Dare to Dream: Creating a God-Sized Mission Statement for Your Life

by Mike Slaughter

Are your goals too small? Are you living the “just get by” plan? Or is there a greater “God dream” for you that, if lived to the fullest, could permeate and inform every move you make?

Dare to Dream is a startling and inspiring program by popular author and pastor Mike Slaughter that draws on the Bible and a lifetime of ministry to help us discern God’s dream for us and learn to live it out, prayerfully and enthusiastically. Participants will learn how to develop a life mission statement that helps them fully commit to a God-directed lifestyle.

Chapters

Dreaming the Dream – Wake up to God’s dream inside you. Discovering Your Birthright – You were created with a purpose. Your Burning Bush – Be aware of those illuminating God moments in your life. Lose Your Big Buts – Allow God’s strength to be displayed in your weakness. What Is in Your Hand – Identify and utilize the ordinary gifts God has given you. Perseverance – Discover a dream for your life far greater than your own.

Genres: Church, Leadership

144 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2013

About the author

Mike Slaughter is the lead pastor at Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. Under his leadership, Ginghamsburg became known as an early innovator of small group ministry and a leader in global mission efforts. A frequently sought-after speaker, he is the author of many books, including Dare to Dream, Hijacked, Change the World, Christmas Is Not Your Birthday, and Upside Living in a Downside Economy.

Reviews

[AJourneyWithoutMap]

How many times have you heard yourself saying, “Someday I’m going to....” without that “someday” ever coming? Sounds familiar? That “someday” is the enemy to the gift of today. “Someday” is daydreaming. God didn’t create us to sit around waiting to die and then go to heaven. He created in each one of us a unique God-dream for getting more out of life than the one we are living now. It is something worth living for – and dying for.

In his new book, Dare to Dream: Creating a God-Sized Mission Statement for Your Life (Abingdon Press, December 2013), author Mike Slaughter tersely points out how to live out a life of purpose and make it one continuous song of ascent. H wants to wake you up to the God-dream inside of you. The book shows you how to develop your life mission statement, which is different from having goals. Goals can change by season or circumstance but a life mission statement never changes. The book is a challenge to you to commit fully to your God-directed life mission, starting now.

Containing six short but exciting chapters, your eyes and heart will open to the delight God has for you reading Dare to Dream.

[Mary]

The book of James urges us to embrace the gift of today and start experiencing no-regret living … easier said than done, but the author continues to encourage the reader through his own experiences and those of major players from the bible. He wrote the book with three purposes in mind: to understand the God-dream inside of us, develop a life mission statement and challenge us to commit fully to our God-directed life mission, starting now. I took out a pad of paper, grabbed a pen and stared at an empty page for quite some time before the thoughts began to emerge with some substance. Each page of the book holds inspiration for formulating our mission, and the author guides us with three simple questions: What are the gifts of my head? What are the gifts of my hands? What is the passion of my heart? Answering these leads to our BHAG … your Big Hairy Audacious God-Purpose. Go for it!

[Cara]

I don't have much to say. In spite of reading the book, I don't have what Slaughter would call a BHAG. Then again, teaching high school feels big, hairy, and audacious most days. I suppose the part that's missing is the articulation of why I do it--what do I bring to it? How do I hope it changes the world? I should probably spend some time thinking about those things to give myself a bit more of a sense of purpose.

[Gail Burgess]

I read this for a group I was participating in. It was ok, but often I found myself frustrated with the author's examples of how great he was in overcoming something or achieving something. And perhaps I was not really a part of his target audience. Hunh.

[Ashley VanLeeuwen]

A short, sweet, and powerful way to examine or re-examine what you're doing with your life. At less than 100 pages, you can probably read this book in an hour or two; however, I highly recommend journaling along with the questions at the end of each chapter. Take the time to meditate on the questions and really consider your thoughts, passions, and gifts. Most importantly, write down your answers. It's worth it!

[Lisa Worley]

I found "Dare to Dream" to contain cutting-edge theology. It was good to see a Methodist pastor talk about the Holy Spirit, and place importance on our dreams. God has always spoken to his people in dreams, and that has not changed. Because of this book, I am paying more attention to the messages in the dreams I remember. This book also helps us to determine the "God Purpose" we have in life.

[Beth Quick]

We read this for a clergy book study and with a group of folks at my church. I'm not a huge fan of Slaughter, but his ideas are helpful for my congregation, as we tried to dream big about what we can do with God in the year to come. It's very readable/accessible, and good for starting discussions/visioning.

[Stacy]

This book has been truly motivational in seeking God's purpose and plan for me, not just for a month or year, but for life! Forcing me to put ideas and thoughts on paper, made me take a deeper look at what I am inspired to commit to for His kingdom purposes. His ways are so much bigger than mine!

[Bookworm]

A very thought provoking inspirational read that will make you write the vision God has given you so that those who read it will run with it, great read wouldn't mind adding it to my personal library.

[George Love]

Read this in three days - January 1 - 3 - on three trips to the gym. Easy read - good motivation to be about seeking God's purpose and plan in the new year.

[Tim Beck]

not bad. a simple book about dreams. some good stories and good questions.

[Michelle]

Short, easy to read book that generates big questions about the dreams and mission god has given you

[Erin]

Easy read, suitable for those seeking to understand and craft their personal mission statement.

[Danielle]

I was stuck in a slump, studied this in a bible study and this helped me to define my true purpose.