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ISSUES FACING CHRISTIANS TODAY
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CONTEXTUAL ISSUES
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CONTEXTUAL ISSUES Our Changing World Is Christian Involvement Necessary? Our Complex World Is Christian Thinking Distinctive? Our Plural World Is Christian Witness Influential?
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GLOBAL ISSUES
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GLOBAL ISSUES War and Peace Caring of Creation Living with Global Poverty Human Rights
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SOCIAL ISSUES
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SOCIAL ISSUES The World of Work Business Relationships Celebrating Ethnic Diversity Simplicity, Generosity and Contentment
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PERSONAL ISSUES
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PERSONAL ISSUES Women, Men and God Marriage, Cohabitation and Divorce Abortion and Euthanasia The New Biotechnology Same-Sex Relationships
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CONTEXTUAL ISSUES
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CONTEXTUAL ISSUES Our Changing World Is Christian Involvement Necessary? Our Complex World Is Christian Thinking Distinctive? Our Plural World Is Christian Witness Influential?
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Is Christian Witness Influential?
Acts 1:8
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Is Christian Witness Influential? We should get involved and think Christianly about the issues
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Is Christian Witness Influential? We develop quite strong convictions BUT others do not share them
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Is Christian Witness Influential? How can we hope to influence our country to return to Christian Values in a plural society?
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Is Christian Witness Influential? Plural society!
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PLURALISM The Process of Secularization An Increase of Religious Alternatives The Development of a postmodern imagination
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PLURALISM The Process of Secularization An Increase of Religious Alternatives The Development of a postmodern imagination
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PLURALISM The Process of Secularization An Increase of Religious Alternatives The Development of a postmodern imagination
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THREE RESPONSES TO PLURALISM: IMPOSITION LAISSEZ-FAIRE PERSUASION
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THREE RESPONSES TO PLURALISM: IMPOSITION LAISSEZ-FAIRE PERSUASION
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THREE RESPONSES TO PLURALISM: IMPOSITION LAISSEZ-FAIRE PERSUASION
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PERSUASION THE NATURE OF GOD RESPECT FOR CONSCIENCE
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PERSUASION THE NATURE OF GOD RESPECT FOR CONSCIENCE
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Is Christian Witness Influential? PLURALISM FRAGMENTATION AND ALIENATION
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE WITNESS OF HISTORY
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE WITNESS OF HISTORY THE WITNESS OF THE BIBLE
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE “You are the salt of the earth…. “You are the light of the world…. Matthew 5:13-16
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Is Christian Witness Influential? CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE 1ST CHRISTIANS should be fundamentally DIFFERENT from those who are not Christians “Do not be like them…” Matthew 6:8 “Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16
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Is Christian Witness Influential? CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE 2nd CHRISTIANS should be INFLUENTIAL Permeate society Their light is to shine in the darkness Their salt is to soak into de decaying meat
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Is Christian Witness Influential?
PRAYER AND EVANGELISM
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Is Christian Witness Influential?
PRAYER AND EVANGELISM THE POWER OF PRAYER James 5:16 “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE POWER OF PRAYER “I tell you”, said Jesus, “that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” Matthew 18:19
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Is Christian Witness Influential?
PRAYER AND EVANGELISM THE POWER OF PRAYER THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL THE GOSPEL CHANGES PEOPLE “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” Romans 1:16
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Is Christian Witness Influential? THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL THE GOSPEL CHANGES CULTURES Christianity starts with faith in Christ and it finishes with service in the world. Obedience to Christ demands change, the world becomes His world.
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Is Christian Witness Influential? WITNESS AND PROTEST The true witness (martyr) must be prepared to suffer, and even if necessary to die, for His testimony. Protest is a valid weapon?
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Is Christian Witness Influential? DEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATION Christians are MARKED people both at work and at home; the world is watching us
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Is Christian Witness Influential? DEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATION The power of the small groups.
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Is Christian Witness Influential? IF IT IS TRUE THAT GOD OFTEN WORKS THROUGH THE INSIGNIFICANT AND THE SMALL TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSES, THEN THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CHRISTIANS TO FELL ALIENATED. QUITE THE CONTRARY: WE SHOULD DELIGHT THAT NOBODY IS TOO INSIGNIFICANT TO BE USED BY GOD TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
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Is Christian Witness Influential?
ANSWERS?
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THANKS!