Archive for September, 2010
Major Announcement Concerning NLC This Thursday September 14, 2010
As most of you know, we are having our first leadership conference here at NewSpring Church this coming Thursday (it’s still not too late to register if you want to come…here’s the link.)
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Rick Warren will not be able to join us for the evening session like we had originally planned.
However, we’re thrilled to announce that Andy Stanley has agreed to be with us for our evening session (from 7-9pm)!
If you are a member/regular attender of NewSpring Church and had signed up online to be here on Thursday to see Rick…you can still join us that evening for Andy’s message (which will be incredible.)
We apologize for any inconvenience this turn of events may have caused some people; however, I can honestly say that we are genuinely excited to have Andy Stanley join us!!!
Can’t wait!!!
A Divine Slap In The Face September 14, 2010
To say that God “rocked my world” last week would be an understatement…it was more like a divine slap in the face and a sobering reminder that lost people really do matter to God!
Here’s the way it happened…
Charisse (my three year old daughter) and I went to get ice cream last Friday night. (One of her favorite things to do!) There is a place near our home called “Yogo Express” that has become one of her favorite places…you go in, get a cup, put the yogurt in it, THEN go to the toppings area and put your toppings on and then you pay…by the ounce.
When we walked in the place was slammed, there were people everywhere. So…I held her hand and we walked together to the area where we got our yogurt cups…she wanted chocolate yogurt with mint chips for her topping, so, I put all of that in her cup and then got ready to get mine.
BUT…when I looked down to tell her that hers was ready…she was GONE!
GONE!!!
I looked around and didn’t see her anywhere.
She had been right by my side five seconds before that…
I panicked!
Seriously…the scenarios that can run through a parents mind in a short amount of time are unbelievable.
I began calling her name…and I literally was plowing over people…trying my best to control my heart as it was literally about to explode out of my chest.
Then, after only about seven seconds (seemed like an eternity though) I saw her…she had gone to get napkins for us but had not told me.
I scooped her up and hugged her…and I can’t explain to you the overwhelming joy that shot through my body as I knew that she was not lost! (If you are a parent and this has happened to you…you know exactly what I’m talking about.)
I kept her close to me for the rest of the night…and when I put her down to bed I hugged her a little longer and and little tighter…I thought she was lost, gone…but she wasn’t, and for that I was (and AM) so thankful.
However, later on that evening I felt the Lord say to me, “Now you know how I feel about lost people.”
BAM!
Seriously, I have preached on the importance of evangelism for a long time. In fact, one of our core values here at NewSpring Church is, “Found People Find People.” However, I had NEVER viewed the importance of evangelism through the lenses of a father who is obsessed with the lost…not like that!!!
The feeling God allowed me to feel for seven seconds was one of the deepest, most intense feelings I’ve EVER felt…and because of that Luke 19:10 has taken on a whole new meaning!
God is PASSIONATE about reaching lost people…and HIS followers SHOULD BE AS WELL! Evangelism is not an option for those who say they are followers of Jesus…it is a COMMAND! AND…read through Luke 15 and notice that in each of the three stories something is lost, what is lost is found…and because of the lost being found a party/celebration begins!!!
Lost people matter to God; therefore, they should matter to HIS church!
One more thing…NewSpring Church, let’s keep doing this…let’s keep doing ALL WE CAN to reach out to people who are far from God! Let’s share our faith with them…let’s get them to church THIS Sunday…and let’s continue to BEG God to give us a harvest of souls unlike the world has ever seen!!!
Hey Pastor, About Your Church Service Yesterday… September 13, 2010
Dear Pastor/Church Leader, you need to understand a few things about your church service yesterday…
What happened in your church services yesterday was AWESOME.
Yes, “that” service…where all of “that” stuff happened.
The one that MAYBE made you want to quit the ministry.
You’ve been doubting yourself, wondering why you do what you do…praying that people might actually come back next week and beating yourself up over things you should have said…or things you did say that you should not have said.
You are discouraged because you go online and look at other churches and see where hundreds of people are giving their lives to Christ…and you are BEGGING God for that, but you are just not seeing it yet…and are beginning to wonder if God has forgotten you.
BUT…just remember that God has you in a humble place so that He can prosper you (see Job 8:7)…and He has you hidden for the purpose of developing you into someone great (Isaiah 49:2).
He has NOT given up on you…He knows exactly where you are and has called you there “for such a time as this!”
Hold your head up and keep your eyes on Him…He who called you IS faithful.
Sometimes He allows us to see what happens…but most of the time the work He is doing is in their hearts…and that takes time for us to see.
There will be “seasons of fruit” and “seasons of root”…and when you’re not seeing the fruit then its a time for us to focus on the ROOT!
Keep preaching God’s Word and HE WILL honor it (Isaiah 55:8-13), no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17) and He has GREATER plans for you than you could EVER imagine (Isaiah 49:6!)
Sunday Night Reflections September 12, 2010
A few thoughts on an amazing day at NewSpring…
- Today we saw over 100 people receive Christ AND over 100 people get baptized…LOVE IT!
- Began the series “The Blessed Life” today with a BANG!
- Got to speak on money today…which is always tense because Jesus said it is the number one competitor for our heart! (Matthew 6:24)
- BUT…reality is that Jesus doesn’t want to be a part of our life…but rather He wants to BE OUR LIFE! (See Colossians 3:4)
- He doesn’t want to be ranked in our top ten–HE wants to be FIRST…and He will relentlessly pursue our hearts until He has that place!
- He didn’t die on a cross to be Lord of some but rather Lord of all…and “all” includes our money.
- Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that being blessed isn’t about receiving but giving.
- The primary reasons people do not give are fear and frustration…neither is an excuse for disobedience.
- It’s not that God needs our money…it’s actually that we need His blessing.
- It’s always amazed me that we can sing “Jesus Paid It All” and then whine and complain about the 10% that we’re commanded to give that HE blessed us with in the first place.
- As I once heard Bill Hybels say, “How can we stand in the shadow of a blood stained cross and refuse to do the bare minimum God asks of us when it comes to giving?”
- I’ve had people tell me that they are not tithers because that is “Old Testament,” but rather they are New Testament givers…which is AWESOME because there isn’t ONE example in the New Testament of a gift given to the church that was LESS than the tithe…it was always more!
- Putting God first in our finances isn’t something we “try for a while”–it’s a lifestyle we commit to!
- AND…when it comes to teaching on money I don’t want a thing FROM anyone…I want something FOR them…I want FOR them to learn to live in the financial freedom God promises us we can live in if we will just put Him first!
- Had fun talking about the errors in prosperity theology and poverty theology.
- Also had a blast talking about the fact that I CANNOT OUT-GIVE GOD!!! (Hannah gave ONE child to the house of the Lord – see I Samuel 1:24-28 – and God gave her back FIVE children – see I Samuel 2:18-21, also HIS promise in Malachi 3:10-12 and II Corinthians 9:6-15!)
- For those who are wrestling with this…I totally understand. I refused to put God first in the area of my finances for nine years after committing my life to Christ…but I can tell you from personal experience that Proverbs 3:9-10 is TRUE…it can’t be explained, only experienced!
- Yes, it takes faith to put God first in this area of your life – see Hebrews 11:6
- You can give without loving…but you CANNOT love without giving! (John 3:16)
- AND…here is my favorite part…in a message about TITHING over 100 people surrendered their lives to CHRIST! That’s a GOD THING! I LOVE IT!!! Only GOD can take credit for that!!!
- Only two more weeks in this series, this week laid the foundation for something I believe God is going to BLOW OUR MINDS with next week, already excited out of my mind about it.
Top Five Temptations Single People Face When Considering A Relationship September 9, 2010
I did a singles retreat last weekend and, as a result, began brainstorming the top temptations I see single people have to struggle through when considering a relationship…
#1 – Compromise! Hands down this is the first temptation…and I would argue that it is the girl that deals with this way more than the guy. She begins wanting “Mr. Right” but will settle for “Mr. Right Now” if she perceives that all of her friends are getting married and she is not. God has NEVER called His followers to compromise…EVER!!! (And…ladies…if you are constantly having the defend the guy you are dating, then you know you are compromising.)
AND…ladies…if he is not pursuing you in a godly manner (which means he is not constantly trying to stick his hands down your pants) then drop him!
#2 – Believing That Marriage Will Solve The Struggles You Are Facing While Dating! Marriage is a magnifier…and if it is a small deal when you are dating then I promise it will be a BIG HONKIN’ deal when you tie the knot!
#3 – Going Too Fast! Anyone can fool anyone for a short period of time! You need to date someone “until the new wears off!” If two people are in a hurry to get married then it is usually because they are trying to hide something from the other person…or because they just want to have sex!
#4 – Trying To Be The Person That The Person They Are Dating Wants Them To Be Rather Than Who They Are – If you are having to lie about who you are to date someone…then you need to break up today! Ladies…DO NOT SAY you love football and want to go to games with him if you don’t know the difference between the offense and the defense. Dudes, DO NOT SAY you absolutely LOVE chic flics and want to watch them for hours if doing so drives you crazy! If you are doing things you HATE to do…but have refused to be honest and tell the other person the truth…then you are being dishonest with them.
#5 – Seeking Advice And/OR Affirmation From The Wrong People! Single people…please, if you want marriage/dating advice…then go to people who are actually married and have been so for a long time! Why in the world would you ask a single person for marriage advice? Why would you ask someone who has literally blown through relationship after relationship how to have a relationship? Because they read a book? Because they know some Bible verses? REALLY? If you want to know how to have a successful relationship…ask those who have one.
Do You Love Your Life? September 8, 2010
God has more for our lives than we could possibly imagine (I Corinthians 2:9)
His plans are SO much greater than most of us are currently experiencing! Seriously, we hear that Jesus promised us an abundant life in John 10:10…we see the promise of Ephesians 3:20…yet MOST people I meet would describe their lives as average, boring and predictable (when following Jesus is anything but!!!)
So…how do we breakthrough? How do we get to the place where we really to begin to live what we would consider, “The Blessed Life?”
THIS Sunday we will begin a three week journey and together discover how we can live a life that far beyond we ever dreamed. Can’t wait!
Why Do Leaders Refuse To Admit They Are Wrong? September 8, 2010
Four Reasons…
#1 – Pride – So many churches and ministries have been derailed because the leader KNEW he was wrong but refused to admit it. It wasn’t a problem with information but rather a problem with integrity!
#2 – Fear - Some leaders feel if they admit they are wrong that they will lose the respect of the people who follow them…when the opposite is true, people love it when a leader admits the obvious…even if it makes them “look bad.”
#3 – Ignorance - They don’t know that they’re wrong, they’re clueless…and if this is the case then they have most likely surrounded themselves with people who are either too insecure to speak truth to them…or too dumb to see the obvious!
#4 – Apathy – They know change needs to take place, they see the writing on the wall; however, making changes would disrupt their way (and style) of living…they care WAY more about themselves and their comfort than they do the people they lead.