God is igniting something in Lexington, Kentucky that most people never get to see or experience in their lifetimes. We are in awe, and I think heaven is paying attention. With so much happening, I’m still sorting through this last weekend as we’re about to jump. For those of you watching for my weekly reflections…keep checking back in everyday. (I’ll post them soon!) But for now, check out this personal highlight of the day…
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I’m beside myself…4000 Questers sang their lungs out to You Wont Relent as we said goodbye to our auditorium this weekend. And I preached for the last time in a room where thousands and thousands of God’s trophies discovered their value to Jesus over the last four years. It was an emotional and expectant day. Ten and a half years of miracles (four of them on this great campus)…and it’s really only just beginning.
I’m so pumped as we ramp into our Grand Opening this weekend! Hundreds and hundreds of volunteers were there all day and into the night getting things ready. (You guys ROCK!) I stopped by to see the transitions into the new room, and I found myself hanging out with dozens of leaders and emerging leaders in the balcony of the new auditorium until late into the night. It’s startin’ to feel like home, Questers!
Six days and counting! Who are you inviting?
I am becoming more and more convinced that most of us (in the U.S. at least) do not have a learning problem when it comes to the things of God. We have an obedience problem…a living problem. If you watched even just last weekend’s talk online and took action on the things you were exposed to in that hour, do you have any idea how dramatically God would be freed up to move in your life?
I dare you…take action. 1. Identify what God is saying to you. (What has He already show you that you need to follow through on?) 2. Be certain what you’re sensing from Him lines up with scripture and is affirmed in community. (Questers are always available before & after services if you need help!) 3. Put teeth into what He’s showing you…take practical steps to agree with Jesus.
Want a great opportunity to listen to what He has for you and move on it? Tonight at Celebration, we’ll be “remixing” what 512 leaders experienced on Leadership Retreat last week…just another step in letting Him dig deeper and take us further up and higher in with Him. Don’t miss it! (6:30 EST)
I listen to leaders all the time who talk about substantial experiences with God that seem to fade away with time. But sometimes I come across leaders who put teeth into their experiences with Him, and it lights a fire under them that never fades..a fire that just gets stronger, more passionate and more fulfilling over time. I believe God is looking for people who take seriously their encounters with Him, responding practically and quickly…with faith.
The longer I lead, the more baffling it is to me why some people don’t respond to a prompting from God Himself. I’m talking about legitimate God-inspired whispers that line up with scripture and are processed in community. Why does one person respond to God and another put it off so long the urge to respond is almost indiscernible?
Let me ask you…if you had an encounter with the Holy God and you really believed He met with you and told you some things, why wouldn’t you sort them out with Him? Why wouldn’t you take action? If Warren Buffett called you today with investment advice, don’t you think you’d be inclined to take it? This guy’s the expert. You’d be a fool to ignore him. So why do we treat what the God of the Universe has to say so lightly? He is the author and finisher of our faith…the expert of all experts. And His plans for us are always good.
Why not take Him up on what He’s been whispering to you these days?
After the most substantial Leadership Retreat in our history, it was incredible to worship with thousands of Questers Saturday and Sunday as we prepare our hearts to open the doors to our new building in less than two weeks! The place was buzzing with anticipation and energy coming off of retreat. I hope you could feel it!
In his last talk in our current auditorium, Assistant Pastor Justin McCarty brought the best message he’s ever given. I loved it! I pray every Quester was challenged to ask themselves the hard question and make courageous choices in their walk with Jesus.
Here’s what Justin saw from his unique vantage point…
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1. The overflow of Leadership Retreat was everywhere! The way the leaders let God dig into their hearts at retreat paved the way for Questers to do the same. I saw it in people’s eyes during the service and heard it in people’s responses afterwards — they were ready and willing to grapple with the hard questions that will allow God to transform them.
2. Our worship was different. After several supernatural worship experiences with a new song at Leadership Retreat (which you will hear this coming weekend — don’t miss it!), our worship is coming from a new, deeper place. Much of it comes back to Anyerin Drury, our Aussie worship director, who is leading the way with new freedom, authority, and a clear anointing from God to lead us into His presence!
3. After each service I got the privilege of meeting person after person who had decided to settle the “issue of ownership” and had given their lives to Jesus! Looking into their new eyes — full of gratitude, awe, and joy — never gets old!
