Study Guide: "Influence: Discover Why Nobody's Listening" - Pastor Ron Kelly

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"Influence: Discover Why Nobody's Listening" - Pastor Ron Kelly

Sermon Study Guide: "Making It Hard for Them Not to Listen"

Key Scriptures: Acts 27-28 Main Speaker: Pastor Ron Kelly Central Theme: Godly influence is not built on status, power, or perfect doctrine alone, but on a life of principled, compassionate, and authentic Christianity that is lived out consistently, especially in private and under pressure.

Opening Reflection

Pastor Ron begins by stating that our credibility and influence can grow or diminish, using the aging, imprisoned Apostle Paul as an example of someone who reached his peak influence while stigmatized.

  • Who is someone in your life whose influence grew over time, not because of their position, but because of their character? What qualities did they possess?

Core Message & Discussion Questions

1. The Foundation: Principled Christianity Starts at Home

"Your religion either works at home or it doesn't work... They know if you know how to say you're sorry, admit you made a mistake."

  • Discussion Questions:

    • Why is the home considered the "laboratory" for genuine faith? How can a faith that seems strong in public be revealed as weak at home?

    • Pastor Ron states that Christianity is "all or nothing." What does he mean by this? How can compartmentalizing our faith ultimately lead to a loss of influence?

2. The Process: How Influence is Built (The Paul Principle)

"If you're not willing to suffer through the times of staying true to your own value system and doing it humbly, you will never go into the upper echelons of being a person of influence."

  • Discussion Questions:

    • Trace Paul's journey in Acts 27-28. How did he move from being a "nobody" no one listened to (Acts 27:11) to the person the centurion and soldiers trusted with their lives (Acts 27:31-32, 42-44)?

    • What specific actions and attitudes did Paul demonstrate during the storm that built his credibility (e.g., prayer for others, encouragement, calm leadership, practical service)?

    • Pastor Ron mentioned that "people made fun of him" for being an old prisoner, yet his influence grew. What does this say about the world's standards of influence versus God's?

3. The Atmosphere: Unstudied, Unconscious Influence

"Every person in this room takes with them an atmosphere. And that atmosphere does a work before you say anything."

  • Key Quote: "For a real Christian there is an unstudied, unconscious influence." (Ellen White)

  • Discussion Questions:

    • What is "unstudied, unconscious influence"? How is it different from trying to act influential or Christlike?

    • How can daily communion with Christ (the "Moses on the mountain" experience) create this kind of influence? What habits nurture this communion?

    • The story of Bula and "Johnny" illustrates this principle. Why did Johnny listen to her? How does a life of genuine love and service give us the moral authority to speak hard truths?

4. The Practice: Becoming a "Tree of Life" and a "Fountain"

"The mouth of the righteous is like a tree of life... You're either a fountain or you're a drain."

  • Discussion Questions:

    • A "fountain" encourages and refreshes; a "drain" criticizes and depletes. In your spheres of influence (home, church, work), which are you more often? What is one practical way to be a "fountain" this week?

    • Pastor Ron emphasized the "Law of the Leaky Vessel"—we all make mistakes and lose self-respect. How does speaking words that are a "tree of life" help repair our own and others' "leaky vessels"?

    • He urged sending notes of encouragement to leaders. How could proactively building up those in authority (pastors, conference leaders) make a future, necessary correction more likely to be heard?

5. The Key to Restoration: Humility and Repentance

"It would be my desire that your church would be the most united, most influential church... But you don't get there by scrimping or taking shortcuts."

  • Discussion Questions:

    • Pastor Ron shared a personal story of publicly apologizing for a mistake he made in a business meeting. Why was this act so powerful in building trust and influence?

    • How does the ability to say "I was wrong" and "I'm sorry" demonstrate the core of the gospel and make us more like Christ?

    • Why is a proud or defensive attitude one of the fastest ways to destroy our influence, even if we are technically "right" on an issue?

Personal Application & Commitment

  1. The Home Lab Audit: Identify one relationship at home (with a spouse, child, or parent) where you can practice "principled Christianity" this week. Commit to one specific action: actively listening, apologizing for a specific fault, or offering sincere encouragement.

  2. Atmosphere Check: For the next 24 hours, be mindful of the "atmosphere" you carry. Before entering a room or a conversation, pause and ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that your unconscious influence will be Christlike.

  3. The Encouragement Challenge: Identify three people in your sphere of influence (one in your family, one in your church, and one in a position of leadership). This week, send each one a specific, sincere message of encouragement or thanks.

Closing Prayer Points

  • Thank God that our influence is not based on our perfection, but on His grace working through our authentic selves.

  • Ask for the Holy Spirit's power to make you a "fountain" of encouragement and a "tree of life" in your words.

  • Pray for the humility to quickly admit fault and seek restoration when you fail.

  • Ask God to build your local church into a community of such palpable love and integrity that its influence in the community is undeniable.

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