To view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7Ph0kISLi7A
SHOW NOTES
On today's episode of the Hope Rescue Podcast, Tim and Kimberly ask the question “What kind of influencer are you?” We each have a multitude of areas of influence in our lives, whether it's our public influence, family influence, marital influence, etc. Tim explains the concept of influence capital. When we love people well, they want to hear what we have to say and we build up influence capital with that person. The topics that we discuss with others can positively or negatively affect our influence capital, and in order for people to have open ears and hearts to hear the gospel, we must be careful with how we speak. Kimberly explains that we can lose our influence capital in many different ways such as choosing topics of conversation that cause division or by using diminishing terms when communicating. Kimberly says, “If you are a person of faith, your influence capital needs to be directly related to your purpose and your mission.”
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." We have to recognize the power of our words, and once we do we can best learn how to speak life to people. Tim encourages all leaders to speak life into the people who hold a lower position than them. By thanking the people under you and giving them credit, it strengthens your influence capital and makes people want to work harder.
We never want to compromise the truth of the gospel or water things down just to influence someone. We want to influence people with truth, but that does not mean we should never compromise in any way. 1 Corinthians 9:19 says, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” Paul's overriding goal was to win people over for Jesus Christ. Although he was free, he would humble himself and act more like a servant. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
In order to apply this concept of influence capital to our lives, Tim provides us with four practical steps. The first is to find your purpose. Whatever you feel passionate about, follow that with your heart. If you have a passion for evangelism, be an evangelist. If you have a passion for prison ministry, minister in the prisons. Your purpose is your driving force. The second step is to not personalize others when they disagree with you. It can be easy to mistake someone's opinion as a personal attack, but if we do not personalize others’ opinions, it is easier to love them and communicate with them. The third step is to not let anything take you off of purpose. Keep your heart and your mind focused on your purpose and mission and it will be much harder to become distracted. The last step is to listen to others with a heart of love and respect their views. Kimberly says, “We can disagree with others and still love them well and respect them.”
Join us next week as we talk about influence capital in relation to marriage! We love you guys!
QUOTES
“If you are a person of faith, your influence capital needs to be directly related to your purpose and your mission.” -Kimberly
"We can disagree with others and still love them well and respect them.” -Kimberly
"Never underestimate the importance of what you say or the influence that you have." -Tim
REFERENCED SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
James 3:4-6: “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
1 Corinthians 9:19: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.”
1 Corinthians 9:22-23: “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”
John 3:17: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
