Beyond Church

A scarcity mindset plans and budgets asking the question, “What will I do if I run out of money?”

An abundance mindset plans and budgets asking the question, “What will I do when I run into money?”

BOTH of these questions turn on the creative part of our brain.
Both of these questions require strategy, planning and execution, BUT one will result in you simply surviving, WHILST the other will result in building a financial world that is THRIVING.

Craig Groeschel, Winning the War in Your Mind: “OUR LIVES ARE ALWAYS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are.”

If you want to break the power of a SCARCITY mindset over your lives today, we need to build systematic generosity into your budget. James Clear, Atomic Habits, says, “Our habits are only a string as the systems that support them.” - If we want to build a HABIT of generosity, we have to build a system that supports it….and that system is called a BUDGET!

Q: Do you believe God, when he says that BLESSING is an inevitability?

God is screaming ABUNDANCE at us…are we listening to him?

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Beyond Church Leadership Culture is Rested Leadership

How To Lead From Your Pillow - 10 Essential Steps to Cultivate Rested Leadership:

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Mark 4:35-40 TPT That same day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” Leaving the crowd behind, the disciples got into the boat in which Jesus was already sitting, and they took him with them. Other boats sailed with them. Suddenly, as they were crossing the lake, a ferocious storm arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was nearly swamped. But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake, saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Be still!” All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.

Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, “Who is this man who has such authority that even the wind and waves obey him?”

This story highlights the importance of leading from a place of rest and emotional health. Jesus, despite the chaos and danger surrounding Him, was able to find inner calmness and peace. His leadership was not driven by fear or anxiety but by a deep sense of trust in God's sovereignty and His own purpose.

Jesus NEVER lead RUSHED - NOTHING was more important than a measured response.

As leaders, we can learn from this example about how to lead from the pillow!

Here are 10 practical ways to cultivate rested leadership:

Prioritise personal retreats for reflection and recharge.
Find moments of solitude to seek God's presence and gain clarity.
Set boundaries to protect your time and energy.
Practice self-care through exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep.
Engage in activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.
Seek support from a mentor or coach for guidance and accountability.
Delegate tasks and empower others to share the workload.
Trust in God's guidance and surrender control over outcomes.
Embrace a posture of humility and acknowledge your limitations.
Focus on faithful stewardship rather than taking sole responsibility for success or failure.

Remember, leading from a place of rest and emotional health allows you to inspire and guide others with a calm and confident presence. Take care of yourself, trust in God's sovereignty, and embrace the journey of rested leadership.

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A First Love Fire

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Our family loves to have backyard fires in our fire pit. There is a price to pay to enjoy a backyard fire. The smoke gets on and in you, making you smell like smoke for days. But despite the lingering smell, the memories created around the fire are priceless.

In the Gospel of John, we encounter a significant event involving fire and Peter. In John 18:15-18 and 18:25-27, Peter denies being a disciple of Jesus three times while warming himself by a fire. The details of this event are significant, as they highlight the power of the aural tradition and draw our attention to the impact of this moment.

Fast forward to John 21:9, just three chapters later, and we see Jesus bring Peter back to the fire. The smell of the fire from that fateful night lingers, reminding Peter of his failure, shame, and regret. But Jesus has a different purpose in mind. He wants to reshape Peter's past and recast his destiny.

Jesus takes the fire itself, the very symbol of Peter's betrayal, and turns it into an agent of redemption. He wants to do the same in our lives, taking the brokenness, hurt, and drifting passion for Him, and using them to show us that we can find forgiveness and freedom from shame, guilt, bitterness, and humiliation. Jesus redeems our past, and nothing is wasted. He also reveals a fresh vision for our future.

To step into our own fireplace encounter with Jesus, there are three key steps we can take:

Dive In:

Live your life with a bias toward action, especially when it comes to pursuing an encounter with Jesus. Like Peter, when he recognised the Lord, put on his tunic, jumped into the water, and headed to shore, we must have a hunger and eagerness for encountering Jesus. We need to dive into a new season of passionately pursuing the things of God.

Devour Our Breakfast:

Jesus wants to feed us, not only physically but also spiritually. He wants to fuel us for His purposes. Spending time with Jesus, both personally and corporately, is essential. We need to have private and personal daily time with Jesus, reading and studying the Bible. We also need to engage in corporate gatherings such as life groups and church services, where we can learn from and be sharpened by fellow believers.

Deal With Our Demons:

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, addressing the three times Peter denied Him. Jesus needed to deal with Peter's demons, leaving no stone unturned in the process of complete redemption. Sometimes facing our demons and finding healing can be painful, but Jesus, in His kindness, offers it to us anyway. He calls us to the fire to face our doubts and insecurities and find healing and restoration.

Now, let's reflect on these truths and consider the following questions:

How can you live your life with a bias toward action, diving into a new season of passionately pursuing the things of God? Share a time when you pursued an encounter with Jesus with eagerness.
Why do you think Jesus used the fire as a means of redemption for Peter, despite the association of the fire with Peter's betrayal and shame?
Facing our demons and finding healing can be a challenging process. Are you willing to face your own demons and allow Jesus to bring complete redemption in your life? Why or why not?

Take some time to reflect on these questions, discuss them with others, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus and embrace the fire of His redemption in your life.

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Beyond Church Leadership Culture Leads From The Inside Out

(Lead your own life first)

Watch HERE: https://youtu.be/TUon304O8vQ

Genesis 41:38-40 (MSG) Then Pharaoh said to his officials, “Isn’t this the man we need? Are we going to find anyone else who has God’s spirit in him like this?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom. From now on, you’re in charge of my affairs; all my people will report to you. Only as king will I be over you.”

Joseph’s leadership journey started in the depth of a well. Instead of the darkness, betrayal, and tragedy breaking Joseph, it catalysed something of God in him that began a personal leadership journey in him that prepared him to lead a nation.

God increased Joseph’s influence in lockstep with Joseph’s willingness to lead himself.

Joseph displays integrity, diligence, trustworthiness, and faithfulness, and he exercises his gifts at every opportunity. Joseph demonstrated resilience, humility, patience, AND SELF DISCIPLINE!

What do we do in the dark where no one sees our decisions, actions, or behaviours?

What can we do practically to lead our own lives well? What will position us for influence and begin to build the qualities in us that are required to LEAD OTHERS with excellence?

Lead Your Time

Time is everyone’s limited resource. (How do you spend you tine in the WELL, in the Palace, in Gaol or ruling the nation?)

Self Sanctuary

Taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally is vital for self-leadership. Prioritising self-care activities such as exercise, adequate rest, healthy eating, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and rejuvenation helps maintain your overall well-being. When we prioritise self-care, we have the energy and mental clarity to lead and serve others effectively.

Do The Work

Committing to lifelong learning and personal development is an essential aspect of self-leadership. Seeking opportunities to expand your knowledge, develop new skills, and grow as an individual. Read books, attend conferences, do a short course, and prioritise mentorship.

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Beyond Church Leadership Culture Has a Bias Toward Action

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Nehemiah 2:1-4 NLT

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified, 3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”

With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

A bias toward action in leadership is the intentional inclination to take decisive steps and make proactive choices rather than being passive or indecisive. It involves a sense of urgency, a willingness to take risks, and a commitment to move forward in pursuit of goals. This principle encourages leaders to overcome analysis paralysis and embrace a mindset of progress and growth.

Nehemiah’s story is an excellent illustration of bias toward action! In the book of Nehemiah, we see that Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king, learned about the desolation of Jerusalem and the broken walls surrounding the city. Instead of being overwhelmed or immobilised by the situation, Nehemiah took an opportunity when it presented itself, took a risk, said a prayer, and took immediate action.

Nehemiah's bias toward action is demonstrated in several ways.

First, he quickly sought God's guidance through prayer, recognising that any progress would require divine intervention and wisdom.

Second, he devised a strategic plan to rebuild the walls and restore the city, demonstrating his proactive thinking and problem-solving skills.

Third, he rallied the people, inspiring them with a shared vision and enlisting their help in the task.

Despite facing opposition and challenges, Nehemiah pressed forward with determination and perseverance. He organised the people into teams, assigned specific tasks, and motivated them to work diligently. Nehemiah's bias toward action not only led to the successful reconstruction of the walls but also revitalised the spiritual and social life of the community.

The Beyond Church Leadership Culture of ‘Bias Toward Action” is about taking bold steps and making timely decisions to bring about positive change and accomplish significant goals.

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What A Revival Costs In 2023 - How To Budget For A Revival

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Stan Grant, in an article for the ABC this week, said that the freshly minted federal Budget is a “moral document” - I agree, but I don’t agree that the choices that were made in the writing of that document were what decided its moral virtue, good or bad…it runs so much much deeper than that.

What we know is that a document like the Australian federal budget, or your personal family budget, or your calendar, or the choices you make about the company you keep all flows downstream from vision, which flows downstream from values, which flows downstream from belief…and core beliefs are forged in the fire of a THE HUMAN HEART, not in the head.

So when you look at a personal household budget or a national budget, it reveals what is at the very core of its authors’ belief system (or in their HEART).

Therefore the ONLY way to ensure a document like a federal budget, family budget, or any plan we may have for our lives or for the hopes we might have for whatever it is that we are leading, to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven, is for us to have a heart for Jesus because JESUS is the King of the Heavenly Kingdom.

No other place on Earth deals solely with the condition of the Hunan heart…it is only the Church that cuts through all the noise of systems, processes, procedures, and ideologies and gets to the heart of what matters most…where are you with Jesus?

Because if Jesus isn’t king in your heart, His Kingdom will never be exercised in your world!

Church matters most of all. Nothing matters more.

I want us as leaders to be open to having our hearts affected by the presence of God in this current season of Revival…Why? Because I sense that this revival season will demand something from us as leaders that we haven’t had to give yet… New seasons expose us to new conditions, and we must be willing to change to meet the needs of this new season of God in our world….I want to show you what the Beyond Church Budget might look like if we are to pay the price for this next season:

It will be a YES to:

Uncertainty

Change

Growth

Tension

Brokenness

Selflessness

Sacrifice

Suffering

And it is to say NO to:

Ego

Agendas

Security

Stability

Now, growth in character occurs to the degree that we accept being forgiven as a greater gift than life itself. If the greatest gift is not what I see but how I am seen by the living God, then my gratitude knows no limits. It can grow immeasurably as I suffer through the loss of illusions, the death of dreams, and the shattering of success. Suffering grafts our hearts to grace. - Dan Allender, Walking with a Limp

Suffering grafts our heart to grace…so I don’t say that to scare you, but I say it to prepare you…You get to participate in the greatest work that anyone can do, leading this community of faith…through a season of revival. That will come at great costs…but the cost…can never outweigh the greatest gift of all, forgiveness and grace, and being SEEN by God!

Leading with a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness

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The Next You

1 Corinthians 11:1 TPT “I want you to pattern your lives after me, just as I pattern mine after Christ.”

How to Grow The Next You

IDENTIFY

we have to have our eyes open to ANYONE who might be a potential leader.....
How do we look at people?…as people to be led or as potential leaders?
How do we look at ourselves? LEADERS who lead people or leaders who lead LEADERS?

INSPIRE

Speak Inspirationally: Prophecy, speak life, speak encouragement, speak destiny and purpose and future, speak hope, speak faith
Live Inspirationally (model inspirationally)
Say yes to opportunities that make you uncomfortable, take a risk, try new things, go to new places. You have to see yourself as a LEADER in your WHOLE life...this is the YES we say when we step into leading in church life…

INVITE

This is actually your big risk, not theirs - Andrew and Bec Story...
Reasons we often don't make the BIG ask:
- territorial + insecure (if we are always making a place we will always have a place)

How To Be A Next You (How to be the best follower)

IDENTIFY (A Leader)

Do not wait to be identified by a leader - Identify a leader!
If you have access to great people close by - make it work.
If you aren’t face to face with someone, at least once a month, who is asking you the hard questions…you are STUCK, simple as that.

INSPIRE (Your Leader)

Be honest, be vulnerable, be faithful, be spiritual, be trusting.
Say yes to opportunities that make you uncomfortable, take a risk, try new things, go to new places.

INVITE (Yourself)

Ask for someone to lead you and then YOU OWN the responsibility of that relationship. And KEEP inviting yourself into / lean into it!

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NOTES:

Throughout the biblical narrative, we see that God is always moving … God is active and at work

He moves and moves us and our whole world toward Himself.

We see this movement, this God activity, manifests itself differently across time.

For example in the Old Testament when the nation of Israel camped in the wilderness, a MOVE OF GOD was evidenced by the physical shift of a cloud or a fire….when God moved…the people followed

In the New Testament (pre-Pentecost) God (Jesus) was always on the move and His followers followed.

Post Pentecost the movement of God is manifest by the work of the Spirit…

As followers of Jesus, we actually have a responsibility to be aware of these Holy Spirit movements, revivals, awakenings AND we MUST move with them…

When God is moving, revival is breaking out, a move of God is taking place..our BEST response is to embrace the change AND deploy our systems.

ACTS 6:1-4 MSG During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”

Number 4:5-6 NLT When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenantwith it. Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.

Deploy Our Systems:

Return to the heart of it.
Systems serve our culture, culture serves our values - What matters most to us, needs to matter right throughout our journey with God as he moves us, revives us, and shifts us.
Pre-build scalable systems across all areas of church life.
finance, governance, leadership, discipleship, evangelism
Be faithful in the middle of the move…
Wait on the tables / fold the fabrics, i.e. Turn up, week in and week out, do the work, make the phone calls, roster the teams, and bring our best in all areas of church life.

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Catch up on Part 1 An Apathetic Christianity - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090?i=1000604233473

Catch up on Part 2 An Apocalyptic Culture - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090?i=1000606393102

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You can access the notes to the episode HERE:

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If you liked what you heard you can watch this here: https://youtu.be/X2mVoJtebbk

Full show notes are available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h2P8MmcA12OznOqSdBCJkGGqm5iagpjW/view?usp=share_link

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The 3 Attributes Of A Pre-Revival Environment

PART 1 - An Apathetic Christianity

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Matthew 24:6-13 NLT

And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Australia is in pre-revival

If you study revival history you will see that there are some common precursors to localised, national and global revivals.

A decline in Christian church attendance and Christian relevance in the culture (evident in the US and in Australia)
Social, political and economic instability and uncertainty (A rise in minority agenda-driven politics, cost of living challenges, internets rate rises, and even this week 2 major US bank closures)
Remnant of faithful, passionate ALL HEARTED Jesus’ followers repenting for their own half-heartedness and repenting on behalf of their nation… regularly in church, in prayer and faithfully adhering to their spiritual disciples (fasting, sacrificing, abstaining, etc…)

Today I have labelled these pre-revival indicators, An Apathetic Christianity - An Apocalyptic Culture - An Advantaged Church

An Apathetic Christianity

We really can not afford to be unconcerned about the decline in church attendance and should not be accepting it as a new, post-pandemic normal for the community of faith.

I can see 3 main drivers for this decline and it is my very strong conclusion that we need to pray that for revival for these drivers to be arrested and reversed.

An Undisciplined Post-Covid Community | 2. An Ego Theology | 3. The Substitution of Church Community
An Undisciplined Post Covid Community

In the early Church, Jesus’ followers met daily and daily the number of new Jesus followers grew.

When we are undisciplined we add activities into our lives that serve our own self-centred needs, comforts and selfish desires. When we do this church falls much further down our list of priorities.

Daily connection with church, slips to just a few times a week, which becomes weekly, then monthly, then annually if at all.

It is important to note that the apathetic Christian is not making a cognitive rejection of church nor would they say they dislike or disagree with the role of Jesus’ church in the world. They have simply succumbed to the evil temptation of small subtle shifts in prioritisation, value, and love for Jesus’ church.

The unavoidable consequence of living an undisciplined Christianity is that one must deal with their incongruence. A Christian can not love Jesus but not love Jesus’ one true love, His church. So this leads to the need to either accept the error of our undisciplined ways and make the very difficult, but necessary changes to realign our lives with the agenda of heaven and the theological imperative of the centrality of the church in our world (and play our part in that) or we have to write a new ecclesiology. This new theology of the church is what I would call; Ego Ecclesiology.

The Ego Theology

It is far too common in our Apathetic Christian culture for seasoned, establish Christians and Christian families to come to a pseudo-theological conclusion that Jesus has suddenly decided that regularly gathering together with other believers and those seeking faith, in a faith-filled, Jesus-worshipping, bible-preaching atmosphere is optional.

Many Christians have forgotten the centrality of Jesus’ bride in the mission of saving our world. The new ego ecclesiology deconstructs the nature, function and even mission of the church. The common tenants of this new belief system are things like:

‘Church is not about the building, Jesus never said we need to buy a building to build a church’

‘I can build my Christian community at home, online and still be at church’

‘The modern church isn’t anything like the church in the book of Acts’

‘The church is just an organisation that needs my money and time’

What we know is this, in the economy of the Kingdom of God, there are no self-managed ministry funds. If we want to see The King’s reward for our ministries, our families, our homes, our finances and in our relationships then we must allow the King, Jesus, to ordain our steps. There is no room for an ego ecclesiology, in the Kingdom. Attending our churches regularly and participating in their mission to reach the world is not optional, it is a fundamental Christina tenant, imperative and order from The King.

The only Christians who have any right to speak up about social injustices, economic inequalities or political persecution, are those who are already participants in God’s one and only rescue plan to deal with the brokenness in our world, His Church!

The Substitution of Church Community

In a pre-revival environment, Christians substitute almost anything for church. They have lost sight of the value, and necessity of allowing King Jesus to rule their lives and to allow His divine hand to place them in His church community.

When we allow God to plant us in a church community we have to do the imperative, essential, and proper work of thriving in an imperfect community. Apathetic Christians have lost the ability to thrive in their families, marriages, businesses and work relationships because they have chosen to exclude themselves from engaging with all the difficult people in their church community and substituted that growth opportunity for the safety security, comfort and predictability of their close friends and family. This decision has crippled their spirituality, halted their growth and development as leaders and robbed their families of the kind of divine favour that only follows faithfulness.

