The Bridge Church
Staff RetreaT
January 9-11, 2022
ELEVATE
Sunday 1/9/2022
3pm – 5pm Arrive at Dennisport/get settled and room assignment
6:30pm Worship night in Onset
Everyone is free to stay at the Dennisport house location on Sunday night or join at 9:30am on Monday morning
Monday 1/10/2022
Monday 1/10/2022
9:30am Breakfast
10:00am Worship and Prayer
10:30am Regular Weekly Staff Meeting
11:30am Team Building Exercise
12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Elevate Easter: Easter Brainstorm and Planning
2:00pm Breakout Session 1 – Elevate Your Thinking - Sons vs. Servants Teaching (Pastor Dave and Tori)
3:00pm Breakout Session 2 - Elevate Your Mission - (Pastor Barry)
4-6:00pm Break/Personal Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Main Session w/Pastor Nick and Gina (Topic TBD)
9:00pm Debrief and Hangout
Tuesday 1/11/ 2022
9:00am Breakfast
9:30am Worship and Prayer
10:00am Middleboro Planning/Dreaming
11:00am Elevate Your Future: Individual/Group 2022 Goal Setting
12:30pm Lunch
1:00pm Breakout Session 3: Pastor Nick and Gina (?)
2:00pm Breakout Session 4: Pastor Nick and Gina (?)
3:00pm Debrief/Q&A
4-6:00pm Break/Personal Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Evening Main Session with Pastor Nick and Gina
9:00pm Debrief and Hangout
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ELEVATE WEEKEND
PASTOR NICK & GINA FATATO
SESSION 1
Tell me where your from and I'll tell you who you are
Leading and responsibilities as a Christian
Don't want to answer questions – no one is asking
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Leading Yourself
starting line – finish line – why is the finish line where it is
we are running a spiritual race – but we have no finish line – Jesus holds the chalk and
therefore we must live in the moment
Bob Risinski – pastor in RI just died of Covid – that was his finish line – why did God draw his finish line there?
He is
Acts 13:36
This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.
Nick Fatado wants this verse read at his funeral
We are responsible to complete Gods will for our own generation
Reverse engineer David's life to see how he served his generation
A. David lived the “Practiced Life”
practiced slinging stones everyday – when the bear came – he did what he did everyday – when the giant came – David did what he always did
We must have a routine of reading God's Word – prayer – church attendance -
To play football – run laps – do push ups -
We can either live life intentionally or by default
Are you writing the book or reading the book
Most of the time – you don't have time to get ready – what ever you're doing is what is going to come out
B. David had a right sized view of God
When David faced Goliath – his God was bigger than his giant
He has to be bigger than any giant in life that we are going to face
Anything we are going to face is temporary
Eternal life doesn't begin when we die – eternal life begins at Salvation – and there is a whole lot of baggage in between
C. David understood deep friendships
We cannot maintain a lot of deep friendships – but
often times – God will speak most through friends than he does the Bible
Time is measured in minutes – life is measured in moments
Friends in leadership is very important – this is what David had with Jonathan
A Friend is a person who cries when you cry – and rejoices with you in the good times
D. David cared for the soul
different people have different ideas of what the soul is
David nurtured his soul – intimacy with God – but also honesty with God
racing sail boats have a center balance – the keel – we must have routines in our lives that act as a keel
we are either on the way to a storm – in a storm – or just out of the storm
C. David was a scoundrel
He was a flawed individual – most obviously Bathsheba
He was having an identity crisis
Psalm 51 – Take not your Holy Spirit from me -
He is reflecting upon what he witnessed in the life of Saul
It isn't about committing sin – what it comes down to – is – how you respond afterwards – get back up and keep doing right
Emergency Room ER doctor – we made mistakes – people died – but the only way to become an ER doctor is to make those mistakes
Dallas Willard –" When I die, I think it will take me a few days to realize I've died"
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Leading from learning (practical Leadership)
Time 27,000 days
4.3 years driving
92 days in the bathroom
Time is limited – it is the most important commodity we have – but – we all have the same amount
I don't have the time – actually – we are prioritizing what we do with the time we have
How do we spend our priorities – is the real question –
Tell me what is important to you? Find out what is important to people – because people make time for what is important to them
How do we order our lives? Nehemiah – I cannot come down – I'm building a wall right now.
