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One of the books I picked up at Exponential this year was Transformed by Caesar Kalinowski.  He was one of my favorite workshop speakers.  Here are several quotes from his book: all of those disciplines are meant to be a means of creating space and time for God to act, for the Spirit to speak to us in intimate ways. The discipline itself is not what changes us--it is God's grace that does. The Bible teaches that if we are in Christ, we have become part of a family of missionary servants, sent as disciples who make disciples. For years I believed the bumper sticker theology that told me I was a "saved sinner" instead of the truth that I am now a saint (member of God's family) who still sins. It is not that we have to live this way. We get to. Sharing life together, centered on the gospel, is the closest thing this side of heaven to walking with Jesus in the flesh. Most of the things we've learned to do as missionaries just involve normal, everyday activit...

Here is another song to remind us of  the great God we worship. We sang this song at Exponential in Orlando.  Turn it up!

You can read my notes from all of the speakers in previous blog posts.  Today, I am sharing some of my favorites from different speakers: Don't assume God is not at work in certain people or certain places. Be looking or listening for how God is already working. (Deb Hirsch) When Jesus says one thing and we experience something else, it should lead us to ask why. (Lance Ford) Discipleship is moving from unbelief to belief in all of life. All sin comes from unbelief. 4 Truths about God: God is Great so you don't have to be in control. God is Glorious so you don't have to fear others. God is Good so you don't have to look elsewhere for your satisfaction. God is Gracious so you don't have to prove yourself to self, others or God. (Caesar Kalinowski) The church needs to have a big front door-new believers. The church needs to have a big back door-church planting. (Nicky Gumbel) Repentance means to believe the truth and live in light of that truth....

Here is another great song that we sang at Exponential in Orlando.  Listen to the promises throughout the song.  God is worthy of our praise!

I will be sharing over the next few weeks some new songs that I learned at Exponential.  The song today was the "theme song" for the week. 

God ambushed me with a quick question. What are you going to trade your life for? There is an undeniable link between evangelism and church planting. Church planting is the single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven. (C. Peter Wagner) Luke 19:10-Jesus' mission Reason I got into church planting: Help people find their way back to God.

39 years ago, church planting was non-existent. I never thought I would see a day when church planting was popular. Two terrible reasons for planting a church 1. Hippest, trendiest thing going on in church work today 2. Shortcut the developmental process of becoming a senior pastor Luke 16:10-leapfrog from t-ball to major leagues can be dangerous  Two terrific reasons for planting a church 1. So bound in Spirit to do so that it would be treason to do otherwise(Acts 20) 2. No existing church is willing to risk what you are called to do for kingdom of God God: Anyone missing from my family is like a missing kid to me. Will you search for them? It made me look at people differently.  Justice-Getting what you deserve; Mercy-Getting less than you deserve; Grace-receiving gift you don't deserve The only thing you can do when looking over the Grand Canyon is gasp.  The same is true about grace.  

1 Corinthians 5:14-20 Matthew 9:37 I said,"God, you need to send workers. God said,"How about I send you?Will you go" Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for? 2 Corinthians 5:14 The purpose of my life does not revolve around me. When I grasp God, I find my hands are already full with the things of the world. John 12:24-Only in dying to self can we truly live. No great advances have been made in Christianity w/o men/women giving up lives. Live for Him who died for you!   

gcdiscipleship.org Matthew 28:19-20 What is gospel centered discipleship?  Holiness is essential to Christian life. This is vertical discipleship. Missional is important to Christian life as well. This is horizontal discipleship. Is discipleship a code word for plate spinning? Don't put your focus on your holiness or mission, but instead on Jesus. This is diagonal discipleship.  Your life as a disciple is centered on you if you focus on vertical or horizontal discipleship. Jesus break the plates. Go in authority of Jesus not our piety or mission or our authority. Daniel 7 Are we enamored with our discipler or Jesus? Discipleship is a community project and a Trinity endeavor. Baptize into Jesus not into us. Great commission is all about Jesus and in the process we make disciples. We teach people to obey Jesus. We honor Jesus in honor and repentance. Holiness makes a bad master. Master Mission is not merciful. What about Master Jesus? Jesus must be at center of our discipleship....

