March 2010
3 posts
Calling #3 Shepherd: Influence vs. Control
1 Peter 5:1-3 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in...
Calling #2 Shepherd, not for shameful gain...
5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
Are you willing to be second, or last, so...
Calling #1 Shepherd the flock not just the...
What is Jesus calling me to?
As I was thinking about this question I recalled the passage I read this morning ,1 Peter 5. My calling and your calling is located there. You may be thinking, “I am not a Pastor, so how can that be?” By verse 5 we all get lumped in together.
I am going to hit what I see as 16 callings on my life as they appear in this passage.
1 Peter...
July 2009
2 posts
“Where do you sometimes see a gap between what you know is true and what you...”
– Pastor Mike Wilkerson (I think)
War on God
Why do we think we are God? You are probaly thinking: “I never think I am God”. Have you ever disagreed with Jesus on what would make you happy? If you determine what will really make you happy, you play God. If you believe that porn or that person, or that job will satisfy you, you play God, determining what will make you happy. Have you ever determined what was true? Have you ever disagreed...
June 2009
35 posts
6 tags
Sparks
I have talked to College Pastors from 3 big churches in the last 2 days, here are some of the topics that sparked up, and helped me. Hopefully they will casue you to think fresh or new, about some awesome Gospel work.
Serving the city as the front face of the church.
Student led, staff owned vs. Staff led, student owned, mixture
Adult led college groups vs. student led groups
Student led,...
Makings of a Young Leader
Here’s a list of 29 qualities of a leader from 2 Timothy Chapters 1 & 2. 2 Timothy has been one of my favorite books of the Bible for the last few years. I shared this list with the College Mission leaders Monday night.
Sincere Faith 1:5 Spirit Empowered 1:6 No fear, but power, love, & self control 1:7 Not ashamed 1:8 Shares in suffering for the gospel 1:8 Called to a holy calling...
Summer Training
We had a great time last night at Summer Training. I will debrief the fishbowls later, but I had a a ton of fun. Hard to believe last years Summer Training could all gather around one conference table!
2 tags
Eating Elephants
How do you eat an elephant? Answer: piece by piece.
Summer is plan and prepare season for me and the College Mission. This illustration has been helpful to me since I heard it Sunday. You can tackle almost anything if you break it down into small enough chunks, but if you try to figure out how to swallow the whole thing at once, you are done.
Simple, I know, but for someone that is into...
1 tag
“A typical night looks like this: As I make my way home, I pass by young women...”
– From Devin’s New Website
1001 rules for my unborn son
Some good stuff here.
2 tags
war on god
When I stop making war on my pride, I make war on God. “You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.” (2 Samuel 22:28)
“God opposes the proud…” (1Peter 5:5)
Pride has been manifesting itself in my heart recently with selfish ambition. In addition to thinking about the ministry I am called to serve in, I drift towards thinking about my...
Chinese Calvinism flourishes
“”The communist, socialist critique of traditional religion, and of Confucianism has been effective”, she says: “The youngsters think it is very cool to be Christian. Communism has removed all the obstacles for them to come to Christianity.”“
“The most conservative estimates of the new converts to Christianity is 500,000; there is a new church built every...
Is your life too valuable to go to the hardest...
That’s what I am asking myself after listening to Piper’s first sermon, Let the Nations Be Glad Pt. 1, from Advance 09’.
Pic from Gabriel Boone, more at Flickr.
Sermon Jam DWYL
The Don’t Waste Your Life site is worth your time.
Meet.....Me.
Meet the Staff: Matt Jensen
By: Terri Maria Amos
When did Jesus change your life?
Early in my life, Jesus was just a sort of legend, a good man, maybe God even, but I didn’t care. I gave my life to him as the real living God of my life when I was 17. God began to draw me mainly through my now wife, Amy. She went to church, so I went to church; she was interested in God, so I became interested...
wii what?
This is going to be sick nasty.
