SMALL GROUP LEADER
LUNCH AND LEARN
SEPTEMBER 25, 2011
Spiritual “X-Factor’s”
Pastor Miles Welch
Kingdom of God
[Student Inserts
Their Name Here]
Community
1. Spiritual leaders see the bigger picture.
2. Spiritual leaders pay the dual price of sustained spiritual depth and sustained
leadership impact.
3. Spiritual leaders possess “X-factors.” (i.e., qualities that multiply their private spirituality
into the lives of others)
Three High X-Factors” (Matthew 4.1-11)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
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X-FACTOR ONE
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are
the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: Man does not live
on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:2-4)
Satan’s Tempt: To avoid pain by engaging in immediate and illicit consolation.
Jesus’ Resolve: To wait for God’s comfort.
Matthew 5.4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Penthountes is the strongest word possible for mourning. It is like the deep mourning and wailing that
occurs over the death of a loved one. It is sorrow—a desperate, helpless sorrow.
Only those who mourn receive Gods comfort,
Only those who receive God’s comfort can share it with others. (X-Factor)
THE CEMETERY OF THE HEART
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also
through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 2
(2 Corinthians 1.3-6)
1. There is a cemetery within.
2. Every pain deserves its funeral.
3. True comfort and healing comes when you invite God to the funeral.
4. You cannot heal someone, but you can walk with them in their cemetery.
5. When you have experienced comfort from God, others experience God’s comfort through you.
(At some point, God will invite you walk in His cemetery!)
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X-FACTOR TWO
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the
Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, "It
is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (Matthew 4:5-7)
Temptation: To enjoy being celebrated more than being consecrated.
Seek to accommodate others.
Seek to be acclaimed by others.
Resolution: To pursue being wholly consecrated.
Luke 10.20…do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are
written in heaven."
“If you fight for Me privately,
I will fight for you publicly.” (X-Factor)
THE ART OF DUAL DIALOGUE
“…At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:20)
1. Fight for God by cultivating devoted moments.
2. Devoted Moments matures into a sacred dialogue.
3. Your Sacred Dialogue develops social resilience. (Dual dialogue)
4. God unleashes spiritual wisdom through your sacred dialogue into the social dialogue.
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X-FACTOR THREE
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away
from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' " (Matthew 4:8-10)
Temptation: To live under the law of reciprocation.
The law: “I must get what I give.”
Comes from a healthy desire for justice with an unhealthy demand to see it on earth.
Under this law, you struggle to give and to forgive.
The Problem: You cannot pick a fight with the world while you negotiate with it.
Resolution: To surrender to the spirit of grace.
The spirit: grace
The law requires others to give back to you.
The Spirit inspires others to give away to others. (X-Factor)
RISING ABOVE RECIPROCATION
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:6-8)
1. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve, did not earn, and cannot demand.
2. Only those who have received freely can consistently give freely.
3. The more you know of the grace of God, the fewer options you have.
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