ONE THING LEADERSHIP WEDNESDAY

I.                   ONE THING IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.

1.   King David Understood it.

Psalm 27:4

⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

2.   Paul the Apostle understood it.

Philippians 3:13-14

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I ⁿpress toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

3.   Martha embraced it.

Luke 10:38-42

³⁸ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

II.                 THE ONE THING MADE PRACTICAL.

1.   The focusing question.

a.   "What's the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"

b.   What is your Domino Effect?

Bill Gates Example

·        Bill's ONE passion in high school was computers. 

·        This led him to develop ONE skill, computer programming. 

·        In high school, he got ONE job in the computer programing field. 

·         Which led to him eventually starting ONE company - Microsoft. 

·        Microsoft focused on ONE thing -- the development and sale of BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800, which eventually made Bill the ONE richest man in the world for 15 years in a row. 

·        After Bill retired from Microsoft, he formed ONE foundation that focused on ONE Thing: to tackle some of the world's "really tough problems" like health and education. 

·        The majority of the foundation's money went to ONE area, their Global Health Program -- which had ONE goal: the use science and technology to save lives in poor countries... To do this, they settled on find a solution to the ONE major cause of death -- infectious disease... The ONE solution they came up with was vaccination

2.   Use the 80/20 Principle then go Deeper.

a.   The MINORITY of your effort leads to the MAJORITY of your results...

20% of your customers usually account for 80% of your profits.

20% of your investments usually account for 80% of your returns.

20% of your habits usually result in 80% of your success

It's not necessarily about the exact numbers (80%; 20%) as much as it's about the simple truth behind them, which is this: a SMALL percentage of what you do accounts for a LARGE percentage of the results you experience.

b.   Our to-do-List must become a success list.

c.     The Most Important Thing must get our undivided Attention.

"...What's happening when we're actually doing two things at once? It's simple. We've separated them. Our brain has channels, and as a result we're able to process different kinds of data in different parts of our brain. This is why you can walk and talk at the same time. There is no channel interference. But here's the catch: you're not really focused on both activities. One is happening in the foreground and the other in the background. You can do two things at once, but you can't focus effectively on two things at once. We're right when we say something is "front and center" or "top of mind," because that's where focus occurs--in the prefrontal cortex. When you focus, it's like shining a spotlight on what matters. You can actually give attention to two things, but that is what's called "divided attention." And make no mistake. Take on two things and your attention gets divided. Take on a third and something gets dropped.

3.   Use Small doses of Discipline long enough to develop Habits.

a.   "Success is actually a short race -- a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit to kick in and take over.

b.   According to research, it takes, on average, 66 days to develop a discipline into a habit. This number might vary for you depending on your situation, but remember that it's not something that you can do over-night.

III.              HOW IT WORKS.

1.   Analyzing the Question.

a.   What's the ONE Thing I can do...  This first part of the Focusing Question is about taking action... it's not the ONE thing you "should do", or "could do", or "would do" -- but the ONE Thing you CAN do. The word "can" implies action, as opposed to others, which imply intention.

b.   Such that by doing it... this part of the question lets you know you're about to get specific. It means that you're about to take action on something that actually has a purpose.

c.     Everything else will be easier or unnecessary?  this final part of the Focusing Question is about LEVERAGE. It says that when you do this ONE Thing, everything else you could do to accomplish your goal will now be either doable with less effort or no longer even necessary.

2.   GOAL SETTING.

What's the ONE thing I want to do someday?

FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Based on my Someday Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do in the next 5 years? 

ONE-YEAR GOAL: Based on my Five-Year Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do in this year?

MONTHLY GOAL: Based on my One-Year Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do this month?

WEEKLY GOAL: Based on my Monthly Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do this week? DAILY GOAL: Based on my Weekly Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do today? RIGHT NOW: Based on my Daily Goal, what's the ONE thing I can do right now?

3.   Block Time and Reserve best Time for your One Thing.

IV.             AVOID THE 4 THEIVES OF PRODUCTIVITY.

1.   The Inability to say no.

We must avoid saying yes to most things unless they're connect to our ONE Thing.

2.   Fear of Chaos.

Messes occur. In time, you'll learn to deal with the chaos in your own unique way. But don't let chaos control you.

3.   Poor Health Habits.

a.   Pray and read the word.

b.   Exercise and eat right and get enough sleep.

c.     Spend time with friends and family for emotional energy.

d.   Set goals, plan, and calendar for mental energy.

e.    Time block your ONE Thing for business energy.

