3 Essentials Vision PDF 2014

Vision
Do not pray only for your own spiritual renewal. Pray for a
springtime of the Spirit which will enrich the church and the world,
an awakening for which all earlier renewal movements have been
only rehearsals.
Richard Lovelace
2013 Global Church Advancement, Inc. All rights reserved
Vision: Page 2
Copyright Steven L. Childers, 2013
In compliance with copyright restrictions, no
portion of these materials may be reproduced in
any form or stored on any system without written
permission of the publisher.
Global Church Advancement, Inc.
P.O. Box 2062
Winter Park, FL 32790-2062
U.S.A.
Essentials for Church Planting
Vision: Page 3
Vision
Introduction:
The Importance of Vision
There is a great cosmic story that is unfolding in human history. And the only way to make any
real sense out of your personal story is to understand how your story fits into the greater story of
what God is doing in the world today.
I have always understood life first as a story --GK Chesterton
The good news is that
God loves to manifest His presence and pour out His power on
those who will dare to align their purposes more with His.
Key Questions:
What is Gods purpose for the world today?
How do I align my purpose more with His?
The Source of Vision
Since our vision must be Gods vision, we must gain it from the Scripture Haddon Robinson
Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom
come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13.
its every clause resonates with Jesus announcement that Gods kingdom is breaking into
the story of Israel and the world, opening up Gods long-promised new world and
summoning people to share it. --N.T. Wright, The Lords Prayer
A Vision for the Glory of God
A Vision for the Kingdom of God
A Vision for the Church of God
A Vision for the Gospel of God
Vision: Page 4
A Vision for the Glory of God
Key Question: What is Gods purpose for the world?
Pray then in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory
to your name. Psalm 86:9
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm
the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy...
Romans 15:8,9
The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #1
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because
worship doesnt. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this
age is over, and countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God,
missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.
John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad
The Bad News: Paradise has been Lost.
The whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19b (NIV)
The Good News: There is a New World Coming.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile
to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19,20
Fallen Humanity will be Restored
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of
the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their
hands. Revelation 7:9
Fallen Creation will be Restored
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of
the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its
bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Romans 8:20,21
The earth will be covered with the glory of God just as the waters cover the sea!
Habakkuk 2:14
Vision: Page 5
A Vision for the Kingdom of God
Key Question: How has God chosen to glorify His name among all nations?
Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom
come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9,10
If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:28
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed
awayHe will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne
said, I am making everything new! Revelation 21:1-5a
The Not Yet: Paradise Restored
We are now living in a very unique period of time--between the resurrection of Jesus and the
restoration of all things through Him.
Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no
more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall
have spring again. C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The first part of Handels Messiah dramatizes the great expectancy in Israel for the promised
Messiah. It draws upon some of the great prophecies of the Old Testament that foretell his
coming, and the work he will accomplish. He will comfort Jerusalem, cause its warfare to cease,
subdue its enemies (Isaiah 40:1-3).
Nothing will be permitted to impede his path: "Every valley will be exalted, and every mountain
and hill made low, and the crooked straight, and the rough places plain" (Isaiah 40:4). In other
words, every difficulty to the development of His power will be removed, every hindrance
overcome, and as a result "the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isaiah 40:5).
The prophecies show that the Messiah will exercise considerable power in the earth, shaking
the political heavens and earth out of position, overthrowing disobedient nations, establishing
his own glorious rule so that "the desire of all nations shall come in" (Haggai 2:7).
The Already: Making the Invisible Kingdom Visible!
He went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good
news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Matthew 9:35-36
2013 Global Church Advancement, Inc. All rights reserved Vision: Page 6
The Great Commission or the Great Commotion?
The Great Commission has become a Great Commotion of proclamation in virtual disregard of
spiritual formation (doing the business of making disciples) and social transformation (pursuing
righteousness and justice). James Engle
The roots of this problem can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece! Much of todays
form of Christianity has been unduly influenced by Greek Philosophy (Platonic Dualism)which
emphasizes a great division between things like: 1) the soul and the body or 2) the spirit and
matter or 3) the spiritual and the social. Since the time of Augustine, this merger of Christian
Theology with Greek Philosophy has been commonplaceresulting in a tendency to regard
spirituality as a private matter and to ignore the world.
True Christianity is not Platonic. Much, however, of what passes for Christianity does have the
ring of Platonic thinking in it...the body is bad and is to be despised. The only thing that matters
is the soul. But the Bible says God made the whole man, the whole man is to know salvation,
and the whole man is to know the Lordship of Christ. Francis Schaeffer
When Christians fail to take the worldview of the Bible into their cultures, they cannot obey
Christs command to make disciples of all nations. Filling the earth with the knowledge of the
Lord (Isaiah 11:9) is reduced to filling my heart with the knowledge of the Lord. When the church
has this divided mindset, Christians inevitably withdraw from the surrounding culture. They no
longer shape media, education, politics, or art. Darrow Miller
Does your city exist for your church or does your church exist for your city?
How has sin (via the world, the flesh and the devil) uniquely damaged your
particular culture? What are the unique ways your Ministry Focus Group has
been made crooked?
--Injustice
--Poverty
--Hunger
--Materialism
--Prejudice
--Oppression
--Shame
--Hedonism
--Other
What would your community look like if the invisible kingdom of Christ was made
visible in every sphere of life? If everyone in your church, community and nation
woke up next Monday morning and began to carry out Gods full intentions, what
differences would you see?
A Vision for the Church of God
Key Question: How has God chosen to advance His Kingdom in the world today?
I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18b
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made
known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 3:10
And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the
church Ephesians 1:22
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must
give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17
Pauls ministry passion was not merely to preach the gospel to as many people as possible but
to plant churches in every nation. In the book of Acts we read, They preached the good news in
that city and won a large number of disciplesPaul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in
each church Acts 14: 21-23
New Churches Kingdom Outposts!
Pauls ministries of evangelism, discipleship, mercy and justice were always moving toward the
ultimate goal of planting new churches that could continue these kinds of holistic ministries of
word and deed for generations after he was gone. Paul clearly understood that the primary way
God has chosen to advance His Kingdom purposes is through the Church (Acts 28:31, Col 1: 9-
20).
