Recently, several members of our church staff attended the NewSpring Leadership Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. In several upcoming posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.
Craig Groeschel is the Founding and Senior Pastor of LifeChurch in Edmond, Oklahoma. He spoke on the topic of "An Effective Leader's Constant Companion: Pain".
Avoid stupid pain. Step into purposeful pain.
Sometimes the difference in where I am and where God wants me to be is the pain I don't want to go through.
If you're not hurting, you're not leading. Pain is a part of leadership.
Becoming obsessed with what people think about you is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about you.
I can't please everyone but I can please God.
Do what's right and trust God with the results.
Three types of pain:
Pain of unjustified rejection and criticism
Pain of hard decisions
Pain of pruning
God will often break people privately before He uses them publicly.
Don't blame yourself for the decline because in the future you may take credit for the success.
You have everything in you to do what God has called you to do.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
NewSpring Leadership Conference- Perry Noble
Recently, several members of our church staff attended the NewSpring Leadership Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. In several upcoming posts, I will share some notes from the conference sessions.
Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church. The text he spoke from was Mark 9 and he shared two things he was praying for himself and his leadership.
#1- That Jesus will enable him to continually renew his focus and love for Him
If you fall in love with Jesus, you fall in love with people.
In Scripture, people ran to Jesus, not from Him- v. 15.
As our love for Jesus increases, our love for hurting people increases.
Meaningless arguments distract us from hurting people- v. 14, 17, 18
#2- That Jesus will give him an increasing measure of faith
People like to follow a leader who talks about how great things will be as opposed to how great things were
Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church. The text he spoke from was Mark 9 and he shared two things he was praying for himself and his leadership.
#1- That Jesus will enable him to continually renew his focus and love for Him
If you fall in love with Jesus, you fall in love with people.
In Scripture, people ran to Jesus, not from Him- v. 15.
As our love for Jesus increases, our love for hurting people increases.
Meaningless arguments distract us from hurting people- v. 14, 17, 18
#2- That Jesus will give him an increasing measure of faith
People like to follow a leader who talks about how great things will be as opposed to how great things were
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Great Quote Thursday
Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is- Winston Churchill
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Vision and Values- Part 2
This continues a series of posts on a current teaching series called Vision and Values that I am leading through in Bible Fellowship groups on Sunday mornings. In this series, we look at Vision (what God wants for us) and Values (4 foundational values our church lives by). We continue by looking at Vision.
In the previous post, we saw that God's vision for us is to know Him. Once we identify with Him, His vision for us is that we be like Him.
When Paul writes to the Colossian church in Colossians 3, he reminds them that because of Christ's sacrifice, they've been changed (v.1); should be heavenly-minded (v.2); are eternally secure (v.3); and should look forward to Christ's return (v.4). And though redeemed, they will still struggle with earthly, sinful matters (v.5-10).
As a result, Paul writes that followers of Christ should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and forgiving (v.12-13). But more than these, loving (v.14). In addition, Christ followers are to be peaceful and thankful (v.15).
The word of Christ is to be the foundation of all the actions of the believer (v. 16). So much so that "whatever you do" (v.17), you should do in His name, as He would.
God's vision for us is that we know Christ. And once we know Him, He desires that we be Christlike and represent Him well.
In the previous post, we saw that God's vision for us is to know Him. Once we identify with Him, His vision for us is that we be like Him.
When Paul writes to the Colossian church in Colossians 3, he reminds them that because of Christ's sacrifice, they've been changed (v.1); should be heavenly-minded (v.2); are eternally secure (v.3); and should look forward to Christ's return (v.4). And though redeemed, they will still struggle with earthly, sinful matters (v.5-10).
As a result, Paul writes that followers of Christ should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient and forgiving (v.12-13). But more than these, loving (v.14). In addition, Christ followers are to be peaceful and thankful (v.15).
