Friday, July 7, 2017

GIVE PEOPLE THE FIVE STAR TREATMENT

by Dale Galloway




Jesus, the wisest, most knowledgeable person on the art of human relationships, gave Christians the Golden Rule principle:  “Treat others as you want to be treated” (see Luke 6:31).

If I want to build positive relationships with other people, then I need to put myself in their place and try to understand them. 

If I want people to like me I need to treat them as I would like to be treated if I were in their place.  The following five values prove to be helpful steps toward living out the Golden Rule.  They form a foundation for treating everyone as you want to be treated.

1.       People Want to Feel They Are of Worth.
 
As our greatest example of this attitude, Jesus never met an unimportant person.   He said, “…Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40).  The way we treat others is the way we are treating Jesus.  We should treat others the same special way we would treat Jesus.
2.       People Want to Be Listened To.
 
If you want people to like you, start practicing the biblical admonition: “Don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry” (James 1:19, TLB).  In other words, when in a conversation, stop worrying about what to say next and start listening with an interested ear to what the other person says, and you will gain a friend. 
3.       People Want to Be Appreciated.
 
Mark Twain said he could live for three weeks on one compliment.  Let’s face it: I like to be valued and so do you.  Everyone relishes receiving appreciation.  If you want to get along well with people, then give them the words of praise they crave.  Do this, and the people will respond positively to you for it.
4.       People Want to Be Built Up and Edified.
 
We live in a world of constant put-downs.  If you become known as someone who builds people up and edifies them, you’ll stand head and shoulders above the crowd.  Victor Hugo stated, “Man lives more by affirmation than by bread.”
5.       People Want to Be Treated with Empathy.
  
God’s way is for us to weep with those who weep and laugh with those who laugh (Rom. 12:15).

Five More Star Points to Help You Relate Well to Others

  Be willing to change. 
  Think of yourself the way God thinks of you. 
  Treat yourself as a best friend, accepting yourself unconditionally. 
   Find freedom by owning up to your faults, admitting when you’re wrong. 
  Care enough for yourself to share yourself with others. 

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS – Save this link to the new LifeWay catalog, 2017-2018 - http://www.lifeway.com/LifeWay-Christian-Resources/Y/c/N-1z141jlZ1z10gjr

FOR CHURCH & COMMUNITY – DevoHub, providing daily devotional material directly to your smart phone or tablet - http://devohub.com/

FOR FAMILY MINISTRY:  ETCH Conference, Equipping the Church and Home,  October 16-18, Nashville - http://etchconference.com/

FOR EXPLORE THE BIBLE USERS: Register for one of the weekly webcasts on using the new Daily Discipleship Guide coming this fall - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Explore-The-Bible/Daily-Discipleship-Guide?cid=RDR-exploredaily

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Register for a FREE webinar on “Writing Sermon Based Bible Studies” - https://lifeway.zoom.us/webinar/register/5e0047cf665e435634538d7d4481ef37

FOR SMALL GROUP LEADERS: Register for a FREE webinar on “How to select Bible studies on smallgroup.com” - https://lifeway.zoom.us/webinar/register/f2a62b60aaad40887510d14dfea9e911

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: “The Dark Side” by Jeremiah Johnston, confronting evil - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/bible-studies-for-life-the-dark-side-leader-kit-P005794280

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Disciples Path: The Journey, all four volumes are now available! Relational, Intentional, Progressive, Comprehensive: http://buff.ly/2fWPk2b

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Foundations for Adults, a 260 Day Bible reading plan - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/foundations-P005769893?intcmp=FoundationsSearch-MTX-Foundations-20170103

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: “We Saved You a Seat” Online Bible Study by Lisa-Jo Baker, starting August 3 - http://blog.lifeway.com/womenallaccess/2017/07/05/announcing-saved-seat-online-bible-study-women-teen-girls-sign/?ecid=PDM43616&bid=913488272

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: “Steadfast Love” by Lauren Chandler, a study on worship from Psalm 107 - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/steadfast-love-leader-kit-P005793655

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: “Entrusted” by Beth Moore, a study of 2 Timothy - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/entrusted-leader-kit-P006103965?intcmp=Entrusted-MTX-Button-LeaderKit-20170220

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: “Sleeping Giant” by Kenny Luck, steps toward beginning a men’s ministry that transforms men - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/sleeping-giant-leader-kit-P005469852

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: “Unfolded” by Dr. Eric Geiger - buff.ly/2hGyO9w

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: “Among Wolves” by Dhati Lewis, disciplemaking in the city - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Among-Wolves?emid=BSIamongwolves-07052017&ecid=PDM43616&bid=913488272

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Disciples Path for students – a new series for developing your student’s discipleship - http://www.lifeway.com/Disciples-Path/Youth/c/N-1z0znzeZ1z141ym?intcmp=DisciplesPath-MTX-Text-Students-20150625


FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: “Big Questions” by Andy McLean, a 6 week study on apologetics - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Big-Questions?intcmp=LifewayStudents-MTX-Tiled-BigQuestions-20161031

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: The LIFT Tour for developing student leaders - http://www.slulead.com/lift-tour

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Youth Pastor Summit registration is now open - http://www.slulead.com/youth-pastor-summit

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Student Pastor Network, connect with Student Pastors around the country without leaving your office AND get $200 worth of 'stuff'. buff.ly/2lksLHS

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: TeamKID’s Going Vertical – brand new for fall 2017 - http://buff.ly/2tpKT8W

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: “Are You Changing Behavior or Changing Lives?” - http://buff.ly/2uTpAKK

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry 101 Podcasts -  buff.ly/2kPNDFV

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry 101 magazine, sign up for this free resource - http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/kids-ministry-101-magazine-signup/

Final Blog, addendum

As one final joke among my teammates, I was somehow selected to give the devotional at our final Zoom meeting.  Among the 30 team members, I...