Tip # 6 -- Trust in Relationships
Takes Time

photo courtesy of CarbonNYC


Trust in Relationships is Vital

Will you seriously listen to advice from a person you do not trust? I won't, and I don't think you will either. In my insurance practice, I learned early on that people buy from those they like and respect. There's more to the sale than the "features and benefits."




This leads us to an important discipling principle:

When the goal is helping people become like Jesus
two ingredients are vital: trust and truth.

Notice that this trust in relationships always precedes truth. The general discipling process is: close relationships + truth = transformation. Without this process truth rarely takes root in a human heart. And without truth there's little life transformation.

Trust in Relationships is the Foundation

The Bible teaches that one of Jesus' priorities was to ask his disciples to be with him (Mark 3:14). This pattern helps us recognize that forming close relationships is the foundation for receiving truth. Why? Because the person giving the advice must be someone we know and respect.

It is quite common for the members of a small group to meet for several years, discuss Biblical principles and yet remain pretty much the same. How do we explain this? Because often the sharing within the group is still at a surface level.

Form Mini-Groups

One solution is to be more intentional on building relationships in which we give others permission to speak truth to us. This will require men to meet with men and women to meet with women outside the formal group meeting.

Think about your group. Form groups of two or three (gender specific) and ask each mini-group to meet once per week for a month. Explain that the purpose is to build close relationships - to build trust in relationships. Ask each mini-group to share with each other how things are really going at work, at home and with the Lord. Trust will not just happen. There must be godly values that provide a catalyst. Here are some guidelines for your group.

People Will Trust You When. . .

• You avoid talking about others. Otherwise people will assume that someday you'll be talking about them.

• Your words are filled with godly wisdom.

• Your behavior aligns with your advice.

• You speak the truth in a kind and loving way.

Be Open and Honest

• How would you describe your relationship with God today?

• Do you ever talk about spiritual things with your spouse or children? What? When?

• What challenge are you facing right now at work?

• How do you spend most of your leisure time?

Author:Paul Schlieker www.bible-study-lesson-plans.com

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