For God so loved the world (Intercede) that he gave (Invest) his only begotten Son (Intersect)
What do we mean by Intersect?
Big Idea: Intersection is a crossroads where Truth and Grace meet as we share God’s Great Truth!
What is Truth without Grace?
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:1-11 (ESV)
How do we live Truth and Grace?
Learning to Intersect God’s truth with people’s needs – John 4:1-42
- Be intentional about building relationships.
- Build on commonalities.
- Be authentic.
- Ask questions or ask for help.
- Take a step of faith – a God-directed risk.
- Look for – and step into the opportunity to bring God into the conversation in some small way.
- Be patient and loving with people: They are on a spiritual journey!
- Be gently persistent about spiritual issues.
- Accentuate the Good News.
- Look past words and see the needy heart.
- Address the real need of the heart.
- Directly address the sin issue by speaking the truth in love.
- Don’t fear the tension of speaking the truth in love about sin – expect it.
- Address concerns but always come back to your main message.
- Don’t get bogged down in religion, denominations, and tradition.
- Keep pointing to Jesus.
- Expect some Christians to not understand.
- Challenge Christians to get into the harvest – not just church busyness.
- Give people time to seek and explore Jesus.
- Expect a harvest!
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18 (ESV)