Circles of Influence

October 30 – Circles of Influence – Romans 8:22-30

Where do you need to spend more time to build relationships with people outside the church? Is it the PTA, a track club, a neighborhood association, a sports league, a coffee shop, or a place where you meet people through a hobby? Not only does the church need to connect with mission in the community, but growing disciples of Jesus are called to reach out to people in their lives.

Tracie adds, people are hurting and need to know the love and peace of Jesus and to have the assurance of eternal life with Him. In fact the whole world suffers from the effects of sin. But in Christ we are adopted children of the Father. Our bodies will be redeemed from pain, disease, death, and decay. We will be glorified with God.  We are called to help others know the incredible peace, hope, and joy of knowing that Jesus is working all things for our good. And we are comforted in knowing that God Himself through the Holy Spirit will be with us and will pray for us as we spread the Good News.

Paul writes about this in Romans 8:22-30.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right  up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Examine and pray about your circles of influence:

Family and friends

Neighbors

Social contacts (clubs, work, coffee shops)

Countries or international communities

People groups in your community

Pray about where you are in the thresholds with your friends.

Are you just beginning to build trust?

Are you becoming more aware of the spiritual connections in your lives and culture?

Are you becoming more vulnerable with your friends in sharing how you have experienced your life changing in positive ways?

 Are you looking for groups in which your friends may explore the faith more deeply?

Are you at the point in your relationship with a friend when you need to ask that person if he or she would like to join God’s mission of real and lasting life?

Does your friend want to enter into a relationship with God?

Record the names of people in your life with whom you need to spend more time, so that your relationship is one of trust and honesty. List those who are moving to become more curious and open to change. Also list those you need to invite to a group in which people are investigating God. Then list those you are being led to invite into a relationship with Jesus. Pray about these people.

Plan to bless three different people in your life.

Examples of blessing:

Spend time with a relative, sharing coffee or a meal.

Mow your neighbor’s yard.

Pay for the person behind you in a drive-through line.