On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this third main session from the conference, watch as Dave Browning of Christ the King Church talks about growing organic, relational congregations with authentic community that can grow and adapt to their specific sub-culture and yet remain connected to the greater body.
All the main sessions from the conference are available, and can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this second main session from the conference, watch as John Bishop of Living Hope Church talks about revitalizing your ministry, staying focused on Jesus, and recovering from burnout.
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
On April 14th-15th, 2008, Leadership Network sponsored the Multi-Site Exposed | Seattle conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a group of churches that are operating at multiple locations and to give smaller and younger churches the opportunity to learn from those that are further down the "multi-site" road.
In this first main session from the conference, watch the round-table discussion between multi-site pastors Mark Driscoll (of Mars Hill Church), John Bishop (of Living Hope Church), and Dave Browning (of Christ the King Church).
As they become available, all main sessions from the conference can be found here.
Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
The emotional life of God and his children is very complex. The inner workings of God's heart and the hearts of his saints are not simple.
For example, Exodus 34:6 says that God is "slow to anger" and Psalm 103:9 says that God "will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever." Yet Ps. 7:11 says that "God is a righteous judge and a God who has indignation (or anger) every day."
"Primary: earliest, original, of the first rank, of first importance, chief." So reads the entry in the Concise Oxford Dictionary (1976).
What, I ask you, is the church's primary task? Not what are the many good things the church should be doing, since there are a number of good answers to this question. But rather, what is really of first importance in the life of the church? How should leaders in your church think about doing the primary thing, that which is truly of first importance?
Spiritual Amnesia
It seems to me history reveals that the church of Jesus Christ is always in danger of spiritual amnesia. This danger seems even more evident to me now than it has been in many, many years. Today we argue about all kinds of church-related issues and needs. We even occasionally speak about revival and renewal. And we promote numerous causes-social, spiritual and political-but rarely do we address the need to restore the primary thing-the proclamation and place of Jesus Christ as Lord.
We have previously seen that Jesus came to establish God's reign in this world through his life, death and resurrection. He teaches us this important truth in the Gospels, especially in the stories of the Gospels that we call the parables. We will look a little further into this truth as our story continues to unfold.
THE TIME FOR DECISION IS RIGHT NOW
Jesus' stories urged people to recognize that the time of crisis was upon them. (This was true in several ways, especially given the political and social context of his time and the fall of Jerusalem that would come in A.D.70.) The signs of the times are not difficult to grasp. People can see that a forceful wind, a coming weather pattern, and a budding fig tree, all point to something urgent and obvious. Why is it that his reign is not grasped by those who should pay attention to the numerous signs? To live as if things will always be the same is to not prepare for the night burglar. It is to collect great wealth and believe that such possessions will protect me in the day of death.
Are you interested in women's ministry at your church?
I'd like to highlight some things against which we all need to guard ourselves in women's ministry.
So, if you want to ruin a women's ministry, here are 4 helpful tips.
1. Make women's ministry your first priority.
I'm not saying to forget your husband and kids. I'm just saying to think of them as less fulfilling than women's ministry. I had a time in my life when I would drive to church praying intently that the Lord would bless my ministry there, guard my words, and guide my responses. Then one day, the Holy Spirit convicted me that I never prayed the same as I drove toward my house. Women's ministry at church had assumed the place of God's Big Thing in my life. And yet I knew that my ministry to my husband and boys was even more important than my ministry at church. Why was I allowing myself to find fulfillment in one and drudgery in the other?
As you probably know by now, the National Resurgence Conference 2008 Text & Context is only a few days away and it is sold out. However, whether you’re a poor student who couldn't afford to make it, you simply didn't register in time or you're a member of the "pajama-hadin," I have a happy announcement for you…
All main sessions and Q&A at the conference will be live-streamed right here at www.theResurgence.com! Sessions can be viewed here. And of course, once we get the conference sessions edited, audio and video of all of the sessions will be posted on this site for download or streaming. We wish you could join us in person, but hopefully you will be sufficiently consoled knowing that you can watch at home in the comfort of your jammies and bunny slippers.
