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Author Archives: Heather
Be Led. Go Lead.
We are currently accepting applications for our 2013-2014 class of NCC Proteges. The Protege Program was launched 5 years ago to develop the next generation of leaders in the character they need to sustain their calling and in the gifts … Continue reading
Posted in Developing Leaders, Discipleship, Leadership, National Community Church
Tagged Protege
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Why Now?
When it comes to baptism, the question is often not “Why Now?” but “Why Not?” We are preparing for our upcoming Easter Baptism, and every year I have numerous conversations with people about whether or not it is the “right … Continue reading
God’s Classroom
It has been said that a tourist passes through the land, while a pilgrim lets the land pass through himself. There’s a big difference between merely exploring these lands and allowing this physical space to transform one’s heart and mind. … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Bible
Tagged Abraham, Bedouin, Beersheba, Desert, Israel, Moses, Zin
2 Comments
The Fifth Gospel
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” Acts 20:22 Seven years ago, I came to Jerusalem with seven other pastors. To describe our story sounded like the beginning … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Bible, Church History
Tagged Israel, Jerome, Jesus, Paul, pilgrimage
2 Comments
Rules of Engagement
Team D. It’s the group of people I get to serve, lead, and work with every day. Some of us are thinkers; others are feelers. Most are verbal processors; others are internal processors. A few of us engage debate as … Continue reading
Theology of Fun- The Christmas List
I’m continuing the Theology of Fun series here…but this is actually a repeat list from last Christmas…with a few additions. Go have fun! See Handel’s Messiah live. Participate in a live nativity. Get your picture taken with Santa Claus as an … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity
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Live in Wonder
Last week, I preached at NCC that the core message of Christmas is “come and see.” A baby…lying in a stone feeding trough for animals…proclaimed as the hope of the world. Come and see. The Creator, come in the skin … Continue reading
Posted in Cool People, Curriculum & Books
Tagged Christmas, Margaret Feinberg, Wonderstruck
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Throw Better Parties
This is another installment of the Theology of Fun series. We opened the door and walked right over the welcome mat just as we had done hundreds of times before, but on this particular day Ryan noticed it. Our pathetic … Continue reading
The Discipline of Fun
This is another installment of the Theology of Fun. Fun is both a spiritual gift and a spiritual discipline. I’m convinced that the blessings of God require discipline and the spiritual disciplines double as spiritual blessings. For instance, confession is … Continue reading
Take God Seriously…Not Yourself
This is another installment of the Theology of Fun series. I have a tendency to take myself far too seriously. If someone corrects me, I am quick to make excuses (if only they knew the challenges I had faced). If … Continue reading
Why Fun?
“Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can’t be God’s will? The God who made giraffes, a baby’s fingernails, a puppy’s tail, a crooknecked squash, the bobwhite’s call, and a young girl’s giggle, has … Continue reading
Why I Wrote Community is Messy
It was a familiar scene. Sitting, once again, at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, with my own frustration about to send me into orbit. Wondering, once again…why am I writing this? For some reason, I had convinced a … Continue reading
Leadership 101.4- Semester System
I’m posting content, videos, and questions from our online Leadership 101 training for new leaders. This is Part 4: The Semester System. At NCC, we do groups on the semester system. This allows groups to follow the natural rhythm of … Continue reading
Boxes of Mess
I can’t escape the mess. Twenty years ago, I hauled around boxes of sampler bottles from Ben Hur Research Farm so I could run chemical analyses and determine biokinetic properties of the reactions in the swine farm treatment lagoon. Today, … Continue reading
Leadership 101.3- What Are Small Groups?
