Without Vision the People Perish

     I hear a lot about vision statements for churches.  I hear how important they are and how people can get motivated around them and actually lose motivation without them.  However, to me it seems a little arrogant to think that I should come up with a vision/purpose statement when God already has.  That’s right, God is very clear about what the purpose and the vision of the church is.  His purpose is on almost every page of the New Testament.

Doesn’t it make sense that we should use the purpose given to us rather than try to create our own?  Well preacher where is the purpose statement in the Bible?   I’m glad you ask.  Just look at Matthew 28:16-20.  Here is our vision, “the world” and here is our purpose “Go” and here is our action statement, “preach the Gospel, baptize in His name, and teach people to observe all He has taught”.  There’s plenty right there.  We need no more than that and who in their right mind think they can improve on that?

I’ve heard this passage called the “great Commission”, I believe it.  This is the great commission of the church.  God has commissioned us for this purpose.