I’m a Practical Atheist

It’s been a great few days at Catalyst. Threads has been able to make some incredible inroads and we look forward to seeing how the Lord develops our relationship with the hundreds of new friends we made this week. As for me personally, I’ve really been challenged by the REVERB message of Catalyst. The worship has been incredible and the communicators have brought it for 3 days straight. It’s been a great time of hearing from guys like Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, John Maxwell, Erwin McManus, Dave Ramsey, and others. I took more notes than I know what to do with. At a point during one of the services I was working so hard to capture everything that I actually thought to myself, “Wow. I didn’t know I could type this fast.”

Here are the notes from the message that probably spoke to me most directly. Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch.tv was strong. I’m still reeling a bit and trying to wrap my arms around his message. Hopefully you can manage to get something out of them.

Craig Groeschel - October 5, 2007 - Catalyst 2007

Intro: He asked his kids to pray that we would be “disturbed”. God disturb me.

Wanted to bring a message based on his book Confessions of a Pastor

His confession today - “Hello, my name is Craig Groeschel and I am a recovering practical atheist.” A practical theist believes that God exists but does ministry as if He does not.

Isaiah 29:13-14 - the central passage of the message.

We have fallen into man-made traditions. We can do everything correct outwardly, but our heart does not line-up with these truths.

God revealed Himself to him - he was humbled, overwhelmed, shamed, etc.

Tennis match illustration - Craig vs an Oral Roberts University opponent - both were praying before the match. They jokingly asked each other, “Who has more faith?” The opponent stated, “I do, I speak in tongues.” Craig responded, “I can interpret them, you are going down. AND HE DID!” Then Craig did a break dancing move with the punch line reaction. Hilarious.

My lips stayed close to God, but my heart did not.

Bill Hybels says, according to Craig - “The way I was doing the work of God was destroying the work of God in me.” (Sermon prep became replacement for personal devotion. Prayer life was from pulpit or pastoral counseling moments only.)

“I was a full time pastor and a part time follower of Christ.”

How Practical Atheism Affects Me. Maybe You Can Relate.

1. Our effort is better than God’s power. - Either God let us down or we must really suck. - If you take the blame because you think that it’s about you then one day you’ll also take the credit.
2. Our private life doesn’t affect our public ministry. - Water flood and electricity story - cursed and then talked about Jesus the next day. He evaluated his lifestyle, “the only good I did was at church.”
3. We believe that we must please people more than we must please God. - Sometimes I’m doing this more for you than I am for God. “What can I preach that will bring people in rather than what will bring glory to God?”

Challenge to communicators - Far too much preaching about culture, rather than preaching the Word of God into culture.

Illustration about a pastor in Africa and his gift to Craig. His thought - Why am I not doing this?

Sir Francis Drake - 1700 - “disturb us” prayer. May God give us a Divine disturbance.

He walked off the stage at the end. Just left you thinking. (Very effective)