1.23.2009
1.22.2009
The Extra Pointe: 1/22/09
Message Recap from The Pointe:
Life Week 3: How to Save a Life
James 5:19-20
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
Having the Tough Conversation:
1. APPROACH EACH PERSON IN LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
-love is not self seeking, nor does it have an agenda. When we approach people with true love it can change the world.
2. HANDLE EACH SITUATION WITH HUMILITY
Ephesians 4:2
-nobody wants to talk about hard things with a know-it-all
3. NEVER GIVE UP
1 Timothy 4:16
-hold strong to your beliefs and live in such a way that saves the people watching and listening to you
4. ALWAYS POINT TO CHRIST
Christ shares his perfect love with us. Nothing we do can separate us from it and he is not surprised by our actions.
Romans 8:35-39
Life Week 3: How to Save a Life
James 5:19-20
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
Having the Tough Conversation:
1. APPROACH EACH PERSON IN LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
-love is not self seeking, nor does it have an agenda. When we approach people with true love it can change the world.
2. HANDLE EACH SITUATION WITH HUMILITY
Ephesians 4:2
-nobody wants to talk about hard things with a know-it-all
3. NEVER GIVE UP
1 Timothy 4:16
-hold strong to your beliefs and live in such a way that saves the people watching and listening to you
4. ALWAYS POINT TO CHRIST
Christ shares his perfect love with us. Nothing we do can separate us from it and he is not surprised by our actions.
Romans 8:35-39
1.20.2009
Why You Don't Love People Part 1
Often times it's easy for us to say that we love people. Everybody loves people. Where I think we miss the point is that we love people for the wrong reasons. These reasons keep us from seeing what real love can be, not only for us, but for the world. Over my next few posts I will share some reasons why you really don't love someone, no matter how much you say you do. Reason number one (in no particular order):
You don't love people because you hold love back.
Love (and relationships for that matter) is doomed to fail when it's conditional. You cannot love somebody with restrictions. I cannot say to my wife, "I love you as long as you do x, y, and z." When we make our marriage vows we basically say that we will love and cherish our spouse through thick and thin, no matter what.
People who are far from God need that same kind of commitment made to them. We cannot expect sinners to be with you any other way than they are with themselves. There is no way to love someone only after they clean themselves up.
Love is not conditional, nor can it be restrained. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians that love does not fail. Love at it's very core cannot fail. It cannot come up short. When true love is given, one that is without restrictions, it changes the world. The love of Jesus Christ forever shaped the world because it was given with no prejudice. Love was not given based on skin color, academic achievement, self worth, or status: it was only given.
You don't love people because you hold love back.
Love (and relationships for that matter) is doomed to fail when it's conditional. You cannot love somebody with restrictions. I cannot say to my wife, "I love you as long as you do x, y, and z." When we make our marriage vows we basically say that we will love and cherish our spouse through thick and thin, no matter what.
People who are far from God need that same kind of commitment made to them. We cannot expect sinners to be with you any other way than they are with themselves. There is no way to love someone only after they clean themselves up.
Love is not conditional, nor can it be restrained. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians that love does not fail. Love at it's very core cannot fail. It cannot come up short. When true love is given, one that is without restrictions, it changes the world. The love of Jesus Christ forever shaped the world because it was given with no prejudice. Love was not given based on skin color, academic achievement, self worth, or status: it was only given.
1.18.2009
Common Sense
Whenever I go to a Chick-Fil-A in Charlotte I am ALWAYS replied to with "my pleasure". Now I know it sounds weird, but the employees saying "my pleasure" really makes me want to go back. I know that if I typically go somewhere else I am rushed through, but at Chick-Fil-A I feel appreciated.
How does this relate to the church? Are people deciding to visit your church again because they feel appreciated? Do they feel needed? Or do they know you give a rip that they were even there? It disgusts me sometimes when I realize how many people have come through the doors at Ridge Pointe that have not come back. I believe that people will deal with not liking the music and/or not liking the preaching if they feel loved and appreciated. This belief also exposes the disconnect between the church in general and sinners.
In a world that longs for connection why do we not connect with people? It's a cop out to say we're scared or intimidated; I believe we're scared. We're scared to get into people's lives and see who they are. We're scared to see who we really are when we're faced with real issues. When you deal with sinners you must deal with sin. It's as simple as that. Making a connection requires a sacrifice. Get over the pride and fear. Make a connection. Make it "your pleasure".
How does this relate to the church? Are people deciding to visit your church again because they feel appreciated? Do they feel needed? Or do they know you give a rip that they were even there? It disgusts me sometimes when I realize how many people have come through the doors at Ridge Pointe that have not come back. I believe that people will deal with not liking the music and/or not liking the preaching if they feel loved and appreciated. This belief also exposes the disconnect between the church in general and sinners.
