Ep. 503 Webinar: Essential Things before Helping Someone Change

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Show Main Idea: Some people are hard to be attracted to, and when I find myself thinking like this, I know that I have lost my divine perspective and that my discipling of them is on the verge of being ineffective. Thus, I must recalibrate my heart to God’s perspective and the gospel before I can help them change. In this practical webinar, Rick breaks down into a granular level the essential things you need to know before you can help others change.

You may want to read:

• Webinar: How to Identify Ruling Motives of the Heart
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• Pre-forgiveness Is Essential Before You Can Genuinely Forgive

Webinar Quotes

Paul’s affection for the Corinthian church is a profound declaration of the grace of God and a fantastic template for us to think about and model as we approach the tremendous task of discipleship.

Paul’s exemplary attitude toward the Corinthians and his extraordinary affection for the Corinthians came from his divine perspective of the Corinthians.

Paul’s attitude and affection are two critical components in his approach to the Corinthian people. His attitude and affection came from his divine perspective of the people within his sphere of care.

Some people are hard to be attracted to, and when I find myself thinking like this, I know that I have lost my divine perspective and that my discipling of them is on the verge of being ineffective.

A divine affection for an individual must precede the discipleship of an individual.

Do not attempt to correct individuals with whom you do not feel an extraordinary affection.

This prior activity of God reminds us that we responded to God after God acted on us first. God began our relationship with Himself while we were dead in our sins.

God took an interest in the person you are discipling long before you ever knew that they existed. You are discipling, essentially, God’s friend or the Father’s child.

God was there before you—in eternity past—and we see in Ephesians 2:1-7 what He did. And this is how He thought about the person you are discipling.

As bad, nasty, irritating, frustrating, and mean-spirited as the Corinthians were, they knew that Paul not only loved them, but also that he had faith that God would finish what He had begun when He called them.

When we finally learn something after years of trying, there may be a temptation to impose an unrealistic, self-righteous timetable on others to change.

The process of change happens in the context of grace.

You will feel criticism rather than encouragement apart from God’s divine perspective.

As a discipler of Christ, you have the privilege to draw attention to evidence of God’s grace in the person’s life.

Watch the Webinar

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).