In a recent staff meeting Ben talked about the differences between the following three actions:
- Relational
- Influencial
- Transactional
INFLUENTIAL
What is influence? Ability to move people from one place to another.
- It is leadership…it is the essence of discipleship.
- We are dependent upon God
- We are also partnered with him to help influence others.
Matthew 28. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
In order to do that, we must learn what it means to be influential.
RELATIONAL
- Person focused. Long term. Result is loyalty, deeper friendship.
- Example: Close friends, Spouse, Kids
- Tension: limited space, Not productive; can become enabling
TRANSACTIONAL.
- Transactional – Action focused. Short term. Result is I get what I need/want.
- Example: I buy shoes for my neighbor. He gives me a discount.
- Tension: not meaningful; can feel used
INFLUENTIAL
- Influential – Impact focused. Short term action, long term relationship. Result is making a difference
- Example: Josh at the gym
- Tension: navigating the line between caring and catalyst
Biblically we are called to be influential. Some of you are better at the transactional side. Others of you are better at the Relational side. If we are going to level up…we must become more influential. We must help our team be influential.
Ephesians 4:11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
The result of our influence will be what? UNITY and Maturity. We will become closer as we grow into the full and complete standard of Christ. Our church requires you to mature. Helping others grow spiritually is how you step into deeper levels of maturity.
Look at Matthew 28 again
Matthew 28: 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you…
Do you know what he says next?
Matthew 28: 19 … And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
How do we become more influential?
- See your influence
- See their potential
- Apply pressure to move them
If we don’t apply pressure…they just sit there. Go back to Matthew 28…Jesus ascended. Angels came…what are you doing? We don’t like pressure…so we don’t apply pressure. Purposeful pressure!
Example: Josh at the gym. You can do more. And he was right.