Encouragement and Gratitude

1 THE PROCESS OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY • CAN BE COMPARED TO AN ICEBERG, • WHICH IS ALMOST 90% UNDER WATER. • AS THE SUN SHINES ON THE ICEBERG, • THE EXPOSED PART MELTS, MOVING THE LOWER PART UPWARD. • IN THE SAME WAY, WE ARE USUALLY AWARE • OF ONLY A SMALL PART OF OUR IMMATURITY AND SINFULNESS • ONLY A SMALL PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE • WHICH IS REALLY ALL WE CAN DEAL WITH AT ANY ONE TIME. • HOWEVER, AS THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORK IN OUR LIVES • CHANGES US IN THE AREAS WE KNOW ABOUT, • WE BECOME AWARE OF NEW AREAS NEEDING THE WORK OF GOD. • IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO GROW TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST • TO LIVE LIKE HE LIVED, SEE THE WORLD THE WAY HE SAW IT • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL • TOOLS FOR CHRISTIAN GROWTH IS ENCOURAGEMENT • WHEN PEOPLE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER BOTH • THE ENCOURAGER AND THE ENCOURAGED ARE STRENGTHENED • BOTH CAN WALK CLOSER TO GOD • I NEED TO BE SURE THAT I ENCOURAGE OTHERS • AS THEY GROW AND MATURE IN CHRIST • WE ALL NEED TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE US • IN OUR WALK WITH GOD • MAYBE THERE ARE TIMES YOU NEED SOME ENCOURAGEMENT • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT • THE CONCLUSION TO PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY • TURN TO ACTS 14:21 • PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD BEEN IN LYSTRA • AND THE CROWDS HAD STONED PAUL AND LEFT HIM FOR DEAD • BUT HE GOT UP, WENT BACK INTO THE CITY • AND THE NEXT DAY HE AND BARNABAS HEADED TO DERBE ACTS 14:21–22 AFTER THEY HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY AND HAD MADE MANY DISCIPLES, THEY RETURNED TO LYSTRA AND TO ICONIUM AND TO ANTIOCH, STRENGTHENING THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AND SAYING, “THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS WE MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (We Need To)BE ENCOURAGED BY THOSE WHO BRING GOD’S WORD • YOU KNOW, LUKE DOES NOT REALLY TELL US MUCH • ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN DERBE • HE JUST SAYS THEY PREACHED THE GOSPEL • AND MADE MANY DISCIPLES,,, • EVERY PLACE ELSE THEY HAD BEEN… THEY RAN INTO • ALL KINDA TROUBLE, GOT CHASED OUTTA TOWN • PAUL GOT BIG ROCKS THROWN AT HIM….. • BUT IN DERBE THEY PREACHED AND PEOPLE BELIEVED • AND GREW IN THEIR FAITH AS DISCIPLES… • LUKE MAY NOT HAVE SAID MUCH • BUT WHAT HE SAID IS REALLY IMPORTANT • THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAN HAPPEN • IS FOR PEOPLE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND FOLKS • TO BECOME DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST… • AFTER THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT • PAUL AND BARNABAS HEAD RIGHT BACK TO THE PLACES • THEY HAD RUN INTO ALL THAT TROUBLE • THEY RETURNED TO LYSTRA AND TO ICONIUM AND TO ANTIOCH, • THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING, IN LYSTRA PAUL HAD BEEN STONED • AND LEFT FOR DEAD….. AND YET HE GOES RIGHT BACK… • PAUL’S HOME TOWN, TARSUS, IS NOT TO FAR FROM DERBE • THEY COULD HAVE JUST GONE STRAIGHT TO TARSUS • AND THEN SAILED BACK RIGHT BACK TO ANTIOCH WHERE THEY STARTED • IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER… FASTER… SAFER.. • BUT THEY WENT BACK TO SEE THOSE WHO HAD TRUSTED CHRIST • ….FOR JUST A MOMENT I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT • HOW THIS MUST HAVE FELT FOR THOSE PEOPLE • IN LYSTRA AND ICONIUM AND THE OTHER PLACES • PAUL AND BARNABAS WENT BACK TO. • IMAGINE BEING A BRAND-NEW CHRISTIAN • LIVING IN A TOWN THAT HAD CHASED OFF • OR STONED AND LEFT FOR DEAD • MEN WHO BROUGHT THE GOSPEL… • YOUR ALL