I don’t have a lot of extra commentary for you today.  I’m still wrestling with my place in multi-site ministry now with four campuses.  Some days I feel like I’m needed everywhere and other days I feel like I’m needed nowhere.  Kinda messes with me.

Pete’s message kicked my butt, though.  Read at your own risk. 

DNA – Irrevocably Committed by Pete Wilson

We’re not here to play church.

We did not start this church because Nashville needed another church.  We started this church because we believed God was calling us to start something unique.

Genesis 2:15-25

We were created to take care of stuff.

You were created with a capacity for deep connectedness.

Adam and Eve had nothing to hide.

John 13:34

Trying not to sin doesn’t guarantee I will love more.  However, loving others will always result in less sinning.

Biblical Community is:

Intentionally intrusive.

• I celebrate you without reservation.  I look at your strengths and I celebrate them.  I’m not threatened by them.  We have a unique power to call out the best in each other.
• Criticism is the most cowardly form of self-praise.
• Speak the truth in love.  We surround ourselves with convenient relationships that aren’t true community because truth is not spoken.

Christ Centered.

• Galatians 3:26-29

Grace Driven.

• Romans 15:7
• We have been receivers of God’s grace.  Now we want to become agents of God’s grace.

Barriers to Biblical Community:

Overwhelming busyness. Our culture values busyness over connectedness.  You’ve bought into the lie that you are not valuable unless you are busy.

Underwhelming intention.  We just don’t try.

I John 4:20-21

Hebrews 10:24-25

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Which barrier to Biblical community do you most wrestle with?

Need I even answer?  I’m sure you know mine – overwhelming busyness. (sigh)

It was a crazy, good day today at Cross Point.  Our team put a lot of work into making this weekend a memorable one for everyone with the launch of our DNA series.  We do this series once a year to share the vision, heart and soul of our church.  You would think it gets old… but it doesn’t. Especially when you shake it up and deliver it for the first time in 3D!

I’m so proud of our Creative Team led by Stephen Brewster.  They dreamed big, tried some new things and Matt Singleton pulled out some of his best work, delivering 10 different videos that he created for this weekend, most of them in 3D.

Our 3D extravaganza did not come without it’s share of challenges and stressors, but all in all it was a great day and most importantly Pete shared a powerful message about the importance of the first part of our vision.

DNA – Radically Devoted by Pete Wilson

Matthew 16:24-25

Every church is unique and different.

We do not think Cross Point is the best church.  It takes lots of churches for us to be the body of Christ.

We believe that Cross Point has a unique vision that God has called us to.

We want to be a community of people who are radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another and relentlessly dedicated to reaching the lost.

Question that plagues all of us: Why am I here?

We have to determine what we are doing with the space between – the space between when you accept Christ and eternity.

Jesus did not define spiritual maturity by what you know.  He defined spiritual maturity by how you love.

Some equate spiritual maturity with Bible knowledge.

Spiritual maturity should be defined by our response to Jesus.

There is a big difference from being a fan and being in the game.

The church has produced a lot of fans of Jesus but not a lot of followers of Jesus.

What does it mean to be radically devoted to Christ?

Commit to believe whatever Jesus says.

Commit to obey whatever you have heard.

Jesus intended for there to be spiritual transformation in the space between.  He intended for us to become more like Him.  He intended for us to make an impact on this world.

Jesus created a new vision for life, not a new list of rules.

Luke 6:46-49

The gospel does not call for reflection, but for action.

We believe in God, but we live like He doesn’t exist.

The space between is where the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ begins to chip away and we become the men and women God has called us to be.

We’re not called to just be receivers of God’s grace, we’re called to be agents of God’s grace.

We’re not called to be fans of Jesus, we’re called to be followers of Jesus.

Jesus didn’t just do something for us.  He did something to us.

It’s not ok to blame others for your spiritual maturity not being where you want it to be.  It’s your job to own your spiritual maturity.

We wrapped up the Chronicles series today at Cross Point.  I started out at the Nashville campus and then headed to Bellevue to celebrate baptisms at their 11:00 AM service.  Today was our first baptism Sunday for this campus – such a special milestone.

The reality of four campuses continues to be an interesting dynamic.  Today I found myself wandering around trying to figure out my place and how I could best serve our teams.  The beauty of this model is that it forces you to raise up leaders.  The challenge of this model for me is to find my place and to adequately support our teams at all the campuses.

Here are my notes from Pete’s message today.  Very challenging and very healing.

The Unmerciful Servant by Pete Wilson

This could be one of the most difficult parables to live out.

Matthew 18:23-25

This teaching goes against the very cultural grain of life.

The servant is facing a debt that he can never repay.

Culturally we operate with the mentality “you do wrong to me, I’m gonna get you back.”

Unresolved bitterness contaminates everything.

Bitterness from your past will ruin your present and future relationships.

