Introduction. I. Invest Yourself In People. The People Factor # 3 LifeRoots Acts 4:26; 11:19-26

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1 The People Factor # 3 LifeRoots Acts 4:26; 11:19-26 Introduction Peanuts cartoon with Lucy saying to Charlie Brown, Lucy: "I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!" Charlie Brown says, "But I thought you had inner peace." Lucy replies, "I do have inner peace. But I still have outer obnoxiousness" It s the people with out obnoxiousness that are the hardest to love aren t they? Joke among Pastors - ministry would be great if we didn t have to work with people. * God has made us for community. Yet sometimes people can be the most difficult challenge in our lives.. * Whether or not we are successful in life depends largely on how we treat people. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31) * Jesus loved people and gave Himself for people. When we are successful in life, we will reflect the love of God for people. I. Invest Yourself In People Barnabas: Acts 4:36; 9:26-28; 11:19-26; 12:25; 13:1; 15:25, 36-39; 2 Timothy 4:11; Colossians 4:10 - Took Paul Under His Wings - Got Paul to Help Him in Antioch - Encouraged John Mark Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil 2:4) 1. We Are In The People Business * The Only Thing God Is Going To Rescue From This World Is People. * GOD IS IN THE PEOPLE SAVING BUSINESS * WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE BUILDING BUSINESS * IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE POUR YOURSELF INTO OTHERS.

2 2. Investing In People Pays Dividends * TO GET WARMTH FROM A FIRE, you don t go into a room and say, Fire give me heat. You kindle and build and when you have the fire going it gives heat. Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. (Eccl 11:1) * Not what you can get out of people, but what can you pour into people. * DIVIDENDS COME WHEN YOU POUR YOURSELF INTO PEOPLE - they give back to you far more than you ever poured into them - If you do it the other way and seek what you can get out of people, you will burn them out and they will have nothing to give that can enrich your life. * One of the greatest joys of my life are the people I ve invested in. I.E. - John and Laureen Gunter - youth leaders - leaders in church - Pierre Chaisson - discipled - many hours - Minister of evangelism - today Pastoring church in Cheticamp N.S.(French Catholic area) that we envisioned 35 yrs ago. - Always a group of Timothys - Josue Legra 3. Eight Ways To Invest In People The Golden Rule of Relationships So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matt 7:12) 1. Encourage People EVERYONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT * Encouragement is one of the greatest motivators. - there is not a person who does not perform better under a Spirit of Encouragement rather than Criticism, yet so many of us think we have the Gift of Criticism. - there are enough Critics in the world, What we need is more Cheerleaders * Barnabas Was A Man Of Encouragement Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. ( Acts 4:36-37) * Encouraged Paul - And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26-27)

3 *Encouraged Greek Believers in Antioch - Apostles heard of first Greek Converts, they sent Barnabas to encourage them. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, (Acts 11:19) * Encouraged John Mark Acts 15: (Don t give details) * The Happiest People Are Those Who Have Invested Their Lives In Others. Illustrate: Karl Menninger, the famous Psychiatrist was asked what a lonely unhappy person should do. Menninger said, Lock the door behind you, go across the street, find someone who is hurting and help them. * Forget About Yourself And Help Others. Be An Encourager 2. Appreciate People * Barnabas Appreciated Paul and His Preaching Ministry (Acts 9:29) But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:27) * Barnabas Appreciated The Potential In John Mark Read Acts 15: Background: - John Mark had left them on first missionary journey - Barnabas wants take him with them on another missions trip - but Paul refused Strong Contention - division ** BARNABAS TAKES AND MENTORS MARK * Many years later Paul is in a Roman prison. He s just about at the end of his life. Many have abandoned Him because of the suffering of the cross. Look what he says: (Find it in your Bible) Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (2 Tim 4:11) * People Need To Be Appreciated - For, who they are, what they ve done and for what they mean to you. * BE AN AMBASSADOR OF GOOD WORDS The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. Principle: We Cannot Underestimate The Value Of A Single Person Principle: Don t Take Advantage Of People. Every person has a need to be appreciated. * Treat People The Way You Want To Be Treated like they are important. * People Will Generally Respond To The Way We Perceive Them.

