Several months ago I was asked if I would preach at a low income housing facility downtown and I accepted. Families who came to listen would receive a free box of food. There were about thirty people listening while keeping a close eye on the boxes. I would describe my audience as distant with the potential of getting unruly. To keep their attention, I would often make eye contact and would move around the room quite frequently. I used this opportunity to preach on John 14:15, "If you love me (Jesus) you will keep my commandments." I told them that a love for God will result in a desire to obey his commands. I walked them through the Ten Commandments to show them their depravity. I then spoke on the cross so they could see his love toward us. Romans 5:8 reads, "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Once they realized that they were dead in their trespasses, suddenly the love of God makes more sense. I then indicated that we love Him because He first loved us. The love of God was displayed on the cross by the shedding of His blood, satisfying the just penalty of sin. Our response to this good news is to tell others. Not only because He commands us to, but because the love of God is the only sufficient motive for evangelism.
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