Reclaiming Influence: Cultivating a Godly Circle
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the importance of reclaiming our circle of influence. We began by acknowledging the significance of community and the joy of gathering together, especially during our summer series, "Porch Swings and Garage Bands." This series aims to help us redefine the culture of our lives by examining what we do and what we allow to be done. We explored the concept of influence, emphasizing that everyone has someone who looks up to them, and it is crucial to lead well, starting from our homes and extending outward.
We discussed the dual nature of influence: not only must we lead others to Jesus, but we must also be cautious about who is leading us and where they are leading us to. I shared a personal story about getting lost while deer hunting to illustrate that the easy path isn't always the right path. This led us to the first take-home principle: the people who influence us are key contributors to the culture of our lives.
We examined how influencers shape various aspects of our lives, from fashion to music, and how this is not a new phenomenon but one rooted in biblical principles. Proverbs 13:20 and 27:17 remind us that the company we keep can either make us wise or lead us to destruction. Similarly, Galatians 5:7-9 and 1 Corinthians 15:33 warn us about the dangers of false teachings and bad company.
We also touched on the power of media and how it influences our emotions and actions. While we are in the world, we are not of the world, and we must be careful not to let worldly influences pull us away from our faith. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, not conformed to this world.
Finally, I posed two critical questions: Who or what needs to be removed from your circle, and who or what needs to be added? These questions are essential for reclaiming our lives and ensuring that we are influenced by those who lead us closer to God.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Dual Nature of Influence: We must lead others to Jesus while being cautious about who is leading us and where they are leading us to. The easy path isn't always the right path, and we must be vigilant about the influences in our lives. [53:37]
2. Influence Shapes Culture: The people who influence us are key contributors to the culture of our lives. This principle is rooted in biblical wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 13:20 and 27:17, which teach us that our companions can either make us wise or lead us to destruction. [57:07]
3. Media's Powerful Influence: Media, whether music, movies, or books, has a profound impact on our emotions and actions. While we are in the world, we must not be of the world, ensuring that our primary influence is God's Word and not worldly trends. [01:12:41]
4. Reclaiming Our Circle: To reclaim our lives, we must evaluate who or what needs to be removed from our circle and who or what needs to be added. This involves setting up guardrails and being purposeful in our relationships to ensure they lead us closer to God. [01:19:03]
5. Active Participation in Faith: We must actively seek out relationships that help us grow in our faith. This may require us to reach out and ask for help, ensuring that we have the right people in our lives to guide us through our spiritual journey. [01:21:31]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[49:43] - Community Nights and Pool Parties
[50:23] - Summer Series Introduction
[51:42] - Defining Culture
[53:07] - Reclaiming Our Circle
[53:37] - The Dual Nature of Influence
[54:29] - Personal Story: Deer Hunting
[57:07] - Key Contributors to Culture
[58:09] - Influence in Everyday Life
[01:00:15] - The Power of Media
[01:05:03] - Biblical Wisdom on Influence
[01:12:41] - Media's Impact on Emotions
[01:15:01] - In the World, Not of the World
[01:19:03] - Reclaiming Our Circle
[01:21:31] - Seeking Relationships for Growth
[01:22:59] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[01:25:55] - Worship and Reflection
[01:28:46] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 13:20 - "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
2. Romans 12:1-2 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
3. 1 Corinthians 15:33 - "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'"
### Observation Questions
1. According to Proverbs 13:20, what are the consequences of walking with wise men versus the companion of fools?
2. In Romans 12:1-2, what does Paul urge believers to do with their bodies and minds?
3. What does 1 Corinthians 15:33 warn us about regarding the company we keep?
4. In the sermon, what personal story did Pastor Ronnie share to illustrate that the easy path isn't always the right path? ([55:57])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Proverbs 13:20 relate to the idea of influence discussed in the sermon? ([57:07])
2. What does it mean to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" as stated in Romans 12:2, and how does this apply to the influences in our lives? ([01:15:01])
3. How can the warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33 about "evil company" be applied to modern-day relationships and media consumption? ([01:09:41])
4. Pastor Ronnie asked, "Who or what needs to be removed from your circle, and who or what needs to be added?" How do these questions help in reclaiming our circle of influence? ([01:19:03])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current circle of influence. Are there any individuals or media sources that you feel are leading you away from your faith? How can you address this? ([01:19:03])
2. Proverbs 13:20 emphasizes the importance of wise companions. Who in your life exemplifies wisdom, and how can you spend more time with them to grow in your faith?
3. Romans 12:2 calls for the renewal of our minds. What specific steps can you take this week to renew your mind and avoid conforming to worldly influences? ([01:15:01])
4. Pastor Ronnie mentioned the power of media in shaping our emotions and actions. What types of media do you consume regularly, and how do they affect your spiritual life? ([01:12:41])
5. Think about the people who have a significant influence on you. Are there any relationships that you need to set boundaries in to protect your spiritual well-being? ([01:19:57])
6. Pastor Ronnie shared a story about getting lost while deer hunting to illustrate that the easy path isn't always the right path. Can you recall a time when you took the easy path and it led you astray? What did you learn from that experience? ([55:57])
7. Identify one person you admire for their spiritual maturity. How can you reach out to them this week to seek guidance or mentorship in your faith journey? ([01:21:31])
Devotional
Day 1: The Dual Nature of Influence
Influence is a powerful force that can shape our lives in profound ways. We must be vigilant about who we allow to influence us and where they are leading us. The easy path isn't always the right path, and sometimes it requires discernment and courage to choose the path that aligns with our faith. As we lead others to Jesus, we must also be cautious about the influences we allow into our own lives. This dual nature of influence means that we are both leaders and followers, and we must navigate this balance with wisdom and intentionality. [53:37]
Proverbs 4:23-27 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Reflection: Who are the key influencers in your life right now? Are they leading you closer to Jesus or away from Him? Take a moment to evaluate and pray for discernment in your relationships.
Day 2: Influence Shapes Culture
The people who influence us are key contributors to the culture of our lives. This principle is deeply rooted in biblical wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 13:20 and 27:17, which teach us that our companions can either make us wise or lead us to destruction. Our culture is shaped by those we surround ourselves with, and it is essential to choose our influences wisely. By aligning ourselves with godly influences, we can cultivate a culture that reflects our faith and values. [57:07]
Proverbs 13:20 (ESV): "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Reflection: Think about the culture of your life. What aspects of it reflect godly influence, and what aspects might need to change? How can you seek out wise and godly companions to help shape a culture that honors God?
Day 3: Media's Powerful Influence
Media, whether music, movies, or books, has a profound impact on our emotions and actions. While we are in the world, we must not be of the world, ensuring that our primary influence is God's Word and not worldly trends. The media we consume can shape our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, often in subtle ways. By being mindful of the media we engage with, we can protect our hearts and minds from negative influences and instead fill them with what is true, noble, and praiseworthy. [01:12:41]
Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Reflection: Reflect on the media you consume daily. Are there any changes you need to make to ensure that your media consumption aligns with your faith and values? How can you incorporate more godly influences into your media choices?
Day 4: Reclaiming Our Circle
To reclaim our lives, we must evaluate who or what needs to be removed from our circle and who or what needs to be added. This involves setting up guardrails and being purposeful in our relationships to ensure they lead us closer to God. By intentionally curating our circle of influence, we can create an environment that supports our spiritual growth and helps us stay on the path of righteousness. This process requires honest self-reflection and a willingness to make difficult decisions for the sake of our faith. [01:19:03]
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: Who or what in your life is hindering your spiritual growth? What steps can you take to remove these negative influences and add positive, godly influences to your circle?
