Comments on: Think Big!

By: If I were the Devil – ChurchMedic

If I were the Devil – ChurchMedic — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 02:12:24 +0000

[...] I would convince church leaders to DREAM SMALL! The last thing I would want would be people realizing that God is honored by people who really do believe that He can do the impossible! (Craig had an AWESOME post on this!) [...]

By: Links of the Week « My World

Links of the Week « My World — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:03:35 +0000

[...] Craig on thinking big [...]

By: Hope

Hope — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:30:35 +0000

What a wonderful reminder of the greatness of God and the smallness of mankind. Just lastnight I was reading Numbers; the Israelites had been griping about eating Manna day after day. They wanted something they could sink their teeth into, (isn’t that just like us). Meanwhile, the Lord heard their cries - although He wasn’t pleased. Moses worried; how can You feed them meat? There’s nothing in sight for miles. God’s response is something we should all keep in mind, “Has the Lord’s arm been shortened?”

By: Barry Armstrong

Barry Armstrong — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:46:08 +0000

Darren said, “the dream is meant to outlast us.” that is a great point. it puts into relief the idea that the vision is not really ours, anyway. just like all the other talents and resources he has given, We are just stewards of them and they truly belong to him. Sometimes we call our project our “baby,” and that is fine, as long as we remember that our children are his, too.

By: Darren Chapman

Darren Chapman — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:33:52 +0000

I love what you’ve said there Barry. Great work. I think I’m getting that now… that God wants to give us a great vision and follow Him… not just the vision.
I think I’ve been compromising on Him in the pursuit of His vision. Wow… what a great smack in the head!
The other aspect I’m realising is that the dream is meant to outlast us. Heb 11:39 says, ‘These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what was promised.’ Their dream outlasted them, went longer than they did… that’s what I think dreaming is about. Pursuing God with a dream that others get on board with which outlasts you all but creates a brighter future after you’re all gone.

By: Stuart Anthony

Stuart Anthony — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:38:00 +0000

It seems to me that vision has to have 2 parts: one static set of “guidlines” and one dynamic element that’s always looking for ways to “implement”.

(technology)… (music)… (what’s happening now) stuff will shape our implementation and sometimes expand vision unintentionally… more fun when it happens on purpose I imagine… But then what? Do you adjust the vision?

Anyway. All that considered. Does building a dynamic element in your vision provide the latitude for progressive thought? Or am I combining thoughts that don’t play well together?

By: Jack Ward

Jack Ward — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:56:20 +0000

I’m finding in my experience that the only place to be is in His protection plan. Most days, wake up praying, “God, today I am your sheep and you are my Sheppard” and then I go out and take some risks knowing that my Sheppard is there to protect, guide and speak to me in a whisper. I want to hear His voice through His Word, His people, His promises. I want nothing more than to risk it all for Him! - Jack

By: Barry Armstrong

Barry Armstrong — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:39:21 +0000

Great discussion! I think there is a balance that God wants to speak to us. Some people get a great vision and follow it. i believe that God wants us to get a great vision and follow HIM! When we CARRY the vision while choosing not to take our eyes of Christ, we keep our priorities straight and the Lord can bless what we put our hands to do. hey! His thoughts are so far above our thoughts, how can we go wrong if we dream big while keeping our eyes on him?

By: Jason Kreitzer

Jason Kreitzer — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:19:03 +0000

Jonathan-

I think that God always wants our participation, even if it is in prayer only, this is the beautiful part about having a God who we can talk to and who listens to us. As soon as we sit and wait for God to do all the action, that’s when we become stale in our lives and our faith. We need to get in the game. We need to get out of our comfort zones; even if we are just talking about thinking.

I think the best lyrics that I have heard is from a Pillar song, “For the Love of the Game.” This song talks about the game as being our Christian faith. Just like an athlete has to put forth effort to win, we have to put forth the effort to win people to Christ. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain?” The rules still apply in thinking. We will not achieve greatness if we do not think BIG through Christ.

Here are some of the lyrics to the song:
“Fight through the hurt,
Fight through the pain,
Without the ache there is no gain,
We live our lives for the love of the game
We’ll give this everything we’ve got,
For the love of the game.”

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:53:41 +0000

Brandon….I think where you may be off topic of the blog, is that Criag is not talking about pleasing people but REACHING people…Craig may want to correct me….after 24 years I have learned you can’t please people but you should always try to reach them for Jesus.

