Related * Church Leaders Abuzz About Virtual Conference That was the core message Pastor Brad Powell of Northridge Church tried to get across to fellow church leaders around the world within a short time frame of nine minutes. He addressed a purely online audience on Wednesday during “The Nines” conference that featured back-to-back nine-minute video messages from renowned and lesser known communicators and pastors.

The virtual conference, organized by Leadership Network and Catalyst, drew over 20,000 participants throughout the daylong event. Online attendees carried conversations on blogs and Twitter, making “The Nines” the most tweeted topic for about three hours that day. “We have shut Jesus out of the church and by shutting Jesus out of the church we have become everything contrary, antithetical to what Jesus wants the church to be,” Powell of Plymouth, Mich., said in his pre-recorded video.

“We need to let Jesus back in the church so that revolution can begin again; so our churches, instead of being turned inward will turn outward again; so that our churches, instead of being exclusive little clubs, parks and recreation for the middle class, will become inclusive again.” The Northridge pastor sees many churches today as “museums of what God once did” and many pastors as “curators of those antiquities.”

He urged church and ministry leaders to be on the offense and go after the world rather than on the defense and just trying to keep people from leaving church. “We have to create a mission that is revolutionary,” he stressed. Some 75 pastors, authors and communicators sent in their webcam videos to share their passionate and personal messages with other church leaders. Among The Nines’ virtual speakers were Greg Surratt of Seacoast Church, Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church, Eric Bryant of Mosaic, and authors Leonard Sweet and Brian McLaren. Bryant of Mosaic in Los Angeles used his nine minutes to talk about advocating for the rights of those who do not yet believe in Christ. “Are we investing in people who might believe differently than us?” he posed. Church is often seen as “a place to meet our needs as Christians” but Bryant encouraged church leaders to see it as a place that meets the needs of the world.

He challenged listeners to treat the world around them not as outsiders but as friends and to allow them into their lives and their community even if they might hold different beliefs. Then when the time was right, Christians would share with them how their lives have been changed by Jesus. Author Leonard Sweet offered his few minutes of wisdom, telling church leaders how to deal with a big head. “The more successful you get, the more [you're] used by God, the bigger head you got to deal with,” Sweet said in his video message. His answer to the big head syndrome is “humble confidence” or “confident humility.” Confidence is knowing that there are no limits to what God can do. But at the same time, it’s knowing that without Christ, “I can’t do anything,” he explained. “Humility is not putting yourselves down. It’s accepting the great gifts and talents God has given you … receiving them as gifts. These are not yours,” he said. The Nines was a free event and accessible to anyone interested in gaining some inspiration, motivation or just plain information. All 75 video presentations will be available for free viewing next week.

Christian Post

Jesus said Mathew 14:27-29: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Did you know that there is a space between two certaintitys? It’s called doubt. When we move from our past which was a certainty, to our future which will be a new one, there is an in between time. Moving from what was, to what is can be a difficult transition. There is a five letter word that can creep in and cause a lot of turmoil in our lives. Doubt.

Peter did something that didn’t make any sense, and wasn’t a very comfortable thing. But that didn’t stop him. He saw the Lord and he went towards him. I’m sure as his foot left that boat, he heard doubt say;” your going down, what are you doing?” But it didn’t matter, he did it, afraid anyway. Fear and faith, both at work, but faith won!

And he did something that no one else has ever done before…

Peter Jumped ship and walked on water. Peter acted in faith. despite how it looked and felt. Peter also had a moment where he then saw the natural more than the spiritual and he started to sink in the very water he walked on. Jesus saved his boy and carried him back to the boat. Does that negate the fact that he acted with a pure heart and a sincere desire to believe. No, it doesn’t.

Not for Peter, and not for you and I. It is written that ” Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV) But how is it that when we try to walk by faith, the things that we see are the things we think have all the substance?

Faith is not faith until it is challenged. If nothing ever challenges you or brings a question mark to mind, than it is nothing more than blind faith. How will we know what our faith is made up of, unless doubt shows up and shakes it to the core?

Having faith does not mean that their is an absence of doubt and fear. Doubt and fear are not your enemies. They are a gift to show you what is hidden beneath the surface. They will show you which voice you listen to the most. They will allow you to see all the residual unbelief that hinders you. So that you may get rid of it.

Faith is not just knowing God can, but that he will. Faith is believing in your heart even while your mind may be in doubt. Take the adversity of trials and uncertainties and use them to work for you not against you. The greater your trouble, the greater your God is to get you to the great triumph you’ve been holding out for.

When it’s time, to let go and let God, go ahead and jump ship.

Pastor Kirt Eure

Join Pastor Kirt Eure as he teaches you about the Process Of Elimination.

Pastor Kirt Eure