Leadership, Reflections & Introspection, That'll Preach Sayings, Worship & Prayer
Unless The Lord…
This was originally posted by Pastor Corey on February 18, 2012….
1Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He grants sleep to those He loves. Psalm 127:1-2
For the past few months, I have been sensing the Lord stir something in the atmosphere. Awhile back, I was speaking 3x (November/December) on Psalms 127:1-2 and how God has an urgent need to build his Kingdom. And about 3 months before that I had a dream about that same scripture (Ps. 127) that literally woke me up concerning what the Lord was doing. Without going into too many details in the dream (on the blog), I was speaking at a large youth/young adults conference for a dear friend of mine, with some other young prominent preachers/worship leaders. And I vividly remember a complete shifting in the conference arena, as I stepped on stage after worship. After paying honor to the conference host (my friend) and joking alittle while, I immediately stated that the Lord, sent me on “assignment” to bring an offense to the conference attenders, specifically the Leaders who were there. And how they have been vying for position and status in the eyes of the world and Christendom. That a lot of the people (leaders) were there to hear more from & “rub elbows” with the prominent leaders, then from what God directly wanted to say to them. After this, I went into the context of my message which was on Psalms 127:1-2 and how we are building houses, God never required or asked us to build. Afterwards, I gave an 2-fold altar call and invitation; 1- for leaders to repent for vying for favorites and 2- for everyone else to surrender!
Fast forward to mid-December – I was sitting in an young adults life group with some of the awesomeness people alive, and I got this huge sense of heat all over me. We were discussing some changes in the ministry and where/what we see God doing. My turn comes around and I didn’t say anything… as if I couldn’t speak. Everyone else finished and as we were closing out for the night, I finally felt led to speak. I recall saying that the Lord is about to do some amazing things in our midst and that we as a ministry was about to apart of a revival in our city. Briefly shared with them on Habakkuk 3:2 and that the prayer of our hearts have to shift to seeing God revive things in our day now. That the past revivals, awakenings and movements weren’t good enough for now, we DESPERATELY NEED our own.
Now that brings me to a couple weeks ago – feeling & sensing those same stirrings in the atmosphere. Stirrings of a season of intense prayer and seeking Jesus for the revival & movement that’s about to take place in my life/ministry and in this generation, that only He can do. I find myself at the mercies of Psalms 127:1-2 once again, rendered over the fact that unless Jesus is the foundation & architect of His house we are wasting our time. A blunt but deep & serious call to ALL believers from the Lord… Here’s my rest, let me build. More and more as I read, understand & study my heart is overwhelmed and burden for the church to allow God to speak directly to us and stop “doing” church. Would love your prayers and encouragements during this time of consecration as I pray & seek a greater desire for more of the Lord… as he builds His house and watches His city! I am looking forward to this time of fasting and seeking the Lord! Even as I prep for my message next week, I’m joyful to rest in the Lord’s presence!
Man is building his house in which he wants God to furnish for man’s sake. All the while God is trying to build His House and furnish it for our sake. HIS (Jesus) work can NEVER become OUR work until we surrender to Him & wait at His feet. Then are we able to become co-laborers w/ Christ…
church, COREY GIBSON, featured, God, Jesus, Jesus Focused, ministry, Pastor Corey Gibson, Psalm 127, Psalm 127:1-2, Rest, The Church, Unless the Lord
Leadership, Randomness, Reflections & Introspection
Some Favorite Preachers
I am always asked who are some of my favorite preachers… so I wanted to list some of my favorite preachers right now. This list are preachers outside of my circle of influence. *No particular order…
Favorite Preachers
- Judah Smith
- Chad Veach
- Francis Chan
- Jentezen Franklin
- Matt Chandler
- Priscilla Shirer
- Robert Madu
- Perry Noble
- Carl Lentz
- Rich Wilkerson Jr.
