Thursday, October 25, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together- attributed to multiple sources

Monday, October 22, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Simon Sinek

Earlier this month, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. In recent posts, I've been sharing some of my notes from Catalyst.

Simon Sinek teaches graduate level strategic communications at Columbia University and is the author of Start With Why. Here is some of what Sinek shared:

Individuals can manipulate or inspire; be a leader or an authority.

Why is the purpose, not the result.

People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do what you do.

Leaders need: priority of why; discipline of how; consistency of what.

Authenticity matters. You must actually believe the things you say and do.

Trust and reliability are different.

Surround yourself with people who believe what you believe.

Leaders put thoughts and ideas into words that inspire and move people.

Leaders can sometimes see things that others can't. But visionaries and communicators are not necessarily leaders.

Leaders must have a sense of direction and point the way. Walk in the right direction, not in circles.

It's better to disappoint with the truth than to please with a lie.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Matt Chandler

Earlier this month, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Matt Chandler serves as the Lead Pastor of Teaching at The Village Church in the Dallas area. Here are some notes from his session:

As a child of God, my inheritance is:

1. God Himself
All I've got is Him, all I need is Him
Your position is not better than Jesus

2. Resurrected, imperishable body
A body to worship that won't grow weary

3. The world
God will reach the nations, will I be involved?

4. Suffering and rejection

Determine success by what God calls a touchdown, not what others call a touchdown.

Don't give Jesus a makeover. If you contextualize to where no one is offended, you're not preaching the Gospel.

God's promise is not related to my circumstances.

Be faithful where you are.

Don't find value outside of you. Find value by Who is inside of you.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Craig Groeschel

Earlier this month, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Craig Groeschel is the Founding and Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv.  He shared from Acts 20 and encouraged his listeners to prepare for:

1. The Spirit's Prompting-
They were compelled by the Spirit
When the Spirit speaks, pay attention

2. Certain Uncertainty-
Take the step of faith without knowing all the details
If you're not leading with a little uncertainty every now and then, you're not leading by faith

3. Predictable Resistance-
If you are not ready to face opposition for your obedience to God, you are not ready to be used by God
If you blame yourself for the declines, you may take credit for the increases
Anything that's new and effective will be met with resistance

4. Uncommon Clarity-
For this I was created

God has to work in you before He can work through you.

Whenever you think you're good at something, you're full of pride.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Jon Acuff

Earlier this month, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Jon Acuff is a blogger and the author of Stuff Christians Like and Quitter. Here are some notes from his session:

Don't confuse making with achieving.

Remember who you are. You are not the things you make.

Remember Who God is. God will not be handcuffed by your failures or unleashed by your successes.

What if we (the church) celebrated so loudly that people began to ask questions.

Fame is the God of all creation knowing my name.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Christine Caine

Last week, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Christine Caine is the Founder of the A21 Campaign. Her session on preparing the next generation was one of the highlights of the conference for me. This is some of what she shared from Hebrews 2 and Judges 2:7-10:

We are in the exchange zone period in the life of the church. It doesn't matter who's fastest or best rather that we stay in our lane and pass the baton well.

If you forget the ones who came before you, you'll likely forget the ones coming after you.

As a discipler, you will make what you are.

Embrace the place where God has placed you.

Talent may open the door but character will keep you there.

Don't confuse talent and anointing.

It's better to be marked by God than marketed by man.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Mark Burnett

Last week, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Mark Burnett is the Executive Producer of popular TV shows such as Survivor, The Voice and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? A Christ- follower, Burnett and his wife Roma Downey, are currently producing a ten-hour docudrama series on The Bible which will air on the History Channel in Spring 2013.

He spoke about overcoming limitations and storytelling:

"NO" means Next Opportunity

If you have to be certain, you'll never do anything.

Announce the parade; start the parade; be the parade, the parade will grow.

In the midst of uncertainty, have faith and press forward.

In storytelling, authenticity is paramount. 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Perry Noble

Last week, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Perry Noble is the Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina. He shared a session on leadership from the life of David:

There is no progress with the process. Rather than be discouraged, see it as God developing you. We don't talk about the hours and hours David spent practicing with the sling and stone.

