I think I don't fit the image of the person who normally stands at the front of a wedding
and I think there's a novelty in that for people.
And so I seem to get a lot of phone calls from people saying,
can you come and do our wedding because they think that I'll be fun.
I don't know that that's actually true, but there's an assumption there
that until my hair is entirely grey, and it is getting there,
but until it's entirely grey, they just assume that I'll be fun.
But it's also one of the most challenging things I do in my job
because when it comes to weddings,
there are a lot of different people involved
with a lot of different ideas about how things should happen.
If you've ever been to a wedding rehearsal, perhaps it was your own,
perhaps it was that of your child or relative,
it's amazing how you can be standing there
and the idea that the bride and groom have for how their big day should go
is not necessarily the same as the idea that the mother of the bride
has about how the day should go
or the mother of the groom or the grandparent of the bride.
There could be 15 different expectations of what's supposed to happen.
And deep down, I know that there's certain things that I have to do
to make sure they get married by the end of the day.
And so I've got people at the front telling me,
be fun, be relaxed.
We want it to be really enjoyable.
And then I've got the person in the second row telling me,
it's a serious occasion.
You've got to focus.
Don't be so flippant about going through things.
And there's all these different people telling me what to do.
And so instead of being a joyful occasion,
I'm so nervous about offending all these people
that I end up just going into my shell
and I don't really know what's going on.
I'm just staring at the page,
getting my words out and signing the bit of paper.
Weddings are supposed to be exciting,
even for me when I'm standing at the front of it.
But when there's so many different expectations,
you can become so scared that you're not really sure what to do.
And last week, Chris opened up 1 Corinthians 8 for us
and encouraged us that the freedom we have in Christ
should not be used lovelessly.
We shouldn't use it in a way that bears on the conscience
of our brothers and sisters.
But there's a risk for us when we hear a message like that.
The message isn't saying this,
but there's a risk that what we suddenly do
is instead of feeling free,
we feel trapped by the consciences of everyone around us.
We were having a conversation in our community group
during the week and we're saying,
well, what if one person thinks I should do this
and then another person thinks I should do this?
And they're opposite things.
How do I decide?
And then you end up living your life not as somebody who's free,
but as somebody who's scared and worried
about always doing what everybody else wants you to do.
And so thankfully, chapter 8 isn't everything
that Paul says about our freedom in Jesus.
And so in chapter 9, Paul wants to point to his own example
of rights that are his that the Corinthians don't have
so that we might understand exactly what it looks like
to use our freedom the correct way.
Because the question that we need to ask is,
we're free.
Last week, we were encouraged to give up our rights,
but sometimes we actually have to stand and claim our freedom.
But when do you do which?
When do you give up your right to serve your brother?
And when do you stand for something that is true
because they need to learn this truth?
That's the question before us tonight,
and so that is where Paul takes us in chapter 9.
Paul opens up,
am I not free?
Am I not an apostle?
Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?
Paul has special rights because of the job that he does.
He's a preacher of God's words.
He's the one who planted this community in Corinthians.
It doesn't exist if Paul doesn't go there
and teach them about Jesus.
He's their spiritual father,
and so he has a right to get financial support from them.
That's not a weird thing.
That's normal for people who plant churches
or who are religious leaders in this age.
And so Paul is entitled to take things from him,
take things from the church, but he doesn't.
But the reason he doesn't is what's important.
He doesn't choose to go without their money
because he's worried about what they think.
He doesn't choose to go without their money
because they're pressuring him
that it's a bad idea to take money.
In fact, there's a clue in here
that some of the people thought he was a dodgy apostle
because he wasn't taking money.
They are of the attitude that, you know,
you get what you pay for,
and so if we're not paying for this guy,
maybe he's not so impressive after all.
But Paul is really committed to denying something
that he's entitled to.
Why?
Not because what they want.
There's a principle that's dictating
how Paul uses his freedom.
There's a grid that he uses to answer that question,
when do I hold on to my rights
and when do I deny them for the sake of my brother?
Paul has a single agenda on display
in these chapters here.
His freedom is committed to a singular purpose,
and it's there in verse 12.
Second half.
But we do not use this right.
On the contrary, we put up with anything
rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
We put up with anything
rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Notice that that word there, hinder,
it's not obstacle, it's not barrier,
it's the really general word
that includes anything
that might even slow down
the progress of the gospel.
If there's something that Paul could do
and still eventually it would work out for good,
but it's the long way around,
he doesn't want to do that.