4. People really took the challenge of tracing the root cause of issues in their lives. (Where is something “squishing” underneath the surface of your life, alerting you to something that’s not solid and steady?) It’s usually pretty challenging and messy, but it creates the possibility of real, lasting change.
5. Without a doubt, the most repeated phrase of the past few days has been “Put teeth to it!” Starting at Leadership Retreat, Pastor Pete’s encouragement to put practical action steps to the deep work God was doing in us carried on perfectly into the weekend services. I’ve never seen our church so excited to take practical steps so that the work of God isn’t wasted in them — way to go, Questers!
6. I don’t think the McDonald’s Drive-Thru has ever been so spiritual! But when you think about importing the “service time clock” from McD’s and instead using it to visualize a quick response time to God, it changes everything. I want to be someone who is cutting my response time down and learning to say quick, thorough yeses to God everyday.
7. I had a privileged vantage point when I asked those who had come to Christ in the current Lexington auditorium to raise their hands. In service after service I came unglued as I tried to take in the magnificent work of God in the hearts and lives of thousands of people over the past four years.
8. Who are you inviting to the Grand Opening Series: U Asked 4 It? As leader of the Publicity Team, I know we’re getting the word out through billboards, TV and radio commercials and more, but nothing compares to your personal invitation!
9. I can’t believe that was my last weekend to teach on that stage! I got to teach there for the first time ever in March 2007 and I’m undone by all that God has done in me and through me over the past few years. I loved getting a final chance to compel people to make a courageous choice to respond to what God is doing in them, having seen the fruit of it in my own life in that very place!
10. It’s time to Jump! The excitement is brewing over next weekend — our last weekend in the current auditorium — where Pastor Pete will bring us a final word from that stage before we jump into a whole new era on Labor Day Weekend. Change your plans — do whatever it takes to be at Quest this coming weekend for a raucous celebration! (And don’t forget — we’ll be learning the new song we unveiled at Leadership Retreat! Don’t miss it!)
P.S. On a personal note, I loved getting to tell Questers about the day I asked the hard question of my Dad — a 60 year-old pastor — concerning the reality of his relationship with Jesus. I’ll never forget how the hard question became the best question I ever asked him as we later got to lead him to Christ. A 60 year-old minister became a little child resting in the leadership of His Father. No doubt — I’ll never forget the amazing work of God in that auditorium!
Just came off of the most substantial leadership event in Quest’s history. I was an eyewitness to an Uprising. Hundreds and hundreds of leaders spent unbelievable time there with Jesus laying down everything that stands in the way of radically loving people and convincing a dying world that they are not only His highest priority…but ours too.
I’m still processing all of what God did, but here’s a glimpse of what I saw with my own eyes:
512 leaders singing He Loves Us at the top of their lungs…and believing it.
Leaders worshiping at the cross, laying down their goodness & their badness in light of His sacrifice & love.
Leaders gathered around 450k rocks representing the 450k people who died around the world while we were on this retreat. Hundreds of people asked Jesus to break their hearts for the 150k who die every single day…most of them without knowing Christ.
A picture of surrender…512 flags staked in the ground representing the things we laid down this weekend so we can reach a dying world with His love.
p.s. Want to hear more about His love for you? This talk from @Ichthus ’09 is one God used in substantial ways, and I know I’ve really benefitted from it…I’d love to invite you to watch it.
Leadership Retreat is off to an unbelievable start! God is doing substantial work in the hearts of leaders, and our jaws are on the ground at what He’s poured into us already. I can’t believe I get to be a part of this. This morning we got to spend great time together really digging into what Pete brought us last night for the opening session. Here are 10 quotes that reoriented us as leaders…
1. We need to live integrated lives or people will follow us into disintegration.
2. God has a hand-crafted calling just for you.
3. We will be held responsible for the nearness & proximity we’ve had to Jesus.
4.Sometimes in the dead of night, a Leader’s YES has already turned the spiritual tide & has won the battle – even when it looks dark & bloody. It is already a win to God.
5. We don’t have a learning problem. We have an obedience problem.
6. As this next chapter begins, we are heading into a 4D Jump. How high, how wide & how long matter, but the controlling dimension will be how deep we go as leaders.
7. In high altitudes, leaders have to pay attention. Insecurity & pride can take you out. Toying with pride is like toying with crystal meth.
8. The number one reason people don’t live out the call of God on their lives is being casual with the work of God in them.
