Scott Miller Blog :: Good Stuff

Town Hall For Hope - Video

FYI…Town Hall For Hope is now available online and DVD. You can get a hold of it here…

Exponential - Discipleship

One last thought from the Exponential conference I was at last week, from Matt Chandler. He had an interesting session on discipleship…

Main thoughts from the session -

The Church's end goal is disciples (who observe what Christ commands), not converts. The question is – how do we disciple, not just how do we reach them! 2 methods of discipleship:

Mechanical Discipleship Model (at the end you are a disciple)

Pro's:

• No better way then this to get info to the people
• Historic success
• Easy to motivate people to join and participate
• Tons of resources and curriculum
• Easy to measure
• Lends itself to strong historic orthodox theology

Con's:

• Hard to sustain (Greek factor)
• Can lead to coldness (have facts, but no heart or application)
• Can create theology police
• Become sacred very quickly

 

Organic Relational Model

Pro's:

• Seems to yield greatest results/built relationally
• Tends to appeal to a broader group of people

Con's:

• Organically we are sinful/maturity doesn't just happen

 

How to take pro's of both:

1. Must celebrate transformation and change…don't just highlight the wins, celebrate all transformation
2. Create a lot of on ramps and off ramps
3. Keep flexible
4. Everyone learns/applies differently
5. Needs to be a relational aspect to everything, even mechanical

Elkhart Campus, LG Leaders Retreat, and Just Pray

It's the end of a Wednesday for me…

• Spent the majority of my day today with Jason (the fearless Elkhart Campus pastor) focusing on Elkhart Campus stuff…mtng…talking…trying to think about not only what ministry looks like in Elkhart, but what it looks like in Middlebury!
• Gearing up for next weekend's (May 8-9) Life Group Leaders Retreat…I really enjoy the opportunity to speak into leaders like this!
• Spent the evening with about 40-50 Pathway people at our April Just Pray event…praying…worshiping Jesus…looking to Scripture…really was a great night! We took a few moments to pray over Al and Mary Mishler (they will be relocating to South Carolina next Tuesday). The Mishler's have played a huge part in our LG ministry! They will be missed!

Fly over NY City by Air Force One

Can you believe this unannounced fly over in New York City by Air Force One (without the president of course), for a stinking photo op?

There are mistakes people make that you kind of shake your head at, and think to yourself, "that will probably go down as one of the stupidest things you've ever done."

Then there are mistakes people make that you are so dumbfounded at, you can't even shake your head at, and the only thing rolling around in your head is, "this is beyond stupid, and someone should not only lose their job over this one, but perhaps be forced to be stranded on a small deserted island with a 37 year old lunatic who dresses up, laughs like, and acts like Sponge Bob Square Pants."

Monday Highlights

• Hand signing about 170 letters going out to all you amazing Pathway givers…(quarterly giving report)…I don't mind those hand cramps…your faithfulness to "Bring It" to God floors me…
• Lunch with our Elkhart Campus Pastor (Jason Brooks) and GCC's Elkhart Campus Pastor, Jeff Bell. Get this…Jeff graduated from Penn High School in 1992…the same year I graduated from Northridge…Jeff went to college in Springfield, MO, from 1992-1996…the same years that I did (he was at the Baptist school, I was at the A/G school)…Jeff has a happening hair do as you can see from his blog picture…I…well…did I mention we graduated in the same year?
• Tonight, I got to hear 2 young men (that makes me feel so old to call someone a young man) preach the Word at our 365 youth services (middle school and high school)…one for the very first time (Wes Hershberger), and the other's been doing it for a while (Matt Holloway)…you really can't put into words the blessing a pastor feels in seeing young men and women be raised up under your ministry, filled with such a passion for ministry! (it also speaks to the great families we have, as well as leadership we have in our kid's and student ministries!)

Exponential – Fancis Chan

One of the most amazing sessions of the whole conference was the very last one…speaker – Francis Chan.

