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1.) Genesis 6:13-16, 19-21: God gives Noah instructions to build an ark and what to put on it.
2.) Genesis 6:22, 7:5: Noah follows God's instructions.

B. Moses

1.) Exodus 3:10 - 4:31: God calls Moses to service. Moses resists God's call with excuses, and God appoints Aaron to assist Moses.
2.) Exodus 5:1-4: Moses and Aaron follow God's call and Moses and Aaron follow God's instructions in dealing with Pharaoh and preparing the children of Israel to leave Egypt.

C. Rich Man

1.) Luke 12:16-19: The man made plans without including God in his plans.
2.) Luke 12:20: God took the man's soul.

2. Why Plan? To Determine the Direction win Which you are Going

A. Going to Carolina Beach from Greensboro: I-40 East will take you to Wilmington. I-40 West will take you to the Smoky Mountains. You must go the right direction to get to your desired destination.

B. A Philosophy Related by a Business to it's Employees: "Failing to plan is planning to fail".

3. How?

A. Pray for God's direction.

1.) What does God want us to do? Hold a prayer retreat before starting to plan. Is there any place in the scripture that indicates that a vote was taken when God gave direction?
2.) Make a commitment to God to help Him do the work He wants done. God's plan never fails.
3.) Don't "tell" God what you are going to do and ask Him to help you get it done. Man's plans often fail.

B. Evaluate.

1.) Why are we doing what we are doing? What is our purpose? Put your church purpose in writing and let it be known to everyone.
2.) If we continue doing what we are doing, where will our present course take us? What are we doing that is so sacred that we will not change in order to reach people? Obstacle: "I shall not be moved." Sacred cows make good hamburgers. People will change when they hurt enough that they have to, they learn enough that they have to, and/or they receive enough that they have to.
3.) Do we have "programs" or "ministries"? Program: A Plan of Procedure - Do we just plan or do we take action to carry it out? Ministry: The Act of Serving - Does our ministry meet the needs of the people around us?
4.) Evaluate actions that have been taken. Determine changes needed to improve ministry.

C. Identify Strengths and Needs.

1.) Does your church operate as a body? Each person should be a functioning part of the church. Harness the abilities of the people and let them do the job God has given them to do. I Corinthians 12 - We each have gifts and talents that are to be used in the work of the church. We are to work together in unity just as the various parts of our physical body work together.
2.) List the areas in which your church is strong.
3.) List the areas in which your church is weak.
4.) Make a list of things your church needs to do to make it's weak points stronger.

D. Determine Priorities. Look at your list of needs and determine which are the most urgent. This is connected to budget planning when there is a cost involved concerning a need. Identify members of the congregation that have skills that can be used on a volunteer basis to meet needs.

E. Set Goals.

1.) Long Term - Enrollment to be Reached by the End of the Year, Attendance to be Reached by the End of the Year, Items Listed "Needs" that Cannot be Done Immediately, and Goals for Future Ministries and Actions that are to be Implemented. Develop a calendar and a budget.
2.) Short Term - Actions that are to be Carried Out on a Weekly and Monthly Basis to Meet Long Term Goals, and Goals for One Time Events/Activities that will Occur During a Week or a Month.

F. Plan Actions.

1.) Consider Resources. Which people have the gift or talent to do specific jobs? Do a spiritual gifts survey. Recruit to a vision, not a job description. Provide training for people recruited to do a job.
2.) Plan actions that must be implemented to reach short and long term goals. Follow through to carry out planned actions.

4. When do we plan?

A. Annual Planning - Conduct a planning retreat 2-3 months before the beginning of the next fiscal year. Evaluate records of the past year. This information is helpful in determining needed improvements, is used to determine the number of workers and classes needed, and it helps in determining budget requirements.

B. Monthly Planning

1.) Evaluate monthly progress on goals.
2.) Plan events and activities for the next month.

C. Weekly Planning

1.) Publicize and promote upcoming activities.
2.) Share and evaluate department plans.
3.) Assign and evaluate worker responsibilities.
4.) Promote and evaluate outreach efforts.
5.) Emphasize and improve Bible teaching.
6.) Learn and develop leadership skills.
7.) Identify and solve problems.
8.) Exhibit and promote team spirit.

YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES, LEARN FROM THEM!!!

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