III. A vision will give you purpose in your ministry

P: PRAY more than others.
    If you purpose is bigger than you are then you will need continual help from God for wisdom and strength. Prayer is how the
    power of God is released.

Question: How is this accompolished?

U: UNITE more than others.
    Look for others who are attempting to accomplish similar goals.

Question: How is this accompolished?

R: RISK more than others.
    True leaders with vision are willing to put themselves out a little bit further on the limb.

Question: How is this accompolished?

P: PLAN more than others.
    If the cause is bigger than we are, it will require our best thinking and organization skills.

Question: How is this accompolished?

O: OBSERVE more than others.
    We are to be more sensitive to poeple and needs around us. We need to pay close attention to what God is doing.

Question: How is this accompolished?

S: SACRIFICE more than others.
    A vision will cause us to sacrifice beyond the call of duty. We are willing to lay more on the line.

Question: How is this accompolished?

E: EXPECT more than others.
    We will expect more out of ourselves and others.

Question: How is this accompolished?

IV. Obstacles to overcome for a person of vision

Tradition: 'We've always done it that way before'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -There are always going to be people who just don't want change. They will fight it. However, as a leader, you are called to lead them as well. As far as it is up to you, be willing to lead all those God has entrusted to you.

Fear: 'We've never done it this way before'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -The first question when dealing with fear is to determine what people are afraid of. Are  they afraid of failing? Of succeeding? Will they loose something is they succeed or fail?

Stereotypes: 'It didn't work then and it won't work now'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -Look at why it failed last time and don't make the same mistakes.

Complacency: 'Why do we need to change?'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -Can you give a direct, thought out answer to that question?

Fatigue: 'Let's just rest and enjoy the fruits of our labors'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -Rest is not a sin, but slothfulness is. Take care of your people. There is a time to rest both physically, emotionally and spiritually, however, muscles not used loose their strength after a while.

Short-Term thinking: 'It looks just fine to me'

Question: How does this show itself in the church? How does a leader with vision deal withit?

 -But is it fine? Can it be better? Do you think that the Lord is pleased with 'just fine'?
 

                       'A church which lacks direction (vision) will have no sense of accomplishment.' J. MacArthur