Sermon Tone Analysis

*Making the Connection*

 

 

*Making the Connection to Christ*

 

*1.

Who is Jesus?*

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

"But what about you?" he asked.

"Who do you say I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Matt 16:13-16 NIV

 

 

*2.

What did Jesus do on the cross?*

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

 

He is the sacrifice for our sins.

He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

1 John 2:2 NLT

 

 

 

*3.

What must I do to be saved?*

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

Acts 16:29-31 NIV

 

 

 

Making the Connection:

Have you made the connection to Christ?

\\ Welcome…

 

New Series…Making the Connection

 

It is a series that help us to clearly see the vision God has given Violet Baptist Church and what it will look like for us to live out this vision in the next 3-5 years.

The Vision:

/To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ./

/ /

*Let’s say that together….*

/To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ./

The definition of the word bridge…

 

One of the entries in Encarta Dictionary:

 

/Link or means of approach…/

/something that provides a link, connection, or means of coming together/

 

Bridges are made to connect…not to collapse

 

I can remember being a young boy growing up in Ashland Ky.

We would have to cross the Ashland bridge in order to cross the Ohio River…if we wanted to go to Ironton, OH…

 

I can remember my uncle Bill trying to scare us every time we would cross that bridge by saying there were alligators in the river…so we better hope that bridge doesn’t fall down!!

 

Fortunately that bridge never collapsed on us!!!

 

Bridges are made to connect and not collapse!!

 

Just recently we remember the horrible scene of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis collapsing.

It collapsed during rush hour on August 1, 2007, plunging dozens of cars and their occupants into the river.

The disaster disrupted transportation, aimed a spotlight on public infrastructure, and evoked an outpouring of public response…and unfortunately killed 13 people.

Bridges are made to connect and not collapse!!

 

What happens when they collapse?

People get hurt…and some even die.

God has called us to build bridges to this community…to build bridges that connect…not collapse!!!

 

God’s vision for our church is to build bridges that connect.

 

 

1.

Bridges to Christ

 

2.

Bridges to others

 

3.

Bridges to ministry

 

4.

Bridges to the world

 

*Today I want to begin our series by talking about:*

*Bridges to Christ*

 

Making the connection to Christ.

If we don’t get this right nothing else matters!!!

As a church we our called by God to do everything we can to help people make connection to Christ!!

 

In fact on of the goals we have is:

 

Goal: Violet Baptist Church will baptize at least 60 people in 2008 (September 2007 to August 2008) with at least 10 of those being youth.

The church will baptize at least 70 people in 2009 and 80 in 2010.

Today I want to talk about the most important connection of all…

 

*Making the connection to Christ!!*

 

Some obstacles…confusion about making the connection…about salvation.

I read about a mother who realized her daughter was confused about salvation, she wrote in an article:

 

/ When our 2-year-old daughter used the word "salvation" in a conversation one day, I thought I should ask her if she understood what the word meant.

/

/ /

/"I know all about it, Mommy//," she said.

"We saw it at the movies."

I was puzzled.

/

/ /

/The only movie she had ever seen was a Disney production.

"What movie?"

I asked.

/

/ /

/"You know,"// she replied, somewhat impatiently, "101 Salvations!"/

 

Kids aren’t the only ones confused about salvation.

Results from a recent LifeWay Research study indicate that many American teenagers are confused about what it takes to get to heaven.

More than 1,000 teenagers (12-19 year-olds) were surveyed in January and February of 2007 by mail questionnaire.

Results show that 69 percent of teenagers believe heaven exists.

Also, a majority of teens agree with the traditional Christian belief in Jesus Christ’s death for their sins as the reason they will go to heaven (53 percent strongly agree, 16 percent somewhat agree).

While many teenagers believe they will go to heaven because of their belief in Jesus Christ, one quarter trust in their own kindness to others (27 percent) or their religiosity (26 percent) as their means to get to heaven.

Out of the 69 percent of the teenagers who strongly or somewhat agree they will go to heaven because Jesus Christ died for their sins,

 

60 percent also agree that they will go to heaven because they are religious,

 

and 60 percent also agree they will go to heaven because they are kind to others.

This indicates that approximately 28 percent of American teenagers are trusting only in Jesus Christ as their means to get to heaven.

Some adults are confused about salvation.

Thom Rainer president of Lifeway Christian Resources conducted a study a few years ago where a research team found that 31% of the people leaving a church immediately following a worship service were unable to articulate clear of salvation.

Today some of you may be confused about your salvation.

Perhaps you are asking: /Am I really saved?/

Perhaps you are asking:

/Can I really be sure about my salvation?/

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

 

1 Jn 5:13

 

Today I want to clear up the confusion about salvation by answering three important questions.

We will find the answers to these three questions in God’s Word.

And my prayer for you today is if you haven’t made the connection to Christ…today will be the day.

And my prayer for you today is if you

Are not sure that you’ve made the connection to Christ…today will be the day…that you are sure.

What are these 3 questions?

Let me encourage you to write them down…

\\ *Making the Connection to Christ*

* *

*Question #1:*

* *

*1.

Who is Jesus?*

This is a question that has been asked many times over the last 2000 years.

In Matt 16, Jesus asked his disciples this question…