2016 NYC - The Paradox of Pain by Eric Lonergan

Have you ever been so disappointed in life that you wondered if it was even worth living?  Unfortunately, there's no escaping the reality that the world and people living in it are broken.  What if pain opened a door to something otherworldly, something beautiful, something glorious?  Whether you've tasted deep disappointment or not this seminar will help point you toward a hope that does not disappoint. 

2016 NYC - Sharing the Gospel: Why is it so Difficult? By Kenny Hayes

Evangelism is often the thing all Christians know they should do but seldom actually follow through on. Come hear what separates the stories of success and defeat from the past 15 years of my journey as a witness for Christ. Our prayer is that you too can get over the "evangelism hump" to be used by God in amazing ways.

2016 NYC - Evening Rally Dec 31 by Eric Russ

Evangelism is considered to the way that God reveals Himself in the present context. In his third talk, Eric proposes that it should even be considered a spiritual discipline, such as Bible reading, or prayer. Just like other spiritual disciplines, evangelism is found to be sufficient in knowing God and loving him more, and it is not divorced from the gospel--rather, all about it! It is also a means to know God, and not an end in itself.

In light of the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20), we are reminded of the story of Israel, how they were called to be a light to the nations, and how, instead, Jesus fulfilled that himself. We now, as believers in him, get a chance to retell his story to those that are in this world.

Not only is it a commandment, but Eric argues for the personal benefits of sharing the gospel with others, like building up faithfulness in us and causing us to be assured in the good news.

He encourages us to work the discipline like a muscle and move in faith, trusting that God will give us discernment and growth. Before ending, the audience is encouraged to fight against typical reasons that Christians do not evangelize. These include (lack of) opportunity, accountability, and growth. To combat these difficulties, Eric gives advice and encouragement for each.

2016 NYC - Maximizing Singleness by Connor Dimick

Ever feel like singleness is a curse?  Just can't wait to find the person whom you'll be spending the rest of your life with?  In Christian circles can be easy to feel like life doesn't fully "begin" until you're married.  In this seminar, we'll be taking an honest look at singleness and how to maximize your years of 'flying solo.'

2016 NYC - Can You Feel the Love by Larry Martini

No, this is not another relationships talk.  Instead, it is about you and God.  If the Gospel is the best news in the world, why doesn't it feel like it?  Maybe you understand the truths about Christianity but feel like you're missing something?  If this is you, you are not alone.  This seminar is help for those who struggle to align their feelings and find joy in what they know to be true. 

2016 NYC - Addictions: A Worship Problem with a Gospel Hope by Jonathan Saunders

Who is an addict?  At first answer seems obvious.  Addicts are those who gamble, drink and do drugs.  But the Bible expands the definition of an addict.  According to the Bible an addiction is misplaced worship, not simply a chemical imbalance.  This seminar will go deeper than most pop-culture seminars on addiction, examining the whole person-- heart, mind and soul, as well as the Christian hope offered to all who are stuck in addictions. 

2016 NYC - Depression: Its Causes and Cures by Mike Jackson

Any way you slice it, depression present a challenge in the life of those it visits.  It is often a challenge to know why one is depressed; challenging to know why it won't go away and challenging to determine why it is getting worse or how it is affecting you or how to get rid of it. We hope to address these issues with the hope that people suffering from depression will leave with just that...hope. 

2016 NYC - Morning Rally Dec 31 by Eric Russ

Community continues its theme at the All In Conference, this time with our second speaker, Eric Russ. Starting out with Matthew 28:18-20, Eric discusses some themes of the verse, which include truths like 1) Jesus is the King, and 2) He is empowering us to be His “sent” people. In other words, our mission, based on these verses, is to make Jesus’ name known among the whole world.

In light of the topic of Community, there are two main postures Eric talks about that are common among Christians. The first is Individualism (or Independence), where one feels the freedom from any outside control, no accountability, and a sense of triumphalism (excessive exultations of achievements). The second posture is Codependence. This is where an individual refuses to have their identity informed until it is done so by a certain community. The aim of a healthy Christian community, however, is to avoid these two postures and have a stance of Interdependence. This implies that the whole community is informed by and utterly dependent on Christ.

Finally, Eric ends the message by discussing two ways to avoid unhealthy community. That is, firstly, embrace one’s creaturely identity. Eric states, “God is the bomb, and you are not!”. Secondly, retell the Trinity’s relationship, and model Christian community after its sameness and perfect love.

2016 NYC - Ethnic Diversity By Eric Russ

From his perspective, Eric tells about the racial tensions in our country, and the theology behind reconciling and loving across differences. A truth to remember during this talk is that all Christians have an opportunity in this day and age to remind others of reconciliation in Christ with him and others.

