Redwood Trees
- are huge (can't tell how big they are without people in the shot)
[Don't tell me about your building or your bank account; tell me how many people you've reached]
- have been here longer than we have
[This thing didn't start when you came into position and it won't end when you leave ]
- oldest and tallest are found in valleys/gullies with year-round streams and where fog-drip is regular
[We need some year-round streams and some fog-drip!]
- thick bark protects from fire and insect damage
--- can go through fire and not get burned [Can't wear our feelings on our sleeves]
--- anything damageable is too high to be reached by fire [Must lay up treasures in heaven.]
* Succession Planning
- new Redwoods feed off older, fallen Redwoods
Jesus didn't finish everything He started (Acts 1:1 "began"), and you may not finish everything you start either
- Jn 15:15
- Acts 20:20
- 2 Tim 2:2
* Keep the main thing the main thing
- Redwoods are happy being trees, don't wish they were something else
- God determines the main thing, not you
- Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
--- lift with your legs, not with your back
* Cooperative, not Competitive
- Redwoods don't fight each other -- they help each other
- What if God decided to save 1000 souls in your city, but He did it through the church next door?
- Cooperative -- work together, Eph 4:16
- Not competitive -- no envy, each should esteem others better (Phil 2:3-4)
Showing posts with label Brain Dump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brain Dump. Show all posts
Brain Dump -- The Real Jesus
Genesis 1:26
And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Romans 8:28-29
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
[churchianity] is raising a lot of nice unbelievers who go to church. - unknown
Romans 1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Matthew 24:23-24
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 14:28-29
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mama Jesus - "Ah, hon, tell mama all about it." "Let me kiss your boo-boos away."
Flannel-Graph Jesus - The one we imagine walking on the sea shore or carrying a lamb, but not doing much today.
All-American Jesus - loves baseball and apple pie, wants everyone to have a nice house and nice care.
Bartender Jesus - someone to tell your troubles to
Mystic Jesus - so deep you can't understand Him, or like the force on Star Wars
Historical Jesus - acknowledged as a historical figure, but died years ago
Help-Me Jesus
- version 1, "help me, Jesus, achieve my dream"
- version 2, the one we call on in 911 moments, "Help me, Jesus!"
- version 3, "So help me Jesus, I'm gonna bust you if you don't straighten up!"
The Real Jesus
- loves you as you are, but also loves you too much to leave you that way
- might be a little like Sergeant Gunny (Kids' favorite commercial: "You know what makes me sad? You do! Maybe we should chug on over to mamby-pamby land where maybe we can find some self-confidence for you, you jackwagon. Tissue? Crybaby!")
- might be a little like eagles who boot eaglets from the nest to teach them to fly
- might be a little like giraffes who repeatedly kick their newborns over to teach them to stand up.
- The real Jesus was anything but boring.
- Jesus was not crucified for His pacifism!
A dangerous prayer might be: Make me more like Jesus!
Disparity
Where in Acts can one find a bored Christian?
Rather, their own world was turned upside-down, and all the complacent religious folk got nervous saying, "Those that turned the world upside-down have come here also."
We teach our kids how to survive the world, but we ought to teach them how to change the world!
And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Romans 8:28-29
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
[churchianity] is raising a lot of nice unbelievers who go to church. - unknown
Romans 1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Matthew 24:23-24
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 14:28-29
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mama Jesus - "Ah, hon, tell mama all about it." "Let me kiss your boo-boos away."
Flannel-Graph Jesus - The one we imagine walking on the sea shore or carrying a lamb, but not doing much today.
All-American Jesus - loves baseball and apple pie, wants everyone to have a nice house and nice care.
Bartender Jesus - someone to tell your troubles to
Mystic Jesus - so deep you can't understand Him, or like the force on Star Wars
Historical Jesus - acknowledged as a historical figure, but died years ago
Help-Me Jesus
- version 1, "help me, Jesus, achieve my dream"
- version 2, the one we call on in 911 moments, "Help me, Jesus!"
- version 3, "So help me Jesus, I'm gonna bust you if you don't straighten up!"
The Real Jesus
- loves you as you are, but also loves you too much to leave you that way
- might be a little like Sergeant Gunny (Kids' favorite commercial: "You know what makes me sad? You do! Maybe we should chug on over to mamby-pamby land where maybe we can find some self-confidence for you, you jackwagon. Tissue? Crybaby!")