The word of Christ is to be the foundation of all the actions of the believer (v. 16). So much so that "whatever you do" (v.17), you should do in His name, as He would.
God's vision for us is that we know Christ. And once we know Him, He desires that we be Christlike and represent Him well.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Vision and Values
This begins a series of posts on a current teaching series called Vision and Values that I am leading through in Bible Fellowship groups on Sunday mornings. In this series, we'll look at Vision (what God wants for us) and Values (4 foundational values our church lives by). We start by looking at Vision.
What did you want to be when you grew up? What was your vision of the future? When I was young, I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. You get to go to all the big games, don't have to pay to get in and get great seats. Back then, I would watch all the games I could and would study my football and baseball cards in detail, learning all the stats and creating team lineups and play formations. Now that I'm older, I know that was not God's plan for me. He had a better plan.
As adults, we no longer deal with the "what will you be when you grow up question" but we still wonder what's next in our lives. The big question now is not what you do, but who you are in Christ.
What is His vision for your life? What does God want you to be like? In Colossians 2, the apostle Paul shared some principles with the church at Colosse, helping them see what God longed for for them.
Paul had never met many of the people in the Colossian church. Yet he longed for God's vision, God's best, for them. Paul's prayer was that they would be:
Encouraged in heart;
United in love;
Have the full riches of complete understanding; and
Know the mystery of God, namely, Christ (v.2).
In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (v.3).
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All. Jesus is all you need.
God's vision for your life is for you to know Christ. He is God revealed.
What did you want to be when you grew up? What was your vision of the future? When I was young, I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. You get to go to all the big games, don't have to pay to get in and get great seats. Back then, I would watch all the games I could and would study my football and baseball cards in detail, learning all the stats and creating team lineups and play formations. Now that I'm older, I know that was not God's plan for me. He had a better plan.
As adults, we no longer deal with the "what will you be when you grow up question" but we still wonder what's next in our lives. The big question now is not what you do, but who you are in Christ.
What is His vision for your life? What does God want you to be like? In Colossians 2, the apostle Paul shared some principles with the church at Colosse, helping them see what God longed for for them.
Paul had never met many of the people in the Colossian church. Yet he longed for God's vision, God's best, for them. Paul's prayer was that they would be:
Encouraged in heart;
United in love;
Have the full riches of complete understanding; and
Know the mystery of God, namely, Christ (v.2).
In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (v.3).
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All. Jesus is all you need.
God's vision for your life is for you to know Christ. He is God revealed.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Fun on Friday
Tonight, our family attended our first-ever University of Tennessee Lady Vols Soccer match. We had tried to get to Regal Soccer Stadium for a couple of years but our schedule just never seemed to work out. But after tonight, I know we plan to go again. The fan experience was outstanding, family-friendly and a great value.
First, our boys had earned free admission by participating in the Knox County Library System's summer reading program. Tonya and I donated a couple of school supplies each for our own free admission. Plus, parking was just outside the stadium and was also free.
Being 2 of the first 250 kids in the gate, both of our boys received a collapsible UT water bottle. Next, there was a free kids' carnival area with inflatables. At 30 minutes prior to the start of the game, UT's Coach Brian Pensky held a "Chalk Talk" open to anyone wishing to attend in which he briefly previewed tonight's match.
But the highlight of the night for Turner was meeting and having his photo made with Smokey. Or as he put it, "We tried to meet him at basketball games but we got to at a soccer game".
It was an experience we would recommend for families. It was fun on Friday.
First, our boys had earned free admission by participating in the Knox County Library System's summer reading program. Tonya and I donated a couple of school supplies each for our own free admission. Plus, parking was just outside the stadium and was also free.
Being 2 of the first 250 kids in the gate, both of our boys received a collapsible UT water bottle. Next, there was a free kids' carnival area with inflatables. At 30 minutes prior to the start of the game, UT's Coach Brian Pensky held a "Chalk Talk" open to anyone wishing to attend in which he briefly previewed tonight's match.
