Jesus Creed

North Point

Tuesday November 11, 2008

Categories: Jesus Creed

Saturday afternoon, about 3pm, Kris and I were sitting in the front row at North Point Church in Atlanta. I was mulling over what I was about to say when I realized that Bill Willits, a leader at North Point, was calling to the stage three friends of ours: Norton Herbst, Steven Redden, and Jason Malec. Three excellent, gifted, young leaders -- and they have come together in a decision to plant a church in Denver. Bill barely managed to keep himself together ... and we too ... and yet it was a good moment. The kind of moment that many of you know -- the commissioning of those you love to leave and strike up a new work somewhere else.

We were at North Point for another reason.

Bill Willits had invited me down to speak to small group leaders -- and it's pretty cool when the leaders number more than a thousand -- about the The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others and the missional life that the Jesus Creed can create. So, in the morning I did a talk on the Jesus Creed and the need for us to develop a sacred rhythm of reciting the Jesus Creed at least twice a day. In the afternoon we did one on how the Jesus Creed can teach us to welcome (what I call) "blue parakeets" into our neighborhood. I'm persuaded that to become missional-minded we need to become more love-shaped. The habit of reciting the Jesus Creed can help. Wonderful people; great questions; challenging.

Between our sessions we attended Norton Herbst's session on how to deal with serious theological problems in small groups -- and I thought he did a marvelous job of teaching us to focus on the essentials and discerning when and where and how to diffuse heat. It was a good session. Then we got to chat with Jason and Norton and Brian and Bill and Terry over lunch. (By the way, Bill and Terry and Kris and I went out the night before to Wisteria when we learned that we have a common love of Italy.)

We think the world of North Point and these fine leaders ... and so we got on the plane with thankful hearts that we were able to experience briefly God's work at North Point and for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful work of God in Atlanta.
Advertisement
Comments
Derek Leman
November 11, 2008 1:24 PM
http://derek4messiah.wordpress.com

Tips on how to diffuse heat might be useful. Any chance you might share a few of the tips? Did you take notes?

Steve Bradley
November 11, 2008 1:38 PM
http://blog.visionnavigator.com

As a North Point group leader, I wanted to thank you for coming down and spending time with us.

I especially appreciate your challenge to work the Jesus Creed into our daily rhythms -- it's such a simple, yet profound call to engage our hearts/heads/hands, and our whole being to love and connect with God and others. You've given me much to reflect upon, not to mention serving as the inspiration for several blog posts of my own :-)

Blessings

Jason
November 11, 2008 4:31 PM

Sweet story, I am just a little bugged that to read it I had to be asked how I am doing in my battle with menopause.

Jason
November 11, 2008 4:39 PM

It's a bit personal, but I am doing fine. Thank you for asking. Love your stuff Scott, just still grumpy about this form of commercialism with the gospel.

Tony Stiff
November 11, 2008 11:59 PM
http://setsnservice.wordpress.com

Scot wish I had known I would have tried to get a visitor pass. 1,000 small group leaders, quite a powerful tool of leaders and a sign of the vitality of the small group church mentality.

Blessings, Tony

Read All Comments

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.



Please type the text you see in the box below to verify your post and help us prevent spam. You have a limited time to type - you may wish to compose your comment in a separate document and paste it here upon completion.

Type the characters you see in the picture above.

Advertisement

Search This Blog

About Jesus Creed

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

View Scot's Speaking Schedule

Contact Scot at Facebook

feed icon Subscribe

RSS Feed

Receive updates from Jesus Creed

Calendar



Add to Technorati Favorites

Blogroll

Daily Prayers:

Emerging Movement:

Other sites I frequent:

Recommended Online Readings:

Scholarly Books I've written:

Scholarship Online:

Stuff online:

Advertisement

Advertisement


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.