AUDACITY is the willingness to take bold risks.
GENEROSITY is the state of readiness to give more of something than is required or expected.
*Audacity without generosity leads to pride.
*Generosity without audacity leads to ineffectiveness.
Nehemiah demonstrated both to us.
AUDACITY
He saw a SERIOUS problem and PERSONALLY stepped up (Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:5), he asked the King for permission AND resource (Nehemiah 2:1-8), he recruited a HUGE and COMMITTED team (Nehemiah 2:17-18, Chapter 3), and he pressed on in the face of MOCKERY and ridicule (Nehemiah 4:1-14).
GENEROSITY
He did not see his position as a means of gain for himself (Nehemiah 5:14-18), and he used what he had to do something about injustice. (Chapter 5)
HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH AUDACITY AND GENEROSITY?
What problems are around you?
What need is there?
What injustice is there?
What is needed to do something about it?
Who is needed to help make it possible?
What may opposition against this look/sound like?
How can you press on in the face of opposition?
What can you gain with your position and how can you avoid using it in selfishness?
If you would like the full teaching, write me at nathan@claritylife.org.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
FOUR Event Reflections from Last Thursday Night
1. People will always respond to the Word... for better or for worse. The evidence demands a verdict (I made that up, haha). If you proclaim it, people will notice it, and hopefully heed it. The Word is so powerful. The Gospel is so good.
2. Those that say they are not down with Jesus, but love being around the Clarity community, actually are down with Jesus, but don't fully understand it yet. It's only a matter of time and prayer. We are seeing this now. EVERYONE that we meet is brought our way on purpose.
3. We are so in need of being in God's presence. Music is a great tool that God has given us to assist in this process... we should not neglect it.
4. A great team is still imperfect, but is intentionally improving in an environment of grace. Each member must be honest about how they feel, or there will never be full "buy in." Healthy conflict is needed.
2. Those that say they are not down with Jesus, but love being around the Clarity community, actually are down with Jesus, but don't fully understand it yet. It's only a matter of time and prayer. We are seeing this now. EVERYONE that we meet is brought our way on purpose.
3. We are so in need of being in God's presence. Music is a great tool that God has given us to assist in this process... we should not neglect it.
4. A great team is still imperfect, but is intentionally improving in an environment of grace. Each member must be honest about how they feel, or there will never be full "buy in." Healthy conflict is needed.
The Romans Road - FIVE Steps
This is a good method of sharing with people why Jesus had to come and die, and why we put our faith in Him alone... (courtesy ofgotquestions.org)
THE ROMANS ROAD
The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.
1. The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives.
2. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!
3. The third verse on the Romans Road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.
4. The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
5. The final aspect of the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
THE ROMANS ROAD
The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.
1. The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives.
2. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin - "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!
3. The third verse on the Romans Road to salvation picks up where Romans 6:23 left off, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:8 declares, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins.
4. The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
5. The final aspect of the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
3 Reasons Private Faith Does Not Exist and You MUST be Scattered
1. A man can no more possess a private religion than he can possess a private sun and moon. --Chesterton
2. Martin Luther called Christians wanting to only be with other Christians a betrayal of Jesus Christ.
3. Zechariah 10:9 says that God will scatter His seed among the nations so that distant lands will remember Him.
We must dwell in the dark places in order to be a light. The hope of this world is the people of God strategically positioned by God throughout this world. Reject the comfort of spending all your time with those who already know God. Embrace the uncomfortable life of dwelling in distant lands for the sake of those who do not know God.
God loves YOU and has called you, Jesus has walked before you, the Holy Spirit will lead and empower you, so take courage and be a light that stays in your community.
2. Martin Luther called Christians wanting to only be with other Christians a betrayal of Jesus Christ.
3. Zechariah 10:9 says that God will scatter His seed among the nations so that distant lands will remember Him.
We must dwell in the dark places in order to be a light. The hope of this world is the people of God strategically positioned by God throughout this world. Reject the comfort of spending all your time with those who already know God. Embrace the uncomfortable life of dwelling in distant lands for the sake of those who do not know God.
God loves YOU and has called you, Jesus has walked before you, the Holy Spirit will lead and empower you, so take courage and be a light that stays in your community.
F.A.C.E. It!
I heard this method of how to face impossible giants the other day. It helps remind me how to think and act in the overwhelming moments when I lose focus.
F - Focus on God, not the problem. (Our default is to forget about the attributes of the ALL powerful and loving God, while zooming in on our impossibilities and fears... don't do that!)
A - Act on Biblical principles, not your feelings. (Our default is to do what feels rights to us and forget about the guaranteed eternal truths of God's Word... don't do that!)
C - Confront it, don't run away from it. (David ran out after Goliath! Our default is to practice the ministry of avoidance and shrink back from the very things that God wants to give us as a victory to draw people in... don't do that!)
E - Empower others by your example. (You are the representative of Jesus. There is a lid on your leadership and influence... you.)
So face whatever it is... offense, impossible situations, hurt, anger, family problems, fear of what God has called you to do, mockers, haters, doubt, depression, worry, addiction, whatever it is... God wants to KILL that thing through you. FACE it.
F - Focus on God, not the problem. (Our default is to forget about the attributes of the ALL powerful and loving God, while zooming in on our impossibilities and fears... don't do that!)
A - Act on Biblical principles, not your feelings. (Our default is to do what feels rights to us and forget about the guaranteed eternal truths of God's Word... don't do that!)
C - Confront it, don't run away from it. (David ran out after Goliath! Our default is to practice the ministry of avoidance and shrink back from the very things that God wants to give us as a victory to draw people in... don't do that!)
E - Empower others by your example. (You are the representative of Jesus. There is a lid on your leadership and influence... you.)
So face whatever it is... offense, impossible situations, hurt, anger, family problems, fear of what God has called you to do, mockers, haters, doubt, depression, worry, addiction, whatever it is... God wants to KILL that thing through you. FACE it.
Why I CAN'T lead from REASON alone
Whether it is some statistic, a community leader's opinion, or historical evidence... it seems that arguements for why a new church can't be launched in the west side of LA are building up around me more and more every day.
As a leader, I can't base my decisions on those facts alone. I do value them and CAN learn from them, but they are not my guide.
So the launch of Clarity will be a work of faith... based not on what stats reveal, but on what God has revealed.
If I led from reason alone, I would quit now. But I don't. Join me.
As a leader, I can't base my decisions on those facts alone. I do value them and CAN learn from them, but they are not my guide.
So the launch of Clarity will be a work of faith... based not on what stats reveal, but on what God has revealed.
If I led from reason alone, I would quit now. But I don't. Join me.
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