I’VE GOT TOO MUCH DIRT (4 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Romans 5:6-11
This content is part of a series.
I’ve Got Too Much Dirt (4 of 4)
Series: Lies People Believe
Jeff Strite
Romans 5:6-11
(Sermon by our Family Minister, Scott Jewell)
Knowing I was headed to inner city ministry, I decided it could be useful to have my ear pierced as a conversation starter. How’d that work? I’d go to the local park to play basketball, often getting picked first so I could go home and tell my friends about how I got to hoop with the boys in the hood. I’d point out that I was living about two blocks over, in their neighborhood, which typically garnered the response, ‘‘Why?’’ I’d then tell them about the ministry where I was serving.
Someone would inevitably suggest that I couldn’t be a minister, I was wearing an earring! I would respond, ‘‘Let me tell you about my earring,’’ and proceeded to share how in the OT, an indentured servant could decide that he liked how his master treated him and become his slave for life. The master would then pierce his ear by using an awl against a doorpost and the servant would become his servant for life. I had chosen to wear a small hoop to represent God’s unending love for us and to mark that I am his lifelong servant.
Seeking a way to end the conversation, a lot of guys would respond with something along the lines of, ‘‘Well, I’ve got too much dirt. There’s no way God could love me!’’
I’d come back with, ‘‘Let me tell you about a man named Barabbas.’’ I’d then explain how this criminal was released so Jesus would be crucified and Jesus literally died in his place.
Legend has it that Barabbas returned to his old rebellious, murderous ways and was eventually arrested and sent to an island work camp where most of the other prisoners were persecuted Christians. Over time, Barabbas learned exactly who this Jesus was who had died in his place and decided to repent and become a follower of Christ. All the prisoners were tagged with an earring that had a symbol of Caesar to show that they belonged to him. Barabbas took his earring, rubbed ...
Series: Lies People Believe
Jeff Strite
Romans 5:6-11
(Sermon by our Family Minister, Scott Jewell)
Knowing I was headed to inner city ministry, I decided it could be useful to have my ear pierced as a conversation starter. How’d that work? I’d go to the local park to play basketball, often getting picked first so I could go home and tell my friends about how I got to hoop with the boys in the hood. I’d point out that I was living about two blocks over, in their neighborhood, which typically garnered the response, ‘‘Why?’’ I’d then tell them about the ministry where I was serving.
Someone would inevitably suggest that I couldn’t be a minister, I was wearing an earring! I would respond, ‘‘Let me tell you about my earring,’’ and proceeded to share how in the OT, an indentured servant could decide that he liked how his master treated him and become his slave for life. The master would then pierce his ear by using an awl against a doorpost and the servant would become his servant for life. I had chosen to wear a small hoop to represent God’s unending love for us and to mark that I am his lifelong servant.
Seeking a way to end the conversation, a lot of guys would respond with something along the lines of, ‘‘Well, I’ve got too much dirt. There’s no way God could love me!’’
I’d come back with, ‘‘Let me tell you about a man named Barabbas.’’ I’d then explain how this criminal was released so Jesus would be crucified and Jesus literally died in his place.
Legend has it that Barabbas returned to his old rebellious, murderous ways and was eventually arrested and sent to an island work camp where most of the other prisoners were persecuted Christians. Over time, Barabbas learned exactly who this Jesus was who had died in his place and decided to repent and become a follower of Christ. All the prisoners were tagged with an earring that had a symbol of Caesar to show that they belonged to him. Barabbas took his earring, rubbed ...
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