6. Work out our salvation soberly and joyfully. (Philippians 2:11–13, Galatians 5.13″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>13, Galatians 5.25″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>25)
Lastly, we are committed to living more and more like Christ. It is the joyful privilege of God’s people to be conformed to the image of his Son. It is not pretty or easy, but it is undeniably good and important. Year-by-year, week-by-week, even day-by-day, we will be identifying areas of weakness or failure, receiving forgiveness because of the finished work of Christ, and then working together for change.
That’s an example vision statement—six things we hope to experience together as we invest ourselves into one another. Yours might be the same, similar or completely different. The point is that it offers a few objective points that bring the purpose of a small group into focus and help you assess its health and progress.
[Tweet “Your small group is destined to die a slow, complacent, even cordial death without direction.”]
The Value of Vision
Developing a vision can be hard work (it doesn’t have to be). It will take some careful thought and prayer, and probably some focused attention and interaction with others in the group. So is it worth it? Here are three reasons to go ahead and invest your time, energy and prayer into a vision statement for your small group.
1. Vision breeds commitment and investment.
If the purpose of your small group is vague and mostly social, then your members won’t even know how to be committed and invested. It’s not all that hard to commit to having dinner every other week or once a month, but anything with low-level commitment comes with low-level expectation, and therefore very often low-level fruit.
Instead, develop a clear and actionable vision. When you identify things you want to see happen in your time together, everyone has the opportunity at the outset to buy into those things, and then afterward to work together toward those things. From the beginning, everyone will know that there’s more to do here than to eat and chat.
2. Vision makes decision-making more objective.
Over the life of a small group—whether you meet for a year or for 10 years—you will make hundreds of decisions, some small and some larger.
How often will we meet? Will we meet year-round?
Where will we meet?
What will we do when we meet?
Will we celebrate holidays? How will we celebrate holidays?
Will we add new members?
Will we do anything together to serve our community?
Will we study the Bible together?
Will we read a book together that’s not the Bible? Which one?
Will we do anything outside of our regular meetings?
One way to make the questions more objective is to create a grid for making decisions (e.g., a vision statement). If there are specific things you’re striving to accomplish together, you will know better how to answer any number of questions with your group. Articulated objectives and priorities will even answer lots of the questions for you.
3. Vision mobilizes your people inside and outside of your meetings.
A vision statement will set expectations, breed commitment and clarify decision-making. It also mobilizes your members into ministry. They will have more tangible, actionable ways to use their gifts to serve the group or the group’s goals. Even beyond your regular meetings, a vision statement can envision your members for ministry at their workplace or in their neighborhoods.
How to Develop a Vision for Your Group
If you are persuaded that your group needs a vision statement, how would you go about developing one? It might sound overwhelming to some. Here are three simple steps to get you started.
