Prelude: Nickelback video; If Everyone cared

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has!”

We have a tendency to discount our ability to accomplish anything in the face of overwhelming odds, yet history is full of examples of people who did just that.  Their beliefs were so strong that they were able to move beyond their fears, weaknesses, and insecurities and take action. 

We love the stories.  We love movies and books about people who defy the odds, who dared to challenge the prevailing wisdom to do something extraordinary.  Could it be that we love these stories because we all share the same desire?

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Love causes us to do things and go places we would otherwise never choose.

 Think about it.  We will do almost anything to impress the ones we love.  Guys who are in love will don a suit and a tie and go to a play, eat food they normally wouldn’t consider, go to a mall and pretend they like to shop, see a chick flick, spend money they don’t have, and buy gifts they can’t afford.  Many will even go to church when secretly they’re scared to death!

Women in love might go to a football game, learn to play golf, or go hunting or fishing.

Nothing causes us to move beyond ourselves more than authentic love.  Why do we do these things?  Because we want so much to please the ones we love.

Loving God is similar in many ways.  When we love God, we want more than anything to please him.  We are more committed to his interests than our own.  And in time, God’s interests become ours.

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Big idea — often we fail to give to those in need, because we feel we don’t have enough ourselves.  A powerful way to break the spirit of poverty within ourselves is by giving extravagantly — not from our excess, but from our necessities.

Bono – Lead singer for the band U2 is a rock star, activist, and unlikely prophet. He has been going around the world proclaiming the crazy idea that we can somehow eliminate what he calls “stupid poverty”.  And what’s amazing is that people are listening.  Christians are especially interested because Bono believes the church could be the vehicle that ultimately eradicates much of the world’s poverty.  I think he may be right! The Bible talks a great deal about this.

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