- might be a little like eagles who boot eaglets from the nest to teach them to fly
- might be a little like giraffes who repeatedly kick their newborns over to teach them to stand up.
- The real Jesus was anything but boring.
- Jesus was not crucified for His pacifism!
A dangerous prayer might be: Make me more like Jesus!
Disparity
Where in Acts can one find a bored Christian?
Rather, their own world was turned upside-down, and all the complacent religious folk got nervous saying, "Those that turned the world upside-down have come here also."
We teach our kids how to survive the world, but we ought to teach them how to change the world!
Brain Dump - Personalities in 1 Samuel 17
Goliath
- An instrument of Satan
-- Not representative of Satan himself, because we cannot kill Satan
--- In Revelation, Satan bound, then later cast into the lake of fire
- Sin
- Sinful people, perhaps
-- can't kill people, but can sever the link between demonic influencers and the influenced
Saul
Had the responsibility and the authority, but not the courage
- president, principal, leader
"with great power comes great responsibility"
"to him whom much is given, much shall be required"
Eliab
Per chpt 16, Eliab had 3 things going for him, 3 things that made Samuel think, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." -- Eliab was the first-born, he had a good (perhaps kingly) countenance, and he was tall.
Didn't get the position he'd wanted
- but also didn't have the backbone to stand against Goliath
When David starts to do something about Goliath, Eliab's envy manifests and he plays mind-reader.
- we, too, when a peer
-- gets 1st chair instead of us,
-- gets to be on the worship team and we do not
-- gets the lead role in a play
-- gets a better promotion than us
Jesse
Too old for the battle (even adult men considered Jesse to be an old man)
But sent support to the battle
- finances
- prayer
- time
- food
I will not let the things I cannot do keep me from doing the things I can do.
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." - Edward Everett Hale
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller
David
Anointed/Empowered and Courageous
Answered Eliab by saying, "Is there not a cause?"
Acts 1:8 -- "witnesses" also means "martyrs"
- An instrument of Satan
-- Not representative of Satan himself, because we cannot kill Satan
--- In Revelation, Satan bound, then later cast into the lake of fire
- Sin
- Sinful people, perhaps
-- can't kill people, but can sever the link between demonic influencers and the influenced
Saul
Had the responsibility and the authority, but not the courage
- president, principal, leader
"with great power comes great responsibility"
"to him whom much is given, much shall be required"
Eliab
Per chpt 16, Eliab had 3 things going for him, 3 things that made Samuel think, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before him." -- Eliab was the first-born, he had a good (perhaps kingly) countenance, and he was tall.
Didn't get the position he'd wanted
- but also didn't have the backbone to stand against Goliath
When David starts to do something about Goliath, Eliab's envy manifests and he plays mind-reader.
- we, too, when a peer
-- gets 1st chair instead of us,
-- gets to be on the worship team and we do not
-- gets the lead role in a play
-- gets a better promotion than us
Jesse
Too old for the battle (even adult men considered Jesse to be an old man)
But sent support to the battle
- finances
- prayer
- time
- food
I will not let the things I cannot do keep me from doing the things I can do.
"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." - Edward Everett Hale
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller
David
Anointed/Empowered and Courageous
Answered Eliab by saying, "Is there not a cause?"
Acts 1:8 -- "witnesses" also means "martyrs"
Brain Dump - Temptation
lust - #1939 - a longing
-- from #1937 - to set the heart upon
tempt
- #1598 - "Thou shalt not tempt." - test thoroughly
- #551 - "cannot be tempted with evil"
--- untestable, untemptable
- #3985 - to test
--- scrutinize, entice, discipline, assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt, try
temptation - #3986
II Peter 2:9 "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation."
Matt 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40,46
- pray to avoid temptation
Lust - #2237 - pleasure
-- from #1937 - to set the heart upon
tempt
- #1598 - "Thou shalt not tempt." - test thoroughly
- #551 - "cannot be tempted with evil"
--- untestable, untemptable
- #3985 - to test
--- scrutinize, entice, discipline, assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt, try
temptation - #3986
II Peter 2:9 "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation."
