with perseverance in truth

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.

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

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

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