Anointing is not a reason to avoid the process of God.

If you are gifted, use your gifts and people will know.

(To those serving in vocational ministry): We get paid to do what people traditionally have died to do.

David never dishonored Saul at any time.

If He brought you to it, He'll bring you through it.

Catalyst Conference- Bryan Stevenson

Last week, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Bryan Stevenson is the Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. Here is some of what he shared:

The opposite of poverty is not wealth but justice.

There is power in identity.

Know why you are doing what you are doing.

Pray not for comfort and convenience but courage.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Catalyst Conference- Andy Stanley

Last week, several members of our church staff attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA. Over the next several posts, I'll share some of my notes from Catalyst.

Andy Stanley is the Senior Pastor of North Point Ministries. He opened this year's conference as is the tradition. Here is some of what he shared:

Information and insight alone do not make a leader.

How leaders are made:
Unexpected opportunity
Unavoidable adversity
Unquestionable calling
The response to these makes a leader. Leaders are made one response at a time.

Maybe the most important lesson to learn: It's not what you do but who watches you do what you do.

Actions speak louder than words but sometimes they echo.

Influence is more important than title or position.

God may choose to take you through a place where you feel you're totally unprepared.

It's better to make a difference than to make a point.

God does more through adversity to make us and shape us than at any other time.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Great Quote Thursday

If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you're wasting your time on this earth- Roberto Clemente

NewSpring Leadership Conference- Jud Wilhite

Recently, several members of our church staff attended the NewSpring Leadership Conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. In several recent posts, I've been sharing some notes from the conference sessions.

Jud Wilhite is the Senior Pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. He spoke from Ecclesiastes 3:1-11.

Remember tough seasons are temporary. In tough seasons, "this too shall pass". Be faithful in it.

Manage the crazy seasons intentionally. Not as a complaint but as a hard acceptance of reality. Create a "stop doing list". Focus on spiritual things that give strength.

Face every season in God's rest. We're a part of the story even though we may never know the end of the story.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

NewSpring Leadership Conference- Matt Chandler

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.

Matt Chandler is the Lead Pastor of Teaching at The Village Church in Flower Mound, TX.

Nobody brags about how big we are when are when God is there.

What attracts the special presence of God:
Personal holiness (Psalm 51: 10-12; Acts 3:19, 20)
Praise to God (Psalm 95: 1,2; Psalm 100:2)

What repels the special presence of God:
Pride (Psalm 138:6)
Complacency; indifference

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

NewSpring Leadership Conference- Andy Stanley

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.

Andy Stanley is the Founding Pastor of North Point Ministries in Alpharetta, GA. Stanley's session was titled, "Five Guidelines for Preaching with Unchurched People in the Room".

1. Let them know you know they're there and that you're happy about it

2. Choose a passage of Scripture and stay there. Make it so interesting that they will go home and read it again. Make it so clear that when they read it, they understand it and keep reading. Bring your energy to the text and uncover the energy in the text. Don't skimp on the text; we want people to fall in love with the Author of the text. Slow down, assume nothing.

3. Give them permission not to believe or obey (let the Holy Spirit work). When you give unchurched people an out, they respond by leaning in.

4. Avoid the phrase "the Bible says". Cite authors. Use the phrase "New Testament marriage, not Biblical marriage".

5. Acknowledge the odd as odd. Tie stories back to Jesus. The foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus. Remove every obstacle except the offense of the cross.

Monday, October 1, 2012

NewSpring Leadership Conference- Steven Furtick

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.

Steven Furtick is the Founding Pastor of Elevation Church with multiple locations around Charlotte, NC. He spoke from I Kings 18 and 19 on Elijah and Elisha: "What Are You Doing Here?"

Maybe Elijah wasn't running for his life but from his life- v. 19: 3,4

If you are running from your life:
1. Get up and eat- God will provide but we must get up and eat- v. 19: 5-7
2. Go out and stand- God whispers because He's close- v. 19: 12, 13
3. Get back to work- God was continuing His plan- v. 19: 16, 19

Do stuff and then reach back and pull people forward to do stuff.