Matthew 16:19 (ESV)

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

• Our desire is that we can understand what is the influence that God has given us and how can we effectively apply it so we can have greater KINGDOM INFLUENCE.

DISCIPLE = To follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and commit to the mission of Jesus. (Matthew 4:19)

Leadership = Influence

Leadership is the ability to take people to a place that they never intended or wanted to go, but when they arrived, they ended up thanking you.

Every disciple of Jesus is called to influence!

Four realms of influence that as disciples we need to learn how to steward:

#1) CITY

John 4:39 (NLT)

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”

Luke 7:36-38 (NLT)

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

Luke 8:1 NKJV

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

Luke 19:41-42 (NLT)

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

Be the church that has an impact in our city.

#2) CROWD

Sunday service is not for the church!

• The crowd comes to the church on Sunday.

Mark 2:1-5 (NLT)

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Are we ready to receive the broken, the lame, and the rejected?

Matthew 14:14 (NLT)

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 15:10-11 (NLT)

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Mark 3:20 (NLT)

One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat.

Mark 4:1-2 (NLT)

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

Be the church that is prepared to receive the crowd.

#3) CHURCH

• The Church are the disciples; the ones doing the ministry.
• You can’t always tell which are the disciples in the crowd.

Matthew 9:37 (NLT)

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

Matthew 10:1 (NLT)

Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

Be the church that surrenders, sacrifices, and serves for His Church.

#4) CORE

Luke 8:51 (NLT)

When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother.

Matthew 17:1-3 (NLT)

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Matthew 26:36-38 (NLT)

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

• The CHURCH has a mission. But the CORE has a heavier responsibility.

The Core is not about being better than others. It is about making bigger sacrifices!

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Be the church that is willing to go the extra mile and go further.

CONCLUSION

We must be the church that influences our CITY.

We must be the church that is prepared to receive the CROWD. (Psalm 84:10)

We must be the church that surrenders, sacrifices, and serves HIS CHURCH.

We must be the church that is willing to go the extra mile and be HIS CORE.

• The church is the instrument Jesus has chosen to be the Hope of this fallen world! Let’s be the church of greater Kingdom influence.