But the highlight of the night for Turner was meeting and having his photo made with Smokey. Or as he put it, "We tried to meet him at basketball games but we got to at a soccer game".
It was an experience we would recommend for families. It was fun on Friday.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Great Quote Thursday
You were being the more gracious the less You would allow anything that was not You to grow sweet to me- Augustine on coming to faith in Christ
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Books I'm Reading
I was recently asked about the types of books I like to read. I'm usually reading a combination of ministry-related books along with some history, biography and sports books. Here's what I'm currently working through:
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball' Last Hero- David Maraniss
Lead Like Ike: Ten Business Strategies from the CEO of D-Day- Geoff Loftus
Overcoming Your Shadow Mission- John Ortberg
Transformational Discipleship: How People Really Grow- Eric Geiger, Michael Kelley, Philip Nation
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball' Last Hero- David Maraniss
Lead Like Ike: Ten Business Strategies from the CEO of D-Day- Geoff Loftus
Overcoming Your Shadow Mission- John Ortberg
Transformational Discipleship: How People Really Grow- Eric Geiger, Michael Kelley, Philip Nation
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Great Quote Thursday
Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Connect Through Difficulties
In their book, "How to Build a Lasting Marriage", Elmer and Ruth Towns offer some practical wisdom for building a long marriage (page 228):
A Man is Wise to Listen to His Wife:
1. When she says there is a problem in the marriage.
2. When she has an evaluation.
3. When she expresses her needs and feelings.
4. When she expresses a desire for certain changes.
And some practical take-aways (pages 229, 230):
1. The submission of a wife is not a posture of surrender but an attitude of trust.
2. There's no such thing as a life of faith without problems.
3. How we handle our problems will influence our children.
4. Our days are known.
A Man is Wise to Listen to His Wife:
1. When she says there is a problem in the marriage.
2. When she has an evaluation.
3. When she expresses her needs and feelings.
4. When she expresses a desire for certain changes.
And some practical take-aways (pages 229, 230):
1. The submission of a wife is not a posture of surrender but an attitude of trust.
2. There's no such thing as a life of faith without problems.
3. How we handle our problems will influence our children.
4. Our days are known.
Connect Series: Dealing with Difficulties
In our relationship series, Connect, we are looking at the lives of Bible couples and the issues they dealt with. This week, we look at the marriage of Abraham and Sarah who learned to connect in their marriage in the midst of difficult circumstances.
When you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some information on Abraham and Sarah:
How they met? We don't know.
What was she like? Sarah's name means "princess". She trusted her husband's leadership (I Peter 3).
What was he like? Abraham trusted the Lord (Genesis 12:1-4; Genesis 17:1-6).
What was their issue? Infertility. As a result, Sarah talked Abraham into conceiving a child, an heir, with her maid Hagar (Genesis 16: 1-4). Not surprisingly, this only caused trouble (Genesis 21: 8-21). For many people. For all of history.
How'd it end? Though Abraham and Sarah made mistakes, they were noted for their lifelong faithfulness to God by the writer of the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11: 8-12) in what is sometimes referred to as the "hall of fame of faith".
When you meet someone, you usually want to know something about them. Here's some information on Abraham and Sarah:
How they met? We don't know.
What was she like? Sarah's name means "princess". She trusted her husband's leadership (I Peter 3).
What was he like? Abraham trusted the Lord (Genesis 12:1-4; Genesis 17:1-6).
What was their issue? Infertility. As a result, Sarah talked Abraham into conceiving a child, an heir, with her maid Hagar (Genesis 16: 1-4). Not surprisingly, this only caused trouble (Genesis 21: 8-21). For many people. For all of history.
How'd it end? Though Abraham and Sarah made mistakes, they were noted for their lifelong faithfulness to God by the writer of the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 11: 8-12) in what is sometimes referred to as the "hall of fame of faith".
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