Hebrews 12:14-15

Forgiving is not condoning. It’s not excusing the injustice that’s been done to you.

Forgiving is not reconciling.

Forgiveness is giving up your right to hurt them back. You let go of your right to get even.

Ultimately the only thing that will bring healing to your life is forgiveness.  The only thing that costs more than forgiveness is unforgiveness. Unforgiveness will cost you your heart.

Challenge: Put the burden down.

If you stay chained to that bitterness and unforgiveness and you’ll never be able to fully trust anyone in your life again.

Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive?

I had the privilege of spending my day at the Dickson Campus today.  I’m really excited about this campus (which happens to be the one we’re interviewing for a Campus Pastor.) There’s a great spirit of community here and a passion to reach the city and county of Dickson with the hope of Christ. I believe great things are on the horizon!

Here’s a few miscellaneous thoughts before I give you the highlights from today’s message:

• So good to have Pete back after his 4 week study break
• Excited that I got to hang out over lunch with some of the staff and interns from Catalyst (one of my favorite organizations).  Have you ordered your tickets for Catalyst Atlanta yet?  Let me know if you are going to be there!
• Here’s the link to the book that Pete talked about in the message today: Confessions of a Prayer Slacker.  I can’t wait to read it!
• Proud of our team and all of our volunteers for another great Sunday!

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The Persistent Widow by Pete Wilson

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus is giving us three foundational beliefs in this story:

Belief #1: There is a God in Heaven who deeply loves you.

You are not a bother to God.

He is inviting you into the context of the intimacy of prayer with Him.

Intimacy always requires something of us.  It requires the risk of vulnerability.

As long as I strive to hold control of my life, I am not able to be as vulnerable as God is asking me to be.

Intimacy always comes through truth.

Oftentimes we pray what we wish was in us rather than what is truly in us.

Belief #2: Prayer is how I stay connected to God’s presence.

Ephesians 6:18

I Thessalonians 5:17

Most days we live our lives completely unaware of God’s presence around us.

Every moment is a moment of prayer.  Every moment is a moment to be aware of his presence.  Every moment is a time to awaken in me the reality that God is in me and around me all day.

Prayer becomes an overflow of the your awareness of the reality of God around you and with you constantly.

Belief #3: He is able.

Prayer reminds me that the outcomes of my life do not rest on my shoulders.

You’re too busy to pray becomes you think the outcomes of your life do rest on your shoulders.  You have too much to do to pray.

Ephesians 3:14-

Prayer reminds us that God is the force that moves this entire world forward.

Which one of those foundational beliefs did you most need to hear today?

Here are my random thoughts, observations and insights from yesterday followed by Justin’s message notes.

• No matter what campus I’m at, I’m always missing the others and wishing I could be everywhere at once.
• I recognize that I wear my team out with details on Sunday mornings.  Some things you just have to coach in the moment, but there are other things that can wait.  I’m trying to learn to save what can wait and follow that up with good overall feedback on Mondays.
• I’m amazed and excited by the fact that the more campuses we have the more we rely on volunteer leaders to really lead and run the show.  We should have volunteer leaders already leading at this capacity, but multi-site has forced us to really equip leaders that way.  Did I mention I’m thankful for our volunteers?
• Justin continued our Chronicles series with the parable of The Two Debtors.  I have never heard anyone tell the story of the woman who washed Jesus feet with such passion and beauty.  Truly powerful.  The notes won’t do it justice so be sure to go listen online.

The Two Debtors by Justin Davis

Luke 7:36-50

When Jesus looks into this woman’s eyes, she feels love for who she is, not what she does.

An absence of gratitude allows religion to replace relationship.

What word would you use to describe your relationship with God right now? 

Numb, guarded, repetitive, distant, absent, controlled, exhausted, dull, beat up, disappointed, mechanical, uninspiring

Has gratitude for grace leaked out of your life?

When God doesn’t react the way we think he should react, we’re quick to question Him.

It’s hard to be overwhelmed by grace when you’ve convinced yourself you don’t need it.

We are the big debtors in this story.  We’re in the biggest need of grace.

What we need to bring Jesus:

Gift of Repentance. Religion can put you at the table with Jesus but only repentance will put you at his feet.

Gift of Adoration. When was the last time you shamelessly adored God?  Does your worship to God reflect your gratitude for grace?

He who has been forgiven of much, loves much.

Will you bring Jesus your gift of repentance and adoration?

I spent my day at the Nashville campus today serving as the Worship Assistant.  I love this role because it provides me the opportunity to help set up our teaching pastor and to finish out the service with opportunities for people to respond and connect.  You could say I just did “announcements” but I always hope I can make it much more about helping people connect.

