Archive for August, 2009
Five Lies of the Devil August 18, 2009
The Bible says in John 8:44 that satan is a liar and the father of lies…
The biggest problems with his lies are…a lot of them look like the truth…
This Sunday at NewSpring we are beginning a brand new series that expose his lies…
What’s Holding You Back? August 18, 2009
I remember FINALLY surrendering to Jesus and starting NewSpring Church. God had been working on me since 1996 that He wanted me to do it…but I kept putting Him off and saying things like…
- “I’m too young.”
- “Yes Lord, I’ll do it…later.”
- “No one will come!”
- “There are WAY more people that are WAY more qualified to do this other than me!”
- “I don’t have the money.”
- “I don’t have a huge group of people around me.”
- “I didn’t graduate from seminary!”
- “I don’t know HOW to do this.”
On and on I could go…but I think you get the point. I never told Him, “no,” but I did keep giving Him so many excuses that I thought He would eventually change His mind.
HE DIDN’T…HE DOESN’T…
And I am SO GLAD I obeyed.
SO…how about you? What is it that God has clearly called you to do (or to NOT do?) Are you trying to bargain with Him? Are you offering Him excuses? That approach ever works!
Is there anything He’s calling you to do that needs to be surrendered instead of negioted? You will be SO GLAD you let go…trust me!
- He’s the SAME GOD who led the Israelites through the Red Sea.
- He’s the SAME GOD who allowed David to kick the crap out of Goliath.
- He’s the SAME GOD who sent Jesus to walk through the fire with Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego!
- He’s the SAME GOD who set John the Baptist on fire.
- He’s the SAME GOD who raised Jesus from the dead.
- He’s the SAME GOD who set the church on fire in Acts 2.
- He’s the SAME GOD who called and anointed the Apostle Paul.
- He’s the SAME GOD who lives in you, has gifted you, empowered you and desires for you to do great things for HIS NAME!
He has not changed…therefore, we have NO EXCUSE! (Hebrews 13:8)
SO…what’s holding you back?
The world needs more people who will refuse to excuse when they’ve heard from the Almighty!
So, let’s get on with it…eternity is too long and hell is too hot for us to make one more excuse!!!
What Makes A Church Come Alive? August 17, 2009
Was thinking the other day about this…what makes a church come alive?
- CHANGED LIVES…when dead people are being brought to life a church cannot remain on life support. Changed lives change a community!
- THE GOSPEL…when the Gospel is THE agenda instead of some ridiculous issue that happens to be the “fad of the year.”
- HIS PRESENCE…when He becomes UNDENIABLE!
- WORSHIP…when the goal isn’t to see how little of the song we can sing but rather to sing with everything we’ve got.
- GIVING…when God is honored because Christians don’t just trust Him with what they can’t see…but are willing to trust Him with what they can see.
- SERVICE…when believers are unleashed to serve Christ by using their spiritual gifts rather than depending on the “paid professionals” to do it all.
- DEDICATION…when people in the church are way more passionate about pursuing Christ daily rather than showing up on Sunday and getting their attendance star on their chart.
- PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…when people in the church begin to accept responsibility for where they are in their spiritual journey…and then are willing to do something about it.
- LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD, NOT MAN…leaders who know that God called them and will take care of them…and refuse to let the threat of not getting a paycheck stop them from doing what God has called them to do.
- UNITY…when a church can truly celebrate when a church…ANY CHURCH…sees something great happen for the Kingdom.
- BAPTISM…it’s NEVER a bad thing to see hundreds of people go public with their faith.
- SINCERITY…when people show up with hearts ready to hear, repent and be brough near rather that people checking out the fashions of others.
- DESPERATION…for Jesus to show up and make Himself known.
- EXCELLENCE…for people to be willing to give their very best effort to honor the God who saved them.
- TECHNOLOGY…embracing it and using it rather than fighting it. (Find it funny and sad that there are churches who say that using lights and video is “not in the Bible,” yet those same churches use air conditioner and heaters…which are not in the Bible either!)
Those are just some thoughts I had on it…praying that NewSpring Church is always a church fully alive.
Sunday Night Reflections August 16, 2009
I really don’t think I can put what happened today into words…but I will try…here goes…
- We saw over 50 people at the Anderson campus walk forward and pray out loud to receive Christ in front of thousands of people…that never gets old!
- We were able to go live today in Florence…that gives us two portable campuses where we are able to show live video every week…Columbia starts soon!
