#1 - The Sovereignty of God - The longer I am in ministry (and live) the more I HAVE to believe that He really does have the whole world in His hands. I believe one of the reasons so many ministry leaders carry so much stress around is that we can TEACH on the fact that He reigns…but deep down we don’t really believe it as evidenced by the frantic worry that dominates our lives. If I am to NOT lose my mind I need to focus on HIS power—not mine!
(To the pastor who may be struggling with an issue—HE KNOWS ABOUT IT and HE’S GOT IT!!!)
#2 - The Supremacy of Scriptures - I LOVE telling stories, I LOVE using stage props, I LOVE bringing in video illustrations…but NOTHING trumps the supremacy of the Scriptures. If a church/ministry is going to be successful it CANNOT begin by saying, “I have this really GREAT video idea, can we find a Scripture verse to support it?” Correct theology MUST drive our methodology—always! AND…at the end of the day the people coming to our churches need to hear God’s Word more than they need to hear anything else.
(To the pastor who is struggling with what to preach Sunday…BRING HIS WORD!!! Isaiah 55:8-13…it will NEVER return void.)
#3 - The Counsel of Coaches - There is a HUGE difference between a critic and a coach. No player on the field EVER became a major player and accomplished great things because he stopped and listened to everyone in the stands who had an opinion. BUT he had better listen to the coaches that are placed in his life if he ever wants to accomplish more than he thought possible. (I will blog more about the differences between critics and coaches later.) The bottom line is that there has GOT to be people in your life that you listen to and seriously consider everything they say…no leader has been called to fly solo! You cannot listen to everyone…but you had better be listening to someone. I am SO THANKFUL for the great coaches Jesus has allowed to come into my life!
#4 - The Realization of Matthew 16:13-18 - Scripture is clear that it is HIS church, that HE will build it. Reality is this…He loves the church, cares for the church and wants to see it succeed way more than I do. In fact, the very love I have for the church was placed into me BY HIM!!! I don’t have to convince Him to keep His eye on the church—it’s already here!!!
#5 - The Belief in Greater Things - I believe there is more in store for the local church, not just NewSpring Church, but ANY church that throws off meaningless things and embraces who God is and what He has called them to do. Ephesians 3:20 is one of my life verses…and it is a foundational verse at NewSpring as well. Yes, we can celebrate the past—but we cannot live there because HE IS A GOD WHO IS ABLE TO DO GREATER THINGS!!! The very thought of, “what is He going to do next” absolutely FIRES me up…and keeps me desperate for HIM!
(To the pastor who thinks it may be over…if it were over He would take you home! The reason you are still here is because HE STILL HAS A PLAN! Don’t quit on the God that has never quit on you…Ephesians 3:20 isn’t just a cute verse, it’s REAL!!!)