Day: April 26, 2008

LEFTOVERS – Tuesday April 22ND 2008 – Thursday April 24TH 2008

1.  This is the 4TH and probably final edition of the ‘Tossed Salad’ from the Exponential Conference in Orlando this past week. It’s the ‘Leftovers’ edition where I highlight the top items and events that didn’t get covered in the first three editions – such as the brilliant 2|42 Community Church band that was the house band throughout the conference. The’re based out of Brighton Michigan (in the southeast portion of the state). I actually thought that ‘242’ was the area code that they were from. Not so. I should’ve known that ‘242’ is the area code for The Bahamas !  Acts 2:42 (NLT, 2ND Ed.) states as follows:  ‘All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.’

2.  In order for existing churches to be exponential and give birth to new churches there needs to be an active movement of disciples within the parent church as well as the child church. ‘NO’ / ‘GO’ / ‘EGO’ – You’ve got to say ‘NO’ when it is appropriate. When the answer is not ‘NO’ then get to it and ‘GO’. Do it with ‘NO EGO’. Philippians 2:5 states as follows:  ‘You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.’

3.  The residents of the surrounding neighbourhood and city and region of your church may freely attend your community events, but don’t expect them to all flock to your Sunday morning services en masse. Get your name out there. Get your face out there. Get your mission out there. Make sure that the community knows who you are and what you are all about. Your neighbours are more likely to check out your church if not sooner then later. Be patient, and let God recruit the unchurched in His time. They will come when they are ready.

4.  Rick Warren (author of ‘The Purpose Driven Life’) was the final speaker at the conference. Here are some miscellaneous takeaway statements from his session:

• God wants you to be you.
• Never compare yourself to anyone else.
• Never stop growing personally.
• Never stop creating new leaders and disciples within your church.
• A mature church is like an old oak tree and unlike mushrooms after showers. It takes years to get mature and healthy.
• Don’t allow an environment that is conducive of having your leaders flame out on you.
• Compliments and criticisms are there, but don’t put too much faith in them. We all serve Him. He owns our hearts.
• Build your family before you build your church.
• Love all believers. That’s what Heaven will be like.
• Jesus Christ is the King of the Kingdom of God.
• Focus on building people rather than churches.
• Churches should not be personality driven – but purpose driven.
• Don’t have huge eyes and a big mouth but tiny arms, hands, legs, and feet.

5.  At this time I am publicly thanking Pastor Travis and Pastor Paul for giving me this opportunity to spend 3 days with them and the rest of the staff and their families in Orlando to attend this fantastic conference of information, education, praise, worship, and fellowship. I’ve been to Orlando many times over the past 15 years, but I can honestly state that this was the most memorable and enjoyable of them all. I am so truly honoured to be part of the Life Pointe Church leadership team. The next adventure of a lifetime is just around the corner, and I am there alongside with you guys and gals. You can count on me to serve Our Lord Almighty enthusiastically.

DAY 3 – Thursday April 24TH 2008

1.  I attended Larry Osborne‘s session entitled ‘How To Grow A Church And Still Have A Life’. This guy was a fantastic speaker. I could have listened to him speak for hours on end. He spoke on the ‘sticky church’. In fact he’s got a book coming out later this year titled ‘Sticky Church‘. It’s all about slamming that back door (of the church) shut. It’s easy to get people in to church, but the goal is to keep them from leaving the church.

2.  It’s all about assimilation. It’s all about getting sticky relationships going within the church. It’s easy to withdraw from a program. It’s hard to leave a relationship. Churches should be relationship-driven ministries rather than program-driven ministries. Pastors are less needed and can concentrate on more important duties within the church when sticky relationships are at work. Acquaintances are not significant relationships. On Sunday mornings we meet a lot of acquaintances that we see on a regular basis, and we may know some of their names too. But unless we spend quality time with each other away from the corporate meeting of the church family on any given Sunday morning then it is not particularly relevant. A small group that meets sometime during the week builds and maintains those sticky relationships. Small groups effectively close that back door of the church.

3.  Patrick Dennis from Fairfax County Virginia (my original hometown county) spoke on ‘Branding, Marketing, And The Church – A Primer For Church Planters’. He is the President of Church Marketing Solutions. A personal invitation to our friends is by far the most effective means there is to get them to come to church with us. But there is some tough competition out there on Sunday mornings – such as the MASSIVE Sunday big city newspaper, ‘Meet The Press’ and ‘Face The Nation’ on TV, DVDs, and even sleeping off that hangover caused by that long Saturday night of partying. Churches should NEVER EVER compete against each other. If your marketing tools are sending unchurched people to church for the first time – but it’s not your church – then Praise The Lord !  It’s all about Jesus Christ and populating His Kingdom – not your specific church.

4.  Churches need to arm their guests, attenders, members, and leaders with effective marketing tools so that they can invite their friends and neighbours in unique and innovative ways. The marketing tools need to be authentic, realistic, surprising, strategic, and consistent. It all needs to be excellent and professional because you are representing the Kingdom with your advertising on behalf of Him. Every church has its own unique personality. If your church has decided to market itself as ‘that funny church’ then be funny in your ads and include responsible humour within all of your Sunday services. If you are ‘that church that ROCKS’ then be sure that it really does on Sunday morning. Don’t promise something on paper and then not deliver the goods. Don’t try to be ‘the everything church’.

5.  Tim Keller is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan New York City. This guy was so intellectual mesmerizing that I wrote very few notes down while he spoke, so let me just leave you with this Scripture from 1 Corinthians 22-25 (NLT, 2ND Ed.):
22  It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom.
23  So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
24  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.