Ed Stetzer is the President of Lifeway Research (www.edstetzer.com). He shared a session on mistakes he made in planting churches:
1. Forgetting the mission- get people to focus on God's glory and His people on mission; if you could have done it without God, then God was not in it
2. Being married to a church planting model- God's call is more important than the "how"
3. Not taking care- take care of yourself spiritually, physically, with family, relationally; people need a pastor who has been with God not just a pastor with great ideas; only your family will be with you in the end
4. Arrogance- everyone needs a mentor
5. Not taking believers deeper- people yearning for maturity are desiring what Christ desires
6. Ignoring hidden agendas- everyone in the church has a vision for your church but it may not be the vision that God has given for the church
7. Afraid of finances- you must talk about money, Jesus did
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Catalyst Conference- Reggie McNeal
Reggie McNeal is the Missional Leadership Specialist for the Leadership Network (http://www.leadnet.org/). Below is some of what McNeal shared is a session titled "Missional Renaissance":
For centuries, the church has been a "what" but the New Testament does not teach us to "invite friends to church". We can be church wherever we are.
In missional thinking, we aren't the point. It's His mission, not ours.
The church doesn't have a mission, the mission has the church.
The Spirit was way ahead of the church in the book of Acts.
Airports are not destinations, they are connectors. At an airport, when everything is grounded, things are not good. The same holds true for the church. The church is a connector, a sending out station, not the destination point.
For centuries, the church has been a "what" but the New Testament does not teach us to "invite friends to church". We can be church wherever we are.
In missional thinking, we aren't the point. It's His mission, not ours.
The church doesn't have a mission, the mission has the church.
The Spirit was way ahead of the church in the book of Acts.
Airports are not destinations, they are connectors. At an airport, when everything is grounded, things are not good. The same holds true for the church. The church is a connector, a sending out station, not the destination point.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Catalyst Conference- Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson is the lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington, DC (www.theaterchurch.com) or (www.evotional.com). The following is some of what he shared:
The church is not good at the Great Commandment.
Leaders should build altars along the way to recognize what God has done. (I Samuel 14:35)
When you learn how, don't forget why.
When was the last time you cried out to God all night ?(I Samuel 15: 11)
Are we building altars to God or monuments to ourselves?
If you don't listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, you won't hear the leading voice of the Holy Spirit.
If you learn a lesson from it, you haven't really failed.
The church is not good at the Great Commandment.
Leaders should build altars along the way to recognize what God has done. (I Samuel 14:35)
When you learn how, don't forget why.
When was the last time you cried out to God all night ?(I Samuel 15: 11)
Are we building altars to God or monuments to ourselves?
If you don't listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, you won't hear the leading voice of the Holy Spirit.
If you learn a lesson from it, you haven't really failed.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Catalyst Conference- Reggie Joiner
Reggie Joiner is the founder of the reThink Group (http://www.rethinkgroup.org/).
Joiner discussed the relational context of ministry in that more mentors help children process what is being taught by Christ-following parents:
1. We have all been influenced by family.
2. Somewhere along the way we develop pictures of what we think family looks like; however, the photo of the "stock family" in picture frames is not a real family.
3. If we hold on too tightly to an "ideal" picture, we set up families to become disillusioned.
4. God never really gives us a picture of an ideal family in Scripture.
5. My calling as a leader should not be to get families to conform to a common picture.
6. Two different approaches to influence the family:
a. Better picture- conform to a standard
b. Bigger story- God can use each families' story no matter what it is
7. Parents don't need a better picture, they need a bigger story.
8. God doesn't use perfect pictures, He uses broken people; He uses restoration and redemption to allow us to start from where we are and move forward.
A story of restoration and redemption is so much more effective than the "stock photography" family photo.
Children's and student ministry must shift from Sundays only to a daily focus.
An awkward, unpracticed prayer of a Dad who begins praying with his 7th grader is so much more effective than student ministry.