- We announced our 10 year anniversary service…Sunday, January 24…one service at the BILO Center in Greenville…it will seat around 15,000 people and we are expecting EVERY seat to be filled!
- Today’s services were, hands down, the most energetic and exciting services we’ve ever had in the history of our church. WOW!
- The 6:00 service at the Anderson campus was the most energetic crowd I’ve ever seen…probably going to have to replace the walls this week…I think they were torn down!
- Had some major traffic today at the Anderson campus…which is amazing! Seriously, if you’re stuck in traffic next week just stop and say, “This is church!”
- Next week on Anderson’s campus you can attend the main sanctuary…OR you can go across to the Fuse building and watch the service in that environment via video…it is INCREDIBLE!
- Yes, I did say that the problem with many churches is that they have become “Keepers of the aquarium” rather than “fishers of men.” We will not be that church! Our goal isn’t to keep churched people happy…but rather to reach people who are far from God.
- AND…the line above I ripped off from one of my favorite preachers…Pastor EV Hill.
- Our agenda isn’t ANYTHING except the Gospel…and we are OBLIGATED to take HIS message to the world! When a social agenda replaces the Gospel as a church’s main agenda…it’s OVER!
- So thankful that we were able to give away thousands of copies of Bill Hybels book, “Just Walk Across The Room,” by far the best book I’ve ever read on personal evangelism.
- To other church leaders who read this blog…we made the decision several weeks ago to make this substantial investment because we believe in the power of personal evangelism…and we wanted to resource our people in the best way possible…so we challenged them and then put it in their hands. The book was free…no strings attached…and I can’t WAIT to see how God uses this!
- Would you be willing to pray, “Jesus, I am available…use me in whatever situation You wish to reach whoever You wish…I am YOURS!”
- The early church prayed for BOLDNESS…we should do the same…God WILL answer this prayer! (Acts 4:23-31!)
- It was also awesome giving away the “Jesus” stickers to go on our cars…can’t wait to see thousands of cars riding around with “Jesus” on them! (And…I am serious about what I said today in the service…for those who have a NewSpring sticker on your car, put your “Jesus” sticker OVER the NewSpring sticker…it’s all about HIM!)
- I once read a statistic that said 25% of unchurched people in America said they would be willing to go to church THIS Sunday…if someone would personally invite them!
- I can’t say this enough…do all that you can to get whoever you can to NewSpring Church next week as we begin our new series, “Five Lies of the Devil.” Can’t wait!!!
- Let me say this one more time…I KNOW it’s often scary and intimidating to share Christ with someone and/or invite them to church; however, we need to embrace the fact that we are called to be uncomfortable. Pray for boldness and GO FOR IT! AND…
- DON’T GIVE UP ON THEM!!! I am soooo glad that a guy named David didn’t give up on me!!! He kept inviting me…and finally I went…and several months later surrendered my life to Christ!!!
- The new coaching network begins this Thursday…can’t wait to connect with some amazing leaders.
- I serve with the most amazing staff and volunteers on the planet.
- I can’t WAIT to see what happens next!!!
That’s it…good night!
Ten Leadership Questions I Am Wrestling With–Part Two August 14, 2009
#6 – Am I Wanting His Salvation Or The Name Of My Church To Be Known? (Psalm 67:1-2)
This is a hard question that I feel we must ALL wrestle to the ground because, when God begins blessing a church, many times a leader will slip into thinking the blessing is so that the leader can become more known RATHER than making the name of Christ known. Leaders don’t talk about this…but everyone who has experienced any level of success in ministry has had to fight this battle. It is one that will always be around…which is why a thankful heart and an intense focus on Jesus is essential for success over the long haul!
#7 – Will I Speak His Truth? (Psalm 68:11)
God has spoken…He’s just looking for people who are brave enough to declare His Word without watering it down…and care enough about His Word to handle it correctly.
#8 – Do I Really Believe He Saves People? (Psalm 68:20)
If I do…then the GOSPEL will govern my leadership and my preaching! AND…inviting people to give their lives to Christ will not seem like a hindrance but rather an HONOR!
#9 – Is My Passion For His Church Increasing Or Decreasing? (Psalm 69:9)
If I am not careful the passion He has placed in my heart can begin to fade away…which is why I NEED time with Him, proper rest and the right people around me to make sure what needs to happen happens! (BTW…the environment you are in will either pour gasoline or water on the fire that is inside of you–what type of environment are you in?) Jesus doesn’t use apathetic people to change the world–but people full of passion!
