AFTER THE SERMON-Healing 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: Healing Bridges
Main Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6
Other scripture mentioned: Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:6; John 4
(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:
Pastor Ryan was joined by Dorothy Wood and they opened up today’s message with the point that this Building Bridges series was inspired by the opportunity to help people see Jesus, the Christian faith, and His followers in a new way. Pastor Ryan said he has spent a lot of time helping people who have damaged views and misconceptions of the church, both valid, but both needing to be addressed. If we are careful to be wise around non-Christians and make sure our conversations are gracious and tasteful we can help heal bridges that lead to Jesus that has been damaged for a variety of reasons. We were challenged by Dorothy’s personal story to apply Colossians 4:5-6. Dorothy shared how her conversation had resulted in some healing and rebuilding bridges in her own family. It was encouraging to hear a real-life example that actually illustrated how being a healing bridge truly does work in our society!
Takeaways:
May we never find ourselves intentionally lighting bridges on fire
“Few people have ever been argued into Christianity.”
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”― Mahatma Gandhi
The absence of Jesus is always the greatest need. Once they have Jesus they have the potential to change.
Without Jesus, there is no heart transformation just behavior modification.
Without Christ, there is a black hole in the soul of every man.
No one can live the Christian life without Christ living in them.
What can we do to heal and reframe broken bridges?
Ask questions and ask for honest feedback
Listen carefully
Have spiritual discernment to hear the core need of their heart
Apologize when needed
Resist the urge to fix them. We are not the “fixers”.
Reframe misconceptions with truth
Keep their need for Jesus at the forefront of your mind.
Thank them for being real; for being honest
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 are a few things Dorothy did that helped her family open up?
Have you ever been a healing bridge for someone? What did you do? What worked?
What type of pain or hurt have you heard from others about God, the Christian faith, or the church? (Maybe that’s been you. If you feel comfortable sharing what you have wrestled with this is a safe group to do that.)
What reasons should we be careful about how we live and speak around non-Christians?
Pray:
Heavenly Father, we want to be healing bridges for those around us who have not experienced the truth of Christ done in grace and gentleness. We want to reframe, be a refreshing bridge of your truth to outsiders, outcasts, and non-Christians. Help us as we live and speak around those who need you most. Give us success as we continue to build a bridge for our community to come to Jesus, amen!
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!