Buzz Conference – Thursday 28 June 2007 - Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel, of LifeChurch.tv, also had some great things to share during his session.

• • It's a distraction to look longingly at the resources other churches have that you don't have.
    
  • "You have everything that you need to reach the people God wants you to reach."
    
  • Limited Resources + Increasing Passion = Exponential Innovation
    
  • If someone demanded $100,000 from you in 2 business days, you'd probably say, "Can 't be done."
    
  • If someone demanded $100,000 from you in 2 business days or it would cost you the life of your child, you would make it happen.
    
    • Though your resources are limited, your increased passion would make you exponentially innovative.
      
  • We need to get more passionate about getting the church into the world, not getting more people in church.
    
    
  • Four Characteristics of Innovative Leaders
    
    
    • They heal the sick.
      
      
      • To reach those who no one else is reaching, we have to do things which no one else is doing.
        
        • Example: the 4 guys who lowered the paralytic through the roof so that Jesus would heal him. They were innovative in their approach due to their passion and limited resources!
          
        • Our tendency sometimes is to avoid those being so outrageous!
          
      • Dave Ferguson: If we're going to reach the world, we have to sit in the smoking section.
        
      • When is the last time you've had a non-believer in your home?
        
      • We need to not just go after "the Lost" but after people with specific names.
        
      • Who is God calling you to reach who no one else is reaching?
        
        
    • The break rules
      
      
      • NASCAR drivers go straight and turn left, go straight and turn left, etc.
        
      • Innovative leaders turn right!
        
      • Every great moment of God started when someone turned right.
        
      • We have to care more about reaching people than keeping people's stupid rules.
        
      • Today's contemporary is tomorrow's traditional.
        
      • What is God calling you to do that no one else is doing?
        
        
    • They offend Pharisees
      
      
      • The things that are closest to God are most offensive to Pharisees
        
      • What's accepted today in the church was rejected years ago.
        
      • If you're not being called a cult every now and then, then you aren't doing anything.,
        
      • Don't worry when Pharisees criticize you; worry when they don't criticize you!
        
      • But when criticized, it's important to respond with Grace.
        
      • What new thing will God call you to create that will be hated today and embraced tomorrow?
        
        
    • They redefine success.
      
      
      • John 3:30 – "He must become greater; I must become less."
        
      • We must become less impressed with ourselves and more impressed with Jesus.
        
      • The largest church in the US today is tiny [compared to the need].
        
      • We need to focus more on building the church and less on building attendance.
        
      • Success is not getting voted into the Top 10 of a magazine that only Christians read.
        
      • Success is
        
        • Time with God
          
        • Quality family time
          
        • The amount of money and the people that we give away
          
      • Increasing passion will do anything short of sinning to reach others for Christ.
        

- Metapost to all Buzz Conference posts

- graphic by kind permission of snaptography