There is no substitution for the gathered body of Jesus Christ. We are called to build His community, not our community, to outwork His mission, not our mission, to build His church not the church of my preferences.

When all the lights go out…you can see the stars…..

The Remnant

For those who are not apathetic toward the mission of the church, for those who are living all-hearted toward a revival of the hearts of Christians toward Jesus’ church; more is asked of you. You are called to remain faithful as a remnant, to seek God for revival through prayer and sacrifice. Your coming challenge will be dealing with self-righteousness and indignation when the apathetic community awakens, and revival breaks out because your faithfulness and sacrifice will go unseen.

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The UN’s theme for IWD this year is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, and “highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.”

I’ve given this year’s IWD my own theme: Proverbs 1:33, “But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, that one will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”

MY STORY: I sought God for a word over my year this year and believe He showed me the word FREE.

How can we be leaders who empower women and girls to live “FREE FROM FEAR, CONFIDENT AND COURAGEOUS”?

Lose the Pink Princess
Language carries culture, so what you say always matters.
Consider Your Own Bias
Leaders are self-reflective. We take the time to consider our own personal prejudices, biases and level of privilege.
See What’s Unique, Regardless of Gender
Leaders see the whole person. Particularly with younger people, who may still be heavily influenced by their own family culture regarding gender, we are the ones who do the work to see beyond what is presented and see the person as God sees them. We see their potential regardless of how they may be presenting themselves to us right now and we speak into THAT.
God’s Word Over Everything
This Proverb reminds us that the key to living “free from fear, confident and courageous” is having the voice of God front and centre in our lives. As leaders who have influence and power to bring leadership development and opportunities to others, we hear from God over and above everything humans say about themselves and each other. If God says to promote or develop or invest into that person, but we can’t see it yet or they can’t see it in themselves, we still remain obedient and make the invitation. It’s not our responsibility to set people free, it’s our responsibility to be obedient to God’s voice in our lives.

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In studying revival history, one of the many common threads I’ve discovered is that the individuals who were catalytic in igniting revivals around the world had a personal re-awakening, renewal or personal revival.

It was from their full-to-overflowing spiritual tank that they were able to bring something of God into their world.

If we are to lead and be good stewards of a move of God in 2023…how should we (individually) prepare?

Matthew 12:34-35 NKJV

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Let’s spend the rest of this year tending to the condition of our hearts, prepare our hearts for INCREASE and prepare our hearts for MORE!

Psalm 51:10-13 NLT

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Do not banish me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

Then I will teach your ways to rebels,

and they will return to you.

Psalm 51:16:17 NLT

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Let’s do a quick pre-2023 heart check:

HOW SOFT IS OUR HEART?

Hard-hearted people often hide their vulnerabilities behind business…and even worse they dress up their hyperactivity as a ‘sacrifice to God.’

BUT The REAL sacrifice God is looking for is for us to allow the Holy Spirit to break the hardness off of our hearts. To allow the Holy Spirit to clean us up from the inside out! For us to be IN the presence of the Holy Spirit long enough for Him to restore to us the joy of our salvation…

This is why Worship will be so important in 2023

HOW OPEN IS OUR HEART?

An open makes room for more…

More room for more of the presence of God…

Intentionally carrying out time for private and corporate worship…

More room for more of the power of God …

This is making room for saying yes when you are called to activate the gifts of the spirit….praying for healing, giving words of knowledge, offering hospitality, stepping into leadership, prophesying etc….

More room for more of the people of God…

Is our heart ready to include new and often difficult people?
Is our heart ready to do the work to keep our friendships strong and healthy?
Will we be mature enough to keep short accounts, deal with our stuff, and chose not to be offended?

HOW GENEROUS IS OUR HEART?

What are we willing to give to Jesus? Our time, money, skills, resources etc…

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Mastering Your 2023 Vision Goals

// 3 Words To Master Your 2023 Vision Goals //

Search out your own ‘God Vision’
Search for VISION in atmospheres of faith

Church services / conferences / prayer meetings / missions trips

You won’t find your God vision in a room full of negative, naysaying devil’s advocates.

- “Position yourself to hear the Sound of the Spirit”

Search for VISION with people of faith

Life Group/church teams / spiritual mentors

Search for VISION within the book of faith

Approach the word of God with high levels of expectation when searching for fresh vision for your life….
- God is always speaking…but are we always listening?
- Set your own ‘only God’ vision goals + share them with a friend
being specific about your goals for 2023 is where most of us will drop the ball…but today we can arrest the tendency toward simple lip service and we can make an INTENTIONAL COMMITMENT to the SPECIFIC + the MEASURABLE

- So for us as a church we want to ALWAYS be growing, which means we need to count what counts and measure what matters. We need to write down the goals for our church AND keep an accurate record of those throughout the year. … This is where people think we move from Holy to crude and impersonal….THIS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH…it isn’t that the DEVIL is in the DETAILS it is “DETAILS are DEVINE”

“We count what counts and we measure what matters.”

How could this relate to your personal goals for 2023…

number of phone calls to that family member you are believing to see restoration with
number of dollars in your savings account
number of books to read
kms run
days addiction free
Be accountable
Be ok with failure + take ownership of your mistakes … that’s actually how we learn and more often than not is God’s tool to grow us…The ONLY way to grow in it, is to own it!
Pursue your ‘God Vision’ with ALL of your heart

Deuteronomy 30:8-10 MSG

And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all his commandments that I’m commanding you today. God, your God, will outdo himself in making things go well for you: you’ll have babies, get calves, grow crops, and enjoy an all-around good life. Yes, God will start enjoying you again, making things go well for you just as he enjoyed doing it for your ancestors. But only if you listen obediently to God, your God, and keep the commandments and regulations written in this Book of Revelation. Nothing halfhearted here; you must return to God, your God, totally, heart and soul, holding nothing back.

“Let’s throw off the discouragement and disappointment of the last season of uncertainty and instability and receive a fresh anointing to go after all God has for us in 2023.”

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The 6 Catalytic Imperatives To All Revivals

It is remaining faithful to ur FOUNDATIONS and seeing our METHODS as MALLEABLE

Gathering

We have to position ourselves to catch the waves that God sends. Revival culture can not be caught in isolation.

Prayer

revival will only grow from a soil rich in prayer.

Arthur Tappan Pierson a famous American presbyterian revivalists of the 1800’s who preached over 13,000 sermons, wrote over fifty books said:

‘There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer’.

Worship

Revivals have a sound

Worship is a FOUNDATION for revival!

Word Of God
Bible reading and bible preaching are central to the individual and to the church
Holiness / Heart / Humility
Humour

It’s ok if you miss a move of God because, like the waves of the ocean, there is always another one coming, BUT I am going to do whatever it takes to position myself and our church to catch what is coming in this season.

Q: From that list of revival imperatives, which one do you think you resonate with most?

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Writing Your 2023 Emotional and Spiritual Budget

If you liked what you heard you can listen HERE.

Time, like our finances, can only be spent in ONE of two ways…as an investment, or as a waste - we can either invest our time or waste our time…

Today I wanted to look at how we can invest of our time into our EMOTIONAL and SPIRITUAL lives for 2023.

START WITH VISION

Where is God leading you in 2023?

Financial and time budgets should be written to strategically pursue vision…But to plan and schedule the pursuit of the ‘God vision’ for your life for 2023, you have to know what that is…

BUILD A TIME BUDGET WITH EMOTIONAL HEALTH AT THE CENTRE

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Schedule The Rhythm

Daily Devotion
Weekly Sabbath
Annual Leave

Select The People

Date nights
Family dinners
Mentoring/Supervision
Maintain friendships
Monitor your spending (some people are emotionally EXPENSIVE)

Set The Scene - WHERE…fills your emotional tank?

Go to places that fill your soul - explore, travel, and say yes to adventure!
BUILD A TIME BUDGET WITH SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT AS AN IMPERATIVE

Acts 4:13-15 The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him. Standing there with them was the healed man, and there was nothing further they could say.

2023 can be a year where you can see astonishing, supernatural activity, outworked through your life…You have no reason to discredit yourself from this as this verse demonstrates, you do not need a degree in theology for the Holy Spirit to work through you…BUT!

We MUST spend time with .. HIM! I can’t stress enough how this is different to simply, keeping your emotional health strong, this is not just reading a daily devotional…This is about leaning into the supernatural…and you can budget for it:

Budget to be in atmospheres of faith

Church services / conferences / prayer meetings / missions trips

Budget your time to be with people of faith

Life Group/church teams / spiritual mentors

Spend time practising your gifts of the Spirit

(encouragement, healing, hospitality, generosity, administration, words of knowledge, prophecy etc…)

Leave margin in your schedule, so you can respond to Holy Spirit promptings AND be flexible enough to change your schedule to answer the call of the Spirit.

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Embedding and Integrating Powerful ‘God Encounters’ Into Your Life

If you like what you've listened to, you can watch here

https://youtu.be/JwPg7myiR6A

Supernatural encounters change lives IF our lives change.

This thought is all about how to embed and integrate powerful God encounters into our lives so that change is enduring.

Lessons from the prophet Elijah who had just had some extremely powerful breakthroughs in his ministry:

He prayed for rain and it came after a 7-year drought.
He had just called down actual fire from heaven.
He had just taken out 850 pagan prophets in a showdown.
He had supernaturally outran the king's chariot.

But in 1 Kings 19, we meet Elijah on his Monday after a powerful Sunday in church or on the day after the conference finished or the weeks following an addiction is broken off your life, or days after miraculous physical healing. From this chapter, we can glean 8 lessons from Elijah that will help us embed and integrate ‘God encounters’ into our life so change is enduring.

ONE

1 Kings 19:2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

Lesson 1: Be careful whom you let speak into your life immediately after a powerful encounter with God

You can choose whom you tell, you can choose where you go, you can choose what you look at (social media) you can choose when to open your emails etc…

TWO

1 Kings 19:3-4 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, travelling all day.

Lesson 2: Don’t travel alone

Position great people in your world and do the work to keep them there
If you are travelling alone, that’s on you
Leading lonely will lead you astray / into the wilderness

THREE

1 Kings 19:4 “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

Lesson 3: Don’t compare YOUR God’s encounter with the experience of others

God meets you right where YOU are at. Just because your experience with God wasn’t like those that others have had doesn’t discount its supernatural power at work in YOUR life!
Don’t compare THIS experience to those you’ve had in the past…”in the good old days God use to . . .” God is up to something new…!

FOUR

1 Kings 19:5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”

Lesson 4: Keep your rest

Elijah had had a powerful season of effectiveness and tremendous God encounters…However, this was taxing on his physical and emotional health….But as soon as he had a good night’s sleep….God showed up again!

FIVE

1 Kings 19:6-7 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”

Lesson 5: Keep your healthy habits

The supernatural encounter of the angel in this part of the story is ironic because it took the supernatural to remind Elijah to do what was natural….eat enough food and drink enough water for the journey, not too little, not too much and get MOVING! Healthy lifestyles and healthy habits help to embed and integrate those unique and irregular experiences into our lives.

SIX

1 Kings 19:11-13 And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Lesson 6: Keep listening to God

…in the small things (Elijah heard God in the whisper)

SEVEN

1 Kings 19:15-16 Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel

Lesson 7: Keep serving God

…in the small things (Elijah went back to anointing the people of God for ministry as in the bread and butter of the prophet)

EIGHT

1 Kings 19:16 and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.

Lesson 8: Look for Legacy

These God encounters were never meant to elevate Elijah’s status, but position him to identify and raise up the next generation and leave a kingdom legacy…who is the NEXT you?

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Trimming Wicks and Filling Lamps

Matthew 25:1 - 10 TPT

“When my coming draws near, heaven’s kingdom realm can be compared to ten maidens who took their oil lamps and went outside to meet the bridegroom and his bride. Five of them were foolish and ill-prepared, for they took no extra oil for their lamps. Five of them were wise, for they took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. When the bridegroom didn’t come when they expected, they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were awakened by the shout ‘Get up! The bridegroom is here! Come out and have an encounter with him!’ So all the girls got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones were running out of oil, so they said to the five wise ones, ‘Share your oil with us because our lamps are going out!’ “ ‘We can’t,’ they replied. ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. You’ll have to go and buy some for yourselves!’ “While the five girls were out buying oil, the bridegroom appeared. Those who were ready and waiting were escorted inside with him and the wedding party to enjoy the feast. And then the door was locked.”

In this story, the oil represents the infilling power, presence, provision and direction of the Holy Spirit and the lamps are the vessels that carry all of that. The lamps are you and me…the church … today God wants to challenge our BC leadership team with this one question …

Q: ARE WE TRIMMING WICKS AND FILLING LAMPS?

Our leaders must focus on what matters most: the presence, power, provision and leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our churches and teams.

Oil doesn’t come cheap…if your pursuit of the presence, power and provision of the holy comes easily…it’s cheap oil …

Build margin into your week, to be in prayer, in the presence of God, in worship …

We can not draw oil from the lamps of others and other leaders …you can learn how to trim your wick and polish from others but YOU are responsible for your own spiritual temperature … only YOU can fill your lamp with oil.

trimming wicks vs buying oil … YES we all need to lead with a trimmed wick = leading with excellence - this story isn’t saying that a functional and excellent vessel/leader isn’t necessary! We need to be excellent at the maintenance of our leadership gift - we need to be reading, studying, and developing our skills as leaders + we still need to be executing tasks with excellence and in a timely manner - we still need to be wick trimmers, BUT spending ALL of our time trimming wicks is simply foolishness if your lamp has no oil…

Why is it so important to have a full lamp and a trimmed wick?

Finally, when we lead full of the Holy Spirit AND we have the leadership capacity to carry it (lamp) AND we keep our wicks trimmed (bringing our best, doing the work)…then and only then are we truly ON FIRE! … lighting up a path to the bridegroom,….that is what this is all about!

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If you liked what you heard you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/beyondchurchau?sub_confirmation=1

Trimming Wicks and Filling Lamps

Matthew 25:1 - 10 TPT

Q: ARE WE TRIMMING WICKS AND FILLING LAMPS?

Our leaders must focus on what matters most: the presence, power, provision and leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our churches and teams.

Oil doesn’t come cheap…if your pursuit of the presence, power and provision of the holy comes easily…it’s cheap oil …

Build margin into your week, to be in prayer, in the presence of God, in worship …

trimming wicks vs buying oil … YES we all need to lead with a trimmed wick = leading with excellence - this story isn’t saying that a functional and excellent vessel/leader isn’t necessary! We need to be excellent at the maintenance of our leadership gift - we need to be reading, studying, and developing our skills as leaders + we still need to be executing tasks with excellence and in a timely manner - we still need to be wick trimmers, BUT spending ALL of our time trimming wicks is simply foolishness if your lamp has no oil…

Why is it so important to have a full lamp and a trimmed wick?

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In yesterday’s message: https://youtu.be/cYExAK5WQog ...I listed 9 things that the bible explicitly invites us to pray for: Forgiveness / anxiety / wisdom / your enemies / healing / miracles / revival / The Holy Spirit / EVERYTHING ELSE!

So from that list, I asked God, what is one thing that I should bring to our team today and invite them to focus on praying about over this next week….REVIVAL…

There are 3 key verses that we can meditate on ‘IN PRAYER’ over the next week, that will help keep us focused as we pray.

Mark 11:24 TPT This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—be convinced that you have received it and it will be yours.

DON’T PRAY PIDDLY PRAYERS (PATHETIC, TRIVIAL, TRIFLING)

BE BOLD - Revival prayers have, historically always been imbued with BOLD BELIEF…due to the fact that many (if not all) of the recorded revivals in history were born from a season of deep desperation among the people of God AND the wider community. Desperate people pray BOLD prayers!

Matthew 9:38 MSG What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!

DON’T PRAY FOR WHAT ALREADY EXISTS!

What I love about this verse is that it reminds us that it is not our role to generate a harvest…the harvest already exists! This verse calls us to set our sails in prayer! To be READY, and for us to prepare as many others as possible for What GOD WILL DO, and for what ONLY GOD CAN DO.

The great Welsh revival at the turn of the 20th century was led primarily by Evan Roberts, whose first job at age 12 was as a coal miner in 1890…He prayed every day for revival for 13 years and in 1904 God turned up and revival broke out. https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-welsh-revival-of-1904-06

2 Chronicles 7:14 MSG If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place.

DON’T PRAY FOR THE WORLD TO CHANGE! MAKE A CHANGE

How should we respond after a plague? How have you responded after the loss, grief and disruption of the last 2.5 years? How did you respond during the plague? Were you praying that God would, change the government, change the mandates, change the restrictions, change the rules…?

God calls us to respond by getting to our knees, getting into His presence, and living a Holy life… Maybe these 3 simple verses brought to God IN PRAYER could change the game, and bring revival to our land.

If you liked what you have heard you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/beyondchurchau?sub_confirmation=1

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So from that list, I asked God, what is one thing that I should bring to our team today and invite them to focus on praying about over this next week….REVIVAL…

There are 3 key verses that we can meditate on ‘IN PRAYER’ over the next week, that will help keep us focused as we pray.

Mark 11:24 TPT This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—be convinced that you have received it and it will be yours.

DON’T PRAY PIDDLY PRAYERS (PATHETIC, TRIVIAL, TRIFLING)

Matthew 9:38 MSG What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!

DON’T PRAY FOR WHAT ALREADY EXISTS!

2 Chronicles 7:14 MSG If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place.

DON’T PRAY FOR THE WORLD TO CHANGE! MAKE A CHANGE

If you liked what you have heard you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/beyondchurchau?sub_confirmation=1

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When You Are Winning

Stop and Celebrate
- Celebrate the person
- Celebrate the specifics
- Celebrate the cultural alignment
- Stop and Strategise
- Ask the question: Why are we winning? Andy Stanley has said, “ If you don’t know why it’s working when it’s working, you won’t know how to fix it when it breaks.”
- Don’t Stop There
- The enemy of winning is not losing, the enemy of winning is complacency. Losing is actually a great motivator…winning on the other hand can move us into maintenance, maintenance eventually leads to losing.

