Buzz Conference - Craig Groeschel - Session 3

Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv talked about innovative leadership.

• One definition of Innovation is the process of making improvement by doing something new.
• We often say that we could be innovative if we had more resources but we have everything we need to reach the people God as called us to reach.
• When you don't have others' resources, you innovate.
• Limited resources + increasing passion = exponential innovation
• If we had to raise $100,000 by Friday for some project most of us could not do it. If we needed $100,000 by Friday or one of our children would die, most of us could find the money. The problem is not a lack of resources but a lack of motivation.
• Let Limited resources and increasing passion drive you to exponential innovation.
• Innovation requires the eyes to see.

4 Qualities of Innovative Leadership:
1. Heal the sick - Not only physically. Matt 9 - it is not the healthy who need a doctor.

• In order to reach those that no one else is reaching we have to do things that no one else is doing. When you have the attitude of the 4 Friends, you will find a way.
• Dave Ferguson said that if we are going to reach the world we are going to have to sit in the smoking section.
• We have to lead our ministries to love those who don't know Christ. They won't do if we are not.
• We need to seek the lost to the point that "the lost" has a name.
• Who is God calling you to reach that no one around you is reaching?

2. Break rules - Don't break away from the truth of scripture, but the rules that man makes.

• He tells a story of leading a drunk guy to Christ by going to a bar and without using the 4 spiritual laws approach.
• If life was a Nascar race, innovative leaders would turn right.
• Bill Hybles turned right by combining the passion of the para-church and the power of the local church.
• Today's contemporary is tomorrow's tradition.
• LifeChurch.tv broke rules by:
• giving away their media stuff where others can use it to grow the kingdom.
• Built an internet church campus
• Built second life church campus
• Built mysecretlife.tv for people to have online confessions
• They combined with other churches
• They created a web2.0 version of the Bible.
• Don't let someone saying "it can't be done" stop you from doing what God is calling you to do.
• What is God calling you to do that hasn't been done?

3. Offend Pharisees -

• When you do something new the Pharisees will come and attack you.
• The things that are closest to the heart of God will offend pharisees.
• Things that are accepted today were despised not that many years ago.
• If you are not being called a cult every now and then, you are not doing something right.
• Be worried if you are not being criticized by pharisees
• Take criticism gracefully.
• Some of the young leaders with the greatest potential need to get past their anger.
• What new thing that is hated today and will be accepted tomorrow do you need to do?

4. Redefine success -

• John the Baptist said He must increase but I must decrease.
• Stop trying so hard trying to build attendance and start trying to build "The Church"
• We are successful when we do the things that nobody else sees.
• Do my children know Jesus?
• Does my wife get my best?
• Do I have time with God every morning and every night?
• He told about an illustration from the movie the "Guardian" where revered instructor was asked what his number of saves was and he said he only counted those he lost.