Jump Start # 3487

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

till new in this year, I have a routine that closes the books on the previous year. I take all the classes, sermons and other studies from my computer and move them to external hard drives. This frees up space for me on the laptop. I have a folder for sermons, PowerPoints and notecards. I clean those folders out for the new year. And, in doing this, I saw that I had preached 42 new sermons last year. Now, I preached many more sermons than that, but when on the road in meetings and lectureships I tend to bring something that I have already done and feel comfortable with.

Forty-two new sermons last year. And, as I thought about that, most of those sermons will never be preached again. New themes, new needs, new concerns, will lead me to writing a batch of new sermons for this year.

I wondered how many hours were put into those 42 new sermons from last year? I wonder how many books and articles I researched to develop those sermons? More than that, I wondered if any of those 42 sermons did any good? Did someone get closer to the Lord because of one of those 42 sermons? Was faith made stronger? Were questions answered? Was fear and doubt chased away? Will anyone remember any of these 42 sermons? Will I remember any of them?

On my shelves I have many, many books of printed sermons from long ago that belonged to some preachers of earlier generations. I collected them mostly for historical reasons. I wonder how many of those old sermons were ever preached again? Now, add the thought that I have been doing this for more than forty years and many of those years I preached twice on Sunday. The number of sermons reach into the thousands.

All of this takes us to our passage today. Paul preached. He tells us that he preached because he was trying to persuade people. It wasn’t because it’s Sunday and we have to have a sermon. His sermons, as all sermons ought to, had a purpose, a direction and an intention. He was trying to lead people to Jesus.

Here are some thoughts:

First, there isn’t going to be one sermon that does everything for you. Sermons are not Heaven’s vitamins that will give you 100% of all that you need. Sermons are for the moment. Much like the dinners that my wife makes. I have no way of knowing how many she made last year. She’s a great cook, but to be honest I don’t remember many of them. There are a few that stand out, but all of them helped me for the moment. None of the meals were enough that I didn’t have to ever eat again after that.

Second, when we preachers try to make every sermon the best that we can, we are truly being the diligent student of God’s word that we need to be. After forty years, I could put together some simple thoughts in ten minutes. But I would know that. God would know that. And, if God has given His best, then I need to do my best. I need to study hard. I need to make everything the best that I can.

How easy it is to cut corners, change titles and just recycle old sermons over and over, convincing ourself by believing, ‘No one will notice or even care in five years.’ But is that what you want others to do? Is this bringng excellence to the table?

Third, the cumulative effort of teaching solid, powerful, and needful sermons builds a strong congregation. One sermon alone may not do much, but it’s just one piece of a larger picture that shows integrity of God’s word, and the Scriptural basis of doing things. The culture or DNA of a congregation can be changed this way. In time, people who hear you week after week, see the seriousness that you place upon God’s word. That impacts how they come to look at the Bible and how they approach problems and issues in their own lives.

Forty-two sermons…it’s just what I was supposed to do.

Roger

Jump Start # 2309

 

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

 

Our verse today reveals motives. It is cased in a series of verses that begin with the word “therefore.” In this chapter alone, six verses begin with the word “therefore.” That word, therefore, connects as well as determines. Because of this, that happened. So, in our verse, knowing the fear of the Lord (because of that), we persuade men (this happened).

 

Here we find the means of conversion, persuading men. The word “persuade” can have a bad taste in our mouths. We tend to think of being talked into something that we don’t want to do. We drop by a car dealership just to look. We aren’t buying, just looking. But the next thing you know, we’ve test driven a car and now we are sitting in a cubicle with a stack of papers in front of us to sign. We’ve been talked into or persuaded. That can often lead to buyer’s remorse. We go home and start thinking about everything and realize it was the smooth talking salesman and his pressure that got to us. Your granddaughter wants you to buy some girl scout cookies. Those cute little eyes are enough and you buy a whole case. Your wife asks, “what are you going to do with all those cookies?” And, your response, “I couldn’t resist.” Persuaded.

