Meeting Them Where They Are

1 2 A LARGE FAMILY HAD GONE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING • MOM TOOK SOME OF THE KIDS AND WENT ONE WAY • DAD TOOK SOME KIDS AND WENT OFF ANOTHER DIRECTION • AFTER THE SHOPPING WAS DONE THEY CAME BACK TOGETHER 3 • IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT THEY NOTICED LITTLE MATTHEW WAS MISSING • DAD TOOK CHARGE, HE SENT THE OTHER KIDS TO SEARCH • HE CONTACTED THE MALL SECURITY, • HE WENT LOOKING FOR MATTHEW HIMSELF 4 • THEY COULD HAVE JUST SAT AND WAITED FOR MATTHEW TO FIND THEM • BUT THEY DID NOT THEY ACTIVELY WENT LOOKING FOR MATTHEW • WHEN WE REALIZE SOMEONE IS LOST • WE CAN EITHER SIT AND WAIT FOR THEM TO FIND US 5 • OR WE CAN GO OUT LOOKING FOR THEM (PAUSE) • AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLD • IS FILLED WITH LOST PEOPLE • WE NEED TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE • NOT JUST SIT AROUND AND SEE IF THEY COME TO WHERE WE ARE • THIS MEANS UNDERSTANDING THEIR SITUATION, THEIR PERSPECTIVE • AND HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE IS OFFERING • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT CHRIST MEETING SOMEONE 6 7 • WHERE THEY WERE AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS • TURN WITH ME TO ACTS 9:1 • LUKE HAS JUST TOLD US ABOUT PHILIP • MEETING THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH WHERE HE WAS • AND HELPING HIM TO UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS IS 8 • LUKE IS NOW GOING TO TURN HIS ATTENTION TO SAUL • SAUL HAD SEEN STEPHEN EXECUTED AND HAD BEGUN • TO PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM • NOW LUKE IS GOING TO TELL US HOW JESUS MEET SAUL WHERE HE WAS ACTS 9:1–2 9 NOW SAUL, STILL BREATHING THREATS AND MURDER AGAINST THE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD, WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST, AND ASKED FOR LETTERS FROM HIM TO THE SYNAGOGUES AT DAMASCUS, 10 SO THAT IF HE FOUND ANY BELONGING TO THE WAY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, HE MIGHT BRING THEM BOUND TO JERUSALEM. THE LOST ARE ANGRY • IT HAD BEEN SOME TIME SINCE STEPHEN’S DEATH • THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM HAD INTENSIFIED • SAUL HAD PLAYED HIS PART IN THIS PERSECUTION 11 12 • LUKE DESCRIBES SAUL AS; “BREATHING THREATS AND MURDER” • THE WORD BREATHING IS LITERALLY THE WORD FOR SNORTING • LUKE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND WHO SAUL WAS BEFORE CHRIST • SAUL IS ANGRY ABOUT CHRISTIANITY 13 • HE THINKS HE IS DOING A GOOD THING BY PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS • SAUL IS NOT REALLY THAT DIFFERENT • FROM MANY PEOPLE WE ENCOUNTER TODAY • THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE ANGRY AT CHRISTIANITY • THEY THINK THEY HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE ANGRY • THEY BLAME RELIGION FOR EVERY WAR THAT EVER HAPPENED • THEY BLAME CHRISTIANS FOR THE DIVISION IN OUR COUNTRY • THEY BLAME FAITH FOR GLOBAL WARMING, RACISM, INCOME INEQUALITY 14 15 • IF SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE OUT THERE SOMEONE IS BLAMING GOD • WHEN THEY PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS • THEY THINK THEY ARE DOING A GOOD THING • IF WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO THE LOST • WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO INTERACT WITH THEIR ANGER • WE HAVE A FEW OPTIONS • WE CAN IGNORE IT • JUST PRETEND LIKE THEY ARE NOT MAD 16 17 • WE CAN ARGUE WITH IT • TRY TO TELL THEM WHY THEY SHOULD NOT BE MAD • OR WE LISTEN TO THEIR ANGER • TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE A MAN WAS DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY ONE DAY 18 • HE SAW AN OLD MAN SITTING ON A FENCE RAIL WATCHING THE CARS GO BY. • STOPPING TO PASS THE TIME OF DAY, THE TRAVELER SAID, • "I NEVER COULD STAND LIVING