Communicating with Unchurched People in the Room Approach You know your BIG idea You know your Application Approach? The reason you care about approach is because you care deeply. If you don't care what people do with what you say, you don't care about people. 1 Corinthians 9:19-20-Who are you? It depends who I am talking to. Too often we are trying to make a point rather than make a difference. Bait into passage of Scripture I cannot make someone fall in love with Jesus. But I can set up dates. Challenge Avoid, "The Bible says, and instead, quote authors. The foundation of our faith is not the Bible. The foundation of our faith is an event (resurrection). The problem with "The Bible says" is what else the Bible says. You take the Bible seriously because you take Jesus seriously and Jesus took the Old Testament seriously. Our culture has written off the Bible and Old Testament, but people still want a piece of Jesus. Cite Authors James, the brother of Jesus, writ...

Speaking about preaching at Exponential: If this guy made it, I can make it too. In a recent survey, we were horrible in most areas. We received highest marks on getting results. Preaching the announcements-whatever you want them to do or know. Sermon is most powerful tool God has given to the pastor. Mark 2-Four men brought their friend to Jesus-Sermon he entitled "A Desperate Disciple" We believe Jesus is the answer. So, we need to get our friends to Jesus. Matthew 8:14-Desperate People Serve When Jesus touches you and you are delivered, you start serving. Whatever you want people to do, make it a sermon.  Preach the announcements. Believe in the power of the gospel. Preaching the announcements must be biblically based. Using your preaching time wisely.

Luke 15 Preaching is from the Word of God no matter who is in the audience. Give the Pharisees a break for their despising of tax collectors Sinners were people with physical diseases, slave trader, prostitutes, etc. And Pharisees and Scribes. Good preaching will deconstruct worldviews and reconstruct with the good news. The Father did not respond to the son's speech in parable of the Prodigal Son. Both sons need Jesus.  3 Ways to rethink preaching 1. Don't live vicariously through others or just live in books. Be with people. 2. Trust the Bible. I cannot transform anyone. 3. Trust the Holy Spirit. Feel how powerless you are.  

This workshop included the following speakers: Tim Keller (video), James Meek, Matt Chandler, and Andy Stanley Tim Keller All preaching should be evangelistic. The whole Bible is about Jesus. It all points to Jesus. 4 Skill Issues To Address Non-Christians Persuade with people's own beliefs Solve heart problems with the gospel 2 Corin. 8 (instead of focus on the will) Demonstrate what it is like to not believe (depict & describe fears,doubts,etc.) Occasionally address non-believers directly (apologetic sidebars) Andy Stanley, James Meeks, Matt Chandler Panel Churches that create environments for outsiders are more positive. (AS) In my life, church was do this and do that not about the gospel (MC) We have let the culture define us (media, TV, movies) (JM) People are not on a truth quest, but instead a happiness quest. (AS) The gospel is for eternity and the here and now. We need to get eyes on Jesus. You are saved from something and saved to something. Learn about preaching/teac...

www.discipleship.org 270 X disciple; 3 X Christian Define a disciple.  Matthew 4:19-Empowered by the H.S. informed by Jesus on mission with Jesus Make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20)Trusting presence of God as we enter into relationships with people. I will trust and follow Jesus. The only way to obey Jesus is thru power of Holy Spirit and living in community. 6 Elements of Discipleship Lifestyle (applicable in every life situation) Jesus Intentionality Relationships Bible Path Multiply Contrast between classroom discipleship and intentional relationship discipleship  There will be a classroom side of things, but Jesus focus was different. Two contexts of discipleship: public and private Principles of Discipleship 1. The Bible is the manual for Discipleship. Embed the Bible in everything. 2. When attending to it, the Bible (Word) creates Faith 3. The Bible teaches us how to "renew our minds." 4. The Bible teaches us how to think obediently. The battle is in what I think & be...

