When people don’t respond to the Good News we share, we’re often disappointed. Our disappointment drives us to pursue them further. We spend more time with them trying to convince them of something they don’t want.
Jesus’ advice for us in such situations was to shake the dust off our feet. He said “If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (Matt 10:14).
In other words, move on. There are so many who are waiting for the Good News, but we waste or efforts on those who are not interested. Of course we continue to genuinely love them. But we must move on to others with the Good News.
Category: Leadership
-
-
The typical approach to evangelism can be described with this statement: “What you believe is wrong and what I believe is correct. So stop believing what you believe and believe what I believe.” This approach often puts people on the defense and clearly works against our purpose.
Reposition Yourself – Meet Needs
Jesus’ approach was different. He sought out people who were needy and met their needs. After their needs were met, he invited them to God’s Kingdom.
Most of the encounters that Jesus had with people put him in the position where he was meeting their needs. For some, the need was healing or the dead being raised. Others received forgiveness of sin. Some needed his friendship or a kind word of mercy. Some were hungry and Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with just a boy’s lunch.
Whatever their needs were, Jesus met them without any conditions. He never asked for anything in return. It was entirely a one – way giving by Jesus, expecting nothing in return. In fact, when he sent his disciples out to do the same kinds of works he did, he instructed them not to expect anything in return. He told them “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
Teachable Moments – Wait for the Proper Time
Although many people were motivated only by their needs, Jesus did not put a restriction on them. He allowed them to enjoy the benefits he provided. It may have been this open hearted perspective of Jesus that paved the way for crowds to seek him out wherever he went.
There were even some who sought him out because of the food he provided. (John 6:26) Rather than walking away from them because their motives were temporal, he took the opportunity to teach them. He told them that although they hungered for bread that perishes, there is heavenly bread that leads to eternal life. In that conversation, he went on to say that he is the bread of life. He used the situation to teach them an important truth about eternal life that he provides.
Don’t Pull Weeds – Be Generous and Open
The open minded perspective of Jesus was expressed through the parable of the weeds. (Matthew 13:24-30) A man sowed good seed expecting a good return from his field. But in the night his enemies came and sowed weeds among the good seed. When the seeds grew, the weeds also came up.
The workers came to the master and asked if they should pull up the weeds. But the master instructed them to allow the weeds to remain because in pulling up the weeds, the good wheat may also be pulled up and damaged. They were to wait till the harvest when they can separate the wheat and destroy the weeds.
Thus people with wrong or evil intent may be among the recipients to whom we show God’s mercy, but we are not to dissuade them. Let them remain and enjoy the benefits provided by the Master through us. There are many who are genuine in their need and desire for Jesus.
Invite them to Discipleship
In fact, Jesus was so intent on focusing only on the needy that he gave his disciples an instruction that was quite surprising.
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. (Matthew 10:14)
Although Jesus was clearly open and allowed anyone to come enjoy the benefits from his work, he made a clear distinction for those who wanted to be his disciples.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The basic requirement for being a disciple of Jesus was too heavy for the masses. Self denial simply grinds against the common self centered human nature. And the concept of carrying the cross – simply identifies one as destined for death. What an incredulous identity to take upon oneself. Deny yourself and live like you’re destined for death!
No wonder there were so few disciples compared to the crowds that followed Jesus. There were 12 of his immediate disciples, but there is further record of a group of 70 and/or 72 disciples. In the book of Acts, in the upper room, there were 120 who gathered. There is another record of more than 500 who were followers of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:6). But these numbers are nothing compared to the masses that gathered around him.
Do Good – Don’t Hold Back
But he never restricted the crowds. Later on, Jesus was described as one who “Went about doing good.” (Acts 10:38) This is the way he lived every day. He wasn’t focused on building a movement, it just became one. There was no intent of impressing anyone because his Father was already pleased with him (Matthew 3:17).
This statement may be a good summary of the approach or perspective that Jesus used in his ministry. He simply “Went about doing good.” He impacted huge multitudes with this approach – then invited the people to the Kingdom of his Father. What an awesome example Jesus has left for us to follow!
-
Power is intoxicating. Supernatural power is dangerously intoxicating. It’s easy to think that God’s power working through us has something to do with us.
Don’t get so possessive. It’s not yours. It’s God’s power. The Bible says “… we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor 4:7).
When God’s power works through us to heal the sick, cast out demons, and transform lives, that’s a great feeling. After some time, it’s easy to get carried away thinking that we are something special. God uses us to do his miraculous work even though we are weak in many ways. That is because of his grace. Our weakness does not disqualify us from being used by God; when he uses us in spite of our weakness, God’s name is glorified. If we are used by God due to our merits, then we would deserve the credit.
