Seven Spheres of Influence Series: Education and Family
Connecting to our Culture
The Seven Spheres of Influence are Arts and Entertainment, Business, Church, Education, Family, Media, Politics and Government.
Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Paul’s strategy to live for God in all Seven Spheres:
1. Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude. (Col 3:12,13)
2. Let love guide your life. (Col 3:14)
Matthew 22:36-39 (NLT)
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
3. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. (Col 3:15)
4. Always be thankful. (Col 3:15)
5. Keep God’s Word in you in all that you do. (Col 3:16)
6. Live as Jesus Christ’s representative wherever you go. (Col 3:17)
Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG)
13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14 "Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
15 If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand.
16 Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
What are the greatest concerns today?
Deuteronomy 11:18-22 (NLT)
18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
21 so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.
22 “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.
Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
SERIES PRAYER
O God, open our eyes to see the things that are happening around us. Quicken our minds and hearts to interpret what we see so that, as You are trying to speak to us, we will always be ready to listen. — Theodore Parker Ferris
