Developing Your Personal Mission Plan
This is Part 11 of the series What is a Biblical Worldview?
Have you ever thought about what truly guides your life? What are the principles and beliefs that shape your actions and decisions every day? For Christians, living out a biblical worldview means letting the truth of God’s Word influence every aspect of our lives. This post is the final piece in our series, “What is a Biblical Worldview and Why Does It Matter Today?”—a journey exploring how a biblical worldview shapes our understanding of the world and our place in it. Today, we’ll focus on developing a personal mission plan that helps you intentionally live out these biblical principles.
Creating a personal mission plan is like drawing a roadmap for your life. It helps you identify your God-given purpose and align your daily actions with your faith. In a world full of distractions and competing narratives, having a mission plan can anchor you in truth and empower you to make a meaningful impact in your community.
Creating a personal mission plan is like drawing a roadmap for your life. It helps you identify your God-given purpose and align your daily actions with your faith. In a world full of distractions and competing narratives, having a mission plan can anchor you in truth and empower you to make a meaningful impact in your community.
Theological Insights
At its core, a biblical worldview is rooted in the understanding of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. This grand narrative provides the framework for how we view reality:
Creation: We were created in the image of God Genesis 1:27, designed for relationship with Him and one another.
Fall: Sin entered the world, distorting our relationship with God and each other Romans 3:23.
Redemption: Jesus Christ’s sacrifice offers us salvation and reconciliation with God John 3:16.
Restoration: God’s ultimate plan is to restore all things, bringing about a new heaven and new earth Revelation 21:1-4.
These theological truths serve as the foundation for our personal mission plan. Our mission is to live in a way that reflects God’s character and advances His kingdom on earth. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither” (Lewis, Mere Christianity).
Creation: We were created in the image of God Genesis 1:27, designed for relationship with Him and one another.
Fall: Sin entered the world, distorting our relationship with God and each other Romans 3:23.
Redemption: Jesus Christ’s sacrifice offers us salvation and reconciliation with God John 3:16.
Restoration: God’s ultimate plan is to restore all things, bringing about a new heaven and new earth Revelation 21:1-4.
These theological truths serve as the foundation for our personal mission plan. Our mission is to live in a way that reflects God’s character and advances His kingdom on earth. As C.S. Lewis said, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither” (Lewis, Mere Christianity).
Scripture as Our Guide
The Bible, God’s inspired Word, is our ultimate authority in developing a personal mission plan. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture guide us in understanding God’s will and purpose for our lives. As we seek to develop our mission plan, we should consistently turn to Scripture for wisdom and direction, allowing it to shape our values and priorities.
The clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture guide us in understanding God’s will and purpose for our lives. As we seek to develop our mission plan, we should consistently turn to Scripture for wisdom and direction, allowing it to shape our values and priorities.
Practical Applications
Creating a personal mission plan involves several key steps:
1. Reflect on Your Calling and Gifts
Start by reflecting on how God has uniquely designed and gifted you. What are your spiritual gifts, passions, and talents? Consider how you can use these for God’s glory and the benefit of others. As 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “As each one has received a gift, use it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
For example, if you have the gift of teaching, consider ways to share biblical truths with others, whether through leading a small group, teaching a Sunday school class, or writing blog posts that inspire and educate.
2. Define Your Core Values and Principles
Identify the core values that will guide your decisions and actions. These should align with biblical principles and reflect the character of Christ. Some examples might include integrity, compassion, generosity, and humility.
In my own life, as the Executive Director of Shoe Leather Gospel, I strive to embody values like servant leadership and integrity, ensuring that our ministry reflects Christ’s love and truth in all we do.
3. Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Establish clear goals and objectives that align with your values and calling. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For instance, if one of your goals is to deepen your understanding of Scripture, you might set a goal to read through the Bible in a year or attend a theology course.
In setting these goals, remember the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Life’s circumstances may change, but your mission should remain focused on glorifying God and advancing His kingdom.
