Category: Irresistible influence

Blessed to Bless

“Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42 (ESV) As you study the life of Jesus, you will quickly discover that Jesus oriented His life around being a blessing. His entire earthly ministry was centered around benefiting others. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven in order to come the earth to live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death to provide for our salvation. Jesus exemplified generosity, humility, and flexibility. We live in a needy world. Sickness, stress, financial instability, and strained relationships decorate the landscape of life. The reality of living in a fallen world is marked by dependence upon others to help meet practical needs. We need each other. The world needs us. Are we willing to portray the life of Christ in our current context? Will others see Jesus in us? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the kingdom-focused life as the life willing to give to others. Selfishness has no real estate in the Christian life. Every child of God is to employ the servitude of Christ by being selfless. Living to bless, to benefit, and to add value to others becomes the byproduct of a life yielded to the Lordship of Christ. The fruit of being blessed by God is unleashing your life to be a blessing to others. You are blessed by God to be a blessing. You are graced by God to be gracious. You are loved by God to be loving. You are forgiven by God to be forgiving. As you submit to the Lordship of Christ, you become a conduit of His blessing to enrich the lives of others. Orient your life to honor God and to be a blessing to others. Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Grace Irresistible influence Jesus

Go the Extra Mile

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matthew 5:41 (ESV) The Roman law in Jesus’ day gave a soldier the right to force a civilian to carry his equipment for a mile. It did not matter if the civilian had other plans or was going in the opposite direction. By law, the civilian had to carry the heavy load for a mile if selected by the soldier. That was the law as well as the clear expectation. Jesus illuminated the path for the believer to go beyond the expectation and to be willing to go the extra mile. Can you imagine the expression on the face of a Roman soldier when the mile was almost complete and the civilian announced that he would be glad to carry the equipment another mile? Instead of seeing the soldier as an obstacle, what if the follower of Christ viewed the soldier as an opportunity to display the love and grace of God? That makes me wonder how many Roman soldiers will be in heaven because of the civilians who portrayed the servitude of Christ by going the extra mile. I can picture a soldier asking the believer what would motivate him to go the extra mile. The believer would then share how Jesus had transformed his life personally and transformed his perception of others. Do you have that kind of heart for people? Are you compelled to go the extra mile for others even when it hurts? Going the extra mile to portray the love of Christ may invade your plans or even delay your personal agenda. Consider the impact you can make by simply living to add value to others. Ready to go the extra mile? Drawing Near, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Irresistible influence Jesus Witness

Portray Christ

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) As followers of Jesus Christ, we are in the world, but not of the world. We are considered aliens and strangers in the world. God has saved us from our sin and called us to Himself. We are His workmanship (Eph. 2:10) and His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20). God has done a gracious work in us so that He can do a redemptive work through us. God wants us to be an irresistible influence in our world. Living with eternity in mind will help us to protect our priorities and to reflect what God values. Our testimony will be strengthened by our devotion to living a life of moral purity. Sinful desires war against our soul. Sin infects us and affects our effectiveness in influencing a lost and dying world toward Christ. Let’s commit to stay close and clean. Our purity paves the way for connectivity with a fallen world. God wants us to stay clean and live such good lives among lost people that will cause them to glorify God. Is there anyone following Jesus as a result of following you? Have you become an irresistible influence for Christ right where you are? Are others being drawn to Christ because of your conversation and your conduct? Consider the people God has brought in your path over the past few weeks. How has your life impacted their lives? Was the life of Christ in you evident to them? Portray Christ in a real way to a real world in real need. You may be the only Jesus others see. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Irresistible influence Jesus Witness