- Robert Morris
- Craig Groeschel
- David Wilkerson (deceased, but his stuff is heart piercing and soul searing)
- Louie Giglio
- John Gray
- Dustin Woodard
- Brian Houston
- Bill Hybels
- John Piper
Facebook Ad
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church, jesusfocused, leadership, ministry, needaspeaker, stumin, youngpreacher
Randomness, Reflections & Introspection
My Family – Gateway Shelbyville
Words cannot express how much I will miss these people. We have had so many hangouts, laughs, deep talks and food! Simply want to say THANK YOU! #family #friends #kingdomconnections
Andrea Key, Brothers and Sisters, Chase Capley, church, Corey Voss, family, friends, Gateway Church, Gateway Church Shelbyville, Gateway Shelbyville, Johnathan Key, kingdom connections, Shelbyville TN
Leadership, That'll Preach Sayings
5 Things
From chadveach blog:
“5 things that God requires of people who lead in the church…”
(as written by Paul, see 1 Timothy 3)
1. Spiritual Preparedness
– BE READY. AT ALL TIMES.
In other words, leadership doesn’t come with a punch card. You don’t clock in and out.
Jesus was known for doing more work outside the church than in it.
Gods looking for people who STAY READY!2. Self Control
– RESTRAINT. SOBER MINDED.
In other words, if you can’t control your tongue, emotions, temper, spending and eyes… how can God trust you with His people?
Self control (meekness) is like the San Antonio Spurs… underrated, overlooked… but CHAMPIONSHIP MATERIAL.3. Social Graciousness
– COMMON SENSE. COMMON COURTESY.
In other words, how we treat people matters to God.
Socially, you should be able to do well in any environment.
Paul did. Jesus did. Why can’t we?
Often times what separates a good leader from a great leader is behavior.
#allaboutthatsocialgraceboss
4. Domestic Order
– HOME LIFE. WHAT REALLY MATTERS LIFE.
In other words, if you can’t take care of HOME, why would God trust you with CHURCH?
God is not a God of confusion. How confusing to have someone represent God who’s home life is a disaster… but their church life is #DOMINATING.
God is stoked when our home life matters to us as much as it matters to Him!!!!!!5. Holy Living
– SET APART. A GRADE ABOVE.
In other words, God asks us to be set apart… because He is set apart.
Holy living looks different to each person. I’ve learned you have to live by “your own convictions”, not anothers.
I would suggest that you look into the bible to find out what the standard of HOLINESS truly is…
5 things that God requires of people who lead in the church, Chad Veach, church, Church Leadership, God, holiness, Jesus, leadership, ministry, self control, spiritual preparedness, student ministry
Guest Post, Leadership, Randomness, Reflections & Introspection, Student Ministry
Awkward Seesaws (5 Reasons Why There Is More To Student Ministry Than Speaking)
Awkward Seesaws (5 Reasons Why There Is More To Student Ministry Than Speaking)
First, let me start by saying I am just as guilty as the next person. At times, if student ministry were a seesaw, sermon prep and speaking would be rested on the ground while relationship/discipleship would be dangling it’s feet high in the air (good visual image?). Maybe you need to see it:
Great read for those in Student Ministry
church, life, seesaw, student ministry, stumin, Youth Ministry
Tag Team Ministry
When my brother and I were younger (and even now, somewhat) we were avid Wrestling fans. We (and our cousins too) would imitate all the legends… I mean Sting, Ric Flair, Randy Savage (RIP), Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. We were totally obsessed. And if I can be honest, it was through the grace of God and a praying mother that we are still alive from performing some of the dangerous moves we would see on tv or at live events here in Atlanta.
Disclaimer: When the TV Screen says “DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME”… it literally means that! Word to the wise!!!
Some of our classic matches, the ones that were memorable and dear to use is when we would create or imitate a Stable with our cousins and friends. Now a stable in wrestling terms means a team/group united in vision. My stable was called D-Pac and my brother’s was called Threat. I know… silly, but work with me. My team was united in vision, that as their leader, I was going to become the World Heavyweight Champion and as a team, we were going to become the Tag Team Champions… and YES, for those of you wondering – our team won. Success! I knew that if I wanted to accomplish my goals and become the World Heavyweight Champion and Tag Champs, I was going to have to surround myself with some people, who understood the importance of allying and working together. Some of the most dominant, creative and talented wrestlers were apart of tag teams or stables. As a matter of fact, majority of them improved and were better because of this “elite” group of men uniting for their championship goal.
