P1246990956UuiFf

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Responding to outside perceptions is not new
there were misperceptions about the Early Church
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• The church practices cannibalism
• The church practices incest
• 3) The church is comprised of atheists

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The church is judgmental, negative and
political The church is male-dominated and
oppresses females The church is homophobic
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The church arrogantly thinks they are right and
all other religions are wrong The church is
comprised of fundamentalists who take the entire
Bible literally
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The Church is judgmental, negative and political
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What the church should be known for
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2 Corinthians 214-16 But thanks be to God, who
always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal
procession and uses us to spread the aroma of
the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to
God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who
are being saved and those who are perishing.
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Colossians 45-6 Be wise in the way you act
toward outsiders make the most of every
opportunity. Let your conversation be always full
of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may
know how to answer everyone.
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Galatians 522-23 But the fruit of the Spirit
is love , joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control.
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How many outside the church see the church
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play Session 2 video here
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What do people see if we remain hidden in the
Christian bubble?
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Insert photo of picketers here, if desired
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Insert photo of anti-gay t-shirts here, if desired
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Historical Judeo-Christian culture
Emerging culture
Christian subculture Bubble

Most only see and meet the more extreme
evangelists and those in media to shape their
opinions which is why we need to escape the
Bubble if we are in it


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Should Christians address the sins of other
people? In other Christians yes. But with
the motive to restore them, not hurt them.
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Matthew 1815-17 "If a brother or sister sins,
go and point out the fault, just between the two
of you. If they listen to you, you have won them
over. But if they will not listen, take one or
two others along, so that 'every matter may be
established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.' If they still refuse to listen, tell
it to the church and if they refuse to listen
even to the church, treat them as you would a
pagan or a tax collector.
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We better make sure when we do that, we are not
making subjective opinions on sin, but using the
Scriptures as our guide.
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One to one "If a brother or sister sins, go and
point out the fault, just between the two of you.
If they listen to you, you have won them over.
With one or two others But if they will not
listen, take one or two others along, so that
'every matter may be established by the testimony
of two or three witnesses.' To their church
community If they still refuse to listen, tell
it to the church and if they refuse to listen
even to the church, treat them as you would a
pagan or a tax collector.
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Galatians 61-4 Brothers and sisters, if someone
is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit
should restore that person gently. But watch
yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry
each other's burdens, and in this way you will
fulfill the law of Christ. If any of you think
you are something when you are nothing, you
deceive yourselves.
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Should Christians judge those outside the
church? To those outside the church no. God
judges others not us. We do however, correct
others as any citizen would. But not judge
others.
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1 Corinthians 512-13 What business is it of
mine to judge those outside the church? Are you
not to judge those inside? God will judge those
outside.
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What did Jesus say about judging others?
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Matthew 71-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be
judged. For in the same way you judge others, you
will be judged, and with the measure you use, it
will be measured to you.
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Bottom line, Jesus taught that we should not rush
to judge others without knowing their hearts, nor
should we judge with an arrogant or condemning
spirit. Jesus did not say to ignore sin
(anything goes), but he (and other writers of
Scripture) gave instruction on how to lovingly
confront it. How we do it makes all the
difference.
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The Church and Politics
Insert picture of Newsweek with Jesus and
Politics as the cover story here, if desired
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Insert picture of Jesus Votes Republican button
here, if desired
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Would Jesus want His church to be organized?
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Insert picture of family around the dinner table
here if desired
A family dinner is organized
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Insert photo of human anatomy here, if desired
A human body is extremely organized
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The church on the mission of Jesus does need
organization. But organization can be a good
thing or a bad thing.
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The church as a living organism can be
organized without being Organized.
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organized the staff of the church serve the
people of the church by helping them discover
their gifts and supporting and training them for
the mission of Jesus as they are sent in the
world
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Organized Leadership is about people
gaining power, influence and control and inwardly
steering others towards their own agendas or
political agendas over the outward mission of
Jesus
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Becoming more known for the fruits of the Spirit
and what we stand for than what we stand against
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John 1715 My prayer is not that You take them
out of the world, but that you protect them from
the evil one.
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Escaping the prison of the Christian bubble
Historical culture
Emerging culture
Christian subculture Bubble



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Instead of The Church is a judgmental and
negative organized religion
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May we be known as The Church is a organized
community loving and serving others as Jesus
would
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