One of my favorite books is, "A Contrarians Guide to Knowing God" by Larry Osborne. At the Exponential Conference I got to attend a workshop he did. Here are my notes from it:
1. Build a church you would want to go to
- Not big, not like someone else’s, not successful…
- The church you would want to go to is the only church you an lead intuitively and the only church God has gifted you to lead
2. Fulfill your calling, not your potential
- Potential is a bitch goddess. It will kill you.
- When you’re first starting you get lots of encouragement that you believe is fact.
- Be all you can be is great for the army, stinks for God’s Kingdom
- Son, at 7, “I don’t like it when daddy writes books, because he doesn’t play with me.”
- Committed to not write book until youngest graduated from High School. All his kids follow Jesus and have found churches in the towns they move to.
3. Focus on being a sticky church
- No one stays at a church because they were assimilated into a program, they stay because they’ve been velcroed into relationships.
- “I’m less needed when people are genuinely connected.”
- “Northcoast is all about sticky relationships.”
4. Live like a mature Christian, not a pastor
- If think being a pastor means you have to live differently, something is wrong with your paradigm.
- If do, no longer have nagging question: “Who is watching?” (That question will kill you, and poison your kids.)
- You might lose people, but you’ll save your family.
5. Lose your church before you lose your family
- If on path where you’re putting family on back burner for church (“for awhile”) you are on a very bad path. And that other path never comes.
- The bigger the church gets, the less discretionary time you have. (It’s a myth that a large staff will give you discretionary time.)
- So master this now, or you won’t later.
- Never has done counseling after 5:00 p.m.
- featured on newchurches.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
Larry Osbourne - Living a Kingdom Life
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3 comments:
I just got back from Orlando this afternoon. My husband and I went to the conference not as a church planter, but as core group members and financial supporters of a friend, pastor and lead planter. (This happens to be all one person, in case that's not clear.) I'd like to say I met you and shook your hand, but I'm sorry to say that never happened. I was in the pre-launch track, so I did see and hear you a few times. First impressions are big. My first impression was "Surely this guy is not a pastor! A youth pastor maybe, but don't tell me this guy's a senior pastor!" Now, most people would take offense to this, but if you knew me, you'd take it for a compliment. Because most of the pastors I've come in contact with are the "lousy t-shirt wearing variety". I can say this with some authority because I bought your book and am reading it through for the second time. (Did I mention that I bought it Thursday afternoon and I spent all of yesterday at Epcot?) I guess what I'm trying to say is that I REALLY like the book! I read alot of stuff. I liked "Blue Like Jazz", "The Barbarian Way" and generally Christian writers who challenge me to think outside the box. But up until now, there has only been one book that really challenged and convicted me about my faith. I can now add your book to the short list which also includes "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning. Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences in this book. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'm going to buy a case of your books and give them to all the Emilys and non-Emilys in my life. BTW, in case you're wondering, the church plant is "Convergence Christian Church". We plan to launch in the early part of next year southwest of Houston, Texas. Jeff and Tamara Hogan are the lead planters. Jeff has a blog (www.convergence244.blogspot.com) and I know he would get a kick out of it if you stopped by. Thanks again for pouring yourself into this book.
In Him we live,
Kathy Richards
Wow Kathy, thank you! That means a lot to me. I wish I had met you at the conference. If there's anything I can do to help you guys with the church plant, please let me know.
By the way, if you're serious about buying a case of the books, you can get them for 1/2 price (by cases of 20) at www.lousytshirtbook.com.
Vince, yes, I was serious about the books. I just sent Baker Books an e-mail requesting them. As to the church plant, I appreciate your offer. We would consider it a real blessing if you could pray for us. We've been "hovering" now for about a year and it's time to dive in!
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