AFTER THE SERMON-How We Build Bridges
We hope today’s message was encouraging and helpful. Take a moment to process and discuss what God may be trying to say to everyone in your home or in your community group. If no one is with you, have a personal conversation with God, He is with you.
SERIES: Building Bridges
Sermon Title: How We Build Bridges
Main Scripture: Luke 5:27-32; Matthew 9:9-13
(If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read or paraphrase through some of the provided scripture to catch everyone up!)
Overview:
In this series so far we’ve learned how important it is to build bridges. This week Pastor Ryan started to break down how we build bridges and even shared a powerful video testimony to show us a method we can use. Between last week’s story in John 4 and today’s scripture, we see Jesus was successful at building bridges by doing the following:
Be present in the lives of those who need Jesus.
Do life together, such as eating a meal or through common interests.
Have open conversations to listen and share.
Share the message and truth of Jesus
The purpose of building bridges in this series is to build a relationship with someone who is without Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That’s our focus. The method Jesus primarily used to build bridges was to be present in everyday life and have open (not always preaching) and compassionate conversations.
Takeaways:
Jesus didn’t come from eternity to be distant, He came to be close!
The gospel wasn’t meant to only be preached or posted but also be demonstrated by the way we live and treat others.
“Our words don’t have to be perfect but show up we must in the lives of unbelievers.” Rosaria Butterfield
“Hospitality takes strangers and makes them neighbors and takes neighbors and makes them family of God.” Rosaria Butterfield
They didn’t host dinner for a lesbian, they hosted dinner for a friend, a neighbor, and a person who Jesus loves.
Jesus knows our sin but calls us by our names.
Having dinner with an unbeliever doesn’t make you a hypocrite it makes you a follower of Jesus.
We build bridges to connect and love people so they can see God’s love is true. Perhaps then they will believe other teachings are true!
I don’t look for places to correct, I look for places to connect.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from this message?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
What did you think of the story and testimony of Rosaria Butterfield? (Watch again here)
What ways can you be present in everyday life to have open conversations with people?
If you’re not the outgoing, extrovert type, what do you do to connect with others?
Share a story of how you have or currently are building a bridge with someone..Did Jesus come up? How?
Pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for coming into our lives, teaching and showing us how to follow you through the example of family, friends, and the church. Help us as we intentionally pursue people. Give us opportunities to be present so we can share our lives and the gospel as well. May those we connect with be open to hearing our story and want to know more about Jesus. Give us success in winning the lost, helping them cross the bridge of Jesus.
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!