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Eight Steps to Dreaming Bigger Dreams

Every church leader needs a dream. Most leaders start out with a dream, but those dreams tend to shrink to the size of the situation they find themselves in. That’s why we need to be stretched periodically. The history of Saddleback is a testimony to the power of a God-given dream. In my first Saddleback sermon—during a trial service with 60 people—I shared the dream God gave me for the church. It was a big dream. (You can read the vision I shared that morning in the first chapter of The Purpose Driven Church.) When I stood up and shared that dream, no one thought there was a chance it could come true. But God did what he said he was going to do.  Great things come from small beginnings when God is in them. But you need to start with a dream.   If you’re struggling to discover God’s dream for your ministry, here are eight steps to dream bigger than you’ve ever dreamed before.

Open your mind to God—The Principle of Inspiration

God’s perspective is what makes your dream different from normal, secular goal-setting. Proverbs 28:26 tells us, “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe” (TLB). That’s why your dream should begin by getting God’s perspective on your life. Schedule some time to sit down, get quiet, and ask God, “What is your will?” When I sat down before starting Saddleback and began praying for God’s will, he directly impressed upon my heart: “Go to a major urban area.” That’s all I had. I didn’t know where, but I knew God wanted me to go to a big urban area. At the time, I didn’t have the slightest idea that it would be the Saddleback Valley in Southern California.

Do some research—The Principle of Information

After you spend time in prayer, you need some information. Don’t make decisions out of ignorance. Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB). You need to ask yourself, “What do I need to know first?” Then read books or listen to podcasts about, for example, the ministry you’re dreaming of starting. Visit churches that have that ministry. Attend seminars. Often there are experts out there who are simply a phone call away.

Start asking for advice—The Principle of Consultation

Talk to someone who has already taken the risk and chased a similar dream. Proverbs 24:6 says, “If you have lots of good advice, you will win” (NCV). It is wise to learn from experience. It’s even wiser to learn from the experience of others. None of us have enough time to make all the mistakes in life. Learn from the mistakes of others. So, at this point, ask yourself, “Who else can help me?” Whenever I find that person, I ask:
  • What things have worked the best for you?
  • How have you tried and failed?
  • What would you do differently today?
Too often, when we’re struggling to achieve our dreams, we choose to fake it rather than ask for help. We fear that others will think we don’t know what we’re doing. But without the right advice, you’re going to appear foolish anyway. That’s why the best thing to do is humble yourself and ask for advice.

Establish some priorities—The Principle of Selection

You need to tackle your dream in a logical order. When I came up with the Saddleback Vision, I knew it wasn’t going to just happen. I needed a clear-cut plan. In fact, I made a 12-week plan for everything that needed to get done leading up to the church’s launch. You need to prioritize what needs to get done as you chase your dreams. The Bible describes it like this: “Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth” (Proverbs 17:24 NLT). Ask yourself, “What is my target?” You don’t have time to do everything. The secret to success is selecting the right priorities.

Evaluate the cost—The Principle of Evaluation

Take a calculated risk. Proverbs 20:25 says, “Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost” (NLT). As you chase your dream, ask yourself:
  • Is it necessary? (Can I reach my goal another way?)
  • What will it cost? (Everything valuable in life will cost you something in time, energy, money, or reputation.)
  • Is it worth it?
When I began to dream about Saddleback Church, I asked myself the question, “Is it worth it?” Eventually, I came to the conclusion that it absolutely was worth it, but I had to ask the question.

Plan for problems—The Principle of Preparation

Never ignore a problem. Why? Because a problem won’t ignore you. You will likely face problems as you set out to reach your goals, but you can choose to meet those problems on your terms. The Bible says, “A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences'' (Proverbs 27:12 TLB). Ask yourself: “What can go wrong with this dream?” Then ask, “What will happen if it does?” The Bible says that’s being sensible.

Be willing to take risks and face your fears—The Principle of Confrontation

We must face our fears if we want to achieve our dreams. The Bible says, “Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety” (Proverbs 29:25 TLB). Fear isn’t a sign of a weakness. It’s a sign of humanity. Courage is moving ahead despite this fear.  I was terrified when I shared the Saddleback Vision with the people at our first service. But I also knew the safest place to be was doing what God called me to do. When you do what God is calling you to do, it will build your confidence.

Do it now—The Principle of Initiation

At some point, you need to stop talking and start acting. Once you’ve decided your dream is worth the risk, go for it. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (NLT). Think of a trapeze artist. The trapeze artist has to let go of one bar in order to reach the next one. Without letting go of the first bar, the trapeze artist will simply swing back to where they started.  You need to come to the point in your life where you courageously reach for the dream God has called you to—despite your fears.

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Are You Focused on the Immediate or the Eternal?

Are You Focused on the Immediate or the Eternal?

