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Since having started this blog almost a year ago, I have had many plans, dreams, and goals for the future of this ministry and for myself.
And while all of dreams are with the desire to glorify God, I realize I haven’t taken the time to ensure that the vision for my ministry is actually God-given and driven. The result has been many times thinking, “Is this really what God is wanting me to be doing?”
So having the opportunity to review The Power of Vision: Discover and Apply God’s Plan for Your Life and Ministry by George Barna has been a blessing.
The Power of Vision: About the Author
George Barna has filled executive roles in politics, marketing, advertising, media development, research and ministry. He founded the Barna Research Group in 1984 (now The Barna Group) and helped it become a leading marketing research firm focused on the intersection of faith and culture before selling it in 2009.
He currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Culture and Faith Institute (a division of United in Purpose), and is President of Metaformation, a faith development organization.
George Barna has written more than 50 books, mostly addressing cultural trends, leadership, spiritual development, and church dynamics. They include New York Times bestsellers and several award-winning books. He has sold more books based on survey research related to matters of faith than any author in American history.
Overview
The focus of the book is to help pastors and ministry leaders recognize the necessity of having a God-given vision for their church and ministry. The book walks through biblical instances of God providing visions for his leaders. As well as addressing the practical understanding of what a vision is as opposed to a mission. And how to identify a God vision versus a man-powered vision.
The book provides a wealth of information on multiple levels. He touches on spiritually, intellectually, and practically encouraging process of gaining a God given vision.
Book Structure
George Barna starts out with providing multiple examples of visions that God has shared with people from the bible. People who sought His will for their lives. The buzz word of “vision” may not have been around during those time. However, George provides powerful reminders of how different the outcomes were for the leaders who ensured God was in control of their decisions versus the leaders who chose their own paths.
The book then addresses what a vision actually is from an intellectual, business, and practical understanding.
Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based on an accurate understanding of God, self, and circumstances.
~George Barna (The Power of Vision)
This section of the book goes in depth into the differences between a vision and a mission. Why and how they are related but different. And why a church and ministry need both. George also walks through the myths about a vision and how common misunderstandings can take place. And how detrimental those misunderstandings can be for the ministry.
The book then walks extensively through the characteristics of God’s vision. How your ministry will benefit, how to capture His plan, and how to articulate your vision to others around you. Plus how to protect your ministry from “vision killers”.
The book also has a chapter on capturing a personal vision as every Christian is called to live a life of ministry.
George also includes a study guide at the back of the book. The guide helps walk you through valuable questions to help facilitate the process of understanding and capturing God’s plan for your ministry.
Final Thoughts
The book is clearly written for pastors and ministry leaders so reading the book from a lay-person perspective may not seem applicable. However the last chapter on capturing a personal vision is an important one for all Christians.
Aggressively seek to understand what God is calling you to do that distinguishes you from every other believer and makes you a unique ambassador for Christ.
~George Barna (The Power of Vision)
I do strongly recommend this book to any pastor, ministry leader, and to all of my Christian blogging friends. Taking the time to capture God’s plan for our ministries is a journey worth the time. The result is doing God’s work the way He uniquely designed us to!
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
For more of my book reviews check-out posts in the book review tab.
God bless!
Melissa
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This sounds like a great book, Melissa! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by to read the view, Heather. God bless!
I’ve been wanting to read more about this book, so thanks! I heard The Barna Group give a speech years ago while I was in college. They shared studies they did on marriage and how they found the amount of arguing done in a healthy marriage versus unhealthy was the same- it was what the couple did in between the arguing that determined whether the marriage was healthy or not. I’ve never forgotten that.
The Barna Group puts out really sound and incredibly well researched information that is so beneficial. I’ve read multiple articles by George Barna, so I was excited to get to review the book!
What’s that verse? Where there is no vision, the people perish? Yeah. I’m fairly sure that doesn’t mean just the leadership.
Sounds like an incredible book. I am adding it to my list 📚
I’m definitely sure it doesn’t mean just leadership! I hope you enjoy the book and find it beneficial! God bless, Aryn!
“How to identify a God vision versus a man-powered vision”–sounds like a vital distinction!
Such an important distinction! One leads to amazing things that we never thought possible and the other leads to doubt and floundering.
Wow, Melissa, you do a great job reviewing a book. I love the outline approach that you use and this definitely sounds like a book I would love and benefit from .
Oh Amy, I think it would be a great book for you with your business! Thank you for your kind words as well. I hope you are blessed by the book!
So many good points here… when we plan without God’s vision we often fail. Love that there is a resource to help us focus in on Vision!
And my practical and organizational mind loves how George Barna writes and his systematic study guide. It was so helpful!
The Bible is clear, without vision, the people perish. Having a Vision for our lives and our ministries is necessary otherwise we’re just taking up space and wasting time. We need to make sure we are pleasing God and not man and that is why his vision is more important than our limited view.
Absolutely yes to all aspects of your comment! The hard part is discerning our own visions versus a God-driven vision. People can absolutely confuse the two if not remaining focused on God.
I’ve enjoyed other books by Barna. Thanks for letting me know about this one.
I hope you enjoy this one as well. Thank you for stopping by and God bless!
Sounds like a WOW book! Thank you for sharing.
It is certainly one that causes contemplation and a desire to spend time with God to get His vision for our life.
This sounds like a very interesting book. Thanks for sharing your review.
It’s a thought provoking and practical approach to discerning God-vision. Thank you for stopping by, Donna. God bless!