Before I give you the notes from the message today, I thought I would give you some additional highlights from today at the Nashville Campus:

• So proud of our worship team.  For those of you that don’t know, our entire band is made up of extraordinarily talented VOLUNTEERS every weekend at every campus.  These guys & gals are amazing.  Today we hit a hiccup and our drummer wasn’t able to be here, so our keyboard player (who also is an excellent drummer) changed gears, moved to the drum kit and brought his keyboard with him.  He played BOTH drums and keyboards for all four services!  That’s crazy dedication!
• After the 3rd service, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Gloria.  Gloria was one of the amazing people we met during flood week.  Her neighborhood was one of the hardest hit by the Nashville Flood just a little over 2 months ago and honestly Gloria still is struggling to figure out what to do.  I was so honored to pray for her, but left that conversation burdened by the work that still needs to be done to help families like hers get back on their feet.  Please pray for Gloria this week.
• We celebrated over a dozen baptisms today in our services.  Somehow this expression of a changed life never gets old to me… and I hope it never does.

Blake’s message today about The Good Shepherd was a powerful reminder of just how passionately God loves us.  I’m not sure we get it.  At least, I’m not sure that I get it.

Blake made one statement in his message that really stuck out to me.  He said “The mark of a true leader is self-sacrifice.”  Read his notes, ponder that statement and then let’s talk about it.

The Good Shepherd by Blake Bergstrom

John 9:24-25

Are you aware of the spiritual stories happening all around you?

Do you ever allow your agenda to get in the way of what God is doing?

John 10:1-5

Sheep trust the voice of their shepherd implicitly.

Sheep don’t need cowboys they need a shepherd.  The shepherd has earned the right to be heard.

What voices are you allowing to lead you?

Do you recognize the voice of God?  Are you listening to the voice of your shepherd to lead you?

John 10:6-10

Are you about sacrifice or self-promotion?

Do you represent the Cross or are you simply a hired hand?

John 10:11-14

The mark of a true leader is always self-sacrifice.

The Good Shepherd wants to tend to your every need.  Do you trust him?

The enemy is a thief, a robber of life and of love.

Do you understand that Christ is jealous for you?

Do you really truly understand just how deeply He loves you?

One of the greatest monsters that I wrestle with in my leadership is being confident in the calling and gifting God has for me.  I battle the usual suspects of insecurity, fear and playing the comparison game.

Last month at our Cultivate Her event in Nashville, I shared the story of Deborah and the confidence she displayed in her calling.  Deborah is one of my favorite leaders from scripture and I’m continuing to unpack layers of her leadership that fascinate me.

If you need a refresher on the story, hop over to Judges chapters 4 & 5.

Here are some key things I find in this story:

• Deborah is Judge of Israel during a time when Israel is being cruelly oppressed by the Canaanites
• We know she’s married and that she holds court under a palm trim on a hill (sounds like a nice office)
• She gets a command from God for Barak to rally 10,000 men and face the Canaanite army
• Barak refuses to go unless Deborah goes with him
• You never see Deborah waiver; she continually reminds Barak that God promised he would give Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, into his hands.
• Chapter 5 is their victory song

I wish the writer of Judges had been a bit more descriptive about the relational and emotional dynamics going on behind the scenes in this story.  The writer tells us what happens and the decisions that Deborah makes, but doesn’t give us a ton of insight into how she felt or what she was processing through each decision.

It’s at this point that I start trying to place myself in the story.  How would I have felt?  What would I have been afraid of?

Here’s what I observe to be the keys to Deborah’s confidence:

1) She had EARNED INFLUENCE.

Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel at a time when it was highly unusual for a woman to serve in such positions of leadership.  It makes me think she must have had some significant influence to have been appointed to these positions to begin in.  She also must have displayed consistency of character, love for people, sound judgment, etc in her role as Judge.  Barak and the 10,000 leaders were willing to follow her lead and trusted what she said was God’s command.

2)  She displayed INCREDIBLE STRENGTH

I can’t imagine living in the times that she lived in.  Israel was weak, defenseless and far from God.  I suspect moral was low and hope was barely a flicker.  But Deborah had hope and a vision from God and out of this she summoned the strength to still the voices of doubt and timidity, and as one author describes, “called the people to battle, leading them out of idolatry and restoring their dignity as God’s chosen ones”.

3)  She showed CONSISTENT HUMILITY.

It seems like it would have been easy in her shoes to try to take the credit.  God gave her the command, so she could have easily told Barak, “God told me and you to lead the army”, but she didn’t.  She told Barak that God had called him to lead the army.  At that point, she probably had no idea what her role would be.  She was turning the power and the potential glory over to him.

I also love that in Judges 5:7, Deborah doesn’t refer to herself as judge, prophetess or leader.  She describes herself as “a mother in Israel.”  She didn’t need to prove herself or remind others of her positional power.

4)  She was FAITHFULLY OBEDIENT.

