I'll be honest I don't usually go to conferences with him, but this time hearing that Francis Chan was speaking, I was hooked pretty fast
I had such a blast being leaders form all over the country, getting pumped up about ministry again. Sometimes ministry is rough, it can be draining and you can feel like the life is sucked out of you, but I can honestly say that after this conference I'm pumped up again to serve our youth and our city.
Basically we had discipleship hammered into our heads. I'm all about the discipleship method, because well, Jesus did it. And I believe relationships are super important. I think sometimes, all too often we might use the "turn or burn" method with evangelism (and I'm not a huge fan of that word-evangelism, but since it was used in the session I'll use it ;) ) And that tactic definitely might work in certain situations, but most likely, you'll need to build a solid relationship before you're able to share about your faith, right?
Think back to before you were a christian, someone..somewhere was probably involved in your life, had a personal relationship with you. They might not have pounded theology down your throat but you knew something was different about them..they showed their Jesus through their relationship with you right? Totally. And maybe you weren't even connected with that person when you actually became a believer (but I hope so) but they played a key role in your life because they invested in you.
Here are some big points I came away with:
-Don't do fast ministry-one shot evangelistic projects don't change nations (now, they may get you in, but you've got to stay connected)
-Go knowing you'll be there for the long haul
-Connect vocations, this was so huge for me. Think of all the gifts the people in your congregation have-people like doctors and teachers can sometimes get into places "missionaries" can't. Use that
-Join God in what He's already doing, dont' reinvent the wheel, if someones doing it well, join with them
"Don't feel like you have to boil the ocean, start small..."
I hope that wherever God has you, you are being used by Him. Whether you're changing poopy butts all day, serving in the Congo or working the 9-5, you are totally useful to God and I needed to hear that this weekend. Be used where He has you right now friends.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit"
-Matthew 28:19
Sounds like it was a super awesome conference! My husband and I are reading Francis Chan's book Multiply right now and I agree with you. Discipleship is the key. One thing that I have picked up in the last few months is that although we do the work because we want to see people change and grow, the results are never guaranteed. The rewards, however, are. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah was called to go. He enthusiastically responded, "SEND ME!!!" but the rest of the chapter talks about how he was basically called to preach to a people who would never respond. He was faithful to the call. That's what mattered. Praying for you guys as you put all you learned into practice with your students!!!
ReplyDeleteYes totally. I loved multiply, well I really love anything by chan ;) I'm also reading "the hole in our gospel" and it totally touches on exactly what you mentioned-we are never guarenteed to see any fruit, we all play a different told. It gave the example of a garden. Before you even plant a seed you need to ready the soil, the the seed gets planted but then you have to water and nuture it and sometimes build a fence to keep it safe and even then sometimes it won't grow...only when God sees it ready.
DeleteAnd you'll have to let us know what you thought of multiply when you're done! Maybe a guest post on it ;)
DeleteThat could be fun! Have you read The Explixit Gospel by Chandler? Also very good.
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