Comments on: The Catalytic Cross (or “Why I don’t think some people liked my Youth Specialties talk last night”) http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/ Rantings of a Jesus-loving, raving lunatic Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:06:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: gregstier.org » Youth Specialties in Nashville http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-104547 gregstier.org » Youth Specialties in Nashville Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:34:45 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-104547 [...] Please pray that God uses my training seminar to encourage and equip everyone who attends my session regardless of their bent. Pray that I don’t needlessly cause any trouble…like last year! [...] [...] Please pray that God uses my training seminar to encourage and equip everyone who attends my session regardless of their bent. Pray that I don’t needlessly cause any trouble…like last year! [...]

]]> By: gregstier.org » My 10 favorite moments of 2007 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-40291 gregstier.org » My 10 favorite moments of 2007 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:08:00 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-40291 [...] did I know that my sermon would lead to such controversy. But I really loved preaching at YS in St. Louis this year. There’s something about [...] [...] did I know that my sermon would lead to such controversy. But I really loved preaching at YS in St. Louis this year. There’s something about [...]

]]> By: ron luce | Article find news http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-39808 ron luce | Article find news Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:32:15 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-39808 [...] The Catalytic Cross or ???Why I don??t think some people liked my Youth Specialties talk last night?... [...] [...] The Catalytic Cross or ???Why I don??t think some people liked my Youth Specialties talk last night?… [...]

]]> By: gregstier.org » Chambers on the preaching of the cross http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-38552 gregstier.org » Chambers on the preaching of the cross Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:07:32 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-38552 [...] over a month ago I preached a sermon on the cross that stirred up some controversy. A friend of mine just forwarded me this powerful [...] [...] over a month ago I preached a sermon on the cross that stirred up some controversy. A friend of mine just forwarded me this powerful [...]

]]> By: Greg http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-33136 Greg Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:19:01 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-33136 Good point Rob. There are other sermons that need to be preached now (I'm get to preach one today!). To be honest I was just surprised at the degree of the pushback I got from the sermon. I really didn' think there would be much disagreement at all with what I was saying. Who knows? But I'm moving on now. Thanks for the reminder not to dwell on the feedback. This whole thing kind of caught me off guard Rob. I've NEVER had anything like this happen before. It's very intereting to me. Thank you for your reminder to move on. Good point Rob. There are other sermons that need to be preached now (I’m get to preach one today!). To be honest I was just surprised at the degree of the pushback I got from the sermon. I really didn’ think there would be much disagreement at all with what I was saying. Who knows? But I’m moving on now. Thanks for the reminder not to dwell on the feedback. This whole thing kind of caught me off guard Rob. I’ve NEVER had anything like this happen before. It’s very intereting to me. Thank you for your reminder to move on.

]]> By: Rob http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-33047 Rob Sat, 17 Nov 2007 02:16:17 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-33047 Greg, Based on your blog responses to your YS talk in St Louis, I'd say you're not very thick-skinned. You seem anxious in seeking people's approval for your "resonating message" and concerning yourself with the silent feedback and the funny eye contact from others. So what! Your 3 points in your entry above seem fundamentally sound. However, you don't leave much room for anyone who didn't receive it the way you intended or who disagree with you. Yes, people who affirm the authority of Christ, scripture, the cross can and will disagree with you. That's because you are a fallen man amongst fallen people. Just because you claim to preach the "catylitc message of the cross" doesn't make you God's spokesman or that you did your job well. Get over yourself dude. I'd be more impressed if you stop repeating your message and inviting people to read the "pushback" (you loaded the dice with your choice of words there) and acknowledge that just maybe, you can be taught something by this and that you'll prayerfully consider other points of view. To say youth ministry is a journey rather than foggy programmed entertainment is pretty redundant now. We get it and many youth directors never went that route in the first place. Calling this trend out just sells books. Perhaps these youth professionals were expecting something a little more insightful than just a Sunday school lesson about the Cross. Perhaps they were offended by the Gospel that they presumably teach and your talk was exactly what they needed to hear. Either way, why dwell on the feedback? Greg,