“Day 1 Culture vs Day 2 Culture” - https://aws.amazon.com/executive-insights/content/how-amazon-defines-and-operationalizes-a-day-1-culture/

Read this recent blog from, Daniel Slater Worldwide Lead, Culture of Innovation, Amazon Web Services and read it through the following lens…Churches are called to reach their world for Jesus…the people in our world are the same people that a successful company is reaching…they are doing some things right…is the church as relentless at reaching its world for Jesus?

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HopeUC

Ps. Rick Godwin

N.T Wright - The New Testament In Its World

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About You

Can you tell us a little about your family life, your current role at Lighthouse and your responsibilities within our ACC Movement?

Young Leaders

One of the key areas of focus for you as our NSW ACC State President is the development of young leaders. We also see this need apparent in our context.

What do you think is missing from our churches that has meant we are short of young leaders, and what is it that we can do to find, raise and release young people?

Finishing Well

There have been many leaders, both high profile and unseen, that have become COVID casualties, both during and whilst emerging from this pandemic. My heart is to see our leaders rise from strength to strength into the post-pandemic world. What would you be encouraging your leaders to be focusing on today, so that they are still winning tomorrow?

Your Legacy

If you had unlimited time and resources, and if you knew you couldn’t fail, what is something that you would start today that would become your legacy for the church of tomorrow?

Your Influences

Whom do you like to read, listen to or follow? Whom would you recommend our young leaders look for inspiration from?

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Lighthouse Church

Paul’s Books

Re-Think It

Thank God It’s Monday

Paul’s Podcast

Re-Think It

Carey Nieuhof

Paul Scanlon

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Why Vietnam? Tell us a little about your journey toward full-time on-the-field missionaries in Vietnam….not a common calling, but a much-needed one!

Leading Cross-Culturally

All of us have to lead people who are not like us…different values, beliefs, worldviews, and in your role you have ALL of that plus a significant language barrier….what leadership skills have you had to learn to lead in a different culture?

Ongoing SupportWhat are the top 5 5hings that non-missionaries, like us, can do to support you and you and your teams in Vietnam?

Support Beyond Church and Our Missionaries in Vietnam

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Women in Leadership

Is it biblical?
Why is it still such a hot topic in the Christian world but not so much in the marketplace?

Theology

In our conversations, and in your preaching, you clearly have a passion for biblical literacy and rigorous theological study. Where does this passion come from?
Can theology help us in a practical way or is it simply knowledge for knowledge’s sake?

Social Media

I’ve seen you jump in and out of social media over the years. What role do you think social media should play in our personal lives, as a leadership tool, and in the church more broadly?

Personal Leadership Development

Would you agree with the thought that ‘Leaders are Readers', and whom do you like to read/listen to and why?

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Matt's Reading and Listening List:

Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Strangers-Should-about-People-ebook/dp/B07NDKVWZW

Jordan Peterson https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/beyond-order/

Timothy Keller https://timothykeller.com

Stanley McChrystal, Team of Teams https://www.amazon.com.au/Team-Teams-Rules-Engagement-Complex/dp/1591847486

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know

Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World

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International Women’s Day 2022

FULL NOTES

I love seeing International Women’s Day as an opportunity to reflect on the past and where we’ve come from, while also looking ahead to what we can still do to make sure women and men have equal opportunity to bring their unique contribution to the world, without privilege or persecution. I am proud to be a woman, but like most women I know, have experienced challenges based on people’s perceptions of gender and how they thought I should look or act, or which roles I should aspire to in my life based on the fact that I am a woman.

I think the one word I would convey to people, both women and men, boys and girls, this International Women’s Day, is that you are enough. God sees you and he loves you just as you are. I, in fact, believe he has made you and given you everything you need to be all that you desire to be in your life.

This International Women’s Day I want to honour and celebrate all the women who are thoughtfully, intentionally, passionately and prayerfully going after everything that is in their heart to bring to the world. Whether it’s in business, family, work, leadership or ministry, I am here today cheering for you and reminding you that you have been given everything you need to accomplish what you feel called to bring to the world. Whether it’s an entrepreneurial enterprise, a strong family, a contribution to your local community and the social fabric of your sphere of influence, senior leadership in the corporate sector or not-for-profit space or church and ministry leadership that’s on your heart, your contribution is NECESSARY.

To the men who empower women in your world, don’t get tired or give up! Your contribution is equally necessary in a world where men have throughout history been automatically given more power, influence and authority than women, simply based on their gender. I am so grateful for the men in my life who have not only empowered me to bring my unique contribution to the world, but have gone above and beyond by taking a step backwards in their own career trajectory in order to reset the equilibrium as their own contribution toward equality for women.

Let me finish by saying this: Jesus, the person throughout history who I personally allow to have the most influence into my thinking and actions, spent his short time on earth beginning the work of turning a culture where women had little value, power or opportunity to better themselves and their families, upside down. And here’s what he said about you being enough: “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

In these words lie the answer to feeling overwhelmed as a mum of young kids or a woman juggling the tension of solo parenting or work and study. Here is how we can carry a grace for dealing with infertility, or relationship breakdown, or the toxicity and evil of abuse in all its forms. Here is how we find our calling and become reinspired that we are, in fact, enough. We bring our full selves, simply, honestly, authentically, just as we are, to the God who loves us. We pour our hearts out to him and just watch how he begins to build us back up again when we empty our hearts out to him.

Happy International Women’s Day.

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This thought is laying heavy on my heart today. I want to come to you as a pastor and friend who has genuine concerns for your future, not just as a leader, but even more than that, as a person, a father, a mother, a son daughter, an employee, a business owner etc…

We are at a critical point in our social landscape as a community. We are all re-emerging from 2 years of disrupted and dictated social interactions. So now we have a fresh sense of freedom to re-engage socially with our world BUT we are also presented with an extraordinarily UNIQUE opportunity. We can RESET our social lives….we have a free pass to choose a-fresh not just WHAT we will do with our freedom to socialise, but WHOM we will do it with!

This decision…this choice of WHO is what I feel to drill down on today.

Dr Henry Cloud - Boundaries for Leaders

It’s not enough to avoid toxic and negative connections; it’s critical that you invest in building positive ones. Positive emotions have been shown to broaden people’s range of thinking and responses, enabling them to become better problem solvers, more open to new inputs, and more efficient and productive. A positive emotional climate expands everyone’s intellectual repertoire and abilities. This is not happy talk, but neuroscience.

Jim Rohn - “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

We become, who we are with.

Proverbs 13:20 MSG

“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.”

Do the people you spend time with, revive your spirit?

Proverbs 25:25 TPT

“Like a drink of cool water to a weary, thirsty soul, so hearing good news revives the spirit.”

Are you hearing good reports from your closest relationships?

Proverbs 15:30 TPT

“Eyes that focus on what is beautiful bring joy to the heart, and hearing a good report refreshes and strengthens the inner being.”

Q: How is your “People Picker?”

We all choose individuals to be around us, and most of them are pretty good finds.

But it’s easy to also get a bit out of balance, and have a lot more “drain” than “gain” relationships…

QUIZ

Let’s do an individual HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP quiz….I will list the 7 kinds of relationships that John Townsend discusses in his book People Fuel, that from 1, are top fuelers to 7, are massive drainers….you write down after each kind of relationship, how many of these kinds of people you would say are in your world and/or how much time you spend with those kinds of people.

Check out the rest of the notes here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sQ65o0_7Ywe8Q-1odZE4sVa4dI-SicTP/view?usp=sharing

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The Spiritual Discipline Of Living an Above and Beyond Life

Above and Beyond - Kingdom First Leadership

Time

Principle:

Deuteronomy 12;15 MSG

No working on the Sabbath; keep it holy just as God, your God, commanded you. Work six days, doing everything you have to do, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, a Rest Day—no work: not you, your son, your daughter, your servant, your maid, your ox, your donkey (or any of your animals), and not even the foreigner visiting your town. That way your servants and maids will get the same rest as you. Don’t ever forget that you were slaves in Egypt and God, your God, got you out of there in a powerful show of strength. That’s why God, your God, commands you to observe the day of Sabbath rest.

Mark 2:27

“The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.”

Sabbath is 1 full 24hr period Sabbath is 14% of your week.

To honour the Sabbath is to unlock an area of supernatural favour in the area of productivity in our lives in the same way that tilting unlocks supernatural financial favour.

Practice:

Stop / Rest / Delight / Contemplate

Sabbath as a discipline can be applied by giving a day to God through the local Church. Or even 3 hours out of that 25 hr period at church where we can stop, rest, delight and contemplate.

The world is catching onto this and there is a burgeoning movement today called ‘slow productivity.”

Finances

Principle:

Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Practice:

Haggai 1:9 NLT “You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.”

Begins with Tithing (giving God 10% through the local church) but doesn’t stop there.

Power (autonomy/independance)

Principle:

Psalms 37:3-5 TPT “Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure, feasting on his faithfulness. Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and he will provide for you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!”

Matthew 16:24-26 MSG

“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”

Practice:

Submission (Honouring spiritual leadership through the life of a local church)

1 Corinthians 10:33, 11:1-2 TPT Follow my example, for I try to please everyone in all things, rather than putting my liberty first. I sincerely attempt to do anything I can so that others may be saved. I want you to pattern your lives after me, just as I pattern mine after Christ. And I give you full credit for always keeping me in mind as you follow carefully the substance of my instructions.

Who are we patterning our lives after and whom are we calling to do the same after us?

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How To Lead With Bold Belief In 2022

Mark 11:24 TPT

This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer—be convinced that you have received it and it will be yours.

What is it that we should be setting our leadership sights on and believing God for in 2022?

Where are YOU going and what will YOU need to do to get there in 2022?

Luke 5:4-8 TPT

'Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished, he said to Peter, “Now row out to deep water to cast your nets and you will have a great catch.” “Master,” Peter replied, “we’ve just come back from fishing all night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you insist, we’ll go out again and let down our nets because of your word.” When they pulled up their nets, they were shocked to see a huge catch of fish, and their nets were ready to burst! They waved to their business partners in the other boat for help. They ended up completely filling both boats with fish until they began to sink! When Simon Peter saw this astonishing miracle , he knelt at Jesus’ feet and begged him, “Go away from me, Master, for I am a sinful man!”'

BOLD belief is launching out into the deep…

Launching out in to the deep, to BOLDLY BELIEVE is to be obedient to an irrational invitation from Jesus.
- Don’t get to the end of 2022 and regret saying NO to a BIG CHALLENGE that Jesus invited you to step into.
- Launching out in to the deep, to BOLDLY BELIEVE is to face your fears.
Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of optics
Launching out into the deep, to BOLDLY BELIEVE is to be dependent upon your community
Winning in 2022, seeing those big BOLD BELIEFS realised, will not happen on your own…WE MUST be out in deep water with our community…WHO are you inviting to join you in the DEEP WATER?

Take the time this week to write down the deep water dreams you have your own personal leadership journey in 2022…when you read it back, it should look impossible….!

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How Leaders Find Favour In The Fallout

Number 1:1-5 MSG

God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai at the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year after they had left Egypt. He said, “Number the congregation of the People of Israel by clans and families, writing down the names of every male. You and Aaron are to register, company by company, every man who is twenty years and older who is able to fight in the army. Pick one man from each tribe who is head of his family to help you.

Numbers begins by taking a count of the people of Israel… positioning them into their family groups and then assigning them responsibilities so as to maintain the health, the order and the spiritual condition of the nation. After all of this order was established….at the end of Numbers 6 we read the priestly blessing of Aaron.

Number 6:24-26 NLT

‘May the Lord bless you

and protect you.

25May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

26May the Lord show you his favour

and give you his peace.’

It is absolutely critical in this season of re-gathering that we are aware of WHO is with us, where they fit into the life of the church, how and where they can lead and this will release blessing over the whole church.

This season has been coined, in church circles as The Great Return, but in step with that we are also experiencing the Great Realisation…..While we are seeing the church return to face to face gatherings we are also realising that many WILL NOT return as we thought they would OR they will return as very very different people.

In a post crisis church, whether it is a church split, the sudden exit of pastors and leadership, financial mismanagement, moral failing …. OR a global pandemic ravaged church…..

We must do what Moses and Aaron did:

Focus on the team who are WITH you!

Don’t live in discouragement, because those people who are still in your teams after crisis are ALL IN, they are looking for:

Inspiration, to be engaged, to be on mission, discipled, encouraged and led and celebrated!
Turn the remaining crowd into the core.

The church will still have people connected who my not be ALL IN, but are looking for their next step….they are with us because God has moved heaven and earth to bring them to us….Those looking for a faith community are more than ever ready to be ALL IN!….so let’s keep helping people take their next steps on their journey with Jesus…..

Embrace the inevitability of the work ahead.

Part of the intentionality behind the organisation of the tribes of Israel, the laws, cultural expectations, and ceremonial liturgy, was the fact that Moses and Aaron were staring down the barrel of a 40 year ordeal through the wilderness.

Despite this CRISIS, despite the LOSS and the DELAY of their dreams, they got on with…. They organised the troops and got moving….

Things look different o what they looked like in November 2019….but we will build again, and the church will prevail….and I want to be on the winning team, so I am ALL IN!

I want to receive that priestly blessing:

Number 6:24-26 NLT

‘May the Lord bless you

and protect you.

25May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

26May the Lord show you his favour

and give you his peace.’

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As a church we have cast fresh, clear and compelling vision about our next season. 2022 is a year for us to BELIEVE again, BELIEVE that Jesus builds His church, BELIEVE that we are BETTER TOGETHER, BELIEVE that we are called to something great, believe that the God does work all things together for GOOD and that the best really is yet to come…..BELIEVE that we will INHERIT God’s promises!

Do we BELIEVE this? As leaders, we must lead with this level of faith, belief and expectation….because, people will not lift their level of faith and belief above that of their leaders….if the people we lead have bigger faith and a larger level of expectation than us, then they will simply find bigger people to lead them.

The story of the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt has been a guiding leadership light for us as we have transitioned from lockdown to freedom…and today this story is teaching us a powerful lesson about how to lead into our vision to BELIEVE in 2022.

Today, let’s look at how the Israelite leaders, led their people into the promise that God had in front of them…..Just like God is calling us to lead people into the promises that He has for them in 2022.

Read Numbers 13-14.

Out of the 12 LEADERS Moses sent to do reconnaissance on the promise…..only 2 of the 12 of them came back with a good report. In fact, the report given by the 10 other leaders were answering questions Moses never asked.

Q: How do we be in the top 20% of leaders. A: It is all about WHAT WE BELIEVE.

A different SPIRIT knows what to BELIEVE…. What You Believe About God, What You Believe About You, What You Believe About Others

What Do You Believe About God?

Numbers 13:1 MSG

“Send men to scout out the country of Canaan that I am giving to the People of Israel.

God has already promised the people that he would GIVE them their destiny. God even calls it the PROMISED land.

If the people of God BELIEVED that their God was who He said He was and that He would do what He said He would do….then they would not have missed out God’d promise!

What Do You Believe About You?

Numbers 13:30 MSG

Caleb interrupted, called for silence before Moses and said, “Let’s go up and take the land—now. We can do it.”

Resources

Winning The War in Your Mind, Craig Groschell - shorturl.at/bqFQV

Words To Live By - https://finds.life.church/words/

What Do You Believe About Others?

Numbers 14:6-9 MSG

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, members of the scouting party, ripped their clothes and addressed the assembled People of Israel: “The land we walked through and scouted out is a very good land—very good indeed. If God is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land that flows, as they say, with milk and honey. And he’ll give it to us. Just don’t rebel against God! And don’t be afraid of those people. Why, we’ll have them for lunch! They have no protection and God is on our side. Don’t be afraid of them!”

What do you believe about those who lead you?
What do you believe about those you lead?
What do you believe about those you are yet to lead OR the people you are trying to REACH?

Resources

People Fuel, John Townsend - shorturl.at/mnrB5

360 Degree Leader, John Maxwell - shorturl.at/xGNQX

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How an Honour Culture Will Release Supernatural Favour In A Post Lockdown World

Lessons from the foot of Mt Sinai

In this current season, good church leaders are fighting for unity, making peace, casting vision, building stability, setting direction, securing safety, re engineering community….? How can the church best support their leaders during this season?

Like the Israelites emerging from lockdown/captivity, the church is now on the move and we need to be lead by the Spirit of God and by God’s appointed leaders….-

ONE OF THE KEYS for our success as we transition into this post lockdown world…is how we/the church responds to LEADERSHIP>>>>>

The Israelites really got this wrong…and we can learn from their mistakes and be prepared to lean into Godly leadership during this next phase of our journey as a church. (AS THE CHURCH)

I actually believe that God is going to use this season to re-instate an Honour Culture back into the life of the local church….a lot of churches have lost this powerful kingdom principle….but just like, daily devotional time, prayer, tithing, serving, Sabbath, when we embrace an honour culture, something supernatural is released into our lives that would otherwise never be enjoyed….it is another dimension of kingdom favour…

Tithing releasing supernatural kingdom favour on your financial world

Sabbath releasing supernatural kingdom favour on your time

Honour realising supernatural favour on your relational world

3 Keys to help us reinstate a healthy honour culture into the life of our churches:

To honour well we must understand PRESENCE

Exodus 19:9 MSG

“God said to Moses, “Get ready. I’m about to come to you in a thick cloud so that the people can listen in and trust you completely when I speak with you.”

When God wants to establish trust between leadership and the church…he will come with his PRESENCE and God will speak to leadership in such a way that the people know that it is the voice of God himself speaking.

If you want to hear from God, make sure you align your life with leadership that prioritises PRESENCE…today more than ever, leaders need to be immersed in the presence of God!

