How to Vision Cast in Your Disciple-Makers Meeting

Have you ever heard a catchy jingle on the radio, and then found yourself singing it later? These tunes get stuck in our heads. Advertisers know the power of repetition and simplicity. As we work to motivate disciples to become disciple-makers, we can use the power of repetition to influence them toward action.

Jesus knew the power of repetition. He repeated important concepts again and again. Take Luke 15 for example. He tells not one, not two, but three parables about the importance of reaching the lost. He was casting vision to His disciples, wanting them to engage in what mattered most to Him. As disciple-makers and trainers, let’s do the same.

I wrote in a previous article about the power of the three-part disciple-makers meeting. In the first section of the meeting, right after the friendly accountability time comes vision casting. Vision casting is simply this. You use a short story, example, or scripture, to bring the cause of the lost (unreached) before those in the group. You want to fan the flame of missions and evangelism every single week. By doing this, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can believe that it will grow in the disciples into a passion…a fire within them that can not be quenched.

Greeting the Elders

Some time ago, I led a three-part meeting. After friendly accountability, I shared a short personal example from a few days prior. I currently live in Thailand. In the Thai calendar, we had just started a new year. A few days before, I attended a ceremony in our community to honor the elders. It is traditional to have this ceremony every year around New Year.

In my “Vision Casting” time, I told the group about attending this event.

As I walked past the long line of elders sitting at the table, I greeted each one and received their New Year’s blessing. In my heart, I asked the question, “How many of these precious people have ever heard the gospel? Even one time?” I told the group how this question affected and motivated me. If I don’t share with the people around me, they will go into eternity having never had a real opportunity to receive salvation. I then asked them to consider this. “How many people will you see today who have never heard the good news of the gospel? “

It took about three or four minutes to share this personal story. I was intentionally “stirring the fire” of our responsibility to reach the lost. This is what Vision Casting does.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Prov 29:18

Three Ways to Cast Vision

There are many ways to cast vision for the lost. Use your creativity! Don’t be limited to the following three ways. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and show you how to do this. These three ways will get you started though.

1) Share a Personal Story

The example given above about my experience over the Thai New Year illustrates this. Here is another personal story I often use.

“When I was in high school I had two very good friends. Their names were Maggie and Kris. We were all in the same French class and did a lot of things together. They were not Christians and though I wanted to share with them about Jesus, I felt shy. I was afraid that they might reject me or make fun of me.

Then one night I had a dream. In the dream, I saw them in hell. They had flames all around them and were in pain. They could see me and they cried out to me. ‘Why didn’t you tell us about Jesus? We would have listened and accepted Him. Instead, you let us go to hell. How could you say you were truly our friends?’ (In my dream) I replied to them this way. ‘I was afraid you wouldn’t like me if I talked about spiritual things. Maybe you just wanted to have fun. I was scared of your rejection.’

My friends answered back, ‘How could you love us so little! If we rejected you that would have been our choice. But at least we would have had the chance to make that decision.’

Then I woke up from my dream. The next day I shared my testimony and faith with them.”

After telling this little story, I ask the question. “What about each of us? How many friends do we have who have never had a chance to hear the gospel? Though they might reject it, but at least they had the chance and we have done our part.”

2) Share a Vision Casting Scripture

Many scriptures can be used in the short Vision Casting part of the three-part meeting. For example, you could use Romans 10:14-15. First, read the passage. Then ask the question; What does this verse mean in our context? Follow that with a short challenge about how many will never hear the gospel if we don’t tell them about Jesus.

You could reference the Luke 15 stories about the Lost Coin, Sheep, and Son as another example of Vision Casting scriptures.

3) Tell a Historical Story to Cast Vision for the Lost

Another great way to do Vision Casting in the meeting is to tell a short three-minute story of a historical figure who had a great impact on lost people.

For example, you could tell a bit about the life of Adoniram Judson, a missionary to Myanmar. Tell about how he left everything to bring the gospel to those who had never heard of Jesus before. During his lifetime, persecution was so great that he had more converts who died than were alive. He continued to press on because of his great passion to reach the lost of that area. Today there are millions of Burmese Christians who trace their spiritual roots to his witness. Then ask the group, “Are we also willing to make the necessary sacrifices to share the good news?”

Fuel the Fire of Passion

Remember, Vision Casting doesn’t need to take a long time. The consistent fueling of the fire of a passion for the lost within the believers will pay off. If they hear about the needs of lost people every week, they will likely become more active in reaching out to others.

Take a moment and write down two ways you could Vision Cast in your next disciple-makers meeting. Plan to make this a normal part of your training times.

What other ideas do you have for Vision Casting within the three-part meeting? Are there creative things you’ve done that you’d like to share with others? We’d love to hear from you. Please let us know about them in the comments or share them on the Dmms Frontier Missions Facebook Group.