FIEC Leadership Conference (Part 2 of 3)
A few thoughts and takeaways from day 2 of the FIEC leadership conference:
1. Singing old songs to new tunes: We are almost obsessed about singing new songs in church. The idea being that new up to date songs attract a new and diverse church. Yet the team from Cornerstone Nottingham have taught us this week that a simple tune change can be powerful! An example is below - We have an Anchor! Care less about new vs. old, care more about the words and the Glory of God!
[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9aNgmoAHB8&w=854&h=480]
2. Singing with 1000 voices: What a blessing to sing with so many and hear the volume of worship. However, is it that we are simply singing loudly because of the numbers? I don’t think so. I look around and see passion for Jesus, people are singing because they mean it. We should teach our churches to lift their voices to heaven, not to the person next to them. Let’s raise the volume of singing.
3. Prayer with friends: We started the morning with prayer. It was great to turn around in our row and find friends from a local fraternal to pray with. How simple, but affective, it is to pray before we launch into a day’s activities. Don’t neglect prayer in the vain thought that it wastes time!
4. Food, oh so much food! It has been great to sit and eat with 1000 other likeminded people. Each meal has brought an opportunity to meet someone new and share encouragements from our churches. These conversations are all helped by the tasty large portioned meals which are simply top notch! Fellowship over a meal is nourishment for the soul.
5. A break to work: At a conference a couple of years ago, I heard the speaker state “You don’t need to attend everything, take some time out.” So that is what we did. Taking 2 hours out, we headed to Costa and finished the edits on our 2020 Reading Program and our Christmas flyers. Sometimes, it’s good to have a change of scenery!
6. Mark Dever reminds us to have fun! We overheard someone say that Mark Dever was flippant in his interview on stage. However, my feeling was that he is a deeply serious man, who treats the word of God with reverence, who also likes to have fun because he is free to do so in Christ. Why would anyone be attracted to a message that made you miserable? Jesus saves, tell your face, smile and have joy!
7. Colin Smith taught that there is a balance: As someone that struggles to get balance (I am not referring to some sort of new age thing) in his work, it was a real encouragement to hear some practical advice on how to ensure we achieve all God calls us to do – Preach, Pastor and Lead. Time for a new diary and colour coding!
8. Church Planting for Jesus: What a joy it was to hear that a new church plant is being launched in Aviemore, a small town in Scotland with great need for Jesus. Pray for Kenny who is heading the team up, pray that God will work in Aviemore
9. Unashamed Gospel: From the music, to the singing, to the teaching, to the conversations and to the prayer, the Gospel has been front and centre. It is refreshing to see, hear and experience so many who are unashamed of the Gospel and stand on God’s word as truth. Never give up on the simple truth of Gospel, be bold in the sharing of it.
10. Robust complementarianism: What a phrase! Raising Godly woman, to raise Godly young woman, is a Titus 2 command. What can I do better as a Pastor to encourage Godly woman to serve in a Titus 2 manner?
Because I am still a Proud Scotsman and blessed to be a Pastor, here is another treat!
[youtube=://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb4oMRbJg0g&w=854&h=480]