Exponential Conference Day #3 — Rick Warren

View Commentstony • 25th Apr 2008 • Church, Church Planting, evotional thoughts

Rick Warren was the final speaker at the Exponential Conference.  I’ve always liked the guy, but I developed a deep respect for him a couple years ago when I was listening to an interview he did with the Catalyst Podcast.  The guy is all heart, a heart to see the Kingdom of God advance and impact the world.  He did mention that he is no longer being billed as the anti-Christ, he is now simply a false prophet.  Oprah is evidently the new anti-Christ.  The dude is just a church planter is mega church pastor’s clothes.  He probably doesn’t even think of himself as a mega church pastor, especially when he is backstage playing ‘tubby tubby’ with his grandkids.  The guy is just a wealth of wisdom.  I’ve read his books, I even have a copy of his first book, “Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods.”  As you might imagine, this book is pretty simple, so that ANYONE can learn to study the Bible. Following you’ll get a recap of some of the things that Rick had to say.  Rick, just want to thank you for investing in other pastors and loving God more than yourself.

• Saddleback history. Crazy idea of moving from TX to CA. “I believe in God and I believe in you, so lets go.” If Kay would have said no, there would be a lot of stuff not done. God uses wives to make us holy, not happy. Many times she is the Holy Spirit speaking to you.  (These words made me cry.  I have heard Rick talk about this before, but it is God’s honest truth in my life.  We would not be where we are right now without my wife.  She trusts and loves God more than I ever will and God is definitely using her to make me holy.)

• Comparing ourselves to others will severely limit what God wants to do with us and through us. God will not ask us how come we aren’t more like so and so. He will, however ask us why we weren’t more like ourselves.

Reproducing Churches

1.Never stop growing personally. Growing churches require growing pastors. You can never take a church where you’ve never been yourself. You cannot ask other people to have YOUR faith in God. The size of your vision must exponentially grow along with your personal growth. Viewing God’s plan as a scroll…each piece is unrolled a bit at a time. Ignore the critics and the compliments…chew on them but don’t swallow.

2.Focus on making disciples. Focus on maturity and development. Focus on building leaders. Anyone can be great for a short time…make disciples! It take time if it is going to be an oak and not a mushroom. Turning members into missionaries.

3.Have to pay attention to your family. Don’t leave your own vineyard unattended while tending other’s vineyards. Build your family first!

4.Are you totally surrendered to the word and will of God in your life?

5.Develop Kingdom mindset. God’s agenda for the world is much larger than your church, your network, your denomination. We are on the same team. Competition is not other churches, it is the world, the flesh and the devil.

What is God’s agenda? Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done….

Kingdom is inevitable. Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all the nations, then the Kingdom will come.

Whose church is it? If it is Jesus’ church, then HE will build it. Focus on building people. Purposes of God must be done in order to accomplish this. A great commitment to the great commandment and great commission will grow a great church/community/company.

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