contemporary issues

CCO AcademyCCO Academy

ISSUES FACING ISSUES FACING CHRISTIANS TODAYCHRISTIANS TODAY


CONTEXTUAL ISSUESCONTEXTUAL ISSUES



Our Changing WorldOur Changing WorldIs Christian Involvement Necessary?Is Christian Involvement Necessary?

Our Complex WorldOur Complex WorldIs Christian Thinking Distinctive?Is Christian Thinking Distinctive?

Our Plural WorldOur Plural WorldIs Christian Witness Influential?Is Christian Witness Influential?


GLOBAL ISSUESGLOBAL ISSUES


GLOBAL ISSUESGLOBAL ISSUES

War and PeaceWar and Peace

Caring of CreationCaring of Creation

Living with Global PovertyLiving with Global Poverty

Human RightsHuman Rights


SOCIAL ISSUESSOCIAL ISSUES


SOCIAL ISSUESSOCIAL ISSUES

The World of WorkThe World of Work

Business RelationshipsBusiness Relationships

Celebrating Ethnic DiversityCelebrating Ethnic Diversity

Simplicity, Generosity and ContentmentSimplicity, Generosity and Contentment


PERSONAL ISSUESPERSONAL ISSUES


PERSONAL ISSUESPERSONAL ISSUES

Women, Men and GodWomen, Men and God

Marriage, Cohabitation and DivorceMarriage, Cohabitation and Divorce

Abortion and EuthanasiaAbortion and Euthanasia

The New BiotechnologyThe New Biotechnology

Same-Sex RelationshipsSame-Sex Relationships



Our Changing WorldOur Changing WorldIs Christian Involvement Necessary?Is Christian Involvement Necessary?

Our Complex WorldOur Complex WorldIs Christian Thinking Distinctive?Is Christian Thinking Distinctive?

Our Plural WorldOur Plural WorldIs Christian Witness Influential?Is Christian Witness Influential?


Is Christian Witness Influential?Is Christian Witness Influential?

Acts 1:8Acts 1:8



We should get involved and think We should get involved and think Christianly about the issuesChristianly about the issues



We develop quite strong We develop quite strong convictions convictions

BUT BUT others do not share themothers do not share them



How can we hope to influence our How can we hope to influence our country to return to Christian country to return to Christian

Values in a plural society?Values in a plural society?



Plural society!Plural society!



PLURALISMPLURALISM The Process of SecularizationThe Process of Secularization An Increase of Religious AlternativesAn Increase of Religious Alternatives The Development of a postmodern The Development of a postmodern

imaginationimagination



THREE RESPONSES TO PLURALISM:THREE RESPONSES TO PLURALISM:

IMPOSITIONIMPOSITIONLAISSEZ-FAIRELAISSEZ-FAIREPERSUASIONPERSUASION



PERSUASIONPERSUASION

THE NATURE OF GODTHE NATURE OF GODRESPECT FOR CONSCIENCERESPECT FOR CONSCIENCE



PLURALISMPLURALISM

FRAGMENTATION AND ALIENATIONFRAGMENTATION AND ALIENATION



THE WITNESS OF HISTORYTHE WITNESS OF HISTORY



THE WITNESS OF HISTORYTHE WITNESS OF HISTORY

THE WITNESS OF THE BIBLETHE WITNESS OF THE BIBLE



THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCEINFLUENCE

““You are the salt of the earth….You are the salt of the earth….““You are the light of the world….You are the light of the world….

Matthew 5:13-16Matthew 5:13-16



CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVECHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE

11STST CHRISTIANS should be fundamentally DIFFERENT from those who CHRISTIANS should be fundamentally DIFFERENT from those who are not Christiansare not Christians

““Do not be like them…” Matthew 6:8Do not be like them…” Matthew 6:8““Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16Be holy, because I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16



CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVECHRISTIANS SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE

22ndnd CHRISTIANS should be INFLUENTIAL CHRISTIANS should be INFLUENTIAL

Permeate societyPermeate societyTheir light is to shine in the darknessTheir light is to shine in the darknessTheir salt is to soak into de decaying meatTheir salt is to soak into de decaying meat



PRAYER AND EVANGELISMPRAYER AND EVANGELISM




THE POWER OF PRAYERTHE POWER OF PRAYERJames 5:16James 5:16

“…“…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”



THE POWER OF PRAYERTHE POWER OF PRAYER

““I tell you”, said Jesus, “that if two of you on I tell you”, said Jesus, “that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it earth agree about anything you ask for, it

will be done for you by my Father in heaven”will be done for you by my Father in heaven”Matthew 18:19Matthew 18:19




THE POWER OF PRAYERTHE POWER OF PRAYERTHE POWER OF THE GOSPELTHE POWER OF THE GOSPEL



THE POWER OF THE GOSPELTHE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL CHANGES PEOPLETHE GOSPEL CHANGES PEOPLE““I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is

the power of God for the salvation of the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” everyone who believes”

Romans 1:16Romans 1:16



THE POWER OF THE GOSPELTHE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL CHANGES CULTURESTHE GOSPEL CHANGES CULTURES

Christianity starts with faith in Christ and it finishes Christianity starts with faith in Christ and it finishes with service in the world.with service in the world.

Obedience to Christ demands change, the world Obedience to Christ demands change, the world becomes His world.becomes His world.



WITNESS AND PROTESTWITNESS AND PROTEST

The true witness (martyr) must be prepared to The true witness (martyr) must be prepared to suffer, and even if necessary to die, for His suffer, and even if necessary to die, for His

testimony.testimony.

Protest is a valid weapon?Protest is a valid weapon?



DEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATIONDEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATION

Christians are MARKED people both at work and at Christians are MARKED people both at work and at home; the world is watching ushome; the world is watching us



DEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATIONDEMONSTRATION AND ORGANIZATION

The power of the small groups.The power of the small groups.


Is Christian Witness Influential?Is Christian Witness Influential?IF IT IS TRUE THAT GOD OFTEN WORKS IF IT IS TRUE THAT GOD OFTEN WORKS THROUGH THE INSIGNIFICANT AND THE THROUGH THE INSIGNIFICANT AND THE SMALL TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSES, SMALL TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSES,

THEN THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CHRISTIANS THEN THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CHRISTIANS TO FELL ALIENATED. TO FELL ALIENATED.

QUITE THE CONTRARY: QUITE THE CONTRARY: WE SHOULD DELIGHT THAT NOBODY IS TOO WE SHOULD DELIGHT THAT NOBODY IS TOO

INSIGNIFICANT TO BE USED BY GOD TO INSIGNIFICANT TO BE USED BY GOD TO CHANGE THE WORLD.CHANGE THE WORLD.



ANSWERS?ANSWERS?


THANKS!THANKS!

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