I love this book simply because I love Jesus. It will deepen, widen, and heighten your love for Christ, and few books can make that claim.
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church; Author, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

The unrelenting purpose of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into the living presence of Jesus Christ. If we follow the Spirit, Christ can become as real to us as the world was when we were sinners. Jesus Manifesto is a compass pointing toward this holy pursuit.
Francis Frangipane, pastor, author, And I Will Be Found By You

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “Unite the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 12 – Shane Claiborne & David Fitch

The link below is a commercial that reminds me of present day Christianity. Notice how the guy waxes on about how much he loves Miller Lite beer and what *specifically* he loves about it. But when asked by his girlfriend, “what do you love about me”? He freezes and is at a loss for words.

So many Christians can wax eloquent about leadership principles, miracles, the gifts of the Spirit, eschatology, some theologian’s favorite doctrinal system, and all sorts of other “things.” But when asked about Jesus Christ Himself … well, they sound like this guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOEdrmRfg8g

This is one of the observations that provoked “Jesus Manifesto.”

If Len Sweet and I have done our jobs successfully in communicating with this book, readers who finish it will no longer be chasing “things.” They will be too enthralled with, entraced by, and entraptured with Jesus Christ Himself. Everything else will fade into the background at the sight of His peerless worth. And everything else will flow out of a real and intelligent love for Him.

—

One more sign of a Christianity that is beginning to look like Jesus again. Our great challenge over the past few decades has not been one of right believing but of right living. Viola and Sweet create a harmony here that invites you to give the world a Christianity worth believing in. After all, they will know we are Christians, not by our bumper stickers and t-shirts, but by our love.

Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and recovering sinner, thesimpleway.org

Amidst the many voices calling the church to the work of justice, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola call us first to Jesus from which all justice flows. Together they help us see how the vision of Christ’s supremacy makes possible any and all faithful engagement with the world. There are times when a profound and significant truth needs to be said simply. The Jesus Manifesto does just that with an intensity appropriate to the message! I applaud it and I recommend it.

David Fitch, author, pastor, professor, Northern Seminary, Reclaimingthemission.com

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “Unite the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 13 – Reggie McNeal & Jack Hayford

“The body of Christ is at a crossroads right now. The two common alternatives are to move either to the left or the right. It’s our observation, however, that we are living in a unique time, when people are frozen as they look in either of those directions. When they look to the left, they decide that they cannot venture there. When they look to the right, they feel the same. Whether they realize it or not, people are looking for a fresh alternative—a third way. The crossroads today, we believe, is one of moving forward or backward. What we will present in this book, therefore, is razor-sharp, cut-glass clarity of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Alpha and the Omega. We will show that He is that third way—and the only way—that we can forge a secure path into the future. If the church does not reorient and become Christological at its core, any steps taken will be backwards.” (p. xiii)

Brilliant, refreshing, soaring – and that’s just the first chapter! This book is destined to be a classic devotional volume that will inspire generations of Jesus-followers. The line from the song goes, “you can have all this world, but give me Jesus.” This book does just that.

Reggie McNeal, Missional Leadership Specialist, Leadership Network; Author, The Present Future and Missional Renaissance

Today’s Church desperately needs that trumpet-like “certain sound” heard when Jesus’ own voice is heard—just as He spoke in The Revelation. Our hour is similar to that; one of doctrinal drift, double-entendre and deepening deception, both in the Church as in the world. Jesus Manifesto calls us to Jesus’ Person and position as Lord of the Church, to hear Him call us to truth’s clarity, power’s purity and obedience’s reward, to restore that “saltness” that will keep His Church alive and penetrating in its impact.

Jack W. Hayford, Founding Pastor, The Church On The Way, Chancellor, The King’s Seminary

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “Unite the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 14 – Calvin Miller & Ed Stetzer

To speak of the greatness of Christ is indeed humbling. One quickly senses their own inadequacy in the presence of His incomparable glory. To capture and communicate His unsearchable riches is like trying to empty the Atlantic ocean with a tea cup.

We can only write what we see, then fail and fall to the ground. As T. Austin-Sparks so wonderfully wrote, Christ is so “other” than we are. In Prince Caspian, Aslan tells Lucy, “Every year you grow, you will find Me bigger.” That was one of our aims in writing this book – to present to us all a greater Christ than we have been given. Thus our words . . .

“It is with a burning heart for Jesus Christ and a guarded jealousy for His preeminence that we have written this book. We have written it for Him and to Him. We trust that it has been by Him and through Him.” (p. 173)

–

Jesus Manifesto is the most powerful work on Christ I have read in recent years. The Christ of the Empty Tomb is back among us. Sweet and Viola have beckoned us to return back to Olivet and renew our souls. I was hushed by its welcome authority.  I found a lump in my throat as I read through page after page of Biblical witness to the one and only, incomparable Christ in whom alone is our Salvation.  You must read this book.  All of us must, and then we must believe in this book, rise and advance on our culture with the truth we have lately backed away from in our faulty attempt to play fair at the cost of our God-given mission.

Calvin Miller, Author, The Singer and many other books

I look for books that call us to love Jesus and make His name more widely known. In Jesus Manifesto, Sweet and Viola ask us to step away out of the “Youniverse” (their word) of narcissistic religion and away from the pop-culture Jesus who is just a nice man. Throughout the book, they exalt Jesus as the divine Savior and ask the church to do the same. I believe this book will spark a renewed love for Christ by pointing us to the deep mystery of His person. You will be motivated to love and serve more deeply as your life is focused on Jesus the Messiah.

Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 15 – Rowan Williams & Ed Young

For Len and me, JESUS MANIFESTO is not just “another book.” It’s a “tract for the times” . . . a clarion call to “Unite the Tribe” (all Christian tribes) under our one Head, Jesus the Christ.

