_Leading volunteer teams…

“If I am in my ‘youth box’ but somebody needs a lift to rehab, and if I don’t have an attitude that says ‘I wear many hats,’ then I’m going to miss out!” — Abs Niblock (Tuesday, November 15)

“When building teams, one of the biggest things you need to navigate is people’s lives…You need to get to know them so well, that you know the context in which they serve in your department.” — Abs Niblock (Tuesday, November 15)

“People will return to where they feel comfortable, included, and empowered.” — Abs Niblock (Tuesday, November 15)

_Martin Luther and the Reformation…

“At 20 years of age, Martin Luther discovered a Latin Bible. He read it with absolute enthrallment. When he read through Romans and read of the grace of God bringing Salvation, he was overwhelmed. It was an absolute revelation to him that he couldn’t save himself by his prayers and penance and fasting. He couldn’t earn it and pay for it.” — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

_“The Pope sent the Papal Bull (an official document of excommunication) saying, “All Luther’s writings must be gathered and burned in the sight of the people.” It didn’t put Luther down at all.  He said, “I will organize this bonfire myself.” Instead of burning his own works, he burned the Pope’s letters, and the church’s canon law. He and his followers became called “Protestants” because they protested the Pope’s claim.” — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

“Luther survived. He was outlawed, but one of his supporters (Elector of Saxony) took him off to his castle for safe keeping. There Luther was confined for a whole year. He translated the New Testament into German.” — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

“The Society of Jesus” was founded by Ignatious Loyola. The Jesuits’ single aim was to oppose everything to do with the Reformation.“ — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

“People who try to take a stand on issues have a hard time from the traditionalists — it’s always been the same for any rediscovery of a truth in the New Testament that’s brought to the fore. Traditionalists have always resisted that.” — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

“Ten years from now, you might find younger people come up with ideas that you resist, and you will become the traditionalist. That’s just part of the human condition.” — David Matthew (Tuesday, November 15)

_“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5, NASB)

“Sometimes a little thought is planted in our mind by something that happened in our past.’” — Clair Hooper (Tuesday, November 15)

Stronghold: “A mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable situations that we know are contrary to the will of God.” quote by Ed Silvoso

Stronghold: “Mental habits patterns of thought that are not consistent with God’s Word.” quote by Neil Anderson

“If we’re going to live in freedom, we need to first understand the truth and compare that to our behaviour.” — Claire Hooper (Tuesday, November 15)

“Your brain is like an airport. You are the airtraffic controller and the thoughts are like planes. You have the choice to let certain ones land.” (Tuesday, November 15)

“You can reprogram your mind with the truth, but you have to want to, you have to choose to.” – Tim Staples (Tuesday, November 15)

_The Pentateuch

In Leviticus: Moses the Deliver

“The closer you get to God, to have intimacy with the Holy of Holies, the more separation was required from this world and things of this world…Leviticus is about distinction with anything that would mess with that holiness.” — Stephen Matthew (Wednesday, November 16)

Lev. Chapters 1-16: The Way into Fellowship with God: SACRIFICE
Lev. Chapters 17-27: The Walk of fellowship with God: SEPARATION

“They point forward to the new covenant, where it’s out of gratitude of the heart, not a “have to” but voluntarily. The minute we do it since God says so, it’s duty and religion.” — Stephen Matthew (Wednesday, November 16)

_In Numbers: Moses the Leader

“Some Israelites said, “We’re pretty good here, there’s pasture for our cattle” — they lost their momentum, their drive. “We don’t want to be as radical/keen as you.” It led to big issues down the line in the story. The Israelites nearly came to civil war for that (they watched each other across the river, watch each other with suspicion from afar). This can characterize the modern day people of God.” — Stephen Matthew (Wednesday, November 16)

In Deuteronomy: Moses the Orator

“Moses tells the law again, tells about sins of their fathers and encourages them not to do it again. He pleas, “Choose life!” At one point, he gets them to agree to make a wall, write the law on the wall and split into two camps to speak it to each other. He then teaches them a song to remind them of the journey. It’s about Moses emptying himself to make sure people stay on track.” — Stephen Matthew (Wednesday, November 16)

The Holy Spirit

“The Holy Spirit convicts us, and leads us to repentance.” — Tim Staples (Tuesday, November 22)

Gifts of the Spirit vs Fruit of the Spirit
“A gift is given, a fruit is grown.” — Tim Staples (Tuesday, November 22)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” (John 14:16, NIV)

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." (Eph 1:13, NIV)

_“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,  while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” (1 Cor 12: 7-11, NLT)

2,000 men gathered to be inspired, equipped at XCEL.EVEN. (More photos)