Giving Our Lives Meaning

1 2 THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP WHICH MAKES LIFE COMPLETE • WITHOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP, THERE IS A VOID, A VACUUM IN LIFE. • MANY PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE WELL-KNOWN, CAN ATTEST TO THAT VOID. 3 • H. G. WELLS, FAMOUS HISTORIAN AND PHILOSOPHER, • SAID AT AGE 61: "I HAVE NO PEACE. ALL LIFE IS AT THE END OF THE TETHER." • THE POET BYRON SAID, "MY DAYS ARE IN YELLOW LEAF, • THE FLOWERS AND FRUITS OF LIFE ARE GONE, 4 • THE WORM AND THE CANKER, AND THE GRIEF ARE MINE ALONE." • THOREAU SAID, "MOST MEN LIVE LIVES OF QUIET DESPERATION." • WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ALL LIVES ARE LIVES OF QUIET DESPERATION. 5 • WE CAN HAVE NO PURPOSE, NO MEANING, NO ASPIRATIONS • WITHOUT GOD IN OUR LIVES. • WE ONLY HAVE A PURPOSE, A GOAL, A REASON FOR EXISTENCE • WHEN WE KNOW GOD AND LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. 6 • HIS WORD REVEALS OUR PURPOSE • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION • THAT HAS LEAD TO PETER FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE • TURN TO ACTS 10:24 • PETER AND CORNELIUS HAD EACH RECEIVED A VISION FROM GOD 7 • CORNELIUS HAD SENT MEN TO BRING PETER BACK TO HIM • PETER HAD RESPONDED TO THE SPIRIT • AND GONE WITH THE MEN CORNELIUS HAD SENT ACTS 10:24–26 8 ON THE FOLLOWING DAY HE ENTERED CAESAREA. NOW CORNELIUS WAS WAITING FOR THEM AND HAD CALLED TOGETHER HIS RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS. 9 WHEN PETER ENTERED, CORNELIUS MET HIM, AND FELL AT HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM. BUT PETER RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, “STAND UP; I TOO AM JUST A MAN.” 10 WE SHOULD BRING OTHERS TO HEAR • IF SOMEONE IS PREACHING GOD’S WORD, • BRING FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO HEAR THEM. • LUKE DESCRIBES HOW CORNELIUS HAD DONE THIS • “NOW CORNELIUS WAS WAITING FOR THEM AND HAD CALLED TOGETHER HIS RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS.” • WHEN IT SAYS HE WAS WAITING IT USES AN UNUSUAL WORD • THIS WORD MEANS ANXIOUSLY, EAGERLY, WAITING 11 12 • EXCITED BY THE ANTICIPATION OF THE COMING EVENT. • HE KNEW FROM THE VISION THAT PETER WAS • BRINGING A MESSAGE FROM GOD • HE WAS SO EXCITED HE GOT HIS RELATIVES TO COME 13 • NOT JUST HIS RELATIVES BUT HIS CLOSE FRIENDS AS WELL. • THIS IS WHAT WE DO WHEN WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING • WE WANT OTHERS TO BE THERE TO • WE CALL FOLKS, WE DRAG THEM OVER 14 • “YOU GOTTA BE THERE FOR THIS, IT IS GONNA BE AMAZING” • WE GET THIS WAY ABOUT FOOTBALL GAMES & FIREWORKS • WE NEED TO BE THIS WAY ABOUT GOD’S WORD BEING PREACHED (PAUSE) • ANYTIME SOMEONE IS PREACHING GOD’S WORD 15 • WE NEED TO BE CALLING TOGETHER OUR RELATIVE & FRIENDS • WE SHOULD DO THIS OUT OF RESPECT FOR GOD’S WORD • WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE GO ABOUT THIS THOUGH • SOMETIMES WE GET CARRIED AWAY BY THE EXCITEMENT WE SHOULD ALLOW NO PEDESTALS 16 • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE RIGHT THING • IT IS GOD’S WORD WE NEED TO BE EXCITED ABOUT • NOT THE PERSON PREACHING IT 17 • NEVER PUT THOSE WHO PREACH GOD’S WORD ABOVE GOD’S WORD. • PETER ENTERS THE HOUSE AND CORNELIUS • “ FELL AT HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM.” • NOW THIS DOES NOT MEAN HE WORSHIPED HIM AS GOD • IN CONTEXT THIS MEANS CORNELIUS SHOWED HIM RESPECT • CORNELIUS KNEW BETTER THAN TO WORSHIP HIM AS GOD • HE IS CALLED A RIGHTEOUS MAN, A DEVOUT MAN, AND A GOD-FEARING MAN • HE WAS NOT WORSHIPING PETER AS GOD 18 19 • BUT HE WAS PUTTING HIM UP ON A PEDESTAL • HE WAS HONORING HIM MORE THAN IS APPROPRIATE (PAUSE) • THROUGHOUT HISTORY THIS HAS BEEN A REAL PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH 20 • THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT SHOULD • BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE BRINGING GOD’S WORD • BUT WE SHOULD NEVER ELEVATE THE MESSENGER ABOVE THE MESSAGE. • WE SHOULD NEVER TREAT THEM AS SUPERIOR THEY ARE JUST MEN WE SHOULD REJECT WORSHIPING MEN 21 • WE SHOULD ALWAYS BEWARE OF PREACHERS WHO ALLOW PEOPLE TO WORSHIP THEM • CORNELIUS PUTS PETER ON A PEDESTAL • AND PETER RESPONDS IN A GODLY WAY 22 • HE TELLS HIM; “STAND UP; I TOO AM JUST A MAN.” • FALLING AT SOMEONE’S FEET IS INAPPROPRIATE • NO HUMAN BEING DESERVES THIS LEVEL OF RESPECT • EVEN THE ANGELS REJECT THIS LEVEL OF WORSHIP REVELATION 22:8–9 23 I, JOHN, AM THE ONE WHO HEARD AND SAW THESE THINGS. AND WHEN I HEARD AND SAW, I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF THE ANGEL WHO SHOWED ME THESE THINGS. BUT HE SAID TO ME, “DO NOT DO THAT. I AM A FELLOW SERVANT OF YOURS AND OF YOUR BRETHREN THE PROPHETS AND OF THOSE WHO HEED THE WORDS OF THIS BOOK. WORSHIP GOD.” 24 25 • JOHN KNEW THE ANGEL WAS NOT GOD, HE WAS NOT WORSHIPPING HIM AS GOD • BUT HE WAS OFFERING A LEVEL OF WORSHIP THAT IS ONLY FOR GOD • NO HUMAN, OR ANGEL, OR TREE, OR MOON, STAR, SUN • SHOULD EVER BE SHOWN THAT LEVEL OF REVERENCE (PAUSE) • THAT LEVEL OF REVERENCE IS FOR GOD ALONE • THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE • AND NO ONE ELSE. • FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN THE COMPOSER, WAS PRESENT AT THE VIENNA MUSIC HALL, 26 27 • WHERE HIS WORK “THE CREATION” WAS BEING PERFORMED. • WEAKENED BY AGE, THE GREAT COMPOSER WAS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR. • AS THE MAJESTIC WORK MOVED ALONG, • THE AUDIENCE WAS CAUGHT UP WITH TREMENDOUS EMOTION. • WHEN THE PASSAGE "AND THERE WAS LIGHT!" • WAS REACHED, THE CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA BURST FORTH IN SUCH POWER • THAT THE CROWD COULD NO LONGER RESTRAIN ITS ENTHUSIASM. • THE VAST ASSEMBLY ROSE IN SPONTANEOUS APPLAUSE. 