ATTITUDES which shape a dynamic spiritual movement (OVERVIEW)
1. Communicating clear purpose.
The development of a movement is proportional to how fully the individuals are gripped by a sense of purpose and cause.
2. Encouraging adventurous faith.
Because God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, faith is the key to seeing Him demonstrate His faithfulness and power, thus encouraging greater individual commitment within the movement.
3. Depending on the Holy Spirit.
The essence of a spiritual movement is the Holy Spirit at work, transforming and empowering Christians and drawing unbelievers to Christ.
4. Stimulating expectant prayer.
Prayer undergirds every aspect of building a spiritual movement.
5. Serving the international student.
As real needs are met and genuine care is shown, spiritual openness will develop among internationals and ministry opportunities will result.
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1. Communicating clear purpose.
The development of a movement is proportional to how fully the individuals are gripped by a sense of purpose and cause.
There is great power in purpose. In a true movement, there is a clear sense of purpose that gives those involved an internal motivation for commitment to the cause. People rally around this purpose. It's readily understood and embraced by everyone throughout--even the newest members.
How would your newest members describe the purpose of the ministry? This is a good test of the strength and clarity of your purpose. In a strong movement, the core values are broadly embraced and there is "transferability" to new members.
The Great Commission as expressed by our Lord in Matthew 28:18-20 provides the ultimate purpose for reaching internationals for Christ.
As a leader, your personal sense of purpose will be strong and clear as you are spending consistent quality time with God and learning to listen to Him. Time in His Word and in prayer will cause your inner motivations to align with God's. Compassion for the lost will grow out of your personal walk with God.
Questions to consider:
Acts 20:24 - "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (NIV)
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2. Encouraging adventurous faith.
Because God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, faith is the key to seeing Him demonstrate His faithfulness and power, thus encouraging greater commitment within the movement.
In a spiritual movement. individuals are taking bold steps of faith--especially the leaders.
Faith spawns more faith. People grow in unusual ways in a movement. The process of trusting God in the midst of faith-stretching challenges causes us to see God in new ways. This produces a "sense of awe."
Acts 2:43 -- "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." (NIV)
The lifeblood of a movement is found in the stories of God working in the lives of people. The evidence of "God at work" strengthens everyone's vision for the movement and for their individual lives.
People see God and understand Him more profoundly as they witness Him at work. Taking faith risks allows us to move from ‘academic faith" to vibrant and living faith.
Questions to consider:
1 Corinthians 16:13 - "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." (NIV)
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3. Depending on the Holy Spirit.
The essence of a spiritual movement is the Holy Spirit at work, transforming and empowering Christians and drawing unbelievers to Christ.
None of what happens in a spiritual movement can occur without the Holy Spirit making it happen.
John 15:5 -- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (NIV)
The Holy Spirit produces:
Acts 1:8 -- "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)
Many Christians try to live the Christian life on their own efforts. They are either uninformed about or ignorant of their spiritual heritage as children of God. Understanding the ministry of the Spirit is a process and it can take some time to learn. Take time to study the work of the Holy Spirit, and then take time to pass on your learning to others.
Keep the ministry of the Spirit at the center of your discipleship.
In your small group Bible studies, large group meetings and conferences, the ministry of the Spirit can be taught a variety of interesting ways. If we find ourselves overlooking this important subject we may accidentally be omitting the key to growth in grace and truth.
Questions to consider:
For helps on the topic "How to be Filled with the Spirit"
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4. Stimulating expectant prayer.
Prayer undergirds every aspect of building a spiritual movement.
In a spiritual movement, we see the urgency to bathe everything in prayer--the issues on the campus, the students' personal needs, and all aspects of the ministry.
Eph 6:18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (NIV)
With a healthy emphasis on corporate and private prayer, people discover much about God's heart for the individual and for the world.
Prayer should be so much more than just a "prayer meeting." It must seep dynamically into all aspects of the movement--
Talk to God about men before you talk to men about God! Especially in the realm of evangelism we must cover all our outreach efforts in prayer. In his book The Prayer Factor, Sammy Tippit called this emphasis "the marriage of prayer and evangelism."
"The Most Wanted List"- a simple and valuable tool. Keep a list in your Bible at all times of non-believers for whom you feel you a particular burden.
Questions to consider:
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5. Serving the international student. As real needs are met and genuine care is shown, spiritual openness will develop among internationals and ministry opportunities will result. >>MORE Why serve the international? Giving tangible help to internationals shows God's love and validates our faith In a ministry to internationals, serving should not be the exception but rather the rule. This takes time, effort, and a growing army of people to meet the needs that exist. As the leaders serve from the heart, a serving spirit is "caught" and spreads throughout the movement. One veteran minister among internationals has determined that he will never say ‘no' to a legitimate need. "If I hesitate while thinking of how to help the international," he says, "that will make the person embarrassed to have asked. So I just say, ‘Sure, I'll do my best to help you,' before I even think of how to help. Then I ask the Lord to show me the person in our movement or in the overall Body of Christ who has the ability to meet this particular need." Questions to consider:
Used by permission. ReachingInternationals.com © 2008