How you say it is as important as what you say

Here are some random thoughts on Mark Driscoll's session (you'll find it on www.willingdon.org/refocus/ then follow the links to main session videos)

1. There was a lot of good things that he said. I believe that if we were to evaluate our ministries it wouldn't take much to realize that generally the church is geared way more toward women than toward men. The teaching style, the decor, etc. However, what is a decor that men would like? (And if they notice the decor right away, does that make them less of a man in Mark's eyes?) Would we have to make our churches look like mini stadiums? Rock concert venues? Pubs?
2. I'm not sure that I'd put men as the second priority after Jesus and before the church. It seems to me that Jesus was pretty sold on the church as being one of his top priorities and there is very little teaching (comparatively) on men.
3. It is hard to evaluate biblically with Mark because he doesn't appeal to many passages of Scripture. It seems like the evaluation and discussion have to take place on a philosophical level but Mark takes the discussion to a theological level and then makes it impossible to debate (and even discuss) at that level because he doesn't provide much (any?) Scripture backing for what he says. But lets take it down to a philosophical level for a moment (and much of the credit for this thinking has to go to Pastor Steve): Mark argues that if you get the men, you get the rest. Couldn't the same argument be made for making women the priority? Women are the primary nurturers and care-givers of children so if you get the women you get the children. Women primarily control the household budget so if you get the women you get the money...
4. Where are the poor in Mark's priorities? If there are 2000 verses in the Bible about our treatment of the poor, you'd think they might be one of God's priorities and if they are one of his, then they should be one of ours.
5. I am drawn to Mark's view of the exalted Jesus. In some others speaking I've heard him do he camps on this quite a bit and, while I am not a fan of his style (again, he becomes offensive to make his point, just like he did to worship pastors in this one), his point that Jesus is not a wimp is a good one for us to remember. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords and the vision John has of him in Revelation is certainly not of a weak Saviour but a Warrior in the order of the Spartans (except it seems like he wears more clothes!).
6. I am also drawn to Mark's challenge for us to be intentional in ministry. This makes sense: let's evaluate strategically where the message of the kingdom of heaven will have the most impact on our culture and then go like crazy to spread the message there. Let's stop huddling in the plains and start taking back the cities.
7. This was a huge lesson for me that while my points might be valid, I need to present them in such a way that they don't be come invalid because of my presentation. My content and my delivery must both work together to exalt Christ. My content (if it is biblically sound and glorifying to God) should not get lost in the delivery.
8. Mark is not so much willing to be martyred for the cause of Christ as he is hoping to be martyred for the cause of men, especially of men only in ministry. Because he didn't examine the passages in his message that might support this view, I can't evaluate his thinking on them but I do wonder if men only leadership is the cause that the apostles died for...