New Churches The Hope of the World!
The church is the only institution designed and ordained by God for
the spiritual, social and cultural renewal of all nations.
Church Planting is the New Testament way of extending the gospel. Trace the expansion of the
Church through Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth and you will see
that church planters led the way. C. Peter Wagner
What is a Church? The Protestant definition:
The preaching of the Word: Sound, biblical teaching.
The proper administration of Baptism and the Lords Supper.
The presence of church discipline: Qualified (1 Tim 3, Titus 1) and
ordained spiritual leaders committed to maintaining purity of
church doctrine (orthodoxy) and life.
The essential task, in a world where three-fourths of all men and women have yet to believe in
Jesus Christ as God and only Savior, is that of planting new churchesThe goal...is the
establishment of a church of committed Christians in every community, every neighborhood,
every class and condition of people, where everyone can hear and see demonstrated the
gospel from his own intimates, in his tongue, and has a reasonable opportunity to become a
disciple of Jesus Christ. Donald McGavran
New Churches The Most Effective Method!
Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven
C. Peter Wagner
The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the
numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and the continual corporate renewal and
revival of the existing churches in a city. Nothing elsenot crusades, outreach programs, para-
church ministries, growing mega churchesnor church renewal processeswill have the
consistent impact of dynamic, extensive church planting. Tim Keller
The Vision: Church Network Alliance Movement
Paul at Ephesus was making tents, conducting a great course of apologetics for Christianity,
fulfilling the function of the pastor, watching over the flock, admonishing with tears and teaching
from house to house; but he was also directing a great missionary enterprise to that whole
region round about Ephesus. G. Campbell Morgan
Establish Church Planting Networks
A Church Planting Network is an intentional partnership between 3 or more church
planters and leaders to share a common vision for advancing Gods Kingdom in their city
and/or region through starting, growing and multiplying Gospel-Centered Churches and
to resource one another to help fulfill that vision.
Facilitate Church Planting Alliances
Since no single network normally has the ability to do gospel ministry effectively to all the
diverse people in one region, our strategy is also to help networks form Kingdom
Alliances with other likeminded networks and ministries in their regionsespecially
through collaborative kingdom prayer and acts of mercy.
Birth Church Planting Movements
When networks and alliances begin to pray fervently for their region and serve their
region wholeheartedly through gospel ministries of word and deed, this is normally the
means God uses to birth a widespread spiritual awakening called a Church Planting
Movement.
A Church Planting Movement is a work of Gods Spirit that produces healthy,
growing, reproducing churches that result in the spiritual, social and cultural
transformation of a city and/or region.
Do not pray only for your own spiritual renewal. Pray for a springtime of the Spirit which
will enrich the church and the world, an awakening for which all earlier renewal
movements have been only rehearsals. Richard Lovelace, Renewal as a Way of Life
A Vision for the Gospel of God
Key Question: How can we be empowered to do this?
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:13
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all
over the worldI am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not
ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes." Romans 1:16,17.
The power needed for a new awakening must be rooted in the gospel. Paul wrote, All over the
world this gospel is producing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the
day you heard it and understood Gods grace in all its truth. Colossians 1:6
We do not simply learn the gospel when we are convertedand then move on from
there. Paul says that it only does its renewing work in us as we understand it in all its truth.
We can live around the truth of the gospel and not get it. We do not really understand all the
vast implications and applications of it.
Only as the gospel is applied more and more deeply and radicallyonly as we think out
all its truth does it bear fruit and grow. So the key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal
and revival is the continual rediscovery of the gospel. All our problems come from a failure to
apply the gospel. This is true for a community or an individual.
Tim Keller, The Centrality of the Gospel
The Gospel of God must be our primary source of empowerment (central motivation and
means) as we seek to glorify God and advance His Kingdom through His Church among all
nations. In the Gospel God promises you:
The Transforming Power of the Gospel
1) Good News for the Lost: A New Record!
God promises to save from sins penalty those who believe in Christ and consider them as His
beloved, chosen children (election) forever. As Judge, God promises to accept the sacrificial
work of Christ as satisfying (propitiating) his just wrath against man and consider mans sin
imputed to Christ and Christs perfect righteousness imputed to man (justification). As Father,
God promises to accept and love those who believe in Christ just as He accepts and loves His
one and only Son (adoption). (Eph 1:4, 2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 2:16, Col. 1:22, Jn. 1:12, 1 Jn. 3:1)
2) Good News for the Found: A New Heart!
God also promises to give those who believe in Him a New Nature delivering them from sins
domineering power over their lives by freely giving them a new heart (desires) and a new
Spirit (regeneration) to empower them to know God, honor Him and enjoy Him forever
(sanctification). Although you can never be free from sins ongoing influence until heaven, God
promises through Christ to deliver you (redemption) from sins domineering power today. (Acts
2:38,39, Ezek. 36:26, John 3:1-16, 16:5-15, Rom. 6:6,7, 2 Cor. 3:18b)
3) The Good News for the Community: A New World!
God also promises that one day all of your struggles will be over and he will bring you to
your eternal home--a place where he will wipe away every tear from your eyes and make all
things new. You will be made new in both soul and body and delivered not only from sins
domineering power but even its presence. Because Our God reigns there is a new world
coming where all things that are now crooked in our lives, churches and culture will finally be
made straight.
God promises that one day all of creation will be made new as he makes his invisible
kingdom visible over every sphere of life. In this promised new heavens and earth there will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order will pass away. Paradise
will be restored (glorification). This vision of the good news of the coming Kingdom is meant
by God to serve as a fuel for the gospel flame in your heart to spread through your church
and your city to all the nations for the glory of God. (Eph. 1:13,14, Rom 8:30, Titus 1:2, 1Cor
15:20-57, Col 1:20, Rev 21:1-4)
Let the Promises Lead You to the Promisor
Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will
becomea spring of water welling up to everlasting life John 4:13-14
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is
thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me (i.e., keeps believing in me), as
the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the
Spirit.... John 7:37-39
I heard the voice of Jesus say, Behold, I freely give the living water. Thirsty one, stoop down
and drink and live. Horatius Bonar
Share the Vision!
The vision is to see God glorified and his kingdom come among all nations through the global
advancement of Gospel-Centered churches.
A Gospel-Centered Church focuses on:
Good News for the Lost: The Priority of Evangelism
Good News for the Found: The Priority of Spiritual Formation
Good News for the Community: The Priority of Societal Transformation
there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the eastHe said
to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of
the river. When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side
and the other. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live.
Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their
leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their
water flows from the sanctuary." Ezekiel 47:1-12 (condensed)
Vision
Action Points
Vision Action Point 1:

