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FOREWORDThink Twice manages to be both thoroughly entertaining and amaz-ingly comprehensive at the same time. In fact, for somebody who is currently writing a book on leadership, it is annoyingly comprehen-sive and one of those rare things – a book for people who don’t actu-ally like reading books.

Thisisabooktokeepinthecar,attheoffice,oranywhereelsewhereyoumighthaveafewminutes’reflectionandneedtodipintosomethingthatwillchallenge,inspireandamuseyou.Takemyadviceandreadoneofthesepageseachday,meditatingonitthroughouttheday(althoughyouwon’tbeabletoresistlookingatthedaysahead).Usedlikethis,itwillgiveyou50daysofspiritualnourishment–vitamintherapyforthesoul–whichwilldoyougood.Ifyoudoubtmetry,tryoneofmyfavouritesections,“TopTenWaysToAvoidBeingYesterday’sHero”.There issomuchconcentratedwisdom here. It’s Brilliant! (Theminute I read extracts tomy staff, theywantedcopies,andpromptlymadebootlegcopiesofthewholething.)

So,don’tjuststandthere–startreadingtoday.

Rev. Eric DelveMaidstone

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The Mind Map Series, created by Dave Gilpin, includes resources spe-cifically developed to renew the thinking process of every believer. Romans 12:2 urges us to ‘…be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can test and approve God’s good, pleasing and per-fect will.’

Within our minds are Cities of Habit, Trains of Thought, Floods of Emotion and The Grand Central Station of the Will.

As we change the skyline of our mind, we get to change the skyline of our future and experience God’s ‘good, pleasing and perfect will’ for our life.

For more Mind Map Resources visit www.themindmap.tv

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INTRODUCTIONBehind everything you see is something you don’t see. This book is designed to outline nuggets of wisdom that often remain invisible be-hind thriving believers, churches and ministries. Mixed with a touch of humour, Think Twice looks into four worlds of influence - the Pri-vate World, the Practical World, the Handy Hints World and the Wide World of Knowledge.

Itgivesadviceonmanysubjectsthatmayprovetobeinvaluablenotonlytoenthusiasticbelievers,buttoestablishedandupandcomingleaders.ReaditallatonceorreaditoneTop10atatime.Thisbookcanalsoprovidenewpreacherswithanopportunityto“borrow”someoftheTop10outlinestocreatelivelyanddynamicsermons.

Enjoyandbeinspired,

Dave Gilpin

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Think twiceIn the private world of a believer

Top10waystokeepyourthinkingfreshTop10waystoavoidbeingyesterday’sheroTop10teststhatgodtakesabelieverthroughTop10waysforabelievertobreakoldmindsetsTop10situationsgodusestocreatenewstrongholdsinthemindTop10waysforabelievertocreatenewtrainsofthoughtTop10waystokeepyourmind’seyeonthebigpictureTop10waysforabelievertobeattheStationMasteroftheFallenMindTop10pitfallsofchristianthinkingTop10waystodeveloptheMetropolisofLoveTop10waysforabelievertoavoidSecondLifeCityTop10symptomsofstrongholdsinthemindofabeliever

Think twiceIn the practical world of a believer

Top10waystomakeandcreateagreatspeechTop10waystostrengthentheGrandCentralStationoftheWillTop10waystomoveinthegiftsoftheSpiritTop10waystoleadasmallgroupTop10waystoexcelintheartofleadingTop10waystoleadworshipTop10waystoleadavisionmeetingTop10thingstowatchwhenstartingacommunitycentreTop10waystomakeaprayermeetingagreatplacetobeTop10waystomakeachurchserviceagreatexperienceTop10thingsyouneedtoknowaboutyouthministryTop10waystogeteveryonetocatchthevisionofaleaderTop10thingstolookforwhencreatingadreamteam

CONTENTS

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Think twiceIn the handy hints world of a believer

Top10waystobereallyrudewhensomeoneistalkingtoyouTop10typesofchristiansthatreallyneedtochangetheirmindTop10waysforleaderstoescaperesponsibilityTop10waystocountacongregationTop10waystonottakeyourselfsoseriouslyTop10thingstoavoidwhenspeakingpubliclyTop10thingsthatreallyexciteleadersTop10thingsthatreallymakeleadersangryTop10waystostopsomeoneconstantlyinterruptingachurchserviceTop10waystowafflewhenyou’repreachingTop10waystoescapefromtheministryTop10waystoremovethespiritfromateam

Think twiceIn the wide world of knowledge of a believer

Top10doorsforrightthinkingbelieversTop10waystocreateaclimateoffaithTop10thingsthatabelieverneedstoacceptTop10typesofgrowththataministrycanhaveTop10reasonsthatwepromotepeopletoincompetenceTop10truthsaboutthegrowthofanychurchTop10questionswithonlyoneanswerTop10reasonswhypeopleleaveyourchurchTop10characteristicsof21stcenturychurchTop10thingstodefinitelyknowaboutfaithTop10waystohandleconflictinministryTop10benefitsofbeingavisionaryTop10principlesofsowingandreaping

