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BUILDING BRIDGES IN
EVANGELISM Some of the castles were built to function
as a: community center 1-
The founders
of the castles had a wonderful vision of using the castles to unite people
and create a sense of a loving and caring community. 2-
So, they
built the castles as homes for the owner and s a town hall, equipped with
many facilities, such as big dining rooms, large swimming pools, and places
for celebrations. 3-
For
centuries, the doors of the castles were open to the community, This vision
benefited all. 4-
However, new
owners of the castles did not follow the same steps of their grand fathers;
they lost vision of the pioneers 5-
Gradually,
castles’ doors were shut down. The few families inside the walls of the
castles were isolated from the rest of the community. 6-
Live changed
dramatically: LOVE WAS LOST, the Community lost its
center and its sense of being a community. LIKEWISE some churches and many individuals feel the
cries inside, how? The lord Jesus Christ says: “You are the
salt of the earth” (Matt, 5:13) Salt à needs to mix with food, and to interact
with it
à Physical changes (Chemistry)
à Gives the food its flavor To be a Christian à to be the salt à (not isolated) à act, mix, join, blend, and mingle with society. Some churches and individuals à became like the castles: +
Lost the vision of our Lord. +
Became isolated behind big walls and closed doors. +
Lost love for others. +
Lost mission. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this
cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (Corinth. 11:26) To be a Christian à you need Holy Communion à go to proclaim, evangelize, reachout. 9- But we got lost, we forgot our mission
and the vision of Christian love. 10- St. John Chrysostom: “Do not say
you are unable to influence others. For as long as you are a Christian, you
are able to influence others, because this is the essence of Christianity” Build
a Bridge to Yourself
+ You cannot ask others to follow God if your
heart is not totally with God. If you are not committed to live with God, you
must choose one master, either God or the world. +If you know your sin, repent.
If not ask God: “Show me what doesn’t please you in my
life.” Commit your life to God today. Do not leave the
conference before doing so. We have bishops and priests who will hear your
confession. A
bridge to understand the meaning of the Gospel
Good News: What
good news do we have in Christianity for others? The Grace of Salvation: +When the soldier of Napolean Bonabart was about
to be shot, his mother pleaded for: “Mercy,” “He doesn’t deserve mercy.” “If he deserves mercy, then this is not
mercy…” + We were all under the judgement of death.
We were dead, going to eternal fire àbut He saved us. + Think of a person waiting for his death
by capital punishment à then the governer set him free. How glad
would this person be? How happy? How great would this be for him? + This is the good news we offer to people:
He died for me, so I will have life. Cleaning the sin: Once, I drove my car in a dirt
road à It added layers of dirt on my car à then it rained à my car was covered with mud à It became disgusting. I felt uncleanliness, the feeling was
dreadful à thru a car wash it becomes new, as if it
had never touched the mud à I felt relieved, happy, as if I, myself,
was cleansed. Christianity offers à Purity, cleansing, washing of sins,
because most of us lived our lives in the church: we do not know the feeling
of uncleanliness, impurity…the emptiness of life… Ronald Conway, an Australian psychologist: “Australians have everything, and yet have
nothing to live for.” Sophia Loren, famous Hollywood actress that said, “In
my life there is an emptiness, it is impossible to fill.” Christianity: Has solutions, life, fulfillment, hope,
purity, meaning. + Build a bridge to understand all these
treasures of Christianity. + Knowing all this happy news à you need to be excited about it, à be natural, but excited. Build
a bridge of commitment to God?
In my college, we see students who stay for
eight years, going from one major to another, never finishing their degree à we call them “Professional students” à they lost vision, live without objectives. + In our churches à Professional listeners à this is why our spiritual life is weak àchange this à break the chain à commit your life to God: “ From today, I am yours. I commit my life
to you. I will live not for the world or for myself but for you.” + Do not leave this conference without
making that commitment & remembering it for the rest of your life. Build
a bridge to the work of God
“ I am available for your work today”
+ Some people are afraid of evangelism, but
let God take care of that, let him guide you à just be available for him à Antone’s story: Build a bridge of friendship, love, and care to
others: Say good morning and how are you? Start a
casual conversation àwhen there is a chance to talk about God à do it: Nicely,
politely, naturally
Evangelism is like sowing seeds: You don’t see results
immediately…Sometimes you will not see it…you will work with many people,
just now sow a seed here and there à let God take care + The husband of the teacher and my
article. + Amira + The English professor. Finally:
There is a legendary story that talks about Archangel Gabriel and the Lord
after resurrection of the Lord. A conversation went like this: -Gabriel: God, Now, you were crucified, buried, rose
from the dead. But still very few who believe à what is the plan? -Jesus: I will send Holy Spirit à then human being will do the work. -Gabriel: But you know human beings à forget, get lazy, love of the world, corruption, etc…? what
is plan “B” if plan “A” fails? -Jesus: There is no plan “B” + God has only one plan for salvation that
depends on human beings à on you and me. Jesus in John 4:35-36: “Do you not say, there are still four
months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes
and look at the fields, for they are already white for the harvest and he who
reaps receives wages and gathers fruit for the eternal life.” |