Issachar Coaching Cluster Year 4 Session 3 Cultivating God’s Preferred Future

How has the Kingdom of God been breaking into your life?

What has been happening with your Evangelism Prayer List?

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Abiding In Jesus Christ Competencies: 1-Growing in Intimacy with Christ 2-Crucifying Self 3-Claiming God’s Armor 4-Exercising Spiritual Disciplines 5-Practicing Sacred Pathways

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Empowering by Holy Spirit Competencies: 1-Claiming the Promise, Presence & Power of the Holy Spirit 2-Obeying the Holy Spirit -Quench Not -Grieve Not -Resist Not

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Empowering by Holy Spirit Competencies: 3-Being filled with the Holy Spirit 4-Manifesting the Fruit of the Holy Spirit 5-Exercising the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Thinking Strategically Competencies: 1-Defining Realities 2-Providing Direction 3-Facilitating Action 4-Thinking Divergently 5-Thinking Convergently

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading Self Competencies: 1-Developing Christ- like Character 2-Establishing Christ-like Priorities 3-Maximizing God- given Abilities 4-Establishing Healthy Relationships 5-Sharpening the Saw/Learning for Life

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading a Team Competencies: 1-Building Trust- filled Relationships 2-Communicating Effectively 3-Unleashing People to Act 4-Cultivating Effective Teams 5-Developing Leaders

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading the Ministry Competencies: 1-Cultivating God’s Preferred Future 2-Managing Change 3-Executing Strategy 4-Adapting Organizational Structures 5-Administrating the Ministry

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model

Key Verses Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” NASU “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” NLT

Key Verses Matt 16:18 “…I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” NIV “…I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”NASU “…I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” NLT

Key Verses Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” KJV “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;…” NIV “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild…” NLT

Key Verses Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” NIV

Habakkuk 2:2-3 " Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” NASU

Habakkuk 2:2-3 "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. NLT

Implications?

Applications?

VISION COMES FROM GOD

Increasing our receptivity: Have you yielded yourself fully enough to God? Have you asked God to unveil his preferred future/vision for your life and ministry? “What is your preferred future/vision for my life?”

Increasing our receptivity: Have you fasted? Have you prayed? Have you been quiet and waited on the Lord in solitude? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to clean up any sinful patterns in your life?

Increasing our receptivity: Have you weeded out the distractions and ambient noise that would keep you from hearing what God is trying to say to you? Have you read avidly?

What Is Vision? “Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.” Bill Hybels “Vision is a portrait of a preferred future, communicated by God to His chosen servants, based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” Barna

What Is Vision? “Vision and direction is something congregational participants are caught by rather than something they catch. It captivates them.” George Bullard- Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation

Vision is a clear and captivating picture of God’s preferred future that produces passion in its recipients.

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Engage the congregation in a Spiritual Strategic Journey The desired end result is that a congregation will develop a future story of its ministry into which it will seek to live. George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision o What though seemingly impossible today, would transcend the depth of our congregation’s life and ministry and radically transform its ability to serve in the midst of God’s kingdom? George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision o What is the future toward which God is pulling our congregation? o From where you stand what does it look like? o What do you envision as God’s full kingdom potential for your congregation, and what is the future George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision story of that potential for the next 10 to 12 years? o What will the ministry of your congregation be like on October 31, 2017, the 500 th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the Wittenburg door? George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Launch a 100 Days of Share and Prayer Triplets o Groups of 3 people o Meet 10 times o Over a period of 100 days o For 100 minutes George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Launch a 100 Days of Share and Prayer Triplets o To discuss aspects of their personal spiritual journey o To dialogue about the Strategic Spiritual Journey of the congregation George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Launch a 100 Days of Share and Prayer Triplets o To pray aloud for one another and the congregation George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Seek to Tell the Future Story of Your Congregation o Begin with 3 potential themes o Select God’s theme George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Seeking God’s Vision Begin Living Into Your Future o Create a Future Story Telling Map George Bullard

Practical Suggestions in Creating a Vision Statement 1)Short- 1 or 2 sentences; 25 words 2)Non-technical language/jargon 3)Use active vivid language 4)Limit it to 4-6 key concepts 5)Avoid trivial slogans

Practical Suggestions in Creating a Vision Statement Do’s Specify outcomes:  Attitudes  Beliefs  Behaviors Include places or people

Practical Suggestions in Creating a Vision Statement Do Not: Include numbers or dates Describe things easily achieved Something that can’t be measured

Practical Suggestions in Creating a Vision Statement Do Not: Define yourself in opposition to others, No negatives

Expressions of Capturing a Vision Statement Increase our receptivity to God Seeking the Lord until you hear his voice by: Fasting Prayer Being still/Waiting on the Lord Focus on “one word”, a phrase, a sentence

Expressions of Capturing a Vision Statement Launch a 100 Days of Share and Prayer Triplets

Resources for Capturing a Vision Statement Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation- George Bullard Visioneering- Andy Stanley Power of Vision- George Barna Making Vision Stick- Andy Stanley

On a 1 to 10, how have you been leading your people into God’s preferred future? What are some specific next steps? How can your triad partners unpack these next steps with you? Begin by reviewing progress on Last Month’s Smart Goals

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