Obeying the Great Commission- Circles of Influence
Over the last couple of years, we have heard a repeated call to start being a people who obey the great commission and become disciples that make disciples. This call wasn’t recently thought up. It has been a call to action for the last 2,000 years, Jesus calling each generation to take up the mantle and make disciples that make disciples. Having said all that, where do we start and who are the people that we are to reach?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’
You are the salt and light of the world. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we are salt and light. By our words, our works and our wonders we season the world and we share the light of Christ.
That adds a different dimension to our thinking. Our old mindset would say that we gather in our Church building and serve the community. The new mindset (which is really an old mindset we are re-discovering) says we are the Church wherever we are and we are scattered to share the love of Jesus.
We are scattered to our workplaces, schools, universities, families, streets and neighbourhoods. They are what I like to call our ‘circles of influence.’ These circles are the spaces where we will season the world.
So, who are the people in your circle of influence?
I suggest that you draw three circles on a sheet of A4 paper. At the top of one circle write ‘family & friends,’ the next circle write ‘street or neighbours,’ and in the final circle write ‘workplace’ (or if you are retired write a particular social setting you spend regular time in). Then, in those circles under those headings, write down all the people you know who don’t know Jesus.
In doing this exercise you will hopefully see just how much influence you have and where you can be salt and light.
What’s next?
My suggestion is to start in prayer. In the next blog we will be discussing more on how we can pray for those in our circles of influence.
- Josh Raybould
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’
You are the salt and light of the world. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we are salt and light. By our words, our works and our wonders we season the world and we share the light of Christ.
That adds a different dimension to our thinking. Our old mindset would say that we gather in our Church building and serve the community. The new mindset (which is really an old mindset we are re-discovering) says we are the Church wherever we are and we are scattered to share the love of Jesus.
We are scattered to our workplaces, schools, universities, families, streets and neighbourhoods. They are what I like to call our ‘circles of influence.’ These circles are the spaces where we will season the world.
So, who are the people in your circle of influence?
I suggest that you draw three circles on a sheet of A4 paper. At the top of one circle write ‘family & friends,’ the next circle write ‘street or neighbours,’ and in the final circle write ‘workplace’ (or if you are retired write a particular social setting you spend regular time in). Then, in those circles under those headings, write down all the people you know who don’t know Jesus.
In doing this exercise you will hopefully see just how much influence you have and where you can be salt and light.
What’s next?
My suggestion is to start in prayer. In the next blog we will be discussing more on how we can pray for those in our circles of influence.
- Josh Raybould
Tagged with Josh Raybould
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