Building Bridges For Evangelism

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Building Bridges For Evangelism
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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for the un-churched
• Every person deserves the chance to either
  accept or reject the gospel of Christ
• Holding the gospel with partiality is sin (James
  21)
• There is a tendency to overuse the casting my
  pearls before swine reasoning (Matt 76)
• The power in evangelism is the gospel, not my
  ability to choose or judge (Rom 116-17)
• Do we see people as being suspects or prospects?
• Try to start where they are at (Acts 1722-31)
• Paul began with Genesis 11 God made the world
  and everything in it! Why? Polytheistic people
• See what they know believe and start where
  their lack of understanding or faith begins

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for the un-churched
• We must remain focused on the greater need of
  salvation not be sidetracked by symptoms
• Why didnt Jesus point out the marriage problem
  first? She had a deeper need! (John 410, 16)
• In the world, many peoples lives are a mess
  Often we want to fix the mess before the real
  problem
• When we help them fix the greater problem, the
  symptoms will begin to heal with learning
• Remember the importance of relationships
  Acting in a self-righteous manner will do
  nothing but destroy the building process

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those in religious error
• Its very important to start building from
  common ground (Acts 1722-23)
• Some feel compelled to start attacking all of
  the differences Bouncing from one to the next
• Paul finds commonality The importance they
  placed on being religious then taught them about
  God
• Its not just about making the truth palatable,
  but establishing a foundation from which to work
• Consider the common ground that exists between
  us many in error regarding becoming a Christian

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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

• Denominational Picture

• The New Testament Picture

• Hear the gospel
• Believe the gospel, believe in Jesus, believe in
  God
• Repent of your sins
• Confess Jesus
• Say sinners prayer Accept Jesus as your
  personal Savior
• Be baptized in the name of the Father, Son,
  Holy Spirit as an outward sign of the inward man

• Hear the gospel
• Believe the gospel, believe in Jesus, believe in
  God
• Repent of your sins
• Confess Jesus
• Be baptized in the name of the Father, Son,
  Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those in religious error
• Its very important to start building from
  common ground (Acts 1722-23)
• Some feel compelled to start attacking all of
  the differences Bouncing from one to the next
• Paul finds commonality The importance they
  placed on being religious then taught them about
  God
• Its not just about making the truth palatable,
  but establishing a foundation from which to work
• Consider the common ground that exists between
  us many in error regarding becoming a
  Christian
• A language barrier often exists (Prov 1620-24)
• What we mean and what they hear may differ
  greatly
• Some phrases we often use are foreign to their
  ears Dont assume they understand Listen
  carefully!

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those in religious error
• Dont feel compelled to be a Fast And Super
  Bridge Builder (Matthew 2323-24)
• Some issues are weightier matters of the law and
  some issues are not weightier matters of the law
• Weightier matters are foundational principles on
  which everything else is built and operated
• When trying to build a bridge, dont get bogged
  down in the specifics until the weightier is
  established
• Dont hide the truth, but be tactful (Col 44-6)
• Tough questions arise Are only members of the
  church of Christ going to Heaven? Etc.
• Often the truth is painful and costly enough
  without my making it more abrasive by my
  approach
• Show humility, a desire to learn, be open to
  change

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those looking to leave
  behind institutionalism
• During the 1950s and 1960s there was a
  terrible division over several issues
• Church involvement in widows orphan homes,
  benevolence for the world, social meals, etc
• Basic Point Does the church have the right to
  do anything that an individual Christian can do?
• During this split there were some very
  unchristian behavior on both sides Left 2
  separate groups
• Since this those on the institutional side
  have seen a digression from the NT pattern
• It didnt end with the social meals orphan
  homes
• Entertainment has become a major focus,
  modernism reigns, man-centered worship
  programs

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those looking to leave
  behind institutionalism
• An opportunity exists as some are looking to
  turn away from the problems they now see
• Christian attitudes must be maintained
• Personality problems were a major factor when
  the division was taking place (Gal 522-24)
• Change is a growth process and everyone must
  allow everyone else room for growing
  understanding
• Part of our attitude is to not be content with
  the division that exists (John 1721 1 Cor
  110-11)
• Church autonomy must be kept (I Pet 52)
• In the 50s 60s too much influence and
  control was exercised by some men over other
  churches
• Cant approach this bridge building as a
  denomination

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Building Bridges In Evangelism

• Building bridges for those looking to leave
  behind institutionalism
• Everyone must go back to the NT and regain a
  strong respect for authority (Matt 721-23)
• Authority is a subject that is often overlooked
  today and many are ignorant of it as a result
• Unless there is a mutual desire to pursue 1st
  Century Christianity theres no foundation to
  build upon!
• This presents a great challenge We cannot be
  accepting of practices that contradict the New
  Testament pattern
• As people look to change practices, we need to
  lend them our support our prayers Change is
  not easy! (2 Cor 1311-14)