It was for this same reason that Paul was unashamed of his weaknesses: “…to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited” (2 Cor 12:7).
So be careful. Don’t get possessive with God’s power. It’s His. When God uses you, check your heart for any selfish motivations. Make sure that people see Jesus and not you.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
Alexi George is a pastor, teacher, and writer. He is devoted to helping people live their potential.
* For a Malayalam language video summary of this post, visit the barnabas.in Facebook page.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others by using the sharing buttons below.
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List. -
“There may be numerous lines of people waiting to be judged on Judgement day. If you find a line that is short, you may want to go there to save time. But if that line has many pastors, teachers, and leaders, don’t go there.
Those people will take too long because they have to answer many more questions than the average person.” This was an interesting statement I heard years ago from Dr. Walter Kaiser, an Old Testament scholar. I’ve shared this scenario many times over the years as it points to an important truth.
His words may have been inspired by James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
A high level of integrity is required. Not only in the practice of teaching, but also in life. Teaching has greater value when it is done by a person of integrity. Leaders are more effective when that person lives a life of integrity.
Are you a teacher, preacher, or leader? I believe the same level of integrity is required for all of these. I hope you will stand up to the challenge of integrity.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
Alexi George is a pastor, teacher, and writer. He is devoted to helping people live their potential.
* For a Malayalam language video summary of this post, visit my Facebook Page.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others by using the buttons below.
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List. -
Recently I posted a statement online like this: “Maybe one of the greatest leadership traits is perseverance. At the end of it all, you’ll be left standing.”
Soon afterwards I read this statement from James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
We admire those who have accomplished great things in life. Among the many good qualities they possess, persistence is probably the most common trait.
My statement was probably more survival centred, while James 1:12 is eternity focused. Either way you look at it, there is a future, there is a reward.
I’ve been asking young people to invest 20 to 30 years of their lives into one community. The trend is to move from one place to the next within one or two years seeking better opportunities. There is nothing wrong with better opportunities, but it is better to invest your life into a particular location for something you truly believe in, for the glory of God.
Persevere, and remain steadfast. But to do that, you’ve got to develop patience as a strong trait within you. This will help you to stay put regardless of your situation.
Along with patience, you’ll need to forgive people if you want to work with them for the long haul. Without forgiveness, your relationships will begin to fall apart, and you won’t be able to persevere.
Ultimately, if you learn to persevere, you’ll grow in your life in every way possible. As a matter of fact, you’ll be forced to grow.
You will make a significant contribution in this life, and in the life to come, you’ll receive the crown of life.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
Alexi George is a pastor, teacher, and writer. He is devoted to helping people live their potential.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others by using the buttons below.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List. -
It’s a major concern for me when we see people unable to move forward in their faith. They are still dealing with the basic factors of the faith. Somehow, they are not completely sure of their faith.
Since our faith rests on the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we have a confidence that it is firm. Our faith has a firm foundation. It is sure.
Now, it’s time to move forward.
But still, many continue to doubt if God loves them. They have difficulty believing that God accepts them and cares for them. Some are fearful that God will only accept them if they are good and live free from all sin. We want to live free of the bondage of sin and live for God, but that is not the measuring line which God uses to see if we are acceptable. We are accepted only because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Those who continue to struggle with these important foundational matters have the risk of falling away and abandoning their faith. For such people, it is quite difficult to return to the faith in Jesus.
Thus we are to move forward in our faith. Otherwise we risk it all. The twelve disciples and the seventy two disciples were sent out to heal the sick and teach people about the Kingdom of God. Instead of doubting, they simply believed the words of Jesus and moved forward.
As quickly as possible, set your foundation in place. By faith, trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Then, spend your time bringing healing to people. The healing needs to be physical, emotional, mental, and relational. Then, teach people about God’s Kingdom. John Wimber had called this “doing the works of Jesus, and teaching His words.”
This is how we are to move forward. If we don’t, we risk everything.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List. -
We all have our “favorites” in the faith: Abraham, Paul, Peter, and other biblical characters who have exemplified faith and courage. In the modern world, some may choose Martin Luther, John Wesley, D. L. Moody, Billy Graham, John Wimber, and even some of the “faith” preachers.
I’ve got to be careful here, as Steve Brown warned against choosing our heroes before they are dead. While they are alive, they still have a chance to mess up their lives before they die. So, maybe I’ll stick to the dead ones as my heroes.
The Jewish people considered Moses to be the greatest individual in their history. For them, he was the greatest patriarch, prophet, leader, and deliverer. When these Jewish people came to faith in Jesus, their exaggerated focus on Moses continued. Along with their strong allegiance to Moses came their allegiance to the Law of Moses, the first five books of the Bible that the Jews call the Torah. This focus was not all that bad, but the writer of Hebrews wanted to make a strong statement that Jesus is worthy of the greatest honor.