4.   Unproductive Environments.

a.   Alert other of what you are doing.

b.   Put up a sign.

c.     Get rid of all distractions.

V.               LIVING WITHOUT REGRET.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying

"I wish that I'd let myself be happier"

"I wish I'd stayed in touch with my friends"

"I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings"

"I wish I hadn't worked so hard"

"I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."

Laws of Harvest and M.O of harvest season.

John 4:35

³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.

Galatians 6:7-8

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

I.              THE SEVEN LAWS OF HARVEST.

1.   We reap only what has been sown.

·        Common Grace.  Mattatthew 5:45

·        Sovereignty of God. Romans 9:16-23

·        Reaping from Others Labors. John 4:38

·        Wrong others have done (if not dealt with) Genesis 5:3; Numbers 14:18

2.   We reap in the same kind as we sow.

3.   We reap in a different season than we sow.

4.   We reap more than we sow.

5.   We reap in proportion to what we sow.

6.   We reap a full harvest of good only if we persevere evil comes to harvest on it’s own.

7.   We can’t do anything about last years Harvest but we can about this one.

II.                 HARVEST M.O. (DILIGENCE REQUIRED).

1.   Diligence is seed.

Proverbs 10:4

He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

2.   Diligence is not the same as hard work.

Proverbs 21:5

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But of every one that is hasty only to want.

3.   No one is going to tell you what to do all of the time.

Proverbs 6:6-11

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹ How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? ¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—¹¹ So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

4.   We must overcome inconveniences.

Proverbs 20:4

⁴  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5.   We must overcome the dominant mood of Harvest.

Proverbs 10:5

⁵ He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Proverbs 25:13

¹³ Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say so

Psalm 107:2

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the

hand of the Enemy.

Revelation 17:6a

⁶ And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…

μάρτυς mártus; gen. márturos -  A witness. One who has information or knowledge of something, and hence, one who can give information, bring to light, or confirm something.

Matthew 18:15-16

¹⁵ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

I.                  THE BEFORE CHRIST PICTURE.

Acts 22:1-5

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” ² And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said: ³ “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, ⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

   

1.      What was my life like that will relate most to the non-Christian?

2.      What did my life revolve around the most?  What did I get my security or happiness from?  (The non-Christian is relying on something external to give him happiness)

3.      How did those areas begin to let me down?

·         Your goal: to give specific, yet appropriate, examples of what your life was like (attitudes, needs, problems) before Christ.

·         Remember that examples you give will establish you as a credible witness in the minds of non-Christians. However, avoid a religious focus. (You want to make it about Jesus and your need for Him.) Don't spend a great amount of time talking about church activities or denominations before your life began to change. Likewise, avoid being over explicit and sensational in speaking of drugs, immorality, crime or drunkenness.

II.               HOW I GOT SAVED (GAVE HIM COMPLETE CONTROL).

Acts 22:6-11

⁶ “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

1.      When was the first time I heard the gospel? (Or when was I exposed to transforming Christianity)

2.      What were my initial reactions?

3.      When did my attitude begin to turn around?  Why?

4.      What were the final struggles that went through my mind just before I accepted Christ?

5.      Why did I decide to surrender to Christ?

·         Your goal: to allow the listener to walk away with a clear understanding of how you became a Christian and how he or she can trust Christ as the payment for their sins.

·         Be careful not to use clichés and church language. Talk in terms they'll understand.

III.            LIFE AFTER SURRENDERING TO CHRIST.

Acts 22:12-21

¹² “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’¹⁷ “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance ¹⁸ and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ ¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’”

1.      Specific changes and illustrations about the changes Christ has made:

2.      Why am I motivated differently?

·         Your goal: to explain specific ways Christ has changed your life -- to show that having Christ in your life really does make a difference!

·         Avoid using general statements such as “I have so much peace now.” Be specific. It is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to draw someone to Christ, but you want to communicate your story in such a way to show the listener that your life is different and more meaningful with Christ.

IV.           THE INVITATION.

Acts 26:25-27

²⁶ For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe”

1.   Pop the question. (Have you done anything like this?)

2.   Would you like to surrender your life to Jesus?

V.              HELPFUL HINTS.

1.   Glorify Jesus not your past.

2.   De Church your language. Use common phrases all can understand.

3.   Do it in three minutes.

4.   Write testimony out.

5.   Practice over and over until you get it right in 3 minutes.

6.   Give the invitation in a non-open ended way.

7.   Make the invitation personal.