Service Times
Sunday Morning - 10:00 AM


Church Address
740 N. 70th Street
Lincoln, NE. 68505
(Corner of 70th & Vine)

Phone Number
402-489-5400

Sermons on the Web

Listen or download sermons at sermon.net/gatesofpraise

Additional Websites

Destiny Churches and Ministries International
http://www.dcmian.com/

Online Bible
http://www.biblegateway.com/

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Our Vision PDF Print E-mail
  1. Core Values-Why we do it and what it does-Core values determine the vision.
  2. Mission-Is what the ministry is supposed to be doing-Often the ministries vision will be an expansion of its mission.
  3. Strategy-Involves how a ministry will implement its mission and vision.
  4. Vision
    1. Clarifies Direction
      1. We must know where we are going. If we don’t know where we are going-a lack of mission-then surely we cannot see where we are going-a lack of vision. Where does God want us to go?
      2. The mission determines what the direction is; while the vision, in particular, concerns what the direction looks like. We must both know and see the future.
    2. Invites Unity
      1. Recruitment of ministry personnel.
      2. Persons own personal vision in unity with the church’s vision.
      3. In light of personal vision-discovering gifts, passions, temperaments, talents, and abilities.
      4. Retention of ministry personnel. When there is a common vision, there is usually harmony on the ministry team.
      5. Vision, regularly communicated, serves as a constant reminder to those in ministry of the direction they have agreed to pursue together as a team.
    3. Facilitates Function
      1. The question every ministry must regularly ask and revisit is the functional question. What are we supposed to be doing? The vision as well as the mission should answer the question.
      2. The answer to the functional question is the Great Commission (Matt 28: 19-20; Mark 16: 15). We are commanded to make disciples.
      3. This involves moving people from pre-birth to maturity, from raw paganism to a compelling Christ-likeness.
      4. The church is to pursue the lost people, win them to Christ, and move the new and older disciples to spiritual maturity.
    4. Enhances Leadership
      1. A leader is a Godly servant (character) who knows and sees where he or she is going (mission and vision) and has followers (influence).
      2. Godly servants: Displays a Christ-like character. They are people of integrity and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit engendering trust.
      3. A Godly Christ-like character and a powerful and compelling vision is influence.
    5. Prompts Passion
      1. Vision and passion work hand and hand. While vision is a seeing word that involves what a leader sees in their head, passion is a feeling word that involves their emotions, what they feel in their heart.
      2. Passionate people are those who feel strongly about something. The “something” in this context is the vision.
      3. A compelling clear vision fuels passion.
      4. People not only know and see what they are supposed to be doing, but they feel it as well.
    6. Fosters Risk Taking
      1. People with a compelling, passionate vision are willing to take a risk that they might not otherwise take
      2. Ministry becomes an exciting venture of faith into the mystery of God’s unknown.
      3. Vision does not guarantee. Most are aware that no guarantees exist, yet people are committed to Christ and ministry anyway.
      4. The risks are great, but so is the God we serve and the vision He has given us. (Rom. 11:33-36).
    7. Offers Sustenance
      1. Many have risked or even given their lives For the Savior and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God (Read Heb. 11).
      2. The list of martyrs for the cause of Christ is extensive. Why? What has sustained Christians from the early beginning of the church in the Book of Acts up to today? What has kept people like Paul, Peter, James, Luther, the Wesleys, Billy Graham and many others on track? One answer is a biblical, compelling vision. It encourages people to look beyond the mundane and the pain of ministry. It holds a picture in front of you that distracts you from what is and loudly announces, “ This is what could be.”
    8. Creates Energy
      1. Not much happens without an inspiring, compelling vision.
      2. Visions are exciting and energizing – they energize people.
      3. Visions strike a spark and lifts a ministry out of the mundane.
      4. The vision of people coming to Christ and developing into spiritual maturity, touches those in ministry and move them into action.
      5. Many are caught up in what is, and the vision energizes them into what could be. A compelling from God challenges people to get up and move out of personal mediocrity and accomplish something meaningful for the Kingdom.
    9. Provides Purpose
      1. The right vision provides meaning to people’s lives. It gives them a sense of divine purpose in life – of being part of something great–something bigger them themselves that God is accomplishing at this time and place in history.
      2. I am not just a teacher or cell leader, but I am changing the life course of a person who will someday accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. The latter of the above sentence has vision that brings a sense of purpose, which in turn gives meaning to your life.
      3. They see the big picture and how they fit into it.
    10. Motivates giving
      1. Vision is the key to peoples giving.
      2. Leaders raise funds on the basis of vision rather than needs.
      3. As leaders we must project a clear, well-articulated vision of what we believe is God’s future for the Body of Christ.
      4. Vision not only should motivate people to give of their finances, it encourages them to give of their time and talents.
      5. Vision ultimately affects people’s values and felt needs.
      6. People find time in their busy schedule for that which they value.
Vision = A vision is a clear, challenging picture of the future of the ministry as you believe it can and must be.
  1. Is the vision clear? Do people in the church understand it?
  2. Is it challenging? Does it move people to action?
  3. Does it create a picture? Can they see it in their head?
  4. Is it future oriented? Does it present a picture of the church’s future?
  5. Do I believe it can be? Is it feasible?
  6. Am I convinced it must be: Am I passionate about it?