Feel free to pass these notes on to your friends if you like. We are all looking forward to seeing you on Amazon.com on June 1st to “United the Tribe.” The book will be on discount that day, and you will help spread the message by obtaining it on June 1st.

Each day, I’ll be posting an endorsement or two for the book by Christian leaders who represent some of the “tribes.” These endorsers stand with our vision about the supremacy of Christ for our day.

Check back to my Facebook page or blog each day to see each countdown note.

Here’s Len Sweet’s comment about the book followed by two endorsements:

“Walter Benjamin (20^th century German-Jewish cultural critic and media theorist) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but quotes. Ludwig Wittgenstein (20^th century Austrian-British philosopher) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but jokes. I have dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but Jesus. Jesus Manifesto is my dream come true. In too many churches, Jesus is found either in blatant absence (at worst) or latent presence (at best). In my dream church, Jesus is found in manifest glory and grace. I share a dream with Frank Viola: every church is a Jesus manifest.”

–

“This is a really exhilarating reintroduction to a Jesus who seems sometimes to have become a stranger to the Church; a passionate and joyful celebration of God with us, which cuts right through churchy quarrelling and brings us back to wonder, love and praise – and the urgent desire to make Him known to all.”

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Whether you are a seminary professor or someone seeking answers about Christ for the first time, Jesus Manifesto promises to illuminate the truth about the greatest personality to ever walk the earth. And along the way you will rediscover, or experience for the first time, the power, prestige and primacy of Jesus Christ.”

Ed Young, Pastor, Fellowship Church; Author, Outrageous, Contagious Joy

So many Christians can wax eloquent about leadership principles, miracles, the gifts of the Spirit, eschatology, some theologian’s favorite doctrinal system, and all sorts of other “things.” But when asked about Jesus Christ Himself … well, they sound like this guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5k39qO9B80&feature=related

This is one of the observations that provoked “Jesus Manifesto.”

If Len Sweet and I have done our jobs successfully in communicating with this book, readers who finish it will no longer be chasing “things.” They will be too enthralled with, entraced by, and entraptured with Jesus Christ Himself. Everything else will fade into the background at the sight of His peerless worth. And everything else will flow out of a real and intelligent love for Him.

—

One more sign of a Christianity that is beginning to look like Jesus again. Our great challenge over the past few decades has not been one of right believing but of right living. Viola and Sweet create a harmony here that invites you to give the world a Christianity worth believing in. After all, they will know we are Christians, not by our bumper stickers and t-shirts, but by our love.

Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and recovering sinner, thesimpleway.org

Amidst the many voices calling the church to the work of justice, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola call us first to Jesus from which all justice flows. Together they help us see how the vision of Christ’s supremacy makes possible any and all faithful engagement with the world. There are times when a profound and significant truth needs to be said simply. The Jesus Manifesto does just that with an intensity appropriate to the message! I applaud it and I recommend it.

David Fitch, Author, pastor, professor, Northern Seminary, Reclaimingthemission.com

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “United the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 13 – Reggie McNeal & Jack Hayford

“The body of Christ is at a crossroads right now. The two common alternatives are to move either to the left or the right. It’s our observation, however, that we are living in a unique time, when people are frozen as they look in either of those directions. When they look to the left, they decide that they cannot venture there. When they look to the right, they feel the same. Whether they realize it or not, people are looking for a fresh alternative—a third way. The crossroads today, we believe, is one of moving forward or backward. What we will present in this book, therefore, is razor-sharp, cut-glass clarity of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Alpha and the Omega. We will show that He is that third way—and the only way—that we can forge a secure path into the future. If the church does not reorient and become Christological at its core, any steps taken will be backwards.” (p. xiii)

Brilliant, refreshing, soaring – and that’s just the first chapter! This book is destined to be a classic devotional volume that will inspire generations of Jesus-followers. The line from the song goes, “you can have all this world, but give me Jesus.” This book does just that.

Reggie McNeal, Missional Leadership Specialist, Leadership Network; Author, The Present Future and Missional Renaissance

Today’s Church desperately needs that trumpet-like “certain sound” heard when Jesus’ own voice is heard—just as He spoke in The Revelation. Our hour is similar to that; one of doctrinal drift, double-entendre and deepening deception, both in the Church as in the world. Jesus Manifesto calls us to Jesus’ Person and position as Lord of the Church, to hear Him call us to truth’s clarity, power’s purity and obedience’s reward, to restore that “saltness” that will keep His Church alive and penetrating in its impact.

Jack W. Hayford, Founding Pastor, The Church On The Way, Chancellor, The King’s Seminary

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “United the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 14 – Calvin Miller & Ed Stetzer

To speak of the greatness of Christ is indeed humbling. One quickly senses their own inadequacy in the presence of His incomparable glory. To capture and communicate His unsearchable riches is like trying to empty the Atlantic ocean with a tea cup.

We can only write what we see, then fail and fall to the ground. As T. Austin-Sparks so wonderfully wrote, Christ is so “other” than we are. In Prince Caspian, Aslan tells Lucy, “Every year you grow, you will find Me bigger.” That was one of our aims in writing this book – to present to us all a greater Christ than we have been given. Thus our words . . .

“It is with a burning heart for Jesus Christ and a guarded jealousy for His preeminence that we have written this book. We have written it for Him and to Him. We trust that it has been by Him and through Him.” (p. 173)

–

Jesus Manifesto is the most powerful work on Christ I have read in recent years. The Christ of the Empty Tomb is back among us. Sweet and Viola have beckoned us to return back to Olivet and renew our souls. I was hushed by its welcome authority.  I found a lump in my throat as I read through page after page of Biblical witness to the one and only, incomparable Christ in whom alone is our Salvation.  You must read this book.  All of us must, and then we must believe in this book, rise and advance on our culture with the truth we have lately backed away from in our faulty attempt to play fair at the cost of our God-given mission.

