Session 7 - Rick Warren

Notes from this session:

- Rick spoke from Exodus 3 - God asks Moses "what is in your hand?"

- Staff - something that was dead comes alive

- God never does miracles to show off - every miracle is a parable of God's truth

- God never asks a question that He doesn't already know the answer to - it's not for His benefit

- The staff represented Moses' identity (he was a shepherd), his income (represented his wealth), and his influence (the staff was a tool to lead and move sheep)

- "If you will lay these three things down for me, I will make them come alive - I will do things you never thought possible, if you will just lay it down. But every time you pick it back up, it will die and become a lifeless piece of wood again."

- Never again in Scripture is it referred to as Moses' staff - it is always called the rod of God

- There was nothing magical about it - but it became God's

- What happens when you say yes to God? What is in your hand?

- Every time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism in my life

- The purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have none

- There are 149 million orphans in the world

- This year, 210,000 people will die in California; 2.4 million will die in America; and 73 million will die in the world - most of them will spend eternity separated from Christ in hell.

My takeaways from this session (still processing...)

1. What is God calling me to do for Him today? What is in my hand? What has He given me to use for Him?

2. Will I be content to pay it safe and stay a shepherd in the wilderness, or will I be willing to follow where God leads, into difficult days, incredible challenges, but an amazing life? Yes, yes, yes - I want to follow - I want to go - and I want Southview to go and follow God where He leads. Let's quit playing it safe and go for broke - what is in our hand? What is God saying? LET'S DO THAT!!