28 • HAYDN STRUGGLED TO STAND AND MOTIONED FOR SILENCE. • WITH HIS HAND POINTED TOWARD HEAVEN, • HE SAID, "NO, NO, NOT FROM ME, BUT FROM THENCE COMES ALL!" • HAVING GIVEN THE GLORY AND PRAISE TO THE CREATOR, 29 30 • HE FELL BACK INTO HIS CHAIR EXHAUSTED. • NO MATTER WHAT SOMEONE DOES WE SHOULD NOT • ELEVATE THEM TO A POSITION OF WORSHIP • EVEN IF IT IS NOT DIVINE WORSHIP 31 • WHEN SOMEONE BRINGS GOD’S WORD WE SHOULD RESPECT • THE WORD THEY BRING FAR MORE THAN THE ONE BRINGING THE WORD • PART OF RESPECTING ONE WHO BRINGS GOD’S WORD • IS LISTING TO HOW THEY GOT TO WHERE THEY ARE. ACTS 10:27–29 32 AS HE TALKED WITH HIM, HE ENTERED AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ASSEMBLED. AND HE SAID TO THEM, “YOU YOURSELVES KNOW HOW UNLAWFUL IT IS FOR A MAN WHO IS A JEW TO ASSOCIATE WITH A FOREIGNER OR TO VISIT HIM; 33 AND YET GOD HAS SHOWN ME THAT I SHOULD NOT CALL ANY MAN UNHOLY OR UNCLEAN. “THAT IS WHY I CAME WITHOUT EVEN RAISING ANY OBJECTION WHEN I WAS SENT FOR. SO I ASK FOR WHAT REASON YOU HAVE SENT FOR ME.” WE SHOULD BRING THE WORD 34 • IF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, BRING THEM GOD’S WORD. • PETER HAD ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE AND MEET WITH CORNELIUS • THEY TALK FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THEY ENTER THE ROOM 35 • WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED TO HEAR WHAT PETER HAS TO SAY • GOD HAS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS TO BRING THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER • AN ANGEL VISITED CORNELIUS, PETER SAW A VISION • MEN TRAVELED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CITIES 36 • PETER HAS AN AUDIENCE • IT SAYS; “HE ENTERED AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE ASSEMBLED” • HE COULD TELL THEM ANYTHING HE WANTED TO TELL THEM AT THIS POINT • BUT HE WILL TELL THEM GOD’S WORDS NOT HIS OWN 37 • WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE’S ATTENTION • WHAT ARE WE TELLING THEM? • ARE WE TELLING THEM GOD’S WORD • OR ARE WE TELLING THEM OUR OWN WORDS 38 • OUR STORIES, OUR HISTORY, OUR INTERESTS, OUR POLITICS • WHEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE GATHERED • WE NEED TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO AT LEAST MENTION GOD’S WORD • POINT OUT WHAT GOD HAS SAID, AT LEAST MENTION THE GOSPEL. • BUT SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO DO THIS BECAUSE • THAT IS JUST NOT WHAT WE DO WHEN WE GET TOGETHER 39 40 • WE ARE WORRIED WHAT PEOPLE WILL THINK • THEY DID NOT COME TO HEAR ME TALK ABOUT GOD • TALKING ABOUT GOD IS JUST NOT TRADITIONAL IN OUR GROUP 41 WE SHOULD NOT LET TRADITIONS STOP US • MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT LET HUMAN TRADITIONS • STOP YOU FROM TAKING THE GOSPEL TO SOMEONE • PETER EXPLAINS A TRADITION TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE GATHERED 42 • HE SAYS; “YOU YOURSELVES KNOW HOW UNLAWFUL IT IS FOR A MAN WHO IS A JEW TO ASSOCIATE WITH A FOREIGNER OR TO VISIT HIM;” • THERE IS NO OLD TESTAMENT REGULATION FORBIDDING CONTACT WITH GENTILES • GOD HAD NOT MADE THIS A LAW IN HIS WORD 43 • THIS WAS A GENERAL RULE OF JUDAISM, NOT A LAW OF GOD • SEE THE TRADITIONS OF MAN WOULD SAY PETER SHOULD NOT BE THERE • BUT PETER IS NOT GOING TO LET THIS TRADITION STOP HIM 44 • IT MAY GO VERY MUCH AGAINST