“Sunday School guys” and “small group guys” are often pitted against each other.  Here are some of the stereotypes:

Sunday schools help people to grow in Biblical knowledge…small groups don’t.

Small groups build healthy relationships…Sunday schools don’t really care about the relational aspect.

Small groups are relevant…Sunday school was relevant 50 years ago.

Sunday school really helps people go “deep” in their faith…small groups stay on the surface-level depth of Christianity.

Here are a few things I can confidently assert about the discipleship in the Christian life:

• Discipleship is more than just information transfer.  The disciples spent time with Jesus.  They heard him preach…but that wasn’t Jesus’ only method of making disciples.  He spent significant amounts of time with them.
• “Depth” doesn’t just mean a person can quote all 9 of John Piper’s sermons on TULIP, or completely and succinctly recite the Westminster Catechism.  Some of the deepest, most life-changing conversations I have had with others haven’t revolved around difficult, divisive theological issues.  Depth, in my opinion, is about things which matter both here and in eternity.  Not all of those things necessitate insider language. (see my post on the danger of insider language HERE)  Can we really say that the intricacies of the atonement are “deeper” than the challenge to truly love our neighbor?
• However we communicate (via sermon, blog, twitter, Facebook, over a cup of coffee, a text message, an email, a letter, or an iPhone app), we need to portray the life-transforming nature of the Gospel (the nature and pervasiveness of sin, the hopelessness of the sinner, the person and life of Christ, and the hope of a coming resurrection) in a way that makes sense to both believers and non-believers alike.
• The goal of Christianity is Christ-likeness. See Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 4:13, 22-24
• This goal cannot be accomplished without the help of others.  Jesus, in John 13:34, said, ”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  You cannot do that on your own!

I believe that the way that we, at Grace, do small groups is the best way that the above truths of discipleship are accomplished.  If, at some point, we cease to make disciples, I’m willing to throw out the system in favor of the mission.  Don’t believe me?  Read my post about that very thing HERE and HERE.

What do you think?  Is discipleship better accomplished in Sunday School or small groups?  Should we throw both of them out and start all over?

If you want to see small groups expert Rick Howerton and Sunday School guru David Francis talk this through, check out the video they put together HERE.

My son had his first birthday yesterday.  I can’t believe how quickly this year has flown!  I’ve learned a lot about parenting, about children, about faith, and about myself.

Anne Jackson, at a breakout session at the recent Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, said that it’s dangerous to blog about difficulties that you’re in the middle of.  It’s good to be open and honest about your struggles, but she wisely pointed out that it’s better to write about issues which you’re already having victory over.  I agree with this.  Which is why it makes it so dangerous for me to write on parenting…I’m right in the middle of it!

So, knowing that it’s dangerous for me to write about parenting, I’ll limit it to this first year:

9 Truths I’ve learned through my first year of parenting:

• My wife works much harder than I do.  She deserves a raise!
• I’ve learned to love in a way I never thought possible.  For the record, my love for Laura, my wife, does not compare with my love for Rex, our son…it’s just different.
• Rex looks up to me.  This is quite humbling…and reminds me of the great responsibility I have as his dad.
• Quality time is not superior to quantity time.  It’s in the quantity time that I find quality time.
• I have to be much more intentional at planning date nights for my wife and me.  For the record, I still have lots of work to do in that area.
• I still really have no idea what I’m doing in the area of parenting…but I’m not alone in my cluelessness.
• I understand God’s love for me in a new way.
• I’ve learned to quit saying, “I can’t wait until Rex…” and “If only he would start…” and start saying things like, “I love how Rex…,” and really value each moment and each stage in his life that God gives us.
• I’ve learned not to ask other people, “Is your child doing _____ now?”  The implicit (though sometimes it’s made explicit, too) follow up is, “Because when my child was that age, they were already doing that…and your child must be much slower than mine.”  Proverbs 18:21 rightly tells us, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

I left my list at 9 so that you could add number 10.

What did you learn/are still learning from your first year of parenting?

For a list of my other parenting posts, click HERE.

Spending time with the Lord is essential to your spiritual growth.  But how essential is the location where you do that?

I grew up hearing the importance of separating yourself from others, in a dark place, with no noises or distractions…in fact, they called it a “quiet time.” If I couldn’t find “the holy place” and “the holy time” then I needed to evaluate my life’s priorities.  Anybody else ever hear that?  My question for us today is this:

Is that the only true way to spend time with the Lord?

I was recently talking with a small group leader at Grace, and he said that the most powerful time he had with the Lord recently was when he was on an airplane.  Looking out at the open sky, he was able to appreciate, all over again, the beauty, majesty, and power of God.

