Perry Noble is one of my favorite church leaders these days. He is full of passion, down to earth, and somewhat of a redneck… I also love that he says what a lot of pastors are thinking…if I were to get an offer to work under his leadership, I would have no choice but to take it!
Here’s something he posted today…
10 Characteristics Growing Churches
#1 – They have leaders that lead!
“For God so loved the world that He did not send a committee!” Not sure where I heard that…but its true!
#2 – A desperation for God’s power!
Prayer isn’t a good luck charm that is attached at the beginning or at the end of something…people are legitimately desperate for the power of God. They pray Habakkuk 3:2 prayers every day and…
#3 – They believe that greater things are in store.
They don’t just pray big prayers…but they have a sense of anticipation that is contagious! They don’t read Acts 2 and think “those were the good ‘ole days” but rather they think, “that’s where God STARTED this thing…we should be WAY ahead of this!!!”
#4 – They are full of ordinary people.
God always uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Jesus didn’t choose one scribe or Pharisee when He launched the church…and Acts 4:13 talks about how He used ordinary people to absolutely turn the world upside down. The staff LOVE the church…so much so that they would actually attend there even if they were not on staff!
#5 – They leverage technology.
They don’t view technology as of the devil but rather as a tool given by God to reach as many people as possible for Jesus. (Btw…isn’t it funny that some churches are against the use of technology yet all of them rode to their church in a car and their church building has air conditioner?)
#6 – The church is full of passion.
People in the church actually LOVE the church and do not attend because they feel like they have to! (The only reason people get angry with the fact that you love your church is probably because they have no idea what it is like to actually love their church!)
#7 – They take ownership of the great commission.
They REFUSE to be “keepers of the aquarium” and instead embrace the COMMAND of Jesus to reach the world for HIM!
#8 – There is a willingness to change and adapt, even when it means they have to go against the very “innovative” ideas that they themselves once established!
#9 – Generosity is embraced.
#10 – The people in the church are OWNERS, not merely “members.”
Members have rights, owners have responsibilities. The people in these churches understand that it is not the pastors job to minister to the people but rather the bodies job to minister to the body! And as a result people serve Jesus by serving others instead of sitting on their “blessed assurance” and expecting to be waited on hand and foot.
August 10, 2010
Since I was away for the weekend, I asked my good friend and registrar for Camp Arnes to write up this week’s activities! Great job, Jenna! You and Marc are welcome at neXus anytime!
weekend teaching series: GROW UP, week ¾ (guest speaker: Marc Moir)
sermon in a sentence: HALLELUJAH! WAHOOOOOOO! Marc shared with us about the different types of people who were in the crowed as Jesus was riding the donkey on the way to Jerusalem and how we can identify with them in our own lives. As well as what Hallelujah means and why we need to say it more often!
games for the night: JR Highs played Pizza (a game Gizelle LOVES) and some other relay games!
volunteer/student involvement: Ashley Lough did an amazing job at running around making sure everything was in place for the evening. (Terrin’s addition: thanks to Gizelle for running games, and to Scott for keeping the sanity in the sound booth!)
element of fun/positive environment: ILLUMINATE lead us in worship, which was an amazing time! Everyone seemed to really enjoy them and the new style of music that they brought. It was great to see many youth involved in the worship part of the evening.
music playlist: Let the Praises Ring, King of Majesty, Blessed Be Your Name, Grace Like Rain, Hosanna
favourite moment: I would have to say the singing. I could really feel God’s presence, as I am sure many people could. It was so amazing to see just how many youth and leaders made this part of the evening their own and just take the time to praise God! HALLELUJAH!
up next week: CAMP ARNES! This will be an amazing time to relax and grow more closely as youth community. Marc Moir and Terrin Ramsey are our weekend speakers, so you won’t want to miss it! Also, I have hooked us up with one of Camp’s best meals……PIZZA!
Thanks for letting me come and enjoy a night of madness with you all! I had such a great time!
Jenna Moir
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Thanks Jenna, you did a great job!
March 17, 2010
Seriously… just write a library of books already, Mr. Noble! I like your gumption!
#1 – Why is the church so content with being normal when God has promised the supernatural?
#2 – Why are some in the church obsessed with obtaining information but have no desire to live out the transformation that Jesus brings?
#3 – Why do some in the church excuse non excellent standards by saying phrases such as, “well, after all…it’s just church?” Our standards of doing things should not be lower than the worlds…they should be higher; after all, what the church does matters!
#4 – Why do we claim to follow a God who changes things…and yet often times we refuse to change things?
#5 – Why do we set our expectations on the lives that Jesus wants us to live so low when Scripture sets them so high?
#6 – Why does the church always try to control people when Jesus died so that we could be unleashed?
#7 – Why is it that so many church leaders would rather lead through imitation (becoming just like someone else) rather than revelation (listening to God and then doing what He says?)
February 3, 2010
Ok, So I read Perry Noble’s blog (he’s a pastor in the USA). I read this today and had to share with you! If you’re into Pastor blogs, check his out. I always find encouraging and challenging posts!
Disclaimer…some of these phrases MAY be over 140 characters, work with me! 
* “Heard this guy named Jesus teach today, not very impressed. All He did was tell stories, didn’t really go in depth like the guys do at the tabernacle.”
* “That Jesus guy healed a dude on the Sabbath right in front of everyone, which was so disrespectful. Sure, it was nice that the person got healed, I just don’t agree with the way He went about it.”
* “BIG DEAL! So this Jesus guy fed over 5,000 men with five loaves and two pieces of fish. Seems to me like He is just into trying to do entertaining things to get people’s attention rather than teaching them anything of substance.”
