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Sermon Outline For Fathering Leaders

April 17, 2018 by Robert Hartzell

 

The Beauty of a Great Message

When I hear a message that inspires me, fills me with hope and encouragement, gives me new ideas for my life, I love it! When I stand to speak to a group of people I feel a huge responsibility. The group gives their time and ideally their heart, to hear what I have to say. Therefore, I want to deliver. I want to share in a genuine way and share something that I know works from my own life experience. This task can present quite a challenge. I have found a sermon outline template that helps a lot and can be used when sharing any message or lesson. As a result, I’d like to share that with you.  

Sermon Outline TemplateSermon Outline

I learned public speaking from my mentor, Jack Frost, who truly mastered the art. I participated in Toastmasters for several years and even won a local contest. These things helped, however, this sermon outline I found years ago, has helped me the most. So, from here on, let’s consider the simple steps of this outline. 

1. Define A Problem 

Step one of this outline involves describing well the problem you will address. Anything you ever share will involve overcoming some problem. Therefore, the better you describe the problem the more people will tune in to where you will go in the message. Moreover, they will feel you understand the challenges they face. You start to connect with people here, empathize with them, create resonance. People come into identification and feel your topic’s relevance to their lives. For example, in one message, I share story after story of people who burned out in ministry trying to work hard enough for God’s approval. I give a clear picture of how people come to struggle with this.

I’ll continue this example in the next steps to give you a sense of how this works. Next, we’ll consider the step that reveals your heart to people rather than simply head knowledge. 

2. Me Too 

The second step of the sermon outline shares my own story of struggle. Jack Frost called this “Transparent Witnessing”: sharing openly, vulnerably, from your own life. If I claim to have the expertise to speak on a given topic, I should have the ability to tell why, from my own life. This makes me real to people and creates emotional connection. 

Continuing with my example: “I also struggled working hard for God so that He would accept me and not cast me aside.” I share my story of burnout in ministry and specific stories of how that hurt my family. Sharing your heart connects people to you. Consequently, the next step moves them to a journey in their own hearts. 

3. My Story of Finding an Answer

In step three, I share not just my struggle and problem, but what I did to overcome it.

  • Where did I seek answers?
  • What steps did I discover?
  • What happened as I sought to apply those steps?

This takes people on a journey with you and speaks to them about their own lives.

So, in my example, “I sought mentors who had freedom over ministry burnout. I went deep receiving Prayer Ministry and learning to minister Prayer Ministry to others. This brought much healing from the fear of not measuring up to God’s approval.” I don’t simply share these facts, I tell the stories of how they occurred. At this point you want to share the good fruit that came from taking your steps. 

4. Results

For step four of your outline, share how the steps you took helped. For example, “I no longer fear God’s upset with me and that I have work hard enough to please Him. Now I have found freedom from condemnation. My relationship with my family is loving. I no longer place the demands of performance on them that I had placed on myself. We enjoy each other.” Again, share actual stories of how this happened. This encourages people to take their own steps toward freedom. Finally, let’s consider one more important step. 

5. A Call to Action

The final step gives a call to action. Maybe you call people to a prayer time of repentance and forgiveness and speaking God’s love over them. You might invite people to buy a book you wrote. Maybe to become involved in a program you offer. People want to change their lives and appreciate clarity on what to do. In conclusion, I’ll give you an easy way to remember all of this. 

The 30-30-30 Model of Public Speaking

To quickly remember this outline think of it as 30-30-30. 

In other words:

What it was like – What happened – What it’s like today. (The “Problem” – “Finding an Answer” – “Results.”) 

I’ve found that good public speaking takes hard work. Many people have spoken in public for years and yet experience mediocre results. I believe we owe it to our audiences to give it our best. I hope this post will help you on your journey. 

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

Motivating With A Father’s Heart

May 6, 2016 by Robert Hartzell

Fathering Leaders Nurture Heartsmotivating with a father's heart

Motivating with a father’s heart involves nurturing. It’s in the nature of a father to nurture. Whether a leader is a parent, business owner, missionary, or pastor — they have the responsibility of nurturing the hearts of the people in their care in order to see them blossom forth. If you think of someone’s heart as a living organism, nourishment is needed. Nutrients, water, and sunlight are all vital lest it shrivel up. Also crucially needed for survival is protection from disease and harmful influences.

