Bill Hybels and Soccer Coach (Across the Room p30)
Bill tells about his sons soccer coach (Brian). One day he felt prompted to leave the sideline and go introduce himself and help put the balls and equiptment away. He wasn’t thrilled to find out Bill was a pastor. After several months of small converstations he asked Brian if he would come to church. Brian said, “I knew it would come to this. I know about Willow Creek, and all the traffic frustrates me. God is not part of my life, church is not part of my life, and I’d just as soon take this whole thing off the agenda here.” He said, Ok, no pressure. Bill continued to help him and ask about his business. After 3 years his son was out of the league and he lost touch with Brian. because someone told you lies about him, you never visited, you hung out with his mortal enemy. In your total poverty, as you
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV
Intro :If people do not know how bad the condition is they won’t take the treatment. If you haven’t been told you have cancer or leukemia and how bad it is, and how much time you have. You wouldn’t take cemo, radiation, or bone marrow transplant. You would think it was unnecessary, optional, or even harmful to your life.We often offer people salvation, and they say from what? They realize how dire their condition.
Bill Hybels and Soccer Coach (Across the Room p30)
Bill tells about his sons soccer coach (Brian). One day he felt prompted to leave the sideline and go introduce himself and help put the balls and equiptment away. He wasn’t thrilled to find out Bill was a pastor. After several months of small converstations he asked Brian if he would come to church. Brian said, “I knew it would come to this. I know about Willow Creek, and all the traffic frustrates me. God is not part of my life, church is not part of my life, and I’d just as soon take this whole thing off the agenda here.” He said, Ok, no pressure. Bill continued to help him and ask about his business. After 3 years his son was out of the league and he lost touch with Brian. Then after several years past
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