Calvin Miller, Author, The Singer and many other books

I look for books that call us to love Jesus and make His name more widely known. In Jesus Manifesto, Sweet and Viola ask us to step away out of the “Youniverse” (their word) of narcissistic religion and away from the pop-culture Jesus who is just a nice man. Throughout the book, they exalt Jesus as the divine Savior and ask the church to do the same. I believe this book will spark a renewed love for Christ by pointing us to the deep mystery of His person. You will be motivated to love and serve more deeply as your life is focused on Jesus the Messiah.

Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 15 – Rowan Williams & Ed Young

For Len and me, JESUS MANIFESTO is not just “another book.” It’s a “tract for the times” . . . a clarion call to “Unite the Tribe” (all Christian tribes) under our one Head, Jesus the Christ.

Feel free to pass these notes on to your friends if you like. We are all looking forward to seeing you on Amazon.com on June 1st to “United the Tribe.” The book will be on discount that day, and you will help spread the message by obtaining it on June 1st.

Each day, I’ll be posting an endorsement or two for the book by Christian leaders who represent some of the “tribes.” These endorsers stand with our vision about the supremacy of Christ for our day.

Check back to my Facebook page or blog each day to see each countdown note.

Here’s Len Sweet’s comment about the book followed by two endorsements:

“Walter Benjamin (20^th century German-Jewish cultural critic and media theorist) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but quotes. Ludwig Wittgenstein (20^th century Austrian-British philosopher) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but jokes. I have dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but Jesus. Jesus Manifesto is my dream come true. In too many churches, Jesus is found either in blatant absence (at worst) or latent presence (at best). In my dream church, Jesus is found in manifest glory and grace. I share a dream with Frank Viola: every church is a Jesus manifest.”

–

“This is a really exhilarating reintroduction to a Jesus who seems sometimes to have become a stranger to the Church; a passionate and joyful celebration of God with us, which cuts right through churchy quarrelling and brings us back to wonder, love and praise – and the urgent desire to make Him known to all.”

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Whether you are a seminary professor or someone seeking answers about Christ for the first time, Jesus Manifesto promises to illuminate the truth about the greatest personality to ever walk the earth. And along the way you will rediscover, or experience for the first time, the power, prestige and primacy of Jesus Christ.”

Ed Young, Pastor, Fellowship Church; Author, Outrageous, Contagious Joy

Brilliant, refreshing, soaring – and that’s just the first chapter! This book is destined to be a classic devotional volume that will inspire generations of Jesus-followers. The line from the song goes, “you can have all this world, but give me Jesus.” This book does just that.

Reggie McNeal, Missional Leadership Specialist, Leadership Network; Author, The Present Future and Missional Renaissance

Today’s Church desperately needs that trumpet-like “certain sound” heard when Jesus’ own voice is heard—just as He spoke in The Revelation. Our hour is similar to that; one of doctrinal drift, double-entendre and deepening deception, both in the Church as in the world. Jesus Manifesto calls us to Jesus’ Person and position as Lord of the Church, to hear Him call us to truth’s clarity, power’s purity and obedience’s reward, to restore that “saltness” that will keep His Church alive and penetrating in its impact.

Jack W. Hayford, Founding Pastor, The Church On The Way, Chancellor, The King’s Seminary

Join us on June 1^st at Amazon.com to “United the Tribe.” Book will be discounted that day.

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 14 – Calvin Miller & Ed Stetzer

To speak of the greatness of Christ is indeed humbling. One quickly senses their own inadequacy in the presence of His incomparable glory. To capture and communicate His unsearchable riches is like trying to empty the Atlantic ocean with a tea cup.

We can only write what we see, then fail and fall to the ground. As T. Austin-Sparks so wonderfully wrote, Christ is so “other” than we are. In Prince Caspian, Aslan tells Lucy, “Every year you grow, you will find Me bigger.” That was one of our aims in writing this book – to present to us all a greater Christ than we have been given. Thus our words . . .

“It is with a burning heart for Jesus Christ and a guarded jealousy for His preeminence that we have written this book. We have written it for Him and to Him. We trust that it has been by Him and through Him.” (p. 173)

–

Jesus Manifesto is the most powerful work on Christ I have read in recent years. The Christ of the Empty Tomb is back among us. Sweet and Viola have beckoned us to return back to Olivet and renew our souls. I was hushed by its welcome authority.  I found a lump in my throat as I read through page after page of Biblical witness to the one and only, incomparable Christ in whom alone is our Salvation.  You must read this book.  All of us must, and then we must believe in this book, rise and advance on our culture with the truth we have lately backed away from in our faulty attempt to play fair at the cost of our God-given mission.

Calvin Miller, Author, The Singer and many other books

I look for books that call us to love Jesus and make His name more widely known. In Jesus Manifesto, Sweet and Viola ask us to step away out of the “Youniverse” (their word) of narcissistic religion and away from the pop-culture Jesus who is just a nice man. Throughout the book, they exalt Jesus as the divine Savior and ask the church to do the same. I believe this book will spark a renewed love for Christ by pointing us to the deep mystery of His person. You will be motivated to love and serve more deeply as your life is focused on Jesus the Messiah.

Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research

JESUS MANIFESTO Countdown: Day 15 – Rowan Williams & Ed Young

For Len and me, JESUS MANIFESTO is not just “another book.” It’s a “tract for the times” . . . a clarion call to “Unite the Tribe” (all Christian tribes) under our one Head, Jesus the Christ.

Feel free to pass these notes on to your friends if you like. We are all looking forward to seeing you on Amazon.com on June 1st to “United the Tribe.” The book will be on discount that day, and you will help spread the message by obtaining it on June 1st.