Portray Christ

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NIV) As followers of Jesus Christ, we are in the world, but not of the world. We are considered aliens and strangers in the world. God has saved us from our sin and called us to Himself. We are His workmanship (Eph 2:10) and His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). God has done a gracious work in us so that He can do a redemptive work through us. God wants us to be an irresistible influence in our world. Living with eternity in mind will help us to protect our priorities and to reflect what God values. Our testimony will be strengthened by our devotion to living a life of moral purity. Sinful desires war against our soul. Sin infects us and affects our effectiveness in influencing a lost and dying world toward Christ. Let’s commit to stay close and clean. Our purity paves the way for connectivity with a fallen world. God wants us to stay clean and live such good lives among lost people that will cause them to glorify God. Is there anyone following Jesus as a result of following you? Have you become an irresistible influence for Christ right where you are? Are others being drawn to Christ because of your conversation and your conduct? Consider the people God has brought in your path over the past few weeks. How has your life impacted their lives? Was the life of Christ in you evident to them? Portray Christ in a real way to a real world in real need. You may be the only Jesus others see. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Blessing Irresistible influence Jesus

Blessed to Bless

“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matt 5:42 (NIV) As you study the life of Jesus, you will quickly discover that Jesus oriented His life around being a blessing. His entire earthly ministry was centered around benefiting others. Jesus willingly left the glory of heaven in order to come the earth to live a sinless life and die a sacrificial death to provide for our salvation. Jesus exemplified generosity, humility, and flexibility. We live in a needy world. Sickness, stress, financial instability, and strained relationships decorate the landscape of life. The reality of living in a fallen world is marked by dependence upon others to help meet practical needs. We need each other. The world needs us. Are we willing to portray the life of Christ in our current context? Will others see Jesus in us? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the kingdom-focused life as the life willing to give to others. Selfishness has no real estate in the Christian life. Every child of God is to employ the servitude of Christ by being selfless. Living to bless, to benefit, and to add value to others becomes the byproduct of a life yielded to the Lordship of Christ. The fruit of being blessed by God is unleashing your life to be a blessing to others. You are blessed by God to be a blessing. You are graced by God to be gracious. You are loved by God to be loving. You are forgiven by God to be forgiving. As you submit to the Lordship of Christ, you become a conduit of His blessing to enrich the lives of others. Orient your life to honor God and to be a blessing to others. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Grace Irresistible influence Jesus

Go the Extra Mile

“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Matt 5:41 (NIV) The Roman law in Jesus’ day gave a soldier the right to force a civilian to carry his equipment for a mile. It did not matter if the civilian had other plans or was going in the opposite direction. By law, the civilian had to carry the heavy load for a mile if selected by the soldier. That was the law as well as the clear expectation. Jesus illuminated the path for the believer to go beyond the expectation and to be willing to go the extra mile. Can you imagine the expression on the face of a Roman soldier when the mile was almost complete and the civilian announced that he would be glad to carry the equipment another mile? Instead of seeing the soldier as an obstacle, what if the follower of Christ viewed the soldier as an opportunity to display the love and grace of God? That makes me wonder how many Roman soldiers will be in heaven because of the civilians who portrayed the servitude of Christ by going the extra mile. I can picture a soldier asking the believer what would motivate him to go the extra mile. The believer would then share how Jesus had transformed his life personally and transformed his perception of others. Do you have that kind of heart for people? Are you compelled to go the extra mile for others even when it hurts? Going the extra mile to portray the love of Christ may invade your plans or even delay your personal agenda. Consider the impact you can make by simply living to add value to others. Ready to go the extra mile? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Generosity Grace Irresistible influence

Unlocking Generosity

“And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” Matt 5:40 (NIV) Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Impact invite Irresistible influence

IMPACT (7)

Be an irresistible influence for the glory of God. You were made by God to make an impact for His glory. God has impacted you by providing the gift of eternal life through the atoning work of Jesus upon the cross. God has impacted you by filling you with His Holy Spirit. Now it is time for you to make an impact for Him. To be an irresistible influence is to allow Jesus to shine His light and to share His love through you. Living a life that draws others to Christ requires being intentional about the opportunities God provides. Andrew was an irresistible influence for God’s glory. He intentionally brought others to Jesus. “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” John 1:41-42 (NIV) “Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8-9 (NIV) Will you seek to be an irresistible influence for God’s glory each day? Seize the opportunities God places before you to draw others to Christ. Invite others to become followers of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor