Finish Strong

I hope this video will encourage you to finish strong. In light of all of the things that we are seeing take place in our economy and in our world, may we never forget that God is still God and He is still on His throne. He gives us the strength we need to make it through. He tells us in 2 Peter that everything that we need pertaining to life and godliness has been given to us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Watching Nick in this video makes the things that I am struggling with seem to dissipate in light of what he is living with. Take notice, that Nick pushes forward toward the goal, forgetting what lies behind. It is for His glory and fame!

May we rest in the words of the Psalmist "Remember the word to Thy servant, in which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me" Psalm 119: 49-50

Character

I am teaching through Steve Shadrach's book called, "The Fuel and The Flame" I am using this book in my Leadership Development class at Greenville Christian School. In chapter 2, he shares 4 things a Christian Leader must posses while at the same time listing 4 other things that a Christian Leader must guard against. Here they are:

4 qualities a Leader must posses:
~ Love
~ Holiness
~ Servanthood
~ Faithfulness

4 areas a Leader must guard against:
~ Fear
~ Sexual Immorality
~ Pride
~ Bitterness

questions
~ Which of the 4 qualities do you feel is your strongest? your weakest?
~ Which of the pitfalls do you feel you are most susceptible to?

Gateway Fellowship Prayer

One of my dear friends, who is also a pastor, prays this every week and asks the church to do the same. I wanted to post this and ask you to pray these things specifically for the life of our church.

Please spend a few minutes lifting the following up in prayer this week:


1. ...that the Lord would grant wisdom, discernment, and favor in every decision the church must make in order to find and fulfill His perfect will.
(Joshua 9: 3-14; and Proverbs 2: 1-9)


2. ...that we would all come to know the Lord more intimately, and that nothing would distract us from the hunger and thirst for His presence in our lives.
(Exodus 33: 12-23; and Philippians 3: 7 -14)


3. ...that our church would move from mere belief in the principle of prayer to the practice of prayer in such a manner that we experience the miracle working hand of God. (Isaiah 38: 1-9; Matthew 7: 7-11; and Matthew 17: 14-21)


4. ...that our church would learn to trust the Lord as our source and sustainer of provision for our lives, homes, and church in these uncertain economic times.
(Exodus 15: 22-27; and Matthew 6: 19-34)


5. ...that the Lord would protect our marriages, preserve our children, and provide to our families the necessary ingredients to build enduring homes.
(Genesis 7: 1-7; Psalm 127: 1-5; and Matthew 7: 24-27)


6. ...that we would grow deep spiritual roots of maturity that produce character, composure, and credibility in our testimony to Royse City and surrounding areas.
(Ephesians 4: 11-16; I Peter 2: 1-9; and II Peter 1: 2-10)


Doing Life Together,

Trent Brown / Lead Pastor
Gateway Fellowship
http://welcometogateway.org

Executive Director
Be The Tree Ministries
http://bethetree.com

"If you're not comfortable getting to the place where it's not about you, you're in the wrong line of work. Humility is seeing God as He is. Pride is seeing ourselves as we're not." (Louie Giglio)

Sunday Reflections

I love preaching the text in 2 Peter. We are in the middle of a series called Radical Faith. This morning we covered 2 Peter 1:12-15 and talked about the fact that Peter was diligent in seeing to the fact that they were reminded to "stir up" that which they already knew and had been established. We continue to see people embracing the idea of "doing life together" and are witnessing first hand that very idea playing out in the communal life of the church. These are truly exciting times in the life of Gateway Fellowship

~ I love our church
~ I love the people
~ I love our staff
~ I love what He is doing in and through us

Be The Tree

~ A book idea on church planting
So I have had a desire to write a book for a long time. Not that I am an expert or a virtuoso in anything but I do think some of the things we have walked through as a church plant can help those out there, who are praying about starting a church or becoming a church planter. Anyway, here are some very preliminary ideas:

Be The Tree
- a church planting experience

possible chapters:

* seed
* water
* nurture
* growth
* blossom
* prunning
* re-growth
* harvesting and replanting?

(c)2009 BeTheTree Ministries

Are We Risk Takers?

So I just picked up Alan Hirsch's book called, "The Forgotten Ways~ reactivating the missional church". In his introduction he starts with a quotes that says, "A church which pitches its tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling... We must play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, and live by improvisation and experiment" ... Hans Kung, The Church as the People of God

I love the thought that if we, as church planters, leaders and pastors, are not willing to dream big dreams, look beyond today or get out of the seat of mediocrity~ we are not truly living the call that the Lord has put on the church. How often do we, in this life, settle for the mundane? How often to we settle for second best when it comes to the church? should we not be the most creative thing going? Don't get me wrong, I am not implying that we should just become places of lights, loudness and lackadaisical leadership but I am implying that we have to grab the attention of the culture that we have been placed into.

Is it not a part of our calling to exegete the community and see how we can most effectively reach its demographics? Do we not have a calling to do everything with excellence? As a church planter and a pastor, I am always trying to learn from those around me. I do my best to watch and listen and get a feel for the culture of the community. I try to listen and speak only when I need to, but I am becoming more and more convinced that I am supposed to be a change agent. I have to think missionaly and live authentically for the name and renown of Jesus Christ.

So as I reflect on these very things, I can not help but wonder, "am I really taking risks?" Am I dreaming big dreams. Dreams that we could only see come to fruition if HE was the one behind them? Or do I dream dreams that I realistically think we can accomplish in and of ourselves? I know the Lord has given me a vision for Gateway Fellowship and how we are to reach the community that surrounds us. I pray everyday that He would give me the strength to take the risks that will need to be taken in order to see it take place!

Lord, give me your ears, your eyes and your heart so that I can hear, see and love people they way that You do!

Gentlemen, I ask that you pray for us as take risks!

Sunday Reflections

Today was great. We had an awesome time of worship and I really enjoyed preaching the second part of the series in 2 Peter. My context today was chapter 1 verses 5-11. We had a time at the end of the service where we asked them men in the church to go to the back and pray for our witness in the community, our staff and our elders. It was awesome to see men praying together.I really felt the prayers of those who stand in the gap for us and our services.

~I love our church
~I love the people
~I love what HE is doing in and through us
~I love the vision HE has given

~I love the fact that everything we need that pertains to life and godliness has been given to us