4 tags
TOP 10 WAYS TO BUILD UP YOUNG GUNS PT. 5
If you missed Part 1 , 2 , 3 or 4.
2. Teach them to how to do missional ministry, without compromising the Gospel.
Most leaders tend to sway towards license or legalism when it comes to missional ministry.
If a leader was developed in a slow paced, insulated church, a leader may react and become too loose when it comes to seeing the Gospel go forward in culture. This can compromise the...
Eating Disorders
Many students I know struggle with eating disorders. The Gospel changes everything, including the way we see food, comfort, and ourselves. This article helps put some categories to the struggle, and shows the way out.
“In this article, Ed Welch describes how easy it is, in a weight-conscious world that also uses food for comfort, to take the small steps that lead to a full blown eating...
Just Do Something
Get the book here.
4 tags
Summer Read : Jim Elliot
This dude was a weapon. If you don’t know about Jim Elliot, you should, and his story will blow your mind. His life was the complete opposite of the American dream. Dude’s passion for Jesus was stronger in middle school than most Pastors I know.
Pick up Shadow of the Almighty, but be warned, Elliot was HARDCORE.
Red Letter : God is Our Strength
...
For the Calvinist. →
For the Arminians. →
Top 10 Ways To Build Up Young Guns pt. 4
If you missed Part 1 , 2 or 3.
4. Do everything you must to see them humbly confident in Jesus, not themselves.
Young guns are confident. But we are not humble. By God’s grace the elders have been like a concrete wall that I run into for my pride and self worship to get annihilated. These guys call me to the mat about my pride, plans and talent all the time, and I love them for...
1 tag
The Reliability of Scripture
Pick up the books here.
The Gospel.
I just got word about 2 minutes ago that a friend of one of the College Mission CG leaders became a Christian last night!
By God’s grace several people have become Christians in the Community Groups of the College Mission this quarter. Pray for more!
Top 10 Ways To Build Up Young Guns pt. 3
If you missed Part 1 or Part 2…
6. Model repentance and a Gospel centered life.
Sometimes there can be an awkward tension when it comes to who and when you confess sin as a leader. Young Guns need to see what this looks like. I am amazed continually at the humility, confession of sin and repentance among the elders when I am with them.
We minister out of our life, not out of...
Red Letter : Led to the Slaughter
Get...
aka "How to Have Ultimate Dominion Anywhere"
Picked this up tonight.
Just taking Genesis 1:26 more seriously.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Content Looks Promising:
-Overcome the desire for comfort
-Make wooden...
WatchColbert vs. Ehrman
HT: Greg
Top 10 Ways To Build Up Young Guns pt. 2
If you missed part 1…
8. Don’t be the cold water committee on their ridiculously frequent “great ideas”. Young leaders need to be given enough rope to do creative work, but not enough to hang themselves with it. I have a new idea about every 20 seconds. Every few years there is a decent one. The elders here at Mars usually laugh a little and then we move on. Its good for my pride, but...
Guess What?
I just said to Amy, “Guess What?”, very excited. Then I was instantly convicted and realized I don’t pose that question to her in excitment very often and this time it was about the fact that a part just came in for my motorcycle.
What I should have been super excited about, asking “Guess What?”, was the news I got today that a couple students met Jesus in College...
WatchThis is a quick slideshow I put together this morning for this Sundays “Ballard Neighborhood Spotlight” @marshillbld. Simple slideshow, but the photos are amazing. They were taken by my friend Daniel Usenko. Check his stuff out here.
Looks way better on vimeo in HD…
Top 10 Ways To Build Up Young Guns
Some pastors look at rising leaders as a rock in their shoe, forgetting they used to be that rock. My experience at Mars Hill has been the exact opposite. In no way have I arrived, but God has used the pastors here to sanctify me, so that one day I might be one. Here are my top 10 ways to build up young guns. 10. Pray for them. I’ll never forget when Pastors Tim, Bubba, Mark, Brad, James, Phil...
Why and How I Am Tweeting :: John Piper →
WatchDownload the HD version.