over, and share.
Use these questions to get started:
What do you see? Describe what your church looks like when it's focused on process. What's happening on a Sunday? During the week?
Who do you see? Think of specific people. Who do you picture taking their next step? Who might be leading that isn't leading today?
What's different? What has changed about the calendar, the conversations, and the way success is measured?
What will it feel like? How do the people feel? How do the leaders feel? How do you feel?
Why does it matter? What's at stake if nothing changes? What's possible if it does?
A few tips as you write:
Write it in the present tense. Say "People know their next step," not "People will know." It helps you see it as real.
Be specific. "We make disciples" is true, but "Families who walk in as guests are serving together within a year" paints a picture.
Keep it short. Aim for one page or less. You want something you can read in two minutes.
Hold it loosely. This is a first draft. God may sharpen it as you go, and your team will add to it later.
Pray over it. Ask God whether this picture reflects His heart for your church. Let Him shape it.
Action Steps
Before you move on to the next section of the course, take time to work through these:
Do the visualization. Set aside 20 quiet minutes to reread "Imagine With Me" and picture your own church. Jot down what you see.
Write your vision. Use the five questions above to write a one-page personal vision of your church as a process-focused church.
Read and pray. Read Habakkuk 2:1–3 and Nehemiah 2:11–18. Ask God to give you clarity, courage, and patience for the vision He's placing in your heart.
Share it with someone. Read your vision to a trusted friend, mentor, or team member. Ask them, "What stands out to you? What's unclear?"
Keep it close. Put your vision somewhere you'll see it often — in your Bible, on your desk, or in your course notebook. Read it at the start of each lesson going forward.
If you're in a group, share visions together. Have each person share their picture. Notice where your visions overlap. Those shared themes will be a big help when you build a vision for the whole church later.
You Did It!
Congratulations — you've finished the first section of the course! You've moved from excitement to understanding, and now to vision. You can see where you're headed, and you know why it matters.
In the next section, we'll start turning that vision into something real. But for now, celebrate how far you've come. As Paul wrote, "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, KJV). God started this in you, and He's going to see it through. I'll see you in the next section!