Matt 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40,46
- pray to avoid temptation
Lust - #2237 - pleasure
Brain Dump - Those that turned the world upside-down
Luke 4:18-19
Purpose
- 1 Cor 12: placement in the body is tied to function
- Talents: Possessions tied to ability
DNA - Even in fragments, the DNA is there
II Cor 1:4 - weapons not carnal, but might
"Well Done"
- Not "Well Said"
- Not "Well Thought"
Afraid to Pray?
- We want to know the result before we pray
- We want a down payment, earnest money before
- But Faith is the substance of things hoped for evidence of things not seen
Dangerous
Acts 8:1
- persecution
- encroachment of the church into other areas
- What happens when the church breaks out of its comfort zone?
Acts 19
- "Jesus I know and Pual I know, but who are you?"
Holy Ghost
John: "I baptize with water but one mightier than I comes who shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire."
Luke 4:1 - Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, was led of the Spirit
Luke 4:14 - Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
Lk 24:49 - Tarry ye in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high
Acts 1:8 - You shall receive power
John 20:22 - Receive ye the Holy Ghost
Acts 19 - have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
We want to see the miracle, then tell others, but the model is to tell, then you will see.
Purpose
- 1 Cor 12: placement in the body is tied to function
- Talents: Possessions tied to ability
DNA - Even in fragments, the DNA is there
II Cor 1:4 - weapons not carnal, but might
"Well Done"
- Not "Well Said"
- Not "Well Thought"
Afraid to Pray?
- We want to know the result before we pray
- We want a down payment, earnest money before
- But Faith is the substance of things hoped for evidence of things not seen
Dangerous
Acts 8:1
- persecution
- encroachment of the church into other areas
- What happens when the church breaks out of its comfort zone?
Acts 19
- "Jesus I know and Pual I know, but who are you?"
Holy Ghost
John: "I baptize with water but one mightier than I comes who shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire."
Luke 4:1 - Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost, was led of the Spirit
Luke 4:14 - Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
Lk 24:49 - Tarry ye in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high
Acts 1:8 - You shall receive power
John 20:22 - Receive ye the Holy Ghost
Acts 19 - have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?
We want to see the miracle, then tell others, but the model is to tell, then you will see.
Brain Dump - Lust/Addiction
The Addictive Cycle
- Preoccupation
- Ritualization (drive-by, enquiry, surfing)
- Acting Out
- Shame
Four Common Threads of Distorted Thinking
- Rekindling/Re-experiencing Infatuation (Law of Diminishing Returns - bigger thrills required)
- I'm a bad, unworthy person
- No one would love me if they really knew me
- Sex is my most important need
Addict Defined
- He's hooked and he can't say no.
- The subject of his addiction gives him two things: pleasure and an illusion of intimacy
Sexual experiences swing our moods.
Walking in the Light
1. Know who you are in Christ (Rom 6)
2. Believe you live with Christ
3. Give yourself to God
4. Don't give lust a foothold
Three Elements of Victory
Perspective
Presence
Power
- Preoccupation
- Ritualization (drive-by, enquiry, surfing)
- Acting Out
- Shame
Four Common Threads of Distorted Thinking
- Rekindling/Re-experiencing Infatuation (Law of Diminishing Returns - bigger thrills required)
- I'm a bad, unworthy person
- No one would love me if they really knew me
- Sex is my most important need
Addict Defined
- He's hooked and he can't say no.
- The subject of his addiction gives him two things: pleasure and an illusion of intimacy
Sexual experiences swing our moods.
Walking in the Light
1. Know who you are in Christ (Rom 6)
2. Believe you live with Christ
3. Give yourself to God
4. Don't give lust a foothold
Three Elements of Victory
Perspective
Presence
Power
Brain Dump - Hosanna
"Save Now", "Please Save", "Save us from this hell we're living in"
Need saving:
- From this hell I'm living in
- From the hell I'm headed to
The prayer of Hosanna regarding the Kingdom (Mark 11:10):
1. That it would come - in light, knowledge, power, efficacy
2. That it would conquer - and be victorious over all opposition
3. That it would continue - though it may be disturbed, may it nver be destroyed (Ps 72:17)
Matt 1:21 - Call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins (Jesus: Jehovah is Salvation)
Matt 8:25 - Disciples: Save us, we perish
Matt 14:30 - Peter, sinking, Save me
Matt 18:11 - Son of man came to save that which is lost
Matt 27:42 - He saved others; himself He cannot save
Luke 9:56 - The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them
So great is the need for a Savior to have someone to save, that if you don't ask for help, the rocks will.