Energy is an important factor -
“The Science of Perfect Timing” judges 80% were not sentenced in the AM – and 80% were sentenced in the PM
Whatever disciplines you want in your life – you MUST begin when you are young –
you develop the habit when you are young otherwise it will never happen when you are older
Stephen Covey – put big rocks in first – other priorities will fill in around it
if you do not take care of your body – you will not be able to show up for your calling
If you cannot put your priorities into your day now – you will never be able to
The busy you are – the more organized you must be
There are things you cannot control – therefore – have a plan – but be flexible
whenever the ministry becomes burdensome – we must ask ourselves – are we doing more than we are supposed to?
We get sick or angry – when we are pushed beyond our limits
Habitudes “the starving baker” - as christian leaders we lead out of our strengths
Learn to say to yourself “I need to leave it in God's hands” - He is able to take care of a lot more then we give him credit for
Have a Plan and have a Prayer – Tozer “God is looking for people through whom he can do the impossible – what a pity – when we make plans that we can do completely on our own.”
Make plans that are completely out of our ability -
“I either win OR I learn” Desmond Tutu
God – I am way in over my head – but – You knew that – but this is my responsibility – I'm sorry you have to put up with me
Everything I am doing is only for a season – we must be good stewards with what we have been entrusted with
If you want your life to matter – have a plan
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ELEVATE WEEKEND
PASTOR NICK & GINA FATATO
SESSION 2
God would see something in me – that I didn't see in myself
A call into ministry is a privilege – the call of God is sacred
Joshua 1:9
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
1 Chronicles 22:13 NLT
For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
2 Tim.1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Isaiah 41:13
For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
It is not a lack of information that stops me from ministry
all of these previous scriptures inform us to be courageous in our own context
God will use us in ministry in the way in which he has created us
I have opportunities – others will never have
Be who God created you to be
Fear is a bully – when you act contradictory to the fear – we give God opportunity in our life
But when we give in to fear – it gains power
Do not compare yourself with others – God made everyone different
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ELEVATE WEEKEND
PASTOR NICK & GINA FATATO
SESSION 3
At some point we will experience God not acting in the way we think He should
And somewhat obviously – we don't know God's mind
His ways are not our ways
conversely – we don't act in a way God would like us to think
two scenes in scripture that are perhaps the worst moments
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the very last dude – standing on the last piece of ground as the ark floats away
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Peter the night he betrays Jesus – at one moment he looks over and sees Jesus
There are moments throughout scripture that describe the failures of people
I
John 21:1-3
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.
2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
Jesus is not around – the disciples resort back to
John 21:4
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.
5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.
The very last question you want to hear after you've fished all night and caught nothing – is – do you have any fish!
Highlighting their failure
John 21:5-8
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.
8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
John 21:12
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
What does God do when we fail? He makes you breakfast.
What he doesn't do – is rub their failure in their faces
John 21:17
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
Jesus is giving Peter the affirmation of his calling – replaces the three denials
There is safety and security in the familiar – Jesus was providing that experience in preparing breakfast
Every time the disciples smelled breakfast cooking – they were transported back to this moment when Jesus reaffirmed them
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ELEVATE WEEKEND
PASTOR NICK & GINA FATATO
SESSION 4
Retreat is the opportunity to pull back – change the pace to change the place to change the perspective
We want to develop a “practiced life” - create a cadence to our life that will carry us through all experiences
Developing personal practices from the life of David
We want to position ourselves to hear God's voice
So many voices in life – retreat to a quite place to hear His voice
Often – God speaks to us through our most meaningful relationships - friendships
clarity comes from community
David failed – but he continued to get up each time he was knocked down
We will not see God act on our behalf – if we remain in our comfort zone
it's when we find ourselves in impossible situations – that we need God to show up
There are seasons in our life when God isn't going to do what we want Him to do
However – the reality is – we most likely – are not acting in the way He would prefer
How does God respond when we fail (as in the life of Peter) He cooks us breakfast
The reality is – we often take on more responsibility than God intended
sometimes we are fighting battles – He's never called us to
At the beginning – we have a lot of energy and no wisdom –
then we transition to energy and wisdom – then the most wisdom with no energy
Mentors in Life
2 Samuel 23:11-12 NLT
11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered
at Lehi and attacked the Israelite in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled,
12 but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines.
