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!

Leaders create opportunities to Connect People

Leaders connect with people where they are at, 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 why and how to create platforms to connect with people.

 

Scripture

Luke 5:27-29

²⁷ After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁸ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. ²⁹ And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. ³⁰ And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Observations and reflection questions

Context: Especially Jewish tax collectors were despised by the Jewish community who felt betrayed and oppressed by their extortion and disgusted by their notoriously immoral lifestyles.

1. Why would it be strange that Jesus would invite a notorious sinner such as Levi saying “follow me”? What did the invitation imply?
2. Why would the Pharisees and scribes grumble at Jesus’ attendance of Levi’s feast?
3. What do you think was Levi’s motive for holding a feast “with tax collectors and sinners”, shortly after leaving all and following Jesus (in discipleship)?
4. Why, in your own words, did Jesus attend the feast? (verses 31-32)

Personal Reflection and Application

Levi was a chief tax collector employed by the Romans to tax his own oppressed people.  Therefore, he and his fellow tax collectors were despised and ostracized from his countrymen, cut off from the God of his fathers.  Until the Jesus invited him to become his disciple.  So the first thing he did was to hold a feast where all his fellow “tax collectors and sinners” can meet Jesus, the Rabi who was not intimidated by their sinful ways, and who would gladly associate and minister to them.

1. Do you feel uncomfortable around “sinners”? If yes – why?
2. What is the difference before God between yourself and a “sinner” a.k.a. “bad person”? [or what makes a “sinner” bad in the eyes of God, and what makes you good in the eyes of God?]
3. Pray that God will remove any form of self-righteousness and judgment from your heart.

4. In which way can you set up a platform (such as Matthew’s Feast) to create a space where people can connect with God or God’s people in a non-threatening, sincere way? Discuss this with your accountability partner or mature Christian Friend.
5. Pray that God will help you think of practical, non-threatening ways to engage and connect with people around you with the sincerity and love of Christ.

Consider this testimony by Bill Hybels as an example of connecting with people, so that you may share the love of Christ with them.