4. Develop an Action Plan
Create an action plan that outlines the steps needed to achieve your goals. Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks, and set deadlines to stay accountable. Consider partnering with a mentor or accountability partner who can provide guidance and encouragement along the way.
As Field Operations Manager with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, I often use project management strategies to coordinate response efforts. Similarly, applying these principles to your mission plan can help ensure that your efforts are organized and effective.
5. Evaluate and Adjust Regularly
Regularly evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed. Are your actions aligning with your values and goals? Are you growing in your relationship with God and others? Use this time for prayerful reflection, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in refining your mission plan.
1. Reflect on Your Calling and Gifts
Start by reflecting on how God has uniquely designed and gifted you. What are your spiritual gifts, passions, and talents? Consider how you can use these for God’s glory and the benefit of others. As 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “As each one has received a gift, use it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
For example, if you have the gift of teaching, consider ways to share biblical truths with others, whether through leading a small group, teaching a Sunday school class, or writing blog posts that inspire and educate.
2. Define Your Core Values and Principles
Identify the core values that will guide your decisions and actions. These should align with biblical principles and reflect the character of Christ. Some examples might include integrity, compassion, generosity, and humility.
In my own life, as the Executive Director of Shoe Leather Gospel, I strive to embody values like servant leadership and integrity, ensuring that our ministry reflects Christ’s love and truth in all we do.
3. Set Clear Goals and Objectives
Establish clear goals and objectives that align with your values and calling. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For instance, if one of your goals is to deepen your understanding of Scripture, you might set a goal to read through the Bible in a year or attend a theology course.
In setting these goals, remember the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Life’s circumstances may change, but your mission should remain focused on glorifying God and advancing His kingdom.
4. Develop an Action Plan
Create an action plan that outlines the steps needed to achieve your goals. Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks, and set deadlines to stay accountable. Consider partnering with a mentor or accountability partner who can provide guidance and encouragement along the way.
As Field Operations Manager with the Austin Disaster Relief Network, I often use project management strategies to coordinate response efforts. Similarly, applying these principles to your mission plan can help ensure that your efforts are organized and effective.
5. Evaluate and Adjust Regularly
Regularly evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed. Are your actions aligning with your values and goals? Are you growing in your relationship with God and others? Use this time for prayerful reflection, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom in refining your mission plan.
Conclusion
Creating a personal mission plan is an ongoing process that requires intentionality and commitment. By grounding our lives in a biblical worldview and aligning our actions with God’s Word, we can live purposefully and make a lasting impact on the world around us.
Let us be inspired by the words of Os Guinness, “Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service” (Guinness, The Call).
As you embark on this journey, remember that God has uniquely equipped you for His purposes. Embrace your calling with joy and confidence, knowing that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion Philippians 1:6.
Let us be inspired by the words of Os Guinness, “Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to His summons and service” (Guinness, The Call).
As you embark on this journey, remember that God has uniquely equipped you for His purposes. Embrace your calling with joy and confidence, knowing that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion Philippians 1:6.
Call to Action
I invite you to take the first step in developing your personal mission plan. Spend time in prayer and reflection, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom. Consider reaching out to a mentor or spiritual leader who can provide support and accountability as you pursue this journey of faith. As you engage with the world through the lens of a biblical worldview, may you be a light and witness to God’s transformative power in every aspect of your life.
Additional Resources
For further reading and resources on developing a personal mission plan and living out a biblical worldview, consider the following:
- Colson, Charles. How Now Shall We Live. Tyndale House, 1999.
- Meyer, Stephen C. Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe. HarperOne, 2021.
- Koukl, Gregory. The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between. Zondervan, 2017.
- Sunshine, Glenn S. Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home. Zondervan, 2009.
- Sherman, Amy L. Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good. IVP Books, 2011.
Embrace the journey of living out your biblical worldview with courage and conviction. As we seek to honor God in all we do, may our lives reflect His love, truth, and grace to a world in need of His hope and redemption.
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