Conference Day 3 Update

The weather continues to be nice!

Thursday at the conference began with music by Steve Fee. He is one I have heard before - a great musician!

Rick Warren gave a presentation on RADICAL COMPASSION.

While most people say "practice what you preach," he says the biblical approach is to "preach what you practice!"

In Luke 4:14-21 we learn who Jesus came to help:
++ the poor (the "have nots")
++ the brokenhearted (the "let down")
++ the imprisoned (the "locked up")
++ the blind (the "shut out")
++ the oppressed (the "kicked around")

To have a heart like Jesus we must care about what Jesus cares about. We must be indifferent to what Jesus is indifferent about (such as impressing others). We must get angry at what Jesus gets angry about. We mus sacrifice for what Jesus sacrificed.

MARK DRISCOLL spoke next on "The Radical Cross." This was a striking presentation in which he went into considerable uncomfortable detail about the horror of the crucifixion. This was followed by a memorable time of Communion.

RADICAL MISSION was the next presentation by Rick Warren. Going to "all nations" was not the Great Suggestion! It was the Great Commission!

Your ministry cannot be merely local, regardless of your church's size. Every church must be "bifocal" - with a local and a global vision!

He is focusing particularly on five "Global Giants," each of which affects billions:
- Spiritual Emptiness
- Corrupt Leadership
- Extreme Poverty
- Pandemic Diseases
- Illiteracy and Lack of Education

ED STETZER also spoke on the importance of church planting. Even smaller churches can help plant a new church, but only about 3% of churches take a primary role in doing this.


My afternoon workshop sessions were once again focused on Preaching for Life Change.