But understand there’s a learning curve for leaders who seek to nurture. When you’re motivating with a father’s heart you seek to develop and grow your people. But knowing how to show affection and encouragement in an authentic and genuine way is something that sometimes has to be learned. And there are times a leader must use correction and discipline to keep his people productive.

Herein lies the dilemma:

How do you minister correction and discipline without compromising a person’s sense of being loved and valued?

Motivation and Discipline

Let’s observe the father-child relationship for a moment for an example to follow. Children growing up need guidance from their parents to learn to love God, do well in school, respect authority, and contribute to community.

Along this same line, church members need guidance from their leaders to learn to serve and give out to their local congregation as well as to the Body of Christ as a whole. And employees need leadership who will pull out their gifts and talents as well as teach them skills. This is where a father’s heart will see potential in their people. They see the value the person has to offer, yet realize it may need some “pruning” to help it grow.

So how do you motivate and discipline without shutting down the heart of the other person?

3 Keys for Love-Based Discipline

  1. Love always has to be first. Friends first — ministry/business second. A person has to know they’re loved and accepted before they will receive correction from you. Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship breed rebellion.” When someone knows you really love them and care for them, it’s not difficult to motivate them. Relationship comes first, not rules.
  2. Remember discipline and correction should focus on the person’s behavior and not on their identity. Judgment is not a component of discipline. Negative words usually produce negative behavior. Positive words usually produce positive behavior.
  3. Maintain an environment of access and dialogue with them. When your people feel free to come to you and openly discuss their challenges, growth will occur. A fathering leader is looking to build productive people.

Fathering Leaders that walk in these skills of motivation and discipline are well advanced in their leadership development. They display a graciousness towards others on their journey of maturation. These leaders will change lives, raise children and spiritual sons and daughters that are emotionally healthy and successful both inside and outside of the church. And all of us as Christians — whether official leaders or not — can use these keys to express the heart of the Father to everyone we meet.

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Related Posts
  • Sermon Outline For Fathering Leaders
  • Motivating With A Father’s Heart
  • A Case for One-on-One Discipleship
  • How to Create An Atmosphere For Life-Changing Growth
  • The Primary Fathering Leadership Life Skill

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Filed Under: Fathering Leadership Tagged With: fathering leaders, Fathering Leaders Nurture Hearts

A Case for One-on-One Discipleship

April 21, 2016 by Robert Hartzell

Fathering Leadership releases people into their destiny through one-on-one discipleship.

Simple Discipleship

The church has often had ideas that Sunday sermons, Sunday School, and conferences can disciple people. I believe this is only true in part. I believe much of the immaturity we see in the Body of Christ stems from an absence of one-on-one discipleship, or what I like to call “fathering.”

Simply defined, a disciple is a follower. If there’s a follower then, of course, there must be a leader.

In my Christian life I was in church every week for 15 years battling fears of authority and rejection. If sermons could have healed me, 15 years of them should’ve sufficed! What finally brought healing to my life was the one-on-one time I was able to have with a fathering leader, as we traveled and ministered together for several years.

An Example

Mike Wells leads CAM, the ministerial fellowship I belong to and am ordained under. He is an excellent, hands-on, intentional leader. He pours himself into a small group of leaders who then in turn disciple others. Everyone in his church receives personal attention for their spiritual growth and leadership development.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral care beautifully expresses the heart of God as people’s hearts are met personally in their times of need by a pastor. But what if we combined this type of caring with weekly one-on-one meetings, asking questions to draw out the persons heart, meeting them where they’re at, and helping them to take the next steps into God’s love and the destiny He has for them?

Sons Releasing Destiny!

Romans 8:14-18, along with Galatians 4:1-7, gives us a progression into maturity. These passages show the steps of a developing Sonship in our hearts to the point we cry out, “Abba, Father!” From this place we can begin to not only teach others, but release them into destiny.

1 Corinthians 4:15 says we have many instructors, and this is true. We have many people who can lead well. They can teach and instruct us in righteousness. They can give us direction, speak prophetically, and even tell the glory stories that inspire. But we have not many fathers.

It is fathering leadership that can help people keep their hearts engaged through the learning curves and trials of life so they don’t shut down or give up, but rather grow into living as overcomers. These are matters of the heart, not the head, and discipleship tends to be “caught” rather than “taught,” even as Jesus traveled with His followers.