But as followers, we must also be aware that a key component of a leader’s role is to make time for moments of encounter with the GOD.

To honour well we must understand PATIENCE

Exodus 32:1 MSG

“When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, “Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what’s happened to him?””

What will the church do while leaders are fighting for unity, making peace, casting vision, building stability, setting direction, securing safety, re engineering community….?

In this text we see some very powerful leadership lessons:

The danger of lobbying, and self appointed leadership - Don’t let your impatience motivate you to appoint a new leader. Self appointed leadership, is a recipe for division, disaster and ultimately the unnecessary death of whatever it is that is being stewarded buy the leader, church, business, family, etc…
Activity is not the same as productive, do SOMETHING is never better than doing the RIGHT THING…sometimes the RIGHT THING is waiting!
People NEED to be lead…if you are a leader, make sure you being leadership…Aaron was the God appointed leader inthte absence of Moses, but when challenged by the people brought NO leadership….
To dismantle God’s plan, disparage God’s leaders…..”That Moses….who knows what happened?” If you can upset God’s appointed leadership you can dismantle God’s entire agenda…

You don’t need to inflate the reality of the leadership you have, but you can bring stability to God’s plan by honouring it.

To honour well we must understand THE LEADERS HEART

After the people convinced Aaron to build an idol, and rebel against God’s law for them…God was set on killing them all, BUT Moses advocatrd for the people, for he had a heart that was toward those that he was leading….Moses once again, saves the people….

BUT…Moses then has the levites execute 3000 Israelites as punishment for their disobedience!

So…Moses privately saves the nation but publicly slaughters 3000 people…

We often never get to see the hard work done by our leaders in the back rooms, closed doors of their world, doing the hard work to ensure we are safe and, healthy secure, moving forward…….we can only see the leader through the lease of her actions…this tension is actually in irresolvable BUT we can chose to either trust her HEART or not….

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Leading With A Clear, Compelling and Ubiquitous Culture in A Post Lockdown World

Before the law was given to the Israelites, teaching them how to behave, live together, worship together and go ON MISSION as a community…Moses created a system of leadership….leadership comes before LAW, ad leadership comes before MISSION….the same is true at the second Pentecost when we see the 120 (twelve tribes) ordered, so that the new law of grace could be released by the power of the Holy Spirit BEFORE the church was sent on MISSION into the world….

AS we emerge from lockdown…it is important that leadership is established….and we do that by leading culture….this is who we are and this is how we do things around here….so THEN we can get on with mission…and MOVING where God calls us to move to…..BUT CULTURE has to come first.

Q: How do you create a clear, compelling and ubiquitous Kingdom Culture in a post lockdown church? ..

Lead to the level of permission.
Lead the lean in first
Lead with strength, because strong leadership brings clarity….(The superpower of culture is that it attracts and repels, but it can’t do so if it is not clear)
Re-tell the culture in stories….celebrate the culture with ‘good reports’
Re-visit the culture regularly.

Let’s Revisit The Beyond Church Culture…

L.I.F.E

Romans 12:2 TPT “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will [CULTURE] as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

At Beyond Church we say we BRING a culture of LIFE.

L = LOVE

We don’t come to church to find love - we BRING love to our church.

1 Corinthians 13:5-7 TPT

Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”

a culture of love means: we keep short accounts, we deal with our stuff, we forgive regularity and completely,
We aren’t jealous of others opportunities, others salaries, others titles - because there is no THEM there is only US! Which means when one succeeds…we all succeed.
Love ENCOURAGES without qualification
Love keeps loving, no matter what...nothing excuses lovelessness
Loves is un-offendable. ...hurt people hurt people...be hurt...but don’t be offended...

The length of time you remain offended exposes the depth of your surrendered life.

The longer you hold that offence, the weaker your surrender grows. Because you can’t hold both at the same time…The same heart that holds the offence is the same here that is trying to hold onto Jesus.

I = INSPIRATION

We don’t come to church to be inspired.. we BRING Inspiration to church

Romans 8:15 MSG

This resurrection life is not a timid-grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next?” (MSG)

WE BRING! inspiration....

Q: Why has Jesus saved you? A: You have been saved, so that others would be saved.

Q: Who are YOU inspiring?

“if you are not discipling someone, you are not a disciple.”

Inspiration is actually all about LORDSHIP….you can’t bring what what you do not have, and unless you understand that your life is not your own…that you have been purchased with a price, the sacrifice of Jesus, you have nothing INSPIRATIONAL to bring to your world….THE RESURRECTION LIFE…(when you get it, and are surrender to it) is INSPIRATIONAL for others…..

In this lockdown season…We have seen people give up their preferences, sacrifice their time, share their gifts AND make financial contributions, to join with Jesus, to do what maters most, build His church…THAT is inspirational and THAT is the culture that we want to see in our post-lockdown church….

Here is the good news…we have people who already get it…they are already ALL IN inspirational leaders in their own right!

F = Fun

We BRING fun to church!

Church is only boring when WE are boring!

Smiling is a game changer!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/changepower/201605/the-9-superpowers-your-smile

1. Smiling can make you look younger.

2. Smiling can make you look thinner.

3. Smiling elevates your mood and creates a sense of well-being.

4. Smiling induces more pleasure in the brain more than chocolate. I

5. Even a forced smile can lead to a mood boost.

6. Smiles can predict fulfillment in marriage.

7. Smiling makes you seem courteous, likable, and competent.

8. The span of a person’s smile can predict lifespan.

9. Smiling is contagious.

FUN is contagious...and we want people to catch what we have....!! Jesus!

Romans 15:13 TPT

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you [culture in us] to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!

Matthew 18:3-4 TPT

“Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.”

E = Excellence

Galatians 6:4 TPT

“Let everyone be devoted to fulfil the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.”

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What Should We Carry Out Of Lockdown

What did the Israelites take from Egypt that would prepare and resource them for their new season of freedom?

New Worship

Exodus 10:26 NLT

“All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.””

“We won’t know how to worship the Lord until we get here”…

But God’s people didn’t wait until they got OUT to be prepared for what was coming…SO THAT, they could WORSHIP God.

In lockdown these beasts were for food, for work, for survival… but God had always intended for them to be used for Worship!

So let’s be careful and not too quickly throw away everything we have collected during this season of captivity/lockdown…

What have you used to thrive in this lockdown season?

Community
- The gathering / Life groups
- Teams
- Personal Devotion
- Bible reading and study
- New Wealth

Exodus 11:2 NLT

Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbours for articles of silver and gold.”

There is wealth contained in your past season of captivity…God commands us to plunder our past to provide for our future…..

Lockdown has made many of us feel trapped in certain areas of our life…made us feel stuck…and the temptation is to RUN AWAY fro those challenges instead of dealing with them.

What do you need to deal with before you just move on?!

Marriage // Friendships // Leadership // Work Challenges // Mental Health // Physical Health // Habits

When we are willing knock on the door of of our captors…(deal with our stuff) We can find NEW WEALTH there…provision for the NEW SEASON that God is bringing us into!

New People

Exodus 12:37-38 NLT

“That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children. A rabble of non-Israelites went with them, along with great flocks and herds of livestock.

Lets look at the new people we can expect to see join the church as we move forward into our new world…

Rabbles follow favour and momentum …BECAUSE they can’t generate it on their own…but they will chase it! This is exciting….the church will see an extraordinary increase people new to faith!!
They weren’t with you in your suffering, but they will be with you in your success…..We have to be OK with that.
New You

YOU are a new person…you are not the same person you were when you left 2019…..

EXODUS 19:4-6 NLT

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’

Connect with us today: https://beyondchurch.org.au/connect

Make a Financial Contribution: https://beyondchurch.org.au/online-giving

Let us know you’re saying YES to Jesus today: https://beyondchurch.org.au/yes-to-jesus

We would love to pray with you: https://beyondchurch.org.au/prayer

Take your next step with Beyond Church: Take a next step: https://beyondchurch.org.au/next-steps

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Podcast here - https://beyondchurch.org.au/podcast

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Would you read the Bible plan, Proverbs, with me?

https://bible.com/p/45976213/c2f34e6f396182f4de265156d708b9db

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What Should We Carry Out Of Lockdown

What did the Israelites take from Egypt that would prepare and resource them for their new season of freedom?

New Worship

Exodus 10:26 NLT

“We won’t know how to worship the Lord until we get here”…

But God’s people didn’t wait until they got OUT to be prepared for what was coming…SO THAT, they could WORSHIP God.

In lockdown these beasts were for food, for work, for survival… but God had always intended for them to be used for Worship!

So let’s be careful and not too quickly throw away everything we have collected during this season of captivity/lockdown…

What have you used to thrive in this lockdown season?

Community
- The gathering / Life groups
- Teams
- Personal Devotion
- Bible reading and study
- New Wealth

Exodus 11:2 NLT

Tell all the Israelite men and women to ask their Egyptian neighbours for articles of silver and gold.”

There is wealth contained in your past season of captivity…God commands us to plunder our past to provide for our future…..

Lockdown has made many of us feel trapped in certain areas of our life…made us feel stuck…and the temptation is to RUN AWAY fro those challenges instead of dealing with them.

What do you need to deal with before you just move on?!

Marriage // Friendships // Leadership // Work Challenges // Mental Health // Physical Health // Habits

When we are willing knock on the door of of our captors…(deal with our stuff) We can find NEW WEALTH there…provision for the NEW SEASON that God is bringing us into!

New People

Exodus 12:37-38 NLT

Lets look at the new people we can expect to see join the church as we move forward into our new world…

Rabbles follow favour and momentum …BECAUSE they can’t generate it on their own…but they will chase it! This is exciting….the church will see an extraordinary increase people new to faith!!
They weren’t with you in your suffering, but they will be with you in your success…..We have to be OK with that.
New You

YOU are a new person…you are not the same person you were when you left 2019…..

EXODUS 19:4-6 NLT

Connect with us today: https://beyondchurch.org.au/connect

Make a Financial Contribution: https://beyondchurch.org.au/online-giving

Let us know you’re saying YES to Jesus today: https://beyondchurch.org.au/yes-to-jesus

We would love to pray with you: https://beyondchurch.org.au/prayer

Take your next step with Beyond Church: Take a next step: https://beyondchurch.org.au/next-steps

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Podcast here - https://beyondchurch.org.au/podcast

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

Scone - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.scone

Toronto - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Toronto

Online - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.online

Would you read the Bible plan, Proverbs, with me?

https://bible.com/p/45976213/c2f34e6f396182f4de265156d708b9db

Grab a Beyond Church face mask:

https://beyondchurch.org.au/masks

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Q_What will be helpful for us, as leaders, to consider, as we emerge from the world of 2019 and step into the world of 2022? So that we can grow, raise messes and be an inspiration to our world…

Consider your pace….
Consider the people who are with us, and the people we are reaching and NOT the people we have lost
also be OK with people engaging differently (not being ok with less engagement) online chi he is a real experience and this means people will do both physical and virtual. We have to be OK with that.
Consider NEW Numbers
we will need to adopt a way to measure key health indicators in a new world…
Some things I know we need to ALWAYS measure - 1. People in the room/s 2. People new to the room 3. People in life groups 4. People in teams 5. People giving financially
Consider A New Generation
we will need to see younger leaders leading than we ever thought around be reasonable in this world…so we need to get busy discipline our kids and grandkids…not to be good little kids church attended each but missionaries into a new world we have never been to before.

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Contained in this next month of Proverbs & Prayer are some POWERFUL KEYS that will equip leaders to lead like no other leader today.

Proverbs is rooted in timeless wisdom

Proverbs 5:21-22 NLT

“For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.”

Gods wisdom applies to me as a child and to me as an adult and to my children and their children.

This reminds us that our present crisis, our pregnant challenges have answers! There is a world to speak to our culture THE CHURCH can and should bring the wisdom of heaven into our world….

The community of wisdom tunes us into the voice of God and tunes out the noise of the world.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

This is a crucial season to stay connected. So much noise needs to be filtered through the EQ of community.

Facebook is not community

Instagram is not community

YouTube is not community

Social platforms can not become your Local Church…

Who are you tuning in?! Who are you tuning out?! You have be INTENTIONAL about both.

Prayer is the only antidote to anxiety

Philippians 4:6 NIV

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

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How should the church respond to divisive social and cultural challenges?

“A Leaders 4 Tools To Repair Deep Divisions In Their Culture”

There are serious discussions/issues that the church must engage with today! Racial equality, climate change, economic dislocation, deep political divisions etc.. are just some of the pressing issues that have implications for the church today AND for generations to come.

Q: What would Jesus bring to our social landscape IF He lived in times like ours?

A: Jesus did live in times JUST like ours!

In fact, in many ways, the culture and context of the first century was even more charged with the issues that we get so heated over…racism (Jews, Greeks), gender in-equality, social and political control and corruption, (marshal law) Romans occupied Israel via military occupation! Social injustice and economic inequality, etc…

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV

What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

What would Jesus do in the middle of this culture we find ourselves in today?

He would elevate the narrative.

The world is peripheral to the church.

We get stuck among the weeds of lesser things..

There is a higher way, Kingdom Culture supersedes all other sub cultures…

Labor and Liberal is inferior to Kingdom

Catholic and Pentecostal, Anglican or Hillsong all inferior to Kingdom

Race, gender, economics, all inferior

“The more deeply anchored your viewpoint is in timeless truth (Kingdom Culture), the more deeply it will resonate. Mere opinions never carry that kind of weight.”

Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven 92 times…He did all the heavy lifting, teaching and modelling what the Kingdom of Heaven is like…

The the local church is the foretaste of heaven…it is incumbent upon us to be heavenly, not earthly….we need to be among the culture but always teaching and modelling Kingdom!

He would pray FIRST, speak second.

A lot of what’s being discussed today is emotional.

You see something, read something and feel you have to respond. Your heart starts beating faster. You feel upset, even crushed depending on what happened. And sometimes you get really angry.

When you feel an emotional reaction to something, don’t respond for 24 hours.

Sleep on it. Pray about it.

Even if it’s still something worth speaking about emotionally, you can do it with far more grace, integrity, balance, and dignity.

If Christians prayed as much as they talked, we’d have a different church.

He would change the world from the inside out.

Today we have been tricked to think we can change the world from the outside in….we start our mission as wide, shallow and ineffective as ever (social media) instead of starting deep and strong and influential.

If you want to change the culture you will need a platform, you will need influence, and if you can’t make the right friends and keep them, you really won’t change anything.

Jesus did this with his 12 disciples and other followers - A diverse group, fisherman, businessman, politicians, even women were intentionally included. Jesus strategically chose connections that would change the world…..

Small people have small worlds, and make only small changes. BUT big people, can handle friendships with other influential people, and they can make a much bigger difference.

He would do what matters most.

Ask yourself the Grandparent question…

When you are in your rocking chair with your grandkids and they are asking you about the days of the COIVD-19, the days of lockdowns, the days of discrimination, inequality, protests, rallies and political partisanship….what will your story be….?

What was Jesus’ story? “Hey kids…the Jews were looking for a political leader, a military general and a social liberator…but instead I did what mattered MOST…..they got a teacher, a friend, a miracle worker, who, at the peak of my influence chose surrender and I handed my life over, instead of retaliation and revolution…..

Jesus transformed hearts…and a heart on fire for Jesus, is a heart that will follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Transformed hearts transform the world.

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The 5 Mistakes That Terrible Team Mates Make

Connect with Beyond Church - https://beyondchurch.org.au/connect

They Make Team All About Them

Philippians 2:3 NLT

'Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. '

We make everything about US, whenever things feel out of control, we take control....Because i feels safer…BUT this makes everything was about me.

This response our own insecurity never brings stability or leadership, it brings control and manipulation.

Here is the truth. It is very hard to know where we are getting it wrong, because We are inherently flawed and broken and selfish...We need to ask, and I need to listen to the the answers....

They Keep Their Challenges In The Dark

Thinking that a crisis will cure itself, that tensions would work themselves out, and that time would heal all wounds.... are all of ideas that are completely unhelpful.

The key to moving our teams forward is to be accountable to each other.

They Put Their Life Into Autopilot

Being a great team member is never Set and Forget

People change and people grow … even if we don’t…when WE set our lives in Autopilot and don’t adjust 2 things happen

We keep treating others like the people that they used to be AND
Stop treating ourselves like the person we should be becoming (stop expecting better from ourselves, we get stuck, then we become discouraged)
They Chose To Endure Their Team Instead Of Enjoy It.

Psalms 16:11

'You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.'

We are not at our best, in any area if our lives, when we can’t enjoy time with one another.

They Make Jesus Their Last Resort Not Their First Call.

As team serving the mission of the Local Church, we actually have a super power which often goes untapped!

Matthew 11:28-30 TPT

'“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”'

Every GREAT team actually achieving GREAT things will undergo pressure, tension and stress.

Who is your first call in a crisis?

What do you LOVE about working in a team?

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High Maintenance Harry vs Low Maintenance Larry

“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Proverbs 12:26 NKJV

Emotionally high maintenance people are exhausting, so don’t be one, or do life with one!

Harry always has urgent needs

Larry always has time for you

Harry has a sense of entitlement

Larry takes nothing for granted and has a spirit of gratitude

Harry clings to stories of wrongs done to him

Larry forgives quickly and often

Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 MSG

Harry talks a lot about himsel

Larry is genuinely and deeply interested in you

Harry craves a listening ear

Larry turns away gossips

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. James 4:11 NLT

Harry lives in a state of perpetual drama

Larry is peacemaker

Harry is obsessed with details

Larry is uncomplicated

Harry is quick to criticise without offering alternatives

Larry always bring something to the table

Harry resents change

Larry embraces change

10.

Harry has no idea how high maintenance he actually is!

Larry is acutely self aware, know his blind spots and ask for others to challenge his ideologies and worldview.

Be a Larry!

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How do we take ground, when the ground is constantly, shaking, moving, unstable, unknown, uncharted?

