Josiah Graves — Interviews

Pastor Daniel talks with Josiah Graves, Calvary Chapel, Deerfield Beach, FL about the ways of the cross and how that relates to ministry. How do we share the paradox of the cross, that it is good? And why is it important for us as leaders to continually be looking at the ways of God’s kingdom as we do ministry? Part of it is to make it a daily practice to preach the cross to each other, in the way we live our lives, in our conversations, in the things we do. It is not something we attain, but we are constantly aligning ourselves with God, What are some practical ways you can do this in your daily life? What are the blessings of the ways of the cross? “When you understand the cross, that Jesus saved me, that I’m the chief among sinners, I’m that fool…it changes how we speak.”

QUOTES:

“The ways of the cross, the ways of the kingdom, are a paradox. They are different from the ways our flesh would say to go.” - Daniel Williams

“A lot of our job is just trying to keep the cross at the center of everything we do, keep it the focus, the foundation, the goal—everything.” - Josiah Graves

“Our hearts are prone to move from the cross.” - Josiah Graves

“We want to do ministry flowing from the Spirit, and the Spirit bringing us to back Jesus.” - Josiah Graves

“It starts with us. We want to lead out of a place of brokenness and also of power. That goes back to the paradox of the cross.” - Josiah Graves

“Be Spirit-dependent, look to the Word, and let God give the increase.” - Josiah Graves

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Andrew Lundy, Solace Church, and Josiah Graves, The Exchange Church, are both pastors of churches planted this past year. They share about what that process has been like and answer a few questions you may have about planting a church. What have been the highlights and the challenges? How do we do conflict well? The difference between expectations of ministry and the realities of ministry. There are lessons worth learning.

QUOTES:

“We want to go to those who aren’t coming. We want to see people come into a real life-changing, life-giving relationship with Jesus.”

“When I look back at this year and I see what God’s done, I think a highlight is the way in which people who were not walking with God have now come back into a relationship with God and are serving in our church.”

“The lesson that I am constantly coming back to is not what I’m doing or how I’m doing it, by why? Why am I doing it? Is this something I’m doing heartily, as unto the Lord?”

“God’s had to rewire how I think. I’m a pastor. I’m feel like I’m doing a lot of paramedic work. We may want to go take the mountain, but our people are all down the hill and they are bruised and injured and hurting. And sometimes before we can do do something, we just need to be and to heal, to preach the gospel to ourselves.”

“It’s not about what we do, it’s about who we are in the process.”

Links:

Solus Church: https://www.soluschurch.com

The Exchange Church: http://theexchangechurch.cc