Interview | Spiritual Warfare with Pastor Joe Williams

An Interview with Pastor Joe Williams

Pastor Daniel talks in depth with his dad, Pastor Joe Williams, about spiritual warfare, what it is and how it affects the daily lives of every Christian on earth. What does the Bible say about demonic activity? “The devil is real. Whatever you do for the kingdom of God, he is going to try to stop you.” Every person who lives for God is going to face opposition. But Satan is a defeated foe. God has given us the tools to fight to defeat him. Christians are a threat to Satan’s kingdom on earth and he will use everything in his power. But the power of God is greater. As Christians, we need to learn to use the weapons of spiritual warfare that God has given us. Knowing the word of God, spending time in prayer with Him, and gathering together with other believers to stand united against the enemy. “Don’t walk in fear of the devil. Fight spiritual warfare in the power of the Spirit and the word of God.” Pastor Joe gives us a great encouragement to walk in the power of the name of Jesus Christ. You’ll be blessed!

Interview | How to Study and Preach the Word with David Guzik

Interview | David Guzik

Pastor Daniel talks with Pastor David Guzik, Calvary Chapel, Santa Barbara, CA author of Enduring Word Bible Commentary, which contains written commentary on the entire Bible. David talks about the benefits of studying the word of God and the impact it has had on his life. This is a refreshingly candid talk about the realities of what it’s like to teach God’s word in season and out of season.  “We’re talking about, through both personal study and the power of the preached Word, Jesus Christ coming to his people and those who will become His people through His word.” What is Biblical preaching? What about topical teaching? What is his process for preparing to teach a Bible message? What study tools does he recommend? This is a workshop on expository teaching from one of the best. Follow David Guzik at enduringword.com, on Facebook and Instagram. 

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“Personally the greatest benefit [of studying the Bible] has been just wonderful, significant, deep fellowship with God in and through His word. Nothing really replaces that.” -David Guzik

“I meet God in His word.” -David Guzik

“The call we have as ministers—you do it in season and out of season, when it’s evidently bearing fruit and when it’s winter and there’s nothing on the vine.” -David Guzik

“You see the transforming power of God work as Jesus meets people in and through His word.” -David Guzik

“Biblical preaching is preaching that has fundamentally the ideas and themes of the Bible as the ideas and themes of the preaching.” -David Guzik

“Prayer for me is a before, during and after thing…making yourself open to the mind of God.” -David Guzik

“If you’re really called to preach, regard it as your life’s work…If you’re going to fulfill the potential and the giftedness that God’s given you, it’s not going to come on the cheap.” -David Guzik

Interview | Mentoring Others with Pastor Robby Christmas

Interview | Pastor Robby Christmas

Pastor Daniel talks with Robby Christmas from Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida about his ministry with their Church Planting Residency Program. This is a leadership pipeline where guys are trained to be church planters, pastors and ministry leaders and then mobilized in teams and sent out to plant churches. In particular, what role does mentoring have in training leaders and what is the benefit of mentoring others? “A mentor is someone who pours into you what God has poured into them,” often through a mentor of their own. Mentors hold you accountable and speak into your life, seeing things you may not be able to see in yourself. It’s all built on a relationship with that person, on true friendship and trust. It takes time. Engage people and ask people about their own life. Robby shares some great stories of finding a mentor and being a mentor and how it can change your life. Find out more about the Church Planting Residency Program at www.familychurchnetwork.com

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Quotes:

“One of the biggest benefits to having a mentor is to help you see blind spots. No matter what kind of leader you are, you have blind spots. Having a mentor helps you grow in ways you might not know you need to grow.” -Robby Christmas

“Relationship equals influence. If you are not connected at the heart level, you’re not going to influence that person.” -Robby Christmas

“Mentoring someone takes time.” -Robby Christmas

“When we care for others, there is something inside of us that clicks and goes, ‘Wow, that was right, that was the right thing to do.’” -Robby Christmas

“If you want to be mentored by someone, first look for someone that loves like Jesus. Then you go out and engage that person. Get on their calendar.” -Robby Christmas

“Look for people who are faithful, available and teachable.” -Robby Christmas

“The more the leadership skills you’re passing on are reproducible, the more influence they’re going to have because that person can easily pass it on to others.” -Robby Christmas