4 Most of us are too tight fisted with our praises. 3. Forgive People *Always Be Ready To Forgive People * Most all emotional problems and stress come from unresolved conflicts and failure to develop healthy relationships with people. - Therefore, many people have a deep desire for total forgiveness. One Dr. Said, he could cure 80% of his patience if he could tell them with authority that they were forgiven. * Barnabas Forgave John Mark for Abandoning Them - help build him. * A FORGIVING SPIRIT IS THE ONE BASIC INGREDIENT FOR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS - forgiveness frees us from guilt and allows us to interact positively with others. - forgiveness allows us to give ourselves away to others. Illustrate: Earnest Hemingway in The Capital of the World tells of a father and son in Spain who had a fall out. Son fled. Father searched and searched for his lost son. Finally he placed an ad in the newspaper. Dear Paco, meet me in front of the Newspaper Office tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. - Next day standing outside the Newspaper office at noon were 800 Pacos. * Those who will not forgive are hurting themselves. - We are not wired to carry grudges. * QUIT KEEPING SCORE OF THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU. * 2 Great Marks Of The Christian Generosity Forgiveness Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 4:32) 4. Listen to People Barnabas and Paul - Whole church afraid of Paul because before conversion - a persecutor of Church - In order to be able to introduce him to the Apostles, I suspect Barnabas had to listen to Paul s story and get to know his heart. * Really Listen To What People Are Saying - Not just listen to their words Listen to their emotion * Pay attention when they talk hear their hearts. Illustrate: Tim: Hold my face in his hands. Dad, I m talking to you. 5. Understand People * Seek To Understand People * HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU ARE MISUNDERSTOOD?

5 Ie. Loneliness - frustration - disappointment - resentment * Peter Drucker - business writer 60% of all management problems are a result of faulty communications 50% of all divorces result from faulty communication 90% of all criminals have difficulty communicating with others 6. Believe In People * Develop A persons expectation level by believing the best in him or her. Barnabas + John Mark - believed Mark could be more than he was - willing to invest in Mark 7. Help People Grow * It was the Characteristic Signature of Barnabas - He gave his life to help people grow in their discipleship and walk with Christ. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37) * Real name was Joseph but they nicknamed him Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) * Build One Another Up In Christ - discipleship - mentor - nothing as exciting as coming along side and helping someone grow. Illustrate: One Up - One Down Somebody you re helping grow and somebody who s helping you grow. We re going to slowing introduce what we will call One To One this fall. We re starting small but some of you will be encouraged to participate. If you are approached I encourage you to check it out. Personally, I m looking for three people who are willing to meet with me one on one for the purpose of personal growth. 8. Model For People * Jesus Invited People Come To Me - they followed him around for 2 years as He modelled for them Kingdom Living. *Barnabas I m sure Barnabas lived Christ before the others * Be What You Want Others To Be - No matter what you say to your children - they follow your example. Illustrate: While holding up the remnants of a tricycle which has been smashed to smithereens, Dennis the Menace asked his dad, What are some of those words you say when you hit a bad gold shot? He had learned that there was a certain way to behave when you re frustrated. II. The Greatest Expression Of Your Faith Is To Love People And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)

6 Another thing Jesus said: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35) 1. God Commands Us To Love People 2. If You Walk With Christ, You Will Love - being close to Jesus He will produce in you love for others - even your enemies and those who have hurt you. 3. People Don t Care How Much You Know Until they Know How Much You Care. - People are not so impressed with what you know, where you ve been or your educational background and degrees. What People Really Want To Know Is - DO YOU LOVE ME. * Build your relationships on Loving And Caring For People * People in the Church - People Outside the Church. If you don t love them, how will they know Jesus loves them? Conclusion A little girl turned to her mother and said, Mommy, the Pastor s sermon this morning confused me. Mother: Oh, why is that? Girl: Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. But he also said God lives in us. Is that right? Mother: Yes, that s true. Girl: Well said the girl. If God is bigger than us and He lives in us. Wouldn t He show up on the outside. Jesus Told Us: 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35) * Success for you and I is honouring God with out lives. We honour Him when we obey Him, when we love one another, and when we reflect His Character in the world. LOVING AND CARING FOR PEOPLE IS THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATION OF OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND IS THE ESSENCE OF SUCCESS IN LIFE. Let it be said of us We were marked by forgiveness We were known by our love