ALONE, NO TEACHER, NO PASTOR • AND THESE MEN RISK THEIR LIVES • TO COME BACK AND VISIT YOU • NOT JUST TO DROP BY AND SAY HI • BUT RISK THEIR LIVES TO COME BACK • AND HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR FAITH BE GRATEFUL FOR ENCOURAGEMENT • LUKE TELLS US WHAT PAUL AND BARNABAS DID • WHEN THEY WENT BACK TO THESE TOWNS • THEY, STRENGTHENING THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, • SO, WE’RE LIVING IN A TOWN THAT HAD CHASED OFF • THE MEN WHO HAD BROUGHT THE GOSPEL TO US • AND THESE MEN AT GREAT RISK COME BACK TO TOWN • AND THEY DID THIS TO STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE US • WOW WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL…. • WHEN IT SAYS PAUL & BARNABAS STRENGTHEN THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES • IT MEANS SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC • THE WORD TRANSLATED SOUL IS NOT TALKING ABOUT • THE SPIRITUAL SOUL, THIS WORD MEANS THE MIND AND THE WILL • THE INNER SELF THE PART THAT HAS THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS • AND PAUL AND BARNABAS MADE THIS STRONGER, MORE FIRM • MORE UNCHANGING, MORE RESOLUTE • THIS STRENGTHENING ENCOURAGED THEM TO CONTINUE IN THEIR FAITH • TO STAND STRONG, TO NOT WAIVER IN THEIR BELIEF. • THIS IDEA OF STANDING STRONG, BEING FIRM IN THE FAITH • IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE • PAUL ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS TO STAND FIRM IN MANY OF HIS LETTERS 1 CORINTHIANS 16:13 BE ON THE ALERT, STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH, ACT LIKE MEN, BE STRONG. • AND DID YOU NOTICE WHAT THEY SAID TO ENCOURAGE • AND STRENGTHEN THESE DISCIPLES? • “THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS WE MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” • NOW THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE EARN • HEAVEN BY GOING THROUGH TRIALS • IT MEANS THAT WHEN WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • AND ARE CERTAINLY HEADED TO HEAVEN • THE LIFE WE LIVE WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE TRIBULATIONS • WE MIGHT THINK WE ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE • WHEN WE TELL THEM LIFE IS GONNA BE GREAT.. • EVERYTHING IS GONNA WORK OUT… • YOU WILL GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT OUTTA LIFE • BUT THAT IS NOT REAL ENCOURAGEMENT • THAT IS DELUSION, THAT’S A LIE… • THE MOST ENCOURAGING THING YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE • IS THAT THEY WILL GET THROUGH THE TRIALS • NOT THAT THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ANY TWO FROGS FELL INTO A TUB OF CREAM. • ONE LOOKED AT THE HIGH SIDES OF THE TUB • WHICH WERE TOO DIFFICULT TO CRAWL OVER • AND SAID, “IT IS HOPELESS.” • SO HE RESIGNED HIMSELF TO DEATH, • AND SANK TO THE BOTTOM. • THE OTHER ONE DETERMINED TO KEEP SWIMMING AS LONG AS HE COULD. • “SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN,” HE SAID. • HE KEPT KICKING AND CHURNING, • AND FINALLY, HE FOUND HIMSELF ON A SOLID PLATFORM OF BUTTER • AND JUMPED TO SAFETY. • WHEN WE ARE ENCOURAGED WE CAN STAND FIRM • AND NOT FEEL THINGS ARE HOPELESS • STANDING FIRM IN OUR FAITH MEANS WE • KEEP KICKING AND KEEP CHURNING… • WE REALLY NEED TO NOTICE • WHEN SOMEONE IS ENCOURAGING US • WHEN THEY ARE STRENGTHENING OUR SOUL • TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH • WE ALL NEED PEOPLE TO DO THIS FOR US ACTS 14:23 WHEN THEY HAD APPOINTED ELDERS FOR THEM IN EVERY CHURCH, HAVING PRAYED WITH FASTING, THEY COMMENDED THEM TO THE LORD IN WHOM THEY HAD BELIEVED. BE GRATEFUL FOR LEADERS • NOW ITS KINDA EASY TO MISS SOMETHING HERE • I MISSED IT THE FIRST 20 TIMES I READ IT • BUT THIS APPOINTING OF THE ELDERS IS ACTUALLY • PART OF THE STRENGTHENING AND ENCOURAGING • EVERY GROUP OF