By: DChapman

DChapman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:46:33 +0000

Just adding something:
When I read Matthew 28:19-20 recently I realised that Jesus wasn’t talking about seeing a group of disciples in each nation… but he was talking about the nations! “Make disciples of all nations” he said. How can our dreams be anything less than this colossal vision?! God wills that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Our dream should be the same, balanced with the understanding that not all will follow the path. (Matt 7:13)

By: DChapman

DChapman — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:20:06 +0000

Hi Craig and everyone.
This is a topic that’s really close to my heart right now. I’m a big vision person with a small church plant (80 people) even after 6 years. Recently I watched RSVP (a DVD by T.D. Jakes) who suggests that our visions can be a burden to us. I certainly know what that’s like!

My vision is massive but I have become easily frustrated in the past with lack of growth. I’m starting to chill out a bit about it now and realise that firstly, God wants to save those in my city more than I do and secondly that He has a purpose and plan for my church right now at our current size. I’m starting to learn to enjoy where we’re at right now without beating myself up continually about my church not growing. God’s teaching me to be content but yet to still push forward and work with Him to build his church.

I keep telling myself it’s NOT all about numbers but every number represents a person. I know that faithfulness is key (as is empowering leadership and stacks of other things (see http://www.nadei.org/article.php?id=3 for NCD 8 Quality Characteristics) and so I’m learning to be content with what I have and hold it more lightly. Does anyone else know what I’m talking about? Would love to hear thoughts.

By: brandon

brandon — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:30:41 +0000

What if God has called you to shepherd a small flock and you spend your whole life running after numbers when He just wanted you to be faithful to the job He gave you. When do numbers become idolatry. I fear that some pastors remove their eyes from Jesus and place all of their focus on people. Not that people are bad but when your whole ministry is focused on pleasing people instead of pleasing God, i think you have missed the point. So i would say dream big, but more importantly keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and plead with your people to repent and believe the beautiful gospel of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. thanks craig. i hope the Lord has blessed you with rest.

love and justice
brandon

By: Jonathan Bartlett

Jonathan Bartlett — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:21:45 +0000

Here’s my question -

Are we supposed to think big? Or are we just supposed to do what we know to do, and let God do the big thinking for us?

By: Patrick Sievert

Patrick Sievert — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:29:42 +0000

My dream is to fill
Reynolds Stadium with people every Sunday morning. And for God to invoke change in every one of their lives.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:10:22 +0000

Mark …the author of Good to Great was concerned about his concepts working in the church, he said this during a conversation with Andy Stanley….but…some of them do…no one has a formula…it is more like a puzzle with everyone contributing to the picture…BUT ALWAYS THINK BIG…IT COULDN’T HURT

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:01:58 +0000

I don’t think I do think big enough…since I am still young I used to feel I had to think small (in relation to impact), but now, oh now, I see that I MUST think big! Plan big!

I shouldn’t think any other way…because then that would be telling God - “this is how big I see you can use me.”…and it would mean it in a negative way.

I am now going to say to Him “this is how big I see you can use me” and think positively, bigger than big. Think the way God does…that is, see with no hindrance on my visibility level. For example, in a metaphoric sense, when I look out my window I am going to see all of earth, not just what is in front of me.

Thanks for blessing us with the knowledge you’ve gathered Craig!

By: Camey

Camey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:32:32 +0000

Contentment fits in that the results truly are not up to us. Sure, we play a part. But, for each one that it takes five touches for.. others it may take many, many more. We’re to be available regardless. Ex: Yesterday I had seven in mine and hubby’s college class. I was content. Only seven? 6 others are on a mission trip to Philly. And the seven who were there? One thought about leaving after the service was over, but didn’t… One was her first time there EVER and said she’d be back next week. The individual who brought her - well, she has only been really involved the last few months. When I asked her if I was pushing the group too hard - she responded, “No, keep it up. You’re making us think about God in ways we normally wouldn’t.”

While there is no doubt about the leadership of you, Craig, and numerous others…. where I think the real rub comes in is not asking God to show you how to be the leader(ship) He wants you to be where you are at. It is going to look different and it should. When we get over being like this person or that - then the real work in our lives can begin. And watch it for how He can use it and us…..

By: bola

bola — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:51:42 +0000

Just correcting the website, thanks

By: bola

bola — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:44:16 +0000

Big is relative. What is big to us is small to God, what is normal to us is minute to God. What is normal to God is gargantuan to us.

When we realise that we will strive to think as ‘big’ as we can, because God can do it. The main barriers are in our mind. Our refusal to think it hinders our ability to believe God for it, consequently we do not have it.

I see it more as thinking God’s thoughts and him transforming me to the point where nothing seems particularly big, just normal God stuff. And God wants to do normal God stuff on the earth.

Yes, big is always better if it means more people get saved, more people get plugged in to God, insofar as it is what God requires of you personally.