TRADITION • TO TALK ABOUT GOD AT A GATHERING OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY • BUT I DOUBT IT GOES AGAINST IT QUITE AS STRONGLY 45 • AS PETER IS ABOUT TO GO AGAINST HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF JEWISH TRADITION • HE IS EXPLAINING TO THEM HOW IT GOES AGAINST JEWISH TRADITION 46 • BUT THEY ALREADY KNOW THESE THINGS • HE IS TELLING THEM THIS SO THAT THEY WILL UNDERSTAND • JUST HOW IMPORTANT THE NEXT THING HE TELLS THEM IS 47 THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE • GOD WANTS THE GOSPEL TO BE TAKEN TO ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. • THIS ENTIRE COURSE OF EVENTS HAD BEEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY GOD • BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GOSPEL TO GO TO ALL THE WORLD 48 • FOR IT TO GO TO ALL THE WORLD IT HAS TO GO BEYOND THE JEWISH PEOPLE • LUKE HAS SHOWN HOW IT WENT TO THE SAMARIANS • HE HAS SHOWN HOW IT WENT TO THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH • AND NOW HE TELLS US HOW THE GOSPEL WAS BROUGHT TO THE GENTILES 49 • PETER TOLD THEM WHAT THE TRADITION WAS (PAUSE) • NOW HE TELLS THEM WHY HE IS BREAKING IT • “GOD HAS SHOWN ME THAT I SHOULD NOT CALL ANY MAN UNHOLY OR UNCLEAN.” • TODAY WE DON’T CALL THEM UNCLEAN OR UNHOLY 50 • NO WE CALL THEM DRUNK OR LIAR, CHEAT OR THUG • AND WE DON’T TAKE THE GOSPEL TO THEM BECAUSE WE • THINK THEY ARE TO FAR GONE, THEY DON’T WANT GOD • SO WHY SHOULD I TELL THEM ABOUT HIM 51 • THEY DID ALL THOSE HORRIBLE THINGS • THEY TREATED ME SO BADLY • SO WHY SHOULD TELL THEM THE GOSPEL • PETER EXPLAINS THAT A MESSAGE FROM GOD IS WHY HE • HE IS GOING AGAINST THE TRADITIONS OF MAN • “ CAME WITHOUT EVEN RAISING ANY OBJECTION WHEN I WAS SENT FOR.” • GOD SAID GO AND TELL THEM • EVEN THE ONES TRADITION SAYS ARE UNCLEAN, UNHOLY • TO FAR GONE, A DRUNK, A LIAR, A CHEAT OR A THUG (PAUSE) 52 53 IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY BIRTHDAY PARTY • IT WASN’T IN A PLUSH BALLROOM OF A GRAND HOTEL. • THERE WEREN’T FAMOUS CELEBRITIES, • NOR ANYONE RICH OR POWERFUL. • IT WAS HELD AT 3AM IN A SEEDY CAFE IN HONOLULU, • THE GUEST OF HONOR WAS A PROSTITUTE, • THE FELLOW GUESTS WERE PROSTITUTES, • AND THE MAN WHO THREW THE PARTY WAS A CHRISTIAN PASTOR 54 55 • THE IDEA CAME TO TONY CAMPOLO • VERY EARLY ONE MORNING AS HE SAT IN THE CAFE. • HE WAS DRINKING COFFEE AT THE COUNTER, • WHEN A GROUP OF PROSTITUTES WALKED IN 56 • AND TOOK UP THE STOOLS AROUND HIM. • ONE OF THE GIRLS COMMENTED • THAT NOT ONLY WAS IT HER BIRTHDAY TOMORROW • BUT THAT SHE’D NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 57 • TONY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA • TO SURPRISE HER WITH A BIRTHDAY PARTY. • HARRY THE CAFÉ OWNER SAID THE GIRLS CAME IN AT 3.30AM • TONY AGREED WITH HIM TO SET THE PLACE UP FOR A PARTY. 58 • WORD SOMEHOW GOT OUT ON THE STREET, • SO THAT BY 2:45 THE NEXT MORNING • THE PLACE WAS PACKED WITH PROSTITUTES, • WHEN THE BIRTHDAY GIRL WALKED IN SHE SAW STREAMERS, • BALLOONS, HARRY HOLDING A BIRTHDAY CAKE, • AND EVERYONE SCREAMING OUT “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” • SHE WAS OVERWHELMED. 