Purpose, passion, and proficiencies converge for calling that is fleshed out to engage redemption with the gifts

Hes given us. Jonathon Golden, Land of 1000 Hills Coffee

Keynote 1 Pete Wilson, Crosspoint Church, Nashville, TN

Genesis 29

When in the Bible did God ever give ANYONE an easy job? Noah Abraham Moses David Esther Joseph Daniel Paul

There were always trials, there was always opposition. To follow Jesus is one of the most dangerous things you will ever do.

3 Groups of people here at Collyde: 1. You know calling and youre living it 2. You know calling and youre keeping it a secret because youre scared 3. You want to know calling and youre willing to surrender to God showing you

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Keynote 1 Pete Wilson (contd)

Idolatry A huge enemy of calling Anything that I seek to give me what only God can give me God gave us the command not to worship any other gods before Him because He knew we would have this internal ache and longing for purpose To know the living God is the greatest human blessing so worshipping false gods is the greatest obstacle to that The stakes are high for this audience with this issue The greatest obstacle to Gods redeeming mission is NOT other world religions its His own people who continue to choose other lovers. The greatest obstacle that we face today collectively is ourselves. Leaders often have an unquenchable longing that tempts us to sacrifice everything we are to be a little bit more successful, resourced, powerful, etc. The Idol of Approval Example: Jacob Painful and bitter childhood and family experience

Empty inside looked to fill it with an unhealthy dependence on Rachel What are all the things/idols that Ive put my hope in in my life? We think that when we have them itll be Rachel but it turns out to Leah.

Collyde Summit 2012

Keynote 1 Pete Wilson (contd)

If I pursue the idol of external approval it will make my calling:

1. Destined for confusion confusing WHO I am with WHAT I do. Fear will always establish the limits of my calling (Ex: Moses) ii. Fear of inadequacy not just doubting the circumstances, but doubting himself. This can wreak havoc on you. 1. God reminds Moses, I AM. Youre more than your giftedness. Trying to fill up your self-worth with external approval is like trying to fill a lake with a Dixie cup. My job title doesnt make me any more or less valuable to God. My achievements dont determine my value. Identity must be rooted in what has been accomplished for me through the person of Jesus Christ. I am loved, I am accepted, I am enough because I am a child of the King. i. Fear of failure

Application Questions:

1. Where does my sense of security come from? 2. After a worship service, do I find myself grateful that God is God, or thinking about how many people were in the room? calling work? 3. Do I spend more time thinking about God or about how to make my

2. Destined for Mediocrity Youll be breaking away from the herd resulting in criticism. If youre depending on approval, this will kill you. Becoming immune to criticism is not the goal. The goal is to get to a place where you hear Gods voice louder than anyone else.

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Keynote 1 Pete Wilson (contd)

3. Destined for Burnout - It will exhaust you.

Conclusion: Authenticity is the cry of all, but it is the game of few. Especially in the church. We need to embrace the calling that God actually has for you and let a culture that is doing its best day and night to make you be anyone but yourself. Most of us are not comfortable with the authenticity this will require. It will be one of the most courageous battles you will ever fight. But the beauty and the reward of doing it is the love that you are so desperately trying to get. Most of us live paralyzed by the fear of the consequences of concealment.

go of what you think you should be. We are constantly bombarded by

confession because we have yet to realize the consequences of

We become that which we worship. I see a lot of exhaustion in the kingdom today because of all of the idols competing in their heart. We have to stay focused on the God who loves us so much.

Psalm 18:2

Collyde Summit 2012

Keynote 2 Tim Lucas, Liquid Church, NJ Ezekiel 37

The Bone Collector Ministering in the Dry Places

We often prefer callings to the mountaintops rather than to the valleys Valley is a picture of desolation/lifeless/over What do you do when things break down in your life? When something dries up during your life journey? And you cant even imagine it coming back to life again?

Whats your bone? (i.e. work has dried up, ministry has dried up, revival never came, marriage is falling apart, etc.) The big idea of Ezekiel God is a bone collector. Sometimes its the dry places in life that are Gods appointed places for the birth of new vision. God is asking me Can these bones live? In other words - do you Gods spirit plants the seeds of new life in the desert times We all know that WHERE you live shouldnt determine WHETHER you live. (in reference to the global water situation) Gods promise is that you will come to life! The bones arent dead in Gods eyes theyre waiting to be raised to life. Can you imagine being Ezekiel being told to go preach to a bucket of bones? But...arent we often told that in many ways? me to make all things new! God brings you to a dry place on purpose Hes saying partner with o This doesnt necessarily happen overnight

have the faith that I can take this and actually breathe life back into it?

You can become very busy doing things for Jesus which is different than spending time with Jesus Hes not just a bone collector, hes a life giver Matthew 22:27 hypocrites are full of dead mens bones on the inside

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Keynote 3 Gabe Lyons, Q

How is God working today in our time? We need to understand context Cultural Landscape is the convergence/intersection of pluralistic, postmodern (skepticism towards certainty), post Christian times were not a part of the conversation at all. We have a deficit of credibility This means that everything is in play, which is a reason to be hopeful! Our time is calling us to a patience, to a deep investment in the lives of people and to having a vision for people that they dont have for themselves and walking alongside them to realize it. The Full Story: Creation o The church is no longer at the center of conversation. Many

Fall

Redemption

Restoration

The full story is creation to restoration. The fall to redemption is only half the story. If we focus on this, we tend to separate out from the world. If we leave out the centerpiece we become a nominal Christian/cultural Christian. The true power to transform comes through Christ alone.

Colossians 1:19-20

We must understand that the redemption part of the story is the centerpiece but if we dont give people the bookends, its incoherent. We need to give them the whole story if its going to make sense of their lives.

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Keynote 3 Gabe Lyons, Q (contd)

I Corinthians New Life God gave US the ministry of reconciliation Hes committed to US the message of reconciliation.

Rev 21-22 makes it clear that the ultimate purpose of redemption is not to escape the material world, but to renew it. (Keller)

What does renewal and restoration look like in my life? Now that I am redeemed, how should this world be? How does God use me to make that happen?

The way I create within the place God has put me ought to reflect my vision of the way the world ought to be now that I am redeemed.

Gods calling us to show up in the place wheres got us and bring the Truth to bear on it. Sometimes thats leading in Word and sometimes you need to take action.

How to process and respond to the broken world: 1. Be Provoked, not offended by it. a. Example: Jesus and Zaccheus

2. Be Creative - consider how God uniquely created/wired you to 3. We are Called spend as much time as you possibly can in your calling. How can my talents, gifts, abilities intersect with the brokenness in this world? innovate a solution to bring restoration

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Keynote 3 Gabe Lyons, Q (contd)

7 Channels of Cultural Influence

God has called us to be in all of these places. Interestingly the church is one of the places that brings together people from all of these places, in their congregations.

Education Church Govt Arts & Entertainment Media Business Social Sector Churches are now asking How can we get our people to show up in the places where they are the other 6 days of the week?

God is calling us to bring in a holy imagination a gospel imagination - to the places where we already are. That is how people in our culture today will experience the love of Jesus that they never would if they were required to show up on a Sunday morning.

Example: Abortion Rate of Down Syndrome Children

The answer wasnt to picket abortion clinics and vote pro-life. The answer

was to create a fantastic resource that helped folks to see the beauty of that life and God has blessed it. Understanding a Downs Syndrome Diagnosis What the soul is to the body, Christians are in the world. ~Letter to Diognetus

We need to redeem culture, not reject it. 8 Collyde Summit 2012