By comparing and contrasting Moses and Jesus, Hebrews is focused on encouraging Jews to give Jesus the highest honor in the faith (Heb 3:1-6).
So who are your favorites? Who are the modern “heroes” of faith that have impacted your life? For me, some Christian leaders, preachers, Bible teachers, pastors, and musicians have had a great impact on my faith journey.
But there is none like Jesus. He is the one who deserved the greatest honor in my life.
In yours too.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List. -
Those with the craziest and wildest dreams are the ones who seem to do something substantial with their lives. As for the rest of us, we simply make a living and take care of our responsibilities.
One such wild and crazy dreamer was Jacob. He had the idea of “purchasing” his older brother’s birthright — which was practically and logically impossible to do. But Jacob made good on that purchase by ultimately procuring the final and ultimate blessings from his father, which should have gone to his elder brother.
Later, while working for his father-in-law for a long two decades, he had another impossible dream. He made the deal with Laban that his wages would consist of all the streaked, speckled, and spotted animals among the sheep and goats. Then he went about trying to increase the reproduction of the streaked, speckled, and spotted ones.
When these animals mated, he stripped the bark off from branches and placed them in sight of the animals. He figured that if the animals saw these branches while they mated, they would reproduce streaked, speckled, and spotted young ones. This, of course, would increase his wealth.
While this is a completely an illogical and impossible plan, it worked for him! More streaked, speckled, and spotted animals were born. Although we don’t know how this could have happened, we know this is exactly what was in his heart. That was the driving passion of his heart.
What’s in your heart? Focus on it, pray for it, and move towards it. No matter how crazy and wild, put it before you.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
-
How generous is your expense account? How large do want it to be? It doesn’t come out of your account any way. It bypasses your pocket.
Paul was encouraging Philemon to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus. Through Paul, Onesimus had accepted Christ and had become Paul’s “son” and “brother” in Christ.
Obviously Paul understood that Onesimus has wronged his master in numerous ways. Now paul says: “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account” (Philemon 18).
What account? Paul was a man who owned very little on this earth. His possessions were just a change of clothes and a few books. But his “expense account” was huge.
Over the years, Paul invested himself by way of the gospel, into the lives of many people. Although Paul owned no possessions in this world, the investments he made into the lives of people had paid great dividends.
Wherever Paul traveled, he invested himself into the lives of others. He had no worries about his future or financial stability because he left a trail of highly valuable investments.
Paul said, “…I, Paul, will pay you back. I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me” (Philemon 19). Such life changing impact was the investment Paul made into the lives of people.
Possibly one of the greatest investments we can make are investments into people’s lives.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website.
—————
* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:- Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
- FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry
-
I was an 18 year old student in college when I received the instruction that leaders should not be too open with the people they lead. We were instructed to keep a safe, professional distance.
From the time I heard those words, I struggled with that concept. I wanted to believe and accept this concept since it came from my teacher, but I was not certain.
The Bible portrays maturity and unity as the benefits of a transparent attitude (Eph 4:15). As people develop and grow, they are to be guided by love to live lives that are transparent.
Contrary to what I learned, here is how transparency helps us in our leadership:
Transparency Earns Respect
Transparent leaders are by nature people of integrity. People want to follow leaders who have integrity as their focal character. Such attitudes will earn genuine respect from people.
Transparency Allows for Flexibility
As a transparent person, you have the freedom to be who you are. This allows you much more flexibility. Otherwise, you’ll have to try to live up to expectations that are not a part of reality.
Once you have the freedom to be flexible, your options are unlimited. You can try new things and move into new and uncomfortable situations. When you begin to push your limits, you grow and expand much beyond what you can imagine.
Transparency Requires Accountability
There is no other option for a transparent person than to be accountable. A person who is not transparent does not need to be accountable. Such a person can hide behind the guise of the image created for the public.
Transparency Brings Unity
When leaders take on the character of transparency, they contribute greatly to the unity of the group. People begin to develop genuine relationships. Those genuine relationships lead to unity that is deeper than just organizational unity.
Transparency Breeds Transparency
As any good trait, this one will also spread to others. Being transparent will influence others to be transparent, and those who refuse to be transparent will pull away.
Transparency Glorifies God
Finally, transparent leaders can bring glory to God. Their transparency requires them to be truly focused on God who is the source of all that we have and are.
When the disciples asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus told them that if they saw Jesus, they have seen the father. Nothing to hide, nothing more to reveal. Jesus revealed the Father to us in himself.
In a similar way, we reveal God to those around us as we are genuine and transparent with others.
yourBarnabas.com 