3 Steps To Greater Christian Ministry

Recently, I was meeting with our Strategic Ministry Team for the purpose of relaunching our mission and vision for doing ministry through our business. We had completed the mission statement for the team and moved on to the envisioned future. I explained what I had envisioned for our future and then asked for feedback from the rest of the team. That was when I was told that my vision for the future was not big enough!

Overwhelmed Or Confident?

Think of times that you have made plans for the future. Did you feel overwhelmed with the task ahead of you? Or did you feel fairly confident that your vision for the future was something you could handle? While this may not seem like a big deal to you, I promise it is.

Here is the deal. When we have a vision for the future that is well within our grasp, we are not leaving room for God to act. Casting the vision for a future that does not require God’s intervention is like telling Him that we do not need His help. In effect, we are putting ourselves on a pedestal, which is NOT good for our relationship with God!

Example From Scripture

Let’s take a look at an example from Scripture. When we read in Judges 6-7, we see God calling Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites. When Gideon finally agrees to lead the charge, he has over 30,000 men willing to fight against the 135,000 warriors of the enemy Midianites.

Gideon and the Israelites are clearly outnumbered, but God is not satisfied with the odds because there is still the possibility that the Israelites will take credit for the victory themselves:

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many people for Me to hand the Midianites over to you, or else Israel might brag: ‘I did it myself.’”
Judges 7:2

Only By God’s Hand

If you are familiar with the story, you know that through a process or elimination, God reduces Gideon’s army to 300 soldiers. He delivers the Israelites in the following battle and everyone knows it was by His hand that victory was achieved. No one was under the illusion that Gideon was the mastermind behind the win.

You have probably heard it said that God will not give us more than we can handle. This is simply not true. The Scripture being referenced here is talking about temptation, not vision or difficulty.

God is most certainly going to allow us to experience difficulties that are bigger than we are. He wants us to embrace challenges and visions that are bigger than we are. It is in these seasons that we are more reliant on Him. This is exactly what He wants!

Same For Ministry Vision

The same principle applies to us and the vision we have for the ministry in our businesses. God wants to leverage our businesses in a way that draws many more people to Him. He wants us doing ministry through our business that is exponentially greater than we are.

I was challenged by a member of our team because my vision was too small. I was casting the vision for a future that we could create on our own, not one that required God to create through us.

Small Vision Is Bad

There are two critical reasons that a small vision is bad for us in our walk with God.

First, a smaller vision means less ministry will be accomplished through us. Fewer people will be impacted for Christ. This is certainly not something God wants to see happen.

Not only is this bad because more is truly possible, but also because a smaller vision achieved on our own will tempt us to take sole credit for it. Just like God told Gideon, we are likely to brag that we did it ourselves.

3 Steps For Greater Christian Ministry

If you truly desire to do God’s will through your business, then I recommend the following three steps:

1. Cast a vision that requires God’s hand.
2. Trust in Him to deliver it (but work as if it is up to you!).
3. Give Him the credit for what has been done!

How big is your vision for Christian ministry in your business?

Is it too big for you?

What needs to change with this vision?

photo by David Fulmer