Noticing What is Needed

1 IN THE LATE 1950’S • AN INTERIOR DESIGNER LOOKING FOR • A NEW TEXTURED WALL COVERING • CREATED A CLEAR PLASTIC BUBBLY WALLPAPER • THANKFULLY IT NEVER CAUGHT ON… • SOME YEARS LATER TWO FELLAS • WERE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PACKAGE BREAKABLE ITEMS • TOOK THE FAILED BUBBLY WALL COVERING • AND ADAPTED IT TO A NEW USE • BUBBLE WRAP WAS CREATED • THIS ADAPTATION HAS AN ANNUAL REVENUE OF $4 BILLION • ADAPTATION IS A POWERFUL TOOL • IT IS ONE OF MANKIND’S GREATEST ABILITIES • HUMANS ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT A SITUATION • LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH… AND ADAPT • MAYBE YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR • TOOK WHAT YOU HAD AND MADE IT WORK WITH • WHAT YOU NEEDED TO GET DONE • ERIN JUST LOVES IT WHEN I DO THAT • WE CALL IT BRADLEY ENGINEERING…. • NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WORK WE ARE DOING • IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADAPT OUR EFFORTS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT • IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE ALL CALLED TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL • JUST LIKE ANY OTHER WORK WE DO • WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO ADAPT AS WE PRESENT GOD’S WORD • NOW, IT IS VITAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE ADAPTING HERE • WE NEVER, AND I MEAN NEVER CHANGE THE GOSPEL • WE DON’T SOFTEN THE MESSAGE; WE DON’T CHANGE WHAT IS REQUIRED • WE CALL SIN.. SIN.. WE ALWAYS SAY JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY • BUT… THE WAY WE SAY THESE THINGS… • THE WORDS WE CHOOSE… THE MANNER IN WHICH WE PRESENT THE GOSPEL • NEEDS TO BE ADAPTED TO THE PEOPLE WE ARE PRESENTING IT TO • TODAY WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF PAUL ADAPTING • TURN TO ACTS 14:8 • IN THE LAST TWO ACCOUNTS WE HAVE LOOKED AT • LUKE HAS PROVIDED TWO EXAMPLES • OF HOW PAUL AND BARNABAS PRESENTED THE GOSPEL IN A SPECIFIC SITUATION • IN BOTH CASES PAUL AND BARNABAS GO TO THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUE • THEY PRESENT THE GOSPEL BY EXPLAINING HOW CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH • THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, PROMISED BY GOD IN HEBREW BIBLE • BUT IS THIS THE ONLY WAY TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL? ACTS 14:8–10 AT LYSTRA A MAN WAS SITTING WHO HAD NO STRENGTH IN HIS FEET, LAME FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB, WHO HAD NEVER WALKED. THIS MAN WAS LISTENING TO PAUL AS HE SPOKE, WHO, WHEN HE HAD FIXED HIS GAZE ON HIM AND HAD SEEN THAT HE HAD FAITH TO BE MADE WELL, SAID WITH A LOUD VOICE, “STAND UPRIGHT ON YOUR FEET.” AND HE LEAPED UP AND BEGAN TO WALK. NOTICE PEOPLE IN NEED • LUKE, WHO IS A DOCTOR, • PROVIDES A LOTTA DETAILS ABOUT THIS MAN • BUT LUKE GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM PAUL OR BARNABAS • THIS MEANS THEY PAID A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION • TO THIS MAN’S CONDITION • THEY KNEW HE NO STRENGTH IN HIS FEET, • THAT HE WAS LAME FROM HIS MOTHER’S WOMB, • AND THAT HE HAD NEVER WALKED. • WE DON’T KNOW WHEN THEY LEARNED THESE THINGS • BUT AT SOME POINT, THEY TOOK THE TIME • TO LEARN ABOUT THIS MAN… • GOD CALLS EVERYONE OF US TO CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR • BUT TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR • CONDITION, THEIR SITUATION, SO THAT WE CAN KNOW THEIR NEEDS • BUT NOTICING THEIR NEED IS NOT ENOUGH • WE NEED TO NOTICE THEIR NEED & RESPOND • NOW, THE TEXT SAYS • THIS MAN WAS LISTENING TO PAUL AS HE SPOKE, • THERE IS A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT GOD • I MEAN IT IS PAUL… MOST OF THE TIME WHEN HE TALKED • IT WAS ABOUT GOD • AND