I believe the church and the earth itself is groaning — even aching — for those mature sons of God who will rise up and father people into living in Gods love. Fathering leaders who use one-on-one discipleship and express the love of the Father will heal hurts and nurture hearts to life.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

How to Create An Atmosphere For Life-Changing Growth

March 26, 2016 by Robert Hartzell

In order for true spiritual growth to occur there first needs to be a life-changing growth “atmosphere” created by the leader.

Unrecognized Atmospheres You Creategrow

When you understand how certain actions create an atmosphere of health and growth while other actions create an atmosphere of guardedness and shame,  you are empowered to lead surprisingly well.

Scientifically Speaking — Family Systems Theory

Family Systems Theory gives us a way to break down and explain how this healthy leading and discipling practically work. Let’s look at this verse to connect them together:

1 Corinthians 12:21, 26 — The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

These verses are more than an exhortation to unity — they describe a universal principle.

“Nobody lives in a vacuum.”

This is monumental. Every action you take affects other people. In a nutshell this is “Family Systems Theory.” Everyone lives and operates in some sort of a “family” every day, whether it’s a church, a business, a community, or your own extended family. And this profound understanding opens the door to successful leadership within these “families.”

Creating A Life-Changing Culture of Growth

Your leadership can do more than direct and instruct — it can inspire. Your stimulating leadership can help keep people’s hearts engaged throughout the challenges and learning curves of life. Conversely, if your leadership is negative and shaming, it may cause people to put up walls to guard their hearts and very little growth will ever occur in this environment.

There are a definable set of characteristics that every healthy family operates under and a definable set of characteristics every unhealthy family operates under. 

If a family member has fear issues, an eating disorder, addictions, or even laziness, it is not just a product of the person’s bad choices. Yes, it is partially that, but it is also a product of a system breaking down somewhere. Like the old saying in Alcoholics Anonymous goes, “the whole family gets sick,” not just the alcoholic. Every member of the family is part of that system which is either functioning well or it isn’t. Unfortunately what we haven’t considered much is that these principles apply to all families, both for the bad and the good. We’ve tended to observe mostly the unhealthy ones, but as I like to say:

“Healthy families raise healthy kids.”

If you want to learn more about these principles of having a healthy “family”and how to lead more through the Father’s Love, click here for my book, Fathering Leadership, Creating A Culture of Growth. (Also available on Kindle.)

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

The Primary Fathering Leadership Life Skill

January 29, 2016 by Robert Hartzell

There is a Fathering Leadership life skill that brings success in every area of life.

  • In parenting it raises children into mature, responsible, confident adults.
  • In marriage it fosters respect and cooperation – the foundation of romance.
  • In church leadership and discipleship it brings healing and growth to the broken.
  • In business it produces productive and creative employees.
  • In friendship, too, it is key to the depth of relationship for fulfillment, accountability, and growth.
What is this Fathering Leadership life skill?

In a nutshell the skill is speaking the truth in love. At one level this is very easy to understand. Yet unpacking and applying its meaning, where you actually live and in the various relationships of your life, is not so easy.  

Two Parenting Scenarios – one where the skill is not applied and one where it is.

  • A 14-year boy comes home from school with a failing grade in math. The father reprimands him, “I told you to study more. What’s wrong with you? No more playing your stupid computer games for a month.”Fathering Leadership life skill

In this example the child is corrected with shame rather than dignity. His personal identity is attacked. Something is “wrong” with him. This approach will shut down learning and emotional growth.

  • A 14-year boy comes home from school with a failing grade in math. The father dialogues to reach the boy’s heart, “Why do you think you’re struggling in math so much?” He asks this in a tone of voice that is not demeaning but neither does it communicate the child is off the hook in terms of his responsibility to the class. The child explains that despite the teacher’s instruction and examples, he cannot seem to understand the material. The father then asks why the child didn’t bring this up sooner. The boy says he was embarrassed. Subsequently the father gives reassurance that there is nothing wrong with needing and asking for help. So they agree to get a tutor and proceed with closer monitoring of the boy’s progress (healthy accountability).

From this example we see the child’s identity is valued. He learns more deeply that even when he fails it does not mean he is shameful, deficient, or lacking value. He learns that there are steps that can be discerned and taken to move forward when you find yourself stuck in life. The lack of having this positive experience in childhood is why most Christian adults are stuck with habits and relationship problems they never get past. They never learned the skills and emotional strength necessary.

