Derwin L. Gray's Blog, page 4

LEAD WELL!

SUCCESS OR FAILURE

The success or failure of any organization, whether it’s a multi-billion dollar company like Google, a high school football team, or a family, is the quality and effectiveness of its leadership.

As a husband and father, Jesus has called me to lead and serve my family.

As a pastor, God has called me to lead and serve Transformation Church. (http://www.transformationchurch.tc/)

As a leader and influencer of leaders, God has called me to lead and serve those whom He has entrusted to my care.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH

Through radio, by God’s grace, my “Just Marinating” segments reach 1.3 million people per month. (http://www.transformationchurch.tc/ra...)

Through TV, the Derwin Gray Special is televised into 100 million homes in 150 countries around the world.

Through preaching, over 500,000 people globally tune into the Transformation Church sermons. (http://www.transformationchurch.tc/sermons/archive.php)

For whatever reason, God has entrusted me with these great opportunities to influence peoples’ lives for His glory.

So, my leadership development is critical because my life affects other lives. The responsibility and privilege of this great reality inspires me.

LEADERS

I have developed the acronym LEADERS to remind myself why my leadership development is important.

Leaders -

Learn constantly in a variety of fields (business, theology, philosophy, technology, psychology, etc.).

Engage conflict with reconciliation in mind.

Assist those they lead in reaching their goals.

Develop the potential in those lead.

Enter into mentor relationships with wiser, more seasoned leaders.

Replicate themselves in those they lead.

Sacrifice their goals for the organization’s goals.

 

LEAD WELL

Lead well my friends.

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin

This Little Light of Mine

 “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” Most of us have heard the song, perhaps you even grew up singing it.  But have you ever stopped to think  what Jesus can create with a collective group of people who let their lights shine brightly for His glory?  Watch as Pastor Derwin explains!

Check out the rest of the sermon here –>http://bit.ly/Tb71io

Compassion – the Honor of Suffering Together

The church, or body of Christ, is called to an expression of His love here on earth. In doing so we celebrate the happy times with one another and show compassion, or suffer with, a person who is going through a hard time.  Take a few moments to watch Domna’s story and see how during a traumatic experience in her life Jesus displayed His love and care through His body…the church! 

Watch the rest of the sermon here –>http://bit.ly/1mo2mSA

Do We Do Discipleship Wrong? Part II

Do we, the church, do discipleship wrong?

I say “Mostly, yes.”

Now, I’m fully aware that this is a sweeping generalization, but play along with a brotha, ok?

Think about it. For the great majority of evangelicals and the many tribes within our big tent, when a person enters into a relationship with Jesus (John 17:3), they’re told immediately to practice many of the following Spiritual Disciplines:

Read your Bible everyday
Memorize scripture
Pray
Join a church
Get in a small group or Sunday school class
Serve in a church ministry
And share the Gospel with your friends and invite them to a service

THIN GOSPEL

Everything mentioned above is right and Biblical and good, except it can become an expression of Christless Christianity.

We’re often teaching people to rely more on the “spiritual disciplines” than on the indwelling Lord Jesus through God the Holy Spirit’s presence and power.

Often, the Gospel we preach is so thin people don’t fully grasp what Jesus has done for them, what He is doing in them, and what He wants to do through them for the glory of His Father, for their joy, and for the sake of the world.

I propose that a thin Gospel produces thin believers who have thin results in their spheres of influences.

“COME TO ME,” JESUS SAYS

Jesus said,

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29 ESV

Jesus gave His life for us,

So He could give His life to us,

So He could live His Life through us.

CHRISTOLOGICAL SPIRITUAL FORMATION

At Transformation Church, we’re committed to Christological Spiritual Formation. This means we intoxicate and immerse believers, new and old, in understanding that they are indwelt by Jesus.

We want them to know that they are in Christ and that Christ is in them. God the Father wants us to behold Jesus, not ourselves (2 Cor. 3:17-18).

Because every Christ-follower is united to Jesus, His life and unsearchable riches are theirs as a gift of His limitless grace (Eph. 3:8). In Christ, every Christ-follower is:

“Complete” (Col. 2:10)

“Alive with Christ” and “seated in heaven” (Eph. 2:5-6)

“Holy” and “without fault” (Eph. 1:4-5)

“Loved” (Eph. 1:4-5)

“As righteous as Jesus” (Phil. 3:6-10)

“Forever forgiven” and “perfect” (Hebrews 10:14,17)

“Redeemed forever” (Hebrews 9:12)

“Alive to God” (Rom. 6:10)

“An adopted child of God” (Eph. 1:3-7)

“Forever accepted by God the Father” (Eph. 1:6)

“A royal priest” (1 Peter 2:9)

“God’s Temple” (Eph. 2:21-22)

I COULD GO ON, BUT…

I could add another 30 different Gospel realities that Jesus has graced His people with, but I need to get ready to go preach our weekend sermon at Transformation Church.

As we teach spiritual disciplines, we must teach our people to rely on the indwelling Lord Jesus. At Transformation Church this how we do it – http://www.transformationchurch.tc/newhere/nextsteps/index.php

Be on the look for “Do We Do Discipleship Wrong? Part III” soon.

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin

Seasons Change, But Jesus Doesn’t

I’m learning that just as the seasons change from Winter to Spring to Summer and Fall, so too the seasons of our lives change.

