Refocusing Our Vision

We’ve all heard this verse; probably many times: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18).


So here is what churches do. They read the verse. Nobody wants to perish, so they say, “We’ve got to have a vision.” A committee is formed; they begin to meet; and over what is usually a lengthy process, they come up with a vision statement for the church. It’s presented. Discussed. And finally, months after it all began, the vision is voted on and approved.

Then what happens?

Everybody takes a deep breath, relaxes… “We don’t have to worry about perishing now…we have a vision statement!” And they go back to their regular routine of doing church.

Often months of work…one vote…and then…NOTHING! Just the same old, same old…in the same old way for the same old crowd.

Is this really what it means to have a vision? Is this really the process Jesus desires for His church to be doing? Are we just to come up with a vision statement so we can put it on a banner and print it on the letterhead? Is this all?

I’m pretty sure this is not at all what Jesus desires for His church, nor is this what the verse means.

Please understand, I believe the process of coming up with an initial vision from God for yourself, your family and for His church is important…critically so. Without vision there is perishing.

The problem is most people and most churches act as if successfully crafting a vision statement is the end of the journey. This is not so. Having the vision clarified or crystallized is just the first step; it’s not the ending, but the beginning of a journey.

And on the journey, vision constantly must be refocused.

Have you ever watched a movie with submarines; particularly one where the sub is attacking another sub or a surface ship? Old WWII movies, and even modern ones, include a similar scene. The captain peers through the periscope, calls out “Mark!” And another officer calls out some numbers. They are taking a reading on the position of the target.

Another crew member is told to “plot a solution.” In older movies they get out their slide-rule and being calculating…trying to determine the angles, distances, etc. so they can make the shot with the best chance of hitting the target.

A little later the captain will look through the periscope again. Again he says, “Mark!” And the process is repeated.

They already calculated a solution a few minutes ago. Why do they keep doing this?

ANSWER: Because both the target and the submarine are moving.

The calculations made based on where they were – both the target and the sub – five minutes ago will not work now. They have both moved.

IMPORTANT TRUTH: Vision based on where you were at some point in the past will not work now…you have moved and so has your target!

As people and as churches, we change. We constantly are evolving, growing, developing and maturing. Our community is changing as well. Things are not like they used to be – not in church and not in the world around us.

So the question is: Are we still using the old calculations? Are we shooting at where the targets used to be?

Many churches are…that’s why 80-85% of the churches in America are plateaued or declining.

The Apostle Paul was a master at this process of refocusing his vision. Read his statement on how he constantly refocused, based on changes around him.

“For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law – though I myself am not under the law – to win those under the law. To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law – not being outside God’s law, but under the law of Christ – to win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

The heart of this passage – the summary section – is the second half of verse 22: “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” This shows the Apostle Paul constantly refocusing his vision…to best hit his target!

There are a couple of important truths in this passage about refocusing our vision.

I. The Consistency of the Vision

Consistency is a big word, but it just means: the part of the vision that does not change. Now this may surprise you since we are talking about the need to constantly refocus our vision; that we would begin by discussing the part that never changes. But this is important.

Though our vision constantly must be refocused, there are two elements of a true, God-given vision that never change. First…

A. Our Vision’s Heart

Why did Paul do this? Why did he “…become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some?”

He answers this question in verse 23: “Now I do all this because of the gospel…”

Paul’s approach to accomplish his vision changed, based on his target. But the heart of his vision never did! It always was – and still is for us today – “the gospel.”

If your vision personally, as a family, or at your church has anything at its core other than the Gospel – the Good News of Jesus – then your vision is not from God; is not worthy of your time, energy, efforts or resources; and is not going to transform your city nor touch this world!

The heart of any vision must consistently be the Gospel.

That means: Everything we do, we do to promote the Gospel, spread the Gospel, and impact others with the Gospel! At our core, we are all about the Gospel!

Which begs the question: Is this true of you; your church; of me? Is everything we do about the Gospel? We do it to promote, spread or impact others with the Gospel?

Or, are there some things we do because of tradition, habit or personal likes and desires…but really have nothing to do with the Gospel?

These are tough questions. But important ones, vitally so if you, your family and your church are going to be and accomplish what God desires.

We must have a vision, or we perish. And the heart of our vision consistently must be the Gospel. Nothing else…never! Or we are wasting our time.

