So do you slow down when the "curves" of life come? Actually, it is good to accelerate through the curves. How do you manage risk while at the same time keep making progress on your vision and mission?

1. Accelerating Through theAccelerating Through the
CurvesCurves
GHC Mentor TrainingGHC Mentor Training
Dr. John Jackson, © 2007Dr. John Jackson, © 2007

2. Accelerating Through the Curves?Accelerating Through the Curves?
 Newtons Laws of MotionNewtons Laws of Motion
 Don’t do what comes naturalDon’t do what comes natural
 Hearing from GodHearing from God
 PreachingPreaching
 LeadershipLeadership

3.  1) There is an enemy who wants us to be1) There is an enemy who wants us to be
deceived and destroyeddeceived and destroyed
 2) We have to choose to obey when we2) We have to choose to obey when we
understand His willunderstand His will
 3) We have to learn to discern God’s voice3) We have to learn to discern God’s voice
and separate it from othersand separate it from others
Hearing From God…Hearing From God…

4. Preaching…Accelerating ThroughPreaching…Accelerating Through
the Curves…the Curves…
 90% said they were above average in90% said they were above average in
preaching and teachingpreaching and teaching
 85% said they do well in encouraging85% said they do well in encouraging
peoplepeople
 82% said excellent in pastoring or82% said excellent in pastoring or
shepherding peopleshepherding people
 73% said they do well in providing73% said they do well in providing
leadershipleadership

5.  68% said above average in motivating68% said above average in motivating
people around a visionpeople around a vision
 64% above average in discipling or64% above average in discipling or
mentoringmentoring
 60% do well in evangelism60% do well in evangelism
Source: Barna Research, January 2002Source: Barna Research, January 2002

6.  ““As I study, I wrestle with tough texts as JacobAs I study, I wrestle with tough texts as Jacob
wrestled Jesus. I find that preaching tough textswrestled Jesus. I find that preaching tough texts
such as gender roles, the flood, hell, etc., aresuch as gender roles, the flood, hell, etc., are
much like driving a car into a steep curve. If you hitmuch like driving a car into a steep curve. If you hit
the brakes in fear you will lose control, but if youthe brakes in fear you will lose control, but if you
accelerate into the tough turns, gravity actuallyaccelerate into the tough turns, gravity actually
slingshots you through smoothly. In the pulpit,slingshots you through smoothly. In the pulpit,
momentum and authority come throughmomentum and authority come through
accelerating into tough texts in the study and thenaccelerating into tough texts in the study and then
driving the church through them.” (Mark Driscoll)driving the church through them.” (Mark Driscoll)
Mark DriscollMark Driscoll

7. Ed Young, Jr.Ed Young, Jr.
 What’s the point?What’s the point?
 What’s the tension? (try to create tension 3 or 4 times in aWhat’s the tension? (try to create tension 3 or 4 times in a
message)message)
 What’s the transition?What’s the transition?
 How do I pull it off?How do I pull it off?
 How do I apply it? (information without application is anHow do I apply it? (information without application is an
abomination; we need to answer the questionabomination; we need to answer the question so what?so what?))
 How is it different?How is it different?
 Is it your style?Is it your style?
 Is it your stuff?Is it your stuff?
 Is it your passion?Is it your passion?

8. Stanley & Lane, Communicating forStanley & Lane, Communicating for
ChangeChange
 ME - OrientationME - Orientation
 WE – IdentificationWE – Identification
 GOD - IlluminationGOD - Illumination
 YOU – ApplicationYOU – Application
 WE – InspirationWE – Inspiration

9. Leadership-Accelerating Through theLeadership-Accelerating Through the
CurvesCurves
A Safe Church:A Safe Church:
 Strives to keep members happyStrives to keep members happy
 Avoids controversial issuesAvoids controversial issues
 Remains cautiousRemains cautious

10. Dangerous Church (Craig Groeschel)Dangerous Church (Craig Groeschel)
 Will have an uncivilized approachWill have an uncivilized approach
(Q: When was the last time you had an uncivilized(Q: When was the last time you had an uncivilized
experience with God?)experience with God?)
 Will have a consuming focusWill have a consuming focus
(Q: What is blurring your focus?)(Q: What is blurring your focus?)
 Will have a risk taking faithWill have a risk taking faith
(Q: What faith risk is God calling us to take?)(Q: What faith risk is God calling us to take?)
 Will have people with a high pain toleranceWill have people with a high pain tolerance
(Q: What painful decision have you been avoiding?)(Q: What painful decision have you been avoiding?)