Your Sphere of Influence

Jesus issues the call to "Come, Follow me" so often in the Gospels that I was at first taken aback by His response to the man in the Decapolis that he had just healed from a 'legion' of demons.  After being healed, the man begged to go with Jesus back across the lake, but strangely Jesus denies this request.  Instead of allowing the man to follow him, Jesus commands him to

"Go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." Mark 5:19

Jesus' command points us toward a fundamental call of discipleship.  One that first and foremost begins within our own sphere of influence.  Jesus tells him simply to go home and tell his friends and family about all God had done for him.

I do not know where you live, or who is in your sphere of influence, but if God has transformed your life, you have a duty to go first to your family and friends and share all the Lord has done for you.  There is a reason why you live exactly where you live.  There is a reason why you work exactly where you work.  There is a reason why your friends and family are exactly who they are.  God has placed each of us in our own communities for a purpose, to share his grace and mercy.

As you begin to pray about who the Lord wants to join your Truth Project small group, understand the high calling God has on your life to make an impact in the sphere of influence He has given you.  Begin by identifying those with whom you are in relationship and pray that the Lord will raise up 10-12 people to join your small group. 

He has entrusted us with His purposes, to go and make disciples where we live. Our prayer is that The Truth Project will provide a specific tool to assist you in transforming your community for Christ.

Gary Alan Taylor

Personal Transformation Leads to Community Transformation

If you've been journeying with us for any length of time, you know the primary objective of The Truth Project is transformation.  A deep, lasting renewing of the mind and heart that mirrors that of Isaiah's, when confronted with the Living God responded, "Here am I.  Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)  This personal transformation is the catalyst for community transformation.  Just as you are being metamorphed into the image of Christ, you cannot help but disciple others through that same process.  Life on life discipleship is the very praxis of our worldview.

We see this played out in Jesus' ministry.  In the Gospel of Mark, we learn that Jesus and his disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee and entered the area known as the Decapolis, or the 10 pagan cities of the Gentiles.  Mark tells us that as soon as Jesus got out of the boat, he was approached by a man possessed by a legion of demons.  Jesus healed the man of his posseession, sending the demons into a herd of pigs feeding on the hillside.  Those tending the pigs went out to see what had happened, and found Legion sitting on the ground, clothed and in his right mind.  At this point, Mark tells us they were afraid and begged Jesus to leave the area.

It appears Jesus complies with their request, not being one to go anywhere He was not welcomed, but as he was getting back into the boat, the man who had been possessed approached Jesus and begged to go with him. 

                "Jesus replied, Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you,     and how he has had mercy on you.  So the man went away and began to tell in the Decaplis how much Jesus had done for him" (Mark 5:19-20).

But the story doesn't end there.  Matthew then tells us that Jesus returned to the region of the Decapolis and...

             "Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.  The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing.  And they praised the God of Israel" (Matthew 15:30-31).   

Where did these "great crowds" come from?  Are not these the same people that begged Jesus to flee their region after seeing their little pigs drowned?  It appears that the transformed 'Legion' did exactly what Jesus commanded him to do.  He went back into his town, to his family and friends and proclaimed how much his life had been transformed by God.  Thus, upon Jesus' return to the region, a multitude was awaiting His arrival, bringing the poor, disenfranchised and hurting for Christ Himself to touch and to heal.

I love this story.  From one man came a multitude.  Our prayer is that God will use The Truth Project to transform your life, and that through you, multitudes will come to know and love this merciful God we so desperately long to serve.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Gary Alan Taylor

 

 

Louisville Testimonies

Our team returned from Louisville on Sunday afternoon, and are already hearing from many of you that the Lord has indeed blessed our time this weekend and is preparing to bring about a great change in your respective communities.  Thank you for sharing with us!  We love hearing what God is doing through The Truth Project

Here are a few testimonies from what God is doing through you.

Enjoy!

“From the moment I arrived in Louisville, I was surprised:  surprised that I was remarkably calm though I left my directions to Highview Baptist Church in my office; surprised by the number of people arriving at the conference (hmmm, must be another function here tonight ~ I was expecting 50 to 150 people); surprised that I did not hear more of a fact-filled college-styled lecture of the history and impact of worldviews and how to counter-attack it with 'our own' facts; and, finally surprised that, as we spent that time 'gazing on the face of God' through his revealed Word, many gaps were filled in, foundations were made firmer, the Spirit moved and your vision became my vision.  My wife and I will be praying for the next two months to prepare and to learn who God has chosen to join our small group for his glory.”

 

 

“I am so excited about this whole thing, I can't tell you.  Well, Dr. Tackett and Truth Project Team, thank you for your prayers and teaching.  In less than 48 hours after leaving the Conference I am seeing new fruit after years of prayer.  Please pray for me that I might be winsome and anointed by the Spirit of Truth as I prepare to speak to 100 to 200 of God's image-bearers over the MLK weekend in January.  My spouse, Sally and I will be praying as well about who the Lord wants to join our small group in the New Year when we start our first small group.”

 

“I just returned from the

Louisville

conference. 

Del

talked about being transformed, and I have to admit that while at the conference I wasn't feeling it.  But I brought a DVD player in my car, and in the 750 mile drive home I listened to 10 of the 12 lessons.  Wow!  I am a physician, and yesterday I had a patient with "Born a Loser" tattoed on his chest.  I listened for the sphere that was broken (family) and told him that God held him in high regard, because he created him and even sent Jesus to rescue him (the significance issue addressed in the lessons).”

Thanks again for joining us this past weekend, we'll see you online at the Small Group Support Site!

Have a great Day

TTP in Louisville, KY

We’re here today in Louisville, Kentucky for our 20th regional training conference.  We’re excited to have about 1100 total leaders from 33 different states here today.

Please pray that the Lord would open the hearts and minds of the leaders who are here today.  We know that our efforts are nothing if the Lord is not at work in the minds of His people.

For those of you who are here with us today…thank you for choosing to partner with us.  We are excited to journey alongside you in this endeavor.

May the Lord bless richly!

Small Group Leader Roles

Our team just returned from Hawaii and are gearing up for our next regional training in Louisville, KY on October 12-13.  We are grateful for those of you who joined us over the last three weeks in Pittsburgh, Chattanooga and Honolulu.  In just three weeks, we trained almost 1,000 leaders.  Many of you are ready to lead a small group right now!  I wanted to remind you of your 3 roles in facilitating The Truth Project small group.

Here are three quick tips on your respective roles:

1. Prayer:  The most important thing you can do on behalf of all those who join your group is to pray by name for them each week.  Pray that God will reveal Himself to them, that He would do His work in their lives and that they would not run away from coming "face to face" with Him.

2. Hospitality: This role is more than simply great brownies and strong coffe, though those help!  Create a welcoming environment free of distraction, which should lead toward authentic, intimate community.

3. Shepherd: As you heard at the conference, the discussion component might well be the most joyful time you share with your participants.  Guide the discussion, keep it on track, make sure to keep comments positive and insure you allow quieter individuals in your group to have the opportunity to speak. 

Finally, cherish this opportunity to have a first row seat on what God is doing in the lives of those who join your small group.

Soli Deo Gloria!