9. My life’s decisions impact thousands.
10. When God sees a leader, He sees HOPE.
Getting ready to receive 102 forcefully advancing leaders to kick off Quest’s annual Leadership Retreat. I can’t WAIT! These first wave leaders are heroes…laying down their lives to lead His church and asking for the next. They will pave the way for hundreds more who will join us Thursday and Friday.
More than 500 ordinary people…taking off from work, finding childcare, rearranging their schedules, piling in cars and buses and doing whatever it takes to GET HERE. Leaders bursting with anticipation for a retreat that has historically changed the trajectory of Quest, propelling us into God’s grander vision year after year. And in the year of the Jump…just 17 days out from our grand opening, it has never mattered more.
Every great leader has a trail of yeses behind them. And just hours away from this massive event, I’ve got to wonder: What could God do through more than 500 leaders giving Him their yeses in ADVANCE to do whatever it takes to change the world?
Ask the hard question: What courageous yeses do you need to say to God today that will open the doors for His outrageous plans and dreams for your life? He can’t WAIT to see you soar!
We are spoiled at Quest Community Church…every single week we come to church and experience God in remarkable and undeniable ways. But there are weeks throughout the year that seem to matter more…that do something significant in everyone in attendance who is open to God’s word. This past week was one of those weekends…so here are 10 of my observations:
1. I loved the video during the song Let Go…always amazing to see real people making real sacrifices out of love for Jesus…BTW I was so diggin’ that closing footage of Chris and Bailey Hall…irresistible! (Go see it online at questcommunity.com if you missed it)
2. I have fallen even more in love with that Kim Walker song Where You Go I Go…our church is getting the hang of it more and more each time! Questers…sing it out…at the top of your lungs…God loves hearing you mean it!
3. I was a bit unnerved bringing this heavy talk to everyone…I never waivered from bringing the word God impressed on me…I was just feeling it a bit. In some ways that was my Sacrifice.
4. A huge part of leadership is doing what God calls on you to do without measuring, weighing, or picking-and-choosing. Leaders in the work of the Kingdom must simply do what the Lord calls on them to do…without concern for popularity or acceptance. Quest leaders do this daily and they are real heroes.
5. We teach in series and the topics/titles for coming weeks are publicized weeks earlier…in other words many people knew church was going to be about Courageously Choosing to Sacrifice. Yet people came out in massive numbers. In fact, this past week was our 9th largest weekend ever! Seems like Questers really are becoming more courageous for God.
6. I truly believe something important was happening this weekend. I saw Questers really considering the Courageous Choice to Sacrifice that Jesus had before us. I could tell in my gut that people were truly grappling with the challenge. From time to time I can tell that something formative is happening…I felt it in force this week.
7. There was no consensus…we were all challenged by the Lord across the board: Sacrifice your Fear & Comfort…Sacrifice your Time…Sacrifice your Money…Sacrifice your Heart. All were straight to the heart for so many. Paul’s example to us in Phil 4 is remarkable. I challenge you to let the Lord continue working in your hearts and minds.
8. I cannot believe we only have 2 more weekends in this room…man is that weird. I loved hearing the new service times for the new room. Less than 3 weeks from Grand Opening! I cannot wait.
9. You could hear a pin drop when I was reciting that list of ministries we could be doing if it weren’t for a lack of funds. I wasn’t exaggerating…about the list, about the way it breaks my heart not to do such things, and about how it must break God’s far more. Listen, the offerings were very strong this weekend…awesome – more ministry will be accomplished because of your generosity. But we must keep it up. Did you hear the unreal amount of ministry that could be accomplished if we all tithed? If we all trusted God and gave the minimum He asks of us…10%…our church would have $8.4 million this year to work with, serve with, and reach out with. So please don’t just make little adjustments, Questers…trust the One who gives you all you have. Trust God who sent us His Son. He will supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19). We can all give Him .10 on the dollar…let’s do it. Our trusting Jesus in this area can play a huge roll in changing the world and even more importantly…it (we) can change the face of eternity together!
10. Leadership Retreat is only days away. I believe the Lord has been “priming our pump” for a MASSIVE time with Him. I want to say one thing: IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR DAY 3 OF RETREAT…DO IT NOW! This will be an irreplaceable time together where God is going to do so much in people’s lives that it is impossible to quantify. In other words…you can’t afford not to get there. We still (unexplainably) have space available on Friday…use it. Days 1 and 2 are the biggest ever…sold out…but there is Day 3 room. Pray seriously and do as the Lord shows you without delay. I will see you there.