Each day, I’ll be posting an endorsement or two for the book by Christian leaders who represent some of the “tribes.” These endorsers stand with our vision about the supremacy of Christ for our day.

Check back to my Facebook page or blog each day to see each countdown note.

Here’s Len Sweet’s comment about the book followed by two endorsements:

“Walter Benjamin (20^th century German-Jewish cultural critic and media theorist) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but quotes. Ludwig Wittgenstein (20^th century Austrian-British philosopher) dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but jokes. I have dreamed of a book that would consist of nothing but Jesus. Jesus Manifesto is my dream come true. In too many churches, Jesus is found either in blatant absence (at worst) or latent presence (at best). In my dream church, Jesus is found in manifest glory and grace. I share a dream with Frank Viola: every church is a Jesus manifest.”

–

“This is a really exhilarating reintroduction to a Jesus who seems sometimes to have become a stranger to the Church; a passionate and joyful celebration of God with us, which cuts right through churchy quarrelling and brings us back to wonder, love and praise – and the urgent desire to make Him known to all.”

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

“Whether you are a seminary professor or someone seeking answers about Christ for the first time, Jesus Manifesto promises to illuminate the truth about the greatest personality to ever walk the earth. And along the way you will rediscover, or experience for the first time, the power, prestige and primacy of Jesus Christ.”

Ed Young, Pastor, Fellowship Church; Author, Outrageous, Contagious Joy

Here are some highlights from the main sessions:

Mark Batterson

“God sometimes gets in the way to show us the way.”  teaching from Numbers 22, 23:18-20

Louie Giglio

We have what the apostles (early church) had:

1. Teachings of Jesus – where the life is
2. Eyewitnesses of the resurrection – we experience life through the resurrection
3. Power of the Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit is a He not it)

Don’t get your vocabulary from the latest book that came out but from the teachings of Jesus. Don’t be arrogant and unwilling to learn from others.

RESURRECTION – not enough focus, this is where our power and hope comes from!

“Christ died for the sins of the world, but our story is there’s a resurrection that happened. That’s our hope to a dying world.”

“Transformation is only fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“God free me from walking by sight and not by faith.”

Once the word of God goes out, it never returns empty.

Ken Blanchard

Jesus is the greatest leadership role model of all time

Leadership – are you leading to serve or to be served? Are you a good steward? Don’t own anything, especially your position.

Jesus didn’t use normal distribution curve. For us it is Jesus first, others second, you third – He turned the pyramid upside down

Lead by this mentality, “You can do it, we can help.”

What does it mean to have abundant life? Joy, peace? Stay attached to the vine

1. Solitude
2. Prayer
3. Study of scripture
4. Small support group – more vulnerable with group
5. Unconditional love of the Lord

Matt Chandler

Risk that what’s divine becomes routine – working for him replaces knowing him.

Preach the gospel to yourself as a constant reminder or else you will begin to believe you are better than those you serve with problems. All our righteousness is a stench to him minus the cross.

Holy Spirit will remind you – communion = each time you do this, remember

Peters’ first sermon is not seeker friendly

Acts 15 – church meets to decide if God can do what He did (classic!)

Gospel is preached to cities first and then spreads to outskirts

The call is to Christ – then to mission

Job is not better than Christ

Transformed by pressing into him

Reggie McNeal

The church is not designed to be a destination

Is the city better off because we’re around?

Kids that don’t get beyond 4^th grade level of education – every life indicator goes south

Definition of missional church: the people of God partnering with him in his redemptive mission in the world

Ed Stetzer

Changed people become agents of change8

Alan Hirsch

To what degree do  people in church have friendships with those outside of church? To what degree are leaders living it out?

We have domesticated the church and God/Jesus to be too static and safe

The closer we get to Jesus the more dangerous he is to middle class sensibility.

Love and faith is risk. Risk failure. Step outside of realm of your own knowledge. On mission = at risk

Efrem Smith

God desires to advance his kingdom through our transformed lives and transforming churches

Called to have kingdom urgency

Justice and evangelism should not be separated

Jon and Dave Ferguson

God’s reaction to lost and hurting – he tells his disciples to “GO”

1. Celebrate
2. Connect
3. Contribute – use of time and talents

Empower others to use gifts and passion. 1 Peter 9. Ordain every Christ follower. You are a priest – if feel called, come forward, anoint and send. This is a creative way to give people permission.

Lead with a  yes – the answer to how is yes. Don’t be too quick to say no  (use not yet, maybe, we’ll see)

Plant the gospel before planting the church/group. Missiology before ecclesiology

Incarnational (send in) and apostolic (reproducing)

If failed, why? Unpack it. Create a culture where failure is ok – still celebrate the leadership. Honor faithfulness over success

Apostolic – engaged people of God for mission of Jesus. Apostolic gift – see Hirsch definitiont

Apprentice leaders – process of discipleship

1. I do.  You watch.  We talk.
2. I do.  You help.  We talk
3. You do.  I help.  We talk.
4. You do.  I watch.  We talk.
5. You do.  Someone else watches.

Ask questions: what worked? What didn’t? How can we improve?

Generational gap? Change your language

What does it take to transform a community?

Shane Claiborne

For transformation:

1. Need more than a doctrinal statement – are we making disciples?
2. Need more than ideology – ideology doesn’t require much of us, but relationships do
3. Need more than vision – “The person who is in love with their vision of community will destroy community. But the person who loves the people around them will create community everywhere they go.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

It takes revolutionary patience to wait and learn from a community.