In Marriage

Fathering Leadership life skillThe same principle applies in marriage. There was a 20-year study done examining the commonality of traits seen in successful marriages. The number one skill found in these marriages was a spouse that can stand up for himself/herself without putting the other down (speaking the truth, but in love). This type of spouse will get consistent respect and cooperation in the marriage; and the foundation of respect is the only foundation where romance can consistently blossom.

Ministry

Picture a new Christian in his late 20’s. He is so excited to have discovered a spiritual life and to be in church. However, he grew up in a fatherless home with a mother who had numerous boyfriends, many of which treated him with degradation. As a result of this he battles many rejection and abandonment issues. Often he says inappropriate things, can be judgmental, and gives up too easily on things.

A Fathering Leader has the ability to disciple this new believer in a valuing way. The leader has matured past needing to put up a wall toward the immature behaviors of this young man. This leader can consistently express covering love, patience and care when the disciple gets his feelings hurt over little things, withdrawals when his unreasonable expectations aren’t met, or even acts out publicly. Over time the disciple experiences love drawing out his heart again and again, instead of emotional abandonment. This consistent and unconditional love brings a very healing and maturing effect upon this young Christian.

BusinessFathering Leadership life skill

The business leader who creates a culture of dialogue and space for creativity is a Fathering Leader. In his realm mistakes are not criticized. He creates an environment where people are not guarded and protectionistic, and where everyone helps each other. It’s a place where teamwork is encouraged, people are not put down or gossiped about, and there’s no backstabbing. Devaluing behaviors are not tolerated. This type of company will be on the cutting edge.

Friendship

Many people, especially leaders, have no one they would call a close friend. Yet, we are wired by God to need relationship. When a relationship is trusted and even accountable, the two parties feel a sense of fulfillment and grow as a result. There is a confidence and security in knowing the other is truly there for them and can be willing to embrace weaknesses and failure without being exposed.

A Great Example of this Fathering Leadership Life Skill

Mr. Miyagi from the movie, The Karate Kid, had this primary Fathering Leadership life skill.

Think of how he related to Daniel in the movie. Miyagi instructed (discipled) Daniel. There were times they had fun and times when Miyagi was firm. There were times Daniel acted in inappropriate ways but Miyagi was never demeaning to him. Even in correction. I would encourage you to watch this movie again to get a fresh picture in your mind and heart of what this skill looks like.

Now Extrapolate

You see the skill applied in terms of Mr. Miyagi teaching karate and mentoring a fatherless youth. What would this skill look like in your life? In your family, ministry, work, and friendships?

Father God

Understanding this skill even helps in how you relate to God. The more you grasp at a heart level that Father God uses this skill as He relates to you, the more you will grow — even in the midst of your failures.

Reaching the World

I believe a hurting world is waiting for Christians to mature and walk in this advanced skill of loving others well. The fatherless are looking for true Fathering Leaders to love, accept, and disciple them through their lives.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership, Featured Tagged With: fathering leaders, Fathering Leadership life skill

Dialogue Transactions A Key to Raising Healthy Kids

January 26, 2016 by Robert Hartzell

As Fathering/Mothering Leaders, our chief joy is to see our children — natural or spiritual — arrive to the place of maturity. Dialogue Transactions is a relationship key that is so simple it can be easy to miss.

Dialogue TransactionsDialogue Transactions

Do you realize that every time you have a verbal exchange with another person something is being transacted? Our speech carries an emotional environment with it that’s positive or negative. Let’s consider a few examples of these exchanges that happen every day:

  • Jesting, jocularity, and sarcasm – these can create a feeling of fun, or a feeling of needing to guard your heart. It depends on the object the joking is focused on.
  • Discussing responsibilities and performance – this is a necessary part of life and can be empowering if done properly. However, it can be easy to discuss these things from a shame base or with a sense of condemnation if various goals are not met.
  • News, sports, and weather – these are surface level conversations. There is nothing wrong with these assuming it doesn’t dominate most of our verbal exchanges with our kids. Chris Brogan has a fun article on 5 levels of conversation.
  • Connection – this is hearing each other’s hearts. This is the good stuff. As children (or spiritual children) feel listened to and valued, they deepen their identity of worth as children of God. A bit of warning though — there can be an overbalance where every conversation has to be deep. That actually has the opposite effect.
Consider Your Dialogue Transactions

Would you consider your various conversations with those you father/mother? How often are you experiencing real connection?

