Bridging the Great Chasm

Follow Along with the Message

1. Introduction 
   • There is a Great Chasm that exists in the world today.
     •  
   • This chasm needs to be spanned, and Jesus is still the only bridge that will span it.
   • The church is to be God’s ambassador to the world, build bridges to our world a community so that they can experience the love and the grace of God in very tangible ways.
   • Bridges allow for influence, bringing change and bridges brining life to places where influence was not previously possible.
2. The Bridges Foundation 
   • Any structure that is going with stand the tests of time, whether it is a roller coaster, a building, or a bridge needs to have a solid foundation.
   • The foundations for our bridges are built on the word of God.
   • Old Testament Foundation
     • Ezekiel 18:32,  
     • Genesis 3:8,  
     • Genesis 12:1-3,  
     • Exodus 19:3-6,  
     • Jonah 4:1-3, 11,  .
   • Israel functioned in a more  , meaning drawing inward.
   • Church functions in a more  , meaning outward focused.
   • The New Testament
     • Matthew 5:16,  
     • Luke 6:35-36,  
     • Galatians 6:9-10,  
     • Ephesians 2:10,  
     • Titus 3:8,  
   • Scripture is very clear that we are to about doing, and that is the key word in many of these passages; DO-good works
3. The Bridges Support System 
   • Any suspension bridges cables to hold it up.Without those supports the whole thing would collapse leaving the chasm once again un-bridged.
   • The first cable of support is the cable of the great commission
     • Matthew 28:19-20
   • This is the cable of Proclamation; we are to proclaim the gospel to the world.
   • We need to understand the message of the gospel from two points of view:
     •  
       
       1. Psalm 119
     •  
       
       1. Acts 17:22 –28
   • We want to live good lives why?  
   • Why do we build bridges?  
   • Why do we proclaim the gospel?  
   • Why do we incarnate our faith?  
   • We need to be sure we combine proclamation with the incarnation. The proclamation tells the message, it tells the good news of the gospel. Incarnation in the proof that message is true.
4. The Chasm Spanned
   • Practical examples
     • Send these kids to a summer camp
     • Getting involved in a Christian Pregnancy center
     • Start a tutoring program
     • Free oil changes
     • Refurbish old computers and then give them to people who can’t afford new one
5. Conclusion
   • Bridge building is founded on the word of God and it is supported by the cables of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. These bridges are worked out in practical way in the life of our church and in the life of our community.