Dave Gibbons

If Satan had a scheme or strategy to paralyze the Church what would it be? Obsession with buildings, numbers, forms

Don’t chase the movement of the masses, seek the movement of the Holy Spirit. Understanding the movement of the Holy Spirit. Listen to God – walk the city, pray for things that break the heart of God to break your heart

You are my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

“For starters, Missional Renaissance is too full of familiar anti-church-as-we-know-it cliches that resemble slogans more than substantial arguments. The blame Constantine motif needs more nuance and research or it needs to be dropped.”

Huh? The Constantinian turn has probably been one of the most well-researched events in the history of Christendom. Anyone who reads or knows anything about church history probably knows the various opinions on this matter – including those that are very critical of Constantine (they are particularly likely to be found in the Anabaptist tradition). Since this is a popular-level book, author Reggie McNeal likely did not have the space to fully develop a critique that would push beyond the scope of his actual subject matter. What DeYoung probably really means is “I wish that, in the course of his research, McNeal read and agreed with pro-Constantian turn arguments.”

As for the knock that McNeal is sloganeering and not actually presenting actual arguments, DeYoung provides absolutely no evidence for this. He seems rather content to keep his readers unaware of what exactly he dislikes about McNeal’s book. Actually I now realize that I have quote more of DeYoung’s in the post that you reading now than DeYoung quoted of McNeal’s book.

DeYoung goes on to say that the church was “more than a ‘way of life’ for the first 300 years of its existence.” Why calling Christianity a “way of life” is a horrible thing is never explained. Most of what one reads in the New Testament seems to imply that Christianity will – however you explain it – change the way in which one lives. For DeYoung this appears to be a threat to the institutional structure of church which is apparently really, really important to him.

I have yet to read anyone involved in the missional church movement insist that they are anti-institutional to the extent that DeYoung implies that they are – from his description they are all anarchists. Actually they are more radical than anarchists, since anarchists actually do form limited, voluntary institutions, such as bike repair shops. Many of them seem less committed to preserving institutional super-structures, titles, and positions that DeYoung so clearly cherishes, prepared instead to have less formalized structures of Christian community. Unfortunately for DeYoung, it seems as though he cannot stomach any serious critique of the institutional church in North America circa 2010. Instead he feels compelled to defend a structure that is surely at least partially culturally contingent. (How else does one explain all the various forms of church organization that have developed in different times and places?)

• Disclaimer on my notes
• Will Mancini, “Church Unique”
• Mark Batterson, “Don’t Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer”
• Louie Giglio
• Rick Bezet, “The Culture of a Life-Giving Church”
• Tim Stevens, “Pop Goes the Church”
• Ken Blanchard, “Lead Like Jesus”
• Matt Chandler, “Transformation of a Leader”
• Mel McGowan, “Redefining Church Environments”
• Reggie McNeal on Missional Church
• Alan Hirsch and Ed Stetzer interview
• Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter, “Church for the City”
• Efrem Smith, “Transformation of a Church”
• Rick Howerton, “Multi-generational Small Groups”
• Francis Chan, “Transformation Challenge”

Here are my notes from Reggie’s plenary session. It was hard to take notes on this session simply because Reggie was uniquely all over the place and inspiring.

“The church-centric world that I grew up in has changed.”

Missional Church is…

The people of God: how do we be ‘the church’ not ‘a church’; church is a verb, not a noun/destination – everywhere I am, I ‘church’ – I am the incarnational presence of Jesus wherever I already am. When the airport thinks it’s the destination, it’s missing the point. I go to airports as a means to fulfill my life mission – to do life.

Partnering with Him

In His redemptive mission – we have a job to be a blessing to many people; how are we doing at blessing the world?

In the world.

[This is part of a series of note-posts from the Exponential 2010 conference.]

Here I raise mine ebenezer ...

My head is going to explode. Stand clear. Stuff is going on.

I’ve been to a ton of conferences in my 25 years of ministry. Usually big-whig speakers come in and nail the audience with one of their best talks. Tony Campolo talks about throwing a birthday party for prostitutes, Andy Stanley encourages pastors to “cheat the church” by putting family first and authors tell the story of their latest book. It’s all good but part of it is a little discouraging at the same time. I want to rejoice with those who rejoice but my very active sinful nature sneaks in with some jealousy.

This Exponential conference has had some of the same elements. Mark Batterson has a sweet Washington DC story of an exploding church plant and it’s amazing. But then, his church got a three million dollar gift. Um, sweet. Honestly, I’m thinking that success with that kind of bankroll is about as predictable as another good New York Yankees squad with a monster payroll. Yeah, I know, I shouldn’t think that way.

And then there’s Louie Giglio talking about his church plant. He shares his heart and admits he is a rookie at it. I hear that. But then, he admits how tough it is to swallow for the 3000 planters in the room when he tells a story about his worship leader, Chris Tomlin doing his thing. Wow … I wonder how many of the people here would just like to find a good guitar player who can carry a tune. I wonder if David Crowder is available.

The Mosaic Church worship team is amazing and huge and multi-ethnic. Wow, so very good.

Conferences are weird. They motivate and encourage but, at the same time, holding up all the huge success stories can make the planter who has 16 people meeting in a garage feel a bit overwhelmed. But, if organizers put a list of unknowns together to speak, no one would come. I wouldn’t. Big success represents hope.

This conference has been unique though. One after another, each speaker has basically shrugged his shoulders and said, “I have no idea why. It’s a God thing.” Humility and genuine reliance on God have hit me hard. Batterson is humble, Chandler is real, Giglio radiates his love for God and Francis Chan is, well, Francis Chan. They have struck me as servants. It’s tough to explain …

I came looking for formulas and resources and am leaving knowing that I’ve got to focus on loving Jesus more. No formula. No guarantees. Just prayer and reliance on God.

I didn’t buy a bunch of books. I know that bums publishers out. But, the truth is, I have the book I need. All the others can get to be a distraction.