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Three Ways to Grow While You Wait

Three Ways to Grow While You Wait

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6 Ways Leaders Need to Show Discipline

6 Ways Leaders Need to Show Discipline

Great leaders have at least one common denominator: personal discipline.  Take the Apostle Paul as an example. He had tremendous self-control. He talks about it in this passage: “Don’t you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize? Run like them, so that you can win. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25 GW). Paul wanted to be successful and understood he couldn’t live haphazardly and accomplish what God called him to do. He showed self-discipline throughout his ministry, and so should we. Here are six specific areas of our lives where leaders need to show self-discipline. Their mood: Most great things in the world are achieved by those who don’t feel like doing them. The Bible says, “A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls” (Proverb 25:28 TLB). Without discipline, you’re at the mercy of your moods. You’re without defense and a helpless victim of your emotions.  Their words: Proverbs 13:3 says, “Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin” (GW). Leaders who say the wrong things at the wrong time can expect problems.  Their reactions: The Bible says, “If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it” (Proverbs 19:11 GNT). Leaders don’t fly off the handle even when provoked. When you get angry because of someone else, you’re letting that person have control over you. A disciplined person acts rather than reacts. Their schedule: We all have the same amount of time—168 hours a week. But leaders know how to use their time effectively. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility . . . Make the best use of your time” (PHILLIPS). Discipline is the reason some people get more done than others. You don’t have time to do everything as a leader, so you need to schedule your priorities. If you don’t decide how you’ll spend your time, others will decide for you.  Their money: Leaders must live within their means. The way you manage the resources God gives you is a glimpse into how you’ll manage the resources of others. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with a lot” (GW).  Their health: For many of us, our bodies need more exercise, more rest, and fewer calories. Proverbs 23:2 says, “If you have a big appetite, restrain yourself” (GNT). Leadership is a marathon. If you want to go the distance, treat your body with respect. The rewards of a disciplined life go well beyond your ministry. You’ll have less stress and less debt, and you’ll live longer.  But most importantly, you’ll be more ready to be used by God. The disciplines you establish today will determine your future.
The Fallacy of One-Size-Fits-All Discipleship

The Fallacy of One-Size-Fits-All Discipleship

You can mass produce many things—cars, furniture, plastic bottles, etc.—but you can’t mass produce disciples. One-size-fits-all simply doesn’t work when you’re trying to help people become more like Jesus. God wired each of us with a unique SHAPE. The Bible says, “You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 MSG). Our creator specially designed each and every one of us. The unique ways God made us affect everything about us—including how we fulfill God’s purposes.  SHAPE is an acrostic that describes our uniqueness. God gave us Spiritual gifts, Heart (passions), Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. No one else in the world has the same mix of those five attributes as you do. A person’s God-given SHAPE helps them identify where they can best serve the body of Christ.  But our uniqueness is about much more than how we serve. In fact, our SHAPE affects how we worship, fellowship, evangelize—and how we grow. There’s a myth that maturity is measured by how much Bible knowledge you have.  Of course, that’s a factor in maturity, but it’s not the only one. We all know someone who’s a veritable storehouse of Bible knowledge yet is just downright mean. God’s Word hasn’t made it into their character. If maturity was just about learning as much of the Bible as possible, then we might all grow in the same ways.  But people grow differently. Some people learn by listening. If they hear it, they get it. Others learn through reading. Still, others grow best when they’re discussing truth with other believers.  We also know that many people grow by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Don’t give them the latest book on prayer; pray with them. Give them opportunities to serve. That’s how they grow. The problem is that most of our churches only teach in one way. They expect everyone to grow through listening to someone talk. Auditory learners love that. But not everyone is an auditory learner.  It’s no accident that most churches have more women in discussion groups than men. Many women like to discuss. Many men like to act. They’re ready for action. There’s nothing wrong with either of those preferences. It’s how God wired them.   So, as you build a discipleship program in your church, you have to understand that the best way to help the most people grow is through multiple reinforcements.  That’s why I strongly believe in spiritual-growth campaigns. These short-term campaigns have multiple components, such as devotional reading, small group discussion, memory verses, ministry projects, and more. You teach the same truth through hearing it, reading it, talking about it, discussing it, doing it, and memorizing it. You do it all at once.   If you’re not using spiritual growth campaigns, I recommend giving it a try. As you engage them in different ways, you’ll see people who have stalled spiritually for years start growing.  Throughout the years at Saddleback, we’ve used several tools to help people grow through the unique ways God wired them. For example, SHAPE interviews help our members discover their God-given design so they can find ministry fits in the church. Not only does this get people connected to ministries, but it also helps them find out more about themselves so they can grow according to their SHAPE. Another tool we’ve used is a spiritual health assessment, where you can evaluate your growth progress. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves. This tool gives people a tangible way to look into their spiritual lives. We’ve found this tool helps just about everyone, but it’s particularly good for those God wired to be more introspective.  Also, to help people who particularly enjoy being in nature, we created a prayer garden, where they can go to pray after every service.  But the tools aren’t as important as the principle. You can’t make cookie-cutter disciples. Though we all go through a discipleship process, everyone grows in different ways and at different rates.  Look for ways to expand the opportunities for people to grow in the unique ways God has wired them.
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