Tag Archives: John Burke
After the baptisms
Posted on 21. Apr, 2011 by Kenny.
For some, this is probably sacrilege. For us, it’s simply celebrating after a great Sunday with hundreds marking their decisions of faith. I’m glad my boss has a sense of humor. It was actually his idea to dunk our Senior Pastor, John Burke.
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Gateway Church: Let’SEXpress
Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by Kenny.
Here at Gateway we just wrapped up a five week series on sex. I guess it’s kinda the series churches are trying to hit, huh? I haven’t really listened to any other church’s series on sex, so I can’t really compare. What I can say is that I’m incredibly impressed with Gateway’s presentation of this series. Since coming to Gateway, I feel like I’ve hit the “sex” issue head on more so than any other church I’ve been at. Maybe it’s the people here at Gateway or maybe it’s just that people are more willing to talk about it here as compared to other places I’ve been. I’m in constant conversations with volunteers who are dealing with sexual relationships in their lives. I’m also counseling many couples for marriage who have been sexually active that have committed to abstinence until they are married. There’s nothing like meeting someone for the first or second time and then diving directly into really personal stuff like this. So, these issues are big deals here at Gateway, so this series provides a wealth of information for our church as well as resources for our leaders. Here are the messages.
GodSex
This message explored God’s design for sex.
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MarriedSex
This message explored sex within the marriage. Click here for a video illustration that went with this message.
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SingleSex
This message explored how singles need to deal with sex. Click here for a powerful video about two singles dealing with their relationship.
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UnfaithfulSex
This message explored unfaithful sex, specifically where the roots set in that lead to unfaithfulness. Click here to read a letter from a former porn star who describes what the porn industry is really like.
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SameSex
This message explored homosexual sex. Click here to view the video of this message.
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Soul Revolution at Gateway Church and the 60-60 Experiment
Posted on 16. Dec, 2008 by Kenny.
The following article was just published about the 60-60 experiment we just wrapped up as a part of Soul Revolution. I know I’ve written about it some in this blot, but this article sums up what happened very nicely.
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Soul Revolution: Creating an environment for life-change
Posted on 09. Oct, 2008 by Kenny.
Since I’ve been doing the 60-60 experiment I’ve been thinking a lot about spiritual growth.
When I look back on my life when I’ve seen season of dramatic growth, I’ve found that they’ve usually been the result of some kind of catalyst. Usually a summer camp, joining a new youth group or a missions trip. It often feeds into the typical roller coaster ride of spiritual growth that many of us experienced as teenagers.
I’ve reflected on this a lot and I think a lot has to do with the environment. When at camp or on a missions trip, we’re in a special environment where growth is encouraged and nurtured. While at camp or on a mission trip, God is very present in our lives. We’re either learning a lot about him, we’re serving him, or experiencing him more than we do in our every day lives. This environment causes extreme growth. Then we go home and growth tapers off. Excitement fades. Maybe we even find ourselves in the same patterns as before the experience.
We’re adults though. It’s different for us. We don’t go to camps and go on mission tips like we did as teenagers (well, some of us do). It’s no wonder that spiritual growth is so slow or non-existent for so many.
What I like about the 60-60 is that it is a catalyst. It creates an environment. Even though I have a watch or a beeping phone to help me, I know that at least every hour (more if my mind naturally goes there) my thoughts will be on God, his presence and on how he wants to be involved in my life. I know that a least during every hour, I’ll be in communion with God the way he designed me to be and it’s not because I’m having my quite time or singing a worship song. I’m just living my life with him in the middle of it. Could abiding him him really be that simple? It has made a big difference in my life so far.
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Soul Revolution: The 60-60 Experiment
Posted on 08. Oct, 2008 by Kenny.
Here’s what Soul Revolution is all about. Read the first part of John 15. It talks about God being the vine and us being the branches. If we abide in him, he will abide in us. The result? We’ll produce fruit. We’re supposed to stay connected. So, how do I grow spiritual fruit? Just like a branch produces fruit. Stay connected to the vine. Could it really be that simple?
Here’s the deal. I’ve taught many times about how God doesn’t just want one part of our day. He doesn’t just want Sundays. He wants all of us… all the time.
How many times have we said that God is our number one priority but then felt guilty because we spend way more time on 4 or 5 other things than on time with God? How does this even compute?