Vision for the Glory of God
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city
was full of idols. Acts 17:16
What are some of the primary idols being worshiped in your Athens today by those whom youre
serving, i.e. what are they looking to for true happiness and fulfillment in life other than a
relationship with God through Jesus Christ?
Money
Possessions
Pleasure
Control
Comfort
Power
Reputation
Approval
Others:
What are some of the lies (vain promises/idol covenants) that these idols are promising in vain to
these people? What gospel truths (promises) do these people desperately need to understand?
How can you (and your ministry) help to dethrone these heart idols and enthrone (exalt) Christ
more in their hearts?
How can you (and your ministry team) develop a greater passion and vision for Gods glory to be
manifested in your Athens? (Hint: By repenting of OUR idols and cherishing Jesus morethen
we will long for others to worship Him too.)
Prayer:
Conclude the group discussion time by praying the first petition of the Lords Prayer: Our Father, in
heaven, hallowed be your name. In so doing, ask the Father to raise up multitudes of white-hot
worshipers in your city, region, nation and among all nations that will bring great honor and glory
to his name.
Ask the Lord to give your group the gifts of repentance and faith this weekto tear your affections
off of your idols (in repentance) and to place your affections on to the ascended Christ (in faith)
so that you might cherish him anew and then commend him with new power when we return to
the field.