OUT HERE” • YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING, AND I'M SURE YOU DON'T TRAVEL LIKE I DO. • I'M ON THE GO ALL THE TIME." • THE OLD MAN ON THE FENCE LOOKED DOWN AT THE STRANGER AND DRAWLED, • "I CAN'T SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE IN WHAT I'M DOING AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 19 20 • I SIT ON THE FENCE AND WATCH THE AUTOS GO BY • AND YOU SIT IN YOUR AUTO AND WATCH THE FENCES GO BY. • IT'S JUST THE WAY YOU LOOK AT THINGS." • WHEN INTERACTING WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST 21 • IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE • IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO SEE THINGS THEIR WAY • WE MIGHT NEED TO ASK THEM WHY THEY ARE ANGRY AT GOD 22 • WE MIGHT HAVE TO LISTEN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH • AND NOT JUDGE THEM IF WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THEM • BUT THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE • AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BRING THEM THE GOSPEL • WE NEED TO BE READY TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE 23 24 THE LOST LOOK FOR VALIDATION • BUT PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR SAUL • SO, SAUL THE GOES TO THE HIGH PRIEST • AND ASKS FOR PERMISSION TO TAKE HIS PERSECUTION ON THE ROAD 25 • HE REQUESTS LETTERS; “TO THE SYNAGOGUES IN DAMASCUS” • THESE WERE LETTERS OF EXTRADITION • AND DAMASCUS WAS NOT THE ONLY CITY SAUL WENT TO ACTS 26:11 26 “AND AS I PUNISHED THEM OFTEN IN ALL THE SYNAGOGUES, I TRIED TO FORCE THEM TO BLASPHEME; AND BEING FURIOUSLY ENRAGED AT THEM, I KEPT PURSUING THEM EVEN TO FOREIGN CITIES. • ROME HAD GIVEN THE HIGH PRIEST AUTHORITY TO GIVE SUCH LETTERS • THE FACT THAT SAUL IS LOOKING FOR CHRISTIANS IN SYNAGOGUES • INDICATES THAT CHRISTIANITY WAS STILL LINKED WITH JUDAISM • THE CHRISTIANS WERE MEETING IN THE SYNAGOGUES 27 28 • SAUL GOES TO THE HIGH PRIESTS TO EXPAND HIS PERSECUTION • THEY DID NOT COME TO HIM AND ASK HIM TO GO TO DAMASCUS • THOSE WHO ARE ANGRY WITH GOD LOOK FOR VALIDATION • THEY WANT OTHERS TO TELL THEM HOW RIGHT THEY ARE TO BE MAD AT GOD 29 • SAUL WENT TO THE HIGH PRIESTS FOR VALIDATION • TODAY PEOPLE GO TO THE INTERNET TO LOOK FOR VALIDATION • YOU CAN FIND ENDLESS VIDEOS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY AT GOD 30 • YOU CAN FIND COUNTLESS ARTICLES WRITTEN BY PEOPLE • WITH AN AXE TO GRIND AGAINST CHRISTIANS • BOOKS ARE SOLD WITH TITLES LIKE; “THE GOD DELUSION” 31 • ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO TELL THEM HOW RIGHT THEY ARE • TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO DAMASCUS • AND BIND UP THE CHRISTIANS AND DRAG OFF 32 THE LOST ENCOURAGED TO MISTREAT CHRISTIANS • THE HIGH PRIEST GIVES SAUL THE LETTERS: NOTICE THE REASON • “SO THAT IF HE FOUND ANY BELONGING TO THE WAY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, HE MIGHT BRING THEM BOUND TO JERUSALEM.” 33 • SAUL IS BEING ENCOURAGED TO BIND UP MEN AND WOMEN • TO BRING THEM BACK TO JERUSALEM FOR TRIAL AND EXECUTION • HE WAS TO DO THIS TO ANYONE WHO “BELONGED TO THE WAY” • THE WAY WHAT CHRISTIANITY WAS CALLED • BEFORE IT WAS CALLED CHRISTIANITY • IT IS BELIEVED THAT MANY OF THE CHRISTIANS • IN DAMASCUS HAD ACTUALLY FLED THERE FROM JERUSALEM • SAUL IS BEING ENCOURAGE TO TRACK DOWN 34 35 • THE CHRISTIANS WHO HAD FLED HIS PERSECUTION IN JERUSALEM • AND BRING THEM BACK TO FACE TRIAL AND EXECUTION • IN OUR WORLD TODAY WE HAVE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER 36 • ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS • SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN QUESTIONING THE CHRISTIANS • ABOUT THEIR FITNESS TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS • CORPORATIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION, CELEBRITIES, NEWS ANCHORS • ENCOURAGING THOSE WHO PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS • WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED BY THIS 37 JOHN 15:21 38 “BUT ALL THESE THINGS THEY WILL DO TO YOU FOR MY NAME’S SAKE, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ONE WHO SENT ME. 39 • THEY ARE GONNA BE ANGRY • WE NEED TO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY • THEY ARE REALLY ANGRY AT GOD • EVEN THE ONES THAT DO NOT THINK THERE IS A GOD ARE ANGRY AT HIM 40 • WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THEIR ANGER • READY TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE • IN THEIR ANGER ACTS 9:3–6 41 AS HE WAS TRAVELING, IT HAPPENED THAT HE WAS APPROACHING DAMASCUS, AND SUDDENLY A LIGHT FROM HEAVEN FLASHED AROUND HIM; AND HE FELL TO THE GROUND AND HEARD A VOICE SAYING TO HIM, “SAUL, SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?” 42 AND HE SAID, “WHO ARE YOU, LORD?” AND HE SAID, “I AM JESUS WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING, BUT GET UP AND ENTER THE CITY, AND IT WILL BE TOLD YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO.” 43 HELP THE LOST WHERE THEY ARE • NOTICE HOW JESUS CAME TO SAUL RIGHT WHERE HE WAS • NOT JUST WHERE HE WAS PHYSICALLY, ON THE ROAD • BUT WHERE HE WAS IN HIS ANGER; • “SAUL, SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?” • THIS IS RIGHT WHERE SAUL IS • IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS ANGER, PERSECUTING CHRISTIANS • SAUL DOES NOT KNOW HE IS ANGRY AT GOD 44 • HE THINKS HE IS ANGRY AT CHRISTIANS • BUT JESUS SAYS; “WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?” • JESUS IS NOT THE MESSIAH SAUL WAS EXPECTING • HE WANTED A MESSIAH THAT WOULD CRUSH ROME 45 • ONE THAT WOULD LEAD AN ARMY, FREE THE JEWS FROM OPPRESSION • HE CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT ONE WHO DIED IN THE MOST • INSULTING WAY POSSIBLE CRUCIFIXION • HE WAS OFFENDED BY THOSE WHO SAID JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH 46 47 • BECAUSE HE COULD NOT IMAGINE A MESSIAH WHO WOULD DIE • BUT JESUS COMES TO HIM ANYWAY • RIGHT WHERE HE IS, JESUS DOES NOT WAIT FOR SAUL TO COME TO HIM • HE DOES NOT WAIT FOR SAUL TO CLEAN HIMSELF UP 48 • TO GET THIS THINKING RIGHT • SEE JESUS DOES NOT EXPECT THE LOST TO FIND HIM • HE WANTS US TO BRING HIM TO THE LOST A YOUNG MAN WHO MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT OF AS SIMPLE CAME TO CHRIST 49 • AS THE PASTOR WAS ABOUT TO BAPTIZE HIM HE ASKED THE YOUNG MAN A QUESTION • “HOW DID YOU COME TO FIND CHRIST?” • THE YOUNG MAN RESPONDED WITH A SIMPLE ANSWER 50 • “I DID NOT FIND CHRIST, HE FOUND ME.” • WHEN A SHEEP IS LOST HE DOES NOT FIND THE SHEPHERD • THE SHEPHERD FINDS HIM • WHEN WE ARE BLESSED TO BE PART OF SOMEONE COMING TO FIND CHRIST • WE ARE NOT HELPING THEM FIND JESUS • WE ARE HELPING JESUS FIND THEM • TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO GO TO WHERE THEY ARE 51 MATTHEW 28:19 52 “GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, 53 • NOTICE IT DOES NOT SAY; “STAY HERE AND MAKE” • OR WAIT FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU AND MAKE. • IT SAYS GO THEREFORE AND MAKE • THE MAIN VERB IN THAT SENTENCE IS GO • TO WHERE THEY ARE • WE GO TO WHERE THEY ARE FOR A REASON 54 55 TO HELP THE LOST KNOW WHO JESUS IS • SAUL ASKS THE QUESTION; • “WHO ARE YOU LORD?” • THIS IS THE QUESTION WE WANT THE LOST TO ASK WHO IS JESUS • NOW JUST BECAUSE SAUL SAYS LORD 56 • DOES NOT MEAN HE IS CALLING JESUS LORD • THE WORD TRANSLATED LORD CAN ALSO MEAN SIR • IT IS HOW YOU ADDRESS SOMEONE • YOU KNOW IS YOUR SUPERIOR • SAUL MAY UNDERSTAND BY SUDDEN APPEARANCE • OF THE LIGHT SINNING BRIGHTER • THAN THE NOON DAY SUN • THAT THIS WAS SOMEONE FROM GOD 57 58 • SO, HE RESPECTFULLY ASKS WHO IT IS • WHEN WE GO TO WHERE LOST PEOPLE ARE • THIS IS THE QUESTION WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR • IT COMES IN MANY FORMS 59 • “HOW COULD GOD LET MY MOTHER DIE?” • “HOW CAN THERE BE EVIL IN THE WORLD?” • “WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?” • “WHY IS THE WORLD SO UNFAIR?” • ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY THE SAME QUESTION • “WHO IS JESUS?” • WE NEED TO BE READY TO ANSWER • THAT IS HOW WE 60 HELP THE LOST UNDERSTAND JESUS • JESUS ANSWERS SAUL’S QUESTION VERY SIMPLY • “I AM JESUS WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING” • THERE IS SUCH POWER IN THIS ANSWER 61 62 • SAUL WOULD KNOW SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS BY THIS ANSWER • ONE, JESUS WHO WAS CRUCIFIED HAD RISEN FROM THE DEAD • TWO, JESUS HAD COME FROM GOD • HIS SUDDEN APPEARANCE ON THE ROAD IN A FLASH OF BLINDING LIGHT • HIS MIRACULOUS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD ALL CONFIRMED THIS • THREE, JESUS CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH ARE ONE • SAUL HAD THOUGHT HE WAS PERSECUTING HERETICS • FOLLOWING A FALSE MESSIAH 63 64 • BUT HE WAS HARMING THOSE WHO WERE UNITED WITH GOD • WHEN WE MEET THE LOST WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR ANGER • OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS IS 65 • AND HELP THEM COME TO KNOW HIM AND BELIEVE IN HIM • IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO CONVICT THEM OF THEIR SIN • THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB 66 • IT IS NOT OUR JOB CLEAN THEM UP • THAT IS BETWEEN THEM AND GOD • IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO PICK AND CHOOSE • WHICH ONES ACCEPT AND TRUST IN CHRIST ACTS 9:7–9 67 THE MEN WHO TRAVELED WITH HIM STOOD SPEECHLESS, HEARING THE VOICE BUT SEEING NO ONE. SAUL GOT UP FROM THE GROUND, AND THOUGH HIS EYES WERE OPEN, HE COULD SEE NOTHING; 68 AND LEADING HIM BY THE HAND, THEY BROUGHT HIM INTO DAMASCUS. AND HE WAS THREE DAYS WITHOUT SIGHT, AND NEITHER ATE NOR DRANK. 69 • SOME OF THE LOST WILL NOT HEAR • IT IS AWESOME THAT SAUL HEARD CHRIST AND BELIEVED • BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER GUYS WITH HIM 70 • DID YOU NOTICE THE MEN WITH HIM IT SAYS HERE THEY HEARD THE VOICE? • WE DO NOT READ OF THEM COMING TO FAITH IN CHRIST ACTS 22:9 71 “AND THOSE WHO WERE WITH ME SAW THE LIGHT, TO BE SURE, BUT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE VOICE OF THE ONE WHO WAS SPEAKING TO ME. • THIS VERSE MAKES IT CLEAR • THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF CHRIST’S VOICE • BUT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING • THEY SAW THE LIGHT BE DID NOT SEE CHRIST 72 73 • IF YOU SPEND MUCH TIME TALKING WITH THE LOST • YOU WILL RUN INTO A FEW OF THESE PEOPLE • THEY WILL HEAR THE SOUNDS YOU MAKE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOD 74 • BUT THEY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THE WORDS • THEY MAY EVEN SEE THE LIGHT FROM CHRIST • AS WE SERVE THEM AND HELP THEM 75 • BUT THEY WILL NOT SEE CHRIST • HONESTLY THIS IS THE TOUGHEST THING ABOUT • PRESENTING THE GOSPEL • MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU TALK TO WILL NOT GET THE MESSAGE MATTHEW 7:13 76 “ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE; FOR THE GATE IS WIDE AND THE WAY IS BROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO ENTER THROUGH IT. 77 • THIS IS WHY IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE UNDERSTAND SOMETHING • WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF OUR EVANGELISM • WE ARE CALLED TO GO TO WHERE THE LOST ARE AND PRESENT THE MESSAGE • GOD IS IN CHARGE OF THE RESULTS 78 • WHEN THE GOSPEL IS REJECTED IT CAN BE HEART BREAKING • BUT WHEN IT IS ACCEPTED IT IS THE MOST AMAZING THING 79 • WHEN THAT AMAZING THING HAPPENS, WE NEED TO KNOW • THOSE THAT COME TO KNOW WHO CHRIST IS • MAY NEED OUR HELP IN GETTING STARTED 80 SOME OF THE LOST WILL NEED HELP • THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT WHEN YOU COME TO CHRIST • EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE WILL BE FIXED • BUT THE TRUTH IS MANY TIMES 81 • WHEN SOMEONE ACCEPTS CHRIST IT BREAKS THEM • THEY REALIZE HOW MESSED UP THEIR LIFE HAS BEEN • AND THEY FALL APART AND NEED TO BE HELPED BACK UP • SAUL WAS SERIOUSLY SHAKEN BY HIS ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST 82 • THE MEN WITH HIM HAD TO LEAD HIM THE REST OF THE WAY TO DAMASCUS • HE DID NOT EAT OR DRINK FOR THREE DAYS • THIS IS A BROKEN AND HELPLESS MAN • HE WENT FROM “BREATHING THREATS AND MURDER” 83 • TO BLIND AND BEING LED BY THE HAND • YA, JESUS CHRIST WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE • IF WE ARE DEALING WITH SOMEONE AS FAR FROM CHRIST AS SAUL WAS • WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THEM TO CRASH WHEN THEY TRUST IN CHRIST 84 • IT MAY NOT BE AS DRAMATIC AS BLINDED AND NOT EATING FOR 3 DAYS • BUT IT IS LIKELY THEY WILL NEED OUR HELP IN SOME WAY • DOING THIS GOSPEL THING IS ALOTTA WORK • WE MIGHT WONDER IF IT IS WORTH IS 85 A MAN DREAMED THAT HE WAS SWEPT INTO HEAVEN, • HE WAS SO DELIGHTED TO THINK THAT HE HAD AT LAST GOT THERE. • AN ANGEL CAME AND SAID: • “COME, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.” 86 • HE TOOK HIM TO THE WALLS OF HEAVEN, AND HE SAID, • “LOOK DOWN YONDER; WHAT DO YOU SEE?” • “I SEE A VERY DARK WORLD.” • “LOOK AND SEE IF YOU KNOW IT.” 87 • “WHY, YES,” HE SAID, “THAT IS THE WORLD I HAVE COME FROM.” • “WHAT DO YOU SEE?” • “MEN ARE BLINDFOLDED THERE; • MANY OF THEM ARE GOING OVER A PRECIPICE.” • “WELL, WILL YOU STAY HERE AND ENJOY HEAVEN, • OR WILL YOU GO BACK TO EARTH AND SPEND A LITTLE LONGER TIME, • AND TELL THOSE MEN ABOUT THIS WORLD?” 88 89 • THE MAN WAS A CHRISTIAN WORKER WHO HAD BEEN DISCOURAGED. • HE AWOKE FROM HIS SLEEP AND LATER HE SAID: • “I HAVE NEVER WISHED MYSELF TO HEAVEN SINCE.” • AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE IN THIS WORLD FOR ONLY TWO THINGS 90 • ONE, GROW TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS CHRIST • TWO, HELP OTHERS COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST • ANYTHING ELSE WE DO IN THIS WORLD IS INSIGNIFICANT MATTHEW WAS FOUND • THEIR HEARTS LEAPT FOR JOY. • INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, MATTHEW WAS UNTRAUMATIZED. • HE HADN’T BEEN CRYING. 91 92 • TO HIM, THERE HAD BEEN NO PROBLEM. • SOME ASKED WHERE HE HAD BEEN FOUND. • “THE CANDY COUNTER,” THEY REPLIED. • “YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIM. • HIS EYES CAME JUST ABOUT AS HIGH AS THE CANDY. • HE HELD HIS LITTLE HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK • AND MOVED HIS HEAD BACK AND FORTH, SURVEYING ALL THE LUSCIOUS OPTIONS.” • MATTHEW DIDN’T LOOK LOST. 93 • HE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS LOST. • HE WAS OBLIVIOUS TO THE PHENOMENAL DANGER HE WAS IN. • LIVE IN A WE A CANDY-COUNTER CULTURE • FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO DON’T LOOK LOST AND DON’T KNOW THEY’RE LOST 94 95 • THESE LOST PEOPLE ARE ANGRY • AT GOD, RELIGION, CHRISTIANITY • MANY ARE NOT EVEN AWARE THEY ARE ANGRY • WE NEED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVE • MANY ARE LOOKING FOR VALIDATION FOR THEIR ANGER • THEIR ANGER IS ENCOURAGED BY THE CULTURE • THIS CAN LEAD THEM TO MISTREAT CHRISTIANS • WE NEED TO BE READY TO MEET THEM IN THEIR ANGER 96 97 • AND HELP THEM TO KNOW WHO JESUS CHRIST IS • GOD COME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE HAS DONE • DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED • TO ENTER INTO AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 98 99 • FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF IN CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS • IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO HAS NOT TRUST…. 100