 

Paul didn’t strong arm anyone, smooth talk anyone or promise the sky to get someone to follow Jesus. The persuasion came from God’s word. Nothing else is needed and nothing else is appropriate. One doesn’t become a Christian to meet nice people at church. One doesn’t become a Christian so he can find a good girl to date and marry. One doesn’t become a Christian because it looks good on his resume or if he runs for office. None of that! When the Ethiopian in Acts 8 became a Christian, there was no talk about the people or a church. It was all about Jesus. The persuasion comes from God’s word.

When God’s word is preached properly, it ought to bring a godly response. The power is in the word and not the preacher. The changing is within the heart and not because of the benefits that it may do to someone.

 

Now, why would someone be persuaded? They are not offered cash. They are not given tickets to a ballgame. They don’t get a free meal. And becoming a Christian comes with responsibilities and obligations. So, why? Why be a Christian?

 

First, from the Scriptures God wants you to be with Him. That’s how the Bible story begins. It wasn’t just naked Adam and Eve. It was Adam, Eve and God. They were together. There was no separations between them. Transparency in it’s truest form. God walked in the garden with them. They had a close relationship. That’s what God wants with you. It’s not merely changing your outlook and your thinking. It’s not making you upbeat and optimistic. It’s not shaping you to be a killer salesperson. None of that. God wants you. God wants to be with you.

 

Second, we have sinned and that separated us from God. That is the next page in the Bible story. Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent rather than believe God. They disobeyed God. They sinned. God removed them from the garden. The relationship was broken. Things were not the same. They lost that connection with God. Our sin does the same. We choose self over God. We choose friends over God. We choose Satan’s trinkets over God. And, we sin. We shatter the trust and the love that once was there. Sin separates us from God. We are lost. We are without hope. We are Hell bound.

 

Third, the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sins and restore that relationship back with God. Jesus came and was the perfect sacrifice for us. He did what we could never do. His blood cleanses us. But we must believe. We must do whatever He says. We are not in the position to make demands, call the shots or barter with God. There is no deal to be made. There is no negotiating. Jesus died for us. Our faith and our turning our hearts over to Him and our following Him builds that bridge back to God. Salvation is possible. Forgiveness, hope and freedom are renewed. We commit to a new and better life. Now, it’s God’s way and not our way. Now, Jesus is the Lord of our lives. That faith leads to baptism, the doorway that connects us to the cleansing blood of Jesus. With sins forgiven, we again have a platform to be close to God.

 

Fourth, this message, this hope, this grace and this gospel is what and why Paul persuaded people. Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. Knowing God we do these things. The purpose is not to put notches in Paul’s belt. It’s not to build churches. It’s to bring people to Christ.

 

A person reading the Bible can be changed. There is a power within the Bible that works on our hearts. Goodness looks really good and bad looks really bad. We see why God says what He says. He’s is trying to keep us near Him. He is trying to keep us righteous. God warns. We need that. We tend to get too close to the edge and likely will fall over. God explains. God teaches. God commands. He does these things because He wants us to be close to Him.

 

Can a person, with just the Bible, and nothing else, become a Christian? Absolutely. You don’t need anything else. You don’t need commentaries. You don’t need these Jump Starts. You don’t need the opinions of others. Paul traveled the first century world, not with a suit case full of tracts and class books, but only the N.T. message. That message is what persuaded his world. That same message is what will persuade our world. That same message will persuade us if we allow it.

 

There is a song that we sing, “I have decided to follow Jesus…” Why would one decide to do that? Because God is right. Because I am not. Because I want to be right. Because God loves me and Jesus is the way.

 

Persuaded. Not talked into something that I didn’t want to do. Not blindly following some charismatic leader. But based upon facts, faith and my heart, I made that decision. It is my decision.

 

I have decided to follow Jesus…

 

Roger

 

Jump Start # 1767

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

  A discussion came up recently about “What makes a good sermon?” Wow, that’s a great topic. Every preacher ought to be concerned with that. Every preacher wants to preach GREAT sermons. Most fear the opposite. If a sermon isn’t great, then what is it? A dud? Boring? Ineffective? A sleeper?

 

What is interesting, is that everyone has in their own mind what they think makes a great sermon. It’s like cooking stew. Every cook has their own take on just what to add and how long to cook it and just what is good. I’ve tasted stew that had sugar in it—a lot of sugar. Sweet. I’ve had some that had some hot sauce in it. It was like eating fire. The cooks that made those stews, loved it. Not me. Not my taste.