I’m posting content, videos, and questions from our online Leadership 101 training for new leaders. This is Part 3: What Are Small Groups? This video describes what small groups are and why we do them: God exists in community so … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Developing Leaders, National Community Church, Small Groups
Tagged Leadership 101, online training
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Geeks and Geese
Looking for a small group? We’ve got one for you! Whether it’s geeking out over a challenging study or building friendships over games, we want to create environments where people can connect and grow. This is Part 2 of our … Continue reading
Leadership 101.2- NCC Story
I’m posting content, videos, and questions from our online Leadership 101 training for new leaders. This is Part 2: The NCC Story: As a part of NCC, you are a shareholder in our church-wide vision. You are a part of … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Developing Leaders, National Community Church, Small Groups
Tagged Leadership 101, NCC, online training
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Leadership 101.1- Go Make Disciples
I’m posting content, videos, and questions from our online Leadership 101 training for new leaders. This is Part 1: Go Make Disciples. Leadership is the call to discipleship. In the Great Commission, Jesus commands us to make disciples, not find them. … Continue reading
Leadership 101
We train our new leaders online. For a few years, I resisted that strategy. I thought it was important for potential leaders to be together in one room, for me to have face-to-face interaction, etc. But it was becoming harder … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Developing Leaders, National Community Church, Small Groups
Tagged Leadership 101, new leaders, Training
3 Comments
Princess Parties and Football Games
Find a small group for you! We believe that community develops best around shared interests and activities– whether you are a princess or a quarterback. This amazing promotional video was developed with Team D Protege Andy Backus, Visual Storyteller Andy … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, National Community Church, Small Groups
Tagged promotion, small groups, videos
1 Comment
Be a Protege
Four years ago, Mark Batterson and I sat at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants…across the street from the National Cathedral…and dreamed up the Protege Program. Well, we didn’t actually dream it up. We stole it from Steve Saccone and … Continue reading
IF…
When I came on staff at National Community Church in January 2002, my first responsibility was to plan our first ever Leadership Retreat. A decade later, I am now heading to my eleventh leadership retreat. I’m pretty sure it’s the … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Leadership, National Community Church, Small Groups
5 Comments
Online Leadership 101
Two years ago, we blew up our small group system in a project called Operation Kaboom. One of the changes we made was in the way we offered initial training to potential small group leaders. Under the old system, potential … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Developing Leaders, National Community Church, Small Groups
Tagged Leadership 101, online, small groups, Training
11 Comments
Theology of a Teenager, Part 2
Yesterday, I talked about the beginning of my theology adventure with Michelle. Here’s the rest of the story. Michelle read Theology and Galatians, learned more about Jacob Arminius than she ever thought she wanted to know (and heard me talk … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Cool People, Discipleship
Tagged discipleship, michelle, NYC, teenagers, Theology
3 Comments
Theology of a Teenager, Part 1
Last summer, my friend Michelle asked me if I would teach her theology. Here’s a little background on Michelle. She’s 15 years old, in high school, navigating tricky relationships with friends, and wrestling through her convictions on any given day … Continue reading
Posted in Cool People, Discipleship
Tagged covenant, discipleship, michelle, teenagers, Theology
2 Comments
Beauty in the Tension
Tension is important. Without it, the physical laws of the universe would not work. Tension keeps planets in orbit, my tennis racquet strung properly, and tightrope walkers secure as they hover above the audience below. Tension brings a beauty to … Continue reading
Favorite Blogs of 2011
My blogging productivity diminished greatly in 2011. I will blame the book-writing process for that. This is a list of my favorites from 2011. Not necessarily the most popular, insightful, or important. Just the ones I like the best. Never … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Cool People, Discipleship, Leadership
Tagged 2011, Emily Hendrickson, favorites, greece, Jenilee Lefors, Maegan Stout, NCC, Ryan Zempel
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Advent Prayers
Evangelicals aren’t exactly known for their attention to the liturgical calendar, but I’ve found that it often provides helpful goals and a much needed rhythm for my spiritual life. This year, I decided to follow the Advent Scripture readings from … Continue reading
The Christmas List- Updated
A few years ago, I started posting a Christmas list. Things to do at least once in your life. Some of them should happen every year. This year, I’ve added a few updates. See Handel’s Messiah live. Participate in a … Continue reading
God Anthology Album
The God Anthology Album releases on 11.22.11. I can’t even begin to say how excited I am or how proud I am of our worship and creative arts team. Here’s the back story. At our Annual Staff Planning Retreat in … Continue reading
Posted in National Community Church
