The Shapes of Spiritual Vision Dr. John P. Chandler Copy right John P. Chandler, 2002

What the Bible Says about Vision “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you …” Ephesians 1:17-18

“Wisdom and Revelation” Revelation: from heaven Wisdom: “on earth as it is in heaven”

“Eyes of your heart” Visionary leadership: The ability to turn a heart-perceived direction from God into a conceptual shape that you understand and communicate in a picture that others will follow.

Visionary Leadership A matter of sharing some “shapes” with your people

Some “self” shapes Conceptual ways to think in terms of “my” and “our” calling What is God doing in my/our life? How does that fit with what I’m now doing day-to-day?

God Local Culture Your Congregation Calling Have I thought about the “big picture?” Have I thought about the local details of that? transcendence immanence

God Local Culture Your Congregation Calling bc d e f a.Am I in the middle of my holy calling? b. Is what we do “church?” c. Can this church reach its local culture? d. Is there anywhere in our culture where God is present and at work? e. Is God present in our congregation? f. Where is our culture being called to go? a

ChurchedNon-Churched Christian Non-Christian With whom is it a joy to spend my time? Who am I called to reach?

Time Spent work marital sleep parental physical societal social intellectual recreational 1 = awful 10 = ideal Would my best friend agree?

Shepherd Rancher Scope of vision Am I growing in my ability not only to do ministry but multiply ministry in others? Am I dealing with any issues of codependence or addiction?

Bible Holy Spirit Community / Tradition / Church Am I getting what I need spiritually? Sources of Authority a b c

How long will I stay? What “chapter” am I in?

Community Cause Corporation Family “Do we get along?” “Are we brothers/sisters?” “Are we loving?” Army “Are we taking this hill?” “Are we in it together, despite personal feelings?” Business “Is this any way to do things?” “Are these best practices?” Am I dealing with multiple “hats” of ministry?

In what “shape” is my ministry? Vision … and vision- casting … comes from being “in good shape” Which shapes reveal the next growing edges for God’s work in my life?

The Shapes of Spiritual Vision Dr. John P. Chandler The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership Copy right John P. Chandler, 2002