July 9, 2023
Your Influence
- Erik Cooper
Sermon Notes
Colossians 1:19-20
"For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him, God reconciled everything to himself, He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross."
5 WAYS YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR INFLUENCE
1. Don't confuse fame and following with influence.
"Humans were not fashioned by God for celebrity. We can't take it, I'm telling you. It's too much. To be greatly adored or greatly abhorred either one is crazy-making & both attend celebrity. A lot of celebrities crash but all of them crack. We're craving our own public breakdown. If God lends you an audience for the gospel—&, mind you, it will just be lent, not kept—keep your head down, keep mature people around you who can tell you when you're an idiot, prepare to be humbled constantly & submit to it. And do not—I say again—do not make crowds your god. It's idolatry. Don't clamor for big numbers. And don't kid yourself that bigger is better for the sake of the gospel. We do the lifting up of Jesus. God does the drawing. Just serve as faithfully as you know how. Repent regularly. Ride the waves & long for the shore." - Beth Moore
Fame means lots of people know you, godly influence means someone is closer to Jesus because they know you.
John 3:26-30
They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him. To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less."
Faithful Anonymity > Chasing Notoriety
2. Use Influence the Way Jesus Did.
Matthew 20:25-27
"But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.
John 13:3-5
"Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him."
We Wash Feet
3. Embrace the inefficiency of physical presence.
Genesis 3:8
"When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden."
We were created to be with.
Influence calls for "incarnation."
4. Stop trying to change the world.
"Most people don't really want to change the world, they want to become known as the person who changed the world." - Patrick Lencioni
8 billion people in the world
Nearly 3.5 billion are considered UNREACHED with the Gospel
That's an ENORMOUS, overwhelming task
Who has God put in front of you?
5. Leave People Looking at Jesus.
Luke 3:15-16
"The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."
Christian leaders don't leave us looking at their great leadership; they leave us looking at Jesus.