Opening Session with Rich Wilkerson Jr., Chad Veach & Chris Durso

• Genesis 37 (Joseph’s dream about his brothers bowing down to him)
• God gives us a picture of the present to endure through the process and get to the future.
• A dream that hasn’t been tested in a dream that can’t be trusted.
• Test 1: Rejection
  • Not everyone will support the dream.
  • You don’t need anyone else to confirm what God has told you.
  • Most people share their dreams too quickly. Be a good steward of your dream, and share it at the appropriate time.
  • Your dreams are still going to come with nightmares.
  • No man can pull back what God decides to push forward.
  • Sometimes rejection can be part of your direction.
  • Joseph didn’t have a bad day. He had a bad decade.
• Test 2: Temptation
  • God tests, Satan tempts and people tease.
  • Everyone has been tempted.
  • There is always  the temptation to indulge.
  • Dreams have to withstand the test of time. Don’t force the dream.
  • Joseph said that no matter where he was, he would be faithful. And he flourished. He was faithful to the call.
  • There is always a temptation to quit.
• Test 3: Retribution
  • A God dream is always about God, not you. Joseph blessed, not cursed, his brothers when they needed his help. And this is after they almost killed him and sold him.
  • How do you handle the realization of your dreams?
  • God dreams test our motivations, not just behaviors.
  • The wrong motivation will never lead to the right destination.
  • If you are too big to serve, you are too small to lead.

Jennie Allen, Esther Havens & Lindsey Nobles

• Leadership costs something. – JA
• Many people do not finish the hard work. – JA
• If we are building God’s Kingdom, then all of hell is coming against us.
• Lessons from the Book of John
• Jesus serves us out of relationship and rest.
• What is preventing you from having the relationship with God that you desire?
  • Ex: fear, lists/responsibilities, people, time…what is competing?
• Our lack of rest if often tied to identity.
  • Are we our job? Our family? Our friends? No! We are children go God.
• We often feel like, as leaders, we must have it all together, and that is simply not true.
• Netflix isn’t true rest. Make time to actually commune with God.
• It’s hard to see a need and not wear yourself out trying to fix that. We have to trust God to do the work. All we can do is play our part.

Jennie Allen, Amena Brown and Rebekah Lyons

• John 4 (Woman at the well)
  • An invitation can change lives.
  • Life change usually happens eye-to-eye, person-to-person.
• Doing the everyday work of ministry is what moves it forward, as much as or more than the big and public things. – JA
• What keeps you from being fully present in community?
• Maybe have a set schedule to talk to the close people you need in your life. – AB
• Jesus made Himself an outsider for the outsiders. He even died far outside the city gates.
• Meekness is not weakness. The meek shall inherit the earth.
• The greatest ministries happen over tables, not on stages.

Jennie Allen, Margaret Feinberg and Shelley Giglio

• John 2 (water into wine miracle)
• Jesus’ first miracle was at a party!
• We’re only as good as leaders to the extent we are followers. – SG
• Jesus brings life and light to us. It is our calling to mirror that. – SG
• Jesus was the life of the party. We need to lighten up. – SG
• Joy is the weapon we use to fight life’s battles. – MF
• Wonder comes from gazing. You have to be willing to look, and keep looking. – SG
• Joy comes in remembering. Remember God’s faithfulness. Recount His blessings. – SG
• The more we chase God, the harder life gets. – JA
• Dependence on God leads to joy. – SG