RE CAST YOUR PERSONAL AND CORPORATE VISION

Proverbs 29:18 MSG

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

Vision, when it is compelling cast and when it is clear , keeps teams, families, communities, nations moving forward together.

Revisit your calling - Re write it down, re sate it over your life.

Call OTHERS to the God vision over THEIR lives

REBUILD YOUR TEMPLE

When God shakes the earth, He is looking for a HOME to deposit His glory….

Haggai 2:3-9 NLT

'‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel.[…]

And NOW get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’

[…] I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory…

This is about making room in YOUR TEMPLE for the GLORY of God..

One way to do this could be your daily devotions, but using this season to refocus it……make it less about building for doing/going/sending and more about building for waiting/receiving/hosting

Stopping
Centring
Silence
Scripture
RE ENGAGE WITH MISSION

Ephesians 1:23 MSG

The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

There is NO fork in the road of PILGRIMAGE! The is one sign post…and it says CHURCH THIS WAY! Throw your life, ALL IN, into the Jesus plan to rescue the world, His Church

APPLICATION:

Plan to connect deeply with your church family
Be in the room, physical or virtual
Commit to you life group / your life boat
Church is not about people attending, it is about people ENGAGING in mission. Be on mission

We ARE STILL TAKING GROUND!

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Leading Through Crisis?

7 Things To Remember:

Crisis is never a once off, never again, kind of event.

Crisis takes many different shapes and forms - crisis strikes relationships, families, and today we are in a global health, financial and social crisis.

You are doing better than you think you are!

Be kind to yourself

You don’t need to have all the answers.
- Isaiah 46:6 ‘Only I can tell you the future before it even happens’

“I don’t know” doesn’t mean “I don’t care.” - it’s ok not to have answers for everyone’s questions.

Don’t fall into the trap of answering questions nobody is asking....

Cast clear, compelling, and unwavering vision.

Proverbs 29:18 MSG

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

Vision, when it is compelling cast and when it is clear , keeps teams, families, communities, nations moving forward together.

Things have changed but our direction has not, times have changed but our vision has not, we are in the middle of a crisis and our way through it is by staying faithful to our calling...

Is it compelling…..it shouldn’t get old….it should always inspire you!

Call people to the culture.

Correct counter culture

when correcting culture in a crisis, be soft on the person but hard on the issue

Eg, the issues, using wrong language from the platform, not keeping the dress code, being chronically late, bringing bad reports and etc...

“We know you are a great person and we know you want to lead well and be an excellent team player, how can we work together to correct this issue.

Celebrate cultural alignment

Celebrate the person and point to the cultural value that they are championing.

The people with you are WITH you! Lead with confidence!
Hebrews 10:35 ‘So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.’

Lead where there is lean in, don’t lead where there is lean out!

You can only lead to the level of permission.

Don’t get frustrated with those who aren’t coming with you, because your frustration will bleed out of you and into all of the people who ARE with you.

Guard your spiritual disciplines.

Spirituality = whole of life, both physical and spiritual.

Keep moving

Eat well

Sleep and rest well

‘Words to live by’ or daily devotional time

Life groups

Church services

Keep your ‘People Fuel’ tank full (right people, right times etc...)

Rachel’s story about needing more discipline than ever.

This is true as we carry more

Have FUN!

You will have the strength to lead up out of crisis, when you have a buoyant spirit.

Nehemiah 8:10 ‘for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’

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How to lead through a crisis without burning out, breaking down, blowing up or taking a backward step!

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Title:

Life’s Groups Are Our Life Boat

Notes:

Churches, business, organisations always grow from the inside out...never from the outside in...

If I gathered 300 new guests to a Beyond Church location this weekend for one of our services….

would they all have a place to serve on a team next week?
would they all have a Life Group to connect with next week ?
Would there be enough families, already within the life of our location, to invite them around for a meal?
If 30 of our guests said yes to Jesus could we meet with each one those people the following week and take them through Alpha, or a new to church course?

“The answer is NO. Gathering a crowd is not the same as growing the church.”

What we know is that the ONE thing that actually grows a church, is a church that is growing…a church that is raising and releasing leaders who make room for increase, who make rom for growth by growing their own capacity to lead more.

In February 2013 Rachel and I started leading Beyond Church and that stage the church didn’t do Life Groups. So with 40 people in our single weekly service on a Sunday morning at 60 people on the church roll, we knew that we needed at least 6 life groups just to meet the baseline for everyone in our church to connect to a Life Group where they could feel known. BUT we wanted to make room for growth. So in addition to started our first 6 Life Groups, we started 6 more. We invited 12 life group leaders to lead, and we grew from a weekend attendance of 40 to 120 over the course of the next 2 years. We are now constantly assessing the need for Life Groups to meet the growing needs of a growing church!

So let’s look at how we build a healthy life group culture to see our services grow in 2021

A healthy life group culture:

Is led by location leaders who are passionate about Life Groups
Is a part of a church where it’s core messaging supports the Life Group imperative
Has comprehensive training and culture input for the Life Group leaders
Is celebrating the good reports from Life Groups privately and publicly
Has Life Group leaders who know they are there to raise a new leader to release into their own new Life Group

Actions:

Location Leader homework

Based on our church’s growth goals for 2021, how many life groups does that look like at 1 group / ten people in each of our locations services?
How many active groups have we got today?
How many excellent asks can we make at the front half of 2021 so that we see growth by the end of the year?

Team Leader/Member homework

Could you lead a Life Group?
Pray, and seek God about leading your own Life Group?
Who could you see leading a Life Group. Who would make a great Life Group leader? Share that with your location leader.

Resources:

Leasderscape 2.0 Material

https://soundcloud.com/user-92051399/rec-ls-20-fb-mod-2-known-needed-led-tut-3-help-people-feel-known-mp3/s-Om96K

Partner with the vision of Beyond Church here: http://flr.ms/2ED

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Leadership Podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

Scone - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.scone

Toronto - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Toronto

Online - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.online

Find out more about Beyond Church here: Connect with us today: http://flr.ms/Um

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ARE YOU READY FOR WAR?

Jeremiah 18:2-6 NLT

“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.”

I am excited about this 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting...

I can see God working through His church already as I speak with people about what they are believing God for and the things God has asked them to lay down for this season.

As leaders...and BC team, you will carry the spiritual weight, and be engaged on the FRONT LINES of the spiritual battle that is being waged for the eternal destiny of those lost people in our world.

Good news is that it is God who trains our hands for warfare.

Psalms 144:1 NKJV

“Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—”

How does God train us? Well he shakes us and moulds on his potters wheel....

‘Let GOD perform the miracle while YOU practice the principle.’

Some people are trying to perform God’s miracles for Him....God doesn’t need you to be a miracle worker, He needs you to remain faithful to His principles.

The Potter’s Wheel- THIS is where GOD makes our SMALL stuff a BIG DEAL!

This is where God shapes us, prepares us for the function he has called us into. Trains us, equips us for the battle we will face.

God goes to work on you one revolution at a time...one year at a time, one month at a time, one week at a time, one day at a time.

There is a key here for us as leaders - God uses the rhythms, habits, routines and disciplines of our life to shape us! The more we lean into spiritual disciplines, the more we will grow into the likeness of Jesus, the more we will be equipped to engage in the spiritual battles we face.

This key not only helps us lead our own lives well, it empowers us to speak into the lives of those whom we lead...

It answers the question....how do I FIGHT?

DON’T GET OFF THE WHEEL....keep turning up, be in the room, be in Life group, be on team, say yes to the next revolution God has for you....

..and then once we’ve spent

a season on the wheel....maybe God starts again, puts you on the shelf or if you’re really favoured...into the kiln) ...

For those of us who are ready for war, this is Paul’s promise to us ...

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 TPT

“We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.

Partner with the vision of Beyond Church here: http://flr.ms/2ED

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Leadership Podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

Scone - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.scone

Online - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.online

Find out more about Beyond Church here: Connect with us today: http://flr.ms/Um

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Title:

Building a Bringing Culture

Notes:

2 Timothy 4:5 TPT

“So be alert to all these things and overcome every form of evil. Carry in your heart the passion of your calling as a church planter and evangelist, and fulfill your ministry calling.”

Church Planter = Evangelist in most other modern versions…and this word evangelist is ‘Bringer of Good News’ - it is actually isn’t found much outside of the New Testament in ancient texts of this time and location….it is basically a new word used by the new church to communicate the function of sharing the Jesus Story to the world….

We are all church planters….we are all evangelists!

A season to lift our bringing culture and our evangelistic potency
Are people saying yes to Jesus? Are people’s lives being turned around at Beyond Church? - Yes…so lets keep this momentum rising…

The Beyond Church Evangelism/Church Planting Culture

1. Bringing Isn’t Inviting

When you invite somebody you leave all the spiritual warfare up to the invitee, when you bring someone to church you make it easier for the brought.

2. Empowering our church to be confident to BRING.

Bringing people into an experience that you are proud to share.

Is the message going to be relevant, helpful, inspirational ?

Is the music going to be clear, powerful and compelling?

Is the Community (is our hospitality generous)?

3. Make Bringing A Spiritual Imperative, not just a good idea….

We could suggest that becomes part of our focus for this season of prayer and fasting

*4. Give bringing a short term goal…*

This is about our year on year, month on month % growth goals…BUT with handles….Let’s start by asking location leaders to set a goal for their life group leaders or youth leader and themselves to bring 5 guests to church before easter. This might mean we ned to pray about it, make new friends, revisit old friends who may have said no to an invite before….etc….It OK to fail!

5. Rewarding it Will Repeat it

Share stories of transformed lives - We don’t need to wait for a video to be made of a transformed life to publicly celebrate it.
Celebrate bringers - privately AND publicly

Partner with the vision of Beyond Church here: http://flr.ms/2ED

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Leadership Podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

Scone - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.scone

Online - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.online

Find out more about Beyond Church here: Connect with us today: http://flr.ms/Um

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Everyone wants to feel known needed and led.

For people to feel led they need leaders.

Are we leading well?

Hebrews 13:7 NLT - The Hebrews 13 Leadership Test

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.”

Is your leadership memorable?

Do you speak God’s word into the lives of those you lead?

Is your faith with following?

Are your outcomes (good) worth emulating?

The people we lead PRAISE GOD when....we take charge!

Judges 5:2 NLT

“Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord!”

How do we lead well?

Deal with limiting mindsets
Handle toxic situations and people NOW and well.
Carry and communicate a compelling vision
Optimise the plan and process for results
Design and build a life giving culture
Ensure leaders are being developed at every level
Lead teams transformationally and not transactionally
Keep a fresh and vibrant connection with senior leadership
Maintain a people first attitude at all times
Stay engaged and leaning into the execution of the vision

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Partner with the vision of Beyond Church here: http://flr.ms/2ED

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Leadership Podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-church-raising-leaders/id1470582090

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

Scone - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.scone

Online - https://www.facebook.com/beyond.church.online

Find out more about Beyond Church here: Connect with us today: http://flr.ms/Um

This whole area of leadership TOTALLY transformed my own leadership journey and is one of the foundational building blocks that keeps me moving forward….this, and people fuel,

The right morning, the right people, the right vision…..(saying no)….has been pivotal…

Luke 6:45 ESV

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Our revelation of God determines our response to Him.

What is in your heart….about how God thinks about YOU?

An undisciplined mind will self sabotage your God destiny…

Personal sabotaging thoughts ..

I am not creative

I’m not into the detail

I am bad at confronting things

Im poor at finance

Im bad at strategy and systems

I am JUST a…..

Corporate Sabotaging thoughts ..

Poverty Thinking

Negative Thinking

Fatalistic Thinking

Let’s remind ourselves about the heart of God toward us by looking at the character of God…

God is an entirely GOOD God
God always moves forward
God’s plans for you are always progressive
God has great momentum for us and our family, our church….

Practical thoughts on how we WIN the battle in our minds!

Romans 12:2 TPTP

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

We must RE FORM not simply RE MOVE thoughts the are contrary to God’s thoughts about us!

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NIV

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

How do we build new thoughts about who we are in God and what He has for us and our future!

Actions:

Take the time to develop or refine a morning momentum meditation/words to live by this week.

Resources:

Life.Church words to live byhttps://finds.life.church/words/

Leaderscape Audio

https://soundcloud.com/user-92051399/rec-ls-20-fb-mod-1-lets-go-tut-3-reboot-your-thinking-mp3/s-xkhyu

Leaderscape Notes

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/tls20/leaderscape+m1t3+notes.pdf

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Title:

A Personal Spiritual Revival

Notes:

Genesis 26:12-25 NLT

When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.

Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”

So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”

From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the LORD appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.

What are the signs that your tank may be empty?

Blurred vision
Restlessness
Your focus is ‘how can I survive’? not ‘how can I thrive’?
Your spiritual disciplines aren’t spiritual
Rehashing old ‘manna’ stale supply
False joy and a fake smile
Short with those closest to you
Lack of productivity
Easily distracted by other affections
Avoiding people

Are You Red Lining?

Lack of focus in your thinking
Waning joy in your heart
Lack of peace in your heart
Worry and anxiety are your FIRST responses
Declining intimacy with God, leading to a sense of loss of victory and authority
Increase in shame and condemnation

How to dig a fresh well and see revival in your spirit….

Rediscover grace (foundational theology)
Recommit to a daily encounter
Revisit your original calling
Refresh your spirit with time away
Rekindle your first love (worship)
Re focus your spirit (fast from natural)

Actions:

Spend half a day with God

Resources:

Leasderscape Audio

https://soundcloud.com/user-92051399/rec-ls-20-fb-mod-1-lets-go-tut-2-refresh-your-spirit-mp3/s-k9nl2

How to have a half day with God

https://www.navigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/navtool-extended-prayer.pdf

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Partner with the vision of Beyond Church here: http://flr.ms/2ED

Subscribe to our youtube channel here - http://tiny.cc/BeyondYouTube

Subscribe to our Leadership Podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-churc...

Cessnock - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.Church.Cessnock

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TALK NOTES:

Rest is a biblical principle

Rest is a spiritual discipline

Rest is an exercise in trusting God (like tithing)

Finish with an empty plate
this is a physiological set up that creates margin in your thinking
Do a hand over ... who is the next you and use this as an opportunity to create an updraft for the whole organisation ( don’t delegate UP)
A) Don’t leave a sneaky plate in the fridge for when you return.
what does your first week back look like.
This should NOT be a catch up week...
When you do step 1....you are making sure that your plate isn’t overflowing when you return.
So prep your messages before you go, plan your meeting that you need to be in before you go...meet with the people you need to meet with the week before you leave and not the week you turned! Etc...
Don’t give YOUR holidays to the holiday burglars.
as soon as you start talking about taking time off, the holiday burglars start circling....

“We should grab coffee, you should bring the kids around for a play date, we should go to x or visit y or go to the THING with us!”

You have to remember these are YOUR holidays, for YOU and your family

(Point 3 will help to keep the burglars away)

Teach yourself to/(so that you can) treat yourself
What are you like, what are you really like??? When it comes to managing your schedule....? Use this to your advantage!
If you typically overload your schedule, you need to get comfortable NOW with having empty slots in your time of annual leave...
If you typically find that you naturally leave large margin in your schedule, be careful not to squander your leave....you want to return, not just RESTED but REFRESH and RECHARGED (leads to point 4)
Doing SOMETHING when you’re meant to be doing nothing.
holidays are about rest but they are as much about refreshment...what refreshes you??...what do you absolutely LOVE to do...be intentional and DO IT!

(I would argue, leave is also about RECHARGE!)

how to recharge?

Do something you’ve NEVER done before ...

Try a new food?

Read a new book?

Visit a new place?

For God’s sake spend time with God....

This is your opportunity to just be....with God, no message prep, no meetings to lead, no people to bring an encouraging thought to...you can spend time just being with God, for God’s sake.

Jesus died so you could be, with God...(full STOP)

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NOTES:

Paul had a lot going on in his world at this time.

He had a troubled church in Corinth, which was very close to splitting. Some people in the church loved him, some hated him.

He had emotional and mental tension. He was seconded guessing his decisions.

He was worried that he had made a bad situation in Corinth even worse.

PAUL was clearly in tune with the Holy Spirit, - BECAUSE:

He was receiving fresh vision about the future of his ministry

...and he was providing direction for his churches

...and he was making great leadership decisions,

...and he was leading leaders…

...he was AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME….

BUT…The REALITY of his world internally and externally, was in absolute chaos!

WHAT DID IT TAKE FOR PAUL TO MOVE FROM A SEASON OF DISCOURAGEMENT, chaos, crisis, mental and emotional turmoil, fearful of the future and sad about his situation... - TO A SEASON OF TRANQUILITY? In just a moment?

2 Corinthians 7:6 MSG

Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus

This word arrival is the Greek word πἄρουσια, which Paul has chosen so very carefully.

In the context of the New Testament narrative, πἄρουσια, is almost exclusively used in conjunction with the 2nd coming/arrival of Jesus.

So...Paul is emphasising the fact that Titus, is more like a prophet than a messenger and that the message he is carrying is more like a word from God than a letter from a friend.

Who knows when God sends a word of encouragement, things change?!

What changes when we CHOOSE to BE A TITUS?!

1. Joy Returns

2 Corinthians 7:7 MSG

We were glad just to see him.

just at the sight of the messenger, things changed….

when, like Paul,we are desperate for encouragement ….Just the SIGHT…of a GOD opportunity/ God possibility FILLS US WITH JOY!…

I know, that as we fix our eyes in the possibilities of a new year…. Our spirits will lift.

Just at the sight of what’s next on your life....let joy fill you again, let JOY RETURN!

2. Faith Rises

2 Corinthians 7:6 MSG

Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus.

When God’s messenger arrived...Paul experienced an exchange.....discouragement for courage, worry for peace, anxiety for hope and FEAR for FAITH!!

Let’s lift our heads...let’s look toward the future with faith filled HEARTS!

