Catalyst 09: Rob Bell

8 posted on October 8, 2009

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Conferences

I was really looking forward to Rob Bell’s session here at Catalyst this year. He always blows me away and challenges me every time I hear him. Rob Bell’s latest book is Drops Like Stars.

This was such an amazing talk. I’m sure I didn’t do it justice in this post. If you can you really need to hear this message when it comes out on CD or DVD.

Rob Bell – “10 Years Ago I Didn’t Get This”

Is bigger better?
John 6 – “…from this time on many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him…”
Jesus had to confront many misconceptions the Jews had about who the Messiah was and what he was to do. When he told them about what the Messiah came to do many of the disciples said, “We can’t do that.”
Sometimes the crowd thins and people leave.
What would Jesus say to modern church growth experts who say “If you do A, B and C then this and this will happen”?
Yes, sometimes there are large crowds but sometimes large groups leave. Sometimes the crowd thins and not everyone comes with you.
Luke 21 – Jesus saw the rich giving large amounts and the poor widow giving a small amount. Even though the rich had given more money Jesus said that the poor widow had given more than all of them. More is not always more.
Rob took a stab at magazines and organizations that rank churches according to their influence and creativity. “Really?” he said, “And this coming from people who claim to follow a man who said ‘The first will be last’?”
Is the church in our culture known for its beautiful, self
When you rank and break down a church into numbers and statistics you violate the bride of Christ and what she was meant to be.
Have you had a deep dissatisfaction with what you’ve done? Are you carrying this burden for this thing you’re building for God? Have you stressed about the size of your church or organization? God wants to set you free from that.
The ten commandments end with “You shall not covet.” Some people view this as more of a reward than a commandment – if you love God and seek him wholeheartedly you won’t want any other life than your own?
Have you been observing a sabbath? Which day of the week are you busy doing nothing? Which day of the week have you set aside to feed your own soul so on the other six you have enough food to share with others? Which day of the week can you not be reached by phone or email?
Does your spouse get your very best or does your spouse get what’s left over after you’ve given your best to the church? (personal note…holy crap! Talk about kicking you in the teeth!)
If things are going well with the church but not with your family then they’re not doing well with either. They are inextricably linked. You ignore the one at the peril of the other.

Your thoughts?

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13 Comments

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October 8, 2009

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1 Blane Young said:

I am curious about the context of his verbal stab at Outreach Magazine, seeing that his church has been listed on it in the past and individual churches are the ones who submit data.

I havent’ read this year’s, has anyone? If so, is Bell’s church listed? (if it is, this is confusing).

But I do like his point about, “if you love God and seek him wholeheartedly you won’t want any other life than your own.” -Wow!
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October 8, 2009

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2 David said:

I know jealousy is just wrong, but I am insanely jealous at you having had the opportunity to take these notes from Rob’s talk…
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October 9, 2009

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3 Michiel said:

Wow, he’s made some really good points! Would love to hear his talk!
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October 9, 2009

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4 Zack said:

Just an observation:

The photo you chose for this post makes me wonder whether he was talking about a fishing trip…
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October 9, 2009

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5 Larry Westfall said:

I’ve always wondered why these conferences and conventions feature pastors from megachurches. Why not feature some guy from rural America that loves God, nurtures people, and preaches with passion? Because he will never have a church of 1,000 or more people (my opinion only).

99.9% of the time when we talk about how to grow a church we are talking about numerical growth. No matter what angle one comes from, the bottom line always seems to be how to add people to the church.

While I am not critical of large churches, I do believe that we are establishing a pattern in mainstream Christianity that megachurch leaders are the ones to follow and we should all be striving to become a megachurch.

Now I know this is not true of all large church leaders or conference hosts, but it seems that church leaders have more talk over number than anything else. I applaud Rob Bell for challenging pastors and church leaders to pursue something more meaningful. This statement “if you love God and seek him wholeheartedly you won’t want any other life than your own” should be plastered on everyone’s forehead so that we could be reminded of this daily.
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October 9, 2009

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6 Ronnie said:

Wow! Great points to ponder! Can we get the DVD in Malaysia?
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October 10, 2009

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7 Catalyst Day One – Rob Bell « Unfolding Neurons said:

[...] Brad Ruggles, “Catalyst 09: Rob Bell“ [...]
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October 12, 2009

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8 Andrew Courtright said:

Mars Hill (Rob’s church) was not listed in this year’s issue of Outreach Magazine’s top 100 largest churches, to answer a previous question.
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October 15, 2009

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9 Forgivensinner said:

Rob Bell is a HERETIC!!!! why was he at an conference with the likes of a SOLID Matt Chandler?
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October 15, 2009

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10 taylor said:

Forgivensinner: you have no idea what you are talking about. none my friend.

listen to his sermons and read mars hill’s statement of faith and stop worshipping at the alter of driscoll.

he affirms the ressurection, the trinity, the kingdom of god, – and has been branded a “heretic” because he doesnt ascribe to one view of the atonement. piper and driscoll get slammed by theologians for statements like this. they have a truncated, westernized, view of christianity – that has more in common with calvin then jesus. STOP HATING.
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October 16, 2009

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11 michael said:

Taylor, what is the the view of the atonement that he doesn’t subscribe to? Curious.
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October 19, 2009

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12 alece said:

as the french say…
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October 22, 2009

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13 Guard or Gardener: A Catalyst 2009 Moment to Consider « The Gypsy Road said:

[...] Albom and Tony Dungy. Malcolm Gladwell was his usual intriguing self. I managed to catch most of Rob Bell’s time, too. But the most interesting thing I heard came from Shane Hipp. Shane was only on the [...]