I leave knowing that each of them is just like me – frail, imperfect and just doing their best to get closer to Jesus.

The Lord has inspired me through Mark, Louie, Francis, Chandler, Reggie McNeal, Ed Stetzer and so many others. I came looking to hear from my podcast and blogger heroes. Instead I heard from God.

It’s been a breakthrough week for me in many ways. It’s been an “ebenezer” week. If you want to hear more, you’ll have to buy me breakfast.

I’m hungry.

1 Sam. 7:12 Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it “Ebenezer” (Rock of Help), saying, “This marks the place where God helped us.” (MSG)

Reggie McNeal on the MISSIONAL CHURCH:

Ed Stetzer on the MISSIONAL CHURCH:

Rockbridge Seminary students who have completed the online course “The Theology and Practice of Evangelism” may benefit from following Ed Stetzer’s blog and viewing additional presentations by Reggie McNeal.

• I’m not as PROVOCATIVE as Rob Bell
• I’m not as HUMBLE as Francis Chan
• I’m not as INSPIRING as Matt Chandler
• I’m not as CULTURALLY SAVVY as Andy Crouch
• I’m not as YOUNG & HIP as Steven Furtick
• I’m not as SMART as Malcolm Gladwell
• I’m not as CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOST as Billy Graham
• I’m not as MARKETABLE as Seth Godin
• I’m not as INNOVATIVE as Craig Groeschel
• I’m not as TECHNOLOGICALLY AWARE as Shane Hipps
• I’m not as CHARISMATIC as Brian Houston
• I’m not as ENTREPRENEURIAL as TD Jakes
• I’m not as INFLUENTIAL as John Maxwell
• I’m not as CREATIVE as Erwin McManus
• I’m not as MISSIONAL as Reggie McNeal
• I’m not as COMPASSIONATE as Mother Theresa
• I’m not as BOLD & UNFILTERED as Perry Noble
• I’m not as HAPPY as Joel Osteen
• I’m not as FINANCIALLY ASTUTE as Dave Ramsey
• I’m not as SERVICE-MINDED as Dino Rizzo
• I’m not as EFFECTIVE AT COMMUNICATING as Andy Stanley
• I’m not as PURPOSE-DRIVEN as Rick Warren
• I’m not as SUCCESSFUL AT BLOGGING as Carlos Whittaker
• I’m not as BRILLIANT as Ravi Zacharias

Fortunately…

• I’m not TRYING TO BE someone I’m not.

“I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
Psalm 139:14-16

I am not saying the gathered church is irrelevant or should not happen. But we have made the gathering the point. The gathering was not supposed to be the point. The gathering was supposed to celebrate how God was showing up in our lives away from church.

Instead, we have shrink-wrapped our notion of what God is doing in the world by assessing the health of the gathering. Did the worship go well? How many showed up? Did the choir get their stuff done? Did the band do well? Was the PowerPoint good? Was the sermon good? We act as if these things have an impact on the health of the Kingdom and God’s activity in the world.

We have done this for so long it feels normal.

i have two questions (and then we’ll let the conversation go wherever it wants to go)…

1.  what is mcneal trying to communicate?

2.  if “the gathering” is not the point, what is?

on your mark, get set, go!

The book club that I am proposing will focus on the subjects of organic church, church planting and church planting movements, and missional ministry. These are subjects of great interest to me and that I have passion for. I believe that there are others in the community who share my interest in and passion for them as well.

Among the titles that I would include in our reading list are:

• Organic Church – Growing Faith Where Life Happens by Neil Cole
• Total Church – A Radical Reshaping Around Gospel And Community by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis
• The Present Future – Six Tough Questions for the Church and Missional Renaissance – Changing the Scorecard for the Church by Reggie McNeal
• Houses That Change The World – The Return Of The House Churches by Wolfgang Simson

It is my prayer that as books that address the above subjects are read and discussed, and as the group prays together, the Lord will use our time with one another to increase our vision for the Kingdom of God and encourage us in our prayers for and participation in missional ministry and church planting.

Our tour lasted 6 days with three key conferences.  (The other 3 days were for traveling.)

Milt Rodriguez and I delivered 12 messages in those 6 days. We gave 3 interviews and had many informal gatherings with various saints and groups there. Our time concentrated on Pretoria and Cape Town.

I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the ReThink Conference in Pretoria.  A number of leaders from South Africa also spoke there along with Rob Bell, Leonard Sweet, Reggie McNeal through video.

All in all, Milt and I spoke to over 500 people during our 6 day tour. And most of them were already familiar with my books, which laid a nice groundwork for what we were going to share.

We met many wonderful people and forged new relationships with individuals and groups.

The Lord Jesus Christ was magnified, given, and received.

There’s much to tell, but I have no time now as I’m catching up from being away.

Suffice it to say that I fell in love with South Africa and the people we met there. We had a beautiful time together and the trip was one of the most spiritually fruitful trips I’ve been on for a first visit.

Some highlights:

• Cape Town is drop-dead gorgeous.
• I love the pink/purple colors of Pretoria. The Jakarandas make the place beautiful.
• The culture is fascinating. The body of Christ there has a unique opportunity post-apartheid to demonstrate Ephesians 2 and 3 in living color.
• We brought my Italian “family” culture to them and they picked it right up. “Forgetabooouuu …”
• The South Africans have a great sense of humor. We laughed hard and much. This was freeing to some of them who were inclined to separate spirituality and laughter.
• Organic church life is taking root there. The people are hungry for Christ and His body in experience.