He's so committed to being effective
with the gospel,
to being efficient with the gospel,
to reaching as many people as possible
with the gospel,
that he will put up with anything
rather than be a hindrance
in any way, shape or form.
We know that there's no issue
with Paul taking money.
As a gospel worker.
Here he says,
it's my entitlement.
The other apostles are doing it.
He says that Peter is doing it.
It's a normal thing.
In fact, in the letter to Philippians,
which Paul writes to another church
he's planted,
he spends a bunch of time
commending them
for how generous they've been
and how great it is
and how encouraged he is
that they're giving money.
Money is not the problem.
It's not an issue of right or wrong
here when it comes to rights.
The issue is,
it's going to be a hindrance
for the gospel.
Paul would rather get a second job
and work nights
to make sure
that money doesn't complicate
the relationship he has
with the Corinthians.
He would rather work harder
than maybe he has to
to ensure that no one
that he's preaching to
feels like they have
some sense of ownership.
For the Corinthians,
if they were giving money to Paul,
it would have been like
Paul was their employee.
And so there might have been
the temptation for them
to try and tell him
what he should be saying.
There might have been
the temptation for Paul
to not to say the hard words
when he needed to say it.
And so to make sure
that the gospel gets heard,
no strings attached,
he's willing to take
an extra job
on top of caring
for this group of people
and being a missionary
and doing all these other things
because he wants the gospel
to be free of charge.
So last week,
our freedom is not to be misused.
Last week,
we need to be careful
that we don't cause others to sin
with the freedom
that we have in Jesus.
But this week,
Paul is showing us
that our freedom has a direction.
It has an offensive.
It has a purpose
that we can be committed to.
It's in the positive.
And in verse 19,
he makes it explicit.
Though I am free
and belong to no man,
I make myself a slave to everyone
to win as many as possible.
This is the consuming desire for Paul.
This is what it means
to live for the gospel
as the priority.
He wants to see people
come to know Jesus.
And not just a few,
he wants as many as possible
to know the hope that he has.
This trumps every other thing
that matters in his life.
Every other desire that he has,
this comes first.
Paul told us in chapter 7
that marriage is good,
that a wife is good,
and yet he chooses not to have one
because he believes
that he can be more effective
for the gospel without one.
Chooses to give up something good
that he affirms
because without a wife,
he believes that he can be more effective
to see more people saved.
His agenda is this above all else,
to win as many as possible.
The freedom that we have in Jesus
has a purpose.
It's not a blank check
for you to do whatever you want
in your life.
It is a gift from God
that is directed.
And so I wonder,
when you got up this morning
and you were getting dressed,
did you ask yourself the question,
will these clothes
help me win people to Jesus?
When you were trying to decide
what job you might get,
maybe when you're choosing
uni courses or school subjects,
did you ask the question,
will this help me win people to Jesus?
When you were deciding
who you would date,
who you would marry,
whether or not you would date,
whether or not you would get married,
did you ask the question,
will this help me win people to Jesus?
Now, it might sound like
I'm being dramatic or excessive.
Surely my clothes aren't that important.
But you've got to understand,
this is the only question.
This is the first question.
The only earthly structure
that will last for eternity
is the church.
The only thing that will last
beyond this life
is the community of God's people.
It's Christ's bride.
And so it is infinitely more valuable
than will I look good in these clothes?
It is infinitely more valuable
than will I be happy
with this girlfriend,
boyfriend, husband, wife.
It is infinitely more valuable
than will this job pay me enough
or satisfy me?
More important is,
will this help me win
as many as possible?
That is the purpose
for which Christ has died and risen.
It is the purpose
for the freedom that we have.
Paul's agenda,
personally,
and his desire
for the church in Corinth,
and our desire here at St. Paul's
is that we would be driven
to live out
our freedom like this.
That we would be marked
as people who care
more than anything else,
that at the end of our lives
we will have been poured out
and won
as many
as possible.
This section,
chapters 8 and 9 and 10,
culminate in chapter 11,
verse 1.
If you've got your Bible open,
have a quick look.
It says this.
Paul finishes this big rant
about the freedom
that he has in Jesus
when he says,
follow my example
as I follow the example
of Christ.
Paul is leading the charge
for the Corinthians.
He's saying,
if you're not sure
what this looks like,
have a look at my life.
Look at what I do.
But more than that,
this is what Jesus did
with his life.
