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Leonard Sweet’s discussion about the church

• Leonard Sweet is the author of Soul Tsunami and The Gospel According to Starbucks, as well as 28 other books.  He was one of the session speakers at the Wired conference at Saddleback Church.  Here are some of his thoughts with a little commentary.
• Churches should live out of the past not live in the past.
• As an author, Sweet writes at least 10 drafts before his work is released for publication.  He says there are many drafts to becoming a disciple; that is, we don't always get it right the first time.  We can't forget that sanctification is a process.
• Much like you'd defrag a computer, God is "de-fragging" the church and bringing it back to its original operating system.
• What is the original OS? The church is missional (God sent) vs. attractional (come to us); relational (connective) vs. propositional (true/false); incarnational (ministry where you are; beyond the walls of church) vs. colonial (ministry to and at a localized population).  I think using "versus" statements are too polarizing.  I think church contains both sides of the equation.  However, I agree with Sweet  that there is an imbalance.
• How people engage with information:  He uses and acrostic called E.P.I.C.: Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, Connective.  This is good to remember for those who prepare sermons and teachings.
• The more high tech we become the more high touch we need to be.
• Sweet defines sanctuary not as a place free from risk but as a place where one is free to take risks.  Is church too safe?
• See your life as an extension of the biblical narrative:  That is, the bible's story of God's activity in the world continues to unfold in our lives.  This is what makes the bible relevant.  We don't make the bible relevant, we just show its relevancy.
• He quotes Luther:  "The worse sin is to curve in."
• Water baptism is a person's commissioning as a missionary.
• Thank God for men like Sweet.  We need these kinds of thinkers in the Body of Christ.  Sweet's love for Jesus and his church really came through.
• I hope these thoughts got you thinking.