Our current series made the news today.
I thought Erik did a great job with the story.
And I didn’t look like a total doofus… or say anything about sex to embarrass us all.
Thank God.
Check out the clip here.

The buzz (I hate to use that word, it’s such a buzz word. Pun absolutely intended.) around this series is deafening right now.
We give the glory to Jesus.

This week my sermon is called sexual healing. I’m bringing the ruckus. Parental advisory issued.

Invite the whole town. Let’s see if we can’t break fire code in that auditorium.
If we do, I’ll shave my head.

I love Proverbs 4:23:
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

I always use this verse to teach about purity. Specifically sexual purity.
Ok, sure, the verse works for that.

But it applies in so many other ways.

Don’t just guard your heart against lust.

Guard it against discouragement. Guard it against pride. Guard it against doubt. Insecurity. Jealousy. Distraction.

Be selective about who gets backstage access in your life.

You can’t let just anyone into your world to speak into your soul.
Be careful who you share your dreams with.
Their negativity can contaminate the possibility before it ever has a chance to become a reality.

Be careful who you take advice from.
Their immaturity or ignorance might confuse the issue and create needless chaos.

Everything flows from the heart.
Put it on lock down… like Fort Knox.
You’ve got valuable stuff in there.

Preachers, you ever had that thought?
After you stand up and preach like a wild man?

I do sometimes. Lots of times.
Tonight I stood up and shared our bold audacious goals for year 2 with our volunteer staff and leaders.

They all seem to be behind me, but I still sometimes get in the car and ask God:
“You do have my back on all that, right? Everything I said tonight was authorized, right?”

To all the folks at other churches who read this blog:
Encourage your pastor. Right now. Email him right now. Tell him he’s on it and you’ve got his back no matter what. And you’d better mean it.

If he’s boldly speaking vision, I guarantee you he pays a price for it.
Satan hates God sized vision and will do anything to silence leaders who cast it.

So fight back.

These verses mean a lot to me.

It’s a dumb move really. David is about to fight a battle he’s already outmatched for. And he opts for his Junior Varsity equipment instead of the king’s best. He prefers his BB gun to the heavy artillery.

“Give me my sling and my rocks. I’ve tested those. I’ve killed bears and lions with those. And I’ll kill this joker too. You heard me, take this armor off of me, and give me my rocks and my sling. What are you laughing at? You won’t be laughing in a minute… just shut up and give me my rocks… “

David must have looked undignified, outdated, and beyond silly.
But he stayed true to his skills and anointing. He played to his strengths, and would not compromise who God had made him to be.

Sometimes the way we do church at Elevation feels unconventional and yes, even ridiculous to me. It often seems downright over the top to set the kinds of goals we set.
But we choose to embrace the destiny God has called us to, even if it seems preposterous to some.
Just give us our rocks.

My preaching? I preach too long, scream too loud, sweat too much, and say bad words like sucks almost every week.
I’ve tried to adhere to other models of preaching. I’ve read all the books.
But Saul’s armor just doesn’t work for me.
Just give me my rocks.
Just let me preach the gospel the way God called me to preach it. Kind of old fashioned and kind of raw.
And God will set my unique personality on fire for the glory of His name, and use my foolish preaching to bring down giants and break strongholds. Because He’s God.

And our worship services? Hillsong United followed by Sugar Pie Honeybunch? A series that looks like the 1960s titled after an R&B tune from 2006?
They don’t teach you that in seminary. Or anywhere really.
But we’re trying to unleash the creativity that God has invested in us, no matter how ridiculous it may look to others.
Just give us our rocks. And our sling. We’re ready to fight.

Today God brought well over 1500 people to Elevation to worship with us. (Another huge milestone, Elevators!)
The room was electric. The atmosphere was supercharged.
It was a wonderful and unique experience.
And we had a blast…slinging our rocks… for the glory of God.

Strip off Saul’s suit.
Be yourself. Stay in your zone. Do your thing. Let ‘em laugh.
Bring down giants.
Sling your rocks.