Orange Conference-pt. 3

Okay, here are my final notes from the last three general sessions at the Orange Conference last week.

General Session #3 - Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz)

• Don's definition of a good leader is a person who gets to know me in such a way that I want to take part of their vision (or the vision they've been given)
• A good leader gets to know people
• A leader invites people to get involved in the vision (they aren't selfish workaholics of the vision)
• A leader creates ownership of the vision and consistently is involving other people in the process
• Great leaders have lists of people they follow, peers, and people they are leading
• A leader has ambition -an ambition that they are actively trying to pursue (sometimes huge and absurd)
• A leader speaks something into the nothings

General Session #4 - Andy Stanly

• Spiritual Development happens the most in small groups!

General Session #5 - Louie Giglio

• We may not be on the brink to take the lead on culture
• What if we decided to be the church of Jesus?
• Jesus came to build HIS church
• We ought to BE something instead of DO something!
• Be relevant to Jesus, because He is who matters
• Many times we are in a bed of cultural infatuation
• How do we link our lives for Jesus?
• BE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS instead of relevance!

What a great time of learning!! Thank you Jesus for such godly, passionate individuals!!

Orange Conference-pt. 2

General Session #2 - Francis Chan

Another passionate message...here are a few highlights and some of my thoughts:

• With a good TEAM we can grow anything
• Shouldn't there be a major difference from someone without the Holy Spirit from the ones who are a temple of the Holy Spirit?
• You can't make someone fall in love with Jesus
• You can't manipulate the commitment that the Bible and what Jesus calls for.
• What type of God stuff do you want to see in your life? In the lives of others?

"If Jesus had a church in my community, mine would be bigger." - Francis Chan

• Because of the commitment that Jesus calls for, many don't follow.
• Gangs are a better picture of the family of Christ is, than the actual church...(think about that one! Somethings wrong with this picture).
• God's agenda was for PEOPLE to declare His praises together...PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE.
• Unity in the church will change the world!
• If you call yourself a Christian, SET AN EXAMPLE! In all you do be an example! Are you just playing christian or are you really a DISCIPLE?

The biggest thing that stood out to me was this question: Is God calling you to start a movement? We've got to do something to reach this generation, it's going to start with a movement!

Orange Conference-pt. 1

General Session #1- Reggie Joiner

What an awesome message! Here are a few of my thoughts:

• We are living in a Prodigal Generation that needs rescuing
• Luke 15:1-2 ~ Jesus' purpose was to be with sinners!
• Never let a church be about who you are trying to keep...be about who you are trying to reach!
• We live in a generation that wants to feel better about doing bad stuff.
• If the Pharisees were around today, they would be bloggers.
• There are 2 Different Approaches to Rescuing a Prodigal Generation

Loving Father Approach Older Brother Approach
-preoccupied with whoever is missing -preoccupied with themselves
-operate from a context of forgiveness -operate from a context of shame
-throw parties -throw fits
-confront older brother thinking -criticize loving Father's thinking
-keeps the lights on for as long as it takes -close the door and turns off the lights

If we treated every prodigal in the way the loving Father treated His own son, what would happen?

Why live like the loving Father?
1. Jesus made it a priority!
2. Because You are a model!
3. Because You know a prodigal!

Who are you willing to reach no matter what it takes?