“We have to push through the awkward — especially at church.”
Anna and Joy talk today about connecting with people and building relationships around the dinner table. They share their stories of having people over, bringing them together, and what that kind of influence has looked like in their lives. They discuss how being deeply plugged in a church community takes strength and guts (their favorite) and end with Luke 24:13-16 as they talk through what it means to be in discipleship.
Sharing a story today is (in)courage contributor Grace P. Cho. She reads her story about influence at the dinner table, as published in Week Five of the Courageous Influence Bible Study.
Also, in each episode of this season (today included), hear from very special guests Kathi Lipp, Becky Keife, and Grace P. Cho (author of Courageous Influence)! Today, each of them share the ways in which serving, gathering, and hosting has led to discipleship in their lives. Listen in to find out which of them learned and served by cleaning toilets, which prayed for couple friends, and which encourages us to go first with our invitations.
These three friends spent a few days together as they went through the study, and, lucky us, they recorded their conversations so we can all listen in!
Find all the Bible Study Mondays posts here and discover for yourself what God says about influence (spoiler alert: you have it! Yes, you!)
Listen to today’s episode below or wherever you stream podcasts! And be sure to get your copy of the Courageous Influence Bible Study from DaySpring.com.
Thank you guys for what you shared. It has remained me of a thing we do in our Church Enniskillen Salvation Army. Called Bless. It is about asking God who will you bless this week. By showing them the Love of God. Saved or not saved. Taking them for coffee or lunch if you can afford it. Or just be a friend and listening to them. But let them know that they can trust you. If they just want to talk about something. You will pray for them. If you know they need more help than you can give them. If you know someone that can help with what they have shared. Tell them. You can point them to get that help. If the person doesn’t get out much this is too show them you care like Jesus. You are being that friend to them like Jesus. Showing them saved or not saved also the Love of Jesus. That you care. You are doing it on to Jesus. I think it is a very good idea. That our Church is doing. As I found I have blessed a young lady lot younger than me. I told her anything she tell me. Is between me her and God. That I would pray for her. As she feels people don’t like her. She has not many friends. In She is saved. I was blessing her by being a friend too her. Listening to her. She thanked me for that. As hardly anyone take the time or bothers with her. I was great influence to her. Just letting her talk. Get all of her chest. Then I said I pray for her and I did that. I told her she was a Daughter of the king of kings Jesus. She is special to Jesus. For her never to forget that. It is only what Jesus says about her that matters. Not people. She did feel alot better. Appreciated me to taking the time to listen to her and be there for her. So to God thank you I was able to bless her and was a good influence to her. Praying for you all incourage. Thank you again for sharing your hearts. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx