Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 03:1 (Spring 1999)
Article: Vision Casting for Biblical Change A Possible Model
Author: Richard R. Hawley

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JMAT 3:1 (Spr 99) p. 66

Vision Casting for Biblical Change
A Possible Model

Richard R. Hawley

Pastor, First Baptist Church
Kingston, Pennsylvania

I don’t want to just show up on Sunday, pay the bills on Monday, make sure the lines in the parking lot are striped, and go home. I want to lead our church to make a major impact on our region for Jesus Christ. My passion is to do whatever it takes to get the gospel out to the Wyoming Valley. By God’s grace, He will use us as we join Him in what He is doing.

Does God Want His Church To Grow?

Does the Bible speak about growth? Is God pleased with churches that are declining? Does God expect a church to grow? Can a church grow without compromising Biblical standards? Does Jesus have anything to say about this? The good news is this: God wants His church to grow. His passion for the church is to see it grow, not just plateau or, in many cases, decline. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “… on this rock I will

build

My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

The Lord’s Imagery Of Growth

Jesus uses multiple images for church growth: first, quantitative imagery such as a net gathering fish (Matt 13:47–48) and a call to “fish for men” (Matt 4:18–22); second, ingathering imagery. John 4:35 points out the existence of a whitened harvest, and in Matthew 9:37–38 Jesus challenges His followers to pray the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the field. God is very interested in growth. Third, Jesus employs interaction imagery when he speaks about how branches relate to fruit production (John 15:5, 8). Fourth, He uses incorporation imagery (Luke 14:21–24). Fifth, He discusses organic imagery in Matthew 13:31–32. Finally penetra-

JMAT 3:1 (Spr 99) p. 67

tion imagery speaks of light permeating the darkness (John 8:12; 9:5; Matt 5:16).

The Lord’s Illustration Of Growth

The book of Acts is replete with growth statements. For example, Jesus said: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sa...

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