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What’s WRONG with our culture?

What’s GOOD about our culture?

“Contextualizing” = Connecting your message with your people.

Why should I take the time to understand my culture and the people around me?    I Corinthians 9:19-23

• • Paul’s driving motivation is to win people to Christ for the glory of God.
  • What’s MY driving motivation? ______________________________

How do you challenge people or aspects of a culture in a way that’s helpful?

Acts 17:16-34, 1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:5-6, Matthew 5:6

1. 1. Use reason, not anger.
   2. Affirm the good you can see (even if it’s incomplete).
   3. Recognize & affirm where God's truth is affirmed by their culture.
   4. Respectfully challenge where their beliefs contradict God’s truth.

Are you good at both affirming AND challenging our culture?
How’s your balance with respect to our culture?

My NEXT STEP with God is to…

• …look for specific things in my life that might be hindering my effectiveness with the gospel in my culture and with my friends.  (It could be rights I insist on or concessions I haven’t been willing to make)
• …brainstorm aspects of our culture that are pleasing to God.
• …share with a Pi² friend something I’ve noticed in them that is commendable (practice “affirming” where I can).
• …if I already do plenty of “affirming”, look for an appropriate opportunity to respectfully “challenge” with the gospel.