Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere. He taught in the Jewish meeting places, and everyone praised him. Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures, he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read, "The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, and to say, 'This is the year the Lord has chosen.' " Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the meeting place looked straight at Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "What you have just heard me read has come true today." (Luk 4:14-21)

Talking about faith is hard...

How do you have conversations about faith when you don't know what people think?

What do you think people think about God? 

“Inbetweeners”!? - People who help “bridge the gap”.

We are bridge builders who act on behalf of God for people,

       And do whatever is necessary to help people discover what God is like.

OT mandate

NT identity

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession… that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light...

WHY, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1Pe 2:9,10,12)

Jesus example...

"The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, and to say, 'This is the year the Lord has chosen.'

3 ways to build bridges.

1.  Announce the good news - speaking

2.  Bring freedom, healing and relief – this is the content of the good news.

3.  Campion change – Be a living example of people changed by the good news.  

1.  ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS

Speak, tell, declare, proclaim...

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mar 1:14-15)

Sedning of the 72,

   “When you enter a house, first Say…”

       Finishing with “He who listens to you, listens to me…” Luke 10:3,16

Our Bridge Building must include proclamation.

Particularly now that people don't know...

5 pointers to keep in mind when speaking the good news.

a)   Take the time to listen and learn about the other

Be “curious”.

b) Ask, gentle but courageous questions:

c)  Look for opportunities to share your own story and experience of God

d) Stop before they have heard too much. 

e)  Invite them to a specific catch up to takl about it further

2.  BRING FREEDOM, HEALING AND RELIEF

Jesus modelled this

The early disciples did it

The followers of Jesus have continued doing it

Examples of early Church

Our intercultural workers do it

It is who we are as a Church

The good news is that God’s rule and reign has begun - which must be felt now.

3.    Finally it means CHAMPIONING CHANGE. 

"The Lord's Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, and to say, 'This is the year the Lord has chosen.'

Year of Jubilee

Jesus: “this year has now come”

As In-betweeners – we are called to champion this new way of being.

Martin Luther King...

As an in-betweener we engage in the messiness of the world,

   We join in God’s loving, restorative vision.

       And participate in the proclamation through word and did of this good news.

And How do we do this? 

   Because like Jesus – the Spirit is now given to us.