Do not skip this one! Craig Groeschel just nailed me in the face. These notes are long but incredible. Read them, comment, and let them sink in.

“I don’t really have much to say because I don’t know as much as I did a few years ago. All I have are theories and I’m not sure they will work.”—Craig

“I have six kids. People ask if I know what causes kids. We say “yes, but we’re not willing to give that up.”

“Churches that have “it”…When you talked to people they all sounded like they had been drinking the Jesus kool-aid.”

What are some elements that contribute to “IT.”
1. When you have it most things that you try seem to work. When you don’t few things work.
2. When you have it creativity flows. When you don’t you don’t know what to do.
3. When you have it you know you are part of a divine mission. When you don’t have it you are just drawing a paycheck.
4. When you have it the room has a buzz. When you don’t it is dead.
5. When you have it people do more than you expect.
6. When you have it lives are changed. When you don’t you go through the motions.
7. When you have it you can feel it.
You can organize “IT” out of your church. You can create so much structure you can kill “IT.”

Acts 2–42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper[i]), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

They had “it”

Bad News
If your ministry does have it there is no guarantee you’re going to keep it. Many have lost it and don’t even realize it.

Good News
If you don’t have it you can still get it. I don’t know how but I believe it’s possible.

What it is not:
Lights
Videos
Four color brochures/Mail outs
We are so stinking cool that we named our last series after desperate housewives.
We have a table and chair like Andy Stanley
We wear blue jeans
We hang out in a coffee shop

It is not something you can copy. Do not insult Jesus by dreaming about being the next so and so. Why are you dreaming that low. Do not insult the heart of God by trying to be someone else.

What is IT—“It” is a rare combination of the anointing of God, passion, creativity, teamwork, focus, faith, intensity, drive, hunger, desperation, and divine expectations.
All these things are necessary but will manifest themselves through you in a unique way.

Seven things that are present when IT is present:
1. Vision Alignment
• Prov. 29:18—Where there is no vision the people perish.
• When a car is out of alignment it pulls.
• Where are you going? I don’t know. Yet our churches do this all the time.
• Many churches have a vision statement but have no vision. Just cause you put it on a banner doesn’t mean you believe it. Most churches would say “we are about Jesus.” I would tell you I don’t believe it. You’re actions don’t prove it. You are about filling seats, building buildings, softball fields. If I’ve offended you…sorry.
• You start with a Vision…do not surrender it.
• Remember the church is not here for us…we are the church we are here for the world.
• Vision—live it, breath it, sleep it, poop it, breathe it, eat it…
• If someone says, “I just love your church” they don’t understand the vision. The church is ours.
• Q?–Do you have a God given vision?

2. Divine Focus
• How in the world can you have 287 effective ministries.
• Pray through the phrase—“planned abandonment.” What won’t you do?
• When people ask, “when are we gonna be a real church? Which means when are we gonna get a building? Which means they don’t understand what a real church is about.
• Do only what you are called to do!
• We do five things
o Weekend worship experiences
o Small groups
o Missions
o Kids Ministry
o Students Ministry
• Funnel everything else through small groups.
• When you are starting the church decide what you are not going to do.
• When you know what you are not going to do it frees you up to do things you want to do.
• How do you innovate? You don’t copy what everyone else does you do what noone else does.
• Just because you can do it doesn’t mean you should do it. Just because everyone else does it doesn’t mean you should do it.
• Remember Nehemiah on the Wall—I can’t come down I’m doing a great work.
• There are thousands of great ministries that you could do. Don’t!
• Q?–What are we doing that we should stop doing?

3. An unmistakeable Camaraderie
• They have nicknames and practical jokes.
• Play games—capture the flag
• Have fun—bring a ball to your staff meeting
• Hide a fart machine in the office.
• Q?—What would make your ministry more fun?

4. You have a very high pain tolerance.
• When you have it and others don’t they shoot at you.
• When God elevates you, you will experience pain.
• New levels bring new devils.
• The difference between larger church pastors and smaller church pastors are the willingness to endure more pain.
• The difference between where you are and where you want to be is the pain you are willing to endure.
• Learn to be criticized with Grace.
o To those who are in their 20’s and 30’s—I applaud your passion but fear your anger.
o Smile and play hurt.
o Do not sink to the level of striking them back.
o When you experience the pain, embrace it. Thank God that He considers you worthy to suffer for His name sake.
• Q?—What painful decision are you avoiding?

5. A willingness to fail.
• Jesus tells a story about three guys given three talents to invest.
• You should go to bed thinking “uh oh, I think this is what we are supposed to be doing.”
• Maybe we missed God or maybe He had something to teach us.
• People say, “Failure is not an option”…I agree it is absolutely necessary. Peter couldn’t have preach at Pentecost if he hadn’t have failed.
• Let God bring out of you what he has put inside of you.
• Q?—What is inside of you that you think He wants you to do?

6. Have a kingdom mindset.
• When you have IT you are willing to share IT.
• If you think you own IT you don’t have IT.
• Can you celebrate with God if another church grows bigger than yours.
• When you have it it is not about you. It’s not your name. It doesn’t have to be yourname.com.
• “I understand the importance of leveraging your name, I just choose not to do it.”—Craig
• When we give it away God gives more to us.-Craig
• Don’t complain how your people won’t give if your church won’t.
• Take up an offering and send it on down to the mega church down the road who is in a building program.
• Q?—What do you have that you could give away to help others?
• When God blesses you and gives you influence and invest in the next generation.

7. You have IT.
• For your ministry to have IT you must have IT.
• It starts HERE with Me.
• Get angry at the devil.
• Allow your heart to break for the lost.
• Trust what’s in here and not what’s out there.
• “if I seem passionate about this it’s because I had it and I lost it.”—craig
• “I had become a full time pastor and a part time follower of Christ.”—Craig
• I am a full time disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ who just happens to get to be a pastor.
• Acts 4:13—They were idiots who had been with Jesus.
• Don’t Lose IT. IF you’ve lost IT find IT.
• Q?—Do you have IT? If you don’t, what are you going to do to get IT?
• Sir Francis Drake—Disturb us Lord.

Browse Timeline

• « Living on Bayou Self
• » Zonked!

Comments (8)

Add a Comment