Big numbers being thrown around in Washington since Washington began throwing us around… (I just came up with that myself!)
This video gives us some good perspective about what those “big numbers” really mean:
Thanks to my buddy Eric for sending this my way!
QTalks | Rev. Rick Warren | “Thoughts on Influencing Culture”
http://www.qideas.org/talks/default.aspx?id=14
“You must be both relevant and Biblical”
Engaging Culture:
It’s not programatic, it’s personal.
It’s not a strategy, it’s a lifestyle.
It’s not about innovation, it’s about incarnation.
YOU are the message.
When it comes to engaging culture, it’s all about you.
It’s about you incarnating Jesus Christ in the world.
The people of the world vs. the value system.
Lust of the flesh – the temptation to feel. (passions)
Lust of the eyes – the temptation to have. (possessions)
Lust of the life – the temptation to be. (position)
It’s not culture it’s cultures
Geography is far-more important than age in labeling cultures.
It takes ALL kinds of churches to reach ALL kinds of people.
Purposes of God never change.
The way we fulfill those purposes MUST change in every generation.
If you’re serious about engaging culture, there must be some changes in you.
The key to engaging culture is humility. It’s integrity. It’s generosity. It’s civility. It’s clarity/simplicity.
HUMILITY:
The reason we haven’t engaged culture effectively is because of our arrogance.
Each of us has great strengths AND great weaknesses.
Humility = teachability.
If you can’t learn from other people, you have an ego problem.
If God can put a fish in salt water its entire life and it still need salt put on it when you eat it, don’t you think God can put you in this culture without you being tarnished by it?
Incarnation = insulation and infiltration
Study how many of the parables have to do with infiltration and penetration (leven to bread, light to darkness, key to the hole)
Problem with a lot of churches today:
They’d rather be cute than effective. Rather be known for being creative.
Be motivated by changed-lives!
All we know about the future – it will change. And it will change at a faster rate.
Instead of looking at the things that will change. Look at the things that will never change.
People will always need to feel loved.
People will always feel guily
People will still feel lonely
They will need meaning, purpose.
Simple means understandable.
“If you will incarnate the message and explain it in a simple way, you will be successful.”
I may be able to ride without holding onto the handlebars, but this guy can ride more incredibly than any person I’ve ever witnessed:
Amazingly, I’m upating from my iPod right now.
Just found a great wordpress app in the app store!
Tonight we had 30+ students and families attend our SNAC event after church. It was so great to fellowship together as a community!
Finished preaching in both worship services this morning and I’m whooped.
Just grabbed the audio and added it to our church website here.
At the close of the message I showed the Deidox documentary, “Robert” as a real-life illustration of loving God.
From the feedback I received at the door shaking hands, God used the sermon to speak to people’s hearts today. For that I’m thankful.
Now to take my girls to lunch and try and rest before another round of ministry activities tonight!
UPDATE: I was just sent a few pictures taken yesterday of our services! Here’s one of me in action!
