A Biblical Vision
August 13, 2026 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments
Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement
Mission and vision are common words in leadership discussions, whether it be a business or a church. Some don’t like using the words in the church context because they are so common in business. The concepts, however, are biblical. A vision is what God has called us to be. A mission is what God has called us to do. Therefore Titus 2:14 is a vision statement, “A people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Ephesians 4:1 is a mission statement, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
We can find such vision and mission statements all over the Bible. Any statement about the blessing we receive as a result of the redeeming work of Christ is a vision statement. In Christ we are the children of God, the bride of Christ, a city on a hill, a new community, holy and blameless, and a people zealous for good works. Through the gospel, God calls us to be transformed. And any statement of duty or command can be heard as a mission statement. We are to love God and neighbor, make disciples, walk worthy, set our minds on things above, put to death what is earthly in us, and love in deed and truth. As a result of the gospel, and through the empowerment of the gospel, God calls us to do his will.
You might wonder, then, if vision and mission statements can be found throughout Scripture, why would a church have specific vision and mission statements? At Oak Hills, our vision statement comes from Isaiah 61:3, “That they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.” We flesh out the implications of figure “oaks of righteousness” by speaking about being rooted in the gospel, growing in community, and blessed to be a blessing. And we print our mission statement on the front of the bulletin every week, “Longing to know and make known the astonishing grace of God.” So, why settle on specific vision and mission statements, when there are many in Scripture?
Part of the answer is the desire to summarize and communicate in a memorable way the overarching vision and mission statements of Scripture. Our name, Oak Hills, comes from Isaiah 61:3. As a result of the redeeming work of the Messiah (Is. 61:1-3a), we are called oaks of righteousness (v. 3b). This captures in a vivid picture the powerful working of Christ in our lives. In all that we do, that picture of mighty oak trees draws us toward what God calls us to be. My prayer is that every time you see or hear our name, Oak Hills, you would call to mind what God is doing in you through Christ. He is making you a mighty oak of righteousness.
Our mission statement seeks to summarize the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, emphasizing the grace of God. We are to “Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind” (Matt. 22:37). The phrase, “longing to know” captures that sense of loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. When you long for something, it becomes the central focus of your heart, soul, and mind. And the phrase “make known” captures the command to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19). We involve ourselves in the disciple-making process by proclaiming (i.e. make known) the good news of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:14-17). The last phrase of the mission statement, “the astonishing grace of God,” highlights the goodness of God and the gospel. My prayer is that you not only remember our mission statement, but let it motivate you daily to love God, enjoy God, and share God with others.
John Currie, professor of pastoral theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, also helps us by explaining, “The vision of a church should be a clear picture of what the future might look like if God blessed this mission in and through this people, in this place, in this period” (emphasis original, The Pastor as Leader, page 152). The emphasis at the end of his statement is what we may call application. As we interpret and put into action the truths of Scripture, we need to take into consideration the people before us, the place where we live, and the time in which we find ourselves. It is appropriate to ask questions like, what does God want for the people he has brought to Oak Hills? What specific gifts and abilities do the people of Oak Hills have to contribute to kingdom work? What are the specific needs of the people in Johnson County and the greater KC metro area? How can we make known God’s grace to the people in Johnson County and the surrounding area? What does a church faithful to the gospel look like in our context? What obstacles hinder our faithfulness?
God is doing a great work at Oak Hills. God is calling Oak Hills to participate in his great work in our community. Let’s continue to long to know and make known God’s astonishing grace as we grow as oaks of righteousness.
