A Spiritual Adventure

Building

‘‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the

second is like it: second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

SPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDESPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDE

SPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDESPANNING THE GREAT DIVIDEWhat will it take to reconnect the Church & What will it take to reconnect the Church &

Culture?Culture?

Living Proof of a

Loving God

The great chasm can be bridged!!The great chasm can be bridged!!WWITH CHRIST WE CAN…ITH CHRIST WE CAN…

• The church must rediscover its essential role and craft as bridge builder.

• We must connect, otherwise, the greatest unbridged chasm will remain the gap between the stunning vision of Jesus Christ and the ever-receding influence of the contemporary church in the world.

JESUS WAS A DARING BRIDGE JESUS WAS A DARING BRIDGE BUILDERBUILDER

He imagined a bridge of unprecedented spiritual influence—one that could span a chasm roaring with skepticism, indifference, hostility, even persecution. He imagined a bridge able to connect his people—”my church,” he called them—to a disbelieving, disinterested world.

Dr. Robert LewisThe Author

“THE CHURCH OF IRRESISTIBLE INFLUENCE”

““INSPIRINSPIRE”E”

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‘‘Bridges of Love’ VisionBridges of Love’ VisionGOD’S VISIONGOD’S VISION

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”.

Matthew 5:16

To “INFLUENCE” the Christian life to be expanded beyond self-interests to the greater

concerns of the community and world around them. To

transform the church back to a ‘guiding light’ of influence &

love.

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NEHEMIAH – A Man of Prayer & NEHEMIAH – A Man of Prayer & PersistancePersistance

• God put the desire & burden of the task on Nehemiah’s heart

• God gave him a ‘vision’ for the work• Trusted God to use his talents & blended

divine & human resources to achieve his goals• He used careful planning, problem solving, and

courage to get the work done• Nehemiah was a man who made things

happen & he was not afraid to take ‘ACTION’ because he knew that God’s blessings were upon Him

‘‘BBYSSIW’BBYSSIW’……but because you say so, I will - Luke but because you say so, I will - Luke

5:55:5OBEDIENCEOBEDIENCE ‘The Key to God’s Heart’ for Servant Leadership

To build bridges that are suspended by the steel cables of the Great Commandment as well as the Great Commission. Faith—without works—is dead and so , too, will be our influence.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20

• ByBy spanning the ‘Great Divide’ between spanning the ‘Great Divide’ between the church and the community ‘Bridges the church and the community ‘Bridges of Love’ will endeavor to of Love’ will endeavor to engage peopleengage people into meaningful relationships that will into meaningful relationships that will foster a bridge of love and an open door foster a bridge of love and an open door to lead people to a personal relationship to lead people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.with Jesus Christ.

• Realize that with God even theRealize that with God even the impossible is possible!impossible is possible!

A man’s heart plans his way,A man’s heart plans his way,

but the Lord directs his steps.but the Lord directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9Proverbs 16:9

BRIDGE SUPPORTSBRIDGE SUPPORTS

• Set up an ‘advisory team’ who will give council and prayer support

• Actively seek support for ‘Bridges of Love’ and to bring others in to form a team of ‘servant heart’ leaders

• Become involved with compassionate ministries and churches across Canada

‘Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.’ Proverbs 15:22

MISSION STATEMENTMISSION STATEMENT

LIVING PROOF of a

LOVING GOD

Your ‘Mission Statement’

should fit on a T-shirt!Bill Hybels

Willowcreek Church

‘Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth’. 1 John 3:18

THE CHALLENGETHE CHALLENGE

• To change the perception of our mission

Put our mission first – to reach the world

(those outside Christ) and ourselves second

• To lead by example the Great Commission – to multiply our efforts by discipling

• To lead by example the Great Commandment – to make a shift of our church from ‘Proclamation to Demonstration’ of God’s unfailing love

REAL INFLUENCE GOES DEEPREAL INFLUENCE GOES DEEP

• One of the tragedies of neglecting God-given opportunities is that we are never aware of the breadth of influence and outcome that we have missed.

