Verify the Source. Did the desire come from God or from you? Moses knew the vision was from God. Abraham knew the vision was from God. Paul knew the vision was from God. Nehemiah knew the vision was from God.

                       

Inspiring. Does the vision make you want to move? Moses’ vision made him want to stay put, while Abraham’s vision literally made him move.  The shared vision should result in action. It should create energy and the desire of not resting until the vision becomes reality.

 

Scriptural. Does the vision correlate with God’s will? One of the most innocent ways we can cast a less than scriptural vision is by exalting our name. For example, we may decide on making the name of our group known throughout the city, so when youth ministry is mentioned our group is mentioned. That sounds like a great goal, but it that God’s will? Does He want our name to be known or His name to be know? That may appear picky or walking a fine line, but don’t we think that the Lord wants every vision to match with Scripture?

 

Instruction. Details of how to accomplish the vision should coincide with proclaiming the vision. We are only giving a pep talk if we ignite the heart with a lot of ideas that have no formula. Jesus told the apostles to “Go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you for I am with your always, even until the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).  The Lord cast the vision and told them how to accomplish it.

 

Often. Without sounding like a skipping CD, regularly restate the vision. The Hebrews writer challenges us to “fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”  (Hebrews 12:2). When we lose sight of the goal we get distracted and discouraged.

 

Need. Does the vision fill a void? There’s no need to form and cast a vision just to say your ministry has one. The result of the statement should fill an emptiness, heal a heart, connect a community, or anything along the lines of a need.

 

Change. Will lives be changed? Hundreds of books have been written on making successful changes. They talk about how reluctant people are to change and how difficult it is to get some people to change. The strength of a well crafted vision statement is that it makes people want to change. Teens and parents are not against change as long as it’s a proven need. A vision that results in closer family relationships or a deeper walk with God, will be welcomed. Those accepting the vision would understand a cost is involved and will be willing to pay because the end result promises a changed life.

 

Alive. Does the vision need dusting? We created a vision statement for our group that sounded great. All the leaders were excited and we knew we had a God vision that would take the ministry to the next level for the Lord. Unfortunately, a year later nothing had really happened with the statement. It contained all the right elements and we repeated it often, but it just died. Learn from my experience, recasting a dead vision is worthless.

 

Sharpen. Are there uncertain or needless wording? A vision should be tight and clearly understood by all. God said to Noah, “Build and ark and do it like this.” When God finished sharing the vision with Noah, he didn’t say, “Um, Lord, what are you talking about?”

 

Thirst. Do people feel like they can’t live without the vision? “Without a vision the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). The literal translation means that without  a word from God people waste away. A God-sized vision will call for His refreshing of a parched life.

 

“Vision is born in the heart of the man and woman who is caught between the tension of what could be and what should be.”

      - Andy Stanley, Visioneering.

Your Partners in Youth Ministry,

Paul & Al

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New Lesson series on Prayer. Lesson 2... http://tinyurl.com/2z8btu

Identity (Sep 26, 2007 at 2:15 AM) - Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? Perhaps you’ve been told that you remind someone of their close friend- that you have an uncanny resemblance.

Daily Bible Readings (Sep 21, 2007 at 2:37 AM) - Encourage your teens to get into God's Word daily.
 

Use Your Tongue Wisely (Sep 19, 2007 at 2:18 AM) - It usually takes a pretty long time for you to build a good reputation. People don’t say good things about you just because they think it’s the right thing to do.

Simple Guidelines for Discipleship (Sep 14, 2007 at 3:04 AM) - We, as youth ministers, are constantly trying to get our teens to disciple others.

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