It's the final session of New Attitude 2006. Josh wrapped up the conference by going through various aspects of the prior messages and encouraging those present to take this experience home to their local churches and apply this teaching to their lives.
"I want to challenge you that regardless of how the band sounds, that when the worship ends you have the kind of passion you had here," Josh said. "Just be thrilled that you are worshiping Jesus and that God's Word is going to be preached....I want to challenge each one of you to be the kind of people down front each Sunday morning asking your pastor how to apply the message in your life."
He also had specific encouragement for the men and women present to continue to grow in biblical manhood and womanhood.
"Men, oh, men, LEAD. Lead in godly conversation and fellowship," he said. "You don't need somebody to come along and give you a title like Family Group leader for you to lead...You know what? You are going to do a bad job. That's okay, just keep practicing. Ladies, encourage them. Be patient to them, be a sister to them. Root them on. Look at your brothers not as what they are. [Laughter] Look at them at what they can by the grace of God and support them. [Applause.] I am so grateful that my wife does not look at me as what I am!"
His exhortation was to "go home and live the truth personally." Josh encouraged us all to listen to Justin Taylor's breakout session on the emerging church and Al Mohler's message on cultural discernment from a biblical worldview. And then to seek the input of others in our lives, the wisdom of our parents and pastors, in order to grow.
"There's no Christian life presented in the Bible apart from being connected to the people of God," he said. "Let's go home and let's live it!"
After a time of enthusiastic praise and worship, Josh concluded the conference with a prayer for relationships. He said the conference's main goal was to direct our hearts toward God, but he also wanted to give us the opportunity to meet each other. After many jokes on this theme, he ended with a heartfelt prayer: "We want to desire You more than life itself...We want to have hearts that long for You and are satisfied in You...But we also know You made us to be in relationship and we long for that...For those here that are in relationships, I pray that they would be marked by purity and sincerity...For those that are waiting upon You, would You remind them right now that You are the faithful God, that there is nothing that You can't do, that You are good and that You are always good? ...Lord, bless these men and women, every person here, married or single....And Lord we pray that if it be Your will, that You would bring us back in 2007."
(The photo of Josh is from an earlier session at New Attitude and is, of course, courtesy of the Na blog.)
Thank you Carolyn for taking the time to post your notes & comments from the conference. It's been great to read about the messages as I have been praying for all in attendance. I eagerly await the return of my husband and gilbert's singles tonight!
Posted by: Tara | May 30, 2006 at 07:41 PM
For all of you guys who forgot to get my dad's email address, I forgive you. *grin*
Posted by: Jennifer L | June 01, 2006 at 08:49 PM