* “The people that seem to be following Jesus and taking on some responsibilities for Him have not been to seminary…this is not acceptable!”
* “This Jesus guy keeps talking TO and ABOUT ‘lost people.’ I think His singular focus is going to be destructive to His ministry.”
* “This Jesus guy won’t answer any of our questions. I think He is arrogant to not listen to us…doesn’t He understand who we are?”
* “Jesus didn’t wash His hands before He ate a meal with me last night, I did, therefore I am so much cleaner than Him!”
* “Jesus called me a snake/viper today, I am not quite sure that was appropriate language and I think that kind of talk is going to damage His reputation.”
* “Jesus always calls me and my friends out for His perceived problems with us…and quite often isn’t very ‘loving’ in the way He does it. I think He has temper issues and should stop being so reactive.”
* “Jesus keeps hanging out with the wrong people…doesn’t He know that the people who are closest to Him don’t have their act together?”
* “Jesus lost His temper today and threw things and people out of the temple. His irreverence for the things that matter to me is quite disturbing.”
* “This guy Jesus waters down His teachings, the way He is presenting things ANYONE can be forgiven!”
January 12, 2010
Ok, this is more ministry related than just youth ministry related… enjoy!
What if Target Operated Like a Church?
- Instead of having men’s and women’s clothing departments, they would be called clever names like Impact and Embrace that are completely meaningless to new shoppers.
- Each department in the store would have its own logo to go with their clever name. And, of course, all those logos would be different than the logo on the front of the store.
- The workers in each department would all have their own t-shirts and flyers to promote what’s available in their departments. The youth clothing department would, of course, have the best flyers.
- The store manager and his wife would be pictured on the front page of the website.
- You wouldn’t actually be able to buy anything from the website, but each department would have its own page explaining why they are such a great department and the the information would be several months out-of-date.
- If you are in the shoe department and have a question about flashlights, the shoe department employee has no idea how to help you because it doesn’t have anything to do with shoes.
- Shoppers would be able to start their own departments so that they can buy the items that they want to buy. Don’t worry…that means there will certainly be a clothing department for singles.
- Shoppers would also be able to appoint their own store manager and then serve on committees and boards to tell the store manager what to do.
- The store would only be open one day a week between 9:00 a.m. and noon and on the first Wednesday evening of every month.
December 16, 2009
Hey! So I read a blog by Perry Noble, Pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. I read this today, and thought “This is exactly what I want to accomplish in my ministry!” I hope you read it and your heart is warmed just like mine was!!! God bless! Terrin
If you want to build a great church then go after the people that no one else wants! That’s what Jesus did…and because of that we are included in HIS Kingdom. Quite often something will happen in our church that will remind me that, though we are far from perfect, we are going after the people that I believe Jesus would have gone after…
So…the other day in our children’s area this happened…
A first time visitor (probably around 9 or 10 years old) walked into our 4th-5th grade room in KidSpring at our Anderson campus and was BLOWN away!
He looked at the children’s worker who met him at the door, and, after looking around the room he said, “you guys have a wii?”
“Yep,” she said.
“And you guys have a PSIII?” he said!
“Yes sir, we sure do,” she replied.
“And we can play these for free?” He asked.
“Yep,” she answered.
Then he turned to his friend and said out loud, “This Sh_t is awesome!”
Now I am quite sure that makes some of you very uncomfortable; after all, you don’t want the cussing kids coming into church and messing up your perfect child.
However…after hearing this story from one of our children’s staff I was INCREDIBLY pumped up because I thought, “THAT is why we do church!” I know many churches would not want a kid like that…but we do because HE MATTERS TO JESUS…even though his behavior is not perfect!
Here is what I know about that kid…
* He was greeted by children’s workers that made it a point to learn his name.
* He was treated like he was special, not like an outcast.
* He was NOT taken to the bathroom where his mouth was washed out with soap; in fact, he wasn’t even rebuked. (Why in the world does the church expect those who do not know Christ to act as if they do? It is the most ridiculous/stupid idea!!!)
* He was placed into an environment where he was taught the Scriptures.
* He was placed into an environment where he was taught about Jesus.
* He was placed into an environment where people went the extra mile to make sure the presentation was on his level.
* He matters to God; therefore, he matters to us…and we are going to continually do all that we can to reach him.
Church is not a place for “perfect people.” (And BEWARE of the church where you go and EVERYONE seems perfect!!!) It’s a place where the broken, the lonely, the addicted, and the struggling can go.
I love the fact that this kid came to our church…didn’t pretend to be someone he was not…and was STILL accepted and heard about Jesus.
The church has GOT to STOP placing expectations on people as soon as they walk in the door…
We are NOT a country club…we are a church!!!
And for those who look down on those who are “not as good as you,” remember that you were once like them (see I Corinthians 6:9-11 and Ephesians 2:1-5)…and were it not for God’s AMAZING grace…you would STILL be lost.
* People who cuss should be welcome at church…
* So should those who smell like smoke…
* So should those who smell like alcohol…
* So should those who do whatever sin you do not do…
When we get into the business of placing stipulations as to who can and cannot come to a service based on a morality code (OR a dress code) we have COMPLETELY lost sight of why Jesus came and died on a cross.
Like I said, hearing the story of that kid made my day!!! It’s why we do what we do…and it is my prayer that he eventually receives Christ, fixes his eyes on Jesus…and grows up to do AMAZING things in HIS name…all because there was a church that allowed him to come in as he was…and then begged God to not let him stay that way but rather to bring about the change HE desired in HIS time.
December 14, 2009