As noted earlier… the Unleashed conference was great!

There were two main sessions and then a TON of breakout sessions to choose from.

I went to the two main sessions and then to a breakout for “Senior Pastors ONLY” and then to a breakout called “Staffing for Success.”

Notes from the two main sessions, led by Perry Noble.

Main Session #1 – “Go for it”

• The goal of the church is to “Make the name of Jesus famous!” Four things we must do as we seek to accomplish this goal… (taken from Matthew 17:1-9 – the story of the Transfiguration)

• We must be creative as we tell the story of Jesus. Perry said, “The transfiguration was a creative way to demonstrate who He (i.e. Jesus) was” (see v. 2). Jesus was always creating environments where people could discover who He was (e.g. miracles)

• We must look beyond ourselves. Making the name of Jesus famous will require that we think less of ourselves and more about others! Perry asked this question, “Do you want a church where everybody knows everybody or everybody knows Jesus?” I know what kind of church I want to be a part of… a church where everybody knows Jesus!

• We must pay attention! As soon as Peter saw what was happening to Jesus he started talking… and then a voice, the voice of God interrupted him and said, “This is my Son… listen to Him.” When God starts working, this is the time to LISTEN! When Peter listened, Jesus said two things… 1) “Get up” and 2) “Don’t be afraid”. Perry talked about the fact that when you “Get up” and move down the mountain to make the name of Jesus famous… people are going to oppose you! At that point, “Don’t be afraid!” Pay attention to what Jesus is saying and share it with others, and when opposed… don’t be afraid!

• We must focus on what matters. After the whole transfiguration experience the disciples looked up and “they saw only Jesus” (Mat. 17:8). Unfortunately we often see more than “just Jesus.” If we’re going to accomplish the goal of making the name of Jesus famous then we must limit our focus to the things that matter… “Christ and Christ alone!”

Main Session #2 – “The Leadership Challenge”

• “The myth about growing churches is that it’s all about style.” Perry shot this one down and said, “If a church is growing it’s not by accident… it’s about leadership. If a church is growing, godly leadership is in place.”
  

He drew four lessons from the life of Moses:

• #1 Moses simply listened to God and obeyed.
  • “Leadership is as easy as listening to God.”
  • “If you’re the Senior Pastor time with God is the most important thing you do.”

• #2 Moses did not compromise the vision.
  • There will always be someone who will ask you to “change” the vision. In Moses’ case it was Pharaoh.
  • Often times the “ask” will come from a powerful person or a “Big-Giver.” Perry said, “You will either be a prostitute or a prophet. A prostitute performs a service for a paycheck, but a prophet says, ‘Thus sayeth the Lord.”
  • The vision is not mine to compromise… it comes from God to the pastor for the church.

• #3 Moses didn’t try to do it all.
  • The problem of many senior pastors is  that “we  think we’re needed” for everything! IT’S NOT TRUE! The church can get along without the “interference” of the senior pastor in every decision!
  • Senior pastor… “Surround yourself with godly people who can carry out the vision that God gives you.”
  • RECRUIT THE BEST PEOPLE to help carry out the vision! (volunteers and staff)
  • “If you take God or the team out of the picture everything falls apart.” In other words, though the vision for the church is given to the leader it is NOT all about him/her! If God or the team is absent… there’s trouble!

• #4 Moses was willing to attempt the impossible.
  • “We often want a vision that’s safe. That insults God!”
  • “If it’s God’s will, it’s God’s bill!” GO AND DO WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO!