The One Thing…

As we begin to look toward 2022, here’s a question for you:

What’s the one thing God is asking your church to do together next year?

This question is powerful, because it pushes you to clearly articulate a goal. And it’s driven by several things that are really important for success in ministry:

Vision

When you imagine your church a year from now, what does it look like? When your community gathers, what’s the spirit people show each other? What is your church consistently doing in the community? How have your members grown? This isn’t about goals and metrics. Instead, it’s about visualizing how God wants to mold this congregation into His likeness.

Once you imagine it, describe that vision succinctly. Turn it into a short phrase or sentence, then repeat it every time you get together with people at church. Put it prominently in the bulletin every week, and on your website. Then use that vision as the foundation for answering the question: What’s the one thing God is asking your church to do together next year?

Focus

Asking about the one thing forces you to focus. Personally, I do my best work when I’m focused. Of course, there are many priorities at church, and you’ll be involved in many aspects of ministry. But what is that single, highest priority that you can rally the church leaders and members around? What is that one focus for 2022?

Action

There is a time for patiently waiting for God to prepare you. But more often He says to go do it.

Scripture is filled with stories where God tells someone to do something. At the Red Sea, God told Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Ex. 14:15). He told Gideon, “Go in this might of yours” (Ju. 6:14). He told Isaiah, “Go, and tell this people” (Is. 6:9). And of course, Jesus told His followers, “Go therefore and make disciples” (Mt. 28:19).

So what are you going to do?

Community

Rallying your church to do something big together is a powerful way to build community. Yes, you gather on Sabbath morning to worship, and hopefully members leave inspired to change their individual worlds for Christ. But what about that big thing? What are you going to do together?

God’s Leading

This isn’t your vision, it’s God’s vision. This isn’t your church, it’s God’s church. And when the Spirit inspires, He also empowers. God wants you to do something bigger than your little group of believers could ever accomplish in their own power. When you do what God wants you to do, He promises the power to do it. As Paul wrote, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Ph 2:12). God works in you to act.

So back to the question, which captures vision, focus, action, community, and God’s leading:

What’s the one thing God is asking your church to do together next year?

When you know the answer that question, you’ll be on your way to seeing a harvest for God’s Kingdom in your town.

The SermonView crew would love to partner with you to do something big in your community. Whether it’s evangelistic event marketing, Bible study interest generation, interest management or a more effective church website, we’re ready to help. Talk to a campaign manager today at 1-800-525-5791.