Building Bridges

MESSAGE: Building Bridges
TEXT: Matthew 4:17-25
SPEAKER: Ps Barnabas Boon

Hope EFC is a church with a myriad of ministries. There are Burmese migrants among us and we have a thriving ministry among them. There is also ministry to the Orang Asli where much developmental work has been carried out through Pastor Chong Keng Sen. In all these ministries, we need to know how to build bridges so that we can strengthen relationships and when the time is right, to invite them to know who Jesus is

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Building bridges for us is guided by three vital concepts.

First is the importance of location. We need to understand that God has placed us where we are. In Matthew 4:19, 21 and 23, we read of Jesus going on from where he was to another place to preach and to teach. The Lord went out of his comfort zone to reach the least, the last and the lost. Jesus took the gospel to people rather than wait for them. We are always waiting for people to come to church. Although this is not wrong, the right approach is that the church must go to where the people are. When we are with the people we will be able to grab opportunities to share the gospel. We need to ask our selves the question. Have we shared the gospel lately? If not, why? Are we keeping to our Christian friends only and not breaking out to meet others. Are we just occupying areas where we are comfortable? In the great Commission, Jesus rightly pointed out to his disciples that they must “go”. The word "go" here is a command and is in the tense which has a finality about it. You are not to turn back. The act of going and sharing the gospel is a command and if we turn back or rescind the command then we are disobedient.

The second concept important to bridge building is relationship building. Bridge building involves building relationships. Matthew 4:18 and 21 shows us that when the Lord called his disciples to himself, relationships played an important part. Andrew’s brother was Simon and the father of John was Zebedee. The spread of the gospel from the earliest days followed relational lines. An examination of the relationships between the disciples and in the family trees of Jesus and others like Simon and Cyrene all showed the gospel spreading through relationships in the family or through friendship clusters. We need to remember that as it was in those days so it will be in ours that the gospel will spread through relationships. Hence it is imperative for us to build relationships and to follow relational lines as we share the gospel.

On a practical level, there are five basic steps when we build relationships. These are first, we must be helpful. Doing a kindness is a good basis for a relationship to begin. Second, learn the art of conversation. Make the mundane interesting by indulging in creative chit chats. Third, listen patiently. When friends share their life issues with us, let us show genuine interest in what they are saying to us. Fourth, be ready to share a Christian perspective when asked. Learn to engage with the world through Christian values and always be ready to share that perspective. And finally, at an opportune time, share the gospel. Discipleship is not about the transmission of skills and information alone, but it is about deep, strong and lasting relationships. Gospel sharing is not just about sharing the gospel elements but it is sharing your life and making friends because you want to be friends and to love them for who they are. You make a friend not just to share the gospel but because you are interested in him or her.

The third important concept is the vital invitation for people to cross over the bridges we have built. In Matthew 4:17, 23 and 24, we have the sense of urgency in the preaching of Jesus as well as his personal touch of healing and love in the midst of his preaching the Kingdom of God. We invite people to trust in Jesus because he has the words of life. He came and died for us so as to remove the hindrance of sin that separates us from God. He has come to free us from the bondage of sin and from the wiles of the evil one. It is therefore imperative on our part to invite people to come to him, to hear him and then to accept him as Lord and Saviour.

In conclusion we must go to people, and to get out of our comfort zone if we are to share the gospel widely. We need also to strive to build long lasting and deep relationships with people. We must reach out and touch people through our lives and our witness to the word. Only then can we begin to share the gospel in an effective manner.