Catalyst Review 3 - Session 4-6

(Recently I went to the first ever Catalyst Conference in Dallas. This is the third in a series of posts based off reflections from that conference.)

I have finally gotten to the place I want to spend my time writing, the local coffeehouse. It is such a cliche to be sitting here with my MacBook writing a blog, but I don’t care. My Brazilian drip makes me feel good and so with trendy music in the background, here we venture into sessions 4-6 of Catalyst Dallas. I hope that I can relay the depth and meaning these sessions had for me. (Again each speaker is hyperlinked to either their webpage or their organizations webpage, check it to find out more)

Session 4 - Donald Miller

• Do hard things happen in our life because God is trying to do something beautiful?
• If anyone had a reason to hold a grudge it was Joseph, but instead he did something different. (Gen. 50:19-21) He forgave and reassured the men who caused such great pain in his life. We must take such an attitude, that those things that cause us harm may be used by God to do something extraordinary.
• We may have blown things so bad that the Church can no longer use us, but God can.
• Sometimes God opens certain doors in our life so we can love people for Him.
• Don’t forget that God’s blessings on us has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him.

Session 5 - David Platt

• Real courage comes from the God who sustains us
• God doesn’t include me in His mission because He needs me, but rather He loves me and invites me into His greater plan.
• Realities to remember:
• 1 - We have an incomprehensibly great God.
• 2 - We are a sinfully depraved people.
• 3 - We have a scandalously merciful Savior.
• 4 - We have an indescribably urgent mission.
• We don’t have time to play games with our life or with the Church.

Session 6A - Capt. Scotty Smiley

• No matter your situation, God can still use you.
• Independence is not the best decision in life.
• Prayer makes the biggest difference in life.
• If we aren’t putting God first, He will move on with His mission without us.

Session 6B - Craig Groeschel

• To the older generation -
• Don’t be threatened by the younger generation, they need you.
• If you aren’t dead, you aren’t done.
• Be real and authentic, especially when engaging the younger generation.
• Psalm 71:18
• To the younger generation -
• Watch out for entitlement.
• Depression sets in when failure happens because we overestimate what God wants to do in us in the short-run and underestimate what God wants to do in us in the long-run
• Stay teachable, be humble, ask questions, honor those in authority over you, build ministry on what you are, enliven and use your passions.
• Mark 6:4-6 - lack of faith limits what God does with you.

I hope I have done these speakers justice. If you want to know more, please visit Catalyst store and pick up the CD’s or DVD’s. As for me, these sessions kicked me in the teeth a little bit. I have been timid in my leadership and in my faith. Donald Miller and Craig Groeschel helped me deal with some of my pain and bitterness toward the church. They brought me to forgiveness, honoring, and respecting those that are before me, while at the same time humbling me. My pride has spent way too long making me think I am more than I am right now. God may have some amazing things for me, but right now may not be the time to live in those blessings. Right now is the time for preparation for those blessings.

Capt. Smiley and David Platt pushed me to start taking steps of faith, because the God I serve is so awe-strikingly big and cares so deeply for me that I will never truly comprehend it this side of eternity. My prayer is that I can start leading and living with courage. And that is my prayer for all that may read this. May God lead you out in faith to follow His leadership, because He has something huge for you in His plans. It may not be today, but God sees your life in its entirety and not just in your current situations. Trust in Him to work in you toward the fulfillment of His view of you.