The Missional Network
Welcome to The Missional Network Sign in | Join | Help
in Search
Home About Events Podcasts Blogs Forums Downloads NAMB
The Missional Network » The Missional Leader » Leadership » Ed Stetzer Audio Conference

Ed Stetzer Audio Conference

Last post 06-28-2008, 2:25 AM by bobby gilstrap. 2 replies.
Sort Posts: Previous Next

  •  07-20-2007, 8:11 PM 1006

    Ed Stetzer Audio Conference

    Ed Stetzer will be the featured guest for the September 18th Audio Conference for Pastors. The conference topic will be related to Stetezer’s latest book, Comeback Churches. In this 59-minute Audio Conference, Ed Stetzer will help participants discover what is necessary to turn a declining or dying church around to experience health and growth. The final 20-minutes are an open line Q&A with Dr. Stetzer.

    For more information or to register for this FREE Audio Conference for Pastors, go to www.findMIchurch.org/AudioConference. Your only cost is your phone call.

    MP3’s of past conferences are also available on the site, including:

    • Dr. Eric Geiger, co-author with Dr. Thom Rainer (Topic: Simple Church Strategies)
    • Pastor Jon Hays (Topic: Rekindling Evangelistic Passion) 
    • Dr. Johnny Hunt (Topic: Ministry That Matters)
    • Dr. Ed Stetzer (Topic: Your Church’s Missional Ministry)
    • Sarah Cunningham (Topic: Ministry to Twenty-Somethings)
    • Mac Brunson & Ergan Caner (Topic: Why Churches Die)
    • Wayne Harris (Topic: Strategically Developing Leaders)

     