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in the Private World of a Believer

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Fresh as a DaisyThefreshnessfactorcanmakethedifferencebetweenabelieverjustgoingthroughthemotionsandabelieverexcellinginministry.Itdefinitelymakesthedifferencebetweenenjoyingthejourneyandjustenduringit!Aroutineinlife,aswellasaroutineinaSundayservice,isfinewhenit’sfresh.Ahymnsandwichshouldneverberejectedonthebasisofpredictabilitybutonthebasisofdegreeoffreshness.

Howfreshareyou?

Herearethetop10waysabelievercankeepfresh.

TOP 10 WAYS TO KEEP THINKING FRESH

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1) Be true to your God given personality. Stopcopyingsomeoneelse’slife.Stopcopyingsomeoneelse’sministry.Befreetobeyouandbefaithfultowhatmakesyoutick.

2) Be aware of what God is endorsing. Stoptryingtoforceopencloseddoors.LooktoseewherethehandoftheLordisandbeengagedinwhatHeisengagedin.

3) Be open to re-invention. It’simportanttoregularlyre-inventthewheel.Changingthewayyoudothings,thewayyouthinkaboutthingsandthewayyoulookcanputthezingbackintolife.(Thisisyourexcusetogoshopping)

4) Be a Super-visor. Don’tjusthaveavisionforonething.Haveavisionforministry,avisionforhomeandavisionforhealth.Super-visionlooksatthewhole,notjustthepart.

5) Be released from failure. Don’tstayintheplaceoffailure.Getup,pickupyourmatandwalkintoyourGod-givenfuture.Failureisalearningcurvetosuccess.

6) Be humorous. Haveasenseofhumour.Haveagoodlaughatthefunnysideoflife.Seriousnesscanbeahealthhazard.

7) Be committed to the cause. Don’tsweatoverallthesmallstuff.Keepthemainthingthemainthing.

8) Be intimate with God. ThereisaplaceofrefreshinginthepresenceofGod.AskHimtotakeyourburdensandgiveresttoyoursoul.

9) Be fit. Sometimesyoudon’tneedtopraymore,butplaymore.

10) Be around people that invigorate. Somepeople take fromyouanddon’tgiveback.Othersgivetoyouandexpectsomethingback.Othersaresimplygladyou’rearound.FindyourLazarus,MarthaandMaryandvisitregularly.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 3:19,Romans 15:32, 2 Timothy 1:16

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Yesterday’s HeroYouareGod’schosenvessel.God’sworkonearthiseitherlimitedbythevesseloracceleratedbythevessel.HehasnoPlanBandrarelywillGodworkoutsideofHispartnershipwithHispeople.Beingcommittedtothe‘increasingmeasure’isthekeytobeingtoday’sHeroandnotbecomingyesterday’sHero.Theysaythatarutisjustacoffinwiththeendsknockedout.Tobetoday’sHeroistocomeoutoftherutandbeenlargedandexpandedbythehandoftheLord.

Herearethetop10waystobetoday’sheroandnotyesterday’shero!

TOP 10 ways to avoid being yesterday’s hero

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1) Increase the capacity of the vessel. You are God’s vessel.Hewillexpandyou,stretchyou,tearyouandmakeyou.Thegreaterthecharacterandthegreatertheskill,thegreatertheopportunityforGodtouseyou.

2) Increase the cleanness of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Contaminationisasbadascontainment.Beaforgiver,keeppuremotivesanddon’tbedistracted.

3) Increase the clarity of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.StayfocussedonthecausetowhichGodhassentyouforth.

4) Increase the confidence of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Don’tjusthideinthecorner.ComeoutandbefilledwiththeSpiritandsenttothemasses.Youwerebornforsuchatimeasthis.

5) Increase the content of the vessel. You are God’s vessel.WisdomiscollectedbymeditatingonGod’swordandlisteningtoHisvoice.BefilledwithHiswisdomandHisways.

6) Increase the credentials of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Whatareyouknowntobe?Timothyentrustedwhathehadlearntto‘faithfulmen!’Whatreputationareyoudevelopingrightnow?

7) Increase the consistency of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Bestrongineveryareaofyourlife.Bestrongwhentheheadwindsblow.Bestrongwhenyoufeellikegivingup.Bestrong!

8) Increase the contact of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Saltisn’teffectiveunlessit’soutofthesaltshaker.StirupthegiftofGodwithinyouandexerciseyourgiftuponthepeopleyou’recalledto.

9) Increase the cry of the vessel. YouareGod’svessel.Accordingtoyourdesire,beituntoyou.Knockandthedoorshallbeopened.Seekandyoushallfind.

