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The Transformed Life | Counter Cultural

Gradually the nation of New Zealand is turning away from God and the Christian morals that our society was built on. Today there is a great need for Christians living Counter Cultural lives; demonstrating the Kingdom of God.

 Romans 12: 2 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1. Do not conform any longer

There is no denying that there is a lot of pressure to conform. To conform is to behave or think in a socially acceptable or expected way – to comply. The pressure will always be on you to conform, to look like and to imitate this world.

Paul says do not conform any longer, this shows that the readers of this letter were conforming at the time. This letter was to the Christians of Ancient Rome. This is the time where Christians where put in arenas and killed by lions or gladiators for entertainment. Yet Paul still encourages them to make a stand.

Throughout history the Christians that made big impacts on the world were the ones that no matter what the pressure, they lived for Christian values. 

Casper Ten Boom

When the Nazis began requiring all Jews to wear the Star of David, he voluntarily wore one also.

When people warned him he would be in danger for helping the Jews he said “it would be an honour to give my life for God’s ancient people”. At that time the Christian church was supporting Hitler.

It’s time to make a stand. You aren’t doing the world any favours by going with the flow.

2. To the pattern of this world

This world will urge you to live a certain way, it will push you into its mould. If you are not wise you will find you have slipped into conforming. We can see this happening all around us; even many Christians can find themselves following the pattern of this world.

In the last census 20% of people said they were born again Christians. That is around 900,000. That is an army which could seriously change the situation of this Nation.

However the Bible Society did a study in 2008 which showed that only 22% of Christians actually attend church every week. On top of that only 11% of Christians read the bible every day. This is a worrying statistic about where God ranks in people’s lives.

What kind of army do we have when only 22% show up and only 11% are spiritually prepared?

The state of the nation is reflected in our lack of spiritual discipline .A church that is not at church and neglecting the word of God will have nothing to offer society. No wonder the Kingdom has lost ground in New Zealand.

1 John 2:15  

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

3. But be transformed

Transformation happens when we encounter Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18
 

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

The goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ. As we behold him we will be transformed into his likeness. To transform is to change completely – for the better. God wants to change your life, for the better. He has a great future for you.

4. By the renewing of your mind

Colossians 3:2  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The old mindset will make you conform because the old mind can’t contain the bigness of God. What have you set your mind on? Reset your mind; get the world out with its worldly pursuits and then set it on Christ and His kingdom.

5. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When you get transformed the future becomes clear. Once you stop trying to fit into the world and step into the ways and thoughts of God’s Kingdom, your life will make sense. You will be released into your future in God.

OVERCOMER

George Mueller said; “To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings.”

How do we become great overcomers?

1 John 5:1-5

 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ^[a] has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. ² We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. ³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. ⁵ And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

1.    Be Born Again

To become an overcomer it starts with being born again.

But what does ‘born again’ mean?

You believe in Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord. You live by faith and not by sight. You are born into the supernatural power of God.

 2.    His Commands are not burdensome

Sometimes it can seem like it is hard to serve God. Some Christians can be afraid or resistant to really serving God. But the truth is that the only alternative is following our own path – the roller-coaster of our own emotions. If we apply all the commands from God to our life, they ground us, support us, and strengthen us – they are designed to help us.

The process of discipleship is us leaving the pain and brokenness of our own way and beginning to walk God’s way with Him alongside us.

3.    For Everyone Born of God Overcomes the World

Are you born again? If you are, you are born to be an overcomer. You have been given the supernatural power that can overcome. Too often we buy into the devils deception; we believe that we are not as strong as God says we are.

But God says that you are born to overcome! So don’t give up on your faith, don’t succumb to discouragement, understand who you are – you are an overcomer!

2 Corinthians 4; 8-9

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

4.    Our faith achieves this Victory

Faith is the ingredient that causes us to become overcomers. Your faith brings the victory.

1 Corinthians 15.57

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The devils goal is for you to give up your faith. He doesn’t mind if you go to church, go to your connect group, even be a leader, as long as your faith is dented. Victory is standing firm in your faith through whatever life throws at you. Circumstances are there to help grow our faith!

1 Peter 1:7

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

God is not bringing your problems. He loves you and will show you the way to come out of your problems stronger in faith in Him.

