Notes from Craig Groeschel

Last week our Campus Worship Pastors watched the Buzz Conference session from lifechurch.tv pastor: Craig Groeschel - I just finished revisiting the notes from that session this morning and thought it was worth posting... one "formula" in particular is a one liner worth remembering -

Limited Resources + Increasing Passion = Exponential Innovation


Here are his points from the session which is still available to watch online here.

Four characteristics of innovative leaders - by Craig Groeschel

1. They heal the sick.
Not just physical healing. “In order to reach those that no one else is
reaching, we will have to do things that no one else is doing.” We have to
be driven to bring people to Jesus. We have to be passionate about that.
“When is the last time you had a non-believer in your home?” We need to lead
our people to love those that don’t know Christ. They need to be real people
with names that people know. That type of ministry looks very different than
the typical church ministry looks today. “Who is God calling you to reach
that no around you is reaching?”

2. They break rules.
We don’t break away from the Truth of Jesus Christ. We need to do less
“preaching” and more “listening.” Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. Martin
Luther put the Bible in the hands of the common man. John Wesley preached
outside the church walls. Bill Hybels combined the passion of parachurch
with the power of the local church. “We have to care more about reaching
people than following man’s rules.” Sometimes you have to stop watching what
others are doing to hear from God. It’s your turn. Break some rules. “What
is God calling you to try that hasn’t been done before?”

3. They offend Pharisees.
“When you do something new, the Pharisees will attack you like you never
dreamed possible.” The things that are accepted today in the Church world,
were hated ten years ago. When they do criticize, you must handle their
criticism with grace. A lot of you are angry, and you have to get over your
anger. Don’t shoot back. “What new thing is God calling you to create that
will be hated today and embraced tomorrow?”

4. They redefine success.
John 3:30. Less of me and more of God. We have to do that…in everything we
do. For example, a 2,000-person church in a metro area like Washington, D.C