Responding To God

Change of plans…

respondingtogod — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:44:26 +0000

I have been burdened that we need to be talking about just what it means to be a follower of Christ. I believe if we just preach Christ, him crucified, risen and coming again that everything else will be taken care of.

We had a GREAT time in the “Need a New Marriage?” series, but I just felt burdened to teach about becoming more and more like Jesus. Progressive sanctification is the 5 dollar term for it. It’s good to give some how-to’s but right now the Holy Spirit that lives inside the hearts of believers, is pressing me to just talk about Jesus and what it means to be his padiwan learner (dorky StarWars reference for those of you that don’t get it).

So over the next 10 weeks or so we are going to be talking about sanctification. I truly believe that some people are going to be set free through this series and learn some things that will take them to new levels of faith. It’s going to be EXCITING! I’m PUMPED and can’t wait to get started!

Church Planting, Church Start, New Church in Savannah

respondingtogod — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:14:47 +0000

I just found out that there is another person moving to Savannah to start a new church. If you are reading this and planning to start a church in Savannah, please, please, please read this. I think it could be helpful from someone who has been here.

- Don’t come here to start a ‘cool’ church. The people really aren’t impressed. There is a church on almost every corner, but many, many of them are not moving forward…many are stagnant or dying. People have a been there-done-that attitude.
- Don’t expect to be a mega church… those days are almost gone. It WILL be hard work.
- Please come if God is calling you. We have been praying for God to transform this city and we need more people who are like-minded.
- This city has an elements of a dark spiritual hold on it. We aren’t worried, God loves these people and this city and he has great plans. Just know that coming in. Spiritual warfare is real…especially here for some reason.
- If you are protestant, the Catholic Church is huge here. Just saying.
- Please come with an attitude of unity. The new churches that are here really are trying to work together and not be territorial.
- What we REALLY need is someone who understands multicultural and has a gift to break through those barriers.
- If you are not from here, move here and live here for at least a year BEFORE you tell anyone what you are doing.

That all being said, we DO need more churches who truly wish to transform the city. Please DON’T come here if you have a personal agenda and wish to bring the next ‘cool’ church. If God has called you here, then you are an answer to prayer and I’d LOVE to talk with you!

Seeking wisdom

respondingtogod — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:16:42 +0000

I have found myself recently praying much more for God’s wisdom and less for him to “fix” something or get me out of a situation. Our heavenly Father has already given us the Holy Spirit and we need to press into him and learn to seek after wisdom. I am realizing the quick fix mentality is a really poor view of how God has designed things to work.

We already know our hearts are wicked and backwards. We know He made all things and has told us in Proverbs to seek wisdom. Jesus also told us that we don’t receive because we don’t ask. I think its high time we begin to seek God’s wisdom and use our brain rather than constantly requesting that he just “save” us from the bad stuff. After all, its in the adversities of life that we grow.

Been Conferencing…

respondingtogod — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:10:21 +0000

So I went to the Velocity (Churchplanters.com) conference in ATL and it was great. Props to Shawn and the guys there for putting on another great one. I think it was probably the best yet. Some of the speakers absolutely wrecked me!

Next week Shelly and I will be heading to the Unleash conference at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. We will be joining up with some other of our folks there as well as some of the guys at Gateway Community Church here in Savannah. That is ALWAYS good.

For those of you that might not know what I’m talking about, these are times that the leadership can get away and refocus on what God has called us to do. Just like with your job, these are conferences where we can go and learn from people who have been there, done that and have something to say. We are always stretched and renewed. But unlike secular job conferences, there is something that happens on the inside of you at these that is just amazing!

This particular one I just came back from rocked my thinking a little. God really showed me some ‘next steps’ for our church and the vision he has given me here. I am truly excited about whats to come!

Valentine’s Day Update

respondingtogod — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:37:25 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! A few thoughts…

- We began a new series called “Need A New Marriage?”.

- We talked about the Marriage Formula: 1+1=1 (listen to the podcast HERE once its up)

- I hope all of you that were there were able to have your ‘drive home conversations’

- GREAT crowd this morning. The best crowd since last Easter.

- Several new faces again and some people are beginning to stick. Yeah, let’s keep inviting peeps…

- Richard did a great job leading an acoustic set this morning. He started it all off with the song from The Wedding Singer. Cute!

- I think we actually almost ran out of coffee this morning… thats a first.

- We gave away a gift card to Longhorn’s for the best “Why I love my spouse/Valentine” statement.

- The winning statement was: “He cleans out the litterbox.” Thought that was funny and honest.

- All in all a good day!