This gets me thinking… what if our ministries were like this? Where we as the leader of the team [Student Pastor/Young Adult Pastor] would develop our teams appropriately to accomplish one goal… yet not our goal, but Jesus’ goal. What if we fashion our ministries to work as a team and we really start tag teaming on Satan. What if our World Heavyweight Championship match was Preaching Jesus with authority and passion to this lost generation. And our Tag Team Championship match was teaming up with parents to nurture their students.
All wrestling aside… we are in an epic struggle [battle] were the familiar faces of our generation are fading away & lost. And if the statistics are true, only 4% of this generation will be Bible-believing Christians willing to stand firm on their faith in Jesus. We need leaders, who will get out of the way, stop trying to do ministry alone and team up with other people/ministries and fight [contend] for these young people. Leaders that will get before God and beg him to send them men & women who have His vision, His heart, and His grace so that His Kingdom is built, Jesus’ name glorified and people set free to live abundantly.
3 simple things to remember… Pray for a Team, Build the Team, Invest in the Team
Pray For A Team: Carve out time to wholeheartedly pray and seek God for the leaders who would be on your team. Begin searching for those who would add to the team, making it better.
Build The team: When God reveals the leaders for this team, begin to place them in the right area. Look for their gifts & talents. Ask them about their passions!
Invest In The Team: Pour into them your time, resources, prayers, and energy… making sure they are well nourished. – *more information
Throughout the Bible, God always used team ministry to further his Kingdom… Adam/Eve, Moses/Aaron, Joshua/Caleb, Elijah/Elisha/Jehu, Jesus & His Disciples (and even with the 12, Jesus still had an inner team of 3 with Peter, James, John) Paul/Silas, Barnabas, Timothy and so on. We were not called into ministry to act alone. I’m not talking about so-called “Youth Pastor friends” you only see when the latest “Big” conference is in town… but an authentic relationship with people in YOUR ministry that are willing to sacrifice and dig the trenches with you in your community.
Look at what Solomon had to say about being alone in ministry & life:
7 I turned my head and saw yet another wisp of smoke on its way to nothingness: 8 a solitary person, completely alone-no children, no family, no friends-yet working obsessively late into the night, compulsively greedy for more and more, never bothering to ask, “Why am I working like a dog, never having any fun? And who cares?” More smoke. A bad business. 9 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. 10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! 11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. 12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 MSG
church, Church Leadership, Ecclesiastes 4:7-12, God, Jesus, Student Pastor, Tag Team Ministry, Team Ministry, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Leadership, youth pastor
Offense of the Gospel
Sometimes, I think about the condition of a person heart, soul and spirit as it relates to the things that motives mines. I have noticed lately, especially in the church that we have pacified and sugar-coated the Gospel (the Bible) to some mediocre story that makes us feel good and leaves us excited without revelation. This in return, leaves us a corrupted Gospel nonetheless.
The Gospel is penetrating and can even be scolding as it sculpts away our own hearts intentions. [Hebrews 4:12] We as humans should be offended by the Gospel. Moreover, as Christians we should understand that the most scandalous act in history – “A loving Father (God) sending his perfect Son, Jesus Christ (fully God and Man) to pay a debt/price he didn’t owe so that we may become God’s sons [through “Grace/Faith” salvation – Spirit of Adoption] and shine with his Righteousness [through the Holy Spirit]” is very offensive. [2 Corinthians 5:21] The whole of humanity should be offended that we killed an “innocent man” for our own “selfish & wicked behavior.”
The Bible was never meant, to be just a bed time story we read to our children or something we dive into when we want answers. It was meant first and foremost to recount Jesus as the King and Savior of the world and our lives and then as an in-depth guide to living a righteous and holy life – in love towards God and people. When we read the Gospel as it really is, it should provoke change in our lives and penetrate us so much, that we want others to experience this life change. My prayer is that the Gospel will offend us so much that we pursue and hunger for Jesus and embrace his grace/love. That every time we read the Bible, we will also live it out.
Bible, church, Cross, Heb 4:12, Hebrews 4:12, Jesus, Offense of the Gospel, Scandalous Gospel, Sugar-coated Gospel, Youth Ministry