What about when hours and hours and hours pass by and I don’t even think about God. Not even once. Why does this happen? It’s not because he’s not important, because he is. I just forget. We all forget. If we forget, are we abiding?
Then I think about when we first fell in love. I met my wife at college and we did spend a lot of time together. But even when we weren’t together, we were thinking about each other… a lot. Even when we got busy and didn’t get to hang out, our thoughts were of each other. Shouldn’t that be what our relationship with God looks like? Too bad we have this pesky habit of forgetting.
Oh, that’s what the 60-60 experiment is about.
I can say, “oh, I’m going to be more aware of God from now on.” I’m lucky if that lasts a few hours. But what would happen if I intentionally set up a system of reminders? What if I was constantly being reminded that God is here, that God loves me and that God desires to abide in me and I in him? In some ways it sounds pathetic, but if my desire to connect with God all day long is so strong that I’d be willing to do anything to stay connected, then I say this system is genius.
So the 60-60 is simply about being reminded. I set me watch (in my case it is my phone) to ring/beep/sound every 60 minutes. Every hour I’m reminded that God is here and that he desires to be involved with my life at that very moment. I don’t have to pray, sing a song or anything like that. I just think about him and be aware of him… maybe even invite him into what I am doing right now. Intentional reminders every 60 minutes for 60 days.
Could it really be that easy?
I’ve been doing the 60-60 for over a month now and I would say that I’m more aware of his presence now that I have ever been. The reminders help me re-focus, recalibrating and put things in the right perspective.
What would happen if thousands of people in your church banded together in relational small groups and did the 60-60 experiment together? I think that would be a revolution.
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Soul Revolution
Posted on 07. Oct, 2008 by Kenny.
My church began a revolution this week. Actually the revolution has been in the works for months and months (depending on how you look at it, this things been developing for years). To be honest, it’s one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been a part of. I guess a lot of churches did the 40 days campaigns several years ago and those were usually a big deal, something the whole church can rally behind. Back in 2000, my church in Indiana was very involved in the Louisville, KY Billy Graham Crusade which also was an amazing thing to be involved with. However, there is something different about Soul Revolution. I really believe it has the potential to make a lasting difference in the lives of people which in turn can radically change our church and have a huge impact on our city!
It’s already had an impact on me and I look forward to seeing what else happens. Basically it’s all about being in community with others and doing the 60-60 experiment, the most practical spiritual practice I’ve ever done, and it’s changing me forever.
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Leadership Summit: Leading in New Cultural Realities (John Burke)
Posted on 09. Aug, 2008 by Kenny.
What John shared during this breakout is some great stuff (John’s the pastor at my church and he’s been sharing this stuff for many weeks now). In some ways it comes across as fluffy stuff we hear in a lot of churches out of the mouths of a lot of pastors. The difference here is that this stuff is really happening and has happened at Gateway. John shares story after story of people coming out of ever imaginable situation and getting reconnected with God. John shares insight on how the church today can connect with a culture that has become very disconnected with God.
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Anyone going to the Leadership Summit this week?
Posted on 06. Aug, 2008 by Kenny.
Just curious if anyone is attending this year? I signed up this afternoon to attend. I won’t actually be in Chicago, but I will be at a video venue here in Austin. Our Senior Pastor, John Burke, will be speaking on Friday. He’s got a new book out (just in time for Leadership Summit) and will be talking about how we’re using it as a tool to do something pretty amazing this fall here at Gateway. I’ll write more about Soul Revolution and our plan to start a revolution next week. So, anyone going to attend?
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A call for leadership
Posted on 21. Mar, 2008 by Kenny.
Two days ago I wrote a review on John Burke’s book, “No Perfect People Allowed.” I enjoyed every chapter of the book, but the very last chapter spoke to my heart in a powerful way. I have no doubt that my call is to children, but after reading this chapter, it makes me what to go out and plant an emerging church. Here’s a quote from this chapter: [...]
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Book Review: No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke
Posted on 19. Mar, 2008 by Kenny.
Over the past 3 months I’ve started reading 5 different books but haven’t finished any recently. I’ve decided to finish some of them before starting any new one. Last night I finished reading “No Perfect People Allowed” by John Burke. Two words… absolutely incredible!
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