The first break-out session of the second day (that makes it the third break-out session of the conference, very confusing, I know). The session was called Pop Goes the Church and it was about leveraging pop culture for ministry and it was by Tim Stevens, who is the author of a book by the same name. Tim is also a fellow blogger (I’m not sure I blog enough to be calling others “fellow” bloggers, sorry if that’s an insult Tim). You should really check his blog out, it’s leadingsmart.com.

People are asking spiritual questions in our community, but they aren’t involving the church.

Reality #1:
Most churches aren’t impacting their community.

Three categories in our community:
1. churched – those a part of the church
2. un-churched – those who have never been to church
3. de-churched – those who have been turned-off by the church for one reason or another

Reality #2:
Spiritual interest is growing in our culture.

“The church isn’t for questions, it’s for answers.”
“How can you get the answers if you don’t ask the questions?”
- This was taken from a conversation found on the episode “Sunday” from the Desperate Housewives series you can find the clip here – Desperate Housewives – Sunday clip

Jesus would look for what grabs our attention and connect the dots for us.

Is it okay to leverage pop culture? – Acts 17

Three ways to use pop culture
1. Use pop culture to package a topic to attract a crowd.
2. Use pop culture to get people thinking or laughing. (Check out this video they did for their series I Love the 80’s – Hey There MacGyver)
3. Provide a new interpretation for a pop culture element.

Pop culture is used to raise issues that our neighbors are dealing with, the Bible is used to answer their questions.

*I was unable to attend break-out session four, I had to head back to town to design a wedding cake.

Dwight Mason is the pastor of the nearby NewPointe Community Church in Dover, Ohio and I thought had a lot of good things to say the whole conference, but here are the notes I took from his main session.

Nothing happens without leadership.

Are you comfortable telling others what Jesus told his disciples? “Follow me.”

“There is nothing more powerful than an example.” – Albert Switzer

Leadership is all about Relationships.

You impress people from far way, but you impact people close up.

Most problems can be traced to incompetent leadership.

We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.

What needs to change in my life so that I can comfortably say, “Follow me as I follow Christ”?

Four Things we must have.
1. A Call

2. Character – Personal Identity, Emotional Security

- if we search for the following things apart from God, this is what they’ll lead to:
Significance → Performing → Fear of Failure
Acceptance → Pleasing Others → Fear of Rejection
Security → Control → Fear of Uncertainty
(sorry if this chart doesn’t make sense)

I am not valued because of what I do, but whose I am.

3. Clarity of:
- Who God is – Hebrews 11:27
- Who I am – Romans 12:3
- What my purpose is

4. Courage – 1 Corinthians 9:11, Isaiah 41:16