It's what Rob was praying
just a second ago.
Jesus was entitled
to so much more
than what he experienced
in his earthly life.
But he made choices
to suffer
and to sacrifice
because his agenda
was to give his life
so that some people
would be saved.
He spent time
with the people
that were controversial,
with the people
that we might have found
it difficult to love
because his agenda was
to save as many
as possible.
It's his example
that we're called
to follow.
We have been freed
to live like Jesus.
Paul is unpacking
in this chapter
what it looks like
to embrace our freedom
and to use it
the way that God
designed for us.
So that's the answer
to the question
we had at the beginning.
When do I deny my rights
for the sake of my brother
or sister
and when do I stand
on my rights
because truth matters?
Well, you ask
which one will be
more beneficial
for the gospel?
Which one will help me more
to win people to Jesus?
There will be times
when denying your rights
will be more beneficial
for your brother or sister
to hear the gospel.
There will be times
when it is good and right
for you to sacrifice
so that others
will come to know Jesus
but there will also be times
where you need to stand up
and say I am free
to do this in Jesus
so that the people around you
can come to understand
what it means
that Jesus has died
and washed you
and made you clean
and that nothing can undo
what he's done on the cross.
And the question
you've got to be asking is
which of these
will help me win people
to Jesus?
Whether you're getting dressed,
picking a job,
picking a suburb
to live in,
whatever it is,
Jesus is the thing
that matters.
Our freedom is ours
but for the goal
that others would know
that freedom as well.
That's God's agenda.
He has called you
and loved you
and adopted you
and accepted you
and forgiven you
so that others
might be called
and loved
and adopted
and forgiven.
Jesus on the cross
is the ultimate example
of this.
He is God.
He has every right
and every authority
to take himself down
from the cross.
He has every right
and every authority
to command angels
to come and lay waste
to the soldiers
that are in front of him
but he chooses
to stay there
because that's necessary
for any to be saved.
He sacrifices his own
because his goal,
his purpose
shapes his action.
For us as a church
our goal is
that we would save
as many as possible.
Our goal as individuals
needs to be
that we will save
as many as possible
and so the question
we need to wrestle with
is,
is that goal
shaping who we are?
Is that goal shaping
how we spend our time
and our energy?
This is what our vision
statement is about.
Here at St Paul's
we want to share
God's heart
to see lost people
come to know him,
to see dead people
come to life.
We want to know Jesus
and treasure Jesus
and represent Jesus
in such a way
that God gets glory
and people find joy
as they find freedom
and then they get
to know Jesus
and treasure Jesus
and represent Jesus
so that others
will come to find joy
in him as well.
Our goal as a church,
our goal as Christians
must dictate
what we do
and how we live
and so I want to suggest
two ways
that we need to
particularly work on
for us as a church
and I have to say
for me personally
and so maybe for you as well.
Have a look at verse 19
with me.
Though I am free
and belong to no man,
I make myself a slave
to everyone
to win as many as possible.
To the Jews
I became like a Jew
to win the Jews.
To those under the law
I became like one
under the law
though I myself
am not under the law
so as to win those
under the law.
To those not having the law
I became like one
not having the law
though I am not free
from God's law
but I am under Christ's law
so as to win those
not having the law.
To the weak
I became weak
to win the weak.
I have become all things
to all men
so that by all possible means
I might save some.
There's the agenda again.
By all possible means
I might save some.
And how does he do it?
By becoming all things
to all men.
Two things that are going
to help us begin
to even comprehend
what that might look like.
The first thing is
we need our identity
redefined.
I don't know if you noticed
there in verse 20
Paul says to the Jews
I became like a Jew
to win the Jews.
Paul is a Jew.
Paul is a Pharisee.
Paul is the poster boy
for being Jewish.
If they wanted to advertise
to recruit Jews
Paul would be on the poster.
He ticks every box for them.
He's born in the right month.
He's circumcised
on the right day.
He raves about this stuff
in Philippians chapter 3.
But for him
now that he knows Jesus
his identity
is so radically different
that his Jewish heritage
is second at best.
First and more importantly
he considers himself
a Christian.
He considers himself
forgiven.
He considers himself
somebody who is defined
by the one
who died on the cross
for him.
See until we know
who we are
we won't be sure
which bits
we're supposed to hold on to
and which bits
we let go of.