• Influence can do what command can never do; it can win the hearts of people.

• Influence is born out of a person, who that person is, and translates to how it affects the heart of another person.

• Character does breed influence. Whether it is godly character or ungodly character, the principles still apply. Edwin McManus

CHALLENGE SET BEFORE US…CHALLENGE SET BEFORE US…

We not only take initiative, but we maximize our sphere of influence as we

grow in depth of character

PEOPLE NEED TO SEE

PROOF POSITIVE … TO BELIEVE

THE STARTING POINTTHE STARTING POINT

1. Heartfelt Confession, Repentance & Prayer The true measure of a church is not ‘how many’ but ‘how loving’, not ‘how relevant’ but ‘how real’.

2. Bold Vision – The New Testament VisionCOMMUNITY FOCUSED…NOT CHURCH FOCUSED

3. Structure – Only well-developed structure

which effectively unleashes people with

purpose, can get results.

LOVELOVE

Jesus was focused on His Dream: a church

built not only upon truth but one built out, like a bridge, into the

world. Why?

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”

John 13:35

CAN YOU IMAGINE…CAN YOU IMAGINE…

♥ Can you imagine the community in which you live being genuinely thankful for your church?

♥ Can you imagine city leaders valuing your church’s friendship and participation in the community—even asking for it?

♥ Can you imagine the neighbourhoods around your church talking behind your back about ‘how good it is’ to have your church in the area because of the tangible witness you’ve offered them of God’s love?

CAN YOU IMAGINE…CAN YOU IMAGINE…

♥ Can you imagine a large number of your church members actively engaged in, and passionate about, community service, using their gifts and abilities in ways and at levels they never thought possible?

♥ Can you imagine the community actually changing because of the impact of your church’s involvement?

♥ Can you imagine many in your city, formerly cynical and hostile toward Christianity, actually praising God for your church and the positive contributions your members have made in Jesus’ name?

♥ Can you imagine the spiritual harvest that would naturally follow if all this were true?

The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis

Suspended by these two towers, prayer and good deeds, a broader and more powerful bridge of spiritual influence is being constructed to the Glory of God.

What if there were a way to not only turn churches outward but also to join them together in unity of purpose? Nothing brings

churches together in a city better than prayer and good works. We cannot do this alone.

To God be the Glory

‘Bridges of Love’ (Vision Canada), Local Churches and Compasionate Ministries share in:

A Common VisionA Common Vision –– the gospel for every person and a church for every people … together we can do it!

A Common Mission --A Common Mission -- to “EMPOWER”“EMPOWER” the whole church, to bring the whole gospel, to the whole nation.

When these groups are joined together, they will have added strength for the task of reaching Canada for Christ.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

There’s Strength in There’s Strength in

PARTNERINGPARTNERING

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COME LET’S GO!COME LET’S GO!

• No matter how rich we become we must always remain poor

• We must ensure that while we celebrate the goodness of God, we do not neglect the purpose of God

From ‘Seizing Your Divine Moment’

Edwin McManus

If our definition of being a Christian is simply to enjoy the privileges of worship, be generous at no expense to ourselves, have a good, easy time surrounded by pleasant friends and by

comfortable things, live respectable and at the same time avoid the world’s great stress of sin and trouble because it is too much pain to bear—if this is our definition of Christianity, surely we are a long way from following the steps of Him who trod the way with groans and tears and sobs of anguish for a lost humanity; who sweat, as it were, great drops of blood, who

cried out on the unreared cross, ‘My God, my God, why hast though forsaken me?’

“In His Steps” Charles Sheldon

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•influence - RELATIONSHIP

•inspire - PASSION

•empower - ACTION

SWEET CHILD OF MINE

PRAYER

“You do not have, because you do not ask God” James 4:2