As you become more aware of the types of conversations you hold, you will be able improve your fathering skillssubstantially. Much healing and maturing occurs simply from inclusive, connected, and valuing conversation. These exchanges let people know they have worth in your eyes and that you care for them.

If connecting with deeper levels of conversation is difficult for you, please contact us. There are some easy ways to resolve this difficulty.

Father, bless this dear reader today to go forth into valuing conversations, where they truly hear and are truly heard.

 

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

Fathering Discipleship – A Key for Successful

December 6, 2015 by Robert Hartzell

Fathering Discipleship gives freedom, without placing expectations.

The Great Commission instructs us “to make disciples.” (Matt.28:19) This is a skill many have struggled to develop well. As I’ve sought to grow in Fathering Discipleship I found an important key — I have to let go of my expectations.

Fathering Our Own Children Fathering Discipleship

Think of what it means to let go of expectations when it comes to fathering/mothering our own children.

We teach our children values and consequences. We seek to identify and call out their natural strengths. However, if we demand they embrace a certain hobby or career, we impede their autonomy and diminish intimacy between us.

Fathering Discipleship

I believe a primary characteristic of fathering/mothering others is expressing “covering love” toward the weaknesses, shortcomings, and growth process of others. (1 Pet.4:8, Rm.15:1)

Here’s a key example. You’ve overcome or become successful in an area of your life, say leading a Bible study. A younger believer you’re discipling is starting his first Bible study. He’s super excited but “doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.” You, because of your experience, easily see mistakes he’s already making. You seek to father him, gently giving input in an encouraging way. Your disciple listens a little but is fairly set in the many ideas he already has and chooses not to adhere to any of your suggestions or advice.

So here’s the Key: at this point you cover in love. You let go of expectations that your disciple will listen to your experience and learn the lessons you try to teach him. Keep loving him anyway. This is the key. You’re there to pick him up when he falls and never say, “I told you so.” You simply cover him in love. You keep giving input as he’s open to it.

People have free will. Allow them to use it. Let go of any expectations. Ultimately everyone has to find their own way forward in life. (Gal.6:5)

The Body of Christ is so in need of an army of fathering/mothering leaders to disciple the next generation. Leaders who will give freedom to their disciples to grow and learn yet cover and protect them in love.

Will you step out and learn the skills of Fathering Discipleship? Generations are waiting.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

You are Called to Influence the Nations

October 29, 2015 by Robert Hartzell

Productive Wilderness Life Series (Part 10) – Integrating the Father’s Love

We have finally arrived at part 10 of our series, “Productive Wilderness Life.” It is extremely heartbreaking to me that so many Christians are stuck when it comes to knowing how to grow into the destiny God has for them. In previous posts from this series I have covered how to embrace our “Sonship Identity,”  the ways legalism holds us back, and unpacked what walking in the Father’s love really looks like.

And now in this final post I want to speak about your calling.

hands on worldCalled to the Nations

Every Christian is called to the nations. Let me elaborate. Wilderness Life has as its end the Promised Land — your place of calling and destiny, the very thing God created you to do on this earth.

Here are 3 key verses that speak about your calling:

Psalms 2:8 — Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

Song 8:8 — we have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for? (Will you equip the “little sisters” God places in your life to be the Bride of Christ?)

Matthew 28:19-20 — Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

So how do you know which “nation” you are called to?

You look to the realm of influence God has given you.

All Are Called

Ephesians 4:11,12 — So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for work of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Everyone has a “work of ministry ” of some kind they are called to.

All Have A Sphere

2 Cor.10:13 — But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure (Greek – Metron) of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

Vine’s Expository on Metron: “referring to the sphere Divinely appointed for the Apostle as to his Gospel ministry; this had reached to Corinth ametros.”

All are called to the nations, to a sphere — an area where you’re connected to people. You have a sphere of influence God has appointed to you. Be life giving there.

Paying the Price

Why take God’s love to the nations (your metron)? Why endure the hardship? Because the work God will do in us and through us is absolutely priceless and nothing on earth is more fulfilling than walking in your God created purpose.

God’s heart is for people. The earth is cursed with fatherlessness and God wants to use us to set people free and restore them to intimacy with Him.

Here’s a staggering statistic: Children raised in single parent homes has gone from 20% to 70% in the past 50 years.

