What God Has Taught Me

Sometimes I struggle between differentiating who I am in Christ with who I am as a Pastor. For example, studying for a sermon and praying for my church DOES NOT COUNT as my personal Quiet Time. I will be a Christian long after I retire from being a Pastor.

However, I can say that God has taught me SO MUCH about Himself during the past 4 years that He has let me pastor Rock Bridge. Here's some of the things I have learned or am still learning (these are in no particular order):

1) The Bible is awesome! Don't underestimate or neglect it's power OR potential to bring life change in you and in others.
2) Pray first, last, and always. Pray about anything and everything.
3) God's grace really, really is AMAZING.
4) Never take your spouse or family for granted. They are one of the main ways God can speak to us, bless us, help us, shape us, etc. They are a gift from God.
5) God's presence is more important than human skill, creativity, eloquence, fancy facilities, cool graphics, awesome music, or anything else.
6) The devil can make a minority seem like a majority.
7) Get to know the 3rd Person of the Trinity ... there's a reason He's called the "Helper" and "Counselor"
8) God is in control ... always.
9) Satan can really use Christians to discourage Christians ... mainly through that organ called "The tongue"
10) God can really use Christians to encourage Christians ... mainly through that organ called "The tongue"
11) Only God can save someone.
12) God wants to bless the church.
13) People (including me) do stupid things ... love them anyway.
14) Knowing WHO you are and who you ARE NOT are two good things to know.
15) It's not about me.
16) Is it about church growth or kingdom growth??
17) God loves sinners (I know that's basic John 3:16 stuff but how quickly I forget!)
18) People are hungry for Jesus.
19) Many times the question is not, "What is God's will?" but "When is it God's will?" -- Wait on the Lord.
20) The enemy is not other churches.
21) It's still not about me.