Innovate Conference- Chuck Swindoll

Earlier this week, I attended the Innovate Conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. Over the next several posts, I will share some of my notes from the conference sessions.

Chuck Swindoll, the former President of Dallas Theological Seminary, has served in ministry for over 50 years and currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Here is some of what he shared in his session:

Know who you are; accept who you are; be who you are

Retirement is an American dream not a Christian dream

Every day is not a fantastic or great day. Some days are okay. Be honest. Tell the truth. Some days are hard.

According to I Corinthians 4: 1-2, if you are involved in ministry, you are called to be a servant and a steward. Servant meaning "under rower"; a ship does not move unless someone is moving the oars. Steward meaning "housekeeper"; the hungry and thirsty are not fed unless someone prepares. In ministry, we must keep our oars in the water (do the work and serve) and take time to prepare meals (to feed those with spiritual needs).

Four constant reminders in ministry:
1. Guard your imagination
2. Restrain all rationalization
3. Leave no room in ministry for deception
4. Always ask what is my motive?