If we want to be able
to be flexible
if we want to be able
to serve the community
around us
then the first part
is we need to soak
under God's word
and hear the gospel
over and over
and understand
that we are forgiven
completely and irreversibly
that everything
that we brought
to the cross
has been left
at the cross
and dealt with
and paid for
that there's nothing
that we can actually add
that will become
an extra barrier.
We are no longer
identified as Chinese
or Filipino
or Malaysian
or Australian
or English
or whatever we might be.
We are no longer
defined by the job
that we have.
We are no longer
defined by the paycheck
that we earn
by the suburb
that we live in
by the marks
we get in our exams
by the language
that we speak.
That all comes
second and third
and fifth
and thirtieth
and whatever else.
First and foremost
Jesus has died
for us.
We are Christians.
If you are following
Jesus the thing
that defines you
is him.
He is the centre
of who you are.
He is the thing
that defines
your status
your position
and so you need
to be okay
to let go
of some of the things
that used to define you
whether that be
your ethnic background
whether that be
your status
in the community
because of the job
that you hold
or the title
that you have
you need to be willing
to let go of that
because the centre
the thing that matters
is the gospel
is Jesus.
We live in Chatswood.
I am not Chinese.
I could not be
less Chinese
but our suburb
is full of Chinese people
who don't know Jesus
and so I need to let go
of the fact
that I'm Aussie
and Bogan.
I need to let go
of the fact
that my only food choice
when I walk
into Westfield
is McDonald's
and I need to be
comfortable
to stretch myself
culturally
because I'm not
Australian first
I'm Christian first
and being Christian
and being free
in Christ
means I'm defined
by a need
and a burning desire
to see people
one to Christ
and I'm not going
to be able to do that
if I'm not willing
to go where they are
if I'm not willing
to spend time
doing the things
that they want to do.
I was reading this week
about Hudson Taylor
who founded the China
Inland Mission
he was a missionary
and when he was there
he'd spent time
reasonably ineffectively
trying to share the gospel
and he decided
that a helpful step
would be for him
to grow his hair long
and put it in a braid
to wear the Chinese clothes
that the men around him
were wearing
and to start eating
Chinese food.
When he did that
the other missionaries
around him
made fun of him
they basically thought
he'd lost the plot
he'd let go
of the gospel
he'd become too much
like these people
who are devil worshippers
and he was going
to go to hell as well
but he knew
what mattered
he knew that the Bible
didn't tell him
what clothes to wear
or what haircut to have
or what food to eat
the Bible told him
that Jesus had died
for him
that he was free
in Christ
that obeying
Jesus was what
what mattered
and so he could gladly
and willingly
and joyfully
sacrifice everything
that he'd known
culturally up to that
point in his life
and adapt
so that others
might come to know
Jesus
we need to know
what our identity is
so that we have security
as we stretch ourselves
into places
where we might be
uncomfortable
because the second thing
we need to do
if we're going to be
all things to all men
is we need to be
culturally flexible
one of the real strengths
that we have as a church
here is we're an
Anglican church
whether you know
what that means or not
is kind of irrelevant
the good news is
we've got a bunch of stuff
which makes us
really committed
to the gospel of Jesus
but the danger for us
is because all those
things are there for us
and they've kind of
done a lot of the hard work
over the years of history
to make sure we're
committed to God's word
it's easy for us
to add our own hoops
for people to jump through
when they come to church
it's easy for us
to say when somebody
comes to Chatswood
walks into church
off the street
decides they want
to follow Jesus
it's great to have you
let us now show you
the rest of the things
that you need to do
to fit in with us
let us tell you
what clothes to wear
let us tell you
what music to listen to
let us tell you
what appropriate English is
let us tell you
how to sharpen your vocab
so that you can belong
with us here
on the North Shore
it's really easy
for us to make people
have to be like us
have to do things
the way that we do them
even if they're not
gospel issues
we were talking about
on Friday night at youth
I wonder how comfortable
we would be
if somebody started
attending our church
who wasn't big
on personal hygiene
and smelled a bit
would walk in
with bare foot
every week
had a massive mohawk
was covered in tattoos
and liked to smoke
would you be comfortable
with them coming
and sitting next to you
they love Jesus
they're really excited
to be a part of his people
is it okay for you
if they sit next to you
every week
or would you start
letting them know
how they can adjust
their culture
to actually fit in