So many people wait until they are "fully equipped" before they begin to lead. But, as a parent, if I wait until I am fully equipped, it may take more time than I have before my sons grow up.
Joiner discussed the relational context of ministry in that more mentors help children process what is being taught by Christ-following parents:
1. We have all been influenced by family.
2. Somewhere along the way we develop pictures of what we think family looks like; however, the photo of the "stock family" in picture frames is not a real family.
3. If we hold on too tightly to an "ideal" picture, we set up families to become disillusioned.
4. God never really gives us a picture of an ideal family in Scripture.
5. My calling as a leader should not be to get families to conform to a common picture.
6. Two different approaches to influence the family:
a. Better picture- conform to a standard
b. Bigger story- God can use each families' story no matter what it is
7. Parents don't need a better picture, they need a bigger story.
8. God doesn't use perfect pictures, He uses broken people; He uses restoration and redemption to allow us to start from where we are and move forward.
A story of restoration and redemption is so much more effective than the "stock photography" family photo.
Children's and student ministry must shift from Sundays only to a daily focus.
An awkward, unpracticed prayer of a Dad who begins praying with his 7th grader is so much more effective than student ministry.
So many people wait until they are "fully equipped" before they begin to lead. But, as a parent, if I wait until I am fully equipped, it may take more time than I have before my sons grow up.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Catalyst Conference- Perry Noble
I recently attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA (www.catalystconference.com), a conference designed to help leaders impact the next generation. Since I work with young married adults and am the dad to two great little guys, I'm all for impacting the next generations. The next several posts will include my notes from some of the Catalyst sessions. First up was Perry Noble, the Pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC.
He shared Four Principles of Vision (from Acts 26):
1. Vision begins with an accurate view of Jesus- v. 15
We must buy into the person of Jesus before we buy into a plan.
2. Vision calls us to action- v. 16a
Don't use prayer as an excuse to action.
3. Vision will impact me personally- v. 16 b
There is a price of pain to achieve great gain.
4. Vision will lead to victory- v. 17, 18
People often ask what formula NewSpring Church has used that has led it to experience amazing growth and to consistently see life change occur. His response is that they use the following "formula": they worship passionately; they preach Jesus unapologetically; and they call people to repentance.
He shared Four Principles of Vision (from Acts 26):
1. Vision begins with an accurate view of Jesus- v. 15
We must buy into the person of Jesus before we buy into a plan.
2. Vision calls us to action- v. 16a
Don't use prayer as an excuse to action.
3. Vision will impact me personally- v. 16 b
There is a price of pain to achieve great gain.
4. Vision will lead to victory- v. 17, 18
People often ask what formula NewSpring Church has used that has led it to experience amazing growth and to consistently see life change occur. His response is that they use the following "formula": they worship passionately; they preach Jesus unapologetically; and they call people to repentance.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Killer Instinct
Our son Parker just wrapped up his first season of Upward (www.upward.org) flag football. Our church offered flag football for the first time this fall and Mike Newman, our church's Director of Recreation Ministries (and the league director), has done a great job getting a new program off the ground.
Parker has had a great time playing this season and we've had a positive experience as a family. On Saturday, in the last game of the season, Parker had his best game of the season. On offense, he had a 40 yard run on a sweep around right end and on defense he tallied three "tackles".
Just as he's been coached to do, after each "tackle", Parker would hold the flag high in the air so the officials would know to blow their whistles and stop the play (and of course we would cheer). But what makes me most proud as a Dad is that after the play was stopped, he would walk the flag over to the player he had just "tackled" (often a friend of his) and help his friend, the opponent, reattach their flag.
Here's The Point: Parker may not have that "killer instinct" that is so often glorified in sports. He may never play big-time football. But his ability to play hard and yet recognize that there are things more important than the game will bode him well in life. To be able to keep competition in its proper perspective at the age of 5 puts him well ahead of lots of grown men that I know.
