Keeping the Church’s Soul Alive
July 8th, 2008 @ 9:01 am
When someone invests into the unique call that God has placed on your church, there’s no stopping them. They’re inspired by what the future holds.
It’s vital to the health of whatever team you are leading to clearly and consistently communicate that calling with your team. God has placed you there for a reason, and he’s placed them under your care because he wants all of you to carry out this calling together.
Proverbs 29:18 says this,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.†(KJV)
Many times, the word “vision†in this verse has been misinterpreted to mean “goals†or “plans.â€
The word “vision†in this verse actually means “divine guidance†or “revelation.â€
And without divine guidance, people will perish. As important as it may be to be on the same page with your goals and your plans, without relying on God for wisdom and guidance that only he can provide, your environment will fall apart.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary says, “How bare does a place look without Bibles and ministers! And what an easy prey is it to the enemy of souls! That gospel is an open vision, which holds forth Christ, which humbles the sinner and exalts the Saviour, which promotes holiness in the life and conversation: and these are precious truths to keep the soul alive, and prevent it from perishing.â€
Without true divine guidance, we scatter. Our unity is broken.
==
[this is an excerpt that may or may not be cut from Mad Church Disease. thought i'd give yall a little peek as i finish editing this week].
Church · Mad Church Disease
Pam C said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:17 am
Wow, I’m enjoying these “sneak peeks”. Very insightful and hope what I’m reading makes it to the final cut. Many will be reached and blessed. It also confirms what I believe to be true and so important - the need for clear and consistent communication re: the calling. Inspiration grows from this! May God bless your writing!
Pam
Joe Case said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:32 am
Ditto what Pam C.said! This is like dangling a piece of Godiva Chocolate in front of a chocoholic (like me)…dang, gotta see more!! Great stuff!!
tony said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:44 am
yes and amen
John Ireland said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:46 am
yep…
“unity” founded on something other than “holiness in the life and conversation” will quickly be revealed for its flaws.
good stuff.
jon said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:51 am
reminds me of psalm 127:1…that whole labor in vain without God thing…we definitely need His guidance.
great stuff!!!
Mark Jaffrey said,
July 8, 2008 at 10:30 am
It’s amazing when God leads you to a place (physical or emotional) where you can operate in your sweet spot, where you can actually function as the person he designed you to be. Everything else seems second-rate and dull. The vision, the revelation, the flame of divine life that drives the ministry here in Cairo is to see people set on fire with the transforming love of Jesus, filled with his Holy Spirit’s power and then to commission them to go into the rest of the world and fulfill his calling. The divine power of that vision is the miraculous force that unifies 1500 people from fifty different nations and fifty denominations. Without that daily understanding of God’s calling, this church would fragment and schism and the light would be very dim in Cairo.
It’s all down to him.
Kenyon said,
July 8, 2008 at 11:07 am
This is a small yet significant distinction that I am guilty of not comprehending properly. I think we (churchy people) need to focus on the purpose of vision just as much as vision itself.
Jodi said,
July 8, 2008 at 11:07 am
Whoa. That was awesome, Anne. There were so many burn-outs in my last church because the “vision” presented was: grow at all costs. People so naturally buy into “causes,” that they bought into that one, and fizzled out….Myself included.
Terri said,
July 8, 2008 at 11:42 am
It sounds like the book is going to be great. Thanks for letting us get a sneak peak and sounds like you are doing your homework!
Dave Carrol said,
July 8, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Anne its really EXTREMELY true. It’s how you can look back 10 years and know that God brought you safely through things you had no business surviving…
because He speaks… we do… and we make it through on the BEST path!
Kelli said,
July 8, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I am looking forward to reading this book and sharing it with countless others
goteeman said,
July 8, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Anne-
Keep that in - it’s a critical component to understand…
Blessings, love and light -
J/
Starr said,
July 8, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I was wondering what was up with the first word of sentences being capitalized until I realized it was an excerpt. :-)
Jenni Catron said,
July 8, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Love this! So true!
Randy Cook said,
July 8, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Great stuff! Looking forward to your book!
jimmy paravane said,
July 8, 2008 at 7:28 pm
“Anne Jackson is a blog extrovert but an introvert in person.” What? Is this new?? Can I steal it? Did you write about something? I need sleep. (grin)
kate d. said,
July 8, 2008 at 7:51 pm
i hope this excerpt is a keeper! i love it!
brandiandboys said,
July 8, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I love the last line, “without divine guidance we scatter”…how many times have I been in a situation where I have felt scattered?
I’ve never considered myself to be someone who casts “vision” but you’ve just given me a whole new perspective on vision!
Connie said,
July 9, 2008 at 12:37 am
I am so looking forward to reading your book…it sounds like it will be a great help, encouragement and exhortation to us as we pastor our church.
big John Scott said,
July 9, 2008 at 1:06 pm
how many times in the last dozen years did I hear ‘where there is no vision, the people perish’ as organizational pastor/ceo stuff.’ what a good reminder..cause i’m pretty sure as a child of the movement, I went that way too. pastor/prophet. i like that better