Outward Focus

Excerpt from Ed Stetzer:  Kick-Starting the Plateaued and Declining Church Part 6: Clarify Vision and Create an Outward Focus

Part six in this series on church revitalization entitled "Kick-Starting the Plateaued and Declining Church" is adapted from an article that I co-wrote with Mike Dodson (who was also my co-author for Comeback Churches) for the Spring 2010 Journal of Evangelism and Missions. You can read the rest of the series here.

As Nehemiah was leading the revitalization process in Jerusalem, some key moments emerged where he recognized the need to clarify the vision and keep the people focused. Like in chapter four, the work of the people to rebuild the wall is being ridiculed, and Nehemiah responds: "After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.'" (Neh. 4:14, HCSB).

Isn't that what vision is all about? Nehemiah appeals to the fact that what they are doing is bigger than they are. In other words, it's not about them. It's about God, and it's about fighting for each other. He makes it about the Lord and "us" again.

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