An interesting conversation developed today in class. The school at Southern Seminary at which I am getting my degree is called the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth. The dean was asking us about what kind of connotations the term “Church Growth” gives. Some people, believe that the Church Growth Movement (labeling anything as creativity or different …
“We should be less concerned about making churches full of people and more concerned about making people full of God.” -C. Kirk Hadaway and David A Roozen
Tuesday was my three-year wedding anniversary. Man, we are getting old! This has been the third year though that we have not been with each other the whole day. Amanda was having to stay at USC to work on her Master’s, so we celebrated by me cooking hamburgers out in the rain on Monday. Such bliss. I have realized something …
Missions is going crazy this summer! I love it. I just have been reading up on our Romania team at their blog, it’s great stuff. Most of this team have never taken a trip like this, so it is incredible to see all that they are doing – pray for them and check them out here: Romania Team’s blog.
We started our backyard Bible club in Abbeville last night for n*gage. We are taking college students and 20-somethings to a park and investing in these kids’ lives for the summer on every Tuesday night. Last night was great. The kids were wonderful. So much fun. I got to meet some of their parents last night who were very appreciative …
So, I gave a pretty exhausting testimony/message at North Side on Sunday. It had to do with my relationship with my dad and God teaching me what forgiveness truly means. I think the message is online now at the church’s website. While in some ways I was dreading speaking on this topic because I couldn’t be “preachery” but I had …
Tonight we started the mission project for 20-somethings in Greenwood called n*gage. On Tuesdays this summer, meet us at the Lander Baptist Student Center for free Chick-fil-a, Bible study, and then to go out on a mission project. Next Tuesday we are going to run the Mega Relay for our Shake-n-Shine camp. And then the next eight weeks, we will …
This Sunday, we will be singing “The Heart of Worship” written by Matt Redman. Many of you probably know the story behind the song, but if you don’t, I have it included below. Like Redman’s church, it’s so easy for churches to get into worshipping their worship. Whether it’s a style, a preference, a feeling, or whatever, we come describing …
I was listening to a message from Andy Stanley the other day that made me laugh so hard and think a whole bunch. He was talking about the different types of church government. When he got to the congregational style government, he said that there were three times when God’s people took a vote in Scripture – see if these …
So after I preach, I often have alot of doubts, second thoughts, and questions that I mull over. “Did that make any sense…did that connect with anyone…was I too pushy…was I bold enough…did I represent God well…did I misuse God’s Word…is anybody going to do anything with what I said today?” You know, nothing big or anything… But some of …
I just submitted my last assignment for my master’s at seminary. The air is fresher right now. The sun seems a little brighter (even though it is cloudy). My calendar seems a little more free. Tis the summer of Trav.
I was reading some highlights from the Q Conference in Atlanta and read this: The mysterious and anti-just-about-anything Rob Bell led Q attendees in a meaning-filled time of communion on Thursday night. I really appreciated his rhetorical question that asked “If [y]our church was removed from [y]our community, who would protest?” Pow! That’s a pretty interesting thought. If North Side …
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” Jeff gave a devotion on this passage in this morning’s staff meeting. It was much needed. I think it is hard sometimes to explain to people what goes on in the lives’ of people leading at a church. You …
I got to play bass at North Side yesterday morning, and I am beginning to notice something: you people sing really loud! I love it. Yesterday I felt like we all just had to tell God how much we loved him and how great he was, and just quiet voices couldn’t get it done. I love Fred Hammond. He’s a …
I read this blog today that I thought was very revealing. It is 10 ways to avoid building community at church. The first 5 are: 1. Keep conversations short. 2. Always sit in your “assigned” seat. 3. Avoid new people. 4. Come in late. 5. Leave immediately after the service (or early). If you want the whole article and the …
We are in the middle of a Life Focus series at North Side entitled “Invest and Invite” focusing on relational evangelism. I was reading a book by Thom Rainer called Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and have read some…uh…surprising insights from the unchurched. In the area of reaching out to the unchurched, I came across a staggering statistic: “Only one …
So we finished up the sermon series “7 Things to Do Before You Die” on Tuesday at Fusion with “Read the Bible from Cover to Cover” where we did a music/message approach to telling the one story of the Bible in one hour. OK, it was one hour and four minutes, I got unexpectedly emotional one time. Next week, we …
I have been reading a book on worship by A. W. Tozer lately and I came across a quote that really challenged me. He was talking about how consumer-oriented we tend to become concerning worship. If we like the songs or if the message really connected with us, we equate that with “good” worship. But worship is not an event. …
One reason why Submerge went so great was that it was about the Kingdom. There were churches there, but it was just one big family. No one was terratorial. No was defensive. We just all saw it like one big happy family. 230 people, over 9 churches together – just to go deeper in our relationship with Jesus. I love …
It’s about 1:11 in the morning, and we are starting to pack up for Submerge. It has been an amazing week and God has done some incredible things! I will tell you some more soon – but thank you for all those who have prayed.
