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BRIDGES OF GOD. Hungary 2011. SEEING BRIDGES. Where we are. People we want to reach. Bridge of God. UNDERSTANDING THIS PRINCIPLE.
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BRIDGES OF GOD Hungary 2011
SEEING BRIDGES Where we are People we want to reach Bridge of God
UNDERSTANDING THIS PRINCIPLE “In every Gentile city where Paul opens a mission he begins with preaching the gospel to the Jews in the synagogue. There he meets with the proselytes from among the Gentiles and these form the bridge by which he reaches the purely Gentile population.” F. Godet in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. p. 13.
A “BRIDGE” TO GENTILES GENTILE POPULATION SYNAGOGUE JEWS PAUL GENTILE PROSELYTES
HOW DO PEOPLE BECOME CHRISTIANS? NON CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN
BY A “BRIDGE” OF GOD NON CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN
WHAT IS A “BRIDGE” OF GOD? NON CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN ?
A “BRIDGE” OF GOD IS: • A PERSON • A GROUP • A FAMILY • AN OPEN DOOR
A BRIDGE TO: • AN EXTENDED FAMILY • A TRIBE • A NATION • AN ETHNIC GROUP • A PEOPLE • A REGION
A WRONG APPROACH! WHY IS THIS WRONG? SOURCE RESPONDENT
NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN BIBLICAL EVANGELISM NETWORK RESPON- DENT SOURCE NETWORK
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? ANSWER: A GOOD CONTACT THAT FLOWS ALONG A BRIDGE TO MANY MORE CONTACTS “CHRISTIANITY, LIKE ELECTRICITY, FLOWS BEST WHERE THERE IS A GOOD CONTACT.” -Donald McGavran Bridges of God, p. 94
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? MARK 5:1-18 WHAT IS THE BRIDGE HERE? WHAT DID THE BRIDGE LEAD TO?
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS Mark 5:18-19 – Not isolation but communication HIS FAMILY Jesus THE DECAPOLIS DEMON- POSSESSED MAN
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? JOHN 1:35-46 WHAT IS THE BRIDGE OF GOD HERE? WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS – Part one John 1:35-42 JESUS ANDREW PETER
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS – Part two John 1:43-51 JESUS PHILIP NATHANAEL
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? JOHN 4:4-42 WHAT IS THE BRIDGE OF GOD HERE?
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? JOHN 4:4-42 WHAT IS THE BRIDGE OF GOD HERE? SAMARITAN VILLAGE JESUS A woman at a well
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? ACTS 11:19-22 WHAT KIND OF A BRIDGE HERE? WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? ACTS 11:19-22 WHAT KIND OF A BRIDGE HERE? W A L L GREEKS JEWS
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? Acts 13:16 – 48 WHAT IS THE BRIDGE HERE? WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? G E N T I L E P O P U L A T I O N Acts 13:16-48 PAUL JEWS NON-JEWS
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS • Acts 13:16 – 48 • WHAT IS THE BRIDGE HERE? • WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS Acts 16:13-15 MEMBERS OF HER HOUSEHOLD (OIKOS) PAUL LYDIA
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? Acts 16:19-34 • WHAT IS THE BRIDGE HERE? • WHERE DOES IT LEAD?
THE “BRIDGE” AND THE RESULTS Acts 16:19-34 “BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS AND YOU WILL BE SAVED— YOU AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD” (OIKOS) JAILOR’S HOUSEHOLD JAILOR PAUL
WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY? NOW WHAT HAPPENS HERE? PAUL HAS A TWO OIKOS CHURCH TO START WITH & THIS IS MORE SOLID THAN JUST INDIVIDUAL CONVERSIONS.
RELEVANT MODERN EXAMPLES IN FRANCE – THE GYPSY MOVEMENT IN WEST PAPUA – THE HATTAM PEOPLE WEB MOVEMENT IN FRANCE AMONG FAMILY FROM GUADALOUPE RICHARD HAVERKAMP IN NORTHERN BELGIUM EXTENDED GREEK FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA
GREEK FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA DENNIS KRESOZ IS A BRIDGE TO: TRUDY KRESOZ MATTHEW KRESOZ SARAH KRESOZ REBECCA KRESOZ JAMES KRESOZ
THEN IT CONTINUES HER HUSBAND TOM NIKOLETTOS HIS SISTER JO NIKOLETTOS
Her son George Nikolettos and his girlfriend April Her son Nick Nikolettos AND IT CONTINUES…
Just recently, Elizabeth, April’s mother has professed faith in Christ. AND IT CONTINUES…
AND IT CONTINUES… HER DAUGHTER DIMI
AND IT CONTINUES… • HER SON-IN-LAW NICK KRITHARAS
AND IT CONTINUES… Nick Kritharas brother begins to show an interest in the Gospel…
AND IT CONTINUES… There has been a new openness in the heart of Nick and Jamie’s parents to the Gospel as never before.
Statistics on “Oikos” Evangelism In France: Conversion by Biological - 29% Social web – 54% REFINED: About 95% Outreach - 12 % Search - 3 % Circumstantial – 2 %
IN DOING “OIKOS” EVANGELISM, LOOK FOR A “PERSON OF PEACE” WHAT IS A “PERSON OF PEACE”? THIS PERSON IS DESCRIBED IN LUKE 10:6-7. “WHEN YOU ENTER A HOUSE, FIRST SAY, ‘PEACE TO THIS HOUSE.’ IF A MAN OF PEACE IS THERE, YOUR PEACE WILL REST UPON HIM; IF NOT, IT WILL RETURN TO YOU. STAY IN THAT HOUSE, EATING AND DRINKING WHATEVER THEY GIVE YOU, FOR THE WORKER DESERVES HIS WAGES. DO NOT MOVE AROUND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.”
THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF “PERSONS OF PEACE” Neil Cole in his book Organic Church (p. 182) says that three things characterize them: • “They are people of receptivity.” • “They are people of relational connections.” • “They are people of reputation.”
QUESTIONS: • What are some of the possible “Bridges of God” in this area? • Have you had a breakthrough in effective evangelism by means of a bridge? How? • What can you do to develop “bridges of God” eyes?