How leaders create opportunity to connect to people

Leaders connect with people, inviting them to share in the passion and vision of the vision of the leader.  The sincerity and depth of connection determines the commitment to the shared vision.

Look at this short inspirational video by Werner Joubert (pastor of Shofar Christian Church in Secunda, South Africa) on how to deliberately and progressively connect with people.

Scripture

John 1:40-41, 45-46

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 41 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Peter.”

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

John 12:20-22

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

Observations and reflection questions

Context: Philip and Andrew were of the first disciples who responded to Jesus’ invitation to discipleship.

1. The three portions of Scriptures above relate three accounts where people were connected to Jesus.
   1. What progressions do you notice? [hint: note the relationships, and who asks who about Jesus?]
   2. What was the “primary strategy” to connect people to Jesus?

Application and Prayer

Philip and Andrew were two of the first disciples of Jesus Whom invited them into their lives.  From this they apparently learned that, to connect people to Jesus, they simply had to invite people into their lives.

In the video above Werner relayed three progressive steps in connecting with people (from Bill Hybels’ Walk across the Room):

• Develop a friendship (get involved in their world…)
• Discover their stories (ask questions…)
• Determine next steps (perhaps invitation to coffee or dinner or church?)

1. Write down three people whom you cross paths with regularly (co-worker, teacher or parent at your kid’s school, neighbour, someone at your gym, etc).
2. For each one consider which step above is most applicable in that relationship now.
3. Pray for God’s blessing on each of these three people intelligibly, considering what you know about each one.  Pray that God would connect your hearts for his goodness in their lives, and make yourself available for his purpose in their lives. Ask for wisdom and grace to love these people well.
4. Then make deliberate effort in this week to develop these three relationships!