Based on your blog responses to your YS talk in St Louis, I’d say you’re not very thick-skinned. You seem anxious in seeking people’s approval for your “resonating message” and concerning yourself with the silent feedback and the funny eye contact from others. So what! Your 3 points in your entry above seem fundamentally sound. However, you don’t leave much room for anyone who didn’t receive it the way you intended or who disagree with you. Yes, people who affirm the authority of Christ, scripture, the cross can and will disagree with you. That’s because you are a fallen man amongst fallen people. Just because you claim to preach the “catylitc message of the cross” doesn’t make you God’s spokesman or that you did your job well. Get over yourself dude. I’d be more impressed if you stop repeating your message and inviting people to read the “pushback” (you loaded the dice with your choice of words there) and acknowledge that just maybe, you can be taught something by this and that you’ll prayerfully consider other points of view. To say youth ministry is a journey rather than foggy programmed entertainment is pretty redundant now. We get it and many youth directors never went that route in the first place. Calling this trend out just sells books. Perhaps these youth professionals were expecting something a little more insightful than just a Sunday school lesson about the Cross. Perhaps they were offended by the Gospel that they presumably teach and your talk was exactly what they needed to hear. Either way, why dwell on the feedback?

]]> By: Rob http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-32764 Rob Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:51:25 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-32764 I was at the conference with my youth leaders and couldn't have been happier with what you said. Even in a room with 3,500 youth leaders...There's still people that need to hear the Gospel...and you gave it man! Awesome job! I was at the conference with my youth leaders and couldn’t have been happier with what you said. Even in a room with 3,500 youth leaders…There’s still people that need to hear the Gospel…and you gave it man! Awesome job!

]]> By: Greg Stier http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-31414 Greg Stier Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:47:45 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-31414 Thanks so much everybody for all your insights,thought provoking and encouragement. I read all the comments (even though I don't have time to personally respond to everyone) and think about them. I ask myself "Is there a truth that God is seeking to communicate to me through this comment?" and much of the time there is. I've really prayed about all this stuff this week. I'm glad I preached the sermon that God gave me. If I could go back I may adjust a few things in my sermon (for instance I tend to get loud when I get excited) but I truly believe that I sought to preach the sermon God gave me. I won't shrink from doing so if I ever get invited back to YS...or anywhere else for that matter. There is only one person whose approval I'm afraid of not getting and he is the one who died for my sins. Look, I'm back at the cross again! Thanks again everyone! Thanks so much everybody for all your insights,thought provoking and encouragement. I read all the comments (even though I don’t have time to personally respond to everyone) and think about them. I ask myself “Is there a truth that God is seeking to communicate to me through this comment?” and much of the time there is. I’ve really prayed about all this stuff this week. I’m glad I preached the sermon that God gave me. If I could go back I may adjust a few things in my sermon (for instance I tend to get loud when I get excited) but I truly believe that I sought to preach the sermon God gave me. I won’t shrink from doing so if I ever get invited back to YS…or anywhere else for that matter. There is only one person whose approval I’m afraid of not getting and he is the one who died for my sins. Look, I’m back at the cross again! Thanks again everyone!

]]> By: Rob Swiger http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-31402 Rob Swiger Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:36:35 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-31402 I'm just not getting what the big deal is. You're just stating what the Bible does say on both points. Keep up the great work, Greg!!! Peace, love and Jesus - Rob I’m just not getting what the big deal is. You’re just stating what the Bible does say on both points. Keep up the great work, Greg!!!

Peace, love and Jesus – Rob

]]> By: Why Christianity is Disappearing in America http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-31400 Why Christianity is Disappearing in America Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:32:55 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-catalytic-cross-or-%e2%80%9cwhy-i-don%e2%80%99t-think-some-people-liked-my-youth-specialties-talk-last-night%e2%80%9d#comment-31400 [...] message that he gave at a youth leader’s conference. (You can find the premise of his message on his blog here) His message was plain, and extremely honest. He spoke of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as [...] [...] message that he gave at a youth leader’s conference. (You can find the premise of his message on his blog here) His message was plain, and extremely honest. He spoke of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as [...]

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