We will face the bitter cold winds of winter for a time, then the beautiful flowers of Spring will bloom only too soon to give way to the heat of summer. But, right around the corner is the cool, humidity-free days of fall.

So what’s the lesson? Whatever season you find yourself in, let Jesus shape your heart to look and love like His.

In the Winter seasons of life, Jesus will keep you warm.

In the Spring seasons of life, as the flowers bloom, you will see Jesus’ artwork and be in awe of His artistry.

In the Summer when it’s hot, Jesus is our cool, refreshing water that will keep us hydrated.

And in the Fall season, as cool breezes kiss our face, we will experience Jesus’ embrace of grace.

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin

Are You a Spiritual Narcissist?

So are you a spiritual narcissist? What do you dwell on most? Do you think about all that you have or haven’t done or do you spend more time thinking of all that Jesus has done on your behalf? It’s simple really. It’s either all about you or it’s all about Him. Who do you worship most?

Watch as Pastor Derwin explains –> http://bit.ly/1k3tsQR

 

Game Changer

No matter where we come from, we’re all born with a hole in our heart.  Often we try to fill that hole with material things, hard work , relationships, notoriety, success, approval…the list is endless.  Pastor Derwin Gray was no exception. His player bio indicated that he’d achieved enough on the football field to fill even the deepest of holes.  However, the hole wasn’t filled until he met the living God of the universe through a fellow teammate.  It was an encounter that changed his life on and off the field forever! 

Watch Pastor Derwin’s story here —> http://bit.ly/1luNjrh

Do We Do Discipleship Wrong?

DO WE HAVE DISCIPLESHIP WRONG?

In the American educational system, from first grade all the way up through high school, we’re taught to memorize INFORMATION, and then take a test.  If we pass the intellectual test, then we move on to the next grade.

We’ve transferred this learning pattern to Christianity. We’re trained to learn Bible concepts, principles and doctrines intellectually.  And the more Biblical information we know, the greater disciples we are deemed to be.

I think this is killing the church in America, just like it hurt the Pharisees.

Let’s remember that the Pharisees, an elite group of well-educated men in Israel, knew the Scriptures, but they missed the main point of the Scriptures:  to KNOW Jesus personally and intimately (Phil. 3:5-11).

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!”  John 5:39 NLT

Knowing the Bible doesn’t give us eternal life.  Knowing Jesus does (John 17:3).  Some people love the Bible more than they love Jesus.

HEAD, HEART, HANDS

I’m all for learning about Jesus and the Christian faith.  I have a Master’s of Divinity with a Concentration in Apologetics (Magnum Cum Laude).  I’m currently pursuing my Doctorate of Ministry with a Concentration in ‘New Testament in Context’ under New Testament scholar Scot McKnight, Ph.D.

BUT, if all my learning does not produce more love for Jesus, myself, and people, then I’ve wasted my time (1 Corinthians 13).

If all that learning doesn’t cultivate more love in my heart, then I wouldn’t be a disciple–I’d be a gatherer of Bible facts.  Gatherers of Biblical facts don’t transform the world, disciples do.  I want to be a disciple. And I want Transformation Church to be a community of disciples who make disciples who make disciples.  Jesus said, “You will know my disciples by the way they love one another” (John 13:35)

The Apostle Paul says to the Philippian Church,

I pray that your love will overflow more and more , and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:9-11 NLT

The “fruit of your salvation” is the fruit of the Spirit,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love , joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Galatians 5:22-24 ESV

When our minds are in awe of Jesus and our hearts are overflowing with the love of Jesus, we become the hands of Jesus by serving people because we love them.

Look for Part II of this blog next Monday.

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin

Not Just A Human Love Story

Currently in America we come across over 2,000 advertisements each day. In between the advertisements we hear stories about tragedy, pain, and occasionally a story or two of inspiration. But there is one story that’s not often a part of a commercial, on a billboard or in the news. It’s the story of how God stepped down into humanity and rescued us. Its the most beautiful love story ever told.  Take just a moment and listen!

Watch the rest of the sermon here –> http://bit.ly/1opElfv

Just Some Leadership Insights For Senior Pastors

I’d like to share with you some leadership thoughts that have been dancing in my heart lately.

DEEP PREACHING

Deep preaching is preaching that helps Christ-followers Jesus more, love the body of Christ more, and love their lost neighbors more.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

As leaders, we must act as reconcilers. If you fail to engage conflict, that conflict that went unengaged will eventually turn into a cancerous tumor and hurt the ministry.

BLINDSPOTS AND CHARACTER FLAWS

As a leader, one of the worst things you can do is surround yourself with people who are overly-impressed with you. Why? Because they likely will not correct or rebuke you on your character flaws and blind spots. This is a recipe for a moral failure.

BE HEALTHY

You are the CEO for your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Ignore any one of the three, watch out for burn out!  Take of yourself.  Please.  We need you for the long haul.

SERVANT LEADERS

At Transformation Church, we don’t use the word volunteer to describe members of the congregation who are not on staff, yet serve in the vital ministries of Transformation Church.  Instead, we call them servant leaders, which help people see that they are not just the “help,” but that they are an integral part of a “team.”  Teamwork makes the dream work!

Marinate on that,

Pastor Derwin