    bobby gilstrap

  •  09-19-2007, 9:51 AM 1039 in reply to 1006

    Re: Ed Stetzer Audio Conference-Chat log

    DreamAdvance: Welcome
    bgilstrap to rob: Welcome to the POST Audio Conference discussion of COMEBACK CHURCHES.
    bgilstrap: Welcome to the POST Audio Conference discussion of COMEBACK CHURCHES.
    rob: thanks for lining up the conference with ed, bg
    bgilstrap: What did you find to be the most important item in today's discussion of churches that were able to COMEBACK?
    bgilstrap to rob: Glad to ... went well for the most part. Sorry you had phone trouble.
    rob: for me concerns about how to lead our church to "hurt for the lost"
    Chuck left this room.
    bgilstrap: Rob expresses the issue of how to lead his church to "hurt for the lost' as a critical issue. How can we do that effectively?
    Pastor joined the room.
    rob: ed intimated that it must begin with leaders' hearts
    djbanks joined the room.
    bgilstrap: If Rob is accurate, then how can we as leaders experience HEART change?
    rob: i'd pay real money to know!
    bgilstrap: What are some practical ways that we can lead our churches to "hurt for the lost?" What are you doing or what have you seen be effective?
    djbanks: Not sure what Rob said, but I am finding that as I recognize my own weakness, rather than trying to convince others of my strength, God is able to work through me more effectively.
    djbanks: I guess we might start by really hurting for the lost ourselves. We can talk about it all we want, but do we REALLY?
    bgilstrap: For those new to the chat room if you want to discuss with everyone, be sure the box in teh bottom left corner of your scree says ALL or for an individual ... you can identify who to speak to.
    bgilstrap: Great point djbanks
    rob: dj, if we do REALLY hurt for the lost, how do we express that? where do we go with that? what do you do?
    bgilstrap: Do we really all hurt personally for lost persons.
    djbanks: I guess I am asking God to give me more of a passion for the lost. Then I think it will come out in my sharing/preaching/teaching/living.
    bgilstrap: Honestly, in my church starting experiences and pastoring established churches ... I found I had to make it a habit.
    rob: what was/is your habit?
    bgilstrap: You can make it a habit to love the lost, but you can make your efforts to reach the lost a habit.
    djbanks: The times I have recognized this hurt has been when we have been in the context of sharing thorugh a musical or prison ministry and God has simply "gotten a hold of me" for lack of a better expression. I wish I could package it.
    Pastor: we need to love the lost, so if you have someone you love that is lost start there and then all the lost.
    bgilstrap: djbanks: It would seem that those were times when God really raised your awareness. Now ask yourself, what must I do on a more consistent basis that will raise my awareness of the lost.
    djbanks: Perhaps put myself in those settings more often?
    Pastor: pray for God to show us
    bgilstrap: Pastor: I like your approach. Once we realize that God loves not only our family, but all the lost, more than we can even imagine ... we must acknowledge that he wants us to look at teh multitudes with compassion.
    djbanks: I liked what Ed said in the conference about not wanting to make the answer to every question to pray more, but the answer to the question is to pray more (something like that...)
    bgilstrap: djbanks - Practically speaking, needs are all around us. I remember homes I have visited in where you could see right through the walls. They were disconnected from God, but we first ministered to their needs. We began to hurt for their lostness as a result of seeing their physical needs.
    bgilstrap: So how should we pray?
    Norm joined the room.
    rob: break our hearts, O Lord!
    djbanks: I am currently reading "The Jesus I Never Knew" by Yancey. Just seeing Jesus in a new light is giving me a concern for those he was concerned about rather than just my "church folks"
    bgilstrap to Norm: Welcome Norm. Please join in the discussion.
    Norm: thanks
    Norm: I am curious about what tools are out there to help evaluate our leadership weaknesses and how to overcome them
    Pastor: I live in a small Eskimo village were I know everyone, maybe thats how God taught me to love everyone by I do think that loving people is what we need most.
    bgilstrap to Norm: I really see the problem in so many chuches where the focus gets off of reaching people. As I mentioned, too many churches begin to focus on Primping Up Property and Propping Up Programs. That is a maitenence mentality that will just keep repeating itself.
    djbanks: So what about the neighbor I know is lost, but I can't honestly say...I mean really honestly...that I love him. Therefore I find my fear of talking to him about his relationship with God to be greater than my love for him and concern for his soul.
    bgilstrap to Norm: Norm - The serve Like Jesus materials are a really good starting point. ANYONE ELSE have some suggestions for Norn?
    Benjap joined the room.
    bgilstrap to Norm: What falacy have we bought into that has us convienced that they aren't important?
    bgilstrap to Norm: Welcome Benjap to the discussion ... jump on in Benjap
    Pastor: Find one thing you like about your neighbor and maybe you will need someone to help you lol and stsrt there djbanks
    bgilstrap: Pastor - you said,

