| name | It - How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It |
|---|---|
| orig title | |
| translator | |
| image |  |
| author | Craig Groeschel |
| cover_artist | |
| country | United States |
| language | English languageEnglish |
| series | |
| classification | nonfiction |
| genre | Religion, Christianity, Leadership |
| publisher | Zondervan |
| release_date | August 2008 |
| media_type | Print (Hardcover), digital download audiobook, ebook, DVD |
| pages | 192 |
| isbn | ISBN 0-310-28682-4 (hardcover edition) |
| preceded_by | |
| followed_by |
"Online churches draw believers, critics."
It - How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It Chapter Summaries
Preface: You Know It When You See It
If you've been part of a ministry that had it, you knew you were part of something special. It was an awesome work of God that couldn't be contained, couldn't be harnessed, and couldn't be explained. To those who experience it, life is different. They're changed. They're passionate. They're excited. They know they're part of what God's doing. And they want everyone to know about it.Chapter 1: Where Did It Come From?
You could say it happens. But not always. Just as love, gravity, black holes, freedom, and magnetism cannot be observed directly, so too it can be detected only indirectly. If you don't have it, you can get it. But if you have it, you can lose it.Chapter 2: Some Have It, Some Lack It
Beautiful buildings, cool environments, and the right technology aren't necessary to have it. A person surrendered fully to Christ gets it. And once a person has it, he can't keep it to himself.Chapter 3: Bringing It Into Focus
The qualities necessary for it to develop include a passion for God's presence, a deep craving to reach the lost, sincere integrity, Spirit-filled faith, genuine humility, and brokenness.Chapter 4: Vision: You Can See It Clearly
Without vision, people will be confused, scattered, unfocused, and easily distracted. Without a God-given vision, ministries will never have it. Ministries that have it always have a clear vision. The people know the vision, understand the vision, believe in the vision, and live the vision. The vision must be memorable, portable, and motivational. Herbert Cooper, pastor of People’s Church, Oklahoma City, OK is profiled.Chapter 5: Divine Focus: You Know Where It Is Not
Doing the wrong new things is dangerous. Focus tends to let it breathe. Lack of focus generally suffocates it. When focus is increased, options are decreased. Good things are not necessarily God things. Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA is profiled.Chapter 6: Unmistakable Camaraderie: You Enjoy It with Others
As long as intimacy and spiritual partnership is avoided, churches won't likely experience it. To have it, you have to share it with each other. Just as there's no I in team, there's no it in independence. Perry Noble, pastor of NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC is profiled.Chapter 7: Innovative Minds: You'll Do Anything for It
The spark of passion ignites the fuel for innovation. Reflecting God, innovative believers tend to have it. It is borne out of the passion to please God, reach people, and help those in need. Limited Resources + Increasing Passion = Exponential Innovation. You have everthing you need to do what God wants you to do. Tim Stevens, pastor of Granger Community Church, Granger, IN is profiled.Chapter 8: Willingness to Fall Short: You Fail toward It
Ministries without it are usually the ones playing it safe, doing only what is sure to succeed. Failing often can help a ministry experience it. Being overly cautious can kill it. To be a meaninful ministry, failure is not an option; it is a necessity. If you're not failing, you've stopped dreaming. You'll eventually stop learning. And you will stop growing. Those who have it fail often. Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church, Washington, DC is profiled.Chapter 9: Hearts Focused Outward: You Want Others to Have It
When churches look inward instead of outward, they're basically saying to nonbelievers, "You can just go to hell." Love overcomes obstacles. When we love deeply, love makes us do things we wouldn't otherwise do. Jud Wilhite, pastor of Central Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV is profiled.
Chapter 10: Kingdom-Mindedness: You Share It
The more possessive and competitive a church is, the more divided it becomes. A kingdom-minded ministry is more about what God is doing everywhere than what God is doing in its own ministry. A kingdom-minded ministry is generous and hungry to partner with others to get more done for the glory of God. Dino Rizzo, pastor of Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge, LA is profiled.
Chapter 11: Do You Have It? Does It Have You?
To flourish, it takes the heat of spiritual passion; as soon as you remove the heat, it disappears.Chapter 12: Guarding It: How to Keep It Once You Have It
Let the fire of God's presence burn within you, consuming your worst attitudes and actions. Pray that God would stretch you, ruin you, and heal you.
External links
- LifeChurch.tv Official LifeChurch.tv website
- Craig Groeschel bio
- LifeChurch.tv Swerve Blog
