Loving Outside Our Comfort Zone Becoming People of Influence

1. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence �It was there in the bulletin We�re leaving real soon After the bake sale to raise funds for fuel The rocket is ready and we�re going to Take our church to the moon� David Aikman - Foreign affairs correspondent for Time Magazine May 1989 - speech to the Evangelical Press Association �How do we explain the massive numbers of evangelicals in American life and the extremely little influence in the centers of culture �? There is one overriding explanation � for the failure to assault the centers of culture with the Christian message, life is simply too comfortable inside the Christian ghetto. �Christian TV, books, magazines, rock music, schools, celebrities - even Christian dieting programs and aerobics - are al there. You can live in this mushy, comfortable world and need no contact at all with the larger areas of American life.� �If we stay in the ghetto, not only does the rest of the culture ignore us but we become increasingly unable to communicate with [them]. This is a disaster. Each Christian generation must learn and master the popular prevailing culture of its day. (We do the best job of this today, by the way, in the area of Christian music.) If the gospel is irrelevant to our culture it is because we as evangelicals have ceased to master the language of our culture.�David Aikman - Foreign affairs correspondent for Time Magazine May 1989 - speech to the Evangelical Press Association �How do we explain the massive numbers of evangelicals in American life and the extremely little influence in the centers of culture �? There is one overriding explanation � for the failure to assault the centers of culture with the Christian message, life is simply too comfortable inside the Christian ghetto. �Christian TV, books, magazines, rock music, schools, celebrities - even Christian dieting programs and aerobics - are al there. You can live in this mushy, comfortable world and need no contact at all with the larger areas of American life.� �If we stay in the ghetto, not only does the rest of the culture ignore us but we become increasingly unable to communicate with [them]. This is a disaster. Each Christian generation must learn and master the popular prevailing culture of its day. (We do the best job of this today, by the way, in the area of Christian music.) If the gospel is irrelevant to our culture it is because we as evangelicals have ceased to master the language of our culture.�

2. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence John 17:16-18 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. Look at Case Studies of two Righteous men in the Bible.Look at Case Studies of two Righteous men in the Bible.

3. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Case Study - Lot Genesis 13:12b ... while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Genesis 14:12 They also carried off Abram�s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. Genesis 19:1a The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. Introduced to Lot in Genesis 12 - Joins Abram Genesis 13 - part ways because of wealth accumulated by both men, chooses to live in the plains because of he saw it was well watered, like the plain of the Lord Genesis 14 - Abram rescues Lot when Sodom is attacked by rival kings Also important to note that in Genesis 18 the Lord discusses his plans with Abram regarding what is wants to do with Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram and God discuss this and agree that if there are only 10 righteous men, the cities will be spared. First evidence of lack of influence - large outcry before the Lord, member of ruling council, Abram thinking at least there are ten people whose lives have been changed Genesis 19 - also important to note that Lot recognized that these were men important (even of God)Introduced to Lot in Genesis 12 - Joins Abram Genesis 13 - part ways because of wealth accumulated by both men, chooses to live in the plains because of he saw it was well watered, like the plain of the Lord Genesis 14 - Abram rescues Lot when Sodom is attacked by rival kings Also important to note that in Genesis 18 the Lord discusses his plans with Abram regarding what is wants to do with Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram and God discuss this and agree that if there are only 10 righteous men, the cities will be spared. First evidence of lack of influence - large outcry before the Lord, member of ruling council, Abram thinking at least there are ten people whose lives have been changed Genesis 19 - also important to note that Lot recognized that these were men important (even of God)

4. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Genesis 19:4-8 4 Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.� 6 Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him 7 and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." Second evidence of Lot�s lack of influence - willing to give daughters to these vile men. Taking matters into his own hands. Does he not realize these men can take care of themselves? Read on - didn�t listen to him, angels saved him and struck the men blindSecond evidence of Lot�s lack of influence - willing to give daughters to these vile men. Taking matters into his own hands. Does he not realize these men can take care of themselves? Read on - didn�t listen to him, angels saved him and struck the men blind

5. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Genesis 19:12-14 12 The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.� 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. This is the third piece of evidence regarding Lot�s lack of influence - they thought he was joking. Didn�t take him serious. What does this say about how he related to them in prior to them? Time for laughter and a time to be serious. When I say NO, I really mean it example. When we seek man�s approval, we can slip into the pattern where we make everything into a joke or we say things in a way that it is hard to tell if we really mean it.This is the third piece of evidence regarding Lot�s lack of influence - they thought he was joking. Didn�t take him serious. What does this say about how he related to them in prior to them? Time for laughter and a time to be serious. When I say NO, I really mean it example. When we seek man�s approval, we can slip into the pattern where we make everything into a joke or we say things in a way that it is hard to tell if we really mean it.

6. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Genesis 19:15-17 15 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.� 16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" Note: He hesitated = disobedience (but again the Lord is merciful), goes to the state of his heart, things of the world had become too important, maybe it was his position Why hesitate - these men just blinded all the men in the city Discuss the upcoming verses where Lot again stalls and asks to flee to Zoar instead of the mountains. Again the Lord is merciful. Again relying on his own strength - why not ask instead �Lord grant me the strength to make it to the mountains�Note: He hesitated = disobedience (but again the Lord is merciful), goes to the state of his heart, things of the world had become too important, maybe it was his position Why hesitate - these men just blinded all the men in the city Discuss the upcoming verses where Lot again stalls and asks to flee to Zoar instead of the mountains. Again the Lord is merciful. Again relying on his own strength - why not ask instead �Lord grant me the strength to make it to the mountains�

7. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Genesis 19:23-26 23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens. 25 Thus he overthrew those cities and the Location of Sodom and Gomorrah is disputed, but it is likely in the region of the Dead Sea in Israel. This pillars of salt form on the Dead Sea�s southern shore - reminder of Lot�s wife disobedience. Christ in the book of Luke, chapter 17 says she was trying to save her life and in doing so lost it. What was there?Location of Sodom and Gomorrah is disputed, but it is likely in the region of the Dead Sea in Israel. This pillars of salt form on the Dead Sea�s southern shore - reminder of Lot�s wife disobedience. Christ in the book of Luke, chapter 17 says she was trying to save her life and in doing so lost it. What was there?

8. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Genesis 19:30, 36-38 30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. � 36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. I wonder was he trying �second-time� obedience here. There is no evidence of repentance. In fact, his fear demonstrates a lack of trust. God said he would protect him in Zoar. Why run? What would have happened if Lot went back to Abram after he left Zoar? If instead of leaving out of fear, he had left to regain the relationship with God he once had. Probably saddest here, is the way this passage demonstrates the influence/impact our lives can have on our children. They are watching our example. They make their own choices. QUOTATION: We often overestimate the influence of a peer group on our teenager. While the peer group is most influential in matters of taste and preference, we parents are most influential in more abiding matters of standards, beliefs, and values. ATTRIBUTION: David Elkind (20th century), U.S. child psychologist and author. Parenting Your Teenager in the 90�s, ch. 2 (1993).I wonder was he trying �second-time� obedience here. There is no evidence of repentance. In fact, his fear demonstrates a lack of trust. God said he would protect him in Zoar. Why run? What would have happened if Lot went back to Abram after he left Zoar? If instead of leaving out of fear, he had left to regain the relationship with God he once had. Probably saddest here, is the way this passage demonstrates the influence/impact our lives can have on our children. They are watching our example. They make their own choices. QUOTATION: We often overestimate the influence of a peer group on our teenager. While the peer group is most influential in matters of taste and preference, we parents are most influential in more abiding matters of standards, beliefs, and values. ATTRIBUTION: David Elkind (20th century), U.S. child psychologist and author. Parenting Your Teenager in the 90�s, ch. 2 (1993).

9. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence 2 Peter 2:7-8 7 � and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) ... Also note here that the Lord specifically instructed Moses to not harass or provoke the Moabites or Ammonites to war because they were descendants of Lot.Also note here that the Lord specifically instructed Moses to not harass or provoke the Moabites or Ammonites to war because they were descendants of Lot.

10. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Lessons Learned from Lot We must be continually influenced from above to be an influence here below. Our level of influence is directly proportional to our obedience and inversely proportional to our fear. Our lack of influence can have detrimental consequences. Influenced to be an influence - Lot forgot where the blessing came from, guided by temporal pleasure than by the Lord, takes things into his own hands rather than calling on God (Contrast what we know about Abram during this same time - built altar, refused to take goods from King of Sodom, friend of God) Fear of man or situation vs. Fear of God EXAMPLE: Hip Hop Mass Story Consequences - Could Sodom have been saved like Ninevah? Christ indicated it was possible in the book of Matthew. All of the inhabitants of the city destroyed All of the vegetation destroyed (remember what Lot saw when he came) Lot�s wife loses her life Two nations that become enemies of God�s people are birthedInfluenced to be an influence - Lot forgot where the blessing came from, guided by temporal pleasure than by the Lord, takes things into his own hands rather than calling on God (Contrast what we know about Abram during this same time - built altar, refused to take goods from King of Sodom, friend of God) Fear of man or situation vs. Fear of God EXAMPLE: Hip Hop Mass Story Consequences - Could Sodom have been saved like Ninevah? Christ indicated it was possible in the book of Matthew. All of the inhabitants of the city destroyed All of the vegetation destroyed (remember what Lot saw when he came) Lot�s wife loses her life Two nations that become enemies of God�s people are birthed

11. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Case Study - Daniel Daniel 1:8,17 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Talk about the young age that Daniel was taken 15-20 Young, far from home, training program, offered all the food and wine, name changed - this is an indoctrination program What happened to the other captives that were also put into this program? The ones that didn�t stick to their convictions.Talk about the young age that Daniel was taken 15-20 Young, far from home, training program, offered all the food and wine, name changed - this is an indoctrination program What happened to the other captives that were also put into this program? The ones that didn�t stick to their convictions.

12. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Daniel 2:18-19, 28a 18 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 28 � but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. NOTE: Prays with others. Not in this alone. Praises god in private and public. What would have happened if he took the credit for himself when he was before the king? God would not have continued to bless. Also note: Daniel was not afraid to speak what he saw when God gave him the interpretation to many of the dreams recorded in the book of Daniel. Also note: his influence in this particular case saves the lives of all of the wise menNOTE: Prays with others. Not in this alone. Praises god in private and public. What would have happened if he took the credit for himself when he was before the king? God would not have continued to bless. Also note: Daniel was not afraid to speak what he saw when God gave him the interpretation to many of the dreams recorded in the book of Daniel. Also note: his influence in this particular case saves the lives of all of the wise men

13. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Daniel 6:4,10 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. This is much latter in his life. Notice - even his enemies could find nothing corrupt The practice of prayer - calling on God is key in his life.This is much latter in his life. Notice - even his enemies could find nothing corrupt The practice of prayer - calling on God is key in his life.

14. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Daniel 4:37 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 6:26 26 I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. Daniel service actually spans multiple kings Nebuchadnezzar - Belshazzar - Darius His titles include: Chief of the Magicians 3rd highest ruler in the land One of 3 administrators over the satrapsDaniel service actually spans multiple kings Nebuchadnezzar - Belshazzar - Darius His titles include: Chief of the Magicians 3rd highest ruler in the land One of 3 administrators over the satraps

15. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Lessons Learned from Daniel We need to seek to follow the Lord rather than to desire positions. We need to praise God both privately and publicly to be an influence. We have nothing to fear when we rely on God.

16. Loving Outside Our Comfort ZoneBecoming People of Influence Application Are you influencing the world around you or are they influencing you? What example are you setting? Are you giving into your fears or walking in obedience? How is your prayer life? Do you have someone to stand with you?