Really, I'm still in shock.  This may be pushing it too far, but it's like most (not all) A/G conferences tend to lean heavily on the Spirit empowerment, and light on the practical "head" stuff.  Anytime I go to a conference like this (such as Granger Community Church, Northpoint, Fellowship, etc.), they are heavy on the how to's "head" stuff, but they leave out the Spirit empowerment stuff!  How refreshing to hear from these guys from overseas…and Craig Groeschel, and Francis Chan of all people…that we need the moving, presence, and empowerment of the Holy Spirit! 

Really, I just sat there at the end of the service, a bit in awe, thinking about what was happening…at First Baptist Orlando, in a group of mostly non-charismatic type people, we are called on to answer an altar call to be filled with the HS, be anointed with oil, and have hands laid upon us!

Steve Pike (A/G Church Multiplication Network guy) had a great post on this session as well…

Exponential – The A-Team

In one of the sessions, Shawn Lovejoy, talked about choosing staff (paid and volunteer). I thought this might be good for all of us, in marketplace or church leadership. Would you add any to this list?

How to Pick an "A" Team:

1. Competence – Highly competent people
2. Chemistry – Relational Mark 3:13-14 – that they might be w/ Him, vision chemistry
3. Character – teachable, loyal, soft hearts

What else would you add to the list?

Exponential – 3 Lines

Craig Groeschel's session was out of the park, as he usually is. His emphasis on the Holy Spirit empowering you oozes out of him! Here's the top thing I walked away from his session with…it was his thoughts on 3 lines of believers:

• First line – believe in the Gospel enough to benefit from it
• Second Line – believe in the Gospel enough to contribute comfortably
• Third Line – believe in the Gospel enough to give my life to it

Goal being…a church full of third liners!

Exponential – America’s Impact on Korea

Part of the thrust of this conference was to see/talk about not only what God is doing here in the US, but what is he doing around the world in church planting.

I don't know if you've followed anything that has happened in South Korea over the past 50-75 years, but they are a country that is largely Christian. Something like 6 of the 7 largest churches in the world are in South Korea.

So, the speaker guy from Korea, Marc Choi, is ending his talk...what he said is still ringing in my ears…he took the last few moments of his talk to thank us…yes, thank America…his exact quote is – "America brought revival to Korea." US Missionary Horace Underwood went to Korea in 1891, and thus started the ministry of Christ in this country!

As I sat there and heard him say that, I had several thoughts:

• I thought of the missionaries we support out of Pathway. Church, we have no idea how our missions giving is effecting whole countries for GENERATIONS!
• I thought about some from Pathway who God will one day send to foreign countries to make this kind of an impact…maybe they are being raised by you right now?
• My heart broke here as a Korean guy is expressing more love for our great country than many of our own citizens (including some of our highest government officials). We're not perfect, but its things like this that make me PROUD of my country.

Side note – what part did the Korean War have in allowing these great people the freedom to choose to follow Christ without persecution? What if South Korea would have gone communist? Do I like war? Absolutely not…is it necessary at times? I think so.

Exponential – Erwin McManus

I've spent the last few days at what was billed as the largest church planting conference in the history of the US...how about those apples. I'd like to share a few thoughts from the conference, as well as from the Holy Spirit, with you over the next few days.

Tuesday Afternoon – Erwin McManus

Erwin's strength is marketplace ministry (ministry outside of the church). Marketplace ministry is not anywhere near my strong point. Two thoughts that hit me from Erwin, though they aren't so profound:

• Society is looking for people with presence…presence of Jesus
• Marketplace needs/wants a non-watered down Gospel

Challenging thoughts coming from a guy who someone said dresses a bit like an alien (who was it that said that?).

What I’m thinking about: Cheap Sacrifice

What I'm thinking about…I just finished up 2 Samuel…what a gut wrenching last chapter!