10) Increase the consideration of the vessel. You areGod’svessel. Three things remainbut thegreatest is love. Let lovebe yourmotivatingforce.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Jeremiah 18:1-6, 2 Timothy 2:1-7, 2 Peter 1:5-9

The Acid Test

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Everybelieverundertakesseasonsofpreparation.Godtestsourfaithandtakesusthroughtherefiningfire.Hetakesoutallthatisofhumanoriginandleavesthatwhichhasbeendivinelyinspired.Mosesspent40yearsinthewilderness.JosephandDavidspent13yearsinobscurity.Abrahamspent25yearsplusmore,inhisseasonofpreparation,sothathecouldfulfilhiscalltobethe‘fatherofmanynations!’.EveryskyscraperneedsdeepfoundationsandeveryBelieverneedsthemtoo.

Herearethetop10teststhatGodtakesbelieversthroughtomakethemstrongandeffective.

TOP 10 TESTS that God takes a believer through(from the life of Abraham)

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1) The familiarity test. GodaskedAbrahamtoleavehiscountryandhispeopleandgotoalandwherehe’dneverbeenbefore.

2) The famine test. WhenAbrahamarrivedinCanaantheplacewasinfamine.Thingsoftengetworsebeforetheygetbetter.Don’trunaway.Staycommitted.It’sonlythefaminetest.

3) The forensic test. Abrahamliedinthedetailsaboutwhohiswifewas.It’sthelittlefoxesthatcanspoilthevine.

4) The first-shall-be-last test. Abraham toldLot thathecouldbethe first to choose the land that he wanted. Abraham wasn’t going to‘manufacture’ or ‘force’ prophecy to come topass. Godwouldgive thelandtohim.

5) The forerunner test. Lotwasintrouble.Abrahamwonwithonly318men.Godwillgiveyouasampleofwarandasampleofvictory.Befaithfultoit.

6) The first fruits test. Whatdoyoudowhenvictorycomes?AbrahamknewthatGodhadgivenhimthevictory.HegaveatithetoMelchizedektohonourGod,nothimself.

7) The fidelity test. Whenoptionsareplacedinfrontofyou–doyougowithHagarorstickwithSarah?DoyouwantanIshmaeloranIsaac?

8) The fruition test. Ittook25yearsforthefirstpartofthepromisetocometopass.Thetimetestisoftenthehardest.Don’tquit!

9) The funeral test. GodcalledAbrahamtogivethedreamup–tokillhisson,Isaac.Resurrectionsonlycomefromfunerals.It’satestoftrustandtruelove.Whowouldcomefirst?

10) The finishing test. Thesecretisinthefollowthrough.AbrahamburiedSarahandgaveinstructionsabouthisson.Manystarttherace,butfewerfinishit.Truesuccessistoraiseupasuccessorwhowilltakethebatonandrunwiththepromises.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Hebrews 12:5-13, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-9

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Make a KillingFollowersblametheDevilfortoomanythings.Leadersknowthatourgreatestenemyisourselves.TheBiblesaysthatit’sourown‘evildesires’thatcausethetrouble.TheonlypowertheDevilhasinourlivesisthepowerwegivetohimthroughactivatingthe‘oldman’andgivingintoour‘evildesires’.AmanhadadreamwherehesawtheDevilcryinginthegutterbesidearoad.HeaskedtheDevilwhyhewassosadandtheDevilanswered‘becausepeoplekeepblamingmeforthingsIneverdid.’Truebelieverstakeresponsibilityandownershipoftherealproblem.

Hereare10waystokillthe‘oldman’andbreakoldmindsets.

TOP 10 WAYS TO BREAK OLD MINDSETS

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1) Suffocation. JacobsaidthatJudah’shandswouldbeontheneckofhisenemies.Judahmeans‘praise’.Filltheairwithpraiseandworshipandsuffocatethe‘oldman’.

2) Starvation. Theonethatwinsinthefightbetweenthe‘FallenMind’andthe‘NewMind’istheoneyoufeedthemost.Givethe‘FallenMind’nofoodandit’llrunoutoffuel.

3) Conviction. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we are about toactivatethe‘FallenMind’.Listentoyourconscienceandtotheguardianofyourmind–thepeaceofGod.

4) Redemption. The‘oldman’iscrucifiedwithChrist.Godseesyouasifyou’veneversinned.TheslateiscleanandGod’spowerismorethanenoughforalifeoftotalvictory.Rememberthis.

5) Motivation. IncreaseyourvisionofGodandyourGod-givenfuture,andyourdesire tosinwillgreatlydecrease. In thewordsof the famoussong‘thethingsonearthwillgrowstrangelydim,inthelightofyourgloryandgrace’.