Each of these statements below represents me, and what I found most important and helpful, at different points in my spiritual journey. 

1. It’s vital to spend time with the Lord daily (well, that’s even an understatement…the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)).  When I don’t spend time with the Lord daily, my spiritual life shrivels up and dies…quickly.

2. The Lord speaks most clearly and definitively in the Bible. In fact, we need to spend much time in the Bible in order to discern His working and His voice in other areas (such as art, music, nature, etc).  When I consistently look to other sources in place of Scripture, I lose focus.

3. God doesn’t live only in a box…especially one of our own creation. Therefore, spending time with the Lord only in a “quiet” box is not only nonessential, but it may also be a detriment (if that’s the only time you have with the Lord).  I have to get outside of the box.

4. With our society becoming more and more mobile, it’s not feasible to set aside “quiet” time in the same way that our ancestors did. We need to find different (though not less meaningful) ways to spend time with the Lord.  I’m constantly on the go, and if I only spend 10 minutes in the “quiet zone” in the morning, that’s not enough.  I have to get creative in the way that I spend time with Him.

5. With our society becoming more and more mobile, we need time set aside to actually be quiet. To still the thousands of voices in our heads.  To not hear the cell phone ring.  Or our boss yelling.  Or our kids yelling. Or the doorbell ringing.  Undistracted time is a huge blessing.

Which one (or more) of these statements connects with you right now?

Building team camaraderie is important.

Laughing together as a team is essential.

Building unity is an undeniable advantage.

Doing stupid videos for Remix…probably not a must, but at least we made fools of ourselves!

Do you need a Sin Cage 2009?

I’m a learner, at least according to Strengths Finder 2.0.  Here’s their description of one of my personality traits:

People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

I’m constantly compiling and processing information.  I would be content reading and learning all day long.  Whether it’s books, blogs, podcasts, or asking good questions, I enjoy the process of learning and discovering new truths.  Because of that personality trait, some call me a nerd.

As I was compiling this mornings, I loved the post by Ron Edmondson at his blog, Graced Again.  He highlighted the effects on various people when the constraints of micromanagement are removed.  I also watched this video, posted by The Soderquist Center:

‘LeaderSkilz’ Pilot Episode from The Soderquist Center on Vimeo.

So, my question to you is this:

Are you a micromanager?  Is that working for those you’re leading?

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that I like to talk smack about how my chili is much better than yours.  Well, here’s your chance to step up to the plate and show the world that your chili is…not as good as mine!

Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, October 24 – APSU vs EKU

Time: 4pm (chili should get there by 3:30)

Location: Parking lot in tailgate alley, between the Dunn center and the football stadium.  Look for our black tent that has a red Grace Community Church sign

How to enter: Email HERE.

How to win: beat Ben! (voting happens the day of the event)

This is a great opportunity to see college ministry in action and invest in college students at Austin Peay.  If you’re looking for a ministry to plug into, maybe this is the one for you.

If you’re looking to win a chili cook-off, you should look elsewhere.

Think you’ve got what it takes to win?

I didn’t grow up listening to Chuck Swindoll, or his Insight For Living.  Many people did, but I just didn’t, for whatever reason.  After hearing his talk at Catalyst 2009, I wish I had.  After receiving the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at Catalyst 2009, he shared with us what he had learned in his 50 years of ministry, and his goals for his next 50 years in ministry.  Needless to say, I took feverish notes.  I love to sit at the feet of leaders who have been faithful for so long.

10 Things Chuck Swindoll has Learned in 50 Years of Ministry

1. It’s lonely to lead

2. it’s dangerous to succeed.  Every successful person he’s known has had a time where he or she was crushed by God.  This is dangerous work.  It takes time, often includes failure, and is unbelievably difficult.

3. It’s hardest to lead at home.  “Nobody told me that in seminary.”

4. It’s essential to be real.  Phoniness is personified among leaders, and those you are leading see right through it.

5. It’s painful to obey. God will ask you to go to some places where it’s not your choice to go.

6. Brokenness and failure are necessary. He quoted Malcolm Muggeridge, former editor of Punch magazine, “If it were ever possible to eliminate affliction, life would be too trivial.”  The cross signifies this affliction, and draws us to Christ.  In the eyes of the world our failure was a complete failure, but it was completely essential.

7. my attitude is more important than my actions

8. integrity eclipses image. what you’re ding isn’t a show, and what you do behind the scenes that makes you who you are.

9. God’s way is always better than my way. Our problem is that we’re actually too capable, too skilled, and can pull things off in the flesh.  God’s going to have His way.