5.    Believe that Jesus is the Son of God

Be fully convinced, be a believer. Don’t lose your first love for Christ, get your fire back! Believe what God can do in your life and keep believing. You are an overcomer.

Hebrews 4:14

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

A TRUE SON

One of the great Fathers in the bible was the Apostle Paul

He had no children of his own – but he became a Father to Timothy, discipled him and raised him up as the Senior Pastor of one of the biggest churches of the ancient world

1 Timothy 1:2

To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Philippians 2:19-24

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Paul became a spiritual Father and Timothy became a son

The are too many sons and daughters without spiritual Fathers

How to be a true son

1. Seek out a spiritual Father

In today’s society we often run from voices of authority in our lives

But in the kingdom we all need to know the voice of a Father

Wise people will seek out Fathers in the faith

If you have a loving Father appreciate your dad – seek them out

So many live without a loving Father

Appreciate him for who he is – he is your father

But also find a spiritual Father

If you haven’t got a loving Father – don’t try and live without one – it will leave a great hole in your life

You will be insecure and undeveloped

Seek out someone with Godly character to speak into your world – to be a spiritual Father

2. Be a willing disciple

I get asked a lot to disciple people

But i have learned to only disciple the willing

It’s just too hard to try and disciple the unwilling

Some people like the idea of being discipled – but they don’t respond to the reality

They don’t change – they don’t turn up

There is a term in church - a son of the house

If you ever get called that – it is an honor

But it would be less than 10% of the church

Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;

Have a willing attitude to be discipled

Become a son or daughter of the house

3. Listen

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Listen to those with authority over you

Don’t be a know it all

Arrogance has never been an endearing quality

If you listen to your leaders you will find God’s wisdom coming into your life

Timothy listened to Paul and became a spiritual son

He went from a timid young person – to a bold leader who Paul sent to sort out problems in the churches

4. Make some changes

2 Timothy 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Let someone lay their hand on you and develop your life

Do what they ask of you

I find many people want to hear my advice

Not so many want to make the changes

Over the past forty years I have proved champions are everywhere provided they receive the proper training –

Arthur Lydiard

Get into some spiritual training and become a champion of faith

5. Be committed to building a long term  relationship

Give time to the relationship with a spiritual Father

Stick around and become a true son

I have no one else like him

Timothy had committed himself to this relationship in such a way that Paul had no one else like him

He became a true son

I have at least 2 older voices speaking regularly into my life

They are a blessing to me

I seek them out and I am greater for these voices

Both i have been building with for about 7 or 8 years

Build some long term relationships with spiritual leaders

FOUR KEY RELATIONSHIPS OF YOUR LIFE

Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A Cornell University study said people had an average of 229 Facebook friends but only 2 close friends and some in the study had none. We have all these so called ‘friends,’ but do you have anyone you could really turn to in a time of great need?

A friend to all is a friend to none. – Aristotle.

Too often this is what is happening for people; they are friends with everyone but are a quality friend to no one. Your friends should be those you could call in your day of trouble. Too many people have no one to call. They have unreliable friends.

The kingdom of God is about relationship. You can’t get in without a relationship and once we are in, God wants us to be connected and in the family.

There are four key relationships that we need to have in place to have a successful life;

1. Relationship with God

Deuteronomy 6: 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Number one and first priority of your life should be a relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 4:35 Yahweh, He is God; there is no other besides Him.

Exodus 20: 3 You shall have no other gods before me.

Some people these days live for all other kinds of priorities. For many it is money first. For some it is family first. How can you put family or anything else before a relationship with God? How can you do your life well without being in right relationship with God?

Sometimes young couples can mess up their lives by making each other first priority (that is way too intense). No one can fulfill your needs except God himself.

Some parents make it all about the kids. They drop out of church and eventually God and then find their kids end up with no connection to God.

Marriage, family and life works best with God on the throne. Make God your first priority

2. Relationship with our Families

Marriage 

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

Work on a great marriage. Many people can’t get on with their partner and end up alone. Which would you rather?

Marriage is a gift from God – cherish it. Look after it, Invest into it, let it develop. Keep having fun together. Deal with problems. Don’t sweep them under the carpet, confront them and get them sorted.