Deborah drew her confidence from her relationship with God.  God gave her the directive for the battle with Sisera and she didn’t lose sight of this even in the heat of it.  Judges 4:14 says “Then Deobrah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand.  Has not the Lord gone out before you?’” After the battle was finished she and Barak sang a victory song in which they repeatedly thank God.

Deborah’s story is such a key reminder to me of God’s faithfulness through our obedience.  I’m sure she didn’t sign up for all that her leadership would demand, but her confidence was in God’s power, not her own.  She was pursuing His glory, not hers and as a result the people she led experienced freedom for 40 years.  That’s remarkable influence!

What challenges do you face in being confident in your calling as a leader?

Ever been in a season of life that you just don’t like?

Maybe it’s a new job that isn’t what you expected?

Maybe it’s a season in your child’s life (like the terrible 2′s) that you wonder if you both are going to live through?

Maybe it’s being single or single again?

Maybe it’s a relationship with a family member or friend that for as much as you try to get it right, it’s just all wrong?

Ever been in one of those seasons where you’ve been trying so hard for so long that you just want to quit?

Walk away.

Give up.

I’ve had my share.

There have been seasons of my life when it has taken everything in me to push through and stick with it.

I didn’t want to.  I really didn’t want to.

I’ve literally begged God to fix the situation.  To let me give up.  To release me from the frustration and the pain.  Usually he doesn’t let me, and I find myself reflecting on this verse:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Although my circumstances may be different from Paul’s.  They say that Paul’s affliction may have been physical.  Maybe for you it is.  Maybe it’s metaphorical.  But either way, I think the thing that most captures my attention when I read these verses is this part:

⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I think sometimes God allows us to live in the discomfort of a season or circumstance because He is up to greater work than we can see.  It’s for His glory, not ours.  It’s for His power and strength to be seen… even if it’s just for us to see.

In a world that encourages us to:

…seek comfort

…find the easy way

…play to your strengths

…live your best life, etc.

I think we find ourselves very restless with the thorns.  We think we deserve better and so we whine and cry and blame instead of trying to find a way for God’s power to be made perfect in our weakness.

I love this next part of verse 9, Paul says:

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Did you catch that?

“So that Christ’s power may rest on me.” There’s something very comforting about the idea of God’s power RESTING on me.

In the midst of your thorn, there is comfort if you’ll allow God’s power to be made known through your weakness.

How can you allow God’s power to be seen through your thorn?

I’m really enjoying our Chronicles series.  Although I’ve heard these parables before, I think sometimes it’s easy to brush over them and miss many of the points that Jesus was trying to communicate.  Justin did a great job with this one today.  I needed to be reminded of the power of a little seed… of a little hope!

The Mustard Seed & Yeast by Justin Davis

Parable – an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Matthew 13:31-34

Have you ever had an unmet expectation of God?

When you’ve had enough unmet expectations, you lose hope.

Just because you can’t see it working doesn’t mean He’s not working.

Unmet expectations turn into hope deferred and hope deferred turns into spiritual disappointment.

Small beginnings from an unlikely source = Irresistible growth

We have unmet expectations of God because we’ve placed our culture’s measuring standards on a kingdom that can’t be measured.

We miss mustard seed moments because we resent small beginnings.

God’s work is not always instant, but it’s inevitable.

Don’t lose hope.

Hope waits patiently.

• God’s timing isn’t always our timing.
• God is much more concerned about your character than your calendar.
• What area of your life do you need to wait patiently?

Hope lives courageously.

• Courage is not the absence of fear.
• Courage is overcoming fear with faith.
• Is there an area of your life that you’ve allowed fear to overtake your faith?

God has placed a list of dreams in your heart… they may be your mustard see moments.

Once the seed is in the ground, once the yeast is in the dough, it’s only a matter of time.

Jesus knows all about broken dreams.

Don’t give up.

Don’t lose hope.

Is there an area of your life that you’ve lost hope?  How can I pray for you this week?

My life feels very frantic right now.  I can’t really catch my breath and I’m constantly feeling edgy.

Ever been in one of those seasons?

I don’t like the feeling and I don’t like myself.

So, today while I was walking I found myself praying, “God, what’s the deal?  Why am I so restless, stressed, frantic and irritated?  What do I need to do?”

And just as that word “do” came out of my mouth, I felt God kind of stop me in my tracks and say:

“You don’t need to do, you need to be.”

“Be?  Be what?  How do I be?”

I don’t know how to be.

Be still.

Be calm.

Be quiet.

Be prayerful.

Be listening.

Be thoughtful.

To be means simply to “exist or live”.

In all my frantic-ness, I’ve forgotten how to simply live.

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God.

John Ortberg says in The Me I Want to Be

My main job is to remain connected to God.  When my primary focus is being present with him, everything else has a way of falling into place.

That’s what I want to be.

I just can’t figure out how to do it.

How about you?