Pastor's & Leadership Conference 2009
Conference Sessions
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Making People a Priority

Most, if not all, Pastors and church leaders would agree that no church excels without the right resources.  However there might be much disagreement and debate over what resources is most needed by a congregation.  According to Webster's a resource is, "something that lies ready for use or can be drawn upon for aid".  Given this definition, it is safe to say to say that all churches have various types of resources at their disposal, such as money, property, building(s), and vehicles, just to name a few.

All of the aforementioned commodities are great resources for any church to have, but neither should be considered the primary resource.  The chief resource of any congregation should be the people.  This is so because without people it is nearly impossible for any church to be in position to have money, property, buildings and other possessions.  In light of this it is critical that Senior Pastors and ministry leaders focus more on people instead of programs, positions, and prosperity.  This lesson is designed to share practical and biblical ways to prioritize people.

I.  Who Prioritized People?

The following is a list of people that Jesus made a priority:

a.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
MATTHEW 14:23
"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening
 was come, he was there along."

b.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
MATTHEW 18:1-3
"At the same time came the disciples into Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  And Jesus
called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

c.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
MARK 3:14
"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach."

d.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
LUKE 24:13-15
"And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmanus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them."  

e.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
LUKE 4-7
"There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink."

f.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
LUKE 19:5-7
"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."

g.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
JOHN 11:1-3
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."  

h.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
LUKE 7:11-15
"And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.  Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Week not.  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.  And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.  And he delivered him to his mother."

i.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
LUKE 23:39-43
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."

j.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.
MARK 5:22-24
"And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him."

II.  Why You Should Prioritize People?

The following is a list of positive things the results from prioritizing people:

a.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their _____________________.
JOHN 4:28
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,"

b.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their _____________________.
MARK 5:2-5,15
"And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind and they were afraid."

c.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their _____________________.
MARK 5:18-20
"And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel."

d.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their _____________________.
LUKE 13:11-13a
"And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight,"

e.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their _____________________.
LUKE 13:13b
"...and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God"

f.  Prioritizing people can lead to a change in their  _____________________.
LUKE 19:8-9
"And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

     f.  Jesus made time to prioritize ___________________.