6) Ramification. Doa little thinkingabout theeffectyourprivate lifecouldhaveuponyourpubliclife.Thatsincouldgrowintothestuffthatruinsmarriagesandministries.

7) Restoration. Themoreyouobey,themoreGodrestores–fracturesofthesoularehealedandtheDevilfindsitmoredifficulttotemptyou.Hisfootholdingabilityisdiminished.

8) Decision. Thegreatestpoweryouhave is thepowerofdecision.ResisttheDevilandhe’llfinallydecidetostopannoyingyou.

9) Magnification. Asyoumagnify the successesof the ‘newman’,you’llcreatetheunsungpowerofmomentum.

10) Repetition. Themoreyoudotherightthing,thelessyoudothewrong thing.Themoreyoucreategoodhabits, themoreyoubreakbadhabits.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:16-25, 1 Timothy 1:5, James 1:13-15, James 4:6-10

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Poo HappensThefamousbumperstickeriscorrect–‘poohappens’(adaptedforChristianreadership).Theimportantthinginthelifeofabelieveristoturnthatpoointofertiliser.Don’tletlifehurtyou–letitcreatewithinyou‘therosesofsuccess’.Proverbstellsusthatwhentherearenooxeninthestall,thestallisclean.It’smeaningisclear–wheneveryou’redealingwithpeople,there’salotofpoothathitsthefan.TheBelieverknowsthatit’sjustanotheropportunitytomakeallthingsworktogetherforgoodandturnthatpoointofertiliserthatmakesusbiggerandbetterthanwe’veeverbeen.

Herearethetop10situationsthatGodusestomakeusmorelikeHimandbeusedmoremightilybyHim.

TOP 10 SITUATIONS GOD USES TO CREATE NEW STRONGHOLDS IN THE MIND

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1) Misrepresentation. Whenyou’reonthecrossforsomethingthatyouneverdid.

2) Exasperation. Whenyou’vedoneyourbestandyourbestjustisn’tgoodenough.

3) Exclusion. Whensomeonelessexperiencedispromotedaheadofyou.

4) Submission. Whenyou’reaskedbyaleadertodosomethingyoujustdon’twanttodo(andit’snotanissueofunrighteousness).

5) Desertion. Whenyourbestfriendturnshisbackonyou.

6) Condemnation. Whenyourunwiththevisionandthingsgofrombadtoworse.

7) Intimidation. Whenyou’venoticedthatotherministriesaredoingmuchbetterthanyours.

8) Insinuation. Whenyour intentionsaremisunderstoodandpeoplebegintotalk.

9) Isolation. Whennobodybelievesinyou.

10) Dispensation. WhenGodchallengesyoutoblesssomeonewhocursedyou.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Romans 8:28, Philippians 2:5-10, Hebrews 5:7-10

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HearsayInlifetherearethingsthatareurgentandimportant,importantbutnoturgent,urgentbutnotimportantandnoturgentorimportant.Thecombinationthatismostcrucialbutmostneglectedisthestuffthat’simportantbutnoturgent.HearingfromGodonaregularbasisisoneofthosethings.Hearingcreatesfaithaswellasintimacy.Itprovideswisdomaswellasstrategy.It’stheBelieversbestfriend.

Herearethetop10waysthatyoucanhearclearlyfromGodandcreateNewTrainsofThoughttoestablishtheNewRegionsofyourMind.

TOP 10 WAYS TO CREATE NEW TRAINS OF THOUGHT

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1) Stop looking for a really weird word. StartwithsomegeneralreadingofGod’sword.

2) Stop being driven by the pressures of life. FindaplacewhereyoucanstopandmeditateslowlyonthewordofGod.

3) Stop looking for just one word from God. Startlookingforaseriesofwords.GodhasmuchHewantstosay!

4) Stop forgetting about all that He has already spoken to you about through preaching, prayer and prophecy. SometimesHewantstogive‘progressive’revelation,notbrandnewrevelation.

5) Stop living a negative lifestyle. ItwillworkagainstyoucreatinganenvironmentoffaithandintimacywithGod.

6) Stop panicking about not being able to hear from God. StarttosoakyourselfinGod’sword.

7) Stop trying to copy someone else’s relationship with God. CreateyourownpatternsindrawingclosetoGod.

8) Stop just sitting there and begin to call out to God. AskHimtospeakintoyourlifeandyoursituation.Askanditshallbegiven…seekandyouwillfind.

9) Stop dismissing the voice of God as just another thought amongst many. EntertainthethoughtthatthesethoughtscouldactuallybefromGod.

10) Stop trying to go straight into the mysteries of heaven. StartbytellingGodaboutallofyourcurrentneedsandaskforwisdomforeachofthem.Thenlookforwordsthatarepropheticaboutyourfutureandthefutureofothers.

Top 10 Bible Extra – Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Samuel 3:1-19,Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 1:13-14