Sermon Notes:

Series: Influencer

July 26, 2026 "It Starts With One" 

By: Pastor Joel Philbrook


Consider this...

We live in a culture obsessed with the "Go Big" approach to impact. We measure influence by follower counts, viral moments, and the size of the crowd. When faced with massive global problems- poverty, divisiveness, sickness, and systemic pain- it is easy to feel overwhelmed, paralyzed, and convinced that our small efforts don't matter unless they make a massive splash.


Jesus flipped this world-system on its head.


Though time listed Him as the most influential person in history, Jesus didn't build His influence through mass algorithms, political power, or high-profile status. He changed the world one person at a time.


In Luke 8, while being pressed and nearly crushed by a massive, demanding crowd, Jesus paused everything for a single, unnamed woman who had been suffering for twelve years. Amidst the noise and the pressure, He "zoomed in." To Jesus, the crowd blurred into the background, and the invisible woman became the center of His attention.


True Kingdom influence isn't about reaching millions; it's about refusing to let the one person right in front of you go unnoticed. You may not be able to solve global poverty today, but you can be outrageously generous to one person. You may not be able to heal all sickness, but you can sit with one suffering friend. When you live with the "zoom lens" of Jesus, you stop being a space taker and start becoming a true difference maker.

  • Reflection & Prayer:

    Pause today and visualize yourself holding up a camera lens. Notice how zooming in on one object forces everything in the margins to blur out.

    Much of our daily stress comes from trying to fix or carry the entire "background"—the endless demands, global news, and overwhelming expectations of those around us. Today, ask Jesus to narrow your focus. Who is in your immediate radius—at your kitchen table, in the adjacent office cubicle, or standing ahead of you in the grocery line—who feels invisible?


    Pray this prayer throughout your day:

    "Jesus, give me Your eyes for the one. Pause my schedule, quiet my distractions, and help me see people today the exact way You see them."

  • The Pressure of the Crowd vs. The One:

    Jesus was literally being pressed and rushed by a needy crowd with high expectations, yet He stopped for one person. What "crowds" or pressures in your life (e.g., busyness, work deadlines, social media, worry) most frequently distract you from noticing the individual people right in front of you?


  • Identifying the "Invisible":

    The bleeding woman in Luke 8 had spent 12 years feeling isolated and overlooked. Who in your specific sphere of influence (your neighborhood, workplace, school, or family) might feel like they are "invisible" or living in the background right now?


  • Shifting Your Definition of Impact:

    How would your daily routine change if you believed that helping one person feel seen, valued, and loved by God was just as significant as achieving a "big" measurable success? What is one practical, small step you can take this week to "zoom in" on that person?

What's Coming Next in our teaching series called "Influencer"

We all want to make a difference with our lives. In an age of social media and endless content, the word "influencer" has become a goal, yet it often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and unseen. But what if we've been looking at influence all wrong? Jesus changed the world without a podcast or a social media account. He didn't have a large platform or a political title. Instead, He redefined the very measure of success by making a difference—not just making a point—and He did it one person at a time.


This series challenges our modern definition of influence by exploring the revolutionary model of Jesus. We'll see how He changed the world through simple, personal moments: one conversation, one meal, and one interruption at a time. His legacy teaches us that true influence moves from small to big, not the other way around. This series will equip us to follow His example and find purpose in the small ways we can impact those around us, proving that the most lasting influence is not built on a platform but on a person.


  • Join us for...

    Week 1: 7/26 "It Starts With One" John 4 by Pastor Joel Philbrook

    Week 2: 8/2 "Proximity of Love" John 13:34-35  by Caroline Carpenter

    Week 3: 8/9 "The Model of Influence" Luke 21:1-4 by Alayna Edwards

    Week 4: 8/16 "The Extra Mile" Matthew 5:38-42 by Pastor Joel Philbrook

    Week 5: 8/23 "Out of Hiding" Mark 4:21-25 by Pastor Joel Philbrook


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