Matt Chandler of The Village Church (Highland Village, TX) discussed the importance of confession, repentance, and focusing on God during Catalyst Conference’s fifth session.

There are a lot of things going on in your churches. Some of you are in good places. Some of you are in bad places. Remind yourself what you have been caught up in.

Apparently according to Hebrews 11, the gauntlet that you and I will run has seasons with lions and seasons where we escape the sword and seasons where we die by the sword and seasons where the dead will rise and seasons when the dead are dead.

Somehow the idea of confession and repentance has become negative. It seems like the longer we are Christians, the more we think you shouldn’t be confessing things. The problem is, well… the Bible. 1 John 1:5-10 says if you live and walk as if you are sinless, you are a liar.

Look at every delay as an opportunity to deepen the waters with the God of the universe. It is a lack of gratitude and therefore a sin that causes you to want to be something that you aren’t. A day is coming when history in your life will be rewritten as it really is. Your role is bigger than you think.

Look to Jesus because He is the founder of our faith. Without Him there is no reconciliation with God.

May we remember what we have grown up in. May we remember what God has called us to. And may we run well.

At Innovation3, Matt Chandler of The Village Church (Highland Village, TX) talked about you (i.e., church pastors, leaders, and teachers).

Many church leaders are divided into two camps - one says the church should be all about engaging culture and one says the church should be about building spiritual depth in community.

Paul tried to train Timothy how to engage culture and how to create spiritual depth in community. you need a balance of both.

1 Timothy 4 lists out 7 ideas to be mindful of…

1. Doctrine matters.
   Getting the gospel right is always primary to everything else. it does not matter the praise given if the worship is wrong.
2. Avoid myths, pursue godliness.
   When all you know about God is learned through someone else’s relationship with God, you cannot truly know him.
3. Don’t be timid.
4. Be the example.
5. Have confidence in the Bible.
   If you do not decide early on that the Bible is the sufficient Word of God, it will not be long before you latch on to the next big idea.
6. Remember the call.
   Remember the call that you received from the Holy Spirit.
7. Keep growing.
   Progressive sanctification is for pastors, too.