Regrets

• Wish we could have stayed longer. Not much time for sight-seeing and we fell in love with the saints there. ‘Twas sad to leave.
• Found out my homeboy Vanilla Ice was there when we were. Sad we didn’t get to connect (smile).
• It’s a 16 hour non-stop flight from Atlanta to JoBerg. The flight is not for sissys (smile).
• The South African’s drive on the wrong side of the road, speak in tongues constantly (without interpretation), and clear their throats (make a coughing sound) a lot while they talk (big grin).
• They have a hamburger place called WIMPYS. We discussed what must be on the menu. “The Double-Meat Wuss” … “The Pencil-Necked Geek” … “The Limp-Wristed Lightweight” … “The Pansy” … “The Weakling.”  But we never stepped in to check the menu.

God willing, we plan to return in November 2010 to work with the new organic church plants that came out of our time in the country. Before that, some of them plan to visit one of the organic churches we are planting here in the States. So we are quite excited about that.

The CD containing the messages delivered in S.A. will be available before the year is out.

My next trip – Las Vegas for a 4-day Organic Missional Church Connecting/Equipping Event.  After that, I’m taking two months off to write and work with a new organic church plant here in Florida.

Incidentally, it seems that whenever I return from a trip, I’ll get several emails from people saying: “I had no idea you were in my city? How come I didn’t know about this?”

Answer: to be notified about future events and conferences, you need to fill out this form: http://ptmin.org/events.htm

Not all events are public, so you will want to fill out the form so you can receive an email notification if I’m in your city, state, or country.

~ Frankie V.

1. Growth Is Always Intentional – it is never accidental.  You are not going to grow automatically or even by accident. You will always plateau.  But real measurable growth will always be preceded by an intention and commitment to grow on your part.  I use the word commitment specifically because it conveys a core truth about intentional growth: that it takes commitment.  Meaning, growth in your life both as an intellectual, spiritual and emotional being, and especially your growth as a leader won’t always be inherently fun or even convenient, and many times you just won’t feel like it, and that’s where the commitment part comes in.

2. Growth Is Entirely In Your Hands – it is never someone else’s responsibility.  It is easy for us to read a sentence like that and roll our eyes and think “yeah, I know that, I’ve heard it a thousand times” yet our own lives bear testimony that our true view of growth is largely a passive one.  That we in fact view growth as something that happens to us, and not something we happen to.  That even though we may say we understand and believe that our growth is entirely in our own hands, it is clear from our lives that we think of growth as being a by-product of going to a conference, or the preaching ability of our pastor and how “good of a teacher” they are. Or we think of growth as something that is responsibility of the leaders of our organizations, “if they want us to grow, they better send us to seminars or give us training.” Or worst of all we only go in search of answers when we run into problems that we cannot seem to explain or fix. Either way, a passive grower is someone who expects external forces to be the cause of their growth.  But the difference between a passive grower and an active grower is that as a leader you will switch from being at the mercy of the wind (passive) to engine-power where you are in complete control of the pace, quality and schedule of your growth.

So the question becomes am I intentional about my growth? And secondly, am I an active grower or a passive one ? The sad truth for many leaders who are at the top of their organizations, is that there is not going to be anyone looking over your shoulder to see if you are indeed being intentional and active in your personal growth – but the one area of your life that will let everyone know whether you are an accidental and passive learner are your results as a leader.  Results don’t lie, just a like the report card of a student is an unambiguous and unmistakable reflection of how much time that student spent learning outside of school, whether doing their homework, reading and studying for tests -so in the same way the results of your leadership will tell you what kind of grower you are.  In fact, I would even go so far as to say that the areas in your life or your leadership where you’ve enjoyed or seen the most success (results) recently, are the areas that you have grown the most in over the last few years or months, whether that is in your marriage, in your spiritual walk, or in one area of your business or organization or department.

But best all . . .  you can change all that today.  And your results will be there to tell the world of your personal growth transformation.

//

Yup, that’s Dawn & me with our “good friend” Perry Noble, Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church, who killed it this morning talking about FOUR CONVICTIONS OF VISION!

We are in Atlanta this week on a LEADERSHIP BINGE known as Catalyst. If you’d like a backstage peek at what we’re up to, you can check out Catalyst Backstage.

We thought we’d offer you some of our favorite nuggets from the today…

FROM PERRY NOBLE:

1. “If God gives you a vision, He will continually take you to places that are uncomfortable.”
2. “‘I’m waiting on God’ is one of the stupidest statements a leader can make…Are you using prayer as an excuse to delay obedience?”
3. “If people aren’t leaving — you’re not leading. The church is the ‘body’ & if you close the ‘back door’ — it ends up constipated!”
4. “God gave Satan three opportunities to create, and he made: (1) snakes, (2) spiders, and (3) cats.”
5. Honorable mention to “snow snakes” — trust me, you shoulda been here for that one! 

FROM REGGIE JOINER:

1. “The only thing that will matter 100 years from now is where you are with God.”
2. “Discipleship is service (experience) — not a Sunday School class (instruction).”
3. “Too many times we define success in terms that are impractical and impossible.”
4. “Cooperate with the story of restoration & redemption God is telling through your life.”
5. “The awkward, stuttered prayer of a parent with his/her child will have more impact on that kid than hundreds of prayers from the seasoned, professional pastor each Sunday morning.” [paraphrased]

FROM MARK BATTERSON:

1. “Are you building up altars to God or monuments to yourself?”
2. “An altar is about marking an experience so you have something to go back to.”
3. “You are not appointed by people, you are anointed by God.”
4. “Most of what the Lord does in us, He does in spite of us.”

FROM ANDY CROUCH:

1. “Creative power is the ability to successfully propose a new cultural good; every human being is meant to have it.”
2. “Creative power unlocks the potential in others.”
3. ”Almost everyone that succeeded at creating culture, failed first.”
4. “Past success can propel you to ‘escape velocity from creativity’ & you’ll cease to be creative.”
5. “Privilege is continuing to receive benefits from past successful exercises of power.”
6. “Jesus did not give up power when He came to earth, but He did give up privilege.”

