Archive for Vision
15 Things That Will Help Us Go Insane! June 17, 2009
Fifteen Things That Will Help Us Go Insane!
#1 – Get a fresh, life changing, hell emptying vision from God
#2 – Expect everyone to be excited about it, and to provide you will nothing but affirmation and support.
#3 – Let people who haven’t heard from the Lord begin to alter your vision because you are scared of them.
#4 – Try to continually defend the vision to everyone who attacks it.
#5 – Care about everything that anyone says…whether they know you are not.
#6 – Spend more time focusing on what negative people say rather than what God says.
#7 – Try to do what God has told you to do all by yourself!
#8 – Neglect correction from those who love Jesus, the church and you.
#9 – Don’t hold people accountable because you are afraid they may get mad if you call them out.
#10 – Hold people accountable for unspoken and unrealistic expectations.
#11 – Use your vision as a means to judge the vision God has given someone else…and if they aren’t doing it just like you then attack them so much that the Lord’s voice grows faint.
#12 – Become impatient with God’s timing and “help Him” by doing things that He doesn’t lead you to do.
#13 – Try to be “fair” to everyone you serve with.
#14 – When it gets tough…QUIT!
#15 – Spend all of your life saying that “one day” you are going to do what God has called you to do…just not right now because it isn’t convenient.
Bonus: Refuse to answer the question, “What would I be willing to attempt for God if I knew I could not fail?”
The Question That Changed My Life May 11, 2009
We all have them…life changing moments, you know, the ones where the world seems to stand still and you come face to face with something that just about engulfs you…
It happened to me in August of 1999. I was having lunch with a friend/mentor of mine at Red Lobster (LOVE their garlic cheese biscuits!) I had been restless for about six months and I knew God was pushing me towards something…but I wasn’t sure what. AND…I didn’t want my restlessness to turn into rebellion by me trying to force something…so I began processing with him out loud…
And he asked me THIS question…
“What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?”
I knew the answer…I didn’t even have to think about it…it literally just flew out of my mouth, “I would plant a church.”
He looked at me dead in the eye and said, “then you are a coward if you don’t!”
SO…literally…at that moment I said “yes” to the call I knew God had placed on my life. I didn’t know the answers (still don’t), I didn’t know anything about strategy or structure, didn’t know how technology would play a part of the church, didn’t know how we were going to establish leadership…I didn’t know a LOT…
BUT…what I did know is that God had placed a DREAM inside of me to plant a church…and when Dale asked me the question I mentioned earlier it SHOOK me…and DROVE me to take a DIVE of faith.
SO…what about you…what would YOU be willing to attempt for God if you KNEW you could not fail?
If the answer isn’t, “what I am doing right now” then I would say you need to do some serious praying and rearranging.
You see…life is SHORT…our days are numbered…and God didn’t put us on this planet to screw around…but rather to MAKE A DIFFERENCE by USING what HE has given us to advance HIS Kingdom and MAKE HIM FAMOUS!
Too many of us are held captive by fear…but remember He is THE MOST HIGH GOD!!! Never let fear trump the potential God has placed in you!
Too many of us are held captive by the unknown…but remember HE KNOWS! Besides…if we have EVERY answer to every question then what He is comanding us to do would not require faith on our part…and where would the fun be in that?!?!?!
Too many of us are held captive by people who say “it” can’t be done…but if you will look at who is saying that “it” you will discover that they aren’t actually doing anything except for trying to hold back the people God is letting loose to do ministry.
Too many of us are held captive by critics…but if you will notice Jesus was criticized…and, if you are not experiencing some opposition then that means the enemy is pleased with you…not exactly the calling our lives should fulfill!!!
What would you be willing to attempt for God if you KNEW you could not fail?
You’ve GOT to beg Him for revelation on this…and when He gives you the Word…you’ve GOT to act. God doesn’t reveal Himself to us so that we can CONSIDER IT…but rather so that we will be CONSUMED by it and OBEY HIS VOICE!
BTW…if the thing that you would attempt scares you to death…if you have had sleepless nights thinking about it…if you KNOW that failure is a sure thing unless HE gets involved…then you should probably make a move…SOON! (Like…maybe even RIGHT NOW!!!)
When Dale asked me that question I told myself, “I’ve got nothing to lose…I am going to give this a shot…I don’t want to waste my life and then look back 20 years from now and begin asking ‘what if’ questions!” (AND…you don’t want that for yourself either!!!)