Israel had sinned…David had sinned…When David recognized it, he repented. God gave him three options for punishment…he chose the one that would bring a 3 day plague on all the people. David stepped in at some point, probably toward the end, and pleaded with God to stop punishing the people for his sin. God told him through the prophet Gad to "build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." Araunah was completely willing to let David have the threshing floor, the supplies, the bulls, etc (for free)…but David refused to accept it for free b/c he knew God would not accept a sacrifice that cost him nothing!

How does this correlate to me/you? In NT times, my whole life is to be lived as a living sacrifice to God. But God still is not interested in a cheap praise, a cheap sacrifice…it's got to cost me something. Living a life where I just add Jesus to the rest of my life costs me nothing. Living a life of anything less than complete surrender to the cross of Christ is missing the mark.

Sacrifice involves the engaging of the heart. If my heart is not engaged throughout today, and I'm not purposeful of doing things for and unto God today, then my sacrifice was cheap today. When we come together corporately this Sunday, to bring our sacrifices of praise and prayers to God, if my heart is not engaged, it's as offensive to God as the money changers in the temple.

Is your heart engaged today?

Cool Scott

Ok…every time I go to one of these conference deals (at the Exponential – New Church Planting Conference right now), I realize how un-cool I really am. I've picked up that most cool people put there sun glasses on the top of their heads…I've decided to do that with my glasses…just wanting to be cool…

Son of Dodo

Megan and I have been talking about names for a few weeks here. July 30^th is just around the corner (that's still her due date…I think…no…I'm pretty sure…).

I was reading 2 Samuel 23 this morning…about David's mighty men. If the new Miller is a boy, perhaps we ought to name it after one of these men…uh uh uh uh (said in a Tim Allen, Home Improvement type of way). I was really intrigued by one particular name…2 Samuel 23:24 "Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem." I've been called a dodo many times…maybe this would be fitting?

Elhanan, Son of Dodo, from Middlebury…Elhanan…has a nice ring…

Stronger Part 2

Just one last thought on this Stronger message…I really feel like God gave me a word for our church concerning the connection of contentment, and walking in Christ's strength. The topic of contentment is huge, and a lot more could be said about it. But, the message from this past Sunday, was a direct word, from the Word, for many of us at Pathway.

Here it is in a nutshell – your level of contentment (in any given area of your life) is directly equivalent to your level of walking in Christ's strength. Take a few minutes to re-listen to it if you have to, but make sure you get what the Holy Spirit is trying to stretch us in here!

Town Hall For Hope - Middlebury

Just a reminder that Dave Ramsey is live with the Town Hall for Hope, this Thursday night, 8pm, at Pathway. More info here…

April 15th American Tea Party…

OK…we are a few days since the 15^th…did you take part in the nations Tea Party's? What did you think of it? Will it have lasting effects?

I read Mark Beeson's take on it…absolutely great response…worth a few minutes to read…

Strength and Contentment

Really feel like God's given me some insight into the connection between strength and contentment. Read Philippians 4:10-13, and you see what you think…

Oh yah, and DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SKIPPING CHURCH TOMORROW! (this will be our topic)

Hobby Lobby – What Recession?

This week, Hobby Lobby, gave pay raises to all full time employee's…I love it…

Hobby Lobby was started from the ground up to be a company that honor's God with their business, and looks at themselves as simply being stewards of God's stuff. Here's an article with more info…

I read David Green's biography about a year ago…interesting to see what God can do when an entrepreneur gets connected with the heart of God! Might be a great read for some of you who have this same goal…

Britains Got Talent - Amazing Story

One of the most exciting parts of what I do in ministry is helping people who are sitting on gifts and calls, walk out into those gifts and calls.  You see what I'm saying?  To my knowledge, Derek Kidder had never really led worship any where before Pathway...but I saw it in him before he even saw it in him!  Now look how the Lord uses him.  That is rewarding...very rewarding...The video that follows, though not ministry necessarily, speaks to this...

(I have no desire to turn my blog into another youtube...but you've got to watch this...not to mention she sings a song from my all time favorite Broadway production, Les Miserables)

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
by dwarthy

Thanks to Nick Poole for the heads up on the video...

Jesus wants the Rose

Ugh...I follow a couple different blogs throughout the week.  Every once and a while, I'll find a video that stops me in my tracks.  This video did just that...

I first heard a guy named Matt Chandler speak last summer at a Multi-Site Church conference.  Not that I agree with everything Matt ever says, but the guy is absolutely passionate about people who have yet to come to Jesus.  Would be worth your time to watch...

Running Through Troops, and Leaping Over Walls

 

(music playing) --- I can run through a troop, and leap over a wall, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! --- (stop music)

 

When I was a kid, we used to sing this song at church. Of course, I never really got the whole thought behind the Scripture back then, but we used to sing it over and over (and the church would get blessed, and move on to the next 'Scripture in song' song). I'm not making fun…I'm just saying I didn't ever understand it…when we sang it, a picture of me, as a young lad, would flow through my mind…running through a troop down Main Street in Middlebury (troop of what?...a troop of Shriners on their scooters wearing their funny little hats while riding their scooters in the Summer Festival Parade?), and then leaping over a wall (was this like in gym class when we had to try to do the high jump thing?), was a bit foreign to me.

 

As I focus in on the strength of God over the past few weeks, I am moved by David's words though. Seriously…think about it…If God could give David the strength to overcome his physical adversaries, couldn't he give me the strength to overcome my spiritual adversaries?

 

I started the year challenging the church to get BIGGER in God…this is a part of getting BIGGER! Walk in His strength…looking forward to Sunday…

 

2 Samuel 22:30 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

Red Robin Mishawaka

Just received word from Red Robin headquarters in an official type email response…the new Red Robin burger joint in Mishawaka should be officially opening for business on April 20^th!

One word…YUMMMMM…

Forward/Faith Thinking

Our Middlebury Campus was pushed close to its limits this past Sunday (at the very least, pushed farther than it's ever been pushed before!)…and I loved it! I like to think of it as forward thinking/faith thinking…

It was forward/faith thinking that led us to build this facility back in 2002/2003.

It was forward/faith thinking that led us to go to 2 services in 2005.

It was forward/faith thinking that led us to add on to this facility back in 2005/2006.

It was forward/faith thinking that led us to add on what we added on back in 2005/2006! (foyer, café, nurseries, classrooms, etc.)

All of these forward/faith thinking idea's gave us the capacity to minister to as many people as we did this past weekend. All of these forward/faith thinking idea's gave us the tools to reach/teach more people this past weekend than we ever have in the course of one weekend.

Can I challenge you church? Don't ever stop forward/faith thinking. Don't ever give in to mediocrity or apathy. In every area of this church, let's think with faith. Let's dream big, let's plan big, let's take big steps of faith.

Now's not the time to play it safe…now's the time to step up and take it on…ah yes…

Help - Question for you:

   

Parking - This past Sunday, I saw a person parked in the gravel and heard that several parallel parked under the pine trees.  All of our staff was so busy on the inside of the building that we never noticed what was happening on the outside!  When you came to service, were there still parking spots available? 

   

Lobby/Classrooms/Restrooms - Did you notice the lobby or any classrooms being overly crowded this past Sunday?  Did you have to wait to use the restroom?

Elkhart Campus inquiry

This mallard and its dear female friend have been hanging around the church for a few days now. I think they are interested in being a part of the Pathway Elkhart Campus…maybe the "eating the left over communion bread" ministry?

I tried to greet them, but there was an obvious language issue (not to mention he is hurting in the social area of things…a little touchy when you get near him…see action picture below).

Dog’s Driving

We stopped by the gas station tonight to fill up the family mini-van with gas, and this is what greeted us as we walked back to the van after paying…Daisy the dog…sitting in the driver's seat.

(insert cheesy pastoral illustration about who's in the driver's seat of your life…shall we move on)

It seems like it's been a whirlwind of events since Easter. What a great day we had at Pathway! What a great day we had all across our community! As churches all over the area celebrated the death and resurrection of Christ! It's where the power is!