Vision for the Kingdom of God
How has sin (via the world, the flesh and the devil) uniquely damaged your particular culture? What
are the unique ways this culture has been made crooked?
Injustice
Poverty
Hunger
Materialism
Prejudice
Oppression
Shame
Hedonism
Other
What would your community look like if the invisible kingdom of Christ was made visible in every
sphere of life? If everyone in your church, community and nation woke up next Monday morning
and began to carry out Gods full intentions, what differences would you see?
How can the Gospel of the Kingdom (in word and deed) help straighten that which is crooked in this
culture? How is the ministry of the Gospel (in word and deed) the ultimate solution to all their real
needs, both personal and social?
What would that look like practically?
Kingdom Prayer:
Conclude your time by praying the first two petitions of the Lords Prayer Vision for the Glory of
God (Hallowed be Thy Name) & Vision for the Kingdom of God (Thy Kingdom Come).
Ask Christ as Merciful King to reign and rule over: 1) your heart, 2) your family, 3) your church and
4) your town/city/nations/all nations to the glory of God the Father.

Vision for the Church of God
Which of the 3 marks of a true church does your church most need to strengthen? What is your
plan?
1. Preaching & teaching of true Christian doctrine
2. Proper observance of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper
3. Overseen by ordained elders and served by deacon
Which of the five characteristics below is strongest and weakest in your church. How will you
strengthen those characteristics that are weak?
1. Indigenous church
2. Culturally relevant church
3. Healthy church
4. Growing church
5. Reproducing church
Which of the four types of church growth does your church need the most? How are you planning to
help lead your church in this kind of growth?
1. Expansion Growth: Evangelism
2. Internal Growth: Discipleship
3. Extension Growth: Church Planting
4. Bridging Growth: Missions (Planting Churches in other Nations)
Kingdom Prayer:
Ask the Lord of the Harvest to strengthen His Church in these specific ways listed above. Ask the
Lord to do this so that His name will be glorified, His Kingdom will come and His will be done in
and through your life, church and nation.

Vision for a Gospel Renewal Movement of God
Identify some examples of specific goals toward which you should be working hard. List several
strategic places (neighborhoods, towns, cities) in your region/nation that need to have new
churches planted as Kingdom Outposts.
Identify the present (and emerging) leaders whom you think might be willing to help you start new
churches in these regions.
What are some examples of specific desires toward which you should be praying hard to help
establish a church planting movement in your region?
How could better distinguishing between these goals and desires cause your ministry to be more
honoring to God and more joyful for you?
Discuss what a gospel-centered, kingdom-focused church planting network, alliance and movement
might look like in your city or region. Be specific. Dare to Expect great things from God and
attempt great things for God.
Kingdom Prayer:
Conclude your time by praying the first three petitions of the Lords Prayer. In so doing, ask Christ,
as Lord of the Church, to glorify the Father and advance His kingdom and will in your region
through starting and multiplying new gospel-centered churches.
Pray for the people in those neighborhoods, towns, cities youve identified in your region that need
to have a new churches as a Kingdom Outposts. Ask God to raise up new church planters and
other laborers to establish and strengthen new gospel-centered, kingdom-focused churches in
these areas.
Ask the Lord of the Harvest to pour out His Spirit on these churches so that these towns, cities and
regions are transformed spiritually, socially and culturally. Ask the Lord to so bless these
regions that they become sending regions for the nations.
GCA Church Planting Conference
Trainer / Topic Evaluation Form
Session Name: Essentials VISION
Your feedback will help us determine how well the GCA training meets your needs and interests. It
will also provide a basis for improving GCA training in the future.
Compared with other training events that you have attended, please rank the following where
5 is BEST and 1 is WORST. Circle the number that corresponds with your ranking. Thanks!
Best Worst
1. The instructor involved the group in the learning experience. 5 4 3 2 1
2. The presentations were well-organized. 5 4 3 2 1
3. This session gave me new insights into the subject matter. 5 4 3 2 1
4. I gained motivation to pursue the subject matter further. 5 4 3 2 1
5. The instructor inspired me to apply content in my situation. 5 4 3 2 1
6. The instructor pointed out skills I need to develop. 5 4 3 2 1
7. The instructor gave me samples/sources I can go to for help. 5 4 3 2 1
8. The instructor was enthusiastic about the topics. 5 4 3 2 1
9. The instructor applied the content to my needs. 5 4 3 2 1
10. I leave this training with positive attitudes toward the topics. 5 4 3 2 1
11. The instructor demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter. 5 4 3 2 1
12. This training session fulfilled my expectations. 5 4 3 2 1
Please record your overall reaction to this training session by placing an X:
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor
1. What did you find most valuable?
2. One thing you would change?
3. Other helpful feedback?
Please circle
the number
on each line
that
corresponds
with your
assessment
of this
session.

3 Essentials Vision PDF 2014

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

3 Essentials Vision PDF 2014

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Vision

Вам также может понравиться