Ephesians 2:13-17 points to Jesus’ desire to be made “one man” that breaks down the walls of hostility between different groups of people, making one body under his Lordship. This implies that when one part of the body is hurting, then another part should naturally be hurting. Eric challenges the audience by saying that when there is injustice done to the body of Christ, it is our problem to deal with.

The practicals that the audience is left with are prefaced by the question, “How do we Love Across Difference?” To apply it, inward assessment is necessary to consider who our “others” are, and what our narrative is. Assessing our thoughts on this subject with those two points will help us in being a loving and reconciling body in the context of racial tensions.

2016 NYC - Evening Rally Dec 30 by Joe Rigney

For his final talk for the CO All In Conference, Joe Rigney walks his audience through the fourth chapter of Genesis. Presenting an interesting twist on the story of Cain and Abel, Joe talks about the presence of “mimetic desire” between two individuals. Mimetic desire is a phrase used to describe the desire that one has for an object, based on the sole reason that a model (or another individual) desires it.

In its positive form, mimetic desire is a kind of bond that friendships can be based upon. The desire for the object is multiplied by the friend’s desire for it, and the friendship with that person grows. In its negative form, this kind of wanting usually has very little to do with the actual object, but the social stigma behind having the object.

Joe argues that negative mimetic desire is what Cain was displaying when he wanted God’s acceptance, did not receive it, and ultimately killed his brother, Abel, because of it. To further his point, he applies this to relationships within Christian community.

The challenge for us is distinguishing why we desire what we do. Are we wanting God because of the community we are in, or somebody else wants him? Are we content when good things happen to our friends or rivals? Through these challenges, we are reminded of the gospel, that God’s acceptance frees us from following suit to please others or desire things because of others.

2016 NYC - Evening Rally Dec 29 by Joe Rigney

The sin of Adam and Eve is the topic of the third “All In” rally. Joe Rigney leads us through the responses that we have to sin, the stages of Adam and Eve’s sin, and then the response that God has to it.

The ways we respond to sin include hiding and blame. We run away to cover up what we have done, or else we deflect the blame to somebody else. You see this latter response, in particular, in the stages of Adam and Eve’s sin:

Stage 1: Passivity. Joe forces us to admit that Adam and Eve’s “fall into sin” was not an accident, but many smaller choices made by a defiant attitude toward God that led them to eat of the tree.

Stage 2: Choosing the Lesser Things. When Adam was given the choice of following the command that God had given him before Eve was made, he chooses to follow along with what his wife is offering. He loves the gift of woman that God has given him (the creature), and therefore puts the created above the Creator.

Stage 3: Abuse. When Adam blames Eve, he knows the consequence of the sin, which is death. On one hand, we see him saying, “God, she is such a good gift; I choose her over you, and on the other hand, he’s basically saying, “Don’t kill me, kill her!” You can see the distinct wickedness in this blame game that Adam plays.

The response that God has to their sin is curses and mercy. God’s curses include all three parties involved -- Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. Each curse points at the the thing that is most important to them. For Adam, it is working, building, and creating. For Eve, it is relationships. For the Serpent, one of Eve’s offspring will finally and forever bruise the Serpent’s head.

The mercy of God’s response to Adam and Eve’s sin is seen through his blessing of kids for them, the clothing of animal skins, and that one special offspring, who will bring ultimate redemption. Joe ends the message by pointing to that offspring as the atonement and giver of mercy and redemption from sin, by his blood.

2016 NYC - Morning Rally Dec 29 by Joe Rigney

The second rally of the “All In” conference starts out with the story of Adam and Eve at the end of Genesis 2, where God’s man is in God’s land, under God’s law, on God’s mission. This is turned upside down by the stigma of the only tree in the garden that God has deemed as a “no”.  

The serpent uses this tree to tempt Adam and Eve to disobey God’s command. We learn from this passage that temptation can either exaggerate true features of the world or deny them. The serpent uses both truths and a lie to lead Adam and Eve into seizing a good thing on their own terms, outside of God’s timing and context, which we identify as a sin.

Joe applies this to our lives by asking the question, “Will God be the supreme object of our desires?” He concludes by saying that God must be the center of our solar system, and only then the planets (or gifts from Him) will orbit the correct way.

2016 NYC - Evening Rally Dec 28 by Joe Rigney

In the first rally of the “All In” Conference, Joe Rigney walks us through the first two chapters of the Bible, detailing the main character of the Story -- God. Genesis 1-2 describes to its readers the ways that God spoke creation into existence and intricately adorned his creation with details that point to his own character. We see in this narrative that God is both bigger than we can imagine, and closer than we can imagine. Just like an author of a book knows its main character, the Creator God also knows his creation intimately.

