StoneBridge Community Church
Stepping Out of the Christian Bubble
Pastor Jeff Cheadle
Locations & Times
StoneBridge Campus
4832 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA
Saturday 5:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Online "Connection Card"
Thanks for joining us today! Follow this link to a simple online "Connection Card" where you can let us know you were here and share any prayer concerns.
http://bit.ly/2jWI2QtThe Text in Context
J. Hampton Keathley, III, "The Subjects of the Kingdom and Their Influence in the World" (Matthew 5:13-16).
http://bit.ly/2wHDu3cBubble-Hopping
"The concept of bubbles (social bubbles, media bubbles, political bubbles) has become popular lately as people grapple with the outcome of the 2016 election. We talk to two people who are making attempts to break out of their bubbles, and expose themselves to new points of view. We start with a woman seeking to break out of the confines of the human bubble altogether, by teaching herself to experience the world more like a dog. Then we meet a young man named Max, who has made a life out of hopping from bubble to bubble." Bubble-Hopping, Invisibilia podcast, June 8, 2017.
http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibiliaLearning From Dogs as They Sniff Out Their World
More on Alexandra Horowitz. —Jan Hoffman, "Learning From Dogs as They Sniff Out Their World," The New York Times, October 10, 2016
http://nyti.ms/2k1w5KqRandomized Living
"For the past two years I’ve been letting randomized computer programs decide what I do. I believe giving in to chance is a way to liberate yourself from personal and social programming that traps you in a narrow sense of self." —Max Hawkins, "Randomized Living" Visit Max's website.
http://bit.ly/2fo42nsChristmas at the Beasley Ono House
Brief video of a Christmas Party Max Hawkins attended at the direction of his app. 2:25. Posted onYouTube, December 24, 2014.
http://bit.ly/2xpc2JP1. The longer we are Christians…
1. The longer we are Christians, the more likely we live in a Christian bubble.
Escape the Christian Bubble
Derek Levendusky, "Escape the Christian Bubble," GraceLife Church blog, July 11, 2011.
http://bit.ly/2xurhTmFor reflection/discussion
(1) What is the difference between active involvement and participation in Christian community and living in a Christian bubble? (2) Are most of your closest friends Christian? What are the advantages and disadvantages of surrounding ourselves with people with whom we largely agree? (3) Jesus' enemies called him “the friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34). Why? Would anyone call you the friend of sinners? Why or why not?
2. We can't follow Jesus without…
2. We can't follow Jesus without leaving the Christian bubble.
What does the Bible say about evangelism?
"What does the Bible say about evangelism?" A list of verses from OpenBible.
http://bit.ly/2xujdSoFor reflection/discussion
(1) What was Jesus' approach to people who were far away from God? (2) What does Jesus teach his disciples about sharing God's love with others? (3) The Great Commission in Matthew 28.19-20 has been referred to as The Great Omission by some authors. Why, in your judgment, do many Christians deliberately ignore Jesus' clear instruction that we are to share our faith with others? (4) If every other Christian shared their faith as you do, would the church be better or worse off?
3. It takes courage, faith, and intentionality…
3. It takes courage, faith, and intentionality to step outside the Christian bubble— but it's absolutely worth it!
The longer we’re believers, and the more Christian friends we have, the more we need people in our lives who don’t know Jesus.
For reflection/ discussion
"The longer we’re believers, and the more Christian friends we have, the more we need people in our lives who don’t know Jesus." (1) Why should Christians make an intentional effort to build relationships with people who do not know Christ? (2) What problems or challenges do you face in building relationships with unbelievers?
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