Reading: 1.1—The Glory of God

Skill 1: Discerning & Developing Vision

Vision in the church is not about creativity; it’s about discernment. Discernment is about discovering the heart of God and the mind of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, accessed through prayer, processed through God’s Holy Word, and confirmed through the counsel of leaders. So, with discernment understood as the first Great Commission skill and the foundation of all that will follow, a preponderance of Scripture will be established as we consider Skill 1: Discerning & Developing Vision. Brace yourself. You are about to be awash in the Word of God.

1.1 The Glory of God: The place to begin in discerning a vision from God is to have a vision of God and a visionary understanding of God’s vision for Himself. Why does God do what He does? What is the ultimate destination that God has in view? God does what He does to be glorified. He has a vision of His own glory, and a church’s vision must focus on bringing glory to God.

It’s tempting to think that God does what He does because He loves us, that we are His first priority. People are, by nature, egocentric, even when it comes to thinking about God. We tend to think that we are at the center and that God revolves around us. This is simply not true, however. God is at the center and we are to revolve around Him. He is His own priority as the Creator and we are mere creatures. No doubt, God does love us and we benefit greatly from all that He is and all that He does, but we are not in first position. We stand behind God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Make no mistake, God does what He does for His own glory, and our lives exist quite simply to glorify Him; to bring honor and glory to Him. How do we know this? He tells us in His word. Here’s a sampling: 

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mathew 6:9-10)

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all peoples! For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised, and he is to be held in awe above all gods. (1 Chronicles 16:23-25)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Psalm 108:5)

For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:9-11)

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (Matthew 25:31)

But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20)

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Revelation 21:23). I encourage you to read through all of these Scriptures prayerfully and thoughtfully:

Matthew 6:9-10; Luke 11:2                                    Luke 2:8-14

1 Chronicles 16:23-25                                            John 1:14

Psalm 19:1                                                              John 17:1-5

Psalm 24:7-10                                                         Acts 7:2-3

Psalm 29:1-4 1                                                        Corinthians 10:31

Psalm 72:18-19                                                       Ephesians 1:11-12

Psalm 96:1-4                                                           Ephesians 3:14-19

Psalm 108:5                                                            Philippians 4:19-20

Isaiah 6:3-5                                                             Colossians 1:27

Isaiah 48:9-11                                                         Colossians 3:4

Ezekiel 43:1-4                                                         Hebrews 1:1-4

Matthew 24:29-31                                                  Hebrews 13:20-21

Matthew 25:31                                                       Revelation 4:9-11

Mark 13:24-27                                                        Revelation 21:23

One way that we honor and glorify God as individuals and as churches is to discern and develop His vision for us. In Visioneering, Andy Stanley writes, “Honoring God involves discovering his picture or vision of what our lives could and should be. Glorifying God involves discovering what we could and should accomplish. We were created and re-created with his purposes in mind. And until we discover his purpose – and follow through – there will always be a hole in our soul,” (Visioneering: Stanley, p. 13). Rightly discerning and developing a godly vision begins with God’s ultimate purpose of displaying His glory and being glorified.