SO…what would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail?
You’re not waiting on Him…He’s waiting on you…do you need to make a move, share Christ with someone, plant a church, change careers…WHAT IS IT that BURNS YOUR HEART and DRAWS YOU to DESPERATE DEPENDENCE ON HIM?
What would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail? Can you imagine what the world would be like if all of us allowed that question to drive the vision for our lives?
What about it?
Eleven Things I Want To Do… April 27, 2009
Everyone has a wish list (or at least SHOULD have one!) Here are 10 things I want to do…some ministry, some personal…all serious!
#1 - I Want NewSpring Church To Reach Over 100,000 People For Jesus Christ!
If the early church can do what they did in Acts 2:41 with ABSOLUTELY none of the technology we have today…then what does the Lord expect of us? I believe we will see this…am begging God for it…and will not back down from doing all that I can to see that this happens.
#2 - I Want To Have At Least 25 NewSpring Campuses In The Next 10 Years.
I don’t know how in the heck we are going to do this…but I know that multi site works and that our church is called to do this.
#3 - I Want To Begin A Church Planting Network.
Once again, I don’t know how…I just know that I have a heart for church planters! I want to help as much as I possibly can…and I know that our church must be involved in both church planting and multi site.
#4 - I Want To See At Least 3,000 People Be Baptized In One Day!!!
If it happened in Acts…it can happen again. He’s the same God!!!
#5 - I Want To Go Back To Hillsong Church!
Going there was amazing for me…Jesus used it to stir my heart in a major way…and I hope to get back there someday!
#6 - I Want To Have A Meal With TD Jakes!
Yep, I said it several weeks ago…I will say it again. He is one of the leaders I really admire…but have never had a chance to meet in person!
#7 - I Want Rick Warren To Come To Anderson, SC!
OK…I know Rick probably doesn’t even know where Anderson is…but I would LOVE to have him come here…spend a day with him and have him talk to the staff…hey, dream big, right?
#8 - I Would Love To Go To Rome!
It seems like Rome has came up several times in conversations recently…and everyone who has gone says it is awesome!
#9 - I Would Love To Own A Jeep Rubicon!
Maybe it’s the weather…but I can’t help but think that driving a jeep would be SOOOOO relaxing.
#10 - I Would Love To Buy 5-10 Acres Of Land…Build A House Right In The Middle Of It…And COMPLETELY Enjoy Living In The Country!
#11 - I Would Love To Have Biceps Like Craig Groeschel!
If you were at Catalyst West Coast then you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. When he rolled up his shirt sleeve and showed off his bicep I said, “dang” out loud! He’s ripped!!!
This Weekend April 8, 2009
So, NewSpringers…who are YOU bringing to church with you this weekend?
People need Jesus! We are NOT called to be silent but rather active.
We promise that we are going to do all we can as a church to make sure the Gospel is presented in a very clear and unforgettable way…
But the rest is up to you!
What do you need to do in order to get people here?
Maybe you’ve asked them 100 times in the past…ask them again!
Personally…I am glad there is a dude named David who aggravated me to the point I was ready to hit him to come to church…I went, heard the Gospel…met Jesus…and my life hasn’t been the same–EVER!
David didn’t give up on me…don’t give up on the person (or people) God has burdened your heart with!
Anderson campus…times for this weekend are Saturday evening at 4:00 and 6:00…and then Sunday at 9:15, 11:15 and 6:00 (NO 4:15 service this weekend.)
Greenville campus…times for this weekend are Saturday evening at 6:00…and then Sunday at 9:15, 11:15 am and 6pm
Florence campus…time for this weekend are Sunday at 9:15 and 11:15.
Web campus…times for this weekend are Sunday 11:15am & 6pm EST…and then 11am Pacific time.
15 services…with ONE purpose…to present the Gospel!
Let’s BE the Gospel this week…do what it takes to get people here…BEG Jesus to change lives…and watch hell become less crowded because we were willing to abandon ourselves and go for it!
Sunday April 1, 2009
God ROCKED my world this past February when I traveled to Kenya with a team of people from NewSpring Church to examine a possible partnership with our church and the 410 Bridge.
I’ve always heard that Americans cannot truly understand how blessed they are until seeing a third world country with their own eyes…and now I know that is true!
I still haven’t fully wrapped my mind around that experience…Jesus was so real over there and His voice was so clear.
