What I learned from Catalyst Dallas Part 2

This post is part 2 summarizing what I learned from Catalyst Dallas. If you missed the first 9 items then be sure to check out part 1. The theme was Take Courage.

9. Christine Caine, a director of Equip and Empower Ministries, spoke about the A21 campaign and its efforts to fight human trafficking. She visually demonstrated that not only are my material possession in this world vapor, but also the fears that I might have about taking risks for the gospel. The most potent force on the planet is not an atomic bomb or a cruise missile, it is the blood of Jesus.

10. Don Miller, one of my favorite authors, went through the story of Joseph. He encouraged us to let God redeem the conflict that is in our lives. God brought difficulty in Joseph’s life to prepare him for the end result of being one of the most powerful men in the world. When Joseph was in Potiphar’s house and in prison he learned everything he would need to know to run a great nation. Learn what God is teaching you where you are at right now.

11. I enjoyed the music of two new bands I was not previously familiar with, Gungor and Seryn.

12. David Platt, author of Radical, explained how courage is something that we do not find in ourselves. It comes from having a proper perspective of who our God is. He referenced Isaiah and the angels declaring that God is “Holy, holy, holy.” Isaiah’s reponse when God asked who will go? Here I am Lord.

13. I was introduced to Capt. Scott Smiley who became blind as a result of an injury suffered in the war in Iraq. He defined courage as doing the right thing even when it is hard. We are to live the life God gives us and live it well, with or without sight.

14. Craig Groeschel, author and pastor of LifeChurch.tv, encouraged older generations to believe in and encourage younger generations, even when you do not understand their clothes, music, or hair.

15. Scott Harrison taught me more than I can say here. Scott is the CEO and founder of Charity: Water, a group whose mission is to provide clean water to the 1 billion people in the world who don’t have it. I’ll have more to say about Scott in a later post.

16. Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church, told me that you do not have to be a great theologian, you just have to know the gospel. Anything else is just your version of the checklist, which is exactly what Jesus came to destroy. I am an expert at checklists. Our lists serve to affirm ourselves. The only affirmation we need is the blood of Jesus. Jesus allowed his blood to be spilt because of his love for us.

17. Andy Stanley ended on leadership. Our fully exploited strengths are much more valuable than our marginally improved weaknesses. Learn what you are not good at and then don’t do that. Find someone who is good at it and give them room to become a leader in it.

For me, Catalyst was a life changing experience. I was not able to walk away unaffected. If you ever have the opportunity to attend, then do it. If you don’t have the opportunity, make it. I think its that important.

In the meantime, take courage. Jesus is risen.