DO our HEARTS still know the church the way Jesus knows her to be...full of power, full of life, full of potential, the hope of the world, the one and ONLY rescue plan for humanity?!!!

When God sends an encourager, our FAITH must RISES…— Be ENCOURAGED - BUT - Be an encouragement — The quickest way to FAUTH rise in our teams is to bring encourage into their world….

3. Miracles Meet Us

2 Corinthians 7:7 MSG

I went from worry to tranquility in no time!

In NO time….this was more than a meeting of 2 people, this was the meeting was the making of a miracle for PAUL!

Make room for large
Make room for more
Make room for miracles

Isaiah 54:1-6 MSG – “Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby. Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth! You’re ending up with far more children than all those childbearing women.” God says so! “Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of room for your growing family…..Don’t be afraid – you’re not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back – you’re not going to come up short.

When your vision and investment is about building God’s house, you don’t need to be limited by your own individual or personal resources; you have access to the MAKER OF MIRACLES!

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The ROMANCE of VISION vs the REALITY of VISION

falling in love (CASTING COMPELLING VISION)

Staying faithful (making a vision become a reality)

- The 3 Imperatives of Vision Casting

THIS IS WHO YOU ARE
THIS IS WHAT YOU’VE DONE
THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN GO

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https://music.apple.com/au/playlist/beyond-church-battle-playlist/pl.u-e98lM6ESWg9azV

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These leadership thoughts come from a man who celebrated his 80th birthday this year...American pastor and well respected leader. Interviewed by Carey Neuhoff (https://careynieuwhof.com/)earlier in the year...‘my top 15 leadership imperatives from 80 years of leadership’

Gordon MacDonald

Put the people you value most into your calendar first.
- Pastors, your family is the Lord’s work. Live like it.
Never stop learning and growing!
- If you want to do what you’re called to do, you need to keep growing.
Be more a priest and less a preacher to people.
- A preacher is a one-way conversation, but a priest is a dialogue. Be more like a priest to the people in your life.
The time will come when you will have to relinquish titles and privileges and slip into obscurity. Ultimately the obscurity of death.
- What kind of an old person do you want to be? Plan for it.
Prepare yourself for those occasions. When, you like most people, you will suffer, fail, fall into doubt, face conflict and experience loss.
- Disappointments and doubts will come into your life. Sometimes Satan wins a battle, but he will never win the war.
Be trustworthy and dependable. A person who keeps his or her word. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Your integrity relies upon it.
Be a spiritual mother or father to teachable people who may someday inherit your responsibilities.
- The next generation needs what you have to offer. Don’t withhold it.
Live modestly, stay free of debt. Be generous, develop a financial strategy for your future, and be wary of those who try to buy your favor.
- The way you handle your money is one of the ways your congregation judges you.
Expect to reorder your internal life once every 7-10 years.
- Life goes through basic definitional changes in 10-year increments. The way you think about life will need to change with these things.
Receive compliments, criticism, and counsel with humility and appreciation. Avoid whining, complaining, self-pity. Assume that there is at least a grain of truth in the things critics say about you and your work.
- Always in a conversation, look for the grain of truth. Everybody has something God has planted in them for you.
Stay alert for the evils and temptations embedded in institutional life.
- Every relationship has its flaws. And good leadership is “assuming that there are flaws in this organization, and I must always be aware of when they might show themselves and what I as a leader would do to bring it under control.”
Be quick to say with sincerity, “Thank you.” “Well done.” “I’m sorry.” “I forgive you.” And, “How can I help?”
- These are the five inner core transactions in all relationships. None of them can be missing if you would like to have a healthy relationship. Always look for the thing you can find in another person that’s worth praising.
Always maintain a relationship with one or two mentors who can aid you in hearing God’s voice.
- Over the course of a lifetime, aim to have had over 100 mentors that have left their wisdom with you.
Master the art of asking the penetrating questions that open someone’s heart.
- You know that you are asking penetrating questions when you get responses like:
- “Boy, you really ask good questions.”
- “Wow. Nobody’s ever asked me that before.”
- Or, “I’ve never thought about that.”
- When you get those kind of responses, this person is welcoming you to a place that’s near to their heart.
Retreat to the cross regularly. Express your appreciations. Name your sins. Pray for the world. Listen to God’s call to do things that are bigger than you.
- This point eclipses all other points on this list.

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A Call To Prophetic Leadership

All Leadership is prophetic!

Leadership is being the first to see the unseeable future and then quantify it (articulate it, illuminate it) and take others into it.

We do this when we see the call of God on somebodies life and challenge them to step into it. (Water baptism invitations // Team Leadership // Church Attendance) ANY of this kind of thing is prophecy...

”this is what I see God is doing in your life and this is where God is calling you”

That phrase is absolutely KEY! “

“I SEE (this for your future) and, let’s go there!!”

When we lead people prophetically, we lead the emerging person, we the potential, the promise, the future person. We don’t lead the person that was or even the person that IS! - i.e. I don’t expect Sam to preach an average sermon because he has only preached a few times at Beyond, I expect him to preach an excellent message because he is BECOMING and excellent preacher.

People will only rise to the level of expectation that you call them to. So we lead with a GROWING level of expedition.

Our level of conviction around this leadership paradigm will determine the level of leader that we become, and therefore the level of leadership we can raise and the level of leaders we will be able to retain!

How to lead PROPHETICALLY practically.

See yourself as the prophet

We really need to get comfortable with the idea that God wants to do great things through us AND that unless we lead, we don’t just disqualify ourselves from our God destiny, we disqualify all those God has entrusted to us.

See the mission as compelling and compel people to join it with you.
See the future in faith!

Prophets are ‘imagine if’ kind of people not ‘what if’ kind of people.

Practice your prophetic gift

Be an encourager.

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LETS MAKE ROOM ON OUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY FOR WHAT’S NEXT!

Let’s coincide the lifting of COVID restriction with the lifting of the restrictions that we place on our own lives.

The challenging with growth being fundamental to the vision of any organisation is that we have to ALWAYS be answering the question....’what’s next?’

ALL growth for our church always comes first from the growth that is occurring in us.

If we choose not to grow, we actually make that decision for everything and everyone God has entrusted to us.

I want us to see ourselves, stepping into the next level of leadership that God has for Beyond Church

The 2 practical principles that MAKE ROOM for real growth in our lives.

CALLING
Know who you are —> We really need to get comfortable with the idea that God wants to do great things through us…IN FACT it is the ONLY way He will do anything in our world today…through His people…

Ephesians 1:22 NLT
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. (You and me)…

God’s one and only rescue plan for humanity is the local church….so we really need to get comfortable with the idea that God wants to see us GROWING into this IDENTITY!

To be called you have to … be listening…so...who are you listening to?

Speak to yourself (words to live by - make sure that you include words that speak to the bigness of your destiny)
Let the bible speak to you (let it break you and let it rebuild you)
Listen to the prophetic voices of your leaders, mentors, pastors etc…

Make sure you guard your HEART from voice that are only interested in keeping you RESTRICTED!

CAPACITY
Increasing our capacity
make room for more / create margin / use your schedule to build your future not record your time
This week just make the decision and take the action to make room in your schedule for more…..

BUT WHERE DO I GET THE TIME?

Maximising our capacity is always a question of WHO not WHAT?
- You running at 100% is no where near as effective as you running at 70% and empowering someone in your world to be running at 70% with you! That is an exponential increase in output.

So...WHO...? The question I want us to be answering this week, is NOT what do I need to DO but WHO can I empower with more?!

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Taking Your Leadership From Good To Great

The 7 Attributes Of Great Leaders

1. Simplicity

Woody Guthrie is quoted as saying, “Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.”

Great leaders stick with a problem or idea long enough and engage it deeply enough to clear away the fog and reduce the concept to its simplest forms so anyone can understand it.

This doesn’t mean they dumb it down. Rather, it means they make the concept accessible. And because it becomes accessible, more people are helped, and more people follow.

For a sermon: If you can’t say it in a sentence, you shouldn’t say it.

[EXAMPLE] Everybody has a next step, what’s yours? Simple, but behind that is a world of work.

And when it comes to something larger than a 30-60 minute talk (like a project or initiative), work on it long enough to develop a 30 second elevator pitch. Again, if you can’t say it in 30 seconds, you probably don’t understand the problem clearly enough to proceed.

And even if you don’t, no one else will understand it clearly enough to follow.

2. Clarity

In leadership, confusion reigns until someone makes things clear. Clarity is what great leaders bring to the table.

I find one of the best ways to become clear on issues is to ask questions, pull away to think and pray about it, sometimes for days or weeks and then take the idea back to the team for more discussion. Usually, clarity emerges out of the process.

[BC EXAMPLE] New projects - I’m always in a hurry ...

But clarity doesn’t happen automatically. You have to fight for it.

3. Ownership

Ever notice that the best leaders rarely make excuses?

In fact, the leaders who make the most progress make the fewest excuses.

And the leaders who make the most excuses make the least progress.

You can make excuses, or you can make progress, but you can’t make both.

4. Faith

A scarcity mindset will kill your organization or church over the long haul.

Yes there are seasons for restraint. Yes, every organization needs a bean counter.

But if you think small you will stay small. If you think it’s not possible, it won’t be.

What have you written off this year, that God might be

5. Prioritisation

What and who matters today?

It would be amazing if you could set your priorities once at say, age 22, and just cruise through life without readjusting them. It just doesn’t work that way.

Great leaders are continually assessing and reassessing how they spend their time, energy and resources.

I realize that every 3-6 months now, I have to rethink who I’m meeting with, how much time I’ll make available for certain activities, andcertain people.

If you haven’t had to re write your calendar or reprioritise your appoints recently you are probable stuck....and the best way to get unstuck is to reprioritise your time!

6. Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Self-discipline is simply taking responsibility for your actions, health, attitudes, schedule, words, mistakes and decisions.

Be up early
Be on time

To not do so makes you…irresponsible.

7. Humility

Truly great leaders die to themselves.

As Jim Collins has so surprisingly and famously demonstrated, the greatest leaders in the corporate world are…humble.

They are determined, but they’re not selfish. Jesus would agree.

They believe in a cause greater than themselves and serve the organization or cause they’re a part of. They don’t expect it to serve them.

[BC EXAMPLE] The dismantling of the ‘man of God culture’ and the rebuilding of the ‘people of God culture’

If you want to be great, die to yourself.

Boundaries for leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud

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The 4 Keys That Build The Best Teams

Taking your team from good to great!

Everything at beyond Church is all about people....people growing, people rising as leaders of their lives and of the things God has called them to lead.... Thi means that everything is ALWAYS ALL ABOUT teams.

My heart for this season is that we would see our teams growing numerically but also growing in both their capacity to carry greater levels of load, and their hunger for the things of God...

The following 4 attributes of great teams, I have stolen but I have contextualised them for Beyond Church.

After I share these 4 thoughts. I want you to tell me which one you are going to focus on this week and how you might apply that particular key to your context??

1. Conviction:

When we have conviction, we lead with vision and are guided by our mission and culture.

We don’t make decisions based on our personal preferences or our feelings, or the stresses and distractions of a single day. Great teams keep the mission and the culturefront and center. They talk about them. They make decisions based on them. They keep them relevant.

Our COVID pivot wasn’t a COVID permutation...we didn’t change our vision or our direction, or our culture, because we have a conviction about our calling as a team, we were able to keep moving forward.

2. Cohesiveness:

There is a big difference between a team that is functionally cohesive, and one that is relationally cohesive.

Functional cohesion is basically about reliability and dependability for getting things done. But functional cohesion alone will never create a great team, only a good one.

A great team is not only functionally cohesive, but relationally cohesive, meaning personally and emotionally connected.

The members are vulnerable with each other, with no fear of judgment or “scorekeeping.” They give and receive energy and positivity with each other.

This is built by being together not just DOING together.

This is why we have time in our services for teams to BE together not just DO together. Relationship building is ALL we are building. That is THE church, our connections with each other. MAYBE this week, in every meeting you have, one on one, pre service team meeting, appointments... go to that person/team and spend a little MORE time on BEING...and a little less time in DOING?

3. Clarity:

Clarity is king.

[STORY] I have to work very hard in this space...but it is essential!

Teams need role clarity. Each person needs to know what their tasks and job description are, and how to stay in their lane. Then they are more effective and efficient. And you avoid the problem of someone neglecting what is unique to their responsibilities, and going to a lane where the other person is already working.

Which sort of annoys the other person as well.

4. Candour. When a team has conviction, cohesiveness and clarity, these make it safe enough to have the honest and frank conversations.

A great team gives and receives feedback that is both positive and negative.

We benefit when someone says, “Hey, we have a problem here.”

You don’t want the mission to be sidelined because no one spoke up, for fear of disrupting things.

Candor helps a team disrupt in a positive direction.

Positive disruption!

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Leading Through Crisis?

7 Things To Remember:

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Leading Through Crisis?

7 Things To Remember:

Crisis is never a once off never again kind of event.

Crisis takes many different shapes and forms - crisis in relationships, family crisis, crisis of health, global crisis, etc...

You are doing better than you think you are!

Be kind to yourself

2. You don’t need to have all the answers.

Isaiah 46:6 ‘Only I can tell you the future before it even happens’

“I don’t know” doesn’t mean “I don’t care” - it’s ok not to have answers for everyone’s questions.

Don’t fall into the trap of answering questions nobody is asking....

3. Cast clear, compelling, and unwavering vision.

Proverbs 29:18 MSG

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

Vision, when it is compelling and when it is clear keeps teams, families, communities, nations moving forward together.

Things have changed but our direction has not, times have changed but our vision has not,we are in the middle of a crisis and our way through it is by staying faithful to our calling...

Is it compelling…..it shouldn’t get old….it should always inspire you!

4. Call people to the culture.

Correct counter culture

when correcting cultural misalignment be soft on the person but hard on the issue

Eg, the issues, using wrong language from the platform, not keeping the dress code, being chronically late, bringing bad reports and etc...

“We know you are a great person and we know you want to lead well and be an excellent team player, how can we work together to correct this issue.

Celebrate cultural alignment

Celebrate the person and pour to the cultural value that they are championing.

5. The people with you are WITH you! Lead with confidence!

Hebrews 10:35 ‘So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.’

Lead where there is lean in, don’t lead where there is lean out!

You can only lead to the level of permission.

Don’t get frustrated with those who aren’t coming with you, because your frustration will bleed out of you and into all of the people who ARE with you.

6. Guard your spiritual disciplines.

Spirituality = whole of life, both physical and spiritual.

Keep moving

Eat well

Sleep and rest well

‘Words to live by’ or daily devotional time

Life group

Church services

Keep your ‘People Fuel’ tank full (right people, right times etc...)

Rachel’s story about needing more discipline than ever.

This is true as we carry more

7. Have FUN!

Nehemiah 8:10 ‘for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’

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Peter Drucker - “Only three things happen naturally in organizations: friction, confusion, and underperformance. Everything else requires leadership.”

My Room My Responsibility

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When I do a clean up of my kids room There are some things that I will immediately discard...some things that are negotiable...somethings I will never throw away -

When it comes to our rooms as a church. A location, a service, an online experience, a life group, a team meeting, a conversation (like an excellent ask, or mentoring appt.)

1 Chronicles 29:2 “this is not just a place for people to meet each other, but a house for God to meet us “

Is God in this room?

- The 4 things that Beyond Church Leaders never throw away

1 -Confidence / Leadership / knowing who you are and what you’ve been called to do.

Hebrews10:35NIV “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

2 -Faith / expectation / we either serve a miracle working God or we don’t.

Psalms65:5TPT “You answer our prayers with amazing wonders and with awe-inspiring displays of power.”

Psalms66:5TPT ”Everyone will say, “Come and see the incredible things God has done; it will take your breath away! He multiplies miracles for his people!””

As leaders we are those who do the work to remember that truth for ourselves and call people to this expectation!

This week, let’s lift our expectation level….spend time praying some BIG prayers and believing God for some powerful advances in our world....
[Spiritual disciplines and words to live by]

3- Atmosphere

DEF: the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or creative work.

“Atmosphere is a large part of what makes our room our room”

What matters when it comes to atmosphere…..?

What matters?“Everything matters OR nothing matters.” We have removed so much stuff, both procedurally and practically, out of our services, gatherings, out of our language, so that we can focus more attention on what really matters…people seeing Jesus.

So….what can we do to own the atmosphere in our room?

6 Senses

Clean - sight
Smells - smell
Temperature - touch
Volume - sound - (not just volume level but consistency of experience and relevance of song choice)
Taste - famously generous hospitality -[Michelle] - not always about food!
Spirit - What is God doing?

4 - People

In all of our leading and and all of our responsibilities it is always first and foremost about the people.

1 Chronicles 29:2 “this is not just a place for people to meet each other, but a house for God to meet us “

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You are THAT leader!

Leading with ‘Bold Belief’

Q: What have you appreciated about the leadership you have either observed or been directly impacted by during this COVID season?

Luke 5:18-20 MSG

“Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief (demonstration of their faith), he said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.””

In this story Jesus was moved by bold belief!

There are leaders you admire, and then there is your leadership.

Well, I need you to start seeing yourself as THAT leader.

Jesus wants to bring a miracle to bear in your world this week and all he is looking for us a little bit of BOLD belief.

3 things I want us to do this week as we lead as THAT leader...

Believe Boldly For Yourself

What are you believing for in 2020?

Stepping back from our problems and our challenges steps us closer toward the perspective God has of our lives....

The lame mans friends had to re assess their position, adjust their perspective and approach their obstacle in a new and creative...maybe God is showing us that if we can get above our current disappointment / discouragement / we might just see the opportunity for a miracle that is waiting for us...

After all,...

God...saw you at the beginning and he sees you at the END and he knows how it all turns out for you!! ..

Philippians 1:6 TPT

“I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

What could you be believing BOLDLY for in your life this week?

2. Believe Boldly For Others

It was the bold belief of a friend FOR a friend....that moved Jesus to release his power, perform a miracle and set a man free..:.