59 60 • THE TEARS POURED DOWN HER FACE AS THE CROWD SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY. • WHEN HARRY CALLED ON HER TO CUT THE CAKE SHE PAUSED. • SHE’D NEVER HAD A BIRTHDAY CAKE 61 • SHE WONDERED IF SHE COULD TAKE IT HOME TO SHOW HER MOTHER. • WHEN SHE LEFT THERE WAS A STUNNED SILENCE. • TONY DID WHAT A CHRISTIAN SHOULD. 62 • HE LED HARRY, AND A ROOMFUL OF PROSTITUTES IN A PRAYER FOR AGNES. • LIVES WERE CHANGED THAT DAY, THE BIRTHDAY GIRL’S, HARRY’S, THE PASTOR’S • THIS IS HOW GOD CALLS US TO LIVE. 63 • TO LOVE EVERYONE, EVEN THOSE.. ESPECIALLY THOSE • WHO SOCIETY LOOKS DOWN ON • THIS IS WHAT PETER IS DOING • THEN PETER ASKS A QUESTION; • “SO I ASK FOR WHAT REASON YOU HAVE SENT FOR ME.” ACTS 10:30–33 64 CORNELIUS SAID, “FOUR DAYS AGO TO THIS HOUR, I WAS PRAYING IN MY HOUSE DURING THE NINTH HOUR; AND BEHOLD, A MAN STOOD BEFORE ME IN SHINING GARMENTS, AND HE SAID, ‘CORNELIUS, 65 YOUR PRAYER HAS BEEN HEARD AND YOUR ALMS HAVE BEEN REMEMBERED BEFORE GOD. ‘THEREFORE SEND TO JOPPA AND INVITE SIMON, WHO IS ALSO CALLED PETER, TO COME TO YOU; 66 HE IS STAYING AT THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE TANNER BY THE SEA.’ “SO I SENT FOR YOU IMMEDIATELY, AND YOU HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO COME. NOW THEN, WE ARE ALL HERE PRESENT BEFORE GOD TO HEAR ALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN COMMANDED BY THE LORD.” WE SHOULD TRUST THAT THE GOSPEL IS FROM GOD • WHY DOES CORNELIUS TELL THE STORY OF HIS VISION HERE? • PETER JUST TOLD THEM GOD HAD SHOWN HIM • HE WAS NOT TO CALL ANY ONE UNHOLY OR UNCLEAN 67 68 • NOW CORNELIUS TELLS THEM OF HIS VISION • AN ANGEL HAD TOLD CORNELIUS TO SEND FOR PETER • THESE TWO STORIES TOGETHER CONFIRM THE SOURCE • OF WHAT PETER WILL TELL THEM 69 • THIS GOOD NEWS, THIS GOSPEL, ITS SOURCE IS FROM GOD • THAT SHOULD CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE ABOUT THE GOSPEL • IF IT WAS JUST A GOOD IDEA, IF IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS HELPFUL • WE WOULD WANT TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT 70 • BUT THE FACT THAT THE GOSPEL IS FROM GOD SHOULD MEAN • WE MUST TELL PEOPLE NOW • WE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT TELLING THEM • IT SHOULD MEAN WE TRUST THE GOSPEL 71 • BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS TRUE BASED ON • THE FACT THAT IT COMES FROM GOD • CORNELIUS KNOWS PETER HAS BEEN SENT • TO BRING A MESSAGE FROM GOD • GOD HAS SENT US TO BRING THE SAME MESSAGE 72 WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHY WE HAVE BEEN SENT • PETER HAD ASKED THE REASON HE WAS SENT FOR • AND CORNELIUS EXPLAINED THAT HE SENT FOR HIM • BECAUSE THE ANGEL TOLD HIM TO DO IT • YOU WOULD THINK PETER WOULD KNOW WHY HE WAS SENT • BUT PETER WAS NOT TOLD BY THE SPIRIT WHY HE WAS TO GO • HE WAS JUST TOLD TO GO, AND HE DID • IT MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED TO HIM THAT HE WAS GOING 