FROM REGGIE MCNEAL:

1. “Missional = people of God partnering with Him in His redemptive mission in the world.”
2. “Church is not a what; it’s a who.”
3. “Learn to ask the question ‘How can I help God to bless you?’”
4. “The Holy Spirit has jumped out of the church and is running wild in the streets.”
5. “Instead of doing church well, learn to be church better.”
6. “The church doesn’t have a mission, the mission has a church.”

FROM JAMIE TWORKOWSKI:

1. “We are called to be a community to help the hurting.”
2. “There is always a purpose for the pain.”
3. “Two-thirds of depression sufferers do NOT seek any type of help.”
4. “Find help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.”
5. TWLOHA

FROM SCOTT BELSKY:

1. “Having a surplus of ideas is just as dangerous as a drought.”
2. “If you left a meeting with nothing new to do, it probably shouldn’t have been a meeting.”
3. “Learn to distinguish the URGENT from the IMPORTANT.”
4. “Society shuns people before it celebrates them.”
5. “Nothing extraordinary is ever achieved through ordinary means.”
6. “You cannot do it alone, no matter who you are.”

FROM SHANE HIPPS:

1. “Technology shapes the way we form communities.”
2. “Intimacy is what follows the words: ‘I’ve never told this to anyone before…’”
3. “Never share publicly the things you should share privately first.”
4. “It’s possible to have online connection but impossible to have online community.”
5. “Technology is like food, you gotta watch your diet.”
6. ATTENTION PARENTS: 1337 = LEET = Elite = the secret language of texting your kids are using to hide stuff from you. LEARN IT!!

So there you have it, my friends. Tweet away! Tune in tomorrow for another day of leadership nuggets. (Just think of all the money you saved on conference & travel expenses!)

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The first force is the missional church moment. If you are unfamiliar with the missional movement, you won’t be for long. It is sweeping across Christianity and blowing down traditional church paradigms with reckless abandon.

I believe the missional movement is a God thing.

Reggie McNeal has captured the essence of the missional movement in a way that gives definition & form to an otherwise ethereal phenomenon. Reggie says “going missional” requires three seismic shifts in the way Christians think and behave:

1. From internal to external in terms of ministry focus.
2. From program development to people development in terms of core activity.
3. From church-based to kingdom-based in terms of leadership agenda.

If you are in Christian leadership, or just care about the future of the body of Christ, I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy of McNeal’s book, Missional Renaissance. 

The second force is a balanced approach to spiritual dynamics within and through the people of God. It’s only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that the Church can impact the world and fulfill the Great Commission.

If I can add anything to the missional church discussion, perhaps it’s in the arena of spiritual dynamics. Let me, therefore, propose three complimentary shifts in the church’s understanding of the Holy Spirit & His interaction among God’s people:

1. From internal to external: the Holy Spirit empowers God’s people for effective ministry to the world (not just the church) — in fact, the primary sphere the gifts of the Spirit operate is OUTSIDE the local church.

2. From programs to people: it is impossible to bring about a spiritual transformation in the lives of people without the involvement of the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not a self-improvement strategy — it is a supernatural process through which the Holy Spirit replicates the character of Jesus Christ in the lives of believers.

3. From church to kingdom: If “A.D. 30 leadership” was anything — it was supernatural. Everything about the expansion of the kingdom during the early years of Christianity was Spirit-anointed, Spirit-led, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-empowered.

Either of these two forces is powerful on its own, but I believe the combination of the two will result in the perfect storm.

I pray the Pentecostal/charismatic community will continue its movement toward a balanced understanding of spiritual dynamics while learning everything it can from those leading the missional charge. Likewise, I pray the missional community will not lose sight of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in its quest to change the world with incarnational Christianity.

Let me end with a quote from Missional Renaissance:

“We are privileged to be alive at a critical juncture in the history of the Christian movement in North America. The choices you and others make will influence the expression of the church for generations to come. Many will choose to hunker down and wait for the storm to blow over. It won’t.”

As for me, I hear “a sound like the blowing of a violent wind…”

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Just go here to watch over 70 presenters speaking sharing for 9 minutes each (sorry, didn’t have enough room for all 70 below).

Here’s the approximate schedule for the day. All times are Central. (Don’t worry, all of the talks will be available for free download after the conference, so you don’t have to miss any!)

9AM   — Troy Gramling, Mark Beeson, Anne Jackson, Dave Ferguson, Scott Hodge

10AM — Perry Noble, Stacy Spencer

11AM — Dino Rizzo, Nancy Beach, Steven Furtick, Reggie McNeal

12PM — Craig Groeschel, Leonard Sweet, Greg Surratt, Jon Tyson

1PM   — Margaret Feinberg, Larry Osborne, Matt Carter, Pete Wilson

2PM   — Neil Cole, Reggie Joiner, JD Greear

3PM   — Mark Batterson, Dan Kimball, Mark DeYmaz

4PM   — Jud Wilhite, Brian McLaren, Bob Roberts, Rick McKinley, John Ortberg

5PM   — Alan Hirsch, John Bishop, Toby Slough, Ed Stetzer

6PM   — Mark Driscoll, Darrin Patrick, Brad Powell

7PM   — Darrin Whitehead, Brian Bloye

8PM   — Eric Bryant, Nancy Ortberg, Rick Warren

-jordan

It starts at 9am on September 9th. Speakers include: Ed Stetzer, Reggie McNeal, John Ortberg, Mark Driscoll, Brian McLaren, Alan Hirsch, JD Greear, Dan Kimball, Neil Cole, and lots more.

If you’re around on the 9th and have a bunch of 9 minute blocks available, I would HIGHLY encourage you to sign up and listen in. Can’t beat free.