Mark Driscoll

I have been listening to Mark Driscoll's series on Nehemiah. My interest was sparked with when first heard his message on "Leadership Lessons on Nehemiah" (scroll down the page to download the message. He does a "10,000 ft." overview of the whole book of Nehemiah and the leadership lessons that he sees in the book. But his main point that he makes is something that I have been pondering about for the last few weeks. Mark Driscoll takes a reformed view to his theology (whether it is because he doesn't like the principle of dispensationalism or what, I don't know) and he believes that the church is suppose to create a "city within the city." Meaning, my church is to be a city with the city of Des Moines. A city that doesn't things differently than the other city. But we are be a place of security first to the believer, and then to the greater city, ultimately leading them to Jesus. In all things, we are to lead everyone to Jesus.

Today I listened to his first 3 messages of his Nehemiah Series (click to download the podcast from iTunes). and I am absolutely loving every second of it. Why? Because it practical! He takes Nehemiah right to who we are, how we're driven, how we're wired, and shows the same struggles, the same thoughts, the same fears that we all have. But here is the challenge. Nehemiah created a city within the cities around Jerusalem. Everyone had a part in the city. And the city was going to be different from the cities around them.

How does this apply? My dispensational theology has been challenged. I have been taught to "separate" from the "city" not became apart of the city. Which I have known this is not right. Jesus gone into the thick of the city around him and still was God. I am going to keep listening. Let me know what you think. Download and listen. If not the series, at least the leadership lessons.