Posts tagged ‘Exponential Series’

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4 May, 2012

A Church Planting Smorgasbord

by Andrew Rogers

Following is a collection of links from various folks who attended the Exponential Conference last week. I gathered these links for a couple of reasons:

  1. The conference is still on my mind.
  2. I thought that church planters who weren’t able to attend might glean something that will bless their ministry from those who did.
  3. I was looking for an excuse to use the word “smorgasbord” in a blog post title.

Here’s the list. Happy reading!

  • Tony Morgan shares the notes from his workshops. I wasn’t able to attend them while I was there (I was too busy in our booth) but I would’ve like to have heard him speak on “Keys to Building Healthy Leadership Teams.”
  • Nick from “Everything Pastor” did a great job of taking notes from various workshops and speakers. If you read only one post on this list, read this one. He has notes from Brian and Amy Bloye’s session on moral failure. This was a powerful talk in the main auditorium. I got to hear most of it and was so thankful that their are people like Brian and Amy who were up on stage talking to thousands of ministry leaders about keeping their lives pure and their marriages first.
  • Real Life Project – this blogger shares some notes from a workshop with Jim Putman, who will be speaking at the conference next year on the topic of discipleship. Could there also be a Zondervan book in the works with Jim on the same topic? We’ll have to wait and see…. ;-)
  • Jack Magruder has posted some of the notes from his workshops with Rob Wegner called “Mega –> Missional: Centralized Shift.” Rob and Jack are authors of the forthcoming book Missional Moves, and two of the nicest, humblest authors I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
  • Daniel Floyd appears to have posted the notes from his workshop at Exponential, “How To Launch a Healthy Church.” Here he lays out four critical components.
  • Ryan from The Adventures in Church Planting blog has posted his thoughts on Hugh Halter and Matt Smay’s session. Hugh and Matt are the authors of And: The Gathered and Scattered Church in the Exponential Series.
  • Greg Nettle posted some quick, encouraging thoughts about the conference.
  • The blogger at College Church Planter posted some nuggets of wisdom gleaned from the conference.
  • David Gurr from Ocean’s Edge School of Worship reflects on what it was like to have his team volunteer at the Exponential Conference. I had a good time chatting with a few volunteers from this school about music and worship. Seems like they’ve got a great program going on there, and having the volunteers at the conference was essential to its success. Kudos, volunteers!
  • Jeff from Church Planting Today has more nuggets of wisdom from the conference.
  • Dave at the Faith & Church blog has a nice summary posted of Wayne Cordeiro’s talk on his book, Sifted. 
  • The Christian Post wrote an article on Bill Hybels session about what it was like to plant Willow Creek Community Church. His whole family joined him on stage and shared their experiences.

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1 May, 2012

Florida Beetles and the Exponential Conference

by Andrew Rogers

As I mentioned yesterday we were selling books in two different spots at this year’s Exponential Conference. All of our books in the Exponential Series were being sold at both locations, so our inventory was split up on the conference grounds. Some of our books were in one building, some books were in another.

During the second day of the conference Hugh Halter was giving a talk on missional ministry in the same room as one of our book tables. That particular spot was low on copies of his book, AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church. So as he began his talk I snuck over to the other building to grab extra copies of AND. In the other building we had two open boxes of his book under a table, and plenty of copies up on top. I grabbed the two open boxes, dump the contents of one into the other, and ran over to building. I tried to “stealthly” sneak over to our table while he spoke (though I don’t think I was terribly successful) and re-stocked our inventory of AND on that table.

When I opened the box and started pulling out copies this is what I found:

This beetle is trying to figure out how to be more missional toward his billions of brother and sister beetles.

A beetle must have crawled into the box while it was under our book table. I didn’t see it when I dumped in the extra books. The beetle, may he rest in peace, was still kicking a bit when I discovered him. His legs were sticking out from under one of the books, still twitching and shaking. An energetic co-worker reached in the box and leaned on the pile of books, effectively smashing the little guy.

