I took the most notes from the last 2 main sessions and Pete Wilson's breakout.

Pete Wilson (The coolest hair at the conference)

I met Pete a couple of years ago at his church in Nashville.  He is one of the most humble, relational guys I've ever met.  He talked about community… and used 3 phrases … they might sound familiar to Journey Church folks because they help unpack one of our core values– Love people irrationally– the 3 phrases are:  Everybody's Welcome, Nobody's Perfect & Anything's Possible.  We both ripped those phrases off from Bill Hybels or Rick Warren or somebody… but it helps them communicate their desire to build Community.

  • Has your church created environments where people can belong before they believe?
  • The sins you find most appalling to God are the ones you don't struggle with.
  • Anything's Possible– This is what separates the church from the YMCA, Cracker Barrell and the Bar down the street.  
  • Authentic community is messy.  There is a price to be paid.
  • Most people like the idea of it, but if they get uncomfortable, they may bail.

David Putman– The Gospel for the Kingdom

  • When will the Gospel be enough?
  • Jesus began his public ministry with 1 word–REPENT

Darren Patrick–The Gospel for You and Me

  • Your ministry is a direct result of your theology.
  • Preach the gospel to yourself first
  • You must decide is the bible about you and what you must do or is it about God and what He has already done?
  • Tie every sermon back to the gospel.
  • The gospel is more than just a way INTO the Kingdom… it's the way OF the Kingdom.
  • Tie everything back to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Matt Carter– The Gospel for the City

  • He talked about his model of ministry not being North Point, Saddleback, or Willow… but Metropolitan Tabernacle in the days of Spurgeon.  
  • Spurgeon built low income housing , 17 homes for the elderly, homes for single moms, schools for rural pastors.  
  • they began to have an economic educational and cultural impact on the city.  
  • If they left the city of London, the city would have grieved.
  • If our churches closed the doors… would it matter to our city?  would anyone even notice?

Rick Warren

  • What RISKS are you going to take this week?
  • Don't take early losses seriously.  
  • focus on membership and discipleship… God will grow it to the size He wants.
  • It's not bad to be a small church… it's disobedient to be a small minded church.
  • build your life on three things:
    • Integrity
    • Humility
    • Generosity
  • 3 antidotes for the 3 greatest traps in Ministry 
    • The lust of the eyes– temptation to HAVE– Possessions– Salary
    • The lust of the flesh–temptation to FEEL–Hedonism– Sex
    • The pride of life. –temptation to BE– Position–Status
  • Every advertisement is based on one of these 3
  • We are tempted with our Strengths.
  • Integrity– wholeness
  • The antidote for lust of the eyes– Generosity…
  • You can't expect people to give sacrificially unless I'm giving sacrificially
  • False Humility is really pride.
  • We grow through models… never apologize for being a model. But be humble.
  • Lead people from "Come and see" to "Come and Die".
  • Build people and God will build the church.
  • Give yourself to the Global Glory of God.
  • If you're going to make it to the end you will encounter 6 phases of faith.
    •  Dream–God gives you a dream
    • Decision- you decide to go after the dream.
    • Delay–there's always delay in the fulfillment of a dream.  God's more interested in you than in your dream.
    • Difficulty–problems arise… don't give up.
    • Dead End– deadlines pass, feel like vision has died… but God loves to turn crucifixion into resurrection.
    • Deliverance– (see Jn 11–story of Lazerus).  When you are at a dead end.. it's because God wants to do a miracle!

UNBELIEVABLE STUFF!  Over the last few days I've been processing it, trying to figure out what it means for me personally, for my family and for our church and our community.   One thing I'm sure of… God wants Journey Church to be more and do more to bring the Kingdom of God to Auburn, Opelika and Lee County.  I'm excited to see how that fleshes out in the coming days.