Atlanta Vineyard Church

For the men at AVC who may have missed the MANDATE breakfast on October 24, we interacted about times when our lives were iompacted by someone making the "big ask" - challenging us o step up and give, or serve, or lead , or follow someone else on a major adventure in a way that changed our lives. Maybe you can add your two cents by sharing on the Vineyard's blog spot! With that in mind, here is the lead in to our discussion time! Take a minute and share your own story!

Make the Big Ask

Taken from AXIOM, by Bill Hybels

See an example in Acts 16:1-3

Leadership is a lot about asking. After casting bold visions, leaders ask people to help make them become a reality. Leaders describe pressing problems … and then ask believers to devote their best thinking and most innovative ideas to solve them. In church work, leaders ask spiritual seekers to consider Christ. They ask believers to grow up in their faith. They ask staff members and volunteers and donors and contractors to show up and give their best time and money and energy and heart – all because they believe so much in the cause they’re pushing.

The longer I have had the chance to lead the bigger my “asks” have become. I have had no choice. As God laid big visions on my mind and heart, I realized that I was going to have to be absolutely shameless in asking people to join me in this grand, God-glorifying endeavor. And shamelessly ask I did.

In effect, I learned to yield to an interesting insight: people are actually flattered to be asked to do significant things for God. Granted, they might not always say yes – they can’t always say yes – but they are almost always honored by a wise and well-timed ask. The nature of human beings is such that we tend not to drift into better behaviors. We usually have to be asked by someone to consider taking life up a level. One of the greatest gifts you can give the people around you is to get in front of them, eyeball to eyeball, and ask them to step up and do something great for God. Do it well, and you’ll bring glory to God, esteem to the other person, and much needed resources to the kingdom of God.

Four Steps to Asking Well

1. Set the context for a serious challenge and say, “God led me to challenge you to something significant today. Please know that I will be ok whether you accept the challenge or not. My goal is simply to be obedient to God’s prompting, not to force you into doing something.”
2. Make the details of “the ask” as clear as you can. Give the best reasons why they are the people you felt you needed to approach particularly and why you believe they might want to consider this sacrifice or investment.
3. Offer them time to take the opportunity before the Lord to seek his direction in the matter. Set a definite time for following up on their answer.
4. Reassure them again that, as the Lord leads, any outcome for their decision is fine. Let them know you appreciate their willingness to give you the opportunity to ask.

In your groups share from your life experience:

- an instance where you were honored to be the object of a “big ask.”

- an instance where your life was radically changed by saying “yes” to someone else’s challenge to step up a level in your spiritual life.

- an instance where you missed an opportunity by saying “no” to someone else’s challenge to step up a level in your spiritual life and what that negative response cost you..