One of my favorite pastors once said that attending a conference is kind of like drinking from a fire hose. Today's Acts 29 Regional Event at Living Stones was certainly no exception. Jeff Vanderstelt from Soma Communities proved himself to be the conduit of a ton of truth, wisdom and much-needed exhortation. I left feeling impacted (as fire hoses inevitably pack a significant punch), soaked and satisfied by the gospel of Jesus. Now, I'm wringing out my head and heart by blogging some of my notes.
Drinking from a fire hose is hard to do second hand, but the good news is that the audio will probably be available from the websites above soon. Keep watch on that.
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A true disciple is someone who knows how to make disciples. Do you know how to make a disciple? Do I? Are you taking the time to consider what it is that you're doing to make disciples? "Making disciples" -- the command we've received from Jesus -- implies not only knowledge of the execution, but intentional and cooperative action.
Before immediately moving in on people's lives with counsel, let the Holy Spirit do some counseling. It's his job, after all. When listening to people expound their struggles, don't immediately think "what advice can I give?" Rather, listen to what they're saying about the gospel.
Every time you preach or teach, you do so to unbelievers. Everyone has areas of their lives in which they have not believed the truth, power and sufficiency of the gospel and been transformed; Christian or not.
Every time you study the Bible, it should result in outward focus. Bible study means we "do" the Bible, not just "hear" the Bible. (James 1:22-25)
We don't come to the Scriptures to know the Scriptures. We come to the Scriptures to know Jesus. (John 5:39)
Knowing someone's story naturally evokes grace. Get to know the story behind people's actions and apply the gospel to it -- it's the only hope for making a happy ending to that story possible.
When leading people, give them something to do. A goal forces us to grow up and forgo the stagnance of comfort to which we are so prone. Better yet, make it an impossible one -- one that cannot even be imagined as being true apart from the sufficiency and work of Jesus. Always lead people to a life that cannot be lived without him, settling for nothing less.
Sanctification first comes from sitting at the cross and saying "thank you." It is faith first and response second. This is not to be confused.
Being filled by the Spirit and led by the Spirit is the overcoming of sin. Think about what this means. When we're completely filled up and satisfied with who Christ by his Spirit and allowing our desires to be led by him through his Spirit, fruit is the outcome -- not sin. It's a fight, but we're not defeated!
Drinking from a fire hose is hard to do second hand, but the good news is that the audio will probably be available from the websites above soon. Keep watch on that.
* * *
A true disciple is someone who knows how to make disciples. Do you know how to make a disciple? Do I? Are you taking the time to consider what it is that you're doing to make disciples? "Making disciples" -- the command we've received from Jesus -- implies not only knowledge of the execution, but intentional and cooperative action.
Before immediately moving in on people's lives with counsel, let the Holy Spirit do some counseling. It's his job, after all. When listening to people expound their struggles, don't immediately think "what advice can I give?" Rather, listen to what they're saying about the gospel.
Every time you preach or teach, you do so to unbelievers. Everyone has areas of their lives in which they have not believed the truth, power and sufficiency of the gospel and been transformed; Christian or not.
Every time you study the Bible, it should result in outward focus. Bible study means we "do" the Bible, not just "hear" the Bible. (James 1:22-25)
We don't come to the Scriptures to know the Scriptures. We come to the Scriptures to know Jesus. (John 5:39)
Knowing someone's story naturally evokes grace. Get to know the story behind people's actions and apply the gospel to it -- it's the only hope for making a happy ending to that story possible.
When leading people, give them something to do. A goal forces us to grow up and forgo the stagnance of comfort to which we are so prone. Better yet, make it an impossible one -- one that cannot even be imagined as being true apart from the sufficiency and work of Jesus. Always lead people to a life that cannot be lived without him, settling for nothing less.
Sanctification first comes from sitting at the cross and saying "thank you." It is faith first and response second. This is not to be confused.
Being filled by the Spirit and led by the Spirit is the overcoming of sin. Think about what this means. When we're completely filled up and satisfied with who Christ by his Spirit and allowing our desires to be led by him through his Spirit, fruit is the outcome -- not sin. It's a fight, but we're not defeated!
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