A large part of integrating the Father’s love is learning to give it away. As we work through our “wilderness-life” issues and become more firmly grounded in love ourselves, there is nothing more exciting in the world than to connect with others and see them healed, restored, and equipped in the Father’s love too.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

Expressing Fathers Love

October 23, 2015 by Robert Hartzell

Productive Wilderness Life Series (Part 9) – Integrating the Father’s Love

Expressing Fathers Love – Facilitating Love Environments

By expressing Fathers love we can create a culture of love, inclusion, and valuing of others.Expressing Fathers Love

As we allow God’s sanctifying work in us through our wilderness life experiences loving others is the natural fruit that occurs.

“People become more important in our life. Accepting, trusting and affiliating become easier. One becomes more at home with the family of humankind, wherever and whomever.” (Ward p.14)

Practically Expressed

Practically Expressing Fathers Love can be done with some practical tools: touch, eye contact, tone of voice, smiles, hugs, handshakes, and laughter, all work well to show others their incredible value in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Col. 3:12-14 — Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Romans 12:10 — be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Ephesians 4:2 — Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Showing Interest

This is another huge way to show people their value and help them feel safe enough to open their hearts to love.

We can show interest by asking people questions. This honors them and reveals that you are safe, not judgmental or critical. It helps create an atmosphere of trust and intimacy which allows them the freedom to open up to Father’s love and have an encounter with Him. You can tell because their face lights up and you can see how they love to explain things.

A good heart check is examining how much time you spend talking about yourself versus truly asking others about their lives.

Be Careful of Devaluing

This also is in looks, attitude, body gestures, frustrations, etc.

2 Corinthians 6:3 — we put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

It is important to remember that none of us walks this out perfectly. Part of growing in the Father’s love is not feeling condemned when you make mistakes. We simply repent and quickly receive God’s forgiveness. We’ve grown past the mask of shame that says we can never show weakness. This allows us to learn from our mistakes and continue to grow as a son.

Our final post in this series next time will cover Your Call to the Nations.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership Tagged With: Practically Expressing Fathers Love

Fathers Love Practically Expressed

October 16, 2015 by Robert Hartzell

Productive Wilderness Life Series (Part 8) – Integrating the Father’s Love

Fathers Love Practically Expressed as Childlike FaithFathers Love Practically Expressed

Matthew 18:3, 4 — “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

When I think of Fathers love practically expressed I think of childlike faith I think of being genuine and sincerely loving others. Masks of shame are the opposite of being genuine.

Shame is often taught in terms of masks we wear— ways we seek to appear acceptable, successful. Everyone has these at some level. None of us like to look bad.

Wilderness Life dismantles these masks and produces a deeper genuineness and simplicity. We go deeper in knowing we are loved by God.This in turn deepens our ability to love others who are also still in the process of maturing.

Learning to see others as equal brothers and sisters is the fruit of growing in a childlike faith. No dependence nor dominance, no outward locus of control, no legalism. Expressions of fraternity, brotherhood, community is God’s love walked out.

Romans 12:10 — be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Love gets communicated in everything you do and say. To help bring change through loving others, we first have to accept them, even with their differences.

Empathy – Gaining Awareness, Tolerance, and Acceptance

So how can we effectively minister to other people? God’s love is our base for integration, personal transformation, and for ministry.

Step one is growing in awareness of where your heart is really at and what needs to change. This process will begin moving you into greater tolerance and acceptance of others who are different and even difficult. When you can truly love people where they are at, it opens the door to minister to them.

Consider these main things to help you integrate:

  1. Where you direct your attention – Am I focusing on all the differences/immaturities I see in others in a negative way? Seeing past the external things we notice with our natural eyes to see with Father’s heart of love is the focus that allows us to minister to others.
  2. What you expect to receive – If I am going to exemplify God’s love, then I can appreciate the differences I have with others and not judge.

We can learn a tremendous amount of things about ourselves as we observe how we respond to others. Expect to be changed forever and learn to live as a son.

Next post will look facilitating a love environment.

Filed Under: Fathering Leadership

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hmmdbookWant to go deeper in your experience of the Father’s Love? Get The Sonship Empowered Life, A Road Map to Growth and Maturity.

fatheringleadership5.5x8.5Want to grow deeper in your leadership creating a culture of growth for others? Get Fathering Leadership, Creating A Culture of Growth.

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