Contagious Christianity? DO PEOPLE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE?
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Contagious Christianity?DO PEOPLE WANT WHAT YOU HAVE?
I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
1 Timothy 4:1b-2
How did you catch Christianity?
Did you catch Christianity through this?
Captain Obvious Asks
“Why do you share your faith?”
Jesuspuzzled peopleDo you?
Peter & John
puzzled people
Do you?When they [the rulers, elders and teachers of the law] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus…. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. (Acts 4)
Captain Obvious Also Asks
“Who should hear about Christ?”
Everyone
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
“ ‘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 second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Great Commission
Great Commandment
Perspective from OthersWHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT CHRISTIANS
87% of Americans view Christians as judgmental.
Known for what we
are against not for
what we are for.
85% of Americans view
Christians as hypocritical.
16-29 year olds perceive Christianity to be
anti-homosexualjudgmentalhypocriticaltoo politicalshelteredfocused on getting converts, not caring about the person.
Our own behavior is often
Pharisaical
https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/611-christians-more-like-jesus-or-pharisees#.VfzgJd9Vikp
https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/611-christians-more-like-jesus-or-pharisees#.VfzgJd9Vikp
51% of self-identified Christians in the US have the same hypocritical and judgmental attitudes and actions portrayed by the Pharisees in the New Testament.
Barna Group. 2013 Ouch.
Only 14% live with attitudes like Jesus.
US THEM
Women ?
Jews ?
Christians ?
Christians
Mormons?
Muslims? Catholics?
Gays?
The Concept of Other = Prejudice
Consider Paul
…and Ananias
Contagious faith draws people to ChristPEOPLE STAY AWAY FROM TOXIC FAITH PEOPLE WANT A FAITH THAT MATTERS
A Faith that MattersLIVING FOR CHRIST
You’re different.Why? What should differentiate us?
Do people know you are a Christian?
How?
You’re not like other Christians I know.
Good or bad statement?
When should we share our
faith?
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… 1 Peter 3:15
321How do you share your faith?Before I met Christ
HowI met Christ
SinceI met Christ
cbaHow do you share the gospel?
All have sinned
and that keeps us from God
But God loves us so much He
sent Jesus to die for
us
Christ died for
you. Come to
Jesus.Romans 3:23 John 3:16 Romans 10:13
People don’t decide on faith – they discover it. Their experiences with others is one of God’s powerful ways for them to encounter God’s love.
Thanks for coming!
Find me online
Jean Marrapodi www.applestar.org
@jmarrapodi
This presentation is available on slideshare.net/jmarrapodi
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