Interview | Taking Ventures of Faith with Pastor Esteban Vanlenzuela

Interview |  Pastor Esteban Vanlenzuela

Pastor Daniel talks with his friend and fellow church planter, Pastor Esteban Valenzuela, Madrid, Spain about taking ventures of faith. In 2010, God called Esteban and his wife Tifiny to plant a church in Madrid, Spain. It would be five years before they would embark on their mission. In 2015, they left for Spain. Esteban talks about the ongoing role of faith as the work in Madrid continues. “God has taught me a lot since then. Each step of this journey has required faith. There may be giants in the land, there may be obstacles, but if God is with us, these obstacles are nothing. We are going to keep moving forward.” A large part of the walk of faith requires stepping into the unknown. Esteban shares what this looks like in daily life and ministry and how God has taught him what it means to lean on Him. Ask God to help you discern the difference between what might be a work of the flesh and waiting on God to move. What do you do with disappointment and unmet expectations in ministry? Are you expecting God to do what He has not said He would do? It’s all about submission and surrender to Him and taking actions of obedience and trust. “God is our inheritance. Jesus is our prize.” Stay connected with Valenzuelas at vtribe4jesus.com. Both Esteban and Tifiny are on Facebook.

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Quotes:

“Faith is understanding God’s plan or will, His speaking to you, and then even though you don’t see it, like a door you can put your hand on and open, you begin to move, you begin to act.” -Esteban Valenzuela

“Sometimes faith is in your heart. It’s a position you take. I am going to believe that this is what God has spoken to me and I am going to believe that this is what He has for me.” -Esteban Valenzuela

“We find our security in things that we can touch and hold and control. And God calls us to something that is outside of our control. God is operating outside all of those calculations, so He gets all the glory.” -Esteban Valenzuela

“I don’t think that God tells us to do something without our understanding because He’s cruel, I actually think it’s for our own good. It’s for His glory.” - Daniel Williams

“Pray about those steps you take. Be willing to wait on God.” -Esteban Valenzuela

“Praying through scripture has absolutely been a lifeline for me—just taking a chapter of the Bible and praying through it and crying out to God.” -Esteban Valenzuela

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Interview | Memorizing Scripture with Pastor Ben Courson

Interview | Pastor Ben Courson

This week Daniel talks with his friend Ben Courson, the hope-full and hope-filled founder and director of Hope Generation, an international ministry including television, radio, podcast, YouTube and Instagram. He also pastors in Medford, Oregon. And he memorizes a LOT of scripture. In this lesson, Ben talks about how he does it and why it’s important. What motivated him to get started memorizing scripture? Growing up as a pastor’s kid and listening to scripture songs started Ben on this lifelong practice of memorizing scripture. “It’s just easier if it’s set to music.” What does the Bible have to say about the power of God’s word in our hearts? Psalm 1 speaks of the blessing that comes with meditating on the law of God day and night. It gives you strength. So what is the key to memorizing scripture? You just have to do the work. The Bible talks a lot about diligence, sticking with something. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23) Ben himself followed the 10,000 hour principle of mastery, devoting that amount of time over a 5-year period to studying, memorizing, writing and teaching about God’s word. But you start where you’re at. If you have an hour a week, memorize one scripture. Sometimes you don’t have anyone around to encourage you. David encouraged himself in the Lord. You can, too. Ben’s favorite verse? Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will also give you the desires of your heart. Follow Ben at www.bencourson.com. Here is the link to his YouTube video: www.bencourson.com/hope-generation-creative-1/1/21/2017/promises  
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“The Hebrew idea of meditation, in contrast with the Eastern concept of emptying your mind, is about filling your mind. So the biblical authors are saying you ought to fill your mind with the word of God.” -Ben Courson

“Faith can move mountains but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel.” -Ben Courson

“Success only comes before work in the dictionary.” -Ben Courson

“If you’re constantly speaking scripture into your soul, you’re going to be a lot more joyful, you’re going to be a lot more spiritually healthy, you’re going to be more physically healthy because the book of Proverbs says “a merry heart does good like medicine.” -Ben Courson