David works with pastors all over the country through auxano on vision clarity. Leadership has to begin on the foundation of discipleship. The church's mission: discipleship. Number 1 principle for discipleship is you have to become the type of disciple you want to make. If you want to grow the church, you have to grow the leader. 5 Areas Every Leader Needs To Grow In Leadership=Power. Leaders who do well need a balance of drive and motive (calling). Leaders confront the brutal facts about themselves. Key Question: What are those growth areas? Visionary Examples of Problems with Vision Carbon Copy Vision-Be unique Microwave Vision-Leaders move fast. Slow down & do hard work of vision. Vision flip/flop-Changing mind constantly about vision Paralysis of the analysis-difficulty of making a decision Upper Room Identity What do you like about our church? People, Programs, Pastor, Place The upper room identity is purpose. This is leaders responsibility. Vision Pathway Vision Frame (P...

gcmcollective.com weare3dm.com/launch Twitter @CaesarKal Our identity is at the core of the gospel. Is there not more to our faith than behavior modification? Why do we trust Jesus for eternal life but not for the here and now? Story of boy from Sudan: They had found their identity and purpose in Christ. Secret to the Christian Life-our identity in Christ Way of World-"what we do to be" Way of Jesus-"we be to do" God said, "I will fill all things with my glory." Glory in Hebrew is weighty.  Jesus is the glory of the father. He will fill earth with His glory through His people. As a disciple, who was sent to make disciples who make disciples. Since God is our Father, we are a family. Jesus is our King so we are servants. Holy Spirit is sent & power, we are missionaries. Baptism-soak them in their new identity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) We have been told only part of the story (Genesis 3-Revelation 20). This is the "good news" we tell our cultu...

Can a nation be changed? Luke 5-It should be an active parable The potential is vast. Cast the nets out into the deep. The majority of people who attend Alpha Course are 18-35. Nothing is impossible with Jesus. The purpose of the nets is to catch fish. The church needs to have a big front door-new believers. The church needs to have a big back door-church planting. What unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us. We must unite as churches around Jesus Christ. It always worth the one. Imagine what could happen in this nation as we cast the nets into the deep and believe nothing is impossible with Jesus.

DNA of the kingdom of God-Matthew 16-Jesus must get the win! Step 1-Jesus is the Messiah. He must be first. Step 2-DNA of kingdom of God  (Communion with God, Inclusive Community, Mission-"Be, Belong, Bless") Step 3-Structure or Environment 2nd Decision Communities-Sodalic-Apprentice-Reach Others 1st Decision Communities--Modalic-Multitudes-Feed them-Sm. Group Adullam Process Observe (2-3 months-our story, your story, God's story) Preparation (TK Primer, 101) Participate Partnership (Coaching of Apprentices) Whatever you give your leadership to will ultimately grow. Be the best you!

Vin diagram of Discipleship, Gospel, Apest APEST (Apostles, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, Teacher) Ephesians 4:7-11 "Each one of us" has been given grace in Greek actually means "each one of us." All of us are gifted. What causes decline? When you separate the leaders from the people Ephesians 4 is significant because we are called to use our gift and equip others to use that gift too.  Vs. 1-7-Focus on "ones" for all Vs. 8-11-Focus on diversity of gifts Vs. 12-16-Outcome is maturity Apostle-"apo-stello"-to separate, to send Prophet-"pro-phetes"-before (space, time), to bring something (speak) into the light Evangelist-"ev-angelos"-one who tells & invites Shepherd-carries rod and staff, protecting & providing are functions Teacher-primarily concerned with explaining or training (topics & tasks) Who we bring to the table when discussing discipleship matters? Is APEST involved? All five need to be involved.

Love God. Love Others. Engaging culture allowed us to form relationships. Out of these relationships, we began to form community. Then it became a structured congregation. Communion with God, Community, Mission were 3 elements of forming community. The answer lies in formed community. Matthew 28-GO AND MAKE-we try to choose. Our personalities lead us to one. As leaders, we don't like tension. If you multiply communities, you will multiply churches.