So the Lord brought about a great victory.
Shammah – didn't run at the enemy – he simply stood his ground “contending for the geography”
It is so crazy that God trusts us with the ministry
God has US in this place for this moment – HOLD YOUR GROUND
“Write so that you can influence people you will never meet.” John Maxwell
In the kingdom of God – Generals don't sit behind the line – they cross the line and show their soldiers how to fight
Nehemiah 2:11-15 NLT
11 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me.
I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us
except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well, and over
to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the
King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley
instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.
Nehemiah – surveyed the broken walls and allowed the brokenness to settle in his heart – so that when he spoke
to others about the need – he spoke from a place of passion – it isn't condemning – it's inspiring
Jesus said “look at the harvest”
There is something about seeing and experiencing the need – the task – the goal – letting it move you – your heart
2 Samuel 6:1-11 NLT
Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring
back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.
3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio,
Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart 4 that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. 5 David and all the
people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps,
tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. 6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and
Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God
struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God. 8 David was angry because the Lord’s
anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is
still called today. 9 David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into
my care?” 10 So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of
Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed
Obed-edom and his entire household.
1 Chron.15:13 NLT
Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us.
We failed to ask God how to move it properly.
Spiritual leadership – is spiritual community and unity
A spiritual community is very different than a corporate top down model of leadership
driving a standard – knowing the difference between the different gears
Some people attempt to drive in first gear – all the time – driving hard
There is a difference in the NFL with post season – the playoff energy – focus – drive is more intense then year long game time
2 Kings 7:1, 3-7 NLT
Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria,
six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.
3 Now there were four men with leprosy sitting at the entrance of the city gates. “Why should we sit here waiting to die?” they
asked each other. 4 “We will starve if we stay here, but with the famine in the city, we will starve if we go back there. So we might
as well go out and surrender to the Aramean army. If they let us live, so much the better. But if they kill us, we would have died anyway.”
5 So at twilight they set out for the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there!
6 For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the clatter of speeding chariots and the galloping of horses and the sounds of
a great army approaching. “The king of Israel has hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us!” they cried to one another. 7 So they
panicked and ran into the night, abandoning their tents, horses, donkeys, and everything else, as they fled for their lives.
Mark Twain “even if you're on the right track – if you're not moving – you're still going to get run over”
Leadership is not only knowing the right thing to do – it is acting upon it
Leadership is movement – like these four lepers -
God will take our simple act of faith to move forward – and do miracles
Philemon 1:4-5 NLT
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon,
5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.
