Core| Spiritual Influence | Aug 13
Core: Spiritual Influence
John 10
August 13th, 2023
Sir Isaac Newton First Law of Motion: Law of Inertia
“…an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”
The essential definition of core is…
the central, innermost, or most essential part of something.
John 10:1-10 (NIV) “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:9b-10 (The Message) A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
Post-modernism is a way of thought that shapes culture. It is post-truth, post-trust, post-unity.
Orthodoxy – Right Thinking
Orthopraxy – Right Method
Orthopathy – Right Heart
3 Heart Disconnections and 3 Heart Remedies.
Disconnection from God.
Remedy: A fresh connection to God (Fresh Starts)
Disconnection from God’s People.
Remedy: A renewed connection to a community of Faith. (Great Friends)
Disconnection from Purpose.
Remedy: A connection to a purpose bigger than yourself. (Real Purpose)
Gateway’s core is to… Develop spiritually influential people by connecting them to God (fresh starts), one another (great friends) and the world around them (real purpose).
God’s Answer to My Prayer
Church purpose? Develop spiritually influential people.
Church name? Gateway Church.
Leadership Approach? Shepherd people.
Spiritual influence is the impact of moving someone one step closer to Christ as a result of your connection or interaction.
5 Circles of Spiritual Influence
Circle #1 Family
Circle #2 Church
Circle #3 Community
Circle #4 Workplace
Circle #5 World
2 Big Results of Pursuing Fresh Starts, Great Friends, Real Purpose.
You will discover the more and better life than you could have ever dreamed Jesus described and promised in John 10.
You will be prepared for spiritual influence if you move into the opportunities God presents.
You prepare for a moment before the moment.