If you want to learn how to praise, watch a child (preschooler)
Matt 21:9,15 - out of the mouths of babes thou hast perfected praise
Mark 11:9-10
Luke 19:38-40 - stones cry out
John 12:13
Ps 118:25 - Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord. O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Prosperity: to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable.
Need saving:
- From this hell I'm living in
- From the hell I'm headed to
The prayer of Hosanna regarding the Kingdom (Mark 11:10):
1. That it would come - in light, knowledge, power, efficacy
2. That it would conquer - and be victorious over all opposition
3. That it would continue - though it may be disturbed, may it nver be destroyed (Ps 72:17)
Matt 1:21 - Call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins (Jesus: Jehovah is Salvation)
Matt 8:25 - Disciples: Save us, we perish
Matt 14:30 - Peter, sinking, Save me
Matt 18:11 - Son of man came to save that which is lost
Matt 27:42 - He saved others; himself He cannot save
Luke 9:56 - The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them
So great is the need for a Savior to have someone to save, that if you don't ask for help, the rocks will.
If you want to learn how to praise, watch a child (preschooler)
Matt 21:9,15 - out of the mouths of babes thou hast perfected praise
Mark 11:9-10
Luke 19:38-40 - stones cry out
John 12:13
Ps 118:25 - Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord. O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Prosperity: to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable.
Brain Dump - Cost of Indulgence
I Cor 6:13
- meats for the belly, the belly for meats
- Answers, "that's how I was made"
- "If God didn't want me to ____, then why did He ____?"
Appetites are natural, God-given.
God also created means to satisfy those cravings.
"The way to a man's heart is through his stomache."
Why did David pour out the water the three mighty men retrieved for him?
- appetitie
- opportunity --> entitlement
- cost of indulgence
II Samuel 23:15-17
I Cor 6
Abraham Maslow - Needs/Desires
- Transcendence
- Self-Actualization
- Aesthetic
- Learning
- Esteem
- Belonging
- Security
- Physical
Phil 3:18-19 -- enemies of the cross... whose god is their belly.
I Cor 9:27 - I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.
Galations 5:24 - They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Brain Dump - Remarkable
Think your church is remarkable? If nobody's remarking, then it may just be average.
How can one know if their church is remarkable? Check to see if anyone's remarking.
Jesus was remarkable -- His "fame went out"; He "grew in favor with God and men".
The early church was -- "those that turned the world upside down..."
Ever notice that Starbucks never advertises on TV? No need -- they are remarkable.
Red Herrings for Remarkability (Distractions, Dead-Ends)
- Traditional Marketing
- Logos
- Money and/or Funding
Real-World Examples of "the best" or "remarkable"
- Janko's Little Zagreb - best steak
- Taquiera Los Amigos - best tacos & salsa
- Starbucks - no ads, consistent delivery
- Greek's - best pizza, best kitchen-side table
- Jackson's Gas Station in Bedford - cheaper gas
- BP/Wild Bean Cafe - free samples of coffees & drinks
- Perry Noble - going to camp with teens
Is being remarkable essentially competing with the church down the street?
- Ask self, how badly do you want to keep your best people in your church?
Some remarkability is aesthetics, but aesthetics are not trivial -- ask David or Solomon or Moses how trivial the temple aesthetics were.
"Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers." - Seth Godin
Antonyms for Remarkable:
- underwhelming
- average
Actions or Steps Towards Remarkability:
- Christ came to give us "life more abundantly" (super-abundant).
- Christians should get the best raises, be the last to be let go, win the employee-of-the-month awards over and again.
They will "know we are Christians by our love."
"let your love be without dissimulation."
How can one know if their church is remarkable? Check to see if anyone's remarking.
Jesus was remarkable -- His "fame went out"; He "grew in favor with God and men".
The early church was -- "those that turned the world upside down..."
Ever notice that Starbucks never advertises on TV? No need -- they are remarkable.