In a world that longs for connection why do we not connect with people? It's a cop out to say we're scared or intimidated; I believe we're scared. We're scared to get into people's lives and see who they are. We're scared to see who we really are when we're faced with real issues. When you deal with sinners you must deal with sin. It's as simple as that. Making a connection requires a sacrifice. Get over the pride and fear. Make a connection. Make it "your pleasure".
Vision that sticks
A couple of weeks ago my buddy Leonce Crump was talking to me about the church plant he is working on. As we talked, he shared the vision for the church: Love wrecklessly, live biblically, make disciples. It blew me away hearing someone put vision so clear. Usually churches muddy their "vision" by making it pages long or having multiple explanations for "one" vision. Our staff often joke of a church we know that has about 4 or 5 different slogans for their church.
When we don't have a clear cut vision we are doomed to fail as a church. Much like any business, if leadership coming from the top is not clear and identifiable then there will be disorder and confusion. A clear vision gives a clear process. We are able to see where we are dropping the ball, whether it be with a specific person/family or with a program, when we have a clear process. Leonce's is simple: love, challenge a change in lifestyle, and disciple those in his care, thus making it easy to see where things aren't connecting.
Over the next few days I will post the vision for my life and for The Pointe: Love, Change, Mold.
When we don't have a clear cut vision we are doomed to fail as a church. Much like any business, if leadership coming from the top is not clear and identifiable then there will be disorder and confusion. A clear vision gives a clear process. We are able to see where we are dropping the ball, whether it be with a specific person/family or with a program, when we have a clear process. Leonce's is simple: love, challenge a change in lifestyle, and disciple those in his care, thus making it easy to see where things aren't connecting.
Over the next few days I will post the vision for my life and for The Pointe: Love, Change, Mold.
1.15.2009
What Do You Love About Ministry?
As I was driving around yesterday, one question kept hitting me: what do I love about ministry? When you define what you love you can truly begin to define what drives you. You can begin to see through what you love what it is that keeps you up at night.
What do you love?
What do you cherish?
Does your ministry envelop you? Does it make you want more? I think the reason many of us get bored with ministry is because we don't love it. It can't just be like any other job because the nature of ministry is so different. When we as ministers begin treating people like statistics or numbers we lose the very heart of the ministry.
I forced myself to really put out there what I love:
-I love seeing teenagers connect with God
-I love when teenagers ask questions that let you know they are getting it
-I love seeing people who were far from God become devoted followers of Him.
-I love being a pastor
So what is it for you? What drives you? What in your life makes you feel inadequate to accomplish the goals God has set for you? What intimidates you, making you do your very best? Seek God and see. When we discover what our love is, we discover the heart of God in our lives.
What do you love?
What do you cherish?
Does your ministry envelop you? Does it make you want more? I think the reason many of us get bored with ministry is because we don't love it. It can't just be like any other job because the nature of ministry is so different. When we as ministers begin treating people like statistics or numbers we lose the very heart of the ministry.
I forced myself to really put out there what I love:
-I love seeing teenagers connect with God
-I love when teenagers ask questions that let you know they are getting it
-I love seeing people who were far from God become devoted followers of Him.
-I love being a pastor
So what is it for you? What drives you? What in your life makes you feel inadequate to accomplish the goals God has set for you? What intimidates you, making you do your very best? Seek God and see. When we discover what our love is, we discover the heart of God in our lives.
1.05.2009
My Only New Years Resolution
I typically don't buy in to having resolutions for the new year. I typically stay completely away from the entire topic when it's being discussed. This year, however, my dad asked me what I wanted to see done between me and God and something actually came to mind:
I want to be so consumed and filled by God in this next year that the ministry He has for me will have it's potential reach to the fullest extent. I want people to know that when I come in a room God is right there with me and ready to work. I want God to be made famous through my life and the lives of those that I am privileged on a day by day basis to be around and speak into.
I want to be such a great husband to my wife that others desire to have a relationship like ours, not because of my influence, but because of God's influence in my marriage relationship.
I want to become a leader, not just to teenagers, but to the leaders around me. I want my personal potential to bust the roof open through Christ.
Now I know that sounds like more than one resolution, but it's not. My resolution is to live my life in a way that God is constantly glorified and made famous, no matter what arena of life people may know me through.
I want to be so consumed and filled by God in this next year that the ministry He has for me will have it's potential reach to the fullest extent. I want people to know that when I come in a room God is right there with me and ready to work. I want God to be made famous through my life and the lives of those that I am privileged on a day by day basis to be around and speak into.
I want to be such a great husband to my wife that others desire to have a relationship like ours, not because of my influence, but because of God's influence in my marriage relationship.
I want to become a leader, not just to teenagers, but to the leaders around me. I want my personal potential to bust the roof open through Christ.
Now I know that sounds like more than one resolution, but it's not. My resolution is to live my life in a way that God is constantly glorified and made famous, no matter what arena of life people may know me through.
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