Life Meets Doctrine

I again enjoyed the opportunity to learn from church leaders through the Leadership Summit.  Here are a few take-aways from Day 02.

#1 through # a bunch. Craig Groeschel shared about IT.  And we all know what IT is when IT comes to church and ministries and spiritual movements.  Some churches have IT – that sense of life, of God’s presence, of IT.  And some churches don’t have IT – things aren’t quite clicking or moving or tasting of life.  You can’t really define IT.  IT has a large part to do with God’s Spirit in a church, but there is more to IT than just that.  IT is that aspect of a church that makes people walk in and be drawn upwards towards God and across to others.  They can’t explain IT.  But they want IT.  I know I have tasted IT.  I personally believe that IT is the sweet presence of God, the mercy of God expressed and poured out in a special way on a group of people.

Groeschel believes there are certain aspects that are often present when IT happens.  These don’t have to be present – often God chooses to pour out His Spirit when they are not present.  But most often some of these things are present.

(1) the church has a laser focus on its mission.  Craig had a very insightful statement.  He said, “Don’t think that more ministries = better.  Think that better ministries = better.”  So he asked: What are we doing that we need to stop doing?

(2) the church sees opportunities when others just see obstacles.  Again, there was a nugget of wisdom: many of us believe that God guides by what he provides, but often God guides by what he does not provide.  So the question is: What is God trying to show you through your greatest limitations?

(3) the church is willing to fail.  And this one is difficult for me, even though I know it is true.  Failure is often the first step to seeing God.  For many leaders, God may have given them a vision and – in his sovereign wisdom – there are three or four steps of failure ordained before that leader really sees God’s vision begin coming to fruition.  So the question is: What has God called you to do that you are afraid to do?  Well, when are you going to do it?

(4) the church is led by people who have IT.  Not a magic charisma, not an unexplainable attraction to a really cool guy.  But the sweet presence of God that is powerful and overflowing.  Leaders must have IT.  Leaders must have IT before their churches can get IT.  So the question is: What is God calling me to do to get IT?  Not earn it.  But return to it.  The idea is a return to our first love, Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:4).  Craig said for him it meant not reading Christian books for a year – only the Bible.  It meant embracing Jesus through a time of suffering.  It meant getting out of America to spend time sitting with and feeding malnourished babies and children.  Through those things God renewed his heart – not just for a quick sermon, but for a long season.  Through those things God gave IT back to him – the presence of God overflowing as life to others.

# final take-away. The relationships with other leaders in Omaha.  I love spending time with other church leaders, hearing their hearts, connecting with them, and learning from them.  I was blessed to meet leaders from the Abide Network, serving North Omaha somewhat close to our house.  I loved meeting our County Treasurer, John Ewing, again.  He is serving in public office with the heart of Jesus for our city.  I briefly met Les Beauchamp, lead pastor at Trinity Church in Omaha.  And I really enjoyed having multiple conversations and interactions with Ken Dick.  Ken is the dad of one of the young men in Core; he has been director of the Home School Network in Omaha; he teaches computer science at UNO; and he is an elder at Christ Community Church.  He has many connections and lots of wisdom.  I was able to ask him lots of questions and learn a lot just in our short times together.  Hopefully we can continue connecting in the future.  Thank God for older, wiser men who love Jesus and are willing to invest in young leaders.

As a whole I am thankful to Jesus for the 2 days spent with The Leadership Summit.  I learned a lot and experienced a lot.  It isn’t the same flavor I normally seek out, but it is an important help in developing leadership in Jesus’ church.  May God use these things in my life with Core.