• We should always be mentoring others before us, sharing with our peers, and learning from those ahead of us.
• We should be LIFETIME STUDENTS…
• John Hurston example: (we never know who may make a huge impact for the kingdom!)
  • He led Dr. Cho in South Korea to the Lord.
  • He led Dr. Paul Ai in Vietnam to the Lord.
  • Millions of salvations have been documented through these two ministries alone!

• The Fire Next Door Analogy
• What would you do if you came home late one night and your next-door neighbor’s house was on fire?  Virtually all of us would immediately respond without thinking: 
  • Call 9-1-1.
  • Pound on their doors or windows to alert them to the danger.
  • Maybe even enter the home to save the people or their pets if it was safe to do so? 
  • Correct?
• I can’t imagine too many people would just drive into their garage and shut the door, thinking that someone else will call the Fire Department or warn their neighbors.  Some might – but I personally don’t want them as friends or neighbors!
  • Do you believe in hell?  Jesus clearly testified how awful hell will be for those who choose not to believe in and give their lives to Him.  The Book of Revelation is very clear as well.
  • Revelation 20:10-15 – And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. … Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
  • Realistically, it’s not our neighbor’s home that is on fire – it is our neighbor themselves – if he/she doesn’t know Jesus.
  • Why would we even consider not telling them?  Why keep Jesus a secret?
• This is directly related to our COMPASSION for others in action – mercy, pity, and concern.
  • As much as I love God, I will never be an effective witness unless I love people.
  • Apathy is often fed by my own selfishness, of which I must repent.
  • Christ’s love must be my motivator.
• In ministry, we tend to lose sight of the main things in lieu of doing the peripheral things (all good and necessary, but not the core thing that Jesus directed).
  • Discipleship: “knowledge without application is useless!”
  • Effective leadership is based on relationship and discipleship.
  • We have a perfect model of what we should do and how to do it = JESUS.
  • Process of discipleship: 1 (Jesus)  3 (12)  60  125  600  the world
  • How do churches grow today?
    • People accidentally stopping by – advertising, slick website.
    • Come with a friend or family member.
    • Sense of obligation from the past (Christmas, Easter).
    • Or is there another – more effective – way?
• Our Challenge – We must get the church (that’s us!) out of the four walls of a building and into the world – the world is increasingly less likely to come to the established church for multiple reasons – this is a function Small Groups could be fulfilling at all local churches!