    		I live in a small Eskimo village were I know everyone, maybe thats how God taught me to love everyone by I do think that loving people is what we need most.
    Norm left the room.
    bgilstrap: Pastor - I hit send to fast. When you know most everyone, we sometime fear hurting the relationship if we push Jesus too much.
    Pastor: yes that is true
    Benjap: While I don't agree with his full premise, John Shore addresses some of the attitude we believers have toward the world around us in I'M OK -- YOU'RE NOT. Namely that we come across as unloving when we try to evangelize. What's the happy medium? How do we implement an intentional evangelism strategy without being "mercenary"?
    Pastor: but we just keep on building the relstionship and asking God to will us be a good witness
    bgilstrap to rob: Rob ask "What was/is you habit?" Personally in reaching the lost in my community, I kept maticulous records and set aside designated time every week to go and build relationships with the lost. Sometime that was home visits, sometime I would stand in the Post Office and reread my mail for 4 hours (small town) because I saw half the town. It might have been hanging out at the ball park. I just FORCED myself to be out there with the lost to try to be reminded of their great need for Jesus.
    tripp left this room.
    bgilstrap to rob: Benjap - Great question. In our post-modern era, Evangelism must be viewed as a process that occurs through relationships, trust and example. People ARE watching! We must be concerned with people's experiencing the reality of living under the reign of God's Kingdom rather than being driven by "getting people into heaven."
    Pastor: That is what it is all about rob, with the Eskimo people that get to work with relationship are everything.
    bgilstrap: Benjap - Great question. In our post-modern era, Evangelism must be viewed as a process that occurs through relationships, trust and example. People ARE watching! We must be concerned with people's experiencing the reality of living under the reign of God's Kingdom rather than being driven by "getting people into heaven."
    bgilstrap: In days past we view evangelism as being done by evangelist ... but today, we must grasp the concept that evangelism must be a part of being a disciple. Evangelism is done by disciples. Evangelism is an ongoing conversation and not just a message in the mentality of today's world.
    Pastor: My ministry is NOT with in the 4 walls of my church building. But the hold Village.
    Benjap: For me it comes down to the "hanging out at the post office" idea. Meeting people where they are, building the relatioship, earning the right to be heard.
    rob: these have been great and helpful comments. thanks to you all. how do you foster and pass on accountability for your passion for the lost?
    bgilstrap: Hee. It was amazing how boring my mail was after the third or fourth read but how interesting people became.
    rob:
    bgilstrap: ROB - I remember Dr. Dan Crawford at SWBTS telling us that he submitted an evangelistic report every month to the seminary's president. He was never asked ... he did it because it kept him accountable.
    Benjap: People will listen when they don't smell an agenda. So, how do we translate that into the church as a whole setting?
    djbanks to Pastor: Pastor: This is David Banks ub Eagle River. Is this John? or who?
    djbanks to Pastor: Sorry, that was to be to only Pastor
    rob: now we all want to know who Pastor is!
    bgilstrap: Our church planters / starters all submit a monthly report for accounibility.
    Mike Cogland whisper DreamAdvance: Tim?
    djbanks: I once heard some resentment from a church planter about the accountability thing with NAMB, but I really like the voluntary accountability that Bobby mentioned
    rob: the accountability you are describing feels to ... institutional to me, bg. i am longing for a more ... natural accountability ... that shared by brothers on the same journey
    Pastor: Yey its John
    bgilstrap: The best accountability I have ever experienced in my ministry was peer accountability. Five other pastors and I met together every month for an entire day. Discussed ministry issues and reported monthly to each other and no one else.
    Benjap: Accountability is always an issue, on so many levels. I have a friend who still believes that pastors are special and should not answer to anyone -- about anything!
    rob: i like that
    Mike Cogland: FYI...hey guys, if you check the box next to the name you want to send a private message to, then it will be private. Chat on!
    Pastor: Pastor John of Kiana Alaska
    rob: the most productive accountability i have ever experienced was with the first senior pastor i served alongside. we did more than report. we did evangelism together.
    rob: now, as a senior pastor myseolf, i am having some difficulty passing on that germ to my associate
    bgilstrap: Let me redirect back to our topic .... How do think that accountability can play into helping us lead our churches to be COMEBACK CHURCHES
    Benjap: Rob, that's a great idea, because (like in COMEBACK CHURCHES ) it provides for the pastor to model the behavior he expects out of others.
    rob: in response to bg, make disciples
    rob: do life together with 3-4 men ... men who will reproduce the same in their own circles of influence