73 74 • TO THESE GENTILES TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE • IT WAS ONE THING FOR THE VISION • TO TELL HIM NOT TO CALL THEM UNCLEAN • IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING TO TELL THEM THE GOOD NEWS • THAT CHRIST DIED TO PAY FOR THEIR SINS • THAT WOULD BE WORLD CHANGING • WE DON’T HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT WHY WE HAVE BEEN SENT 75 76 MATTHEW 28:19 “GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, • WE ARE SENT BY CHRIST TO TAKE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE TO THE WORLD • PETER HAD HEARD THESE SAME WORDS WHEN CHRIST SPOKE THEM • BUT HE NEEDED CORNELIUS TO REMIND HIM 77 78 • SO CORNELIUS SAYS; “WE ARE ALL HERE PRESENT BEFORE GOD TO HEAR ALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN COMMANDED BY THE LORD.” • SOMETIMES WE NEED TO BE REMINDED WHY WE ARE HERE • WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE THINGS OF LIFE 79 • PAYING BILLS, RAISING KIDS, BUYING STUFF • AND WE FORGET THAT AS CHRISTIANS • THERE ARE REALLY ONLY TWO REASONS WE ARE STILL HERE • 1. GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST AND • 2. TELL PEOPLE THE GOSPEL • ALL THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED US TO TELL • LIFE CAN GET OVERWHELMING THINGS JUST KEEP PILING ON • WHEN YOU'RE UP TO YOUR NECK IN ALLIGATORS, • IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE FACT 80 81 • THAT YOUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO DRAIN THE SWAMP. • WHEN WE ARE UP TO OUR NECK IN STUFF • WE NEED TO KEEP OUR MIND ON THE FACT • THAT OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO TELL THEM THE GOSPEL WHEN WE ARE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 82 • WE CAN HAVE A LIFE THAT IS COMPLETE THAT HAS A PURPOSE • WE CAN LIVE A LIFE THAT IS MORE THAN • JUST A LIFE OF QUIET DESPERATION • GOD’S WORD REVEALS OUR PURPOSE 83 • WE ARE TO GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST AND TO HELP OTHERS KNOW THE GOSPEL • PART OF HELPING OTHERS KNOW THE GOSPEL IS • BRINGING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HEAR HIS WORD WHEN IT IS PREACHED • WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT ELEVATE 84 • THOSE PREACHING HIS WORD ABOVE THE WORD BEING PREACHED • WE NEED TO NOT LEAVE PREACHING GOD’S WORD TO THE PREACHERS • WE ALL NEED TO BRING GOD’S WORD WHERE EVER PEOPLE ARE GATHERED 85 • EVEN IF THAT GOES AGAINST WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO • AND WE NEED TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE • EVEN THOSE WE ARE NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE AROUND • WHEN WE TRUST THAT THE GOSPEL IS GOD’S MESSAGE 86 • WE CAN REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE BEEN SENT TO BRING IT TO THE WORLD • AND WE CAN STAY FOCUSED ON OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE • TELLING PEOPLE THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM • AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM • BUT WE ALL SIN…. 87 88