Reaction:
#1: “Model the way.” In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, “If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” And if we’re going to follow Jesus, it means doing what He has done. The good news is He has not asked us to do anything that He didn’t do first.
#2: Inspire a shared vision. Jesus called the disciples to leave their fishing nets and to become fishers of men. He called them to something greater than what they were doing. He inspired them to the highest calling.
Are you doing that in your circles of influence?
#3 “You challenge the process.” Jesus continually challenged the religious people of His day to examine whether they were simply following rules or whether they were in a genuine relationship with Christ. And He wasn’t afraid to have a difficult conversation. An intentional leader doesn’t just sweep things under the rug. An intentional leader doesn’t just let things go. Instead they will challenge the person and the process when necessary.
# 4, “Enable others to act.” Jesus was the Son of God, yet He ultimately put the future of His kingdom and the beginning of the church on the shoulders of eleven, very ordinary men. But He didn’t just leave it to them; He provided them with what they needed to be successful. He provided them training. Most importantly, He provided them the Holy Spirit. Then He gave them opportunities throughout the ministry to lead. Are you putting people that you have leadership over in a position where they can act on what they’ve been taught?
# 5, “Encourage the heart.” Jesus encouraged Peter for his confession. He encouraged Zacchaeus for his change. He encouraged a Gentile soldier for his faith. Intentional leadership means that you notice the growth and the contribution others are making and you celebrate it.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Week 3 - Laugh Regularly
Psalm 126:2, 3: “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations…the LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
”The church should do two things: reflect a reverence for who God is and cause a celebration for what He has done. That’s worship as God intended.
Reaction:
Reflect a reverence for who God is!
Celebrate what He has done!
”The church should do two things: reflect a reverence for who God is and cause a celebration for what He has done. That’s worship as God intended.
Reaction:
Reflect a reverence for who God is!
Celebrate what He has done!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Your Mission if you so...
Your first choice is to write a letter to communicate your love—maybe it’s an email that verbalizes to someone that you love and appreciate them. It may be a family member or a friend, it might be a teacher who impacted you in your adolescence, it may be a mentor who challenged you, it may be the individual who led you to Christ…whoever it is, take five minutes to put on paper or email that you love and appreciate them. Track them down and get it to them.
Your second choice is to show love to someone who is not expecting it. By this I mean an act of service, perhaps it’s a friend or it may be a stranger who you feel like could use some encouragement or love —in fact, let’s be on the lookout for those with whom we wouldn’t typically cross paths or befriend.
Your second choice is to show love to someone who is not expecting it. By this I mean an act of service, perhaps it’s a friend or it may be a stranger who you feel like could use some encouragement or love —in fact, let’s be on the lookout for those with whom we wouldn’t typically cross paths or befriend.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
One Month to Live - Week 1 - Love Passionately
Things to Help You Take Action:
1- If you were certain your life as you know it would end in a few weeks, what would be your biggest regret? Why?
2-In what area of your life are you suffering from the Someday Syndrome? Make a decision today never again to use the phrase “someday, when things settle down.” Realize that today is your someday!
3-How are you doing in the areas of communication and confession? How would you practice them differently if you only had one month to live?
4-When have you been disappointed by God? How did He not come through for you the way you wanted Him to? How did this affect your relationship with Him? How can you exercise trust in Him as your loving Father even when you feel disappointed? Spend sometime in prayer this week relating your disappointment and asking Him to help you trust Him more fully.
5-Write a letter or prayer to God, being as honest as you can about your present disappointments and frustrations. Consider how these problems or issues might be preparing you for a more fruitful season.
6-Write down one risk that you believe God is calling you to take presently in your life. Describe your fears about taking this risk. Describe the worst-case scenario if you take this risk and fail. Pray that God will help you face your fears so you can do what He wants.
7-Write down a description of a dream you have that you believe is from God. How has it “floated to the top” in your life? How does it require faith on your part for it to be realized? How does it serve others?
8-Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal one thing you can do this week to further your pursuit of His dream for your life.
9-Make a list of all the things you can think of that prevent you from fully trusting God with your life: past disappointments and hurts, losses, doubts, and so on. After you finish, ask your self what it would take for you to trust that somehow God can use each of them to fulfill His purpose in who He made you to be. Spend a minute in prayer for each item, and ask for help in releasing it.
1- If you were certain your life as you know it would end in a few weeks, what would be your biggest regret? Why?
2-In what area of your life are you suffering from the Someday Syndrome? Make a decision today never again to use the phrase “someday, when things settle down.” Realize that today is your someday!
3-How are you doing in the areas of communication and confession? How would you practice them differently if you only had one month to live?
4-When have you been disappointed by God? How did He not come through for you the way you wanted Him to? How did this affect your relationship with Him? How can you exercise trust in Him as your loving Father even when you feel disappointed? Spend sometime in prayer this week relating your disappointment and asking Him to help you trust Him more fully.
5-Write a letter or prayer to God, being as honest as you can about your present disappointments and frustrations. Consider how these problems or issues might be preparing you for a more fruitful season.
6-Write down one risk that you believe God is calling you to take presently in your life. Describe your fears about taking this risk. Describe the worst-case scenario if you take this risk and fail. Pray that God will help you face your fears so you can do what He wants.
7-Write down a description of a dream you have that you believe is from God. How has it “floated to the top” in your life? How does it require faith on your part for it to be realized? How does it serve others?
8-Spend time in prayer, asking God to reveal one thing you can do this week to further your pursuit of His dream for your life.
9-Make a list of all the things you can think of that prevent you from fully trusting God with your life: past disappointments and hurts, losses, doubts, and so on. After you finish, ask your self what it would take for you to trust that somehow God can use each of them to fulfill His purpose in who He made you to be. Spend a minute in prayer for each item, and ask for help in releasing it.
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