The second unchanging component of a God-given vision is…

B. Our Vision’s Hope

Paul said: “…I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jew I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law…to win those under the law. To those…outside the law, like one outside the law…to win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” (vs. 19-22; emphasis added)

Paul had one hope for his ministry. In his words: “to win more people.”

What is your hope? Your church’s hope?

It could be many things. Do we hope to become financially sound? Do we hope to start new churches? Do we hope to have more in Sunday School? Do we hope to reach more families? Do we hope to feed the hungry and cloth the naked?

With all the things we do, what is it we really are hoping to accomplish? Can we answer that question succinctly; with one, clear answer?

Paul could. He had one hope for his ministry, for everything he did. And he could state it in one succinct phrase: “to win more people.” I believe the hope the Apostle Paul had for his ministry is the same God intends for each of His children to have in their own lives. Paul’s hope is our hope – as a faith family and as individual families – and that is: “to win more people.”

Vision is not a shotgun, but a laser.

And the more we realize and remember that our vision has a heart and a hope that never change, the more we can bring our vision from a broad beam of light into one with laser-like focus!

The consistency of our vision is its heart and its hope.

But then we come to the refocusing part. There is some aspect of the vision that does change; that must change as we and our target community change. So, for the second truth from this passage, let’s see…

II. The Adaptability of the Vision

Since the heart of the vision – the Gospel – does not change; and the hope of the vision – winning some – does not change…then what does change?

What part of our God-given vision is adaptable?

ANSWER: the approach.

We see this clearly in Paul’s words in this passage. First notice there is…

A. Submission & Subjection

“For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all…” (vs. 19a).

Paul was a free man in every sense of the word. He was high ranking in the Jewish culture and a Roman citizen. He was slave to no man (any more than any other Roman citizen was to Caesar). And yet, he purposefully became a slave to every man!

He willfully submitted and subjected himself to each group, before whom he appeared.

When testifying to the Jews, he “became like a Jew.” To those under the law, he willfully submitted to the rules of the law. When discussing Christ with those out from under the law, he became like them. To the weak, this strong man talked on their level.

How does this apply to our vision, and the need to constantly refocus it?

We too, like the Apostle Paul, must purposefully and willfully submit and subject ourselves to those we are trying to impact.

We must be willing to refocus our vision for the good of those we are trying to reach. We must realize, this journey is not about us…not at all! It is ALL about Him! And Him working through us to reach/touch them!

This means the vision cannot be based on just our desires, our likes, our preferences, etc., and stay that way! Rather, it must be adaptable to the needs of our targets! Submission and subjection are ways we can adapt to accomplish the vision.

Notice second in Paul’s approach, his…

B. Empathizing & Empowering

Look again at this passage’s summary statement: “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” (vs. 22b)

The result of Paul’s submission and subjection was that he was able to touch each person on their level. He wasn’t speaking down, as someone above them; nor was he below them. He became their peer. He walked where they walked and lived life next to them.

Imagine the impact of Paul’s message as he got on the level of his target.  Contrast that to those who don’t.

At my church, we have a ministry called Heart for the City (HFTC). It includes a short worship service then a clothes closet and some food.

Although it may seem funny, it’s really rather sad to watch “church” people the first time they are around people like those who usually attend HFTC. The “church” people stand in the corner, off to the side, or with other “church” people. Their arms are crossed and they don’t smile much. With a wary eye they watch what is happening.

Compare them to the workers who are used to working in HFTC. They mingle with all the people, easily engage in conversation, offer help or guidance and genuinely seem to love on those coming for the ministry. They participate in what is happening.

Which person do you think has the greater impact on those coming for the ministry? The “stand-offers” or the ones standing beside, who stand with the attendees?

Again, imagine the impact of Paul’s message as he got on the level of his target.

This is how our vision must constantly be refocused. We must continually make sure we are walking with our targets, not watching them warily from afar! As we walk with them, we will learn more about them. We will learn their likes and dislikes. We will learn their joys and their pains. And the more we learn, the better focused – laser-like – our ministry can become!

Submission and subjection, empathizing and empowering, these are way we can adapt – we can refocus our vision – to accomplish the unchanging heart and hope of our vision: impacting others with the Gospel!