Principle 7 – Gather People – Gather People to Influence People (part 10)

“Discipleship Uncomplicated”, The 8 Principles of Disciple Making by Dr. Warren Haynes

Principle 7 – Gather People – Gather People to Influence People (part 10)

On another occasion, we invited our neighbors to our house for a Bible study get-together. We prepared a fun icebreaker to help people get to know each other. My wife and girls worked on refreshments, and I worked out the details for the Bible study and group interactions. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. Even though we were new to the neighbourhood, we were able to facilitate an experience that helped people get to know each other better. This has also opened up many opportunities for us to pray and provide spiritual direction for our neighbors.

As followers of Jesus, we need to take spiritual responsibility for our neighbors, and the people God brings into our lives – even if this involves stepping out of our comfort zone. To accomplish God’s will, we must be aware of our feelings and thoughts, particularly the presence of love and fear. Fear will always try to talk us out of doing what God wants, while love will empower us to walk in the presence, power, and love of God. “The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).