 

So, we talk about what makes a great sermon. Years ago I read a definition that said a great sermon begins with a lightning bolt and then goes up from there. Great. What does that mean?

 

Some will tell you that a great sermon can’t be too  long. It’s got to have a great beginning and a great end and the two ends can’t be far from each other. Shorter the better. For some, that’s it.

 

Some will tell you that a great sermon will run through the emotions. You may laugh. You may cry. You may be challenged. You may be touched. I have a sermon like that. It’s one of the few that I actually like. It’s on death. I used to preach it on Friday nights when on the road. Friday night and death—what a combination. It had a few stories. It had some bullet teaching points. It had a joke or two. It had a long look at what happens and where we go. And it ended with Heaven. It was a journey.

 

Some will tell you that a good sermon teaches you the text. Like sitting in a college class, you learn and learn and learn. Words are dissected. Sentences are explained. Information given.

 

Some like sermons with lots of illustrations, jelly as I refer to it. Toast is good, but it’s better with some jelly on it. How much jelly? Too much and all you taste is jelly and not the toast.

 

Some think a good sermon is all Bible and nothing but the Bible. No stories. No laughter. No illustrations. Just plain ole fashioned Bible. Many grew up on that kind of preaching and it work well for them and that’s what they insist makes a great sermon.

 

Some think a great sermon is marching through a text, verse by verse. For these folks, topical sermons are shallow, weak and a not good.

 

Some measure the greatest of a sermon by the outcome. Did anyone respond to the sermon? Did it change anyone? A sermon, for these folks is only good if good comes out of it.

 

Are you starting to see something here? Do you see where I am going? Just about everyone has their own definition about what makes a great sermon and rarely are those opinions the same. So, in the same congregation sits a guy and he wants a lesson that is upbeat, well illustrated and something he can remember. Sitting behind him is a guy who wants no illustrations and just straight text. Beside him, sits the person who is wanting a lecture. Information. Information. And more information. Sitting beside that person is someone who wants a short sermon. He sits besides the person who is looking around at the end to see if anyone is responding. Was it a good sermon?

 

The poor preacher tries every week to figure out what he is going to do. Standing at the door, as people leave, one will tell the preacher, “That was a great sermon.” The next guy says, “You preach too long.” The next person, “I loved your illustration. I will always remember that.” The next person says, “keep the stories out.”

 

I have preached sermons in which I thought, I will never preach that sermon again. It was a bomb. Then comes a person and they declare, “That was one of the best sermons I have ever heard in my life.” No way. Are you kidding? Somehow it touched them.

 

The reason why there are so many diverse definitions to what makes a great sermon is because of our passage today. Sermons are more than lectures. They are more than just giving facts and teaching things. Sermons are intended to persuade people. The point of a sermon is to move us. Move us closer to the Lord. Move us into action. Sermons are to change our thinking. Sermons are to challenge what we think. Sermons are not a rehearsal of creeds, but the teaching of the word of God. Persuading is what sermons are about.

 

So, then, a better question to ask, is, “What persuades you?” “What moves you?” “What motivates you?” “What makes you change?” The answer is different for each of us. Facts are needed because that is the foundation and the substance of faith. We preach Christ crucified. That’s the platform upon which our faith stands. All the parables of Jesus pointed to Biblical principles. The parables made it easier to see those principles. But facts alone won’t move most of us. We need more. We need to see reasons why. We need to understand consequences if we don’t. We need the dust blown out of our ears so we understand the need for Christ. Preaching is more than just reading verses.

 

We are not all the same nor are we all at the same place in our journey. For some, a simple reminder is all that they need. They know, they just forgot. Others don’t know. They have to be taught. They have to see it. They need explanation, reason and purpose. The faith of some is strong. The faith of another is weak.

 

What persuades you? Pressure? Fear? Guilt? Seeing all the dots connected? Understanding the big picture? Going through things slowly and step by step? Looking at the little picture? Explaining things with modern applications? Spelling things out so plainly that you can’t miss it?