Tagged God Anthology, Kurtis Parks, music, Steph Modder
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Unlearning What You Have Learned
I learned to shoot a basketball yesterday. I know, it sounds crazy. But I really did. One of my friends has some pretty stinking awesome credentials. Number 2 point guard in the nation in high school. Played under Coach Summitt’s … Continue reading
The God of Jacob
I rarely ask my readers for any favors, but today, I’m asking for one small request. In about 10 hours, we leave for our Uprising Student Ministry Getaway. Could you lift just a quick prayer for our students and our … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Discipleship, Preaching/Teaching
Tagged Bethel, Jacob, Jenilee Lefors, Uprising
1 Comment
I Don’t Care
I’m not known for empathy. I’m a pastor that rarely hears the word “care” on the other side of my title to describe what I do. Several months ago, I refused to offer a comforting throwaway line of “It’s all … Continue reading
What I’m Telling the Proteges About Catalyst
I am a conference junkie, but I attend conferences differently today than I did 10 years ago. Tomorrow, I leave on a jet plane for my 7th Catalyst Conference. At Catalyst #1, I sat in every session, took notes on … Continue reading
Posted in Developing Leaders, Leadership, Uncategorized
Tagged Catalyst, conferences, Protege
1 Comment
Guns and Legos
Yesterday, my schedule included, “Leadership Covenant training, lego construction, gun range.” Yep, I’m a discipleship pastor. Here’s the deal. Our 3-hour Leadership 101, the initial online training that all NCC small group leaders are required to complete, is being updated. … Continue reading
Go In Twos
We are discipled by people, not by programs. Discipleship happens when we invite people into our lives as we are living it. Sometimes that happens in my home. Sometimes it happens around food. More often, it’s happening on the road. … Continue reading
The Mr. Potato Head Altar
Boxes. Packing tape. Bubble wrap. And files that go back ten years. NCC staff moves into new office space today, and that means I’ve spent the better part of the last 48 hours sorting, sifting, and packing my stuff. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Cool People, National Community Church
Tagged Altars, Brian Hill, Gratitude, Kim Hill, Leslie Adams, Markers, Memories, Nathan Gonzales
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How to Not Go Crazy
This weekend, I had the privilege of hanging out with some leaders at River’s Edge Community Church in Montreal. During dinner on Friday night, one leader asked me how I took care of myself as a leader. On good days, … Continue reading
One Crazy Idea: CHIPOTLE!
It’s One Crazy Idea Week. I’m surrounded by crazy people doing crazy things, and all of them were fueled long ago, once upon a time, by one crazy idea. In this series, I want to introduce you to some of … Continue reading
Posted in Adventures, Cool People, Discipleship
Tagged Chipotle, Jenilee Lefors, Michelle Peverley, One Crazy Idea, Summer Batterson
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One Crazy Idea: Bittersweet
It’s One Crazy Idea Week. I’m surrounded by crazy people doing crazy things, and all of them were fueled long ago, once upon a time, by one crazy idea. In this series, I want to introduce you to some of … Continue reading
One Crazy Idea: New Rhythm Project
It’s One Crazy Idea Week. I’m surrounded by crazy people doing crazy things, and all of them were fueled long ago, once upon a time, by one crazy idea. In this series, I want to introduce you to some of … Continue reading
From the Archives: The Dreaded Question- Of or With?
This one is an oldie…and once got me in trouble with my good friend Bill Donahue. The Dreaded Question- Of or With? originally posted on February 3, 2006. Are you a church of small groups or a church with small … Continue reading
From the Archives: Modulus of Elasticity
Still trying to write a book…so here’s a little gem from the archives. Modulus of Elasticity first published on March 28, 2008. I was thinking about the modulus of elasticity yesterday. Yes, I tend to think about such things. Blame … Continue reading
From the Archives: Wear Out Your Welcome
I’m trying to write a book…ughhhh…which means my blogging is anemic. So, instead of letting this thing go dark, I’m bringing you some of my personal favorites from the archives. Wear Our Your Welcome originally posted on May 4, 2009. … Continue reading
From the Archives: When the Mess is Of Your Own Creation
I’m trying to write a book…so this week I am bringing you some of my favorites from the blog archives. When the Mess is Of Your Own Creation was originally posted on October 27, 2010. I’ve been talking for a … Continue reading
From the Archives
Alright folks, I’ve obviously not gotten any blogging in over the past two weeks, and it’s not looking promising for the next couple weeks either. So, next week, I’m going to dig into the archives and post some of my … Continue reading
I’m Writing…I Promise
My blogging has slowed to a paltry handful of posts every few weeks, so I thought I should offer an explanation. So…please take this post as it is intended. Not as self-promotion. But as a pitiful, lame, desperate excuse to … Continue reading
Theology and the Power Ballad
Your prayer life and eighties rock music are linked. I’m not even kidding. Here’s just a little window into Heather Zempel’s sermon prep process. The process is always a little bit different, but it always includes lots of Biblical study, … Continue reading
Delays and Detours
Life is an adventure. And if you have ever experienced a road trip with me, you know this to be true. It seems every time I travel, a delay or detour is always in my path. Take today, for instance. … Continue reading
