#RN09: Thurs Main Session

The notes below and in other #RN09-tagged posts are my primary takeaways from each speaker's session. Many more things were said than transferred from ink to paper to blog, but these are the points that have left me burdened to not merely be a hearer but also a doer of the Word and of those who provide wise counsel based thereon. Enjoy...

RightNow 2009: Leadership Matters

Tim Ross (The Potter's House, Young Adults Pastor)

• Philippians 3:17-19, "follow me", "imitate me" -- Are we worth following?
• We don't judge the heart, but we are "fruit inspectors" -- If you smell like an orange, look like an orange, and taste like an orange...you're an orange!
• We need HOT leaders; people characterized by:
  
  • Honesty
  • Openness
  • Transparency
• This (our) generation is grown on openness, so the only thing truly shocking is when we try to hide our problems and feign strength
• We need to be real, so we can avoid having/creating/becoming fake, burned out, used up, and fallen leaders

Alan Danielson (formerly over small groups at LifeChurch.tv)

• Small groups need to become outwardly focused (in addition to inwardly growing)
• "Ecosystem" -- when you enter one, you change/disrupt it
  
  • Is the change you are having (i.e. in the neighborhood where your small group meets) positive?
  • "Neutral is negative" -- if you aren't having a positive impact, it's negative
  • Benefit your neighborhood -- talk about things inside and go do something about it outside
  • "Positive is positive" -- What's at stake?
    
    • Christ's reputation is at stake (Matt 5:16)
    • Our obedience is at stake (Matt 28:18-20) -- the great commission is repeated five times in the NT
    • Eternity is at stake (Heb 9:27) -- judgment is final -- we will study, learn, and worship forever in heaven, but we only have now to lead people to Christ
    • Our own spiritual formation is at stake (Phil 2:5-11)
    • "Hell is real" -- get off the couch