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Things I Noticed In The Nines

nine

This is an on-going update on free The Nines conference.  It will be updated as the conference goes.

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Scott Hodge has more energy than the Energizer Bunny and I like it.

Dave Ferguson talked about the five steps in apprenticeship. But he never mentioned what someone does.

In the first 90 minutes not one leader talked about the Great Commission or the practice of love or grace.  I would think this is the basis for leadership…but I could be wrong. ;-P

Give it up for Stacy Stacy Spencer at New Directions Christian for bringing leadership back to restoration. Although, Bill Kinnon and Steve Knight said Skye Jethani was off the charts.

How come it took the woman (Anne Jackson and Nancy Beech) to give us a warning to slow down and find the safe spaces to be real?

Andrew Jones had the best comment in the first couple of hours. He asked, “if legitimacy equals more than largeness, who will speak for the tiny underground movements? maybe alan hirsch and neil cole.”

Scott Wilson pays his people to read leadership books or get out. There’s something to this but it just came off strange. Drew Tatsuko said, “ok. you totally lost me at cash incentives for leadership. puke.”

Steven Furtick completely lost me.  Oh well.  He looks like Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, which kind of distracted me.

Reggie McNeal makes the assertion that, “we are not the point.”  Yet the entire story of Scripture is God’s working to redeem US.  What say you?

Noel Heikkenin from Riverview Church rocked.  He talked about how we are crippling people from maturity by robbing them of their own struggle. He also spoke of the problem we’ve created with the role of pastors.  It really reminded me of this post.

Len Sweet talked about the Big Head Syndrome, or getting lost in your own success.  But Jan has the best comment to follow.  She said, “Right now, lots of pastors are listening to @LenSweet talk about big heads and thinking of someone else. #thenines”

Teresa from Northstar Community absolutely knocked it out of the park.  Tell yourself the truth.

One of the things that I noticed this morning but didn’t really seemed to bug me during the day was that The Nines said registration was required.  Yet when I went to the site, it was not.  I guess I just don’t know why this was spoken this way.  Seemed strange.

Greg Surratt said, “We are deeply afraid people may find out who we are.” Wow.

Scott Williams from Flat Irons Church says, “You’re not my Holy Spirit.”  That’s good stuff on how we try to play God with each other.

It’s 12:20 for me right now and Neil Cole is on, but I’m flat worn out.  They should have scheduled this over a couple of days.  To much is too much.

Okay someone finally said it, JD is the pastor of Summit Church and he said, Love is the best apologetic for the Gospel.

Ed Stetzer made an interesting comment that sort of dovetails on Reggie McNeal’s above.  He said, “Mission is the opposite of self.”  I would spin it differently: Mission is the natural extension of the restored self.

About the Author

Jonathan BrinkI am an business development and communications consultant. I am also the senior editor and publisher for Civitas Press. I recently published, Discovering The God Imagination: Reconstructing A Whole, New Christianity. (Civitas, 2011)View all posts by Jonathan Brink →

  • Patrick

    I love Reggie Mcneal, could his point have been that God is the point? We are redeemed for a reason; to be put back into His image. We aren't the point, HE is the point. The Bible is filled with stories about people that don't get that and a lot that do. The Isrealites thought they were the point and constantly were corrected. I don't think we humans can understand the point completely. Check with Job.

  • Patrick

    I love Reggie Mcneal, could his point have been that God is the point? We are redeemed for a reason; to be put back into His image. We aren't the point, HE is the point. The Bible is filled with stories about people that don't get that and a lot that do. The Isrealites thought they were the point and constantly were corrected. I don't think we humans can understand the point completely. Check with Job.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    I get what you are saying Patrick, but I struggle with the fact that in speaking the issue that way, we inadvertently miss solving the problem that is located in us. Just thinking out loud with that one.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    I get what you are saying Patrick, but I struggle with the fact that in speaking the issue that way, we inadvertently miss solving the problem that is located in us. Just thinking out loud with that one.

  • http://blog.hackingchristianity.net UMJeremy

    I would tweak your last statement on Stetzer's to emphasize that we can do missions without restoration. Sometimes it is through the act of mission that we find restoration. It is a circle but the latter does not have to predicate the former.

  • http://blog.hackingchristianity.net UMJeremy

    I would tweak your last statement on Stetzer's to emphasize that we can do missions without restoration. Sometimes it is through the act of mission that we find restoration. It is a circle but the latter does not have to predicate the former.

  • http://web.me.com/love101 A, amos Love

    Hmmm? Leadership?

    Just wondering how you reconcile
    the use of the word “leader”
    with what Jesus said in Mt 23:10.

    The word “leader”seems like
    a “high place.” Yes?

    Jesus always took and recommended
    the “low place.” Yes?

    Jesus humbled Himself,
    made himself of no reputation
    and took on the form of a servant.
    Php 2:7

    Jesus in Mat 23:10 told His disciples “NOT” to call
    themselves master/“leaders”
    for you have one master/”leader” the Christ.