I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD REASON • TO THINK PAUL IS IN THE MIDDLE OF TELLING PEOPLE THE GOSPEL • THE REASON I THINK THAT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT LUKE SAYS NEXT • IN THE MIDDLE OF TALKING PAUL • FIXED HIS GAZE ON HIM AND HAD SEEN THAT HE HAD FAITH TO BE MADE WELL, • PAUL IS TALKING AND IN THE MIDDLE OF TALKING • HE LOOKS RIGHT AT THIS FELLA.. • IT REALLY SAYS HE STARRED CONTINUALLY AND INTENSELY AT HIM • AND WHEN HE DOES THIS IS SEES THAT THIS FELLA HAD FAITH • NOW SEE THIS MAKES A LOTTA SENSE TO ME • IF PAUL WAS TELLING PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS • THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • SO THAT WE COULD HAVE AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD • BY PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS • AND THIS GUY WAS ACTUALLY LISTENING TO PAUL • THEN THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THIS FELLA HAD FAITH TO BE MADE WELL, • SO, PAUL WAITS A FEW DAYS, FORMS A COMMITTEE, • TO LOOK INTO WHAT COULD BE DONE TO HELP THIS FELLA • NO, WAIT THAT’S NOT WHAT HAPPENED • RIGHT AWAY, AS SOON AS HE SAW THIS MAN’S FAITH, PAUL • SAID WITH A LOUD VOICE, “STAND UPRIGHT ON YOUR FEET.” • YOU KNOW PAUL COULD HAVE JUST WHISPERED • THIS COMMAND TO THE FELLA • BUT HE SAID IT WITH A LOUD VOICE SO • THAT EVERYONE AROUND WOULD SEE THIS MIRACLE HAPPEN • AND EVERYONE AROUND SAW AS THIS MAN • LAME FROM BIRTH LEAPED UP AND BEGAN TO WALK. • PAUL HAD NOTICED THIS MAN’S CONDITION • AND BECAUSE HE TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK • HE SAW THIS MAN’S FAITH AND KNEW HE COULD BE HEALED • IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK… THAT WE SEE • THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE AROUND US…. • THE NEWLY-APPOINTED PASTOR • WAS STANDING AT HIS STUDY WINDOW WEEPING • AS HE LOOKED OVER THE INNER CITY’S TRAGIC CONDITIONS, • A DEACON SOUGHT TO CONSOLE HIM: “DON’T WORRY. • AFTER YOU’VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, YOU’LL GET USED TO IT.” • THE MINISTER RESPONDED , “YES, I KNOW. THAT’S WHY I AM CRYING.” • THE IDEA THAT WE MIGHT STOP BEING AFFECTED • BY THE SUFFERING AROUND US SHOULD BRING TEARS TO OUR EYES • HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS GOD HAS COMMANDED • IF WE FAIL TO NOTICE THEIR SUFFERING? • WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO INSTANTLY FIX A PROBLEM • BUT WE CAN ALL DO SOMETHING, SOME LITTLE THING • TO HELP PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE… • CAUSE THE WORLD WILL NOTICE IF WE ACTUALLY • DO WHAT WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO ACTS 14:11–13 WHEN THE CROWDS SAW WHAT PAUL HAD DONE, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICE, SAYING IN THE LYCAONIAN LANGUAGE, “THE GODS HAVE BECOME LIKE MEN AND HAVE COME DOWN TO US.” AND THEY BEGAN CALLING BARNABAS, ZEUS, AND PAUL, HERMES, BECAUSE HE WAS THE CHIEF SPEAKER. THE PRIEST OF ZEUS, WHOSE TEMPLE WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY, BROUGHT OXEN AND GARLANDS TO THE GATES, AND WANTED TO OFFER SACRIFICE WITH THE CROWDS. NOTICE HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE YOU • NOW A MINUTE AGO I SAID • PEOPLE WILL NOTICE IF WE DO WHAT WE SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO • BUT.. SEE… THE THING IS EVEN WHEN THEY NOTICE • THEY MAY TOTALLY GET IT WRONG • THESE PEOPLE HEAR PAUL TELL A MAN WHO IS LAME • TO STAND UP AND THE MAN STANDS • GOD HEALED THE MAN BY FAITH • BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS CROWD HAD NOT BEEN LISTENING • TO THE SAME THINGS THE MAN HAD BEEN LISTENING TO • THE MAN HEARD PAUL SPEAK AND CAME TO FAITH • THE CROWD SAW THE MIRACLE AND ASSUME PAUL WAS GOD • THEY STARTED CALLING BARNABAS ZEUS AND PAUL HERMES • HERMES WAS THE MESSENGER OF ZEUS, HERMES DID ALL THE