2. Isaiah 58:6-7
"The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove
the chains of oppression and the yoke of
injustice, and let the oppressed go free.
Share your food with the hungry and open
your homes to the homeless poor. Give
clothes to those who have nothing to wear,
and do not refuse to help your own
relatives.
8. What is our attitude towards "non-
Christians”?
What is our attitude towards those
in the church who are not as “good”
as us?
9. Do we tell others that they had
better get right or they lose
salvation?
And then we walk away -- satisfied that we have done our Christian duty in pointing them in the
right direction.
10. Are we trying to convince others
that we have "the truth“?
Are we presenting "the rules" and
saying you had better come around
to our way or suffer the
consequences?
11. Do we use the “carrot and the stick"
approach and how often do we leave
off the carrot completely?!
12. Is this what God wants from us?
Is this how we are to lead others to Christ?
Is this how God intends on saving those that are
lost?
13. We cannot convert people by
presenting prophecies or the end-
time events, the 28 fundamental
SDA beliefs or changing the diet .
15. Christ did not go around hitting people
over the head with the scriptures.
16. Christ did not go around criticizing,
accusing, or condemning people!
.
Christ was most critical of "religious" people
17. Christ did not go around saying to people;
“Hey, look at this list of things I have -
memorize these and you will be saved!"
18. Christ said, "What are your struggles?
Let me help.”
Christ invited them to have a better
way of life and he showed others how
to do it!
19. Christ got right down in the "mud of
life" with people!
Christ probably didn't have more than one change of cloths - no suits, no fine linen, just everyday
peasant cloths.
20. Christ mingled with the people -- he
went to their homes, ate dinner with
them and probably played with the
kids!
21. Christ helped them fish and earn a
living. Christ wasn't afraid to be seen
riding in those stinky old fishing boats!
22. And Christ didn't shy away from having
a good time either - he attended
marriage feasts and he let people throw
him a party (the Triumphal Entry).
23. And Christ wasn't afraid to ask
someone else for help.
This was one of his favorite methods for "introducing" himself (look at the story
of the woman at the well!).
24. Christ was real !
That is why we like/love Him.
He genuinely cared.
And our religion has
got to be "real" too!
25. Do our neighbors and friends see
Christ in us?
Can they come to us and "talk"?
26. Do they know that we are caring
people?
Or do they feel that we think we are
"better" than them?
Do they know they can come to us
and we will help them?
27. Are we willing to laugh with others
and give them a hug, regardless of
who they are or where they have
been?
Can we accept them just as they are?
29. If we are to help others or hope of
reaching them for Christ, we have to
relate to them where they are and meet
them there.
Christianity is not feelings or thoughts.
30. Christianity is real and it is powerful.
But it has got to be real in our own
lives before we can share it with others.
Being filled with Christ in action is
what true Christianity is all about.
32. Isaiah 58:6-7
"The kind of fasting I want is this:
Remove the chains of oppression and
the yoke of injustice, and let the
oppressed go free.
Share your food with the hungry and
open your homes to the homeless
poor. Give clothes to those who have
nothing to wear, and do not refuse to
help your own relatives.