#10 – Do I Believe The Churches Best Days Are Ahead Of Her Or Behind Her? (Psalm 69:34-36)
If I believe the best is behind us…I will work to maintain. If I believe the best is ahead…I will work to achieve all that I believe He has planned!
Ten Leadership Questions I Am Wrestling With–Part One August 13, 2009
God has been both encouraging and destroying me in my journey through the Psalms lately…and the other morning I began to write down some leadership questions that I always want to keep in front of me.
#1 – Will I Live In Fear Of God Or Man? Psalm 60:4
When I see who God is I am ruined! (Isaiah 6:1-8.) BUT…when I fear the opinions of man I will allow His vision that He has placed inside of me to be hijacked…and that will destroy me as a leader (Proverbs 29:25).
#2 – Am I Desperate For His Voice? Psalm 60:6
The answer to this would obviously be yes…if it were not for the word “desperate!” So many times I think we all say we want to hear Him…but the dangerous side of momentum is that, many times, things begin to go so well we no longer think we need to be “desperate” for Him…just an occasional “help me” prayer will do!
#3 – Am I Trusting Him To Provide For His Church? Psalm 65:9-13
God will take care of His bride…we are called to handle money responsibly, but I don’t ever seen an instance where He instructs us to worry about it!
#4 – Am I Desiring Average Or Awesome? Psalm 66:5
As I read through the Bible (especially the book of Acts) I seriously doubt that God’s desire for the church was to be a sub par organization for really nice people who occasionally do some good things. I believe His church should be a place where people can say, “what is happening there is SUPER-natural! ONLY God could have done THAT!” It’s so sad when the church shoots for “average” and has the vision to accomplish the lowest common denominator when we have a God who is capable of so much more.
#5 – Is There Anything Happening In My Life Privately That, If It Became Public, Would Disqualify Me From Ministry? Psalm 66:18-19, Psalm 69:6
I tweeted last week, “If we don’t make integrity an issue…then one day it WILL be an issue!” The stakes are too high for church leaders to live “private lives” that mock God and not expect Him to expose them. We’ve GOT to do whatever it takes to make integrity a priority in our lives!
Three Things I Hope I Will Do…And A Slight Rant! August 12, 2009
Lucretia and I are meeting with a group of 11th and 12th graders over the course of this next school year…and we are so pumped about being able to share our lives with this group. As I’ve met with them a few times I have began to process how I am going to react when their generation begins to take over the ministry world…I hope I will…
#1 – Do My Best To Fund Their Movement & Not Fight It.
They WILL do ministry in ways that haven’t been thought of yet. They will do things that make me uncomfortable. They will take the things we are doing now and calling innovative and refer to them as traditional…and I can either face the truth or get buried by it. My job as a leader is to fund them and set them up for success…not fight them. (Phrase borrowed from Andy Stanley)
#2 – Do My Best To Learn From Them.
I SOOOO hope I am not “Yoda-like” and pretend that I have all of the answers and need no input from them. I want to pour into the generation that is coming behind me…but there is a LOT I am going to be able to learn and apply from them. Only arrogance and pride will make me think that I need to have all of the answers and can’t ask any of the questions!
#3 – Do My Best To Encourage Them.
I don’t want to be the old guy who tells them they can’t do what God has clearly told them they can AND SHOULD do! I want to be the guy who tells them to pursue what Jesus has placed in their hearts!
I am SO positive that God has amazing things in store for this next generation…I am seeing things in them that I’ve never seen…the way they respond to Jesus pursuing them is amazing…and I really do believe that God is going to use them to bring about a Reformation in America and across the world that is going to be the greatest in the history of the world. God is preparing them…and is going to use them to make a difference!
BTW–that is why I BELIEVE SOOOOO much in youth and children’s ministry! It is NOT a glorified baby sitting service…these children and youth matter NOW! One of the reasons 18 year olds move off to college and leave the church is because the church treats them like second class citizens for years…and then expects them to jump in to the political free for all that dominates most churches…you know, pick a side and just shut up! This generation will not stand for that–they are desperate for Jesus and not church politics!
There is no greater mission field than the youth and children who attend our churches every week…and yet I know for a fact that there are churches all across America that have more money in their graveyard fund than in their youth budget! THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE if we want to see a difference made!
God has called us to empower and release this next generation…not hold them back! I pray that I will one day get to see just a glimpse of all I believe He is going to do through them!!! Like I said…a Reformation…and the world will NEVER be the same!