For the past few months, we have talked about different dimensions of discipleship. What it means to be a seeker, learner, influencer, and investor. We have talked about the discipleship map and how to encourage people to take the next step in their spiritual journeys. We have talked about compasses, maps, flashlights, and ways to expect the unexpected on our paths. We have commissioned you to be the leaders that God has created you to be.
Let’s take a big step back and connect some dots.
Vision.
Bill Hybels describes vision as the “leader’s most potent weapon.” He defines vision as “a picture of the future that produces passion.”
At NCC, our vision for small groups is Be One, Make One, For One. We want to Be a disciple, Make a disciple, and do it all for the One as an act of worship to Him.
Seeker, Learner, Influencer, and Investor define what “one” is when we say Be One and Make One. As individuals, we should strive to grow in all of those areas of discipleship. As leaders, we should help others grow in all of those areas. It’s all about making disciples.
At NCC, we have a free market approach to making disciples. Some make disciples within the context of inductive Bible study. Others make disciples in the context of connecting with the homeless. Others make disciples on the basketball court on Sunday afternoons. Whatever the approach, you need vision to keep your focus.
Be One, Make One, For One– what does that look like for your individual group? How are you accomplishing those goals? What makes discipleship in your group unique?
At the 30,000 foot level of small group ministry at NCC, my vision is to see over 100% of NCCers plugged into small groups. Why? Because I want unchurched people around Capitol Hill packing out our Alpha course. I want small groups launched for the sole purpose of building relationships with people who don’t know Christ. I want people in small groups who don’t even know they are in NCC small groups. I also want to see life transformation happen in people’s lives. I want NCCers multiplying their lives and their leadership and spreading out across the globe taking what they have learned and passing it along to others.
It is so easy to get stuck down in the weeds. As a leader, it is vitally important that we get a vision from God, embrace it, and begin to live it and talk it and drive people crazy with it.
I encourage you to take some time this week to really think about the vision of Be One, Make One, For One and about your own vision for implementing that within the context of your group. Make sure that your vision is big enough for God to fit into. Then begin to communicate it. Talk about it until people are sick of hearing about it. Let it burn white hot inside of you.
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