Irresistible Influence

By Dan Lewis
Posted on March 30, 2005

This is an outline of a study we did at a leader link meeting several months ago. You can use this study in your Rio Link to help members dream about the kind of influence they can have on their neighborhood.

Irresistible Influence

This month we want to talk about and give you resources in the area of the mission that God has given the church and the fact that God wants us to be effective in our community - to have influence on the people around us.

God wants us to live together in deep community. We're learning how to do that.
But the #1 reason why we meet together as the church (as RioLinks) is because God has given us a mission. (The Great Commandment & The Great Commission - Share the gospel, baptize, teach, love God, love people.)

When we read about the early church in the NT we see that those people were filled with the Holy Spirit and they demonstrated a spiritual energy and depth that transformed the surrounding culture. God wants Rio Link (churches) to become strong links between heaven and earth in our community!

Put these statements on index cards and have everyone read out loud.

Have all of them printed on a sheet to take home, ponder, etc.

Imagine what your church (Rio Link) could be!

Can you imagine the community in which you live being genuinely thankful for your Rio Link?

Can you imagine city leaders valuing your RioLink's friendship and participation in the community - even asking for it?

Can you imagine the neighborhoods around your RioLink talking behind your back about "how good it is" to have your RioLink in the area because of the tangible witness you've offered them of God's love?

Can you imagine a large number of your RioLink members actively engaged in, and passionate about, community service, using their gifts and abilities in ways and at levels they never thought possible?

Can you imagine the community actually changing (Prov 11:11) because of the impact of your RioLink's involvement?

Can you imagine many in your city, formerly cynical and hostile toward Christianity, actually praising God for your RioLink and the positive contributions your members have made in Jesus' name?

Can you imagine the spiritual harvest that would naturally follow if all this were true?

(Adapted from "The Church of Irresistible Influence" by Robert Lewis)

Read / Study Matthew 5:15-16
As the church, how can we reconnect with the people and the needs of our community as "salt and light", as a "light", a "city on a hill."

Read / Study Matthew 22:39
How is the great commandment (to love your neighbor as yourself - Mat 22:39) just as essential to the spread of the gospel and to the sanctification of church members as the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20)?

Robert Lewis calls this "Irresistible Influence." He says that irresistible influence is about reconnecting the church with the community in a way that makes the church both real and reachable. "I believe that the church can only accomplish this by turning outward and loving those around us the way Jesus loved the world: not just in words, but with deeds. Scripture says that against such love, 'there is no law; (Galatians 5:23)"

Love is irresistible - irresistible influence.

How can we love our community? How can your Rio Link build bridges into your community?

Dream a little bit.

Have teams draw big pictures that describe their group with "Irresistible Influence" (posterboard, markers, etc)

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