Willow Creek Conference Day One
It was a great day here at Willow Creek -- We heard and experienced a lot about shifting our focus in ministry more towards connecting with people and doing ministry instead of being the audience to ministry.

Here are some thoughts:

Session 1
Rate of change in culture is much higher than the rate of change in ministry. Church can be a frozen culture like going back to the 70's.

We need to shift from leader driven content to more user generated content

We need to shift from less travel agents(telling people where to go) to more tour guides walking with people through the experience

We need to shift from less imitation to more imgination

50% of the people who have ever been alive are alive today

SESSION 2
Help people be a part of a better story
Instead of judgment we should be about showing people that they are part of a better story

In Acts 17 -- we learn form Paul that we need:
1) Go to people where they are at -- not people coming to us (church building)
2) Be in places where we can be interrupted -- it is ok to live life with people in the distractions and normalcy --- not an insulated presenation area.
3) The people liked Paul even though they didn't agree with him because he was there talking about what he believed without judgment


SESSION 3
Identify your person shifts -- protect yourself!
WARNING SIGNS!
1) Protect your heart to prevent it from becoming proud
2) Are you still teachable
3) Are you losing home field advantage in your homes, with your families

No one can pressure you without your permission.


Wed night worship
The power of the tongue
It can lift people up or CRUSH them
Does what comes out of your mouth build people up or does it set fire
You walk around everyday with a jug of water and a jug of gas -- which do you put on the people around you.

More to come Thursday