The Cost

A couple of years ago, Paige and I received a call from some college friends we hadn't seen in quite some time. They invited us to lunch, and of course, we accepted. However, when we arrived, it was clear this was not going to be a typical lunch. 

After some brief chit-chat, our friends proceeded to try to get us to invest in a company they had recently become involved with. They promised immense financial gains, luxurious vacations, the ability to retire by 30, and a life of ease. What they tended to downplay was the fact that achieving all these benefits required not only a significant financial investment but also a complete and total commitment to selling the product or recruiting others. Needless to say, we haven't been in touch with those friends for a while.

That experience made me reflect on how we present Christianity. Are we like salespeople trying to close a deal? Are we downplaying the costs and focusing only on the benefits? Is this how we should present the gospel? To find the answer, let's look at how Jesus approached it. This morning, we will examine His method and what it means for how we should present the gospel.