TALKING • SO THEY ASSUMED PAUL WAS HERMES • NOW, THIS SEEMS REALLY WEIRD TO US • BUT IT MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT A GREEK WRITER NAMED OVID • HAD WRITTEN A STORY ABOUT ZEUS AND HERMES COMING TO • A REGION VERY NEAR LYCAONIA JUST A FEW YEARS BEFORE THIS… • I AM SURE THIS WAS ALL VERY CONFUSING FOR PAUL AND BARNABAS • THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON HERE • FOR ONE THING THESE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING • IN THE LYCAONIAN LANGUAGE A DIALECT OF GREEK • THAT NEITHER PAUL OR BARNABAS UNDERSTOOD • BUT RIGHT ABOUT THEN A GUY SHOWED UP WITH AN OX NOTICE WHAT ACTIONS THEY MIGHT TAKE • SO PAUL JUST HEALED A MAN LAME FROM BIRTH • THE LAME MAN GETS UP AND JUMPS AROUND • AND THE CROWD STARTS TALKING ABOUT • PAUL AND BARNABAS BEING ZEUS AND HERMES • BUT PAUL AND BARNABAS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CROWD IS SAYING • UNTIL THIS GUY SHOWS UP WITH AN OX • THE PRIEST OF ZEUS, WHOSE TEMPLE WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY, BROUGHT OXEN AND GARLANDS TO THE GATES, AND WANTED TO OFFER SACRIFICE WITH THE CROWDS. • PAUL AND BARNABAS MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND LYCAONIAN • BUT THEY KNOW WHAT A PRIEST OF ZEUS LOOKS LIKE • AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN HE SHOWS UP • WITH AN OXEN WHO HAS A GARLANDS OF FLOWERS AROUND HIS NECKS • THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON • BUT THEY HAVE A GENERAL IDEA, • THEY KNOW THESE GUYS ARE ABOUT • TO MAKE A SACRIFICE TO ZEUS • THEY MIGHT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE IS FOR A HEALING • THAT HAD COME FROM GOD…. • IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE SEE YOU CAUSE…. HOW PEOPLE SEE THINGS IS KIND OF TRICKY • IF YOU ASK A MATHEMATICIAN WHAT 2 + 2 IS HE'LL SAY 4 • IF YOU ASK SOMEONE THAT RAISES RABBITS WHAT 2 + 2 IS THEY'LL SAY 36. • IF YOU ASK A LAWYER WHAT 2 + 2 IS HE'LL LEAN OVER REAL CLOSE • AND WISPER “WELL WHAT DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?” • PEOPLE SEE THINGS IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS • WHEN WE SHOW UP AND START TALKING ABOUT GOD • TELLING PEOPLE THE GOSPEL • THERE IS CERTAINLY A GOOD CHANCE • PEOPLE SEE US IN SOME STRANGE WAY • I HAVE HAD PEOPLE THINK I WAS SAYING I WAS BETTER THAN THEM • I HAD ONE FELLA YELL AT ME THAT I HATED GAY PEOPLE • JUST TO BE CLEAR I HAD ONLY ASKED HIM • IF ANYONE HAD EVER EXPLAINED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO HIM • AND HE STARTS YELLING AT ME THAT I HATE GAY PEOPLE • IT IS NOT VERY LIKELY THEY WILL MISTAKE YOU FOR GODS • IT IS HOWEVER VERY PROBABLE THEY WILL GET SOMETHING WRONG • ABOUT WHO YOU ARE… ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING… • ABOUT SIN… ABOUT SALVATION…. • SO, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION… NOTICE HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE YOU • YOU MAY NEED TO CLARIFY THINGS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND ACTS 14:14–17 BUT WHEN THE APOSTLES BARNABAS AND PAUL HEARD OF IT, THEY TORE THEIR ROBES AND RUSHED OUT INTO THE CROWD, CRYING OUT AND SAYING, “MEN, WHY ARE YOU DOING THESE THINGS? WE ARE ALSO MEN OF THE SAME NATURE AS YOU, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD TURN FROM THESE VAIN THINGS TO A LIVING GOD, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. “IN THE GENERATIONS GONE BY HE PERMITTED ALL THE NATIONS TO GO THEIR OWN WAYS; AND YET HE DID NOT LEAVE HIMSELF WITHOUT WITNESS, IN THAT HE DID GOOD AND GAVE YOU RAINS FROM HEAVEN AND FRUITFUL SEASONS, SATISFYING YOUR HEARTS WITH FOOD AND GLADNESS.” NOTICE WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN RELATION TO GOD • THANKFULLY, SOMEONE EXPLAINED TO PAUL AND BARNABAS • EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON • AND THE TEXT SAYS THAT WHEN THEY • HEARD OF IT, THEY TORE THEIR ROBES AND RUSHED OUT INTO THE CROWD, • THIS IDEA OF TEARING THEIR ROBES • MEANS SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC • THIS WAS THE TRADITIONAL RESPONSE OF JEWISH MEN • WHEN THEY HEARD SOMETHING BLASPHEMOUS OR SACRILEGIOUS • AS THEY DID THIS, THEY RAN RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROWD • AND YELLED VERY LOUDLY… • NOW THAT THEY HAVE EVERYONE’S ATTENTION • NOTICE WHAT THEY SAY. • “MEN, WHY ARE YOU DOING THESE THINGS? WE ARE ALSO MEN OF THE SAME NATURE AS YOU, • THESE MEN THOUGHT PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE GODS • SO, RIGHT AWAY THEY CORRECT THAT ERROR • NEXT THEY TURN THEM TO THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FALSE GODS • TO THE GOSPEL OF THE ONE TRUE GOD • AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD TURN FROM THESE VAIN THINGS TO A LIVING GOD, • THIS IS A REALLY POWERFUL STATEMENT • THAT PHRASE THESE VAIN THINGS IS DESCRIBING THEIR GODS • THEY ARE EMPTY, OF NO VALUE & UTTERLY USELESS • THIS IS CONTRASTED WITH THE LIVING GOD • WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM. • THIS IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER STATEMENT ABOUT HOW • THE ONE TRUE GOD OF THE BIBLE CREATED ALL • THE THINGS THESE PEOPLE WORSHIP AS GODS • THEY HAD SKY GODS MOUNTAIN GODS AND OCEAN GODS • BUT THE GOD CREATED ALL THOSE THINGS • PAUL AND BARNABAS GO ON TO EXPLAIN WHO GOD IS • THEY SAY GOD DID NOT LEAVE HIMSELF WITHOUT WITNESS, • THAT MEANS GOD GAVE EVIDENCE FOR WHO HE IS • AND SOME OF THE EVIDENCE FOR WHO GOD IS COMES IN • RAINS FROM HEAVEN AND FRUITFUL SEASONS, SATISFYING YOUR HEARTS WITH FOOD AND GLADNESS.” • GOD SHOWS THAT HE IS A GOD WHO LOVES US • HE LOVES US BY PROVIDING FOR US • PAUL AND BARNABAS START WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE • THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE IN VAIN, USELESS, EMPTY GODS • PAUL AND BARNABAS SHOW THEM HOW THE GOD OF THE GOSPEL • IS A LOVING GOD WHO IS NOT EMPTY AND USELESS • HE CREATED ALL THINGS AND HE CARES FOR ALL THINGS… • SOMETIMES WE GOTTA TALK THEOLOGY WITH PEOPLE • NOW, A LOTTA PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEOLOGY • BUT THE TRUTH IS EVERYONE HAS A THEOLOGY • THEOLOGY JUST MEANS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT GOD C.S. LEWIS ONCE SAID...IF YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THEOLOGY, • THAT WILL NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEAS ABOUT GOD. • IT WILL MEAN THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF WRONG ONES— • AND BOY WAS HE RIGHT • THESE FOLKS HAD SOME REALLY WRONG IDEAS ABOUT GOD • PAUL AND BARNABAS TOOK THE TIME • TO TELL THESE PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • THAT HE IS NOT USELESS AND EMPTY LIKE THE GODS THEY WORSHIPED • THAT IS THE GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS… • SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE THESE THINGS • THEY ARE GRATEFUL… OTHER TIMES, NOT SO MUCH ACTS 14:18–20 EVEN SAYING THESE THINGS, WITH DIFFICULTY THEY RESTRAINED THE CROWDS FROM OFFERING SACRIFICE TO THEM. BUT JEWS CAME FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM, AND HAVING WON OVER THE CROWDS, THEY STONED PAUL AND DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE CITY, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE DEAD. BUT WHILE THE DISCIPLES STOOD AROUND HIM, HE GOT UP AND ENTERED THE CITY. THE NEXT DAY HE WENT AWAY WITH BARNABAS TO DERBE. NOTICE OPPOSITION • THEY TOLD THESE PEOPLE THEY WERE NOT GODS • THEY EXPLAINED WHO GOD IS • AND IT WAS STILL WITH DIFFICULTY THEY RESTRAINED THE CROWDS FROM OFFERING SACRIFICE TO THEM. • YOU MAY.. OR MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED THIS ABOUT PEOPLE • BUT THEY CAN BE PRETTY STUBBORN • EVEN SO PAUL AND BARNABAS DID • GET THEM TO STOP THE SACRIFICES • BUT AS SOON AS THEY CALM THE CROWD DOWN • SOMEONE ELSE FIRES THEM UP AGAIN • JEWS CAME FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM, AND HAVING WON OVER THE CROWDS, THEY STONED PAUL AND DRAGGED HIM OUT OF THE CITY, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE DEAD. • PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD JUST COME FROM ANTIOCH AND ICONIUM • THEY HAD TAUGHT IN THE SYNAGOGUES THERE • AND MANY HAD BELIEVED, BUT SOME HAD OPPOSED THEM • AND NOW, THESE JEWS HAVE FOLLOWED THEM TO LYSTRA • AND THEY TURN THE CROWD AGAINST THEM • NOT JUST A LITTLE AGAINST THEM • BUT AGAINST THEM TO THE POINT THAT THE • CROWD STONES PAUL AND THINKING HE IS DEAD • DRAGS HIM OUTSIDE THE CITY • NO TRIAL, NOT MAGISTRATE, JUST PICK UP SOME BIG STONES • AND SMASH SOME GUY… • NOW, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THAT HARD • FOR THE JEWS TO CONVINCE THIS CROWD TO STONE PAUL • PAUL HAD JUST CALLED THEIR GODS VAIN, USELESS, EMPTY • HE HAD JUST RESTRAINED THEM FROM MAKING A SACRIFICE TO ZEUS • WE DON’T REALLY KNOW WHY PAUL WAS STONED AND BARNABAS WAS NOT • MOST LIKELY IT WAS BECAUSE PAUL DID MOST OF THE TALKING • ALL WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THAT BEING STONED DOES NOT STOP PAUL, HE KEEPS ON PREACHING GOD’S WORD • SOME FOLKS THINK PAUL ACTUALLY DIED HERE • BUT THE TEXT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY SUPPOSED HIM TO BE DEAD • IT IS LIKELY HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS • AND VERY PROBABLE HE WAS BEATEN AND BRUISED • BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON’T MISS SOMETHING HERE • LUKE SAYS THE DISCIPLES STOOD AROUND HIM • THE QUESTION IS WHO ARE THESE DISCIPLES • I THINK THESE ARE PEOPLE IN LYSTRA • THE SAME TOWN THAT JUST STONED PAUL • WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK THIS IS BECAUSE • IN JUST A FEW VERSES IT WILL SAY THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS • RETURN TO LYSTRA TO STRENGTH THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES • SO CLEARLY SOME FOLKS IN THIS TOWN DID TRUST IN CHRIST • AND THEN LUKE SAYS PAUL GOT UP AND ENTERED THE CITY. • IT IS PRETTY AMAZING THAT PAUL GOES BACK INTO THE CITY • I THINK I MIGHT HAVE JUST HEADED TO THE NEXT TOWN RIGHT AWAY • BUT PAUL GOES BACK INTO TOWN • WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE THAT JUST STONED HIM • AND HE STAYS THE NIGHT • AND THEN THE NEXT DAY HE WENT AWAY WITH BARNABAS TO DERBE. • WHEN HE GETS THERE, HE IS GONNA PREACH THE GOSPEL.. • PAUL HAS GOT A SERIOUS CASE OF PERSEVERANCE • HE HAS BEEN KICKED OUTTA TOWNS • FOLLOWED BY FOLKS • STONED ALMOST TO THE POINT OF DEATH • AND HE GETS RIGHT BACK UP • AND STARTS OFF TO THE NEXT TOWN • TO PREACH THE GOSPEL • CHARLES SPURGEON ONCE SAID • BY PERSEVERANCE THE SNAIL REACHED THE ARK. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT A SPRINT • IT IS A MARATHON IT TAKES PERSEVERANCE • AND AS WE RUN THIS LONG RACE… • AS WE PERSEVERE…. • WE WILL NEED TO ADAPT TO THE TERRAIN • WE NEVER CHANGE THE CONTENT OF THE GOSPEL • BUT WE DO ADAPT HOW WE PRESENT IT • WE NEED TO NOTICE PEOPLE IN NEED, UNDERSTAND THEIR CONDITION • WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THEIR SITUATION AND HELP HOWEVER WE CAN • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE ARE WITH GOD • WE NEED TO START WHERE THEY ARE • AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS • THAT HE IS THE ONE AND ONLY GOD • ANYTHING ELSE WE MIGHT WORSHIP IS USELESS AND EMPTY • THAT HE IS THE GOD WHO CREATED AND SUSTAINS ALL THINGS • THAT HE IS A GOD WHO LOVES US AND CARES FOR US AND PROVIDES ALL THINGS • THAT HE IS A GOD WHO WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • BUT WE ALL SIN…. 95