Drowning paralleled with booty smacking chiseled guy
This describes a lot of our churches, doesn't it?
People are dying without the LORD and we're smacking each other on the butt!
The "marina mentality"
The Bible is all about rescue ... "The thing is the ring." Lifering.
We are safe in the marina while the rest of the world is out there drowning
God tossed us the ring ... The ring is Jesus!
The Bible is a story, cover to cover, about a divine rescue!
The radically rescued need to be the ones rescuing!
Many yacht clubs in New England began as rescue companies.
The entire hip hop culture is based on rhyme... The ring is the thing! The Hope is the Rope!
Can you imagine tossing a life ring without a rope? That's insane. You have to have a rope!
When we're rowing the ship towards Jesus, he always rows us by hunks of humanity who are DROWNING!
If you have complainers on your boat, tell them that this rescue mission is not for you!
Don't be shy in telling people, "See you later!" It is healthy for people to leave!
Seeing people who are drowning and getting rescued ... There is NOTHING like it.
The thing is the ring ... The hope is the rope. The rope is tethered to the local church!
The main thing is the rescue. The main thing is the ring. We get to pull people in and rescue them!
(I am literally looking up Ed Young's nose.)
Sometimes you read attendance reports for churches and see how they grew ... But the question that always messes me up is "Who are you reaching?"
It is so simple, but it is so convicting .... WHO are you reaching?
Chaos is good. Chaos is your homey.
Some of the churches with great attendance numbers, when you ask "Who are you reaching" they get strangely quiet.
How many of these churches are baptizing adults?
How many adults are getting "liquidated" at your church?
Is your hope tethered to the local church?
How many people are you towing so your fellowship will be full?
We have a lean staff because we want people to be forced to be involved with the pull.
Usualy staff members at churches want to hire people to do their jobs! HA!
Getting volunteers is a pain is ***, but it works! It's your job.
Rescuses that people give....
If I'm the devil, I don't want you to be a rescuer of society ... I want you to be a member of the YACHT CLUB!
Are we reaching people or are shuffling sheeple?
RESCUSES from Ed: The sheeple excuse
The safety excuse: I'll just stay safe here while people are sinking to the bottom without Jesus.
Most people resist change because of the resistance.
The DEEPER excuse: I'm just looking for something a little deeper....
(Never heard Ed speak before but I'm really enjoying him so far. Great, energetic, fun to listen to. Simple)
Be active in sharing your faith: Often times we think we're being deep but we're really being muddy.
The GOD IN A BOX excuse: We put God in a box and don't let him out.
I'm into election in the Bible, but I'm also into choice ... I know that Jesus told me to GO!
Encourage people to share their rescue story!
The PASS excuse: Do you know what happened to me? Wah wah wah.... We serve a God of grace! A God of second chances....
The NOT FAR AWAY FROM GOD excuse: The longer you're a Christian, the less contact you have with non-believers
Remember to leverage your passion for a purpose!
(I like @EdYoung's shoes) #Story09
The ring's the thing... Don'r ever forget it.
(Ed prays and he's out! Great job....)