CHRISTIANS NEEDS LEADERSHIP • SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER AND PROTECT THEM • SOMEONE TO LEAD, GUIDE AND TEACH THEM • SOMEONE TO HELP THEM STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH.. • PAUL AND BARNABAS WENT BACK • AND APPOINTED ELDERS FOR EVERY CHURCH • THIS WORD CHURCH IS NOT TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING • THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS ASSEMBLY OR CONGREGATION • SO EVERY GROUP OF CHRISTIANS THAT MET TOGETHER • HAD A LEADER APPOINTED FOR THEM • WHEN LUKE SAYS THESE LEADERS WERE APPOINTED • IT COULD MEAN A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS • IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BARNABAS AND PAUL APPOINTED THESE LEADERS • BUT THE WORD TRANSLATED APPOINTED • ORIGINALLY MEANT TO VOTE BY RAISING YOUR HAND • BY LUKE’S DAY IT HAD COME TO MEAN DESIGNATE OR EVEN ELECT • LUKE IS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT WHO DID THE APPOINTING • HE JUST SAYS “THEY” APPOINTED THEM • THIS COULD MEAN BARNABAS AND PAUL OR IT COULD • MEAN THE CONGREGATIONS IN EACH CHURCH • EITHER WAY IS ACCEPTABLE, THERE ARE CHURCHES TODAY • THAT USE BOTH METHODS… • BUT PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE NOT DONE ENCOURAGING • NOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR GOD • LUKE SAYS; HAVING PRAYED WITH FASTING, THEY COMMENDED THEM TO THE LORD IN WHOM THEY HAD BELIEVED. • SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY THIS IS TALKING • ABOUT COMMENDING THE ELDERS TO THE LORD • BUT THE PHRASE TO THE LORD IN WHOM THEY HAD BELIEVED. • MAKES IT CLEAR THIS THE ONES BEING COMMENDED ARE • THE DISCIPLES WHO HAD RECENTLY COME TO FAITH…. • THIS IS STILL TALKING ABOUT THE STRENGTHENING AND ENCOURAGING • THE DISCIPLES THEY HAD MADE IN EACH OF THESE CITIES… • PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD ENCOURAGED THEM TO • CONTINUE IN THE FAITH BY TELLING THEM • WE GO THROUGH TRIALS IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE • BY APPOINTING LEADERS TO HELP THEM GROW IN CHRIST • AND FINALLY, THEY ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN THEM • BY COMMENDING THEM TO THE LORD • THIS COMMENDING WAS DONE WITH PRAYER AND FASTING • BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COMMEND SOMEONE TO THE LORD • TO COMMEND SOMEONE OR SOMETHING • MEANS TO ENTRUST IT TO THE CARE OF SOMEONE • TO COMMIT IT TO BE CARED FOR BY SOMEONE • SO COMMENDING SOMEONE TO THE LORD • MEANS ENTRUSTING THEM TO THE CARE OF GOD • WHAT AN AMAZING WAY TO STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE SOMEONE… • WE ARE SO BLESSED WHEN SOMEONE ENCOURAGES US • WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR ENCOURAGEMENT • WE ALSO NEED TO BE READY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS ACTS 14:24–28 THEY PASSED THROUGH PISIDIA AND CAME INTO PAMPHYLIA. WHEN THEY HAD SPOKEN THE WORD IN PERGA, THEY WENT DOWN TO ATTALIA. FROM THERE THEY SAILED TO ANTIOCH, FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN COMMENDED TO THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED. WHEN THEY HAD ARRIVED AND GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER, THEY BEGAN TO REPORT ALL THINGS THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM AND HOW HE HAD OPENED A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES. AND THEY SPENT A LONG TIME WITH THE DISCIPLES. BE ENCOURAGED BY MISSIONARIES • LUKE IS TELLING US ABOUT PAUL AND BARNABAS RETURNING • TO WHERE THEY STARTED THIS TRIP FROM • IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THEY SPENT ABOUT 18 MONTHS ON THIS TRIP • THEY TRAVELED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1200 MILES • 700 MILES BY LAND AND 500 BY SEA • THIS WAS NOT A SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIP • THEY TOOK THEIR TIME WITH PEOPLE AS THEY CAME • AND THEY TOOK TIME WITH PEOPLE AS THEY RETURNED • IVAN CAN TELL YOU…. BETTY JOHN CAN TELL YOU • JUST HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY IT TAKES TO GO ON A MISSION TRIP • I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW ROUGH IT WAS • FOR PAUL AND BARNABAS, AND THEY DID NOT • STOP PREACHING THE GOSPEL ON THE RETURN TRIP • LUKE SAY; WHEN THEY HAD SPOKEN THE WORD IN PERGA, THEY WENT DOWN TO ATTALIA. • THEY HAD BEEN THROUGH PERGA ON THE WAY OUT • BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK THROUGH • THEY PREACHED THE WORD AGAIN • AND THEN FINALLY THEY • THEY SAILED TO ANTIOCH, FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN COMMENDED TO THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED. • THEY CAME RIGHT BACK TO WHERE THEY STARTED • NOTICE HOW LUKE POINTS OUT • THAT THE PEOPLE AT ANTIOCH HAD COMMENDED OR ENTRUSTED • PAUL AND BARNABAS TO THE GRACE OF GOD • IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE ACCOMPLISH ANY GOOD WORK JOHN 15:5 “I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES; HE WHO ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE BEARS MUCH FRUIT, FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. • THIS WAS TRUE OF PAUL AND BARNABAS • AND THIS IS TRUE OF EACH AND EVERY CHRISTIAN • WHEN MISSIONARIES GO FORTH TO PREACH THE GOSPEL • FOR A SHORT-TERM MISSION…. A LONG-TERM MISSION… • A LIFETIME MISSION… THEY MUST BE COMMENDED • TO THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE WORK THEY WILL ACCOMPLISH • AS A CHURCH THIS SENDING OUT OF MISSIONARIES IS SOMETHING • WE CAN PARTICIPATE IN, WE DO IT WHEN WE SUPPORT • MISSIONS THROUGH GIVING.. WE DO IT WHEN WE • SUPPORT LOCAL FOLKS THAT GO OUT ON MISSION TRIPS • WE DO WHEN WE WELCOME THEM HOME AFTER THEIR MISSION ENCOURAGE OTHERS • I LOVE HOW LUKE TELLS US WHAT HAPPENS • WHEN PAUL AND BARNABAS RETURN FROM THEIR MISSION TRIP • WHEN THEY HAD ARRIVED AND GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER, • FIRST THING THEY DO IS GATHER THE CHURCH TOGETHER • MAYBE THEY HAD A POTLUCK SUPPER • AND THEN PAUL AND BARNABAS • BEGAN TO REPORT ALL THINGS THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM • THIS IS AWESOME, THEY TOLD THESE PEOPLE ABOUT • THE GOSPEL BEING PRESENTED, FOLKS COMING TO FAITH IN CHRIST • GETTING CHASED OUTTA TOWN, STONED AND LEFT FOR DEAD • AND HOW GOD WAS THERE IN ALL OF IT • GOD HAD DONE THE SALVATIONS • GOD HAD PRESERVED THEM IN TRIALS • GOD GETS THE GLORY AND THE HONOR • THEY EVEN SAID GOD HAD OPENED A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES. • IT IS AMAZING HOW PAUL AND BARNABAS TOOK THE TIME • TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THEIR TRIP • BUT FOR JUST A SECOND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT • THE FOLKS THAT CAME AND LISTENED • THEY TOOK THE TIME TO COME AND HEAR ABOUT THE MISSION TRIP. • ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING THINGS • WE CAN DO FOR FOLKS WHO GO ON MISSION TRIPS • IS TO COME AND LISTEN AS THEY TELL US • HOW GOD WORKED THROUGH THEM IN THE MISSION FIELD • THESE PEOPLE PUT OUT THE EFFORT AND THE TIME • AND GO TO DISTANT LANDS IN SOME DIFFICULT • AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITIONS • THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS SHOW UP • WHEN THEY OFFER TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR TRIP • WE NEED TO BE THERE TO ENCOURAGE THEM • TO HEAR HOW GOD HAS WORKED WHICH ENCOURAGES US • WE NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM • AS THEY GO AND DO GOD’S WORK • TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD BE ENCOURAGED BY TIME TOGETHER • THE FINAL THING LUKE TELLS US IN THIS ACCOUNT • IS THAT PAUL AND BARNABAS