The document discusses spiritual influence and leadership. It suggests that everyone wants to lead but no one wants the responsibility, and that cultures have corrupted the meaning of leadership. True spiritual leaders accept responsibility, do not lord over others, and are remembered for their obedience. Spiritual influence involves more than decisions - it is unseen influence. Followers of Christ should encourage the timid, help the weak, and be kind to all. Spiritual gifts should be used to build up the body of Christ. The document provides guidance on expanding spiritual influence through believing in it, guarding credibility, being driven by Christ's values, and always working in partnership with trust and by learning.

1. Our Spiritual
Influence
EVERTT W. HUFFARD
HARDING SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Jill Saitta

2. Our Spiritual Influence
May God himself, the God of
peace, sanctify you through and
through. May your whole spirit,
soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is
faithful and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Jill Saitta

3. Our Spiritual Influence
It seems that everyone wants to lead
and no one wants to lead.
We don’t want to follow but we don’t
want the responsibility of leading.
Every culture in the world has
corrupted what it means to lead!
Jill Saitta

4. Our Spiritual Influence
Faithful Good listeners
Obedient Won’t “rock the boat”
Supportive God “foot soldiers”
Responsible Humble
Compliant Share common values
Cooperative
Jill Saitta
Followers of Christ

5. Our Spiritual Influence
Spiritual Leaders
 Accept responsibility Acts 20:28-35
 Will not “lord it over” others Mt. 20:25-28
 Are to be remembered and obeyed
Heb. 13: 7, 17
Jill Saitta

6. Our Spiritual Influence
Leading in the church seems to involve
much more than making decisions for
the church.
spiritual leader =
unseen influence
Jill Saitta

7. Our Spiritual Influence
And he gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, to equip the
saints for the work of ministry, for
building up the body of Christ, until we
all attain to the unity of faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to
mature manhood, to the measure of
the statue of the fullness of Christ. . .
Eph. 4:11-13 (ESV)
Jill Saitta

8. Our Spiritual Influence
How followersof Christ lead:
Andweurgeyou,brothers,warnthosewhoare
idle,encouragethetimid,helptheweak,be
patientwitheveryone. Makesurethatnobody
paysbackwrongforwrong,butalwaystrytobe
kindtoeachotherandtoeveryoneelse.
1Thessalonians 5:14-15 (NIV)
Jill Saitta

9. Our Spiritual Influence
Having gifts that differ according to
the grace given to us, let us use them;
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
if service, in our serving; the one who
teaches, in his teaching; the one who
exhorts, in his exhortation; the one
who contributes, in generosity; the
one who leads, with zeal; the one who
does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
Jill Saitta

10. Our Spiritual Influence
How do we expand
our spiritual influence
to honor God?
Jill Saitta

11. Unseen HOPE
character
suffer
______________________________________________________________
endure
Seen
DESPAIR
Our Spiritual Influence
My “Guiding Verse” or “Lighthouse”
Romans 5:1-5

12. Desires of Flesh
Phase 1 2 3 4 5
Life Maturing
Inner Life Maturing
Ministry Maturing
The Spirit
Our Spiritual Influence
Time-Line Perspectve

13. Our Spiritual Influence
1. Believe we can have spiritual
influence.
2. Always guard our credibility.
3. Be driven by the values of Christ.
4. Focus on the future.
5. Always work in partnership.
6. Maintain a high level of trust.
--Adapted from Kouzes & Posner
Jill Saitta

14. Our Spiritual Influence
7. Accept challenges as the crucible
for spiritual growth.
8. Lead by example.
9. Always seek to learn.
10. Love the Lord will all our hearts.
--Adapted from Kouzes & Posner
Jill Saitta

15. Our Spiritual
Influence
EVERTT W. HUFFARD
HARDING SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Jill Saitta