Catalyst Compassion Moment

I referenced this moment in my message at APEX last night. I know it’s a bit long, but it is worth your time. Challenging, powerful, life-changing.

DS

Endurance & Encouragement

Last night at APEX we finished our summer series. The text we applied was Romans 15:4-6

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I believe it’s healthy to pause at the end of a season and reflect on what God is doing in your heart. I asked this question: Will this just be a nice Bible study you attended or something that will be part of an ongoing transformation in your life?

In order to live strong as young adults in 2009 we must have our hope anchored in Christ. We do this through two things: Endurance and the Encouragement of the Scriptures. Everything about our lives is shakeable – people, job, school, finances, possessions, etc. Christ is the only unshakeable foundation that we can set our hope on.

Circumstances have the potential to circumvent your hope, unless that hope is Christ.

Remember this truth: There are no setbacks for the man/woman of God, only stepping stones. When your heart is anchored in Christ, every trial, difficulty, and obstacle can become a stepping stone into God’s greater destiny and purpose.

Keep hoping… in the God of endurance and encouragement.

DS

Essential Questions for Leadership

Raising up leaders is very exciting work. The easy part is asking people. The hard part is following through. It’s fairly easy to build a team of people. It’s another thing to maintain a strong momentum in your leadership team. But that is where you must focus your energies.

Getting a bunch of bodies on board is essential, given they are the right kind of people. But how are you actually leading your team? Questions to ask:

• Am I modeling the work ethic I am requiring?
• Am I modeling a disciplined lifestyle of consistent prayer/Bible reading?
• Am I praying for each of my leaders?
• Am I breathing consistent, faith-filled vision?
• Am I smiling and laughing a lot? (more important than you may think).
• Am I constantly seeking to improve my leadership through reading & observing other great leaders?
• Am I following through with team assignments?
• Am I having one-on-one, face-to-face conversations and not just sending random emails all the time?
• Do I know where we are going?
• Am I improving my communication skills?
• Am I challenging/coaching/encouraging in real time?
• Do I honor/value/spend QT with my wife above my leaders?
• Am I happy?

Any others you would add?

APEX Spiritual Breakthrough Retreat

I’m looking forward to August 21-23. Every few months at APC we host the Spiritual Breakthrough Retreat. Pastor Jeff gives a great description over at his blog. This upcoming retreat, we as young adults are concentrating together on breakthrough. To do this we’ll take part in the retreat, spend a couple nights at the church, and rise up in our walk with God.

The SBR is powerful because it’s an opportunity to set aside time to focus; to sit under powerful teaching by Pastor Jeff; to hang out with a big group of people all hungry for more of God. You don’t want to miss it.

If you’re interested in joining APEX Young Adults in this retreat, leave a comment and let me know. The cost for us will be $30, which includes all retreat materials and food for the weekend. It will change your life.

DS

Speaking to Young Adults

If you or someone you know is involved in young adult ministry, I’m sure this brief blog will be of tremendous benefit. In a culture where we constantly seeking to improve our methods (not necessarily bad), let’s not forget about what’s most important – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be more consumed with your message than you are with your delivery.

Preach on.

DS

What Defines Me?

Last night at APEX we dug into an intense passage that is Romans 12:9-21. We talked about the depth of love that God calls us to, commanding us to love even our enemies. Not easy stuff.

Here are some of the points I made:

• When we love others Biblically it reveals what God is like (John 13:34-35)
• When we love other Biblically it reveals where our hope lies (I Peter 2:21-23)
• Instead of getting even we must learn to ‘entrust’ ourselves and our circumstances to God
• Christianity is not about completing a ‘to-do’ list in order to appease God. Our deeds must be done in dependence on the finished work of the cross
• In order to love others consistently, I need to see Christ consistently
• If I were to ask those closest to you, “What is (fill in your name) defined by?” What would they say?
• May we be defined by the radical, selfless, crazy love of Christ

Be a Grace Giver

Last night we continued in our “Fashionable” Series, looking at Romans 12:3-8. The topic was “Use Your Gift”. Here are some of the statements I made concerning spiritual gifts:

• All gifts & abilities are evidences of God’s grace
• Without thinking lowly of ourselves, we will misuse God’s gifts in jealousy, envy, & competition
• We each have a measure of faith and a differing grace from God. This is to keep us trusting Him for the use of our gift.
• Spiritual Gift: Exercising God’s gift to serve God’s people with a dependence on God’s power
• Spiritual Gift: Doing anything that strengthens the faith of another person
• There are gifts of speech and gifts of deed
• Using speech as a spiritual gift: speak in a way that makes Christ look great. Draw attention to Christ, not yourself.
  
• Using deeds as a spiritual gift: do what you do in the strength that God supplies. Ask Him to enable your action.
• Since our gifts are an expression of God’s grace, what if we viewed our day as an opportunity to be a “Grace Giver”?

The Will of God

Last night we began our “Fashionable” series, starting with Romans 12:1-2:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

This was my main thought: The will of God is more about WHO you are than WHAT you do.

So often we obsess over the details of WHAT God wants us to do that we neglect WHO we are becoming according to His Word.

Sometimes God speaks to our hearts and tells us what to do, where to go, what job to take. Other times, according to Romans 12, we are to make decisions based off a renewed mind. We are to discern what the will of God is in all situations because we are daily offering ourselves to God in surrender, not being conformed to this world, and having our minds renewed according to Scripture.

Here are some one-liner helps. Hope they are a help!

• Make decisions based off a renewed mind
• Knowing the will of God is developed from a lifestyle, not always a moment
• Don’t use prayer as an excuse for doing nothing
• There is something I can do now as I get to where I am going
• Focus your life on principles of Scripture

Any thoughts?

New Young Adult Series at APEX

Tomorrow night at APEX we are beginning a message series that will carry us through the summer. It’s called “Fashionable: In Style as God Sees It”.

Here’s the downlow:

We all know there is a certain way to dress to remain in style. Well, maybe some don’t understand that concept. If you are wearing a wrinkled Calvin Klein shirt, Nike shorts, black socks, brown flip flops, and a rainbow propellor hat, well…

In all honesty, there is more to our lives than just ‘accepting’ Christ. What are we supposed to look like? What type of lifestyle attracts the blessing and favor of God? What should I be doing now that I’m a ‘Christian’? We want to know what God is calling us to. Not outward style, but inward transformation.

Throughout this series we will look at Romans 12-14 and see how God wants us to live. Hope you can join us!

Interview on Young Adult Ministry

I was interviewed by Nick Poole the other day concerning my involvement with Young Adult ministry. Check it out!