    King James Version –
    Neither be ye called masters:
    for one is your Master, even Christ.

    The Interlinear Bible –
    Nor be called leaders,
    for one is your leader the Christ.

    Phillips Modern English –
    you must not let people
    call you leaders,
    you have only one leader, Christ.

    Today's English Version –
    nor should you be called leader,
    your one and only leader
    is the Messiah.

    The Amplified-
    you must not be called
    masters (leaders)
    for you have one master (leader)
    the Christ.

    Jesus told His disciples “not”
    to be called “leaders”
    and none did.

    Ro 1:1 Paul,
    a servant of Jesus Christ…

    Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus,
    the servants of Jesus Christ…

    Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you,
    a servant of Christ…

    Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God…

    Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God…

    2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant…

    His disciples “all” called themselves “servants,”
    none called themselves “leaders.” None? None.
    None called themselves
    “servant-leader.” None.

    If someone
    calls them self a “leader”
    or thinks they are a “leader;”

    Are they a “disciple of Christ?”

    Wondering some more.

    Most on the list of people
    at this “leadership?” event
    are not only considered “ leaders?”
    but also have the “Title” “Pastor.”

    Where in the Bible does it say “pastor = leader?”

    Have you done your own study
    on pastors?
    I mean in the Bible?
    What does the Bible say
    about pastors?

    Makes an interesting study.

    Here’s some questions to ask
    as you check out pastors.

    1 – In the Bible, How many people…
    have the title pastor?

    2 – In the Bible, How many people are…
    referred to as pastor?

    3 – In the Bible, How many people are…
    ordained as a pastor?

    4 – In the Bible, How many congregations are…
    led by a pastor?

    Be blessed in your search for truth… Jesus

    And other sheep I have,
    which are not of this fold:
    them also I must bring,
    and they shall hear my voice;
    and there shall be one fold,
    and one shepherd.
    John 10:16

    One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice.
    If Not Now, When?

    Be blessed and be a blessing.

  • http://web.me.com/love101 A, amos Love

    Hmmm? Leadership?

    Just wondering how you reconcile
    the use of the word “leader”
    with what Jesus said in Mt 23:10.

    The word “leader”seems like
    a “high place.” Yes?

    Jesus always took and recommended
    the “low place.” Yes?

    Jesus humbled Himself,
    made himself of no reputation
    and took on the form of a servant.
    Php 2:7

    Jesus in Mat 23:10 told His disciples “NOT” to call
    themselves master/“leaders”
    for you have one master/”leader” the Christ.

    King James Version –
    Neither be ye called masters:
    for one is your Master, even Christ.

    The Interlinear Bible –
    Nor be called leaders,
    for one is your leader the Christ.

    Phillips Modern English –
    you must not let people
    call you leaders,
    you have only one leader, Christ.

    Today's English Version –
    nor should you be called leader,
    your one and only leader
    is the Messiah.

    The Amplified-
    you must not be called
    masters (leaders)
    for you have one master (leader)
    the Christ.

    Jesus told His disciples “not”
    to be called “leaders”
    and none did.

    Ro 1:1 Paul,
    a servant of Jesus Christ…

    Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus,
    the servants of Jesus Christ…

    Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you,
    a servant of Christ…

    Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God…

    Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God…

    2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant…

    His disciples “all” called themselves “servants,”
    none called themselves “leaders.” None? None.
    None called themselves
    “servant-leader.” None.

    If someone
    calls them self a “leader”
    or thinks they are a “leader;”

    Are they a “disciple of Christ?”

    Wondering some more.

    Most on the list of people
    at this “leadership?” event
    are not only considered “ leaders?”
    but also have the “Title” “Pastor.”

    Where in the Bible does it say “pastor = leader?”

    Have you done your own study
    on pastors?
    I mean in the Bible?
    What does the Bible say
    about pastors?

    Makes an interesting study.

    Here’s some questions to ask
    as you check out pastors.

    1 – In the Bible, How many people…
    have the title pastor?

    2 – In the Bible, How many people are…
    referred to as pastor?

    3 – In the Bible, How many people are…
    ordained as a pastor?

    4 – In the Bible, How many congregations are…
    led by a pastor?

    Be blessed in your search for truth… Jesus

    And other sheep I have,
    which are not of this fold:
    them also I must bring,
    and they shall hear my voice;
    and there shall be one fold,
    and one shepherd.
    John 10:16

    One Fold – One Shepherd – One Voice.
    If Not Now, When?

    Be blessed and be a blessing.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    Amos, I am not disagreeing with you. The leader's role is not to rule but to model love and servanthood, leading the way of grace.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    Amos, I am not disagreeing with you. The leader's role is not to rule but to model love and servanthood, leading the way of grace.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    i will also say that Jesus called his followers to go and make other disciples. This model for leadership is as i stated above. The problem is not with the word leadership but with our understanding and distortion of that word.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    i will also say that Jesus called his followers to go and make other disciples. This model for leadership is as i stated above. The problem is not with the word leadership but with our understanding and distortion of that word.

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