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Clarifying Your Vision

Welcome to Clarifying Your Vision, a series of three modules designed to help you learn how to capture God’s vision for building mature followers of Jesus Christ.

Overview

Two of the most memorable slogans related to the subject of vision have been given to us, respectively, by Dr. John E. Haggai and missionary William Carey: (1) “Attempt something so great for God that it is doomed to failure unless God be in it” and (2) “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” This course examines several definitions of vision and demonstrates the importance of defining reality and gaining the insight and foresight for engaging in personal discipleship when you are alone with God in solitude and silence.

 

Self-Paced and Self-Directed

This course is self-paced, as well as self-directed, meaning you may complete the assigned work within the limitations of your own schedule. There are no deadlines, and the online materials may be accessed at your convenience.

 

Course Objectives

  1. To examine the word vision and underscore its importance to the work of discipleship.
  2. To differentiate between a vision and a mission.
  3. To consider how imagination plays a vital role in developing a vision.
  4. To develop a Profile of a Discipled Person.

Course Introdution

After the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, it was discovered that the binoculars for the lookout station had been removed from the ship before it left Southampton. As a result, they could not see far enough ahead to avert disaster. One small oversight led to catastrophic consequences for the 1,503 people who were not able to be saved.

A clear vision may not only prevent failure but provide many other benefits for those who are committed to seeing it realized. This is true in disciplemaking as it is in business, engineering, education, music, painting, or any other field of endeavor. Once God’s vision is captured, the path of discipleship is made more plain, and those traveling on it are able to band together in a common purpose for the glory of God.

 

Purpose

Clarifying Your Vision has been designed to help you learn, as Stephen Covey puts it, “to begin with the end in mind – to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction” (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, p. 98). Two vitally important questions emerge in this course: (1) Who are you, and where are you going? (2) Who are the people in your discipleship group, and where are you seeking to take them.

 

Module 1

Study Part II: Clarifying Your Vision, available from the Classic Discipleship page (scroll down to “Content Downloads”). The Answer Guide is available to use with this material. Included in this section is content that addresses the following:

What is Vision?
Daring Greatly, a poem by Theodore Roosevelt
The Importance of Vision
Characteristics of a Vision
Insights from James Lowell’s poem, For an Autograph
Six Elements of a Vision
The Difference Between a Vision and a Mission
The Three “Musts” of a Successful Mission
Use Your Imagination!
What Are We Trying to Produce?
A Vision for Discipleship
Building upon the foundation of Introduction to Discipleship, these eleven topics will guide you as you seek to capture God’s vision for discipleship through prayer and wise counsel.

 

Module 2

Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (available in paperback, Kindle, and Nook; translated into 34 languages). You are encouraged to read the entire book, but especially Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. For your personal benefit, consider writing a one-page summary indicating why you believe it is vital to have a clear vision before embarking on any endeavor, including discipleship.

Module 3

After reading and studying the material under the heading, Use Your Imagination, develop a Profile of a Discipled Person, a concise description of a person (a vision) which would, prayerfully, be realized after spending some period of time with you in a discipleship relationship. For example, suppose you intended to spend one year discipling a small group of believers. Looking into the future (to the end of this year), what would God want your disciples to know (knowing), to be (being), and to do (doing)? Then, working from this biblical vision, consider what content and training you would use to bring about the desired results (transformation) by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. The Imagine Being a Believer section will provide numerous ideas for your profile. Of course, the longer the period of time you have in which to disciple someone, the greater the investment, qualitatively and quantitatively, you will be able to make.

Your next course is Preparing to Lead. At your convenience, we invite you to assess your calling, your character, and your commitment as they relate to discipleship.