DCL 5.6 Instruction | You Are Ready to Fail Forward
Video Presentation: Todd Mullins, Lead Pastor and Shaun Blakeney, Student Ministry Pastor, Christ Fellowship, Florida
Let’s review all the steps it takes to fail forward.
1. Realise there is one major difference between average and achieving people.
2. Learn a new definition for failure.
3. Remove the “you” from failure.
4. Take action and reduce your fear.
5. Change your response to failure by accepting responsibility.
6. Don’t let the failure from outside get inside you.
7. Say good-bye to yesterday.
8. Change yourself, and your world changes.
9. Get over yourself and start giving yourself.
10. Find the benefit in every bad experience.
11. If at first you do succeed, try something harder.
12. Learn from a bad experience and make it a good experience.
13. Work on the weakness that weakens you.
14. Understand that there is not much difference between success and failure.
15. Get up, get over it, and get going.
You don’t become a great sailor by sailing calm seas. Most people run from problems. Instead of running from problems, you should go after them. You get ahead by solving problems. Highly successful people have made more mistakes, suffered more adversities, overcome more problems, and experienced more failures than most all the other people you will ever meet. If you want to achieve your dreams, get out there and fail. Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward!
DISCUSSION
- What views of failure have changed for you during these lessons?
- What views of success have changed?
Biblical Case Study: Abraham (Genesis: 12:1-25:11)
Is there anyone in the Bible who is more loved and respected than Abraham? While there may be many reasons for this great admiration afforded Abraham, most scholars would argue that it is because he stayed the course, went the distance, and finished well. He is highly honoured in the spiritual “Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11. The writer of Hebrews repeatedly commends Abraham for his obedience and his steadfast faithfulness in the midst of testing.
Abraham’s journey is not without mistakes and failures. He lied to Pharaoh about his marital relationship with Sarah. When his wife could not conceive a child, he fathered a child with Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant.
While Abraham made leadership errors and other mistakes, he remained faithful and obedient to God’s calling upon his life. Through all the highs and lows of life, he kept moving forward. Whatever his other failures, he seemed to always follow through on his commitments to God. There is no wonder that God called Abraham “My friend” (Isaiah 41:8)!
ASSESSMENT AND APPLICATION
Assessment:
Write down your God-given dream and the reasons why you want to fulfill it.
Application:
Write down the risks you are willing to take to make it happen. Try to think of everything that could go wrong. Now, renew your commitment to move forward regardless of the risks. Ask God for wisdom, strength, and courage for the journey.
DCL Meditation and Inspiration Media and Notes © Willow Creek Association.
DCL Instruction Media and Notes © EQUIP Million Leaders Mandate Volume 2