Red Herrings for Remarkability (Distractions, Dead-Ends)
- Traditional Marketing
- Logos
- Money and/or Funding
Real-World Examples of "the best" or "remarkable"
- Janko's Little Zagreb - best steak
- Taquiera Los Amigos - best tacos & salsa
- Starbucks - no ads, consistent delivery
- Greek's - best pizza, best kitchen-side table
- Jackson's Gas Station in Bedford - cheaper gas
- BP/Wild Bean Cafe - free samples of coffees & drinks
- Perry Noble - going to camp with teens
Is being remarkable essentially competing with the church down the street?
- Ask self, how badly do you want to keep your best people in your church?
Some remarkability is aesthetics, but aesthetics are not trivial -- ask David or Solomon or Moses how trivial the temple aesthetics were.
"Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers." - Seth Godin
Antonyms for Remarkable:
- underwhelming
- average
Actions or Steps Towards Remarkability:
- Improve on your strengths. Pr 22: "See a man who skills in his work..."
- Create. Don't Copycat
- Eliminate Repulsive Distractions
- "Be the change you want to see in others."
"Lead yourself first."
"If you have to tell someone you are, then you aren't." - "Covet to Prophesy"
- Genuine prophesy is always remarkable.
- It'll cause a sinner to fall down and worship God. - Involve Others
- Undersell and Over-deliver
- Christ came to give us "life more abundantly" (super-abundant).
- Christians should get the best raises, be the last to be let go, win the employee-of-the-month awards over and again.
They will "know we are Christians by our love."
"let your love be without dissimulation."
Brain Dump - Strategies for Reaching the Lost
Are we reaching the lost or just the already convinced?
- How many baptized?
- What percent of growth?
Much of what we do is geared for our crowd.
- the worship
- the word
- the announcements
Much outreach is to those like us
- "You would like our church. You would fit in."
Church advertising is aimed at church people.
ToDo: Collect samples of ads - newspapers, web, signs, ...
To gain the lost...
- Must replace "come y'all" with "go ye"
. go into highways and byways and compel them to come
. the woman at the well said, come and see, but only after she went
. "Launch into the deep"
- How many unsaved friends to you have?
. Matthew parties - the newly converted still have unsaved friends.
- Must realize the lost won't respond to our ads.
. The exception is the previously churched
- The two groups of sinners Christians most often pray for:
. The previously churched (aka backsliders)
. Unsaved loved ones
. Vince Antonucci's story of visiting a church for the first time
. ToDo: Collect pics of buildings/clubs around town (VFW, Lions, Elks, ...)
. The point: I've never been to the Lions club. I don't even know if they'd let me in. Do I have be have a membership? Do I have to be invited? What happens inside the Lions' club?
- The Engle Scale
- Tolerance/Grace (we are the ambassadors/custodians of grace).
- How many baptized?
- What percent of growth?
Much of what we do is geared for our crowd.
- the worship
- the word
- the announcements
Much outreach is to those like us
- "You would like our church. You would fit in."
Church advertising is aimed at church people.
ToDo: Collect samples of ads - newspapers, web, signs, ...
To gain the lost...
- Must replace "come y'all" with "go ye"
. go into highways and byways and compel them to come
. the woman at the well said, come and see, but only after she went
. "Launch into the deep"
- How many unsaved friends to you have?
. Matthew parties - the newly converted still have unsaved friends.
- Must realize the lost won't respond to our ads.
. The exception is the previously churched
- The two groups of sinners Christians most often pray for:
. The previously churched (aka backsliders)
. Unsaved loved ones
. Vince Antonucci's story of visiting a church for the first time
. ToDo: Collect pics of buildings/clubs around town (VFW, Lions, Elks, ...)
. The point: I've never been to the Lions club. I don't even know if they'd let me in. Do I have be have a membership? Do I have to be invited? What happens inside the Lions' club?
- The Engle Scale
- Tolerance/Grace (we are the ambassadors/custodians of grace).
Brain Dump - Effective Communication
SUCCEsS (From Made to Stick):
Simple
Unexpected
Credible
Concrete
Emotional
Stories
Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. - Einstein
Preach your own sermons
Make it visual
Simple
Unexpected
Credible
Concrete
Emotional
Stories
Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. - Einstein
Preach your own sermons
- Dripping with your own blood, sweat, and tears
- Given for your place and time
Make it visual
- A movie
- Act it out
- Big pictures
- Is it to transfer information?
- Or is it to bring about change?
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