And it was made so clear to everyone of us who went that our church has been called by Jesus to invest our lives into reaching this country for Christ.
Want to know more?
This Sunday at NewSpring Church I will be sharing the vision for what I believe the Lord wants us to do! We will be examining the Scriptures to see God’s plan for missions…and how we are called to go “here,” “there” and “everywhere!”
There is nothing that can stand in the way of a church that is DEDICATED to saying to Jesus, “all we have is YOURS…use us to reach the world.”
I am praying we will always be THAT CHURCH!
Sunday will be a day I don’t think we will ever forget!
And Florence…you won’t be seeing this Sunday…but it WILL be seen the week after Easter…and I promise you that it is a GREAT Sunday to invite someone to church who wants to know more about what the vision of our church is!!!!
Hold on to your fork NewSpring!
The Gospel March 31, 2009
Of all of the things in life that both amaze me and move me…there is nothing that does so like the Gospel…
The fact that Jesus took my place…whew…if that EVER gets old to a person then…well…a serious gut check needs to take place.
The Gospel IN me is the reason I feel that the Gospel MUST come OUT of me. (I Corinthians 9:16)
That is why I can honestly say that I am more excited about the series we are launching on Easter this year than any other series we’ve ever launched in this history of our church!
For four straight weeks we will be diving into the Scriptures to see what Jesus says about salvation.
I’ve got to be honest though…
I believe this series, even though it is my favorite, could be one of the most controversial series we’ve ever done. Because…
We will be destroying myths that the church has held for years in regards to salvation. (According to Matthew 7:21-23 there are going to be a lot of REALLY surprised people on the day of Judgement.)
We’re praying as a church that Jesus will save at least 1,000 people throughout this series!
So, NewSpringers…I’m asking you to do WHATEVER it takes to get people here that weekend. (Here is the website where you can check out our service times and get your free tickets.)
We cannot claim we love someone if we KNOW the Gospel will save them from hell and yet refuse to talk to them about Jesus…or even invite them to church!
I promise you on Easter Sunday and for the three weeks that follow we are going to go all out as a church to provide a place where you can bring the people that matter to you the most so that they can hear about Jesus!
SO…go for it! Seriously…let Romans 1:16 be your memory verse! Do what it takes to get them here…and pray for us as we are working harder than we’ve EVER worked before to do our part…and BEG God to draw people to Himself!!!
Can’t wait to see what He does!!!
If You Are A NewSpringer…PLEASE READ THIS! January 14, 2009
I just typed up a long blog post…and then deleted it. I want to get to the bottom line.
We’re running out of room on both our Anderson and Greenville campuses.
SO…Anderson campus–we’re adding another service at 4:15. We desperately need people who regularly attend 11:15 to either come at 9:15, 4:15 or at 6:00 if at all possible.
Why? Because stats show that the most likely time someone who is unchurched will visit our church is during that 11:15 hour. And we want them to have a seat…so…for the next several weeks one of the most evangelical things you can do is adjust your schedule.
Greenville campus–we’re adding another service at 6pm…it will be just like our service at our 6pm service at the Anderson campus, extended worship and all.
Greenville…seriously, we NEED some of you to either attend the 9:15 service or the 6:00…NOT the 11:15.
I want to go ahead and thank you guys BEFOREHAND for stepping up and making this happen! EVERY TIME I ask something like this of you guys…it BLOWS ME AWAY how responsive you are.
I praise God that He allows me to be a part of a church where it isn’t about what is convenient for us…but rather about doing all that we can to reach the world for Christ.
ONE MORE THING…AND I AM SO SERIOUS ABOUT THIS I AM ABOUT TO COME OUT OF MY SKIN!
GET PEOPLE HERE THIS SUNDAY! I know I say that all the time…but as all of you know, the Lord has been doing some amazing things in our services recently. We are seeing people receive Christ like never before…and…
THIS SUNDAY THE GOSPEL WILL BE DECLARED in one of the most direct ways we’ve ever done it here at NewSpring Church!
ONCE AGAIN…if you know someone who needs Christ…get them here…
OR…in the words of Brad Cooper, “If you REALLY believed in the saving power of Jesus Christ…then why in the world would you show up to church alone this Sunday?”
Let’s do this NewSpring…God didn’t call us to just do church…but to be a catalyst for change in the communities where we exist.
Life changes happens one life at a time!
See you Sunday!
Okay…this post was long too…I could not help it!