Now I had another problem. I had two books with beetle guts on them (the book he was under, and the book he was on top of) and I didn’t have anything to wipe them off with. I also can’t sell books with bug guts on them. I’ll sell books to almost anyone at any time. But bug guts? No. Can’t go there.

So, although it was probably a little strange, I took the picture you see above, dropped the bug in a trash can, wiped the books off on the floor (my apologies to the janitorial crew at First Baptist Church Orlando), and walked up to a random guy who was sitting in the back row of Hugh’s talk. Here’s our conversation:

——-

“Hey, man.” I whispered. “Wants some free books?”

The guy looks at me suspiciously. “Uh, sure.”

I attempt to set his mind at ease. “I’m selling books over there for Zondervan. These two books got bug guts on them and I can’t sell them. There still good, though. You can have them if you want.”

The guy looks from me to the books and notices the bug smears around the edges. I realize I didn’t really set his mind at ease at all. He sort of gives me a nod and pulls the books toward him.

——-

Compelling story, I know. But you never know what’s going to happen at the Exponential Conference.

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30 April, 2012

Thoughts after Exponential 2012 (or, Why I love the smell of new books)

by Andrew Rogers

The 2012 Exponential Conference ended last week Thursday. After catching a flight home that evening I was glad to spend Friday through Sunday hanging out with my family, doing things around the house, and relaxing.

For those of you who weren’t able to attend I thought I’d share a few pics and some thoughts about this year’s conference.

Zondervan, church plant

Zondervan booth at 2012 Exponential Conference

This picture of our booth was taken on Sunday night after we set it up. While we were unpacking the books I realized that I love the smell of new books – fresh out of the box. With each bit of packaging tape that I split, and each cardboard flap I folded back, I was continually met with the aroma of a freshly printed book. Untouched by human hands, and waiting for just the right customer to come by and pick it up.

That may sound like a weirdly romantic way of looking at setting up a conference booth, but think about it this way: Most people that work for publishers are book nerds. If we weren’t, why would we have gotten into this business anyway? We care so much about books we go way beyond nerd-dom. We love the books. (Well, most of them.) They’re what we do. All the emails, meetings, edits, re-edits, deadlines, and contracts are endured so that we can produce great books!

I’ve set up numerous conference table booths in the past, but this time it struck me that the crack-and-sniff joy of opening a new case of books as I set them up in big piles on a table is not something very many book nerds get to experience. Unless you’re a retailer or a publisher you are unlikely to have an opportunity like that. So, I relished every minute.

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27 April, 2012

It Ain’t Kansas Anymore by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, @Matt_Smay @hughhalter

by Andrew Rogers

Hugh Halter, Matt Smay, missional“It Ain’t Kansas Anymore” is excerpted from AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church by Hugh Halter & Matt Smay. 

Wherever I get asked to speak, I always enjoy walking the hallways of the churches I vist to view the historical photos. Many churches have really cool, old retro black-and-white pictures of all the pastors who faithfully served with a little gold label underneath that gives the length and years of their tenure. Right beside are classic photos of the church’s history. There’s usually a picture of the building just after it was built as well as a picture of the first congregation standing straight-jawed in front of the main step.

One thing is sure, back in the day when churches began, they planned on staying awhile. Their buildings all had chiseled stone engravings with the date the church was “established.” And as new congregations were born, everyone knew which had been around the longest (First Baptist, Second Baptist, and Third Baptist). But we aren’t in Kansas anymore. We now live in an era of such rapid change and social shifting that it’s just not wise, prudent, accurate, or practical to think that our churches will be around all that long. In days gone by, people stayed in the same city most of their lives, maybe moving once or twice. Our communities were stable and our churches could maintain a vibrant life for at least forty years – if not longer. Today, however, most people move eight to ten times in their life, maintaining residence in a single location for an average of three to seven years. In metro Denver, one-third of the entire resident population moves every year!

Just like college-based ministries, which have had to accept the painful fact that their congreagation completely turns over every four years, most of our churches now feel this massive flux. Establishing a self-sustaining faith community is almost a miracle; maintaining and growing disciples is even harder. Congregational death is not just a reality we will have to deal with eighty years and sixteen pastors down the road. It may be something you’ll need to face much sooner than you expect…and that’s okay.