 

It’s troubling when someone tells a preacher that only one way works. No stories. No illustrations. No levity. Just facts, facts, facts. Well, that might work well for one person. But that alone may not persuade another. There isn’t one standard format for all sermons. Some preachers use just a few verses and others use a lot of verses. Which is better? Some stay in one text and others bounce around throughout the Bible. Which is better? The gifted preacher will use his talents, wisdom, and knowledge of people to shape a sermon that fits his personality. I use a lot of illustrations. I use humor. I use short bullet points. Those that know me would say, “That’s Roger.” That’s the way I am in and out of the pulpit.

 

We all need Jesus, but we are wired differently. We have different backgrounds and different needs. What works for you may not work for me. I have listened to some sermons and heard people say that it was an amazing sermon, one of the best. What I heard, didn’t do much for me.

 

Persuading people to follow Christ is the goal of sermons. It’s more than giving information. That’s the difference between a speech, a college lecture and a sermon. A sermon is intended to convince you and move you to obedience in Christ.  The preachers of long ago would scare their audiences and shout at them.  That wouldn’t work well with our times today. People don’t like to be screamed at. Preachers today don’t pound the pulpit much anymore. I heard of a guy who was so passionate in his preaching that he put his fist through a chalkboard. I expect folks remembered the hole in the chalkboard more than they could tell you what the sermon was about.

 

So there is no one formula for a great sermon. The is not a certain number of verses that make it right. Below that number is too few and above that number is too many. There is no “rule” about illustrations, levity or even length. The preacher must understand that the power of conviction is in the word of God and not in him. It’s not his ways that are convicting, but the message of God. The preacher must remember that he is not a standup comedian, nor in a dramatic role in a play, but is a preacher of God’s word. Long ago, Indiana preacher, Knowles Shaw, was known as the “singing evangelist.” He was gifted as a singer. He wrote many hymns. He was known right in the middle of a sermon to break into a song. He didn’t lead the congregation in that song, he sang a solo. Folks gathered far and near to hear him sing. No one knew just when or what song, but before the night was over, he’d give a free concert. On this side of history, it seems that he was giving too much attention to himself and not the Cross. The expression, “Hide yourself behind the cross,” simply means, at the end of the day, we need to see Jesus and not you, Mr. Preacher. You are not in the spotlight. This is why we do not applaud sermons. It’s not about the preacher. This is not a performance on stage. His voice is simply persuading us to follow Christ. The sermon is all about Christ. First, foremost and the end, it is Jesus. Don’t forget that, Mr. Preacher.

 

Be careful with younger preachers. They are tender and learning. A thoughtless loudmouth going out the door, can crush the heart of a young preacher all because he told a joke and the person doesn’t like jokes in a sermon. Be careful that we don’t make our definition of a great sermon the only way a sermon can be preached. Be thankful that the person is  pouring his heart into trying to teach God’s word. At the door is generally the worst time for a critical review. Let a day pass. Call the preacher for lunch. Talk kindly with him. Express your concerns. Don’t destroy him. Help him. Maybe he needs to pull back on illustrations. Maybe he chose the wrong way to say something. Be his friend, not his enemy. Polish him. Improve him. But be careful that your definition of a great sermon doesn’t become the only definition of a great sermon.

 

Persuading people—that’s what it is all about. This preaching stuff is a lot harder than some realize, especially when you stand before hundreds of people and everyone has their own definition of what makes a great sermon. And there is the preacher, and he has his own definition as well.

 

In every sermon there are five factors:

1. There is the sermon that the preacher wants to preach

2. There is the sermon that the preacher studied to preach

3. There is the sermon that the preacher actually preached

4. There is the sermon that the audience heard preach

5. There is the sermon that the audience wish he had preached

And on a good day, all five are the same.

 

Persuade people…

 

Roger

 

Jump Start # 1494

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

  This week I have been writing about preaching. We’ve talked about preachers and money. We talked about types of preaching. Today, we look at the focus of preaching. I had lunch yesterday with a preacher in my area. He’s talented, strong and every minute I spend with him is worthwhile for me. We always share ideas, ask each other questions and are just a real help to each other. Our conversation yesterday turned to how we write sermons, what’s the process and how long does it take. Sermons do not just magically pop into our heads in a completed form. There is a journey taken with every sermon. There is a process. The steps include research, writing and allowing time to think over the thoughts. It was helpful for me to learn what another preacher does. A while back someone told me with my years of experience, that I ought to be able to crank out a sermon in about twenty minutes. I was stunned. It takes me days. Some are easier than others.

