EnvisionEnvision what the church could be if no pre-existing traditions existed. Dream big. Now add God to the equation. Dream again. Then dream short-term to see the immediate needs of the body.
Envision what the worship gathering could be (Acts 2:42-47).
Attitude of body during worship
Music
Prayer
Teaching
Communion
Children
Exaltation of God
Incorporation of arts
Envision what the evangelism could be (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
Who can you reach immediately?
What attitudes toward evangelism need to change?
Where or how could you boldly make an impact with the gospel?
What steps of faith need to be taken to reach the unchurched and the unsaved?
How could your youth evangelize?
How could households evangelize together?
What worldwide impact could you make as a body (i.e. foreign missions)?
How are you going to be an eternal value to your community?
Who can you reach immediately?
What attitudes toward evangelism need to change?
Where or how could you boldly make an impact with the gospel?
What steps of faith need to be taken to reach the unchurched and the unsaved?
How could your youth evangelize?
How could households evangelize together?
What worldwide impact could you make as a body (i.e. foreign missions)?
How are you going to be an eternal value to your community?
Envision how education and discipleship could be effective (Acts 2:42).
How will it become a passionate pursuit of the body ("continue steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine," Acts 2:42)?
What resources (people, qualities, gifts) do you have in place to launch greater disciple-making?
How will the fathers and heads of households (single moms, etc.) be trained to be the priest and spiritual head of their homes?
How will the older men and women teach and interact with the younger men and women? (Titus 2)
Will the age groups be segregated (children, youth, singles, college, married, etc.) or will they be integrated into the body?
What role will small groups play?
What training will be needed to help develop disciples who are passionately pursuing Christ?
How will it become a passionate pursuit of the body ("continue steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine," Acts 2:42)?
What resources (people, qualities, gifts) do you have in place to launch greater disciple-making?
How will the fathers and heads of households (single moms, etc.) be trained to be the priest and spiritual head of their homes?
How will the older men and women teach and interact with the younger men and women? (Titus 2)
Will the age groups be segregated (children, youth, singles, college, married, etc.) or will they be integrated into the body?
What role will small groups play?
What training will be needed to help develop disciples who are passionately pursuing Christ?
Envision an Acts 2 commitment to fellowship (Acts 2:44-45).
In what ways will the body seek to meet the needs of one another (spiritual, social, financial, physical)?
What attitudes need to change to be sacrificially generous with time, money and resources for the encouragement and edification of the body?
How will the body serve one another actively and responsively in an unprompted way?
What will the membership requirements be? How will it communicate a covenantal commitment?
In what ways will the body seek to meet the needs of one another (spiritual, social, financial, physical)?
What attitudes need to change to be sacrificially generous with time, money and resources for the encouragement and edification of the body?
How will the body serve one another actively and responsively in an unprompted way?
What will the membership requirements be? How will it communicate a covenantal commitment?
Envision an effective youth and children's ministry.
Will they be integrated into the church ministry? If so, how?
How will families be strengthened through the student ministry?
How will the youth be encouraged and trained to evangelize their friends?
What role will the heads of households play in the student ministry?
Who (person or groups) will lead the youth and children's ministry?
What facility changes are needed to communicate the value of children and youth?
What other positions of leadership need to be filled to be effective?
What leadership development with the students will be put into place?
What programs or customs need to be extracted from the youth and children's ministry to avoid distractions from the ministry goals?
Will they be integrated into the church ministry? If so, how?
How will families be strengthened through the student ministry?
How will the youth be encouraged and trained to evangelize their friends?
What role will the heads of households play in the student ministry?
Who (person or groups) will lead the youth and children's ministry?
What facility changes are needed to communicate the value of children and youth?
What other positions of leadership need to be filled to be effective?
What leadership development with the students will be put into place?
What programs or customs need to be extracted from the youth and children's ministry to avoid distractions from the ministry goals?
Envision an equipping staff (Eph. 4:11-13).
What changes need to be made with the staff (paid or volunteer) to meet the church's goals?
Are the staff members doing the ministry or leading people to do the ministry? If they are doing the bulk of the ministering, how will they develop the body to do the work of the ministry?
Are you over-staffed or under-staffed to meet both financial obligations and the development of lay people (taking responsibility for ministry)?
What changes need to be made with the staff (paid or volunteer) to meet the church's goals?
Are the staff members doing the ministry or leading people to do the ministry? If they are doing the bulk of the ministering, how will they develop the body to do the work of the ministry?
Are you over-staffed or under-staffed to meet both financial obligations and the development of lay people (taking responsibility for ministry)?
Envision a body not reacting to finances to determine God's call (Matt. 6:24).
How will faith in God calling a body to reach out to the community and world be weighed against financial responsibility and stewardship?
If mortgages or debts exist, how will they be paid off in a realistic way over a reasonable time period?
What attitudes or practices about money and finances need to be changed?
Is a budget in place? Is it a true reflection of the church's giving and spending (balanced budget)?
What expenses can be cut immediately to be redirected toward the church's mission?
Is the body (especially the leadership) making decisions based on finances or on God's calling?
What creative ways can you generate more income without sacrificing resources, biblical principles, or expending paid personnel?
How will faith in God calling a body to reach out to the community and world be weighed against financial responsibility and stewardship?
If mortgages or debts exist, how will they be paid off in a realistic way over a reasonable time period?
What attitudes or practices about money and finances need to be changed?
Is a budget in place? Is it a true reflection of the church's giving and spending (balanced budget)?
What expenses can be cut immediately to be redirected toward the church's mission?
Is the body (especially the leadership) making decisions based on finances or on God's calling?
What creative ways can you generate more income without sacrificing resources, biblical principles, or expending paid personnel?
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