87% of young outsiders say Christians are judgmental and 53% of young Christian insiders agree. A judgmental attitude is often conveyed by how we communicate and when we point out faults without offering help. To be a reChristian means that we become loving, like Jesus.
Unchurched people often think Christians are too political. In response, we must avoid the mistakes of privatizing our faith or politicizing our faith. Instead we need to become Prophetic Christians, transcending partisan politics and speaking on God’s behalf to people on both sides of the political spectrum.
For further study, read the Evangelical Manifesto at www.anevangelicalmanifesto.com.
This message opens with “Go Tell it On the Mountain” performed by Jimmie Bratcher, who will be live in concert at Cornerstone Church, Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 7:00 pm. www.jimmiebratcher.com
75% of outsiders say Christians are boring, unintelligent, old-fashioned, out of touch with reality, and sheltered. They see us living in a Christian bubble, but Jesus has called us salt and light. As followers of Christ, we are to engage culture and become subversives–working to undermine the world obsessed with money, sex, and self.
The question of homosexuality has become “the big” cultural issue for evangelical Christians. 91% of outsiders say that “anti-homosexual” describes present day Christianity. If we are to rethink what it means to be a Christian in the world we have to change and repent of our anti-gay rhetoric and attitude. To be like Jesus in the world, we have to become the friend of sinners, including those in a homosexual lifestyle.
Outsiders see those of us inside the church as being conversion-happy. They see our attempts at evangelism to be insincere, because from their vantage point we are only interested in “getting people saved.” Pastor Derek explains explains that there are a least three mistakes we have to correct in this area in order to be people-happy instead of conversion-happy.
85% of outsiders say Christians are hypocritical. 47% of young churchgoers say the same thing. While Jesus saved his sharpest criticism for religious hypocrites, it seems that in the eyes of outsiders we have become just that….hypocritical. In this message, Pastor Derek discuss hypocrisy, Jesus’ seven woes, and our need for authenticity.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be like our Love-God in the world, yet love is hardly what we are known for. In this introductory message, Pastor Derek shares the shocking discovery of a three-year research projected concerning the perceptions outsiders have of Christians. While we are called to be known for our love, we are known as 1) hypocritical, 2) conversion-happy, 3) anti-homosexual, 4) sheltered, 5) too political, & 6) judgmental. What will it take for us to change? If we do not change, we run the risk of losing the emerging generation.
Evangelism is not an event or a program, but a Spirit-led endeavor. Pastor Derek explores the role of the Holy Spirit in walking accross the room. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is not optional, but essential in knowing when, to whom, and how we are to fulfill Jesus’ mission.
As a part of Cornerstone Church’s mission emphasis, Pastor Derek revisits the simple evangelism strategy “Just Walk Accross the Room.” One of the most effective ways to fulfill the mission of Jesus is found in this stragegy. 1) Build relationships with non Christians; 2)Â Tell God’s story by telling your story; 3)Â Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. In this message, Pastor Derek discusses the first two steps.
The following message is provided with Spanish interpretation.
In this final part to the Just Walk Across the Room series, Pastor Derek discusses living with a grander vision of God’s work in making people fully human. The destructive nature of sin has made humanity sub-human. When people sin they are not being “just human,” they are being less-than-human. Jesus has come to make us fully human. This is the grander vision.
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