A SENTENCE CAN CHANGE A LIFE
When I was thirteen, a young lad only three years older than me said something that would change my life for ever. A single sentence of his is the reason I am a Christian today. What could you say in just ONE sentence that could switch someone from being an agnositic to being a passionately committed Christian? Now bear in mind that this wasn't a vicar or someone with a theology degree. This wasn't a professional evangelist who had years of experience of explaining doctrines. This was just a teenager, himself quite new to the faith - yet he managed to find the right single sentence to change my life for ever.
Any ideas what that sentence might have been? [take suggestions from congregation] No - it was much simpler than that.... The single sentence that changed my life was "Why don't you come along to the Christian Union tonight?"
That young person happened to be my brother - I don't know if that made it easier or harder for him to say that. It can feel quite scary talking to your families about these things. Yet somehow he plucked up the courage and said the sentence and changed my life. And if anything I have ever preached or done has effected your life in any way - then he changed your life too. Through just one simple sentence. "Why don't you come along to the Christian Union tonight?"