Introduction:

·   Illustration: A retired executive built wells and then a bridge for Africa University.

·   Bridge building is the identity and mission of the church.

·   Christian identity and mission go together: being and doing.

·   We became included in “the People of God” by Christ’s reconciling death, so we can imitate his bridge-building love in the world.

Come to Christ.

·   Come to the Anointed One of God, who embodies God’s grace.

·   Without Christ, we are nobodies!

·   In Christ, we are given the unique identity and role as the as the very “people of God.”

Cling to Christ.

·   Like bricks and mortar, join together with Christ into God’s spiritual dwelling place.

Clarify your mission.

·   Let your identity and mission in life emerge; fulfill your God-given identity.

-1 Peter 2:9–10

·   The word priesthood captures both the identity and the mission of the people of God.

-Illustration: The late Bishop Walter Underwood taught that the word priest comes from a Latin verb, pontifex, which means to “bridge a gap.”

·   Peter is saying, “Come to Christ, cling to him, and together build bridges.”

·   There are so many bridges for the people of God to build!

-Illustration: At Conrad’s ordination Bishop Joel McDavid said: “It is midnight in our world. When that knock comes to your door at midnight from one in need, will you answer it?”

·   To meet a neighbor’s need, you must rise above comfort and enter their darkness.

·   Before you can build a bridge to someone, you have to accept them first.

-Illustration: At seminary, the guy it was easy to dislike prayed for Conrad, and the two became close friends.

·   Build bridges that overcome barriers between people and open gateways to the future.

·   God has given us an identity and a mission. It is bridge building.