Do we have that kind of belief for our team? Not just belief IN them...sometimes we need to believe FOR them!

Sometimes others don’t see for themselves the potential that God has on their lives.

You have been positioned to bring bold belief into the lives of those you are leading!

Don’t be moved by the crowd...be the leader that moves the crowd ... be the leader that doesn’t take no for an answer ... be the leader that climbs the house, removes the tiles and makes a way...for your team to STEP INTO THIER OWN miracle!

Q: how will I know if I’m being THAT leader that is calling someone into the opportunity GOD has for them and you see for them?

it should cost you something
It should challenge your faith
It should cost them something
It should challenge their faith

If, as leaders, we are not in this constant state of tension between what IS and what could be for people, we are not leading...we are staying in our safe place and we doing a total disservice to those people who are hungry to grow and serve and become all that God has called the to.

Q: What should we do when people struggle to step into the God call in their lives? What do we do when people seem to draw back and go through their own seasons of unbelief (in themselves)?

A: How to deal with push back. Increase relationship, ask questions and listen. Remember it is always people before programs. We do what we do to build teams and grow people not build things and grow stuff.

3. Believe Boldly For Miracles

Let’s not forget who we are, what we believe, what we’ve seen God do and what He is still doing in us, in others, and in His Church.

this season alone has proven extraordinary in so many ways.!
Miracles of ... salvations, team leadership, team membership, new life groups, financial security and favour.

I have never been more excited about the future of THE church and I know OUR church will play a key role in pioneering some of these new paradigms.BUT I also know that what is on my heart for our church and THE church will only become a reality when we are willing to be THAT leader!!

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The stones are not the WIN, the crossing is the WIN, but the stones point to the WIN..The stones point to what Joshua wanted the people to value, what he wanted them to remember. (Joshua 4:1-4, 19-24 )

Just like all other ancient nations…it is these memorials, these What are these stones for? Stones = Culture / this is who we are and this is the kind of people we always want to be!

1. The leaders carried the stones

We carry the culture What are you carrying today? What is the culture of your heart? Is it full of LOVE, INSPIRATION, are you having FUN? Are you carrying excellence?

As leaders WE CARRY the culture into the room. If the room is not full of LIFE…that won’t change unless we change it…AND…we cant’t change it unless we are CARRYING IT….AND..we cant carry it unless we have picked it UP!…

How do we pick it UP?

we have to position ourselves to pick it up…(LANGUAGE CARRIED CULTURE) How will you PICK UP, the LIFE CULTURE, God has called us to carry?
You are doing it now by being in this call with me!
You can do it by keeping your heart soft toward leadership and asking lots of questions…AND
You can do it by applying principles not just learning about them

Be where the culture is and allow it to affect you! How can you find yourself in a position this week to be filling your life wth Kingdom Culture?

2. The leaders built with the stones

We build the culture

Building culture, is taking the culture we CARRY and making it FUNCTION as a measurable reality in our world.

How do we build with our LIFE CULTURE

We don’t build teams so we can run events/services…we run service so we can build teams…because building teams, raises leaders.

Who could you invite to do this week to build this Kingdom Culture with you?

3. The leaders pointed to the stones

We call people to the culture

This is where we challenge counter cultural behaviours and celebrate cultural victories. People will report what is rewarded - It is so important that we are always celebrating the culture we want other to carry, and build with. We point to the cultural conviction that a behaviour is reflecting. BECAUSE we don’t want people to simply follow instructions, we the to be moved by convictions.

This is why, when our team are on time, we don’t say thanks for being on time, we say thanks for honouring the team (LOVE)

When we have a full roster of team, we don’t say thanks for being on team, we say thanks for saying yes to God’s call on your life. (INSPIRATION)

Who could you celebrate this week, for living their cultural convictions?

4. The Cornerstone is Jesus!

Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

Rejection is actually a privilege

We are a counter cultural people

We need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable What ‘uncomfortable action’ have you been putting off, that you could do this week?

Lets carry the cultural, build the culture, call people to the culture and get comfortable with being uncomfortable……

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WHEN COVID SAID NO, YOU SAID GROW!

1 Corinthians 3:5-7TPT

“Who is Apollos, really? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us? I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth.”

The BIBLICAL model for organisational GROWTH is:

1 -PLANTING

2 - CARING / CULTIVATING / BUILDING CULTURE - In fact, the word "culture" has its origins in both the Latin and French words for cultivate, beginning with the idea of tilling the land, "preparing the earth for crops" in order to promote growth.”

3 - MIRACLES

We have continued to see GROWTH through this unprecedented season?

We have had to PLANT some things

we have had to build CULTURE

we have had to have God show up and bring MIRACLES into the life of our church.

*1. PLANTING***

Perfection is the enemy of progress. - Keep innovating
A clear and unchanging vision brings stability in a volatile environment - Keep casting vision
Urgency keeps teams functioning at a high level - Patrick Lecioni (Emergency Room Leadership) - Everything matters or nothing matters
Listening to the Holy Spirit brings breakthrough - Increase our reliance on the supernatural
Planting reaches unreached people - Keep on planting churches.

*2. BUILDING CULTURE***

Matthew 28:17-19 MSG

17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, (NOT ‘doubted’ as some translations used distazo) not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Jesus promises to be with His Church, WHEN they are ON TEAM/MISSION! Want to get a little closer to JESUS…get on team!

This is the culture of our teams at Beyond Church, it is the culture code that Jesus lays down for HIS first TEAM in these verses.

TAKE A RISK - Open Your Heart / hear from God through the word of God and encouragement (prophecy) from trusted leaders.
GO - Say Yes. After we worship Jesus, listening to His voice, hearing His call on our lives…what is our response?
TRAIN - Grow your own leadership capacity so that you have the room, the capacity, the margin and the skill to lead others into God’s future for them!
COMMISSION - Baptism is a commissioning moment. It is where you say Yes to mission. This is what we are called to do, to invite others into their God given mission and send them out to live it!
RAISE LEADERS - Finally, we continue to instruct….mentor, lead and grow those who are wiling to keep taking risks, keep living worshipful lives, to keep on saying Yes to Jesus and to stay on mission with Him. We raise leaders who raise leaders in Jesus name.

People do still want to give up their ordinary grave tending, lives and start an adventurously expectant one, on mission with Jesus. - Romans8:15 MSG ‘This resurrection life...’

We have to shift our thinking. We aren’t asking people to do something FOR US, we are making room for people to do something that will build THEIR lives...it isincumbent on us to make room.

“Every time we gather,we will give every person every opportunity to serve in every way that they can.” (picture of the tabernacle - no seats in the tabernacle)

A Practical Shift in Culture

We count all people because all people count.

We measure engagement because we are about raising leaders not simply increasing attendance.

“To say somebody’sNO for them is to rob them of their God given opportunity to step into the greatest thing they will ever do with their lives!”

3. MAKING ROOM FOR A MIRACLES

The first miracle I want for our team today is for God’s miraculous POWER to ENERGISE us!

Ephesians 3:20TPT“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.”

The second miracle I want for our team today is for us to PRAY miracle PRAYERS!

Psalms 65:5TPT “You answer our prayers with amazing wonders and with awe-inspiring displays of power.”

God doesn’t answer your prayers with predictable mediocrity and boring, uninspiring acts of powerlessness. So TODAY we STOP praying small prayers!

The final miracle I want for our team today is for us to ENJOY some MIRACLE REST!

Mark 4:26-27 NLT

“Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.

This is what I know God wants to do with us right now….we have PLANTED, WE HAVE CULTIVATED….now lets REST in His presence MAKE ROOM for a MIRACLE in our lives today.

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Shiboleth - The Sound Of Beyond Church Leadership

Judges 12:5-6 NLT

Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,” they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say “Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time.

The sound of leadership can be a matter of life or death!

The Sound Of Beyond Church Leadership

BC Leadership Sounds Like “NO”

One of the reasons churches don’t change, or grow, move into their God Destiny….. is because their leaders are unwilling to say no to current members who prefer things the way they were.

When you learn to say no to the preferences of some current members, you learn to say yes to a community that is ready to be reached.

BC Leadership Sounds Like Decisions

If you have a decision-making process that’s slow and complicated, you will not be able to keep up with the pace of change needed. (What’s the decision making process like in your HEAD?)

Carey Nieuwhof- “If you can’t make a decision within 24 hours, your process is too slow....And with change happening as radically and unpredictably as it is now, if you can pivot your organization within 30 days, you’re too slow.”

BC Leadership Sounds Like Questions

We need to BE asking lots of questions. Some of the best leaders I know ask ME questions about how we do church…it's not because we have all of the answers, its because they have developed the habit of asking questions….

Looking for improvements - is the same discipline

as asking questions…how can we do this better?

“If we have no questions to ask we have nowhere to go….”

BC Leadership Sound Like Others

We MUST value each other , those who are here….in our lives and on our teams….BUT…We are here for those who are NOT YET HERE….. - Go after the one…..”our YES to Jesus is a yes to MISSION…”

BC Leadership Sounds Like Experimentation

“Let’s have a go”

“Failing on the right side of risk” - Spend the money, make the appointment, make that phone call, ask for help. MAKE THE MISTAKE!! FAIL AT SOMETHING PLEASE!!!

BC Leadership Sounds Like Service

“This is the greatest work we will ever do!”

If I get to do this….why wouldn’t I want others to enjoy this kind of fulfilment?

Every person should be given every opportunity to serve in every way that they can.

BC Leadership Sounds Like ‘FOR you, not FROM you.’

When we teach on Biblical principles for living….it is always about blessing people…..!

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Favour Follows A Fresh Start Culture

Romans 12:2 TPT “Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation (RE - FORMATION - FRESH START] of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

Much of Paul’s writing to the early church, most of the New Testament, is this challenge: Leave the patterns, opinions and ideals of the CULTURE that surrounds you and MAKE A FRESH START with a NEW CULTURE that BEGINS WITHIN YOU!

The REWARD for A FRESH START CULTURE kind-of-LIFE is a LIFE that FAVOUR FOLLOWS......BEAUTIFUL, SATISFYING and PERFECT LIFE....

Q: Do you want to see FAVOUR in your marriage, family, workplace, business, ministry, study...want divine favour to touch the dreams on your heart ... favour to touch the your future endeavours?

Q: Is this the kind of life you want? Do you want a ‘favour follows’ kind of life?

What does a FRESH START CULTURE LOOK LIKE?

Does Paul point us to a model or a method..does he give us some help...?

A: Paul talks a LOT about the the LOCAL CHURCH and in Paul’s worldview, the church, when it is living out A FRESH START CULTURE...is the hope of the world!

This is the FRESH START culture I want to point us to today...the fresh start culture of Gods one and only rescue plan for humanity....the local church....

THE SAME FRESH START CULTURE THAT BRINGS FAVOUR TO THE LOCAL CHURCH IS THE SAME FRESH START CULTURE THAT BRINGS FAVOUR INTO YOUR WORLD….;

A FRESH START CULTURE is 5 things:

A Salvation Culture

Romans10:13NLT “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Salvation is central to a FRESH START CULTURE.

We have to make room for this miracle for every person, every time, and in every place we gather.

The culture of the LOCAL CHURCH has the GUEST in mind FIRST.

If you have said Yes to Jesus, your new mission in this world is to point the rest of our broken and hurting world to their saviour.

Churches do so many great things around our world AND THEY SHOULD... ... but the difference between the CHURCH and the CHARITY, the sports club, the book club or the bike club, is that the church isn’t trying help you live a BETTER life...it’s calling you to LIVE A SURRENDERED life. ... A LIFE SURRENDERED to Jesus.

So....When you encounter church...you should be encountering Jesus.

“Therefore, we are here, for those who are not yet here!”

Our preaching, special events, kids programs, youth, music, academy, church planting, are ALL built to help people connect with Jesus.

At Beyond Church we say:

“WE WILL POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS AS THE ONE AND ONLY HOPE FOR HUMANITY”

A FRESH START CULTURE is always a salvation culture.

[SIDE 4]

A Hospitable Culture

Romans16:1-2MSG “Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for.

Famous, generous hospitality is God’s WAY/ CULTURE OF welcoming people into a community of faith.

Why are Christians FAMOUS...for their generous hospitality...?

John 2:1 - 11 Jesus first miracle = water into wine.
Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people on 2 separate occasions. John 6:10-11 + Matthew 15:35-38
Luke 24:30-32 Jesus broke bread with some of his disciples. The meal together is the one thing that helped them recognise Jesus identity. Then he miraculously disappears.
Luke 24:40 - 43 Jesus appears to his disciples for the first time and asks for some fish to eat to prove he has risen from the dead!
John 21:10-14 Jesus appeared for the 3rd time to his disciples after his resurrection around a miracle catch of fish and bread cooked over a fire
In the book of Luke, there are 10 stories where Jesus is eating a meal with various people.

Nothing opens hearts more than a generously open and full table.

A FRESH START CULTURE is always a HOSPITABLE CULTURE

A Growth Culture

Ephesians 4:14-16 MSG “No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything.

At Beyond Church we say that EVERYBODY has a next step! We are unapologetic about having an aggressive growth culture…

For us corporately, and for us as individuals. When our mission is one of eternal significance, where the eternal destiny of the human soul hangs in the balance...we build a “whatever it takes” kind of of culture!

Romans 8:15 MSG “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next,

Q: What’s next for you, in this FRESH START season? What’s your next step? JOINING A LIFE GROUP, COMPLETING BEYOND BASICS, JOINING A TEAM, BEING IN THE ROOM?

A Leadership Culture

Matthew 5:13-14 MSG “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

You are meant to stand out - BRIGHT! - Not grey! - Church is only boring when we are boring!
You are meant to be on the edge of innovation and community transformation
The church needs to be the flavour of the month....it shouldn’t be a sour taste in the mouth of the community.
You are meant to be brave - The first brush stroke is always to bravest!
Be first, LEAD in your world....family, workplace - turn up first, stay late, ask what else you can do, go ABOVE and BEYOND.....
You are meant to be vocal about the cause of the local church

I know that the next generation of leaders will be launched into significance from the leadership pipeline of the local church - The worlds greatest architects and educators, composers and politicians, business people and doctors, academics and artists all inspired, equipped and encouraged by the leadership greenhouse that is the local church.

A FRESH START CULTURE is always a LEADERSHIP CULTURE

A Youth Culture

At Beyond Church we say that we will flourish from generation to generation.

Could it be that there is something supernatural at work in this environment, something intangible, something of the power of God at work, that if immersed in it for long enough, consistently enough.....it sets your kids up to flourish in life?

“A young church needs EVERY generation “ . . .

Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.

The faithfulness of God extends to every generation ONLY as we extend our hand to the generations to come.

Older people....We need to be lifting up, not holding back. Our role is to be the cheer squad, championing on those growing in their faith journey and their gift. We don’t need the maturity police.....

Young people....1 Timothy 4:12 NLT Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

What’s the culture of YOUR life today?

Do you know Jesus?
Are you living a generous life?
Do you have an aggressive growth agenda?
Are you leading in all area of your life?
Are you championing the generations to come?

This is the FRESH START CULTURE that FAVOUR will ALWAYS FOLLOW!

Q: Want to take your FIRST STEP into YOUR FRESH START TODAY?

Jesus, this is my decision

Today I say yes to you

You died on the cross

To pay the price for my sin.

I invite you to be my saviour.

Come into my life.

Forgive my sin.

Fill me with the power of your holy spirit.

Amen

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The Promise, The Price and the Practice of Your Fresh Start

Psalm 72:6 TPT Your favour falls like rain on our surrendered, like showers reviving the earth.

Are you ready, prepared, excited about, the new opportunities that are coming to you a you move into this next season of 2020? This message series is all about ‘Favour Following Fresh Starts”…

I know that God has called us into a year of favour, and that this favour follows the fresh start that God has for us RIGHT NOW!

The PROMISE of your FRESH START

Zechariah 10:1 NLT

Ask the Lord for rain in the spring,

for he makes the storm clouds.

And he will send showers of rain

so every field becomes a lush pasture.

Zechariah 10:6 MSG

“I’ll put muscle in the people of Judah; I’ll save the people of Joseph. I know their pain and will make them good as new. They’ll get a fresh start, as if nothing had ever happened. And why? Because I am their very own God, I’ll do what needs to be done for them. The people of Ephraim will be famous, their lives brimming with joy. Their children will get in on it, too— oh, let them feel blessed by God!

God has a pattern of bringing favourinto the lives of His Fresh Start People.

Your Fresh Start is on its way…You are the Fresh start people of God!

“What kind of FRESH START are you believing God for over the coming weeks?”

2. The PRICE of your FRESH START

Every Fresh Start has a fresh fee…

This is the time for us to count the cost..and prepare for favour, prepare for blessing…..make room for more in our lives.

Luke 14:33 MSG

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.

Luke 22:42TPT

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.”

Significant steps come at significant cost…

Your fresh start is on the other side of your surrender.

For a fresh start in my marriage, I have had to pay the price of time, attention, intentionality

For a fresh start with my health I have to pay the price of an early morning

For a fresh start in my relationship with Jesus I have had to pay the price of time reading the bible

For a fresh start in my emotional health I have had to pay the price of committing to my life group

For a fresh start in our church I have had to pay the price of leadership

What will your FRESH START cost you this week?

*3. The* PRACTICE of your FRESH START?****

“I have believed the promise, I have paid the price….How do I LIVE/PRACTICE a FRESH START LIFE

A lesson in Practising your FERSH START in 3 easy steps….

Step 1 is a yes to the fresh start catalyst and His name is Jesus.

Step 2 is a yes to the fresh start community which is Jesus’ church

Step 3 is a yes to the fresh start calling which is Jesus’ mission for you!

If you want to live, in the FRESH START FAVOUR of God…..then a daily, Yes to Jesus, a daily commitment to community and a daily response to God’s call on your life, is the practice that will keep you there.