Day 5: Active Participation in Faith
We must actively seek out relationships that help us grow in our faith. This may require us to reach out and ask for help, ensuring that we have the right people in our lives to guide us through our spiritual journey. Active participation in faith means being intentional about our relationships and seeking out mentors, friends, and communities that encourage us to grow closer to God. By doing so, we can build a strong support system that helps us navigate the challenges of life with faith and resilience. [01:21:31]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Who in your life helps you grow in your faith? Are there any relationships you need to cultivate or seek out to strengthen your spiritual journey? How can you be proactive in building a supportive faith community?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We are to be the light of the world. We are to be a city on a hill that will draw people to him. Right? We are to lead those around us to Jesus. But the second part of that conversation, if it's going to be, a complete conversation when it comes to influence is that it is not only important that we lead those around us to Jesus, but we also have to be very aware of who is leading us and where we are being led to." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The people who influence us are key contributors to the culture of our lives. And as we said every week, this whole sermon series can be applied in a lot of different areas of our life. It can be applied into your business. It can be applied to your family. Lots of stuff. We're talking about a relationship with the Lord, but it all overflows into every area." (20 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The easy path isn't always the right path. Right? And we got to be careful who you're following. Because the trail you're following may not lead you where you think you want to go. You got to pay attention to that. So we're looking at that. We're looking at who we're following and where they're leading us to. And just as we're leading someone, we are all being led by someone." (19 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The Bible is clear that we are influenced or changed by those who have access to us. And let me give you some scriptures, and I'll talk a little bit as we go through here. But Proverbs 13 and 20, he who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. And I don't want to be mean to anybody, but I'm just saying some things are just the way they are." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are his hands and feet extended everywhere we go. We are the city on the hill that needs to be drawing people to Jesus. And we can't do that if we live in our private Christian society. Okay? Jesus never called us to be. I mean, you know, we jokingly talk about every now and then some of the staff about how it would be nice to buy a compound out in the country and just live by ourselves. No. That's not what God called us to do." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The principle being that we define the culture of our lives by what we do and what we allow to be done. Everything that happens in our lives, whether we do it or whether we allow it, it defines the culture of our lives. And the question that we have to ask every week in one way or another is, what is the culture of my world? We need to discuss that because sometimes we don't like life, and if we don't like it, maybe we need to ask, why don't I like life? What about my life is not making me happy?" (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The people who influence us are key contributors to the culture of our lives. And listen, it's not just them physically, the physical people that we see. But it's also the visual or even the visual online ones. But it's also the creators of the media that we ingest of what we listen to, of what we watch, of what we read. All of that begins to influence us." (906 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Paul didn't say, absolutely ignore this world. I beseech you, ignore this world. And if they don't live like you and if they don't believe like us, you shouldn't have anything to do with him. That's not what Paul said. That's not what Jesus said. We are supposed to represent Jesus everywhere we go. You can't share your faith. I found this situation in Dallas one time completely on accident where I went to church with a group of people and I worked with a group of people. And it just so happened coincidentally that probably 95% of the people in my daily life were Christians. And I realized one day, I'm not sharing my faith with anybody." (36 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Who or what needs to be removed from your circle? Who or what needs to be added? Those are two things, but they're both important. Who or what needs to be removed from your circle? And who or what needs to be added? Because as we're sitting right now and as we're praying about it and we're thinking about it, and we're going to worship together in a second, we're going to celebrate in a second because God's given us a lot to celebrate. But as we're going through this moment, and thinking about it, the negative things in our life, like I said, our culture is defined by what we do or what we allow to be done." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need to be the influencers. We need to be the peer pressure in a positive way. We need to demonstrate how we're supposed to live everywhere we go. The people who influence us are key contributors to our culture and our lives. And we have to recognize that. So as we are influencing, as we are being, as we are demonstrating and loving, we have to be careful that we don't let evil influence us. Does that make sense? That's how it works. We have to be careful who is in our circle. And some of us need to reclaim or redeem our circle if we want to take control of our lives." (49 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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