Spending Time with One of America's Great Pastors

On Monday of this week, I got to spend a few hours with a select group of about 15 guys with Robert Morris, Pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, TX. Gateway is one of the America’s largest and fastest growing churches. Here are 10 learnings from my up close and personal time with Pastor Robert.

(Principle is in regular font. My thoughts are in italics. BTW, Special thanks to Billy Hornsby and the ARC for this rare and unique opportunity… I'll share the first 5 Learnings today & the second 5 on Friday. Stay tuned...)

Learning #1: One of the roots of immorality is bitterness. If we don’t dig bitterness out of our heart, it can eventually lead to immorality.

Gosh, that’s good stuff. I’ve never heard anyone apply that scripture like that before.

Learning #2: So often when we see a leader we admire, we want to ask “How” they did or do what they do. Instead, we should be asking “Why” they do what they do and “What” God did in them to allow them to do what they’re doing today.

This is a great reminder that any leader that God uses greatly, He first breaks in a great way. Robert has paid a huge price to be where he is today and to lead at the level he’s leading at today.

Learning #3: Concerning Brokenness: “One of the best things that ever happened to me was that I saw myself for who I actually was.”

I can’t help but think of how many leaders never slow down long enough or embrace the breaking that God is doing in their heart to actually see themselves for who they truly are. Instead, we push and plow through in the name of productivity and forfeit the very work of God in our hearts that will establish our leadership long-term.

Learning #4: 3 Things that are important to 45 year old Executives:

1) Time. If you are unorganized and unstructured in your services, business people aren’t gonna like it.

2) Dress. You can be casual without being sloppy. There is a huge difference.

3) The Building. Successful people want to see a vision for excellence in everything you do. Your building has to match your city.

Great stuff right here. All intangibles to reaching successful business people in our communities.

Learning #5: Man looks at the outward. In reference to I Samuel 16:7 which says, “Man looks at the outward, but God looks at the heart. So often we preach and teach the second part, but fail to see the first part. When it comes to reaching people for Christ, never forget that they ARE looking at “the outside” of how we do what we do in our churches.

Brilliant. It is the intangibles that give us permission to influence many of the people in our city we’re called to reach. We must not overlook them.

Stay tuned for the second 5 take aways coming on Friday...

Matt