Men – have a vision for your marriage. Girls want to know the relationship is going somewhere; if they feel there is a great future together they will follow with passion.

Don’t let your marriage get boring, do something exciting. It’s God’s gift – enjoy it

Kids

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Train your kids. Don’t be so PC and let them do whatever they want. Invest into them; they need to learn about your values and faith. Build a great relationship with them

My parents put a value for The kingdom of God into my life and when I rebelled as a young person I just couldn’t get away from this value – from the call of God.

Bring your whole family into the house of God – let them find God together.

Parents

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother” , “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Make sure you honor your parents no matter what they are like. You can honor their position in your life without having to honor their behaviour. Don’t be out of sorts with your parents, if you want life to go well with you, sort it out.

Families need a lot of forgiveness. Start now. You be the bigger person. We have access to the love of God, there is no excuse to have unforgiveness in your life.

Get a fresh vision for your family

3. Relationship with a Leader

Mark 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy my true son in the faith.

Paul was a leader that became like a father to Timothy – it helped him shift from a timid young leader to become the pastor of the world’s first mega churches in Ephesus. Everyone needs a leader in their life. Without it you will never reach your full potential.

Most people live their life without any kind of leadership. Many have life long issues with authority figures and then they miss out on the power of a mentor speaking into their life. A leader will make a great difference in your life.

Get around a leader and let them help lift you to another level

4. Relationship with close friends

You haven’t got time for a thousand friends

Ralph Waldo Emerson said more than 140 years ago that “friendship should be surrounded with ceremonies and respects, and not crushed into corners. Friendship requires more time than poor busy men can usually command.”

You need a few key friendships;

…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Everyone needs a friend like this. These are people you will journey through life with. You have to go deep with each other. Open up your lives.

Go through the good and the bad. Don’t  get  offended. Just keep going together – forgive, commit, turn up, go the extra mile.

These relationships take time – be willing to invest. They are what life is all about – God, family & some great friends

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.  ~Aristotle

I am blessed to have some friends who are closer than brothers. God has been good to me. If you stick around and go deep, he will be good to you.

If you get these four areas of relationships sorted in your life, it will go well for you, you will be connected.

This is God’s pathway for Christian life

STAY TOGETHER

In the movie Gladiator, Maximus says these great lines to the Gladiators as they get ready to face their death in the arena;

Whatever comes out of these gates, we’ve got a better chance or survival if we work together
If we stay together we survive
Lock your shields – stay as one

This is good advice for those of us following Christ
If we stay together we survive
God wants his church to stay together

Acts 2: 44
Amplified bible
“And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common.”

1. For the sake of our God who gave so much to purchase his church – Stay together

Hebrews 12: 2
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

The joy set before him was seeing his church established and rising up to reach a lost world
He desires that we come together in his name

Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Acts 2:1
And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,

Our whole duty is contained in these words, “Love together.” – Latimer

That’s what real community looks like
Let’s join together to become a mighty community of faith

2. For the sake of this world – Stay together

“The world needs the church to survive and do it’s job
The church is the hope of the world.” – Bill Hybels

While this world can attack us and make fun of us, they actually need us to get it right and to have something to offer them for when something goes wrong in people’s lives.
Ephesians 3:10 declares that God’s intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.
The world desperately needs a functioning Christian community to bring a message of faith, hope and love – to show the world another way to live.

“Man is a being born to believe. And if no church comes forward with its title-deeds of truth to guide him, he will find altars and idols in his own heart and his own imagination.” – Benjamin Disraeli

3. For the sake of your own lives – Stay together
We need each other or we become religious, cynical, dry and crusty.
We cannot create a community of faith that will reach the world unless we commit to community and to each other
You say “well I’m here” – here is not enough – God doesn’t just want your attendance – he wants your heart.
To build a community that will change the world we need to buy in at a heart level

I invite you to be part of this community – it’s going to be costly, it’s not always going to be easy – but it has power to change your life and touch the world
God wants you to be part of it.

Ephesians 2: 19 – 22
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

honor

1 Peter 2: 17

Show proper respect to everyone:

One of the kingdom traits is being able to honor others

Insecure people can’t honor anyone – they always have to drag others down to feel ok about themselves. Kingdom people know how to honor others

What is proper respect for each other?

