The Chazown Experience

Life Church is excited to announce a FREE online teaching experience called The Chazown Experience. This course can be used in small groups, churches or retreats, or individually online.

It includes six video teaching sessions, a study guide, and facilitator guide with small group discussion questions and activities, all downloadable for FREE.

All of the resources you need can be found at: www.chazown.com.

The Chazown Experience is the perfect complement to the book Chazown. These are available at 1/2 off by the case. Contact lori.tapp@lifechurch.tv if you are interested.

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Be Good at Something Different

In ministry, most churches and leaders try to be good at what everyone else is good at doing. We’re trying to improve our preaching, youth groups, kids’ curriculum, worship, environments, etc.

The problem is that we’re not blessed with the same gifts or called to the same types of ministries. Why not give yourself permission to be good something that few others are striving to do?

Maybe you can be phenomenal at digging water wells, sponsoring kids, or impacting the world through 6 a.m. prayer gatherings. Maybe you’re called to serving your community with radical generosity, doing evangelism through Facebook, or leveraging your wealthy suburban church to support three struggling inner city churches.

Rather than being good at the usual ministries, be good at something you’re uniquely positioned to do. Be good at something different.

What is something different you (or your ministry) can do?

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A Weird Book

Thanks to all your suggestions for the title of  my next book.

We decided on Weird–Because Normal Isn’t Working.

The book is scheduled to release in Spring of 2011.

Also, The Christian Atheist hits over 800 Wal-Mart stores today!

Praying God will impact many lives through the book in Wal-Mart.

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The Most Important Word

In many cases, the word “no” is more important than the word “yes.”

To say “yes” to the best things, you’ll have to say “no” to the good things.

In ministry, you will be overwhelmed with many good opportunities. But if you say “yes” to all of them, one day you won’t be able to say “yes” to the most important things.

Just because you could do something, doesn’t mean you should do it.

It may sound odd, but if you want to do more to make an impact, it often starts with the word “no.”

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Be Unreasonable!

I bet you have heard this many times… “Be reasonable.”

Truthfully, under many circumstances, “Be reasonable” is sound advice—but not always.

As Christian leaders, there are times to be unreasonable.

• When you pray, you might ask God to do something most consider impossible or unreasonable. Pray unreasonable prayers.
• When you seek God, He might lead you to do something others consider undoable. Empowered by God, do unreasonable things.
• When you lead, some people might think you’re making unreasonable demands. Lead passionately and pull unreasonable results out of reasonable people.

Being unreasonable all the time would certainly be a mistake. But if you aren’t being unreasonable every now and then, you probably aren’t leading by faith.

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Generational Tension

Thanks for the help last week on brainstorming titles for the new book. Your insights were amazing. (I’ll let you know the final name when we have one.)

I’d love to learn more from you.

Brad Lomenick asked me to do a talk about “Generational Tension” for Catalyst.

I’d be grateful for your insight(s):

• What tension(s) do you see between the older and younger generations in ministry?
• What is the biggest challenge facing the older generation? Younger generation?
• What questions do you have about this subject?

Please include your age if you think it might be helpful.

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A Weird Request

Thank you for being a part of our Swerve community. I’ve got a personal favor to ask.

I’m finishing up a manuscript based on Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus calls us to live a different life. If we are living like everyone else, we are probably not following Jesus.

We are wrestling with possible titles. I’d love to know which of these you like (or see if you have better suggestions).

1) Weird Rules

2) Weird

3) Weird in a God Way

The working subtitle is: Better Than Normal Living in a Settle For Normal World

Thanks for any input!

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The Death of the Five-Year Plan

When I started in ministry two decades ago, everyone I knew made five-year plans. While planning is wise and biblical, I’m changing how I plan.

Instead of planning for specific buildings, campuses, staff roles, and outreach, I’m planning to be prepared for opportunities that I can’t name today. We are creating margin and planning to respond quickly to ideas that we don’t yet have.

Speed, agility, flexibility, and financial margin are far better than a detailed road map.

We are in the ready position. Instead of asking God to bless our carefully crafted plans, we’re trying to be prepared to move when He speaks and guides.

When people ask me what we’ll be doing in five years, I laugh. I have no idea. But I’m certain it will be more fun and more impactful than anything I could plan today.

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