“Even start with one verse and just repeat it until you know it backwards and forwards for a week and you watch how it will galvanize you for the saying of words and the doing of deeds for the kingdom.” -Ben Courson

Interview | Being Flexible with Jason Sanchez

Interview | Director Jason Sanchez

It’s no surprise to any of us. Things don’t always go as we planned. And so we have to be flexible. In this week’s episode, Pastor Daniel talks with his good friend Jason Sanchez, Director of House of Blessing Orphanage in Bachiniva, Mexico—a man well acquainted with the need to be flexible. Jason and his wife Jackie moved with their daughter Ayantu to Bachiniva in 2012 to start an orphanage, House of Blessing, where they are co-directors, along with a staff of four and interns and volunteers who serve short-term. They currently have 15 children in the orphanage, 5 boys and 10 girls, ranging in age from 3 to 16 years. How has he seen his plans not go according to plan in his ministry there? “My plans never go according to plan, especially in Mexico…Even now, five years later, it is still hard to get used to.” So how did being flexible work with that, how did you deal with it? Jason describes the process of first trying to fix it, to change the way it was and seeing his efforts prove to be futile, then crying out to God for help in getting done what God had clearly called them to do. Most of us know Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. We can quote it, but then when it actually happens that our plans don’t work out, we don’t like dealing with it. But you have to be flexible. God is the one in control. Where does planning fit in being flexible? Looking to Jesus as our example, we see that He knew where He was going, He was headed in a certain direction, but He stopped for people and gave them His time and attention, even when it was difficult or inconvenient. Jesus dealt with interruptions and distractions as opportunities to fulfill the Father’s plan. We need to know that God has the final say. And work on not stressing out when things don’t go the way you planned. …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) Some final words of encouragement from Jason: If you really want to grow in this area of flexibility, look for an opportunity for a cross-cultural experience. Go on a missions trip. You can reach Jason at thehouseofblessing.org on FB as Bachiniva Orphanage.

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“God, if we’re really going to live down here and do this, then you’ve got to change me, personally, in how to adapt to this. Because it was very hard and very, very frustrating.” -Jason Sanchez

“In America, we go, go, go. We do, do, do. Maybe it’s planning your schedule to allow for some flex time.” -Jason Sanchez

“Pray: ‘God, give me the spirit of flexibility.’ Pray for openness. ‘Lord, I literally want my plan to go according to your way.’” -Jason Sanchez

Interview | Alignment With Bruce Zachary

Interview | Bruce Zachary 

In this episode, Daniel talks about alignment—implementing mission and vision in your church, with Pastor Bruce Zachary, Senior Pastor of Calvary Nexus in Camarillo, California. Bruce is also founder of VELO Church Leaders and serves as Co-director of Calvary Church Planting Network, a global church planting initiative. Why does your church need a mission or vision statement? It is important to understand the difference between a mission statement and vision. A mission statement is the core values of a church that don’t change over the course of time; they are longstanding, maybe 20 years. Vision may change. But a mission statement is “a compass, a true north.” Bruce discusses five characteristics of what a mission statement should be and why each is important. What it shouldn’t be is someone else’s mission statement, no matter how much you like it. “The problem is that you can’t take on somebody’s DNA. In other words, if you’re looking at another church and thinking we’ll just do what they’re doing…if it’s not your DNA, it’s not going to be effective.” What are some practical ways to communication your mission? Repeat it. Get it out there in as many different forms as possible—and be consistent. “The best way to stay on target is not to get distracted by things that are not your vision or your mission.” Evaluate everything in terms of its impact on your mission. Then implement it through four steps outlined by Bruce. Most leaders don’t have all the skills necessary to accomplish every step in implementing the vision. This is why it is important to have a leadership team and work together strategically. For info on Pastor Bruce’s ministries check out calvarynexus.org and velochurchleaders.org.

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“Alignment is the arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process of where God is going and how are we going to get there” -Simple Church, Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger

On knowing your mission—“As you contemplate the things that really stir you, that you’re passionate about, those things should be the core or the essence of your mission.” -Bruce Zachary

“The further out you’re thinking, the more that you have to remain steadfast in terms of that vision in order to see it through.” -Bruce Zachary