This is an exciting time for the Chicago Church of Christ.  We're coming out of a period that has left us changed, matured and ready to do God's will. And tonight, we begin the process of unveiling our 10-year plan and vision.  How will we respond to this vision?  Let me suggest that there are three ways we can respond to the vision—as a visionary, a victim or vanished.

The Visionary is the disciple who is eager to exercise his faith, to be a part of something bigger than himself and to be useful to the Lord.  The Victim is a disciple who hasn't recovered from past wounds and hurts. This disciple has open wounds that haven't healed, wounds that leave them very emotional and reactionary. They haven't realized that the trials they've undergone were used by Satan to hurt their faith, as opposed to the visionary who used these challenges to become stronger in their faith and more determined than ever to serve the Lord. The Vanished are disciples who've allowed their faith to become dull and flat and therefore have vanished from making any impact in the church. They'll still come to church every week and have a few relationships in the body, but they've vanished from the possibility of God being able to use them to promote His glory.  If you're finding yourself to be a victim or a disciple who's vanished, here are three points of inspiration:

Break Up Your Unplowed Ground

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord. (Hosea 10:12)

I've often noticed that, after a harvest, the farmer will till and churn the soil to prepare for next season's planting.  This is necessary to prepare the ground to be more fertile for the seed. Hard ground will not allow seed to grow. And in a similar way, an unplowed heart will not allow God's Spirit to work. Many of those who are a victim or who have vanished must decide that it's time to plow the ground of their souls because their top-soil is used up, spent and dead. The only seeds that can grow in an unplowed heart are the seeds of cynicism, pride, apathy, suspicion and independence. Sadly, there are many who used to be in leadership or who served in incredible ways in the Chicago Church in the past who have now become disconnected and disenchanted.

On the other hand, the Southland ministry center has been so inspired by people like Aaron and Julie Breford. They had served in the full-time ministry for many years, and had a challenging time stepping out a few years ago. Yet they still are true visionaries.  Not only did they not stop serving in leadership, they've fostered and cultivated a dream to evangelize Northwest Indiana. They lead a group of 25 disciples who are determined to glorify God by building family and saving souls in that area. Aaron is an executive in a pharmaceutical company, is doing a great job in helping to raise his two kids (one of whom suffers from autism) and he and Julie are planning on adopting in the near future. Truly, the Brefords and others like them in the Chicago Church define visionary hearts!

To help you gain or maintain this visionary spirit found in disciples like Aaron and Julie, here are three simple ways to begin plowing the ground of your heart:

Put some variety in your quiet times.  Do whatever is necessary to avoid having lifeless, dull and boring times with God and make them more exciting.

Truly believe that God isn't done with you yet. Write down new goals and dreams for your spiritual life, commit them to prayer and share them with other disciples.

Decide once and for all to get rid of that defeatist attitude. Believe once again that, with God, all things are possible!

Go in the Strength You Have

The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14)

Gideon was unsure of himself and his abilities. Yet all God wanted him to do was to simply use what he had.  Too often, we look at being radical as defined by our younger years as disciples. Most of us are now older, perhaps married with kids, and the thought of plugging into the radical vision of God can sometimes seem overwhelming. Yet our definition of radical is often too narrow and too humanistic. A radical vision in many of our minds means wild, evangelistic runs through the mall or handing out 100 invitations to church every day. Yet God's vision of radical is for you to simply go in the strength you have. 

Here in the Southland ministry center, we have an elderly disciple named James Irving who is in constant pain with multiple ailments and is homebound much of the week. Yet he is definitely someone whom I consider to be radical. He hosts a daytime house church in his home every week.  And should you happen to attend, you would be greeted by a kind, warm-hearted couple (James and his wife, Linda) every Wednesday afternoon. Much of the time, James is suffering, yet you wouldn't know it. He possesses a genuine humility and a deep level of gratitude that teaches and inspires us all. Now that's radical!

Too often, the victim or the vanished individuals look at their lives and conclude they have nothing to give to the Lord or His church. Too often, the victim and the vanished excuse themselves by letting their hearts get triggered by old terminology or unpleasant memories. And too often, they miss out on some of God's greatest adventures. Yet all they need to do is to offer their five loaves and two fish and watch God work. Do you trust God with your loaves and fish?  Remember, that's all He needs. 

The visionary may have little time, low energy and tough circumstances to overcome, yet they still give it all to God.  And just like God has done with James, He will take the "small offering" of the visionary and turn it into an incredible feast of blessings.

Be Completely Different

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

A big challenge with those who are victims or vanished is that they're afraid to be completely different. They're afraid of being transformed, of becoming more like Jesus.  This is one of the saddest realities I see in some people's lives today because one of the greatest joys of plugging into the vision of God is enjoying the transformation.

Sometimes we need to take a hard look at ourselves and draw the conclusion that we could use a spiritual makeover. Yet victims and the vanished largely refuse to travel on this thrilling road.  The victims are adamant that they're not the ones who need changing, and the vanished frankly don't want to put the necessary energy into the process.  Not so with the visionary!  This disciple relishes each new adventure God takes them on in their spiritual lives. They believe that to be different in their marriage, different in their house church and different in their faith are all exhilarating propositions.

In closing, let's trust the Lord whom we serve and become a visionary.  Let's put aside being a victim or one of the vanished. If we do, I am confident that God will be truly glorified!