The FAVOUR on YOUR life is for the revival of OTHERS… PSALM 72:6 TPT says God's favour will fall on YOUR life - BUT it REVIVES the ENTIRE earth!!

[YTJ]

Jesus, this is my decision

Today I say yes to you

You died on the cross

To pay the price for my sin.

I invite you to be my saviour.

Come into my life.

Forgive my sin.

Fill me with the power of your holy spirit.

Amen

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The 3 Fresh Starts Brilliant Leaders Must Make

A Fresh Small Start

Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

This is about increasing our tolerance for BALNK CANVAS

When we start where we are with what we have, heaven starts cheering us on…

So, let’s not underestimate the power of heaven when it comes to seeing breakthrough in the work that we are called to do, and the people we are called to lead.

A Fresh Slow Start

We are clock builders not time tellers.

We are all leaders. We are all builders. We build line upon line. Brick by brick.

This is about increasing our tolerance for the development of systems and process in a GROWING environment.

We are building a new website, launching a new location (possibly 2x), growing a school, re-launching a physical location…so in a DYNAMIC environment we have to be agile, bible and flexible…not to silky adjust to a new system or process but to be play a key part in crafting it. Part of being ok with this, is not being precious or territorial.

A Fresh False Start

This is all about increasing our tolerance for failure.

This is all about increasing our capacity for risk.

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress BUT excellence makes room for a miracle….excellence tolerates risk….perfectionism does not tolerate risk.

[STORY on EXCELLENCE] Thank our teams for living with a culture of excellence through the church online season….Because, EXCELLENCE is not something we do, it is a culture we live… eg. Even though we know we won’t be doing church online forever, we have always found something to improve on, to do better with, to raise the bar, to increase engagement, to improve video, audio, connections, yes to Jesus etc…. I believe this has happened, not because we want to have the PERFECT online experience, but because we have a CULTURE of EXCELLENCE…..

BUT…. Where I know we can be making some FASLE STARTS…is not in products, productions, services, or projects…BUT with PEOPLE….

Some of us are ok with losing money, losing resources, stuff…but we are not willing to risk losing a relationship, friendship, colleague, team member, staff member. BUT ….we are often reluctant to take a risk with a person…..

What kind of FALSE STARTS do we need to get comfortable making….

The Excellent Ask - people want to be believed in, trusted, empowered and led well…We get to invite people into the greatest work they Weill ever do….BUT…We don’t want to hear ‘no’. We don’t want somebody to fail, we don’t want to give somebody too much to do AND have them blame us for it! SO.. we don’t take the risk…we say their no for them. We have to be OK with people blaming us for their failures…welcome to leadership….

If we are not ready to have people blame us for their failures then we are not ready to have them acknowledge us in their victories.

Calling People To The Culture - people with a growth mindset, people with a humble heart and a desire to serve will FLOURISH in clarity….lets not do those people the disservice of calling them to the culture because we are afraid we might upset those who do not want to grow, lead or have a bad attitude.
Inviting People To Church At the end of the day thereal progress that we need to make as a Church is with people…not with projects.

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CULTURE CARRIERS OR CRISIS CARRIERS

In a season of CRISIS Do I carry culture THE culture of heaven or do I carry the crisis?

Job 36:15-16 NLT - Elihu

But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.

For he gets their attention through adversity.

“God is leading you away from danger, Job,

to a place free from distress.

He is setting your table with the best food.

The rescue is in the suffering....

This season is an attention getting play by God...

God uses crisis to lead people AWAY from danger and distress.....into abundance, blessing and favour......

God is still leading people....are we still leading people to God in this crisis?

Leaders are culture carriers not crisis carriers

How do I know what I am carrying? Becasue what I carry determines, how far I can travel and who I can support along the journey......

CARRY THESE 4 THINGS....IN A CRISIS CARRY THE CULTURE OF LOVE....

LOVE

‭‭James (Jacob)‬ ‭1:7-8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition?”

am I WHOLE HEARTEDLY am I preferring others in a crisis...is this season STILL all about reaching, loving and prefer others over ourselves...or have I moved to self preservation. “I just need to make it through this” or “once this is over then....”

CRISIS CARRIERS - Complicated people who have no grace for each other or for leadership....

CULTURE CARRIERS - Uncomplicated people, stable in their ways and have grace for others and leadership in crisis.

Let’s be culture carriers by being UNCOMPLICATED - ACUTELY FOCUSED - WHOLE HEARTEDLY on mission with Jesus CARRYING the culture of LOVE not carrying CRISIS.

INSPIRATION

CULTURE CARRIERS - WILL inspire HOPE, VISION and PURPOSE in the middle of crisis.

CRISIS CARRIERS - SUCK the HOPE, VISION and PURPOSE tou tof every situation and PERSON in a CRISIS....

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:20-21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to YOUR inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life. Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences.”****

CARRYING the culture of INSPIRATION actually inspires YOU!!!

FUN

Crisis carriers love to be the fun police in time’s like these.....

But CULTURE carriers know that FUN brings health, energy and endurance to a crisis.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.”

EXCELLENCE

Isn’t being the best - it is doing the best, with what we have.....

so when WHAT we have changes ... EXCELLENCE changes.

When the many who carry much become the few who carry more, we have to adjust or we will break.....

CULTURE CARRIERS are ok with some of things that used to be really important to (ME)...now not being important to ANYTHING!

CULTURE CARRIERS are ok with some things that were never important to (me)....now being the only things that matter! (Phone calls, social media)

THE ONLY thing that matters in the middle of a crisis is who you are in it WITH! The truth is that you were never meant to CARRY anything on your own...and there is a man who came to SAVE you from the birden of this season and every season....His name is Jesus

PRAYER

Jesus, this is my decision

Today I say yes to you

You died on the cross

To pay the price for my sin.

I invite you to be my saviour.

Come into my life.

Forgive my sin.

Fill me with the power of your holy spirit.

Amen

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Foundations For Revival

The message series we are preaching through this season is 'Favour Follows Firm Foundations'

Psalm 72:6

Your favour will fall like rain upon our surrendered lives, like showers reviving the earth.

DON'T LET THIS SEASON BE ONE OF ‘JUST SURVIVAL’....LET'S CHOOSE TODAY FOR IT TO BE A SEASON OF REVIVAL!

The the bible teaches us that we can lay a foundation for that REVIVAL to become a reality for us....

ARE YOU READY FOR REVIVAL?

3 FOUNDATIONS FOR REVIVAL...

Revival Always Starts With Salvation

Acts 3:19 MSG

Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.

"Say yes to Jesus"

Revival is Always caught in community

Acts 2:46:47 MSG

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

What does that look like? (NOTHING HAS CHANGED)

Be in the room - virtual room - Be present and engage with others....

Be on a team - virtual team - This is how you can serve, how we can keep reaching people, keep growing, keep raising leaders and inspiring our community.

1. Share this service to your social media world

2. Share your story - tell people about your faith community experience and how it builds your life and the life of your family

Be in a life group - virtual life groups - Your life group is your life boat....

Revival is fuelled by fire

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Paul's letter was somewhat addressing this impatience of a church expecting Jesus to return any day....Paul was bringing encouragement around what to do in the waiting........Keep the fire burning...Revival is fuelled by fire....

What is fuelling your FIRE, in this season of isolation?

Feeling impatient, worn out, tired, frustrated, empty or powerless, living the ISO life....let's pray, RIGHT NOW, and ask God to fill our lives with the Power of the Holy Spirit!

Invite the Holy Spirit to set your life on fire

Jesus, this is my decision

Today I say yes to you

You died on the cross

To pay the price for my sin.

I invite you to be my saviour.

Come into my life.

Forgive my sin.

Fill me with the power of your holy spirit.

Amen

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KINGDOM FIRST LEADERSHIP – TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIPKingdom First SeriesMatthew 6:33 NKJV – “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”You might be tempted to think that a series on kingdom first leadership doesn’t apply to you. You might be thinking I’m not a team leader or life group leader here at Beyond Church, I don’t work as an employee for the church and I don’t even have a leadership role in my paid work.You couldn’t be more wrong! I’m here to tell you that part of being a kingdom first person is the calling and challenge to commit to growing as a kingdom first leader. Matthew 4:19 TPT – Jesus called out to them and said, “Come and follow me, and I will TRANSFORM you into men who catch people for God.”Jesus was a transformational leader:- He transformed water into wine- He transformed sick people to health- He transformed those with mental illness to have peace and clarity of mind- He transformed injustice to equality- He transformed death to life- He transformed darkness to lightTherefore, if we follow Jesus as the model of kingdom first style leadership, then Kingdom first leadership is TRANSFORMATIONAL leadership.When we say Yes To Jesus, we submit to his transformation work in us. He begins the process of transforming us to look and sound and behave more like him. But it doesn’t stop there. When we say Yes To Jesus, he also charges us and commissions and calls us to spread the transformation to others. He calls us to TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP.Now in the academic context, transformational leadership has four key components:1. Idealized influence2. Intellectual stimulaton3. Individualized consideration4. Inspirational motivationTransformational leaders are able to inspire and motivate people with clear and compelling vision to be a part of something that’s full of purpose. They are often compared with TRANSACTIONAL leaders.Transactional leaders are just bosses who expect something and have something to offer as a transaction in return. Many of us are part of a transactional leadership relationship with our employers, who offer us what’s considered a fair amount of money in return for our time and skills being devoted to their business or organisation.WHY do we need to grow as TRANSFORMATIONAL leaders?- Because we model our lives on the life of Jesus who was the ultimate transformational leader- Because humanity is depending on usMatthew 9:35 TPT – Jesus walked through the region with the joyful message of God’s kingdom realm. He taught in their meeting houses, and wherever he went he demonstrated God’s power by healing every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in. As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest his grain!”Matthew 10:7-10 TPT – And as you go, preach this message: ‘Heaven’s kingdom realm is accessible, close enough to touch.’ You must continually bring healing to lepers and to those who are sick, and make it your habit to break off the demonic presence from people, and raise the dead back to life. Freely you have received the power of the kingdom, so freely release it to others. You won’t need a lot of money. Travel light, and don’t even pack an extra change of clothes in your backpack. Trust God for everything, because the one who works for him deserves to be provided for.So how can we become even more transformational leaders? I think we can personalize the transformational leadership theory to apply it better to kingdom first leadership:1. Know your sphere of influence – you have influence and you should see it and use it to inspire and motivate others to become part of heaven’s kingdom. Your influence may extend to the young hearts and minds in your home who you are faithfully and diligently parenting to better understand and serve God’s kingdom for the rest of their lives. You can always grow in your influence with your circle of peers and friends to gently and graciously point them toward Jesus and his plan for their lives. You may even have influence in business, community or politics which you can leverage for heaven’s kingdom purposes. Know your influence and grow your influence.Proverbs 20:28 TPT – Good leadership is built on love and truth, for kindness and integrity are what keep leaders in their positions of trust.2. Grow in wisdom – great transformational leaders have learnt to think before they speak, to rely on the good and godly power of the holy spirit in them more than their own skills, to grow their skills and practise them.Proverbs 24:4 TPT – because of their skilled leadership the hearts of people are filled with the treasures of wisdom and the pleasures of spiritual wealth.Proverbs 4:8 TPT – Wisdom will exalt you when you exalt her truth. She will lead you to honour and favour when you live your life by her insights.Story: Kate F growing and learning as much as she can so that she can lead new people and in new ways3. See the individual – every person is equal in the eyes of God and every person has a unique story. Transformational leaders don’t put everyone in the same box, but see through the messiness in people’s lives and rely on the wisdom they have learnt and practiced to help guide people toward kingdom solutions and pathways which will actually help them as individuals. Proverbs 12:26 TPT – Lovers of God give good advice to their friends, but the counsel of the wicked will lead them astray.4. Be inspirational! – people just can’t wait to be inspired. You living your best life and prospering and thriving and pointing people to the light of Jesus and his kingdom INSPIRES PEOPLE. And then your influence grows. Living a big, generous life is SURE to inspire people and bring them closer to heaven’s kingdom.Proverbs 11:14 TPT – People lose their way without wise leadership, but a nation succeeds and stands in victory when it has many good counsellors to guide it.Proverbs 25:15 TPT – Use patience and kindness when you want to persuade leaders and watch them change their minds right in front of you. For your gentle wisdom will quell the strongest resistance.Today I want to pray for two different groups of people.1. Perhaps you’ve said yes to Jesus before, but you’ve fallen into having a transactional relationship with him. You realise that he died on the cross to save you and you know that you need to say yes to him in order to get into heaven and that’s as far as the transaction has gone. You know you’re in a place where you need to reactivate a TRANSFORMATIONAL relationship with Jesus which keeps transforming you for the benefit of others for the rest of your life.2. And perhaps you’ve never said yes to Jesus before, but your heart is being moved even now by the TRANSFORMATIONAL work he is longing to begin in you. You can now see clearly that Jesus died on the cross for you, and it makes you so grateful that you’re inspired and motivated to say yes to him and begin a transformational journey which sees you become more like him and spread his transforming love and power to others.Jesus, this is my decisionToday I say yes to youYou died on the cross to pay the price for my sinI invite you to be my saviorCome into my life, forgive my sin and fill me with the power of your holy spiritAmen

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The Kingdom First Church Is 6 Things

Matthew 16:15-19 NLT“You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am.And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.””

You ARE the CHURCH....When you know WHO Jesus is and who YOU are, the church is unstoppable! ... ‘You are unstoppable ’....

1. A Singing Church

Corporate singing is imprinted in the DNA of all humanity. From the Zulu Tribes and the Gregorian Monks, to the arenas of heaving fans of country and pop, to churches just like this around the globe...humanity aches to be together in one voice.

Psalms‬ ‭100:1-3‬ ‭TPT‬‬ “Lift up a great shout of joy to the Lord! Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere! As you serve him, be glad and worship him. Sing your way into his presence with joy! And realize what this really means— we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord our God. For he is our Creator and we belong to him. We are the people of his pleasure.”

When you point the inherent desireto be together in one voice toward the intended desireof your affections, your world is transformed.

Helen Howarth Lemmel (1900’s) “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things this of Earth grow strangled dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

When we stand together and sing as one...Jesus changes our world.

2. A Generous Church

Are you personally ready for INCREASE? FOR NEW LEVELS of FAITH, for fresh God ordained BLESSING, FAR REACHING INFLUENCE, NEW PURPOSE AND God given DESTINY?

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:24‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller

Generosity puts your faith into action.

Generosity proves your trust is in God.

Stinginess is a symptom of fear.

The fearless live generous lives, the stingy live afraid.

If you want to break the power of fear in your life today, build systematic generosity into your Budget. Make room for it in your life for God to bring a miracle to bear.

Giving to great causes is great -BUT giving to the one and only cause where Jesus is at the centre, changes everything.

3. A Young Church

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:6‬ ‭TPT‬‬“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.”

At Beyond Church we say that we will flourish from generation to generation.

My mother used to take me to church every single week, and for every one of those weeks I loved church. I was included, I was appreciated, I was encouraged and I was inspired by what I was a part of. It wasn’t about the size of the church, it wasn’t the style of music, it wasn’t the length of the sermons....what was it?

“A young church needs EVERY generation “ . . .

A church that calls kids to rise up as Kingdom leaders ... will change the game forever.

4. A Hospitable Church

At Beyond Church we say that we will be famous for our generous hospitality...

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:1-2‬ ‭MSG‬‬ “Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for.

Why are Christians FAMOUS...for their generous hospitality...?

John 2:1 - 11 Jesus first miracle = water into wine.
Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people on 2 seperate occasions. John 6:10-11 + Matthew 15:35-38
Luke 24:30-32 Jesus break bread with some of his disciples. The meal together is the one thing that helped them recognise Jesus identity. Then he miraculously disappears.
Luke 24:40 - 43 Jesus appears to his disciples for the first time and asks for some fish to eat to prove he has risen from the dead!
John 21:10-14 Jesus appeared for the 3rd time to his disciples after his resurrection around a miracle catch of fish and bread cooked over a fire
In the book of Luke, there are 10 stories where Jesus is eating a meal with various people.

When we gather, as THE CHURCH, in an environment of GENEROUS hospitality, that we Christians are famous for, Jesus changes everything.

5. A Preaching Church

ROMANS‬ ‭10:13-15‬ ‭NASB‬‬ “for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?

These moments are moments that centre our thoughts on Jesus, AND they proved an opportunity, and an atmosphere for miracles to take place. ‭‭

From a friend of Beyond Church “The past few weeks I have been clinging to any hope that God can improve my circumstances and even though I believe that miracles can and do happen I wasn't sure I believed they could or would happen to me. Yesterday God delivered a miracle to me. After a powerful message I heard at church, which was as though it was being spoken directly to me, I felt my heart be changed. Nothing about my circumstances was changed but the great worry and burden I carried on my heart was lifted and I felt a crazy sense of calm come over me. I even slept soundly last night which I can't remember the last time I did. I can't explain the feeling I had as anything other than a miracle.”

These few minutes together wont ever be about teaching you something, or trying to change your behaviour, they will always be about revealing Jesus and inspiring you to keep stepping into His great purpose for your life!

You see, a message with Jesus at the centre...can change the game forever...

6. A ‘Yes To Jesus’ Church

Every Kingdom first church puts Jesus first.

At Beyond Church we say that will point people to Jesus as the one and only hope for humanity.

Churches do so many great things around our world but church is not a hand out or even a hand up...it’s a hand-over ... you see the different between the church and the charity, the sports club, the book club or the bike club is that the church isn’t trying help you live a better life...it’s calling you to give your life away ... to Jesus.

When you encounter church...you should be encountering Jesus.

This is why every time we gather, we give every person, every opportunity to say ‘yes to Jesus’. We have had responses to our invitation to say yes top Jesus in our last two services...and this is why we are here...to see the church EXPAND!!

‘We are here for those who are not here’

When you encounter a Kingdom first church - it will change your life forever

Beyond Church | Raising Leaders: Recent Episodes