SPENT A LONG TIME WITH THE DISCIPLES. • THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THEY HUNG OUT TOGETHER • THEY LIVED LIFE TOGETHER • THEY DID STUFF… NOT JUST CHURCH… LIFE • THIS TERM DISCIPLES MEANS THE REGULAR CHURCH FOLKS • NOT THE LEADERSHIP… JUST THE REGULAR FOLKS • THEY GOT TO KNOW THEM, THEY RECHARGED THEIR BATTERIES • THE BEST GUESS ON HOW LONG A TIME PAUL & BARNABAS SPENT HERE…. IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. • MISSIONARY WORK IS ROUGH STUFF • THE CONDITIONS CAN BE HARSH • THE TRAVEL CAN BE EXHAUSTING • THE WORK CAN WEAR YOU DOWN • WE NEED TO BE VERY GRATEFUL • FOR THE FOLKS THAT GO AND DO THIS WORK • WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM WHEN THEY GO OUT • AND ENCOURAGE THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK • WE NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM • HELP THEM TO RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES • SO THEY CAN GO BACK OUT AND DO IT AGAIN • ANYONE OF US CAN GO ON A MISSION TRIP • BUT IT TAKES A CERTAIN KIND OF PERSON TO BE A MISSIONARY GEORGE STOTT, A ONE-LEGGED SCHOOL TEACHER FROM SCOTLAND • VOLUNTEERED FOR MISSIONARY SERVICE IN CHINA. • WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHY HE WITH ONLY ONE LEG THOUGHT OF GOING TO CHINA, • HE SAID, “I DO NOT SEE THOSE WITH TWO LEGS GOING, SO THOUGHT I MUST.” • THUS BEGAN HIS MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS OF MISSIONARY WORK IN CHINA. • THESE FOLKS ARE DOING GOD’S WORK • WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THEY DO • WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THEM IF THE PROCESS OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY • CAN BE COMPARED TO AN ICEBERG • THEN ONE OF THE MAJOR INDICATORS • OF HOW MUCH OF THE ICE IS MELTING IS GRATITUDE • WHEN WE SEE A CHRISTIAN WHO EXPRESSES • GRATITUDE FOR ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE • WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMEONE WHO HAS • ALLOWED GOD’S LIGHT TO SHINE ON THEM • AND MELT AWAY THEIR PRIDE AND ARROGANCE • HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND • JUST HOW MUCH MORE THEY NEED TO MATURE • WE NEED TO SHOW THIS GRATITUDE FOR THOSE • WHO BRING GOD’S WORD • THE PREACHERS AND TEACHERS WHO TAKE THE TIME • AND MAKE THE EFFORT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE • WE NEED TO SHOW THIS GRATITUDE • FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED • THAT HAS STRENGTHENED OUR SOULS TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH • TOUGHENED UP OUR MINDS AND OUR WILLS TO STAND FIRM • TO NEVER WAVIER IN OUR TRUST OF JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVOIR • WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LED • THE CHURCHES WE HAVE GATHERED IN • LEADERS WHO HAVE PROTECTED AND WATCHED OVER US • LEADERS WHO HAVE GUIDED AND TAUGHT US • WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL FOR MISSIONARIES’ • WHO HAVE GONE OUT TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH • TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE NATIONS • WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL WHEN THEY COME BACK • FROM MISSION TRIPS AND COME AND TELL US • ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE THROUGH THEM • WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM • WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED BY TIME TOGETHER • TIME SPENT GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER • TIME SPENT LIVING LIFE AS BROTHERS AND IN CHRIST • AND MOST OF ALL WE NEED TO BE GRATEFUL • THAT WE HAVE A GOD WHO LOVES US • AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • EVEN IF WE ALL SIN… • AND EVEN THOUGH WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT • WE KNOW THAT HE DID DO SOMETHING… 95