Have you ever heard someone say, where was God when I needed him? Who hasn’t? Who hasn’t said it themselves? Although this is phrased in the form of a question, do you see that in most cases it is really intended as an accusation? If the expectation is that God will be with you always and you are not aware of his presence, then it is a fair question, but you will only get an answer if you pursue it as a question rather than an accusation. If you are willing to revisit the experience from this perspective, I will comfort and reassure you by showing you how I was with you in your darkest hour. 

I taught clearly about dying to yourself that you may live, to lay down your life and pick up your cross and follow me. These may not be anyone’s favorite Bible verses, but they present a strong and unified theme that you cannot ignore. You meet some individuals that take them seriously. Paul died daily, always bearing about my death in his own body. Do you think this ends with individuals? My body is composed of many members, and some things that apply to individuals can be scaled up to groups of believers, such as churches. Are you prepared to see churches die to themselves that they may live? 

If church A takes seriously the Great Commission and conducts an evangelization campaign, and many people respond to the gospel message and become believers, and they all go on to attend church B, should church A consider their evangelization campaign to be a success? This depends on their purpose for preaching the gospel. Do not confuse your obedience to the eternal principles of my Kingdom with your program for church growth. Do not create a linkage between these things when I have not. I commissioned you to proclaim my message and promised that I would build my church. If you do your part I will do my part and I will commend you as a good and faithful servant. 

I stated that I came to give you an abundant life. What do you think that involves? Many people think of it in terms of more stuff, but this is what the gentiles seek and I also said that the abundance of a man’s life does not consist of what he possesses. If you examine the lives of people you considered to have spiritual abundance do you find that they are wealthy? Then in what way do they have abundance? Do you see in them a great capacity for intense engagement and experience, not only for joy and ecstasy, but also for pain and sorrow?