1. identity crisis
churches of Christ?

2. an identity crisis ? External Factors:
Secularism – moving spirituality to the fringe of life (limited or no relevance to “real” life)
Postmodernism – truth is relative … resulting in uncertainty that tends towards doubt and confusion and subjectivity
Pluralism – creates greater awareness of religious ideas and competing world views … “political correctness” militates against intolerance (promoting a climate where anything goes)
Syncretism – incorporating religious ideas from various sources

3. an identity crisis ? Internal Factors:
Spirituality has become marginalised rather than being central to our lives (e.g. “nominal” Christianity: ignorance of God’s word and the Way of Christ – building upon sand rather than the rock)
Consumerism (i.e. self-centredness and subjectivism) has led to a focus on gratifying perceived needs and wants, emotionalism and mysticism, entertainment, etc. (smorgasbord religion)
Giving offence has become the “unforgivable sin”
Traditional “inherited” faith versus personal conviction
Fruit of the Spirit? … an issue of “credibility”

4. the sin factor legalism libertinism The Kingdom of Me
The enemy is “ME” (Genesis 3) … the problem of sin (ego, “the flesh”) and its corrupting influence
legalism
libertinism
Religion is ultimately about my performance based upon (perfect, flawless) law keeping (tends to be objective – “Bible based” – but impersonal)
“lip-service” to grace and love. God tends to be seen as a distant and fearful task-master
Strict (everything reduced to black and white rules), controlling, contentious, divisive, exclusive (self-righteousness), hypocrisy (blindness to own fallibility)
Religion is ultimately about my wisdom, preferences and feelings based upon personal subjectivity (objective standards tend to be rejected or rationalised to suit self/culture)
“love” and “grace” re-defined to accommodate sin. God seen as a doting “Father Christmas”
Comfortably loose and inclusive (it all seems so loving and nice and “spiritual” … how could it be wrong?)
The
Kingdom
of Me

5. The (only) other way ... The Kingdom of God
the gospel antidote
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15)
The (only) other way ...
The Kingdom of God
libertinism
legalism
“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven …” (Matthew 5:20)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature …” (Mark 16:15)
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you …” (Matthew 28:18-20)

6. I am a child of God … ask me why
identity
I am a child of God … ask me why
proclaiming
the gospel message

7. we bring very good news from God ... for everybody!
God loves us! He sent His Son to show us our Father and teach us how to live as children of God (John 1:1-18)
He sent His Son to die for us so we could be forgiven and reconciled to our heavenly Father (John 3:13-17)
He raised His Son so we can be confident He both can and will keep His promises … and He received His Son back to Himself to be seated at the Father’s right hand, ruling over all creation until His return (Acts 17:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-26)
And Jesus Christ, God’s Son, now invites everyone to come to the Father through Him … very good news indeed! (Matthew 28:18-20)

8. I am a child of God … ask me how
identity
I am a child of God … ask me how
responding to
the gospel message

9. Jesus’ “Great Commission” to His Apostles
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15)
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you …” (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Apostles carry out the “Great Commission”
Acts 2:22-41
Gospel preached …
Gospel believed …
Gospel obeyed (repentance and baptism) …
Resulting in forgiveness of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit (now the “possession” – eis to nomos – of the Godhead, temple of His Spirit, member of His household, etc.)
Acts 2:42-47
Discipleship (apprentices) to Jesus as members of God’s redeemed community – His church

10. Galatians 2:20 Jesus’ Burial Jesus’ Death Resurrection THE GOSPEL
Reigning until He returns
OBEYING THE GOSPEL FROM THE HEART Romans 6:1-18
Living by faith until He returns
Believer’s
Death
Believer’s Resurrection
Believer’s
Burial
Galatians 2:20

11. It’s not about “earning” God’s gift … it’s about how to “receive” God’s gift
It’s like a race (Paul) … you have to cross the starting line to make your way to the finish line
It’s like life (Jesus) … you have to be “born (again)” to begin the journey of a new life

12. I am part of God’s family
identity
I am part of God’s family
now that we've entered the new life ...
living the new life ... running the race