Matthew 7: 12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

How do you want to be treated? Start treating others that way

It disappoints me to see arrogant Christians – It is such a bad example

It takes the smallest thing to set some people off. We let God down when we act like this

Love the brotherhood of believers

Romans 12: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

When people walk into church treat them with respect and give them an uplifting experience of being around believers

Maybe they are coming in to really see if God is real

Can we show them a bunch of people that really care about each other?

Can we love each other and demonstrate God’s love that is in us

When I walked into church in 1986 I received that – these people weren’t perfect but they demonstrated acceptance and love and I want C3 church to do that for people

I want our church to do an amazing job of welcoming people into the kingdom

We have the most amazing thing here; Christian community

This idea could bring great change to our city if people see it working

fear God

What does it mean to honor God? – To put God in his rightful place

1 Timothy 1: 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The bible says fear him – what does that mean? It means to have a healthy respect for who he is. He is big! He is the great God, the ancient of days, the alpha and omega

Revisit today the place God occupies in your life and put him in his rightful place

If you honor God in your life – you will see him honor you

1 Samuel 2: 30 Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

honor the king

Honor those in authority

Romans 13: 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

Honor the boss – How do you treat those who you work for?

This is one of the most important witnesses you can have

In the bible Joseph was one of the greatest at honoring others, even though he was mistreated, he honored those in charge of him and God blessed him   

His honor put him on the pathway to greatness

The best tip to be successful in life is to do a great job at what you are working on right now

Honor church leaders

1 Timothy 5: 17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

At church respect and follow your leaders – you can’t love God and disrespect his leaders

Honoring our national leaders

So many people dishonor elected leaders – God won’t bless that behavior

David honors a bad leader in Saul unto his death – he killed the servant who killed Saul

Whoever our elected leaders are we should pray for them and respect them

We are not picketers and protestors – we are influencers in society

We are not the weirdo’s into Christian conspiracy theories – we are to be the head and not the tail – so lets act like it – lets honor people!

Don’t forget the Sabbath

Exodus 20: 8 – 11 The fourth Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day

The term “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means “to cease”

Don’t forget to have God’s day of rest

We forget because our life is crazy busy – we forget because everyone else forgets

Common sayings in our world

I wish I had the time, I’ve run out of time, I’m trying to find the time, when I have time, If only I had time, there’s never enough time, I’m pressed for time, I’ll try to find time……

NZ article said this week: Let’s face it, stress is the blight of our generation

God is not wanting busy stressed out Christians!

The Sabbath was made to benefit and restore people

The Sabbath has been observed by God’s people for thousands of years

Remember to observe the Sabbath, Don’t put it off – Don’t forget it

By keeping it holy

Sunday is the new “it” day – Everything happens on a Sunday now

You have to make a choice in your life

Will you follow the path the world takes – or will you honor God’s day to rest and to seek him

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

It was the custom of Jesus to go to the house of God on the Sabbath day

Don’t pursue your own interests, don’t turn a God day into a golf day – how many people today should be in the house of God but they are in the club house or their own house?

We make no room for God – no wonder we don’t experience God like we should

Worship: Worship renews our spirit – Stop working and let God work on you

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God

The principle is one in seven is a day off

Hebrews 4: 9 – 10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his

Make it a habit in your life – One day a week you give to God

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

Don’t work: Don’t mess with God’s day off

God says no work!! – on Sunday don’t run your business, don’t work, honor God

Don’t have your kids out doing everything, teach them the value of honoring God

The Sabbath is a day to rest our body

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day

Rest: God rested on the seventh day – God rested and we also need to rest

The Sabbath is about Gods plan for rest and replenishment

Everyone talks about burning out – if they did it God’s way they would be refreshed

God asked us to work and then have a day of rest

The Sabbath is a day to seek God and rest

David understood the revelation of rest and seeking God

In Psalm 23: 1 – 3 he wrote: The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths

He wants to restore your soul

How do we keep the Sabbath: Seek God and rest

Make the Sabbath a priority in your life!!