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ELEVATE WEEKEND
PASTOR NICK & GINA FATATO
THE NUTS AND BOLTS
OF LEADERSHIP
SESSION 5
(Can't go back to the beginning)
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Make sure you're lifting people up
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Make sure you develop others and not to disqualify
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get a group of people you can grow with – don't wait for the perfect volunteer (they will most likely just criticize)
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hold a crown over their head and let them grow into it
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trust vs. control = you can either trust or control – but you cannot do both
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God's plan was to trust -
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Don't ever do anything alone – do it with others so they can experience ministry with you
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Adults learn on a “need to know” basis – so – put them in a situation that requires them to know something
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I don't need to be the one to teach you everything you need to know – just share what I know
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I'm simply required to empty my cup into you – and God will have others that pour into you as well
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Leadership is learned in “real time”
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The only way to become an ER Doctor – is to work in an ER and make the mistakes
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just hope you're not the mistake
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Never waste a mistake
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People are not disposable
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Always lift up in public and confront in private
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Don't say everything you think – think about everything you say – and whatever you say everyone will know
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I am practicing the discipline of having to say the last word – it is pride that compels us to have to say the last word
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depending on your position – your words weigh more or less
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Words either damage or they heal – inspire or discourage – save or condemn
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Be quick to repent
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“Never let them see you sweat” - actually – everyone already knows you're sweating
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I never want to be in a room where I am the smartest person – clarity comes from humility
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I don't have to know it all – I don't have to have it all figured out – I don't always have to be right
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Be careful about sharing personal things you are struggling with in real time
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we can share our failures – and we should – but with trusted people
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Don't walk into the pulpit and share your current failure
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“Rocky, you don't talk very much” “If I'm talking I'm not learning”
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We must talk half as much as we talk
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Vince Lombardi “fatigue makes cowards of us all” often the giant as big the next day after a good nights sleep
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ELEVATE YOUR MISSION
JANUARY 10.2022
Pastor Barry
notes
3:pm
Webster defines mission:
1. a specific goal or task with which a person or a group is charged
2. A calling, or vocation
working definition for mission: a calling that charges us with a goal or specific task
Mission: You have a calling
1 Cor.1:2 NLT
“I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”
God has first and foremost called you to be His own Holy people
Your mission is never dependent upon what anyone else thinks
The life mission God gives you – is between you and God
Your calling is Holy: dedicated or consecrated to God for a sacred.
Mark 9:2-10 NLT
“Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
1. Led them
Albert Einstein “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”
Henry Ford “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
See driving principles below
God wants to take you to places you have never been – He wants to elevate your mission – it begins with a teachable attitude
2. Led them up
keep your eyes on Jesus
3. Led them up a mountain
Your elevation impacts your perception – by leveling up – you gain perspective
4. Vs. 1 – led them up a mountain to be alone
many people surround themselves with activity because they don't want to face themselves
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Driving Principles
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Work Hard Play Hard
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High energy in our services, activities and events
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We are not afraid to fail
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We embrace taking Godly risk
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Expect the unexpected
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We are better together
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Do the right thing for the right reason
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Excellence in Everything EIE
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Methods change, the message never does
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Casual and current culture
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We reject disposable relationships
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There is a place for everyone
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ELEVATE YOUR Thinking
JANUARY 10.2022
Pastor Dave & tori
notes
2:pm
Sons vs. Servants
There is an obvious difference between sons and servants
as a church leader – we don't do anything for the money – we are sons and daughters
this isn't to say we don't need money to meet our obligations in life
We have spiritual fathers and mothers – there will also be spiritual children
The Son mentality
Son's are heirs – they inherit from the father
servants are not family -
Son's honor authority – servants always question authority
not that son's don't have questions – but – the attitude is the key
servant – isn't to bring positive change – it is to promote themselves
Son – has the proper motivation
Sons embrace the vision of the father – servants need to be convinced of the vision
Sons are irreplaceable – servants are a dime a dozen
I have 3 sons – no one else in all the world can replace them
the converse is true – the parent cannot discard the son/daughter
As a son of the house – I am irreplaceable – I am a child of God
Ultimately – it is the Father that calls us into his family
Son's build the fathers kingdom (business) – servants build their own kingdom
We must be about our fathers kingdom
When we focus on God's house – God builds your kingdom
Luke 16:10-12 NLT
10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?
12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?
You reap what you sow
Tori Pet Peeve – when ministers name their ministry after themselves - “Joe Smoe's Ministry”
Sons are motivation by mission – servants are motivated by position
Matt.23:12
But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Don't derive your worth from your position in the house – were a son regardless
Just be who you are
Sons endure when times are tough – servants abandon ship
Sons don't abandon ship
Sons cover others flaws – servants expose weaknesses -
in other words – don't gossip – gossip is servant mentality
Sons are family oriented – servants are individualist -
sons consider how their actions impact others in the family
servants don't care at all how their actions affect others
Are we bringing honor to the family and the “family name”