 

Our verse today reveals one of the purposes of sermons. The apostle said, “we persuade men.” That’s it. That’s the point. That’s what every sermon is driving at. Persuasion involves convincing, showing and giving proof. It’s getting someone to do something because they want to, not because they were told to. Parents can tell their child to go to bed at night. The child may not want to. He goes but it’s not his wish nor his will. In the military, soldiers are told what to do. They may not want to do that, but they follow orders. Even at work, there are situations, policies and rules that the employees follow. Under their breath, they may admit that those rules are dumb. They abide by those policies because they want to keep their jobs. What we do in preaching is different. We are not compelling people to do things against their will. We are trying to change their wills so they will want to align them selves with the Lord.

 

The work of sermons is persuading. Now, even in that, there are good ways and bad ways of accomplishing that. You may have been pressured to buy something by someone who talked you into it. You really didn’t plan nor want to buy what you did. You may even had buyers remorse afterwards. You may have regretted the purchase.  The expression, “strong arm” tactics describes the person who pressures someone to buy something that they don’t want to buy. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the one who was pressured. Some hate shopping for cars for this very reason. Even the kids at church can come with their fund raiser forms and pressure you into buying something that you really do not want. You order something to be nice or because you don’t want to look bad. Had that item been in a store, you most likely would have walked right on by. But you were persuaded.

 

Others can be persuaded by peer pressure. Most are too familiar with the bad side of this. Pressured to take a drink. Pressured by a boy friend to have sex. Pressured to go to a party that you don’t want to. These things are often done against our wishes, but we didn’t want to be the odd person out. Pressured. Forced.

 

Still there is a persuasion that comes from dishonesty. A lie is told to sell a product. The truth is not completely revealed and someone believes the lie. The expression, “bait and switch” is used to often con a person. They think they are getting one thing, but it is switched and they have been sold a lie.

 

Preachers persuade. Not by pressure. Not by lies. Not by strong arm tactics. Not by demands. No, the persuasion of preachers comes through the Scriptures and is based upon truth. This is why preachers are so careful and meticulous about the details and facts that support what they are saying. They want the audience to see that this is what the Scriptures are saying. They want the audience to see that this is what is right. Sermons will detail the goodness and blessings of following God’s will. Sermons will reveal the consequences of not obeying the Lord. But in the end, the purpose of a sermon is to turn one’s mind and will. Preachers are not interested in people compiling with what was said solely because the preacher said it. The preacher doesn’t want a following. He’s not trying to build his own movement. He is interested in people following Christ. He wants people to be convinced by the Scriptures. He wants people to want to change, not feel that they had to change. He wants willing hearts that will drop their nets and follow the Lord.

 

The preacher views himself as only a instrument that connects the truth to the hearts of the people. The farmer uses a shovel to dig a hole to plant a tree. It’s the farmer that is doing the work. It’s the farmer that is getting the benefits. The shovel was just a means to get the hole dug. The preacher is that shovel. It’s God who is glorified, not the preacher.

 

We persuade men. That’s right, we do. We do that by teaching God’s word. We do that by laying the facts out for folks to see. We do that by being honest with what we are saying. This requires the preacher to do his homework. This necessitates the preacher not using psychological tricks to convince people of something that they don’t want to do. He must be careful in how he handles the word of God. He must be a student of the word.

 

A person who sees it and is convinced, will want to do what God says. This is why many have confessed Christ and were baptized. This is why many have changed their lifestyles. This is why many have changed their attitudes and natures. This is why every Sunday thousands attend to praise and give thanks to their Lord. They believe. As Paul said, “I know whom I have believed and am convinced…”

 

Persuasion. That’s the purpose of sermons. It’s much different than a college lecture. It’s more than just giving out information. There is an end in sight. There is an intention and a goal with sermons. It is the convincing and the changing of the will. Some are not persuaded because they fight change. Some may not see the facts. The preacher did not do his job well. Some need time to think about things.