Disciple Making Part 2

The greatest thing on Christ’s agenda is making disciples

Without making disciples the church is left with attenders

Attenders never have & never will change the world – Attenders will never make the sacrifice to build the kingdom – but disciples will

6. Discipleship happens on the move

Discipleship is not a date – it’s a journey

The best way to disciple someone is as you are doing something together for God

Paul takes Timothy with him on ministry trips and church planting campaigns

Get your disciples to help you with what you are serving in around church

These are the best places because you are on the job serving God and building the church

Demonstrate your Christian life – a demonstration is better than a conversation

In the gaps – great conversations can take place

7. Build up your people

People don’t need advice or a few pointers – they need leaders and mentors to walk through a situation with them

Disciple making is about building people up – helping them become strong in faith & life

It brings the best out of you and the people you disciple

Disciple making produces people that will stand for Jesus Christ – and not fall or run when the pressure is on

8. Keep people accountable

Disciples need accountability – it is one of people’s greatest needs

A bit of advice now and then is not going to produce a disciple – you need to keep them accountable

Make sure they are in the word and seeking God, that they are living an appropriate life style

Give them an evaluation on their performance in church – help them become servants

They need to hear your voice – I am not shy about speaking into those I am discipling

Make sure they get into church every week

Psalm 92:12-14 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

If you can get people locked into church – it will be one of your best pieces of leadership

9. Believe in them

1 Corinthians 4: 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Paul became a father to the church leaders under him & a father to Timothy

The reason so many Christian leaders don’t make it – they have no fathers

Help people break down the giants in front of them & breakthrough into God’s anointing

Everyone needs someone that believes in them!

The power of your voice is huge to your disciples

Everyone needs someone telling them that they can make it!

Give them permission to succeed – be a father – be a leader

10. Be around to help the changes take effect in someone’s life

It is the most rewarding thing to be able to input into someone and to see them succeed

If you are going to disciple people – be committed to it – don’t leave your people hanging

Be around for your people, be an inspiring leader

Timothy becomes more than a disciple to Paul, he becomes a son and successor

He takes over from Paul & leads the church of Ephesus which grows to 60,000 people

I am passionate about my disciples – I believe in them and I want them to succeed

To think that God could use our flaws and failings to build up other people’s lives is amazing

Disciple Making Part 1

In such uncertain times in the world we need to be doing what Christ has asked us to do

In the last words of Jesus – he has asked us to make disciples

Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

1. Before you can make disciples you have to become one

You can’t teach something you don’t really have yourself

Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The number one thing on Christ’s agenda is making disciples

But there are many Christians around who talk about God, even go to church, but never get around to the will of the Father

The will of the father is that we would become disciples and go on to make disciples

Decide to become a disciple – which means a learner – be a follower – be teachable –

Be a great disciple – discipleship can be fun – enjoy it – someone is inputting into your life

2. Choose some people

Matthew 4: 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Find some people you care about and have on your heart

Jesus saw these two brothers and thinks – I like those guys

Maybe they were really passionate about their job – he thought they would be great disciples

Find some people that you could get passionate about training

3. Disciple the willing people

There are projects and then there are disciples – Disciples are the willing

What made Peter and Andrew great disciples is that – they left their nets & followed

They heard the call & responded –some people have all the potential but just won’t respond

You can’t teach someone who doesn’t want to learn

Look for a willing spirit in your disciple

4. Invite them into your world

Many people never disciple anyone because they won’t invite people into their world

They’ve got a neat and tidy life and you don’t want to mess it up with new people

It’s so lucky Jesus never felt like that when he sacrificed his life for them

Some of the greatest people you ever meet with be those Jesus brings to you

Jesus invited the most unlikely people: Jesus disciples included 4 fishermen, a tax collector and a zealot – religious politician

He invited himself to lunch with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector – who had a radical conversion because of meeting Jesus

Open the doors and invite someone into your world

5. Speak into their lives

People don’t need advice or a few pointers – they need leaders and mentors to walk through a situation with them

Share the truths, disciplines and experiences that have helped shape your life

What has God done in your life? – pass on the lessons you have learned

Listen to people and encourage them on the next step of their journey

Don’t allow people to get into trouble or go off track

Challenge the way they live their lives – this is real leadership

Don’t justify people in their behavior – but challenge them to live a Godly life

Invest what you have and you will see a harvest one day