to actually be a part
of God's church
the Bible doesn't tell them
they have to wear
certain clothes
doesn't tell them
how regularly
they have to bathe
doesn't tell them
whether or not
to smoke cigarettes
yet we add these hoops
for people to jump through
we take secondary things
that are our culture
and we make that
what it means
to be a Christian
we live in a place
that is hugely
culturally diverse
there are all sorts
of people here
who don't get
how we work
and so if we make
our church family
if you in your life
expect people
to be like you
then you're putting up
barriers
to winning people
you're putting up
obstacles for people
coming to Jesus
one of the joys
of being part
of our church
is that we are
a diverse group
of people
but I wonder
if sometimes
you find yourself
sitting here
wishing that some
of those diverse
people were a bit
more like you
were more into
doing church
the way you like it
liked the same music
that you do
I had to confess
to our morning
congregation
this morning
that I have been
doing this
in conversations
with people
in our church
that we've had
arguments about
how we do
our gatherings
and when I say
arguments
I mean loving
rigorous discussions
there's been a few
of those
over the last few
years
with godly
brothers and
sisters
but reality is
there's been
points where
I have called
my preference
the preference
I have called
my cultural idea
of what's good
when we gather
the biblical idea
of what's good
when we gather
and I wonder
if you ever
do the same
if you think
certain songs
are more glorifying
to god
if you think
a certain type
of church
is more glorifying
to god
we need to be
culturally flexible
because we know
who we are
in Jesus
and so long
as we get
reminded as a
gathered community
that it's him
alone
who has died
and risen
as long as we
get reminded
that it's his
glory that we
live for
then maybe we
need to let go
of some of the
other things
that make us
feel comfortable
here at church
maybe we need
to be okay
if the chairs
are in a circle
next week
when we get
here
and not spend
the first hour
distracted by the
fact that it's
not how we
normally do it
now there is
a warning for
us here
because we're
not supposed to
be flexible to
the point where
there's a sin
involved
Paul says
to the Jews
I became like
a Jew
he doesn't say
to the adulterer
I became like
an adulterer
there are certain
things that are
cultural issues
that can be
given into
and then of
course there are
certain things
which are sin
and out of
love for Jesus
we never bend
on
that's why
it's important
to know
our identity
to remember
that when
Christ forgave
us and gave
us freedom
he gave us
a whole new
life
he gave us
a new
start
he gave us
a new
path
this is
the only
basis
on which
you should
assess
your life
personally
and our
life
corporately
I promise
you
that at
some point
in the future
we as a
church family
will do
something that
will make
you uncomfortable
I'm not
promising that
as my
desire
but in
this room
we don't
all like
exactly the
same stuff
but if
you're willing
to ask
the question
is this
good for
the gospel
and if
so I'm
going to
suffer
joyfully
so that we
might win
some
then we
will see
God work
fantastically
through us
if we
were willing
to say
my first
priority
when I
gather
is not
comfort
but the
gospel
going out
and people
being saved
this will
be a
welcoming
place for
anyone to
walk into
regardless of
where they're
from what
their background
is if they've
ever been to
church before
because we
will be
pursuing more
than anything
else that
the gospel
stays the
main thing
we'll be
letting go of
our preferences
and we'll be
welcoming people
like Jesus
does exactly
how they
are so
that they
can be
forgiven and
transformed and
know the
freedom that
we know
we need to
be consumed
by God's
desire we
need to let
go of our
commitment to
comfort and
we need to be
willing to
sacrifice our
rights no
matter how
much it
hurts so
that others
may come to
know Jesus
Paul gets
really really
visual here in
these last few
verses in
verse 24 he
says do you
not know that
in a race all
the runners run
but only one
gets the prize
everyone who
competes in the
games goes into
strict training
they do it to
get a crown that
will not last
but we do it to
get a crown that
will last forever
therefore I do
not run like a
man running
aimlessly I do
not fight like a
man beating the
air no I beat
my body and I
make it my slave
so that after I
have preached to
others I myself
will not be
disqualified for the
prize this will
not happen
accidentally if
you're not
consciously thinking
how can I be
flexible for the
sake of others
if you're not
actively thinking
how can I be
more conscious
of the cultures
that surround me
where I live
where I work
then you won't
be you default
to what is
comfortable you'll
default to people
who are like you
and you'll miss
out on an
opportunity to
share the gospel
with a whole bunch
of people who
don't know life
and don't know
hope
are you willing
to beat your
body and make
