God’s future plan for your church will undoubtedly look considerably different than God’s future plan for another church. This is where broad biblical principles (such as “go reach the world”) come into specific focus for each individual church.

Author David Allen in Getting Things Done, shares the multiple perspectives one should have of time and life management. He uses the word picture of an airplane when viewing life. The runway view looks at the immediate. The 30,000 foot view looks at a bigger picture. Still the 50,000 foot view sees a more long-term vision. He challenges his readers to look at all the views on a regular basis.

The same principle can be applied to God’s vision for your church. The broad biblical principles could be compared to the 50,000 foot view—this could be the Great Commission. The 30,000 foot view might be compared to the purpose of your church relating to specific ministries and practices. The runway view would be the next specific step of faith that God has led you to take in fulfilling the bigger picture. 

As you lay out and articulate the biblical vision that God develops in your heart, test it and purify it through these questions: 

• Is it consistent with God’s heart?
• Is it compelling to the hearts of God’s people?
• Can it be clearly defined/developed by leadership?
• Does it reflect faith in God?
• Does it fulfill the specific purpose of our church?
• Does it meet a need?

Take the specific vision that God places on your heart and put it on paper. One author writes it this way, “Process is vital. You can have the right vision or idea. You can even have the right result. But if your process is wrong, you will have disaster.” Develop a complete picture of God’s vision—one that you and others can understand, embrace, and act upon. If you don’t, the vision will remain conceptual instead of concrete. And concepts are like good intentions—they are useless without action. It has been said, “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”

Is your vision clear? If we were to randomly choose a faithful church member from your congregation, would that Christian be able to explain the biblical vision that the church is presently striving together to fulfill? If not, get alone with God and ask Him for clarity, and then help your church clearly see how God is leading