Lead With Vision
Session 2
Introduction
Alright, in this session, I want to talk with you about VISION. Because, one of the most significant resources a leader can offer — is a clear and compelling VISION.
People can go without a lot of things in life, but they cannot thrive without vision. Without a clear sense of where they’re going — whether in life, family, or ministry — people end up wandering. Vision provides direction, focus, and hope.
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (NKJV).
Another translation states, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint” (NIV).
The Message paraphrase puts it this way: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (MSG).
So, vision is necessary for the sake of the people we lead.
In other words, vision matters — not just for the church as a whole, but for every area of ministry. If you lead children, youth, worship, hospitality, media, finances, or administration — you need vision for what God wants to do through you. Because people don’t just need another event or another activity. They need direction.
God said to Habakkuk, “Write the vision; make it plain… so he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2). Vision isn’t just about seeing what God sees — it’s about helping others see it too, so they can run with it.
Here’s why this matters for you:
- Vision gives focus — it keeps you from scattering energy across things that don’t matter.
- Vision gives purpose — it reminds people why their work matters.
- Vision gives unity — it pulls a group of people into a shared direction.
Without vision, ministry becomes busy but not fruitful. Calendars get crowded, but lives aren’t changed. With vision, ministry becomes movement — people running together toward God’s purposes.
Events will come and go. But a God-given vision has the power to sustain momentum, inspire sacrifice, and build unity.
So, here’s the Guiding principle for this session:
Programs don’t unite people. Shared vision does!
So how does this affect you (as ministry leaders), and how do you lead with vision?
Let me show you three actionable steps from Scripture. The first is this:
1. See It! — Seek God’s Perspective
The first step in vision is not to dream up big ideas — it’s to see what God already sees. Real vision doesn’t start in a planning session; it starts in the presence of God.
In Habakkuk 2:1, the prophet says, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me.”
Did you catch that? Habakkuk positioned himself to listen.
Vision doesn’t begin with brainstorming or whiteboards, it begins with prayer and revelation from God.
As leaders in God’s house, our responsibility is not to try and dream up our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Our responsibility is to seek God’s heart and align our lives (and ministries), with His divine plan!
Nehemiah modeled this too. After months of prayer, fasting, and planning, he gathered the people and said,
“You see the trouble we are in… Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace” (Nehemiah 2:17).
Then he shared how God’s hand was with him. And the people responded: “Let us start rebuilding.”
Do you know why? Because Nehemiah didn’t just see the vision — he shared the vision in a way that inspired the people to action.
But, here’s the struggle for many (us us), in ministry:
— Sometimes we carry vision in our hearts, but we fail to communicate that vision clearly to the people serving with us.
— And when vision isn’t shared, people default to activity and busy calendars instead of purpose.
— They exchange vision for routines, and mission for maintenance.
Once God has given you a vision, your next responsibility is to make sure others can see it too. A vision that stays locked in your heart won’t move anyone. It has to be communicated in a way that people can understand, embrace, and act on.
Sharing vision means:
- Make it clear — People shouldn’t have to guess where you’re going. Clarity builds confidence.
- Make it compelling — Vision should stir passion, not just fill space on a calendar or a bulletin.
- Make it consistent — Vision isn’t a one-time announcement. You repeat it until your team can say it back in their own words.
Here’s what I know: People don’t automatically follow vision; they follow leaders who communicate vision well — with clarity and deep conviction.
That’s why no matter where you serve — whether in worship, kids, media, hospitality, or finances — your team needs to hear again and again why what they do matters, how it fits into God’s bigger story, and where you’re headed together.
Programs alone can keep people busy, but only a shared vision will keep them united and moving forward.
Okay, if the first way the Bible teaches us to lead with vision is by SEEING IT! Here’s the second way:
2. Share It! — Make the Vision Clear
Notice again, Habakkuk 2:2 says,
“Write the vision; make it plain.”
A vision that isn’t clear is just a pipe dream.
It’s nothing more than an idea, or a vague thought. And while the senior pastor usually sets the overall vision for the church, your role as a ministry leader is to translate that vision into the ministry you lead.
Pastor, would you remind us how you define the VISION of this church? What’s the primary purpose and mission from which your ministries flow? How do you articulate the vision around here?
Think about it like this: if the church vision is a river, your ministry is one of the streams that flows from it. In geographical terms, these are called: Distributaries.
And that’s your role!
Your responsibility within this church isn’t to become a tributary — determining the flow of the river of vision around here, or to create a brand-new river. But, your role is to be a distributary — helping the river of ministry (the greater vision), reach the community and the people around you.
Your job is to ensure that your specific ministry flows in the same direction as that of the church.
