People are looking for the real deal. A vision that can be seen, not just talked about. Visual creates clarity.
Here is a clear visual of a process a church can strive to be. There are steps to becoming a fully committed follower of Christ.
1. Knowing Christ: This happens though worship, fellowship, etc.
2. Growing in Christ: This happens through discipleship, bible study, quite time, etc.
3. Serving Christ: This happens as you see God at work and you join Him there; mission projects, teaching, volunteering, etc.
4. Sharing Christ: This happens when your knowledge of Him is ready for be vocalized to others who need step 1.
As I have been studying in the Gospel of John for my sermon series, I have realized that John knew about this eternity that He believed in. He lived as if he was “in” eternity, which made him very bold and victorious in his faith. Could it be that we really are living “in” our eternity now? If we believe that as a person confesses Christ as Lord that they are fully saved and secure, then our eternity begins at that moment. Let me explain. According to 1 Thessalonians 3:13-17, believers will be in the presence of Christ immediately from the minute they depart this physical life. So, eternity starts as soon as you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10).
Clarity begins when we seek to clearly define the process of the vision for the church. John’s vision was for a Kingdom that could be clearly defined. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word.” John used the greek word “logos” to describe the physically spoken world that was created by God. John decided to make that clear from the start. The process is defined. John says the “Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God has always had the “Word” with Him from the beginning in His mind and as He spoke it.
Purpose Statements for churches have become the norm. The mainly include the 5 New Testament purposes of the church, which are Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship, Ministry, and Fellowship. I believe that these statements are a good way to communicate a vision. However, churches must be able to go past just defining the statement (the what);churches must be able to define the process (the how) of the purpose statement. This is a where churches should focus there energy. The process is more important than the statement itself. If a church can only define purpose, then a vital step is missing.
In his book, “Simple Church,” Thom Rainer quotes Michael hammer who is a business consultant for 2 day seminars that cost more than $2,000 to attend. Mr. Hammer says that the process is more important than the purpose because it is what makes everything work. People within a church must know and understand the process because they are who fulfills it. The process is for them.
Clearly defining the process engages people through the process because they understand the expectation. People are unable to embrace something they don’t know. Let us walk through this process together so we can be a purposeful church with a process that engages people for the Kingdom of God.
“Clarity is the ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people,” from the Book Simple Church.
Clarity can become “clear” when properly communicated to the church. A clear process is important for a smooth transition.
Clarity must be defined, illustrated, discussed, and measured. We must, as a church, speak the same language when it comes to defining our process and purpose for the ministry of the church. Defining the process takes time. It is a communication process that needs massaging, formulating, and is to be grasped by the church in general.
If we can commit to Love God first, we are all on the same page. We do this by understanding Jesus’s statement of loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Translation: heart=passions, soul=all of your being, and mind=your filtering agent. Love God with your passions, your being, and filter them through your mind.
Secondly, loving God should result in a love for people. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. A love for people is a way for our clarity in the church process to become clear. Jesus said others will know that you are my disciples by the way you love each other!