    rob: do life ... and ministry together
    Pastor to djbanks: Yes Kim and I will be there.
    djbanks: I believe that we often talk a talk that we are not necessarily walking. That was what I was talking about earlier about my neighbor. I'm almost afraid to tell someone to do something that I am not personally doing...afraid God will perhaps not so subtly remind me.
    bgilstrap: That take time ... aren't we too busy trying to lead our churches to COMEBACK?
    rob: now that's a cunundrum, eh?
    Benjap: Speaking of modelling: I found the story about Hybels purposefully sailing with a crew of nonbelievers. I'd love to inject my interests into a group like that, but like most long-time believers, I find that (1) Most of my friends are believers, and (2) many of my activities are those that only believers would find of interest.
    rob: conundrum, i mena
    djbanks: If so, maybe we're just TOO BUSY
    rob: mean, i mean
    bgilstrap: Rob ... we shouldn't use such language among friends.
    rob: bg, ... no comment. dj, i think you're on to something
    Benjap left this room.
    djbanks: Thanks so much, guys, for good discussion, and Bobby for the conference. I'll "come back". Or should I use the over familiar "I'll be back. (can't put the accent in on the computer)"
    bgilstrap: So if we're going to stay as the pastor of our church and WE ARE going to be the one that God uses to help our church COMEBACK ... then what is most important? Making disciples? Or something else?
    djbanks left this room.
    rob: yes
    rob: sorry, couldn't resist.
    bgilstrap:  Pitiful!
    rob: bg, i think the most important thing we can do is make disciples. as we devote ourselves to that process we stand a very good chance of getting much if not most of all the other stuff done that really matters
    rob: the rub is that we as professional Christians and our churches as our "employers" have tended to make the other stuff the main stuff
    bgilstrap: Great point. We must be incarnational and not so much attractional in our ecclesiology. By that I mean creating specific areas where unbelievers can encounter the gospel and begin thier journey.
    rob: for example, i am more than a little concerned with our ACP (are we all SBC here?) this year,. this first year of my ministry here. but i am committed to a long-term strategy that may not produce ACP success for another 3-5-7 years.
    rob: incarnational vs attractional ... now who's using inappropriate language? just kidding. helpful that
    bgilstrap: Okay, you opened the door ...
    rob: you referenced the beginning of a journey. my experience, all too shamefully and sadly is that we have limited the journey to a dunking booth
    rob: beyond that, i am confessing, we do precious little to help new believer - the most potent force in an unbelieving circle - make a difference in their world
    bgilstrap: Can we actually measure when we are seeking to disassemble (not necessarily bad) the "church" and allow Christ to seep into the cracks and crevices of a world that needs Christ but has yet to meet him.
    bgilstrap: Now we can measure the dunking booth!
    bgilstrap: That is what the ACP is for ... huh?
    rob: wow ... i think your last question was a great question ... i think. i am trying to make sure i understand it
    rob: not the ACp question ... the disassemble question
    Benjap joined the room.
    rob: i do not want to sound too critical of the ACP. i have enjoyed the pleasure of seeing how our brothers and sisters have tried to create a tool that will serve kingdom ends there at LifeWay.
    bgilstrap: They kind of go hand and hand ... how do we measure those incarnational relationships ... ministries ...
    rob: i am more critical of my own traxck record and the evidence the ACP reflects
    bgilstrap: Of course, ACP is only a human tool to discern God's movement  .. ... ... ... or lack thereof.
    rob: how do we measure those incarnational relationships? hmmm
    bgilstrap: Good Question? Any ideas Guys?
    rob: one person at a time ... one person in a covenant community accountable to other believers who are on the same path ... a community, small group that expects and inspects the members of their group for faithfulness and fruitfulness
    rob: i have sipped from that kind of fountain before. now i long for large gulps from such a fellowship again ... this time in a church that needs to make a comeback
    bgilstrap: BACK ON TOPIC .... to see churches COMEBACK and really impact a lost culture ... they must emerge into a reproducing community of genuine disciples who abandon themselves to passionately seek the heart of God and to live out His mission to reach all peoples in their community and around the world.
    rob: i'm sorry. i didn't realize i was off topic
    Mike Cogland whisper DreamAdvance: Tim
    bgilstrap: My time has expired for our discussion. Thanks for your participation in our CHAT and today's Audio Conference with Ed Stetzer. I pray that you can join us again next month on October 16th when we will host Dr. H.B.London.

  •  06-28-2008, 2:25 AM 1146 in reply to 1006

    Re: Ed Stetzer Audio Conference

    This conference is now available for download at www.findMIchurch.org/ChurchGrowth. Enjoy.
    bobby gilstrap
View as RSS news feed in XML