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One Answer: Rick Warren

Just like many of us who have started or are in the process of starting new churches, Rick Warren had a call and a vision from God and that was about it!  No people, no money, no building, no staff...his first "member" was the real estate agent that helped Kay and him find an affordable apartment to rent.

It's easy for you and me to look at Rick's success, or any other leader's success, and be enamored by it.  But there is a back story that goes with every success story.  Like you and me, Rick had to make some tough decisions early on that helped define who he is and how God would use him.

My question: What's the hardest lesson that young leaders need to learn as early as possible?

Rick's answer: Get over yourself - it gets easier after that.  I had my mid-life crisis at 26 after I passed out during the last sermon of Saddleback's first year.  I was trying my hardest to grow the church...to draw a crowd...and it was killing me.  I had to be perfect, the church had to be perfect, everything had to be perfect.  I was afraid to make a mistake.

But when you get over yourself, you're not afraid to make mistakes.  And that's a good thing.  It's good to have some early losses because you learn you're not perfect.  Every major decision I have ever made has been made in fear, but I've done it anyway.  Courage is not the absence of fear...it's doing what you're supposed to do in spite of the fear.

You have to decide if you want to impress people or impact people.  You impress people at a distance, but you impact people up close.  Impacting means you have to be over yourself enough to let people see your warts...and your heart.

What a great answer..."get over yourself - it gets easier after that."  Love it!  It's so easy to get caught up in trying to be the next smash hit church planter, pastor, blogger, speaker, etc. that before we know it, we're full of ourselves at the expense of the Holy Spirit.  I am as guilty as the next guy.

Stuff like this from a leader like Rick Warren is pure gold.  How do Rick's words challenge and encourage you?

One Question: Rick Warren

For those of you who stop by here often, you know I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to meet Rick Warren in a gathering of pastors in Washington, D.C.  Still processing all Rick talked about and discerning things God really wanted me to hear.

I had the chance to ask Rick “One Question” that I hope is a question that at least some of you would be curious to know.

My question: What's the toughest lesson that young leaders need to learn as early as possible?

Rick started out where so many of us are starting out...no money, no friends, no staff, no members, no building...no anything.  It hasn't all been “gee whiz and hallelujah” for him just like it's not for us.  So, I figured he had some serious insight for all us young bucks trying to play our part in God's Kingdom agenda.

Rick's answer is challenging, encouraging and very true.  Check back tomorrow for the answer!

One Answer: Pastor Steven Furtick

Last week, I asked you to share the One Question you'd ask if you had a 10 minute meeting with Pastor Steven Furtick, Lead Pastor of now 2-year old Elevation Church.  Some great questions rolled in, but only one could be answered.

Rich Butler asked, "How many times have you thrown up in your mouth this year at what the Lord is doing in your leadership?"

Pastor Steven's Answer: First of all, this one wins the prize as the most disgusting question that I’ve ever been asked, but I’ve got to admit, I think I said it first. 

I was referring to the first public service we ever had as a church, and said that before we began I was backstage throwing up in my mouth. The reason I was so nervous was because the first day of our church’s existence marked for me the culmination of over 10 years of dreaming and praying.  The disturbing part is the throwing up in my mouth didn’t stop with that first service, it only just begun.

Frankly, if I’m not nervous and uncertain to the point of throwing up a couple of times a month, I’m probably not tuned in to the frequency of what God wants me to do next. Motion sickness is a common side effect when you are moving at the speed of God.

Someone asked me the other day if staying humble was the biggest challenge I face in light of all the growth our church is experiencing. While I certainly pray that God would keep me humble everyday, and I struggle with as many or more issues of pride than any pastor, the number one challenge for me this past year has not been pride, it’s been insecurity.  Honestly, the things that God is doing are things that only He could do.  Because every time I turn around I’m fighting a giant I’ve never fought before and I’m constantly in the position of, “God if you don’t give me wisdom on this issue, I’ll fall flat on my face.” My number one temptation is to succumb to insecurity and fail to audaciously advance into the next thing God has called me to do.

In some ways I think leading a fast growing church, if approached correctly, can be a sure fire recipe for humility because you’ll never know what to do next, you’ll always be in over your head and you’ll always be barely keeping up.

Excuse me now while I go throw up in my mouth.

Gross, but great question, Rich!  And, Pastor Steven delivered a fantastic answer, as expected.

How do you respond to Steven's answer?  What causes you to throw up in your mouth?

One Question: Pastor Steven Furtick

A week or so ago, I shared my Top 5 Pastors I Want to Meet (of those I have not yet met). I asked you to share some of yours...some heavy hitters on those lists! A couple of names appeared often, so I had an idea (imagine that :-))...

Assuming that we'd actually want to learn, not just meet with these guys to say we met with them, I thought it would be cool to share THE question we would ask if we had 10 minutes of time with some of these leaders. Then, I am going to pick a couple of the best and/or most popular questions and send them on to be answered right here on jayhardwick.com.

First up: Pastor Steven Furtick :: Lead Pastor :: Elevation Church :: Charlotte, NC

You have a 10 minute meeting at Chili's for chips and salsa with Pastor Steven. What's the one question you ask him?