 

This helps you understand why your preacher preaches what he does on Sunday. He is trying to convince you to do what God says. Changing the will of a person is a lot harder than simply getting some big guys and forcing someone to obey. Changing the will. The power is in what God says. Show me. Prove to me. Convince me. That’s the role of the sermon.

 

In Acts we find Paul, reasoning with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. Paul was persuading. Paul was changing the will of those people. Paul was convincing them, using God’s word. Paul was the shovel. God was working on their hearts.

 

That’s what sermons are all about! And it takes time, thinking, writing, studying, researching to get that all accomplished. Then the preacher needs to come with passion and energy as he delivers that sermon. Most sermons are only preached once. They are put away and most are never preached again. A lot of effort goes into that one sermon, but if it can help one person, it is so worth it.

 

Preaching…it’s much more than a couple of hours work on Sunday.

 

Roger

 

 

Jump Start # 653

2 Corinthians 5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

Our verse today gives some insight into the work of the apostle Paul. He feared the Lord. He was manifested to God. He persuaded men. Let’s look at that last expression.

 

Being persuaded by someone can have a sour taste in our mouth. It sounds as if someone talked a person into doing something that they didn’t want to do. The image of a pushy salesman comes to mind. I ran into one recently at a store. He must have contracted with the store to sell satellite TV. I have cable. I’m happy with my cable. This salesman trashed my cable, told me I was wasting my money and basically was an idiot for not signing up for his satellite TV. I came to the store not to talk about TV’s, but to look for something else. I made up my mind very quickly that I was not engaging in this conversation and found the earliest way out and away from that guy as I could. He was trying to convince me to buy something that I didn’t want to buy. He was turning on the heat, but I wasn’t going for it.

That image is not what Paul did. Sadly, this is how some preachers and churches come across. They scare people. They make it that many do not even want to talk to anyone associated with a church lest they get a “sales pitch.” This is not Biblical preaching. Anyone who has been talked into something that they didn’t like usually has “buyers remorse.” After they get back home and think about what they just signed up for, they have a change of heart. They wished they hadn’t bought what they just did. They feel suckered, tricked and taken advantaged of. Many want out of the deal.

Paul wasn’t traveling the world “tricking” people into being Christians. He wasn’t a salesman that twisted people’s arms. Those tactics never work with Christianity. The result would be a disaster. There would be people who are Christians in name only and not in heart. They don’t want to be Christians and therefore they will be weak at the best and at the worst, they would have nothing to do with the Christian system. This is not the results Paul was after. He was not working on commission nor was he simply trying to fill church buildings (church buildings did not even exit in his day).

Persuading men is a change of heart and mind but it doesn’t come about by tricking people nor talking them into something they do not want. Paul preached Christ. He did that every where. He taught the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He taught the coming judgment. He persuaded people with facts. He connected the dots from the O.T. to Jesus. He taught consequences of a life without Jesus. He persuaded. He did so using the Bible. People changed not because they were pressured, but because God’s word is living and active. They saw the truth. They saw what could be. They saw what would happened if they didn’t. They came to know God and love Jesus. They came to see God’s will.

The result of Paul’s preaching was powerful Christians who stayed with it even when the strong hand of the Jews and Romans tried to strike them down. They stayed with it because it was right. They knew what God wanted. It was a faith based upon the word of God and not the smooth talk of a cleaver salesman.

We need preachers who are preaching and not selling. We need preachers who love the Lord and what to share that with others. We need preachers who point to Jesus and keep themselves out of the picture.

Persuaded—it’s not a bad word when you understand it. Persuaded by the Gospel. Persuaded by facts. Persuaded by God. That kind of faith will stay with it. That kind of faith takes hold of a person and keeps them going. Paul would be the first to tell us not to get excited about the messenger. It’s the message that matters. We may have a favorite preacher, but we can get a bit goofy about that stuff and lose sight of the real things, Jesus Christ.

Convinced—that’s what it means to be persuaded. Convinced. Are you? It will make a difference in your life and it will show. Convince others that Jesus is the answer. How do you do that? It’s not by telling your story, but rather, telling His story. He is the answer. He is the way. He is the life. He, is Jesus.

Roger