That means you need to understand the vision, and then use it as the filter through which your ministry flows. Maybe ask yourself:
- How does this look in children’s ministry?
- How does this play out on the worship team?
- How does this shape how we welcome people at the front door?”
For example:
- If your church’s vision is “to reach people and disciple them in Christ,” then in youth ministry that may look like building intentional mentoring relationships.
- In worship, it may look like choosing songs that clearly communicate the gospel.
- In youth ministry, it might look like raising up teenagers who are bold in their faith at school, who lead in worship, and who invite their friends to know Jesus. Every youth night is not just about games — it’s about building lifelong faith.
- For deacons, board members, or advisory team members, vision means remembering that every financial decision, every building repair, every policy discussion is not just “business” — it’s stewardship of God’s resources to advance His mission. You’re not just maintaining a building; you’re fueling ministry.
- For hospitality team members or greeters, it means seeing every welcome as a chance to show Christ’s love. You’re not just passing out bulletins — you’re shaping first impressions that open the door for people to encounter Jesus.
- For the media team — sound, lighting, livestream — vision means recognizing you’re not just turning knobs or pushing buttons. You’re creating an atmosphere where people can worship without distraction, where the Word can be heard clearly, and where the gospel can go beyond the room to people watching online.
- For small group leaders, vision means seeing your group not as a meeting to check off, but as a spiritual family — a place where discipleship, encouragement, and accountability happen week after week.
POWERPOINT: “If people can’t recall it, they can’t run with it. So make it clear.
Make sure people understand the WHY behind the WHAT of your ministry.
As a leader, your job is to keep repeating it, keep illustrating it, and keep connecting the dots — until they don’t just do the task, but embrace the mission.
Okay, so if the first step is to see the vision, and the second is to share the vision, there’s one more step we can’t miss — and that’s to live the vision.
3. Live It! — Model the Vision
Vision is never meant to stay on paper or in a Sunday sermon.
The most powerful vision is not just spoken — it’s lived.Vision isn’t just something you say — it’s something you live.
Paul told the Corinthians, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
In other words, Paul was saying: “Watch my life, not just my words.”
That’s how vision is caught — not just taught.People don’t just listen to what you teach; they watch how you live.
Think of Nehemiah. He didn’t just rally the people with speeches about rebuilding; he picked up stones and joined them in the work.
And as we already touched on earlier, with Jesus, He didn’t just say, “The greatest among you must be a servant.” But He demonstrated it, by wrapping that towel around His waist and washing His disciples’ feet.
Real leaders embody the vision they want others to follow.
That’s why credibility is essential in leadership. You can’t preach faith if you’re living in fear. You can’t call others to sacrifice if you’re unwilling to give. You can’t urge people to love if you lead with anger or pride.
POWERPOINT: “People don’t follow vision statements — they follow visible examples.”
Without question — credibility is the foundation of all leadership!
Without it, even the best vision loses its power.
- You can’t preach faith if your own life is marked by fear.
- You can’t challenge others to sacrifice if you’re greedy and unwilling to give.
- You can’t call people to love if your leadership is laced with pride or anger.
People don’t just listen to what you say — they watch how you live. They measure your words against your actions.
That’s why, if we want our teams (and ministries), to really embrace the vision God has given us, then we must embody it first!
Because, nothing builds trust like a leader whose life and message are congruent. When your example matches your words, then your vision will become believable. And when that happens — people will be inspired to follow!
Application and Challenge
So, what does this mean for us today?
Leading with vision means we must first see it — spend time with God, asking Him to reveal His perspective. Then we must share it — communicate it clearly, simply, and repeatedly until it becomes part of the culture. And then we must live it — embody it in our daily leadership so others see what it looks like.
So, let me ask you:
- If someone asked the people you lead, “What’s the vision of your ministry?” could they answer? If not, then it’s time to clarify it and share it.
- And if they could define the vision of your ministry, could they say they’ve seen it in you first?
Because at the end of the day, vision is not just words on paper. It’s a calling from God that shapes how we lead, how we serve, and how we live.
— QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? —
Discussion Questions (5–7 min)
- So, take a moment and reflect — how clearly do you feel your ministry team understands the vision of this church and your area of ministry?
- And how are you modeling that vision among your team?
Prayer (Closing 2–3 min)
“Lord, we don’t want to lead by our own ideas. We want Your vision. So, as the song says — open the eyes of our hearts, Lord. We want to see you and discern what you’ve called us to accomplish. Give us courage to live boldly. Help us communicate your vision for our church and ministries clearly. And help us to live it out with our life — not just our words. In Jesus name, amen!”