I can’t wait to celebrate with the family tomorrow – HE GOT UP!!!
This week, in my new favorite show, 24, there was a great lesson in postmodernism. If you don’t know, postmodernism is the favorite pattern of thought in America today. Its basic tenet is that there is no absolute truth. Your truth is truth. Mine is truth. Even if they absolutely contradict, they are both true. Brilliant, huh? On 24, Doyle, …
Number 4 at Fusion tonight. You can see the notes here…
So, I’m searching the internet to get a taste of what other churches are doing around the globe, and I stumbled on to this church called Gateway Community Church in Virginia who did something crazy last October. They canceled services! But they canceled the services in order to serve. The whole church body got together that morning, not to sit …
We are starting our 2-week series entitled, HOPE, tomorrow at North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood. I am so excited about the Easter season and I think that the next two weeks are going to be two of the most incredible, memorable days of worship in North Side’s history. OK, I know I sound like I am betting on some …
Last night at Fusion, we dealt with #3 on our list – LET SOMEBODY IN. We all have personal space issues. Once someone gets to close physically, we do what we must to achieve a healthy perimeter. Emotionally, we are even more determined to keep people at arms’ length. We’ve been hurt. We don’t know how to trust. We want …
#3 will be revealed tonight at FUSION. This one is extremely important on the list of 7 things to do before you die. But it will probably be the one that many people shy away from. It is extremely scary. Beneficial, but terrifying. But it is necessary to be whole.
We will be landing in Panama City in exactly two weeks – I can’t wait! Submerge 07, our youth spring break camp, promises to be an amazing week to remember! We have over 225 going. Bryan Currie is the speaker, we will be playing, and God is going to change some lives! Our Worship Team at North Side has worked …
Refreshing. Renewing. Rewarding. And upsetting. Why do I wait till I am worn out to spend a long time with my Father God? Why don’t I spend more long spans of time with him just because I can? I sat under a tree in West Cambridge Park for the day and got to read, pray, worship, and spend some time …
That was #2 on our list. For more info and the podcast from the message, go here. The Mystery Machine lives on…
Tonight at Fusion, we are talking about the #2 slot on our list of “7 Things to Do Before You Die.” Come out tonight (Tuesday @ 7:30) and hear what it is. You can go here to hear last week’s message from a podcast.
Wow – what an incredible family time in worship this morning! I know I sounded presumptious about thinking today was going to be great, but can you really be too presumptious about how incredible our God is?! Holy moly! He’s monstrous. He is so massive and we are so insignificant. Jeff brought a great reminder of that today. If you …
So, if you are in the Greenwood area this Sunday, I hope to see you at North Side. We are wrapping up our Overwhelmed series, and I think it’s going to be pretty incredible. Maybe I’m being a little presumptious, but I just truly believe when you get together with God’s people who are overwhelmed with their problems, and you …
We started our series at Fusion last night on 7 Things to Do Before You Die. To start your list with #1, follow me over to the 20-something webpage and click on the “7” icon.
So, I am not a father. I’ve been married for three years this coming June, but have not had the pleasure of being a father yet. I’m excited about it. But I’m also nervous about it. The role is a pretty pivotal one to play. But last night, I read the most beautiful fatherly advice that I have ever come …
We’re starting a new series at Fusion tonight which I am pretty stoked about. It’s called, “7 Things to Do Before You Die.” I’m going to go through one a week for the next seven weeks to try and motivate our 20-somethings to make sure their lives count for something. The reason we’re doing this series is selfish I guess. …
Today in worship was incredible. If you happenned to be at North Side this Sunday in Greenwood, it was beyond words. There are those moments that are everything less than stellar that last all of about four minutes in your memory. There are those moments, which upon many attempts, you can squeeze some rememberance of a certain event. And then …
God has reminded me yet again of what really matters in ministry. I often get caught up in the programs of ministry, I lose sight of the people. It’s a constant, tragic flaw of mine. But I was reminded this week at our youth worship service, the Peak, about why I do what I do. One kid was sitting off …
Precious Jesus, Help me to matter. Save me from a life of complacency, Days filled with apathy, Concern without empathy. Let me not wander passionless, Aimless, frivolous, unambitious; But keep me driven To the point where I appear obsessed. Stir up my pathetic, comfortable state. Shake away my carefree, unintentional lifestyle. Invade my casual life and make me dread the …
“Present Help” was recorded in North Side studios with Jamie Parler, Wes Watson, and Cory Wilson. Present Help by Travis Agnew
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