Your list of 10 people

While teaching Perspectives this season, one of the things I’ve been focusing on emphasizing is a Piper concept. I don’t always agree with Piper – in fact, I often don’t – but this is one where I do tend (yes, there’s nuance) to agree with him: “You’re either a goer, a sender, or disobedient.” So here’s the suggestion I’ve been making at Perspectives:

1. Get out a sheet of paper. Write the numbers 1 to 10 down the left hand side of the sheet.
2. Put the sheet before God in prayer. Ask him to put names on the page: if you are a goer, they are the people you should approach about supporting you in prayer and encouragement (and some of them, obviously, finances). But less thought of: if you are a sender, these are the people you think you should be encouraging.

You could do worse than simply putting those names down on a piece of paper and praying for them daily, and asking God to reveal how you can encourage them. Then, just listen for conversations where people have a heart for the world, for the people “out there,” for the unreached. Offer to take them to coffee and hear their story. Unpack what might be a calling on their life. Encourage them and pray for them. Circle around and follow up.

Over time, your list of 10 will no doubt change. It might grow or it might shrink. That’s okay. Just keep laying that list before the Father and praying for them, and asking for opportunities to encourage people in a calling to the nations. Even 1 person could be used by God to start a movement that reaches 1,000, 100,000 or even millions of people.