Line 3 Believers

: CATALYST WEST :: APRIL 23-24, 2009 ::

Recently, I went to the CATALYST WEST conference in southern California. The conference was packed with great speakers. I took some notes on what they said and am putting them on my blog so that 1) I can re-evaluate what each speaker said and hopefully gain something from it, and 2) you might be able to gain something from my notes as well.

Here is the third installation.

:: Craig Groeschel ::

"I Was Taught And I Thought..."

Romans 12:2 - Don't be conformed to the pattern of the American church.

1) I was taught and I thought ... that the church should be a safe place. But I'm learning that the church needs to be dangerous again!
-Preach Christ! Preach dangerously.
-Don't trust the package, trust the power of the message of Jesus.
-So many people are cultural Christians but practical Atheists.
-Lukewarm pastors create/foster lukewarm churches.

2) I was taught and I thought ... my highest calling was to build my church, but I'm learning that my highest calling is to build His Kingdom.
-Are you more concerned with building our kingdom than building His Kingdom?
-Don't build your church on what you aren't, but what you are.
-Your church will never reach your entire community.

3) I was taught and I thought ... that success is only found in the big numbers, but I'm learning the scorecard is changing.
-Don't blame yourself for the decline or you'll be tempted to take credit for the increase.
-We need to see ourselves as a small church with a mega-vision.
-People don't want to join a mega-church, they want to join a mega-vision.
-How can we celebrate the numbers in our church when so many are lost?

What Line Believer are you?
Line 1 - I believe in the Gospel enough to benefit from it.
Line 2 - I believe in the Gospel enough to contribute comfortably.
Line 3 - I believe in the Gospel enough to give my life to it.

We need to be Line 3 believers!



I'm tempted to infuse my thoughts here, but I think Craig said it best, so I'll leave it at that.