it your slave
for the sake of
the gospel
are you willing
to give up some
really familiar
habit so that
someone can meet
Jesus
are you willing
to give up
dressing a certain
way
are you willing
to give up
hanging out at a
certain place
are you willing
to give up a
kind of music
that you like
if that's going
to give you
access to some
more people
who don't know
Jesus
are you willing
to try some
food that
disgusts you
right now
are you willing
to go to some
shops that you've
never been
interested in going
to before
in order that
people may come
to meet Jesus
this will require
honest reflection
for us
none of us
came in here
tonight thinking
that we were
culturally narrow
none of us
came in here
thinking that we
were not open
to the people
around us
but the challenge
is there for all
of us there
could be more
and so I wonder
will you reflect
honestly on
where can I
remove some
barriers to the
gospel
where can I
fix my eyes
on the prize
so that more
will be won
to Christ
the question
is simple
it's not is this
right or wrong
that's an easy
question to dodge
the question
is does this
help the gospel
or does this
hinder the gospel
they're the only
two categories
there is no
neutral
if it doesn't
help
then by definition
it hinders
because you're
wasting energy
on something
that's not
helping
the question
is not right
or wrong
the question
is does this
help the gospel
or does this
hinder the gospel
the great
encouragement
of this passage
is that as
Paul slaps
us in the
face and
says come
on try
harder and
beat yourself
beat your body
into being a
slave run
at the prize
there is this
huge encouragement
in verse 23
Paul says I
do all this
for the sake
of the gospel
that I may
share in its
blessings
did you get
that
Paul sacrifices
Paul preaches
Paul travels
Paul tries as
hard as he can
to fit into
whatever culture
he is among
not so that
they share in
the benefits
he wants that
to happen
but he says
here that he
does all of
this that I
may share in
its blessings
see for Paul
sharing the
gospel and
experiencing the
gospel are one
thing it's not
that we become
a Christian and
are forgiven and
then a task
we're given is
evangelism for
Paul to hear the
gospel is to
share the gospel
there is no
separation for
him he says
it again in
verse 27
I beat my
body I make
it my slave so
after I have
preached to
others I
myself will not
be disqualified
for the prize
for him the
evidence of
genuinely knowing
the freedom that
is in Christ
is having your
priorities so
shaped that what
you care about
more than anything
else is winning
as many as
possible there's
no separation
for him and so
he finds great
joy in the
sacrifices that he
makes
in the sacrifice
of financial gain
in the sacrifice
of having a wife
to travel with
him he finds
joy because in
making those
choices he grabs
hold of Jesus
even tighter
the things that
could have
defined him he
lets go and
embraces all of
Jesus with
everything that he
has
the great
blessing of
being a follower
of Jesus is
that as he
calls us to
sacrifice as he
calls us to
take up our
cross as he
calls us to
live life in
the footsteps
of Jesus
every cost that
we pay is
far surpassed in
the blessing of
knowing Jesus as
our Lord
everything that we
give up is far
surpassed in the
gain of having
the prize that
waits for us at
the end
denying your
rights is the
gospel
that's who
Jesus was
that's who
Paul was
and until we
are willing to
let go of what
is rightfully
ours and take
hold of this
mission then
we're following
something other
than the gospel
of Jesus
because this is
who he is
this is what
he's called us
to
in Christ you
are free
you are
forgiven
but you are
free for a
purpose
you are free
that others
may come to
know that
same freedom
and so let me
finish with the
call of verse
19
though I am
free and belong
to no man
I make myself
a slave to
everyone
to win as
many as
possible
that is God's
design for your
life
that is God's
desire for us
as a church
that as many
as possible
would come to
know him
because of the
way that we
live
let's pray
father God
we want to
confess that
there are many
things in our
life that are
there because
they're comfortable
they're there
because we
haven't even
asked the
question how
does this
impact on
our gospel
effectiveness
we want to
thank you that
Jesus has
died and
Jesus is
alive and
our freedom
has been
bought at
the highest
price
God help
us not to
take it for
granted
help us not
to get
distracted into
thinking that
forgiveness was
the end game
give us eyes to
see the path that
you are marking
out in front of
us
give us hearts so
consumed with
love for you
and desire to
see people saved
that we will
joyfully do
whatever it
takes
give us eyes to
see the
cultures around
us
give us love
for them that
we might adapt
and be flexible
that we might
remove all
human barriers
from people
hearing your
message
God give us
words to say
and use us
to call people
into your
kingdom
into your
freedom
into this
hope
Father thank
you for
Jesus
our saviour
and our
king
Amen