As we finish up, what is different?

What thoughts and comments do you about the book, The Hole in Our Gospel, as you finish it? Did the sermons help you to ground the book in Scripture?

Have you been moved to do something concrete? Have you been moved to spend more time in praying listening for God's voice?

Have you been changed in some way from reading this book, studying the accompanying Scriptures, and your own thought and reflection?

How much do you have to give?

You have probably heard the story of the feeding of the 5,000 many times, but reread it and look for new insights. Imagine that Jesus is asking you the same question, “How many loaves do you have?” How would you respond if God asked how much you have to give?

Much responsibility

It is often easier for me to focus on what I don't have or on problems I face than it is for me to focus on the gifts and resources God has given me. A friend noted with understanding that I ask "why?" way more often about uncertainties and problems than I ask "why?" about my blessings.

I am facing a lot of uncertainties in my life right now. I have spent much time asking why, but I think now that I'm supposed to be truly grateful for what I do have and rest in the knowledge that my future isn't uncertain to God.

Why do you think we so often focus on what we don't have than what we do? For most of us, we are wealthier than 90% of the world. That puts much responsibility on us because we have been so resourced. What are you going to do with your time, talents, and resources in response to reading this book?

Neil's sermon

Read Isaiah 58:6-12. This was the sermon passage Bp. Neil preached on this past Sunday.

Did the sermon challenge you? What would it cost you to live out this passage? What would be the gain?

What will history say?

“When historians look back in 100 years, what will they write about this nation of 340,000 churches? What will they say of the Church’s response to the great challenges of our time—AIDS, poverty, hunger, terrorism, war? Will they say that these authentic Christians rose up courageously and responded to the tide of human suffering, that they rushed to the front lines to comfort the afflicted and to douse the flames of hatred? Will they write of an unprecedented outpouring of generosity to meet the urgent needs of the world’s poor? Will they speak of the moral leadership and compelling vision of our leaders? Will they write that this, the beginning of the 21st century, was the Church’s finest hour? Or will they look back and see a Church too comfortable, insulated from the pain of the rest of the world, empty of compassion, and devoid of deeds? Will they write about a people who stood by and watched while 100 million died of AIDS and 50 million children were orphaned, of Christians who lived in luxury and self-indulgence while millions died for lack of food and water? Will schoolchildren read in disgust about a Church that had the wealth to build great sanctuaries but lacked the will to build schools, hospitals, and clinics? In short, will we be remembered as the Church with a gaping hole in its gospel?”
—Rich Stearns (pp. 238-239)

Well, what do you think? What WILL history say about us? What will you tell your grandchildren when they ask, what did YOU do?