S6E172: The Tension of Influence and Humility Artwork

The Eikon Podcast

Please consider supporting this podcast by going to: https://www.patreon.com/eikonpodcastJoin Michael Burns (biblical teacher, author, and speaker), Jason Alexander (pastor, speaker), and Gianna Hearn (journalist, host of "The Weekly G" video news magazine of the NBA G-League) for a fun, lively, and relevant examination of biblical texts, emphasizing their historical and cultural context with an eye on applying those principles into the mess of modern life. To submit questions, or suggestions, or give feedback contact us at eikonpodcast@gmail.com. If you're a new listener. Welcome and thank you. We recommend that you start listening to season 4, episode 93. After you're caught up to the present, we suggest that you then go back and explore the first 3 seasons when the podcast was still called "All Things to All People with Michael Burns."

All Episodes

The Eikon Podcast

S6E172: The Tension of Influence and Humility

March 25, 2024 • Season 6 • Episode 172

The Eikon team explores the tension between influence and humility, particularly in the context of their fields of ministry and professional sports. The hosts discuss their personal experiences and struggles with seeking influence and maintaining humility. They also delve into the concept of incarnational teaching and the importance of local influence. The pressure to be out in front and the desire for recognition are identified as challenges to humility. Ultimately, they emphasize the need to prioritize the heart's desires and to be content with the influence that aligns with God's will.

Takeaways
- View the work itself as the reward and find joy in the process.
- Prioritize people over content and focus on individual touch and formation.
- Strive for fruit rather than outcomes and avoid the status culture.
- Be a resource rather than the main attraction and limit influence.
- Embrace brokenness and humility and recognize the tension between seeking influence and embracing humility.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Stage
06:38 - The Tension Between Influence and Humility
13:27 - Balancing Influence and Humility in Professional Sports
23:51 - Incarnational Teaching and Local Influence
27:11 - The Pressure to Be Out in Front
31:05 - The Challenge of Desiring Influence
32:11 - The Joy of the Work
33:12 - Viewing the Work as the Reward
35:19 - Limiting Influence
37:16 - Putting People Over Content
38:15 - Formation Over Efficiency
39:12 - Individual Touch Over Scope and Reach
40:10 - Being a Resource, Not the Meal
41:36 - Avoiding the Status Culture
42:29 - The Wisdom of Limiting Influence
44:24 - The Example of BJ Foster
45:49 - Balancing the Desire for Influence
49:11 - Recognizing Brokenness and Embracing Humility
50:10 - Triangulating Our Identity
53:11 - The Competition Between God's Influence and Society's Influence
55:28 - The Importance of Limiting Influence, Power, and Scope
01:03:2 - The Challenge of Balancing Influence and Representation
01:08:25 - The Tension Between Being Known and Being Forgotten