10. Christ-likeness begins and ends with humility.  ‘I am meek & lowly in heart.’ Matthew 11:29.

5 statements worth remembering during his next 50 yrs in ministry

1. Whatever you do, do more with others and less all alone.

2. Whenever you spend time with others, emphasize quality not quantity.

3. Wherever you go, do it the same as if you were among those who know you the best (it will help you keep from exaggerating).  Make sure those you love are in the audience, because it creates accountability, honesty, and humility

4. Whoever may respond, keep a level head.

5. However long you lead, keep dripping with gratitude and grace.

If you’ve not heard of Rob Bell, you should get to know this guy.  Whether you’re on the same page with him theologically or not, he is a leader for our generation worth knowing about.  He thinks outside the box and helps others to do the same, especially through his wildly popular small group video series, Nooma.

I had the privilege of hearing Rob at Catalyst this past week. Did I agree with everything he said?  No.  But there was predominantly more that I did agree with than that I didn’t. (on a side note, thinking about criticism…don’t criticize somebody until you’ve read their books firsthand, or heard them speak for yourself…don’t just take another blogger/writer/pastor’s critique of the person…do the work yourself, then you can criticize)

I’ll spare you all of the notes from his sermon, but suffice it to say that Rob was on point.  His, “Is Bigger Better?” was exactly what pastors needed to hear.  Citing John 6:22-26, 60-71, Bell says, “Sometimes the crowd thins and the people leave.”  Jesus there corrected misconstrued ideas, and when he did, people deserted him.  They deserted Jesus, and we should know that some will desert us if we remain faithful to the Gospel message.  Bell told a story about how, just a few days before, he was talking with a pastor of a smaller church.  This pastor was lamenting his situation, and saying that he couldn’t wait until he made it big, and God blessed him with a bigger church, because then he would have a legitimate ministry.  His flock of 300 people wasn’t too big of a deal…he was waiting for his big break.  Bell then made this statement,

And I responded with, as the French say, “WTF?”

The audience gasped.  Some chuckled.  He had captivated everyone (though he hadn’t said the curse word…ok, if you don’t know what I mean, just take a stab at what cuss word starts with “F” and you’re probably right).  Rob had gotten away with referencing a highly charged, highly offensive cuss word while preaching to 12,000 pastors.  Bell couldn’t believe that this pastor did not view his current ministry as valid, or that those 300 people were somehow less important than the big crowds.

If there is ever a time to cuss, it’s right there.

No matter the size of your ministry, God has called you to those people!  Whether you’re leading a small group of 3, a church of 300, or speaking to 300,000, you are called to shepherd those in your flock.

What are you more offended by, the fact that Rob Bell used a reference to a cuss word, or the fact that the other pastor completely blew off his people, the role that God had called him to, and the ministry that He had equipped him for?

I’m headed to Catalyst Conference in Atlanta this week.  Conferences are often the bane of the office worker.  Conferences mean meetings all day, then working in the evenings to catch up on normal work missed because of said conference.  Conferences mean being away from family.  Conferences mean learning new skills, which means more responsibilities when you return.

While the above may be true, I go to conferences for a different reason, and I think that my outlook on them changes my experience when I attend.

5 Reasons I Go To Conferences

1. Conferences get me out of my normal work environment. When I sit at my office desk day after day, doing the same thing week after week, things become stale.  Traveling to a different city helps me to think outside of the box and re-energize me.

2. Conferences offer great networking possibilities. Conferences are a great place to connect and network with other folks.  I’m a huge proponent of networking.  It’s something that the workplaces undervalue and overlook.  Read more about what I’ve written on networking HERE.

3. I get to hear from speakers not like me. At the conferences I attend, there is always one, or more, speakers that are not just like me.  They don’t think like me, write like me, minister like me, or lead like me.  It’s good to hear from folks like that.  They stretch me in a good way.

4. I get to hear from the most skilled people in the world. At the conferences I’ve attended, the speaker lineups have been incredible.  These guys communicate clearly about issues that I’m dealing with on a regular basis.  They’re doing similar ministry, and speak truth to me in a way that directly connects with my role in leadership.

5. Conferences give me a chance to dream. I don’t naturally dream.  I’m a task-oriented, inside-the-box kind of guy.  I need to plan times to pick my head up and dream a bit.  Conferences force me into that, as I hear from speakers, network with other guys, and think creatively about the future of ministry that to which God has called us as a church.

Can you add anything to this list?

I love this video.  Do you play fantasy football?  If not, you should play against me this season…you’re guaranteed a win!

Do you think this video has been doctored?