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Closing Words:
The phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" has become an icon of pop culture, but its origin dates back more than a century. Charles M. Sheldon, a Congregational minister, pointed the phrase in a series of sermon stories prepared for his congregation in Topeka, Kansas. As a ploy to increase attendance at the Sunday evening services, Sheldon began reading one sermon story per week. These explored moral dilemmas concerning poverty, deprivation and inequality encountered in every day life. Each ended with a dramatic cliff-hanger. The strategy was a huge success. The crowds came pouring in, eager to hear the next installment.
While Sheldon was reading his stories to his parishioners, they were also being published as a serial in the Chicago Advance, a religious weekly newspaper. Sheldon later put the story into book form and entitled it In His Steps. The result was a compelling novel about a group of people from a Chicago church, who agreed to base all their actions and choices for one year on the question, "What Would Jesus Do?". They find they are unable to settle for easy choices, instead opting for difficult but spiritually rewarding projects in service of others. The message of this book is said to have been the inspiration for the advancement of the social gospel, as well as a catalyst for change in the lives of many thousands of believers.
The Apostle Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 11:1,
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
DO WHAT JESUS DID!
Have a great day!
Pastor Moe
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