The story goes on to describe the Creator as one who is a God of “yes”. He places Adam and Eve in a garden of delights that are for their joy, and bids them eat of all but one tree. Every tree in the garden that is for eating are invitations of God to know and love God more. The end of these two chapters leaves us with the man and woman in their lovely garden, where God dwells and is seen through His good gifts.

2015 NYC - Only One Family by Matt Reagan

 

No one in the world is outside of a relational context

  • Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

  • The units of the earth are families

  • America is one of the most individualistic cultures in the world

  • Matthew 12:48- 50 “But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Family is hard because the idea or concept is wonderful, but it rarely lives up to what we hope for in true family

True Family:
1. They know each other

  • The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and be known
  • In heaven everyone will know each other perfectly- That's scary right now
  • 2 Timothy 1: 2-7

2. They delight in each other's joy

  • No competition

3. They do not perform for one another

  • Nobody is looking at me, they are too busy looking at themselves
  • Not putting on a show
  • Song, "Unsteady" by the X Ambassadors
  • True families are a haven and a refuge 

4. They discuss each other's pain
5. They walk through conflict

  • Galatians 6: 1-2

6. They aren't going anywhere

    True families are a messy, wonderfully and healthily messy

    • “The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.” -  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

    • Ephesians 2: 14-20

    How do you step into this family?

    • Vertically

    • Galatians 4:4-6

    2015 NYC - Only One Day by Matt Reagan

    Summary: We have one life and it comes from God to us and it fills us up like a chocolate fountain and it overflows from the trinity to us, to other people our one family and then other lives, one life at a time in the world, those who we want to bring in the family so they will be in the family forever.

    1 Corinthians 10:31  “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

    12 crossroads we experience in any normal day

    1. Wake up. To which voice will you listen, the voice of waking, of life or the voice of escape. You remember the world is safe because God is safe
    2. Two more voices. One speaks of performance and tasks, the other is the voice of God saying to rest in Jesus, be not do.
    3. When you read the bible you feel the call of the scriptures is too hard to live out. You are torn again. You can muster up strength, or you can go to God for help.
    4. Communing with God, distractions are already calling but you know there are people who need the same love you are fighting for.
    5. What is my purpose today? To be impressive or to be impressed?
    6. Breakfast. You can stare blankly or you can actually enjoy the food, think of the great chef who created food to be good, not just for fuel.
    7. Class. Opening your mouth to meet the person sitting next to you. You remember he needs Jesus. You remember you are safe, the one who made the world loves you.
    8. You know pressing into this conversation will be messy. He hurts, you know it, and you’re a chocolate fountain full of hope.
    9. Learning in class. God wants you to know him in history class, so you actually listen. You think of pain and fear that people feel.
    10. You decide to ask deeper questions to the person who is hurting.
    11. Should you bring up Jesus to this person, it would be taboo and awkward. You ask them to study the bible.
    12. You could call someone to get help, but that would be admitting weakness and fear. You remember you are weak and needed a savior to die for you, so you ask for help.

     

    Four Considerations:

    1. In a hypothetical way, you chose the right way every time, but what if you don’t. You can go the way of guilt or you can go the way of repentance

    •  2 Corinthians 7: 7-10 “8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.”

    2. The christian life is both harder and easier that the life of a non- believer

    • It's hard to stay awake as a christian, we need vigilance because we want God.
    • We are fighting for rest

    3. There is coming a day when you don’t have to fight against yourself

    • This life is a vapors breath

     

    4. God will carry you in his arms until that day

    • We fight with his strength

    2015 NYC - Only One Way by Matt Reagan

    Hebrews 9:27- 28 “27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

    •  I only have this one life, then I will live forever, I will never stop existing


    What do we do with this one life?
    1. You die to it 

    • Colossians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 4:17
    • Everything is mine so we die to this life, how can we not give it up when we have everything in Christ?
    • Is our life dear to us?
    • The glory we have in Christ far outweighs all the suffering and pain we endure for the gospel to go forth.  

    2. You go where hurting people are

    • Because we are in Jesus, we are invincible. What are they going to do kill us? we would only go to paradise. 

    3. You pour your life and that one life out gladly 

    • Philippians 2: 16- 17, 2 Corinthians 12:15 
    • We get spent for someone else so that their life can be saved 
    • Don’t just be a candle that brings light, but be a flashlight that points to Jesus so that others might know him. 
    • Give your life away one life at a time

    Five ways to die:

    1. Pray for one life on campus
    2. Start a spiritual conversation with them
    3. Invite them to see Jesus in the Bible
    4. Give you leisure, development, and free time to them
    5. Teach them that one love so they will die to their one life.  
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