What Would You Do

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Greetings in the Name of our Lord,

This Sunday, we start a six-week sermon series on 1 John called Lessons from 1 John: Light, Life, and Love. We will cover the five chapters of John's letter in six weeks. John addresses the issue of living with purpose as he boldly attacks the threats to the way of Christ in this world. This week, we look at the first chapter, Living in the Light.

We are tempted daily to leave our faith behind. Several years ago, a national survey was carried out concerning what people would be willing to do for $10,000,000. I was shocked at the results. In the reading I have been doing, I doubt these attitudes have changed much and have possibly gotten worse. 

Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one of the following and some people agreed to several of the following:

  • Would abandon their entire family (25%) 

  • Would abandon their church (25%) 

  • Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%) 

  • Would give up their American citizenship (16%) 

  • Would leave their spouses (16%) 

  • Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%) 

  • Would kill a stranger (7%) 

  • Would put their children up for adoption (3%) 

What would we be willing to do for $10,000,000? 

Jesus offers the world a different approach in life. It’s called living in the light of Jesus. John puts it this way, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

As followers of Jesus, though the darkness may seem endless, the promise of the light of Christ is ours to claim. 

Instead of asking what we would do for a $10,000,000, let’s ask the question… What would we be willing to do to live in the presence and light of Christ?

  • Give each Sunday morning and let nothing get in the way of worshipping the Savior of the world?

  • Give an hour a week to join with others to study God’s Word?

  • Give a few minutes each morning and evening to be quiet in prayer before the Lord?

  • Give a few hours a month to serve Stonebridge’s ministries?

  • Give a few minutes to share with someone what God has done for us? 

By the way… the Mardi Gras Ladies' Tea was outstanding. Over 100 women made the night a special occasion. Thanks to all those who volunteered to make this night special! 

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we explore God’s purpose for our lives through the pages of 1 John. Lessons from 1 John: Light, Life, and Love.

See you on Sunday. Invite someone to come and join us in our journey toward the miracle of Easter. 

Pastor John Allen

PS… Be sure to sign up for our Wednesday Lenten dinners on our SignUpGenius and join one of the Lenten Studies we are offering by emailing me at John@mysumc.org or Jana at Jana@mysumc.org.