NLC cont...

Jay Pathak
Jay spoke on Acts 1 on the second night. It was the most I've laughed in a long time. The idea of the apostles sat around a camp fire with Jesus asking him "are you going to take over Israel this week?" then him saying "no, I'll go away and you do it" and then being "taken up into the sky."

He painted a picture of the disciples, on hearing that they were going to be involved being like "hey we're the dudes" and then when Jesus floats off them being like "who asked that question anyways - you scared him off!" I had never noticed that they stood looking up (:10) until these guys in white robes came and asked them why.

His message was basically that if we don't really believe that Jesus can change peoples' lives, we won't be able to draw people into him. If we as leaders don't have our own stories of peoples' lives being changed, then those who follow us won't believe they can be changed.

I got some prayer and God was really breaking my heart, his spirit was all over me, it was awesome. I saw those I know who don't yet know Jesus and could feel the love that God feels for them.

On the Thursday he spoke again on Thessalonians 2. On the things that Paul lent into in order that those he ministered to could do the same:

1. He leans into Perseverence
2. He leans into Tenderness (7-9)
3. He leans into Holiness (10-12)
4. He leans into Evangelism (13-16)

People need to see the kinds of change we want to see in our church in us. He challenged us that if it's not our story, we shouldn't use it and that we should only use stories that are 4 months old or less!