Parker has had a great time playing this season and we've had a positive experience as a family. On Saturday, in the last game of the season, Parker had his best game of the season. On offense, he had a 40 yard run on a sweep around right end and on defense he tallied three "tackles".
Just as he's been coached to do, after each "tackle", Parker would hold the flag high in the air so the officials would know to blow their whistles and stop the play (and of course we would cheer). But what makes me most proud as a Dad is that after the play was stopped, he would walk the flag over to the player he had just "tackled" (often a friend of his) and help his friend, the opponent, reattach their flag.
Here's The Point: Parker may not have that "killer instinct" that is so often glorified in sports. He may never play big-time football. But his ability to play hard and yet recognize that there are things more important than the game will bode him well in life. To be able to keep competition in its proper perspective at the age of 5 puts him well ahead of lots of grown men that I know.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
100th Blog Post
That this is blog post #100 is amazing to me.
When I started blogging at the first of this year, it was after much encouragement from my wife. For some time, she had been telling me that I needed to write down my thoughts. That I needed to compile the stories and ideas and thoughts that I had previously been sharing only with her, and on some limited occasions, as a story or illustration as I teach in our Bible Fellowship class. I doubted that anyone would read what I would write but Tonya thought otherwise. Based on what I hear from people, she was right.
If this blog is ever of any benefit to you (and I hope it is), you have Tonya to thank.
Thank you, Tonya, for your encouragement. I love you!
When I started blogging at the first of this year, it was after much encouragement from my wife. For some time, she had been telling me that I needed to write down my thoughts. That I needed to compile the stories and ideas and thoughts that I had previously been sharing only with her, and on some limited occasions, as a story or illustration as I teach in our Bible Fellowship class. I doubted that anyone would read what I would write but Tonya thought otherwise. Based on what I hear from people, she was right.
If this blog is ever of any benefit to you (and I hope it is), you have Tonya to thank.
Thank you, Tonya, for your encouragement. I love you!
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Different Way to Do Small Group
Jesus made it pretty clear about what is really important in life: Love God, love others (Matthew 22:37-39).
As a result, we're trying a new concept in our small group this semester. Instead of meeting every week to go through the study "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan (a great study), we meet one week and then the following week, we go and serve and try to help someone in our church. On Wednesday, we had a crew that trimmed bushes and raked up acorns (a major fall hazard when you're in your 80's) at the home of a senior adult couple in our church while a couple more of us went to the home of another senior adult to clear out a clogged downspout. Not major projects, but certainly things that folks in their 70's and 80's shouldn't be attempting.
The idea to strategically add the service component to our small group came out of a desire by our guys to "do some good", to "help somebody", to "be the church"; to love God and love others. But some unexpected byproducts of this approach are taking place: the guys in the group are getting to know each other in a different context; needs are being meet; and intergenerational connections are being made as the guys in my small group (most in their mid-late 20's) are meeting senior adults in our church that they might otherwise have never had the opportunity to interact with.
As a result, we're trying a new concept in our small group this semester. Instead of meeting every week to go through the study "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan (a great study), we meet one week and then the following week, we go and serve and try to help someone in our church. On Wednesday, we had a crew that trimmed bushes and raked up acorns (a major fall hazard when you're in your 80's) at the home of a senior adult couple in our church while a couple more of us went to the home of another senior adult to clear out a clogged downspout. Not major projects, but certainly things that folks in their 70's and 80's shouldn't be attempting.
The idea to strategically add the service component to our small group came out of a desire by our guys to "do some good", to "help somebody", to "be the church"; to love God and love others. But some unexpected byproducts of this approach are taking place: the guys in the group are getting to know each other in a different context; needs are being meet; and intergenerational connections are being made as the guys in my small group (most in their mid-late 20's) are meeting senior adults in our church that they might otherwise have never had the opportunity to interact with.
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