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26 April, 2012

Avoid the Rock Star Trap by Brian and Amy Bloye @BrianBloye @amybloye

by Andrew Rogers

Brian and Amy Bloye, Exponential Series“Avoid the Rock Star Trap” is an excerpt from It’s Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting by Brian and Amy Bloye. Brian and Amy planted West Ridge Church in Dallas, GA, where Brian serves as pastor. Here they write specifically to church planters and those thinking of starting a new ministry.

A special danger for the church planter is the tempattion of pride. We live in an age of branding, where people are encouraged to think of themselves as products to be marketed. There are some excellent advantages in intelligently promoting a church or a ministry, but we can’t get personally caught up in it on an ego level.

I see planters becoming engrossed in social media, for example. This is fine, up to a point. I use Twitter; our church uses Facebook. These services are neither good nor evil, just modern media for specialized communication. But what happens when those of us in ministry begin to find our significance in how many people are following us through Twitter or retweeting attention-getting compliments? I’m seeing this happen. Planters are engrossed in the ideas of creating Internet identities. After a while, they’re so engaged in vast Twitter conversations over this or that, that they don’t realize they’re doing a lot less flesh-and-blood ministry.

Having followers on Twitter or getting your like button clicked on Facebook becomes one more path of validation. It’s the rock star syndrome, the seduction of image polishing. At the same time, denominations and planting networks are spotlighting people who have experienced some success, and this just makes the ego trap that much more dangerous. It’s just another hook that can be used to separate us from the real purpose of what we’re called to do: make disciples.


It’s Personal is part of the Exponential Series. Now through April 30 every eBook in the Exponential Series is only $2.99 wherever eBooks are sold!

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25 April, 2012

Let Pagans Play by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson @DaveFerguson @JonFerguson

by Andrew Rogers

Exponential by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson“Let Pagans Play” is excerpted from “Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement” by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson. It’s listed on pages 82 and 83 as one of the Five Factors for Reproducing Artists.

Many of our artists play in local bands and perform in theater companies. Since we encourage people at all stages of spiritual growth to use their art for God, we have lots of artists who are recruited by other artists and begin doing their art at our church before they become Christ followers. We’re not only okay with that; we encourage it. Our Romeoville campus has been very successful in encouraging people playing in outside bands to come to chruch to play in the worship bands. They have recruited two entire bands that way. Not only that, but as a result of the relationships that have been formed in these bands, a number of people in them have actually come to follow Jesus!

The next time you’re in a public place, take a look around. If you are in a public place right now, go ahead and take a look at the people around you. Think to yourself, “Thirty percent of the people I see have significant artistic gifts.” That’s three out of ten. And sadly enough, most of them don’t think they have a place in the church. Yet these are the very people that you need, along with your friends, to catalyze and sustain a missional movement. So go over and ask one of them to join you!

Now.

Seriously.

Exponential is the first book in the Exponential Series. Right now through April 30 all Exponential EBooks are on sale for $2.99 wherever ebooks are sold!

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24 April, 2012

New Kinds of Success by Brandon Hatmaker @BrandonHatmaker

by Andrew Rogers

Brandon Hatmaker“New Kinds of Success” is excerpted from Brandon Hatmaker’s book Barefoot Church: Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture. 

Success often comes in unlikely forms. For years I’ve told people going through membership classes that our church might not be for them. For years I secretly hoped that it was. So much so that if anyone were to leave our church, I would inevitably either wonder what was wrong with them, or assume they misunderstood something that was happening.

That’s a pretty narrow perspective.

Can it really be a success when people leave our church? Honestly, I’ve had a few leave that were a pretty big relief. Again, sounds mean. But when we’re in the wrong church, sometimes it makes everyone miserable. We meet, we email, we complain, we justify, and we spend countless hours investing in trying to make a fit – and they end up leaving anyway. It’s always telling when someone leaves your church and it feels like a relief.