Excited about sharing the 2^nd part of a message entitled "Stronger" this Sunday.

Excited about what God is doing in/through Pathway right now.

Excited about mtng with the team of Elder's God's given me to work with tomorrow morning for breakfast (6:30am, Essenhaus buffet, nothing like tearing into the Essenhaus breakfast buffet after a day of fasting…very healthy…hah!).

Be blessed…

Easter/Resurrection

He's alive…He's not dead…some say its foolishness…the Bible says it's truth…my life says it's truth…He is truth!

I love Easter/Resurrection weekend…looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow church!

Easter Sunday - STRONGER

I've been working most of today on my message for the next two Sundays. Really excited to share some thoughts about the strength of God with you!

How is it that when I am weak, I am actually strong? Invite someone to come with you and be your guest this week at Pathway!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We do not consider ourselves a Christian Nation - President Obama

President Obama says that "we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation." 

What do you say?  Do these comments represent your thoughts?

March numbers…

Just got some Pathway numbers in from March…

• Near record attendance average…
• Record monthly giving to our regular Mission's Fund (that we use to support our missionaries)…
• The strongest financial month we've had for the General Fund in probably a year (forgot what it felt like to be in the black)…
• 17 people made a commitment to follow Christ in March!

Elkhart Campus Mtng

Last night's Elkhart campus mtng was a blast. Really, we learned a lot about each other…such as:

• One of us who has no sense of smell…
• One of us (from the Pathway Leadership Team) who actually has a tattoo from their younger years…(self inscribed tattoo at that)
• Another of us who actually got declined for the adoption of a pet by the Elkhart County Humane Society – in other words, they'd rather euthanize a dog than let the thing go to this guy and his family!

We talked for a while about some of what we saw happening on the 'ground' right now in Elkhart. We also tried to identify some areas where we can start serving right now.

A great team getting ready to make it happen in Elkhart!

Rough around the edges, but timely

I place a high value on having a sense of what God wants to do in a particular weekend service at Pathway. I don't want to over spiritualize things, but at the same time, by the time I get up to speak on Sunday, I want there to be a confirmation that this is God's word for the day.

This past Sunday, I just didn't feel it. I had prepared my message for Sunday throughout the week. I had studied well and hard, but as I got ready to head to the church Sunday (was actually in the shower), I had this thought drop into my heart…have I really spent the time this week in prayer over this message? Is this just a good message, or is it God's message for the day? Ugh…

5 minutes later, while brushing my teeth, God and I had this little discussion that sounded like this… "uh, God…it's me…sooooooo…I honestly am concerned that this week I've been more concerned with preaching what I thought needed to be shared, and less of what your heart is for today…I'll roll with whatever you have, but you've got to show me."

Long story short, I think we ended up with a message that was less prepared, rough around the edges, but timely. Lesson learned…

Cow from a chicken?

You'll never believe what happened to me the other day at a local fast food joint. My youngest (who happens to be sick for the past few days…unrelated to our fast food visit that I can see) ordered her proverbial chicken strips/nuggets/pieces that she gets at pretty much any fast food place we go to.

We didn't think anything of it until we sit down to eat. She opens her chicken container and finds a hamburger patty, in her chicken box. No lie…someone had placed a single hamburger patty, inside a chicken container thing, and served it to us. Was this a joke? Am I missing something here? Does cow come from a chicken now or something? I thought re-moving the title of planet from poor Pluto was one thing, but a hamburger coming from a chicken? That's stinking amazing!

If that wasn't enough to make me want to choke on my own 2 hamburgers ketchup only, the reaction of the manager was. We showed it to her, and a few other customers who were in line…her response? She chucked it into the trash and handed us another container, with the appropriate white meat inside. No apology…no "that's the strangest thing I've seen in a while"…just a chucking and a handing.

Chucking and a handing. How about that…