We don’t like it when people leave our church. Too easily we feel as if they’re leaving us. Like we weren’t good enough for them. We get insecure even when it has nothing to do with us or our leadership. We need to learn to celebrate the victories more instead of just mourning the loss. When people leave, we should survey the season we had with them and learn from our time together.

Barefoot Church is part of the Exponential Series. Now through April 30 every eBook in the Exponential Series is available for only $2.99!

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23 April, 2012

Suffering Like Jesus by Matt Carter @_Matt_Carter

by Andrew Rogers

Darrin Patrick, Matt Carter“Suffering Like Jesus” is an excerpt from For the City: Proclaiming and Living Out the Gospel by Darrin Patrick & Matt Carter. The following excerpt is from a chapter written by Matt. 

The Bible says that Jesus is our model for how to suffer well: “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2). Suffering provides an opportunity for us to learn what it means to be true disciples of Jesus, to surrender our whole lives to God, even (and especially) in the very worst and most difficult moments of our lives.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus clarified to his disciples exactly what it meant to be his follower: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” As we now know, taking up the cross was more than a symbol or metaphor for Jesus. It was his vocation, his reason for becoming incarnate! And when Jesus called his disciples to follow him, he was not suggesting that they grin and bear a burden or two here or there. He was, and still is today, calling people to trust him and witness to his sacrificial love in the most painful, shameful times of our lives. “Enter boldly and faithfully into your God-appointed suffering. The world is watching! Let them see you follow me,” he says to each of us.”

For the City is part of the Exponential Series. Check back tomorrow for another excerpt from the Exponential Series. All Exponential Series eBooks are available for $2.99, now through April 30.

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12 April, 2012

Thursday Giveaway: “It’s Personal” by Brian and Amy Bloye

by Andrew Rogers

Brian and Amy Bloye, Exponential SeriesToday we’ll be giving away two copies of It’s Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting by Brian and Amy Bloye. You might have read my blog about it on Tuesday. In order to win one of the free copies please leave a comment below that answers these questions:

  1. Have you ever been a part of a new church plant?
  2. If you have, what was the central vision for the plant? (Sum it up in one or two sentences.)
    If you have not, would you consider being a part of one? Why or why not?

Winners will be announced on Friday. The more you comment and/or tweet, the more likely you are to win!

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10 April, 2012

Brian Bloye – Advice for church planters & a new book, “It’s Personal”

by Andrew Rogers

Brian and Amy Bloye, Exponential SeriesThe Exponential Conference is less than two weeks away. At this year’s conference Pastor Brian and Amy Bloye’s new book for church planters, It’s Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting, will release. I read this book last fall when it was still going through the editing process. It’s really great. It’s the type of book that anyone who is seriously considering planting a church should read – before they plant the church. Brian and Amy unpack all the things you need to think about when going through the process of church planting. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book ends up saving marriages. Seriously.

So, all that said, I’m excited to see the reception by the Exponential crowd (a group of people absolutely devoted to planting new churches), and I’m looking forward to meeting Brian and Amy in person between sessions. They’ll be speaking in various workshops and from the main stage.

At Exponential 2009 Brian was interviewed on video. He was asked to give advice to church planters. This short clip now serves as a nice teaser for It’s Personal because much of what he says here is covered in more detail in the book. Enjoy:

 

Last year Brian was also interviewed by Mac Lake about the Launch Network, an organization focused on inspiring and equipping next generation church planters to lead strong. Here too Brian discusses similar ideas to what is found in It’s Personal. Specifically, church planters need to take intentional steps to care for their family as they start their ministries. Here’s the clip:

Here’s what Mac Lake has to say about It’s Personal:

“Brian and Amy give church planters a real and raw look at what it takes to plant a church. This book is filled with encouraging, challenging, and practical stories that will give every church-planting couple the wisdom they need to navigate their own journey. The book had such a powerful impact on Cindy and me that we are making it required reading for every church planter that goes through the Launch Network training.” – Mac Lake

You can read a sample here.

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