Having a great reputation is golden. Corporations pay millions for reputation management. But what if there’s a gap between who people think you are and who you really are?

Lots of people treat Christianity like it’s an outfit you hang in your closet six days a week, then take out and wear on Sunday. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus is something you put on and wear out there in the world every day.

If someone put a gun to your head and said, “If you want to live, call Jesus a liar,” what would you do? Such personally apocalyptic scenarios are thankfully rare in the west. But in some parts of the world, average people have found the courage to reach deep into their faith and hold on even at the cost of their lives. I actually think most of us would surprise ourselves were we to face such a moment. What may be harder is to resist the little compromises we face every day.

What do you say to someone who is enduring a terrible struggle – one that is about to get a lot worse? That depends, of course, on who you are, how close your relationship to the person in pain is, how much you know about that particular kind of struggle and about a thousand other factors. But if you’re Jesus – here’s what you say.

What would Jesus say to a church that was known for its hard work in the community, its perseverance in the face of persecution and for its strong, biblical teaching? He’d start with “Way to go!” But then he’d point to one glaring problem and ask, “What’s up with that?”

Jesus. More books have been written about him than any other figure in history. He is the most enduring icon ever. And that’s the problem. He has become an icon. A pliable image easily turned into a marketing device or mascot for everything from tee shirts to television shows, political movements to motion pictures. He can be your homeboy, your good buddy or your boyfriend. He is useful, attractive, and he sells; which suggests that somewhere along the line we missed something really important. God intended for us to be conformed to the image of Christ, not the other way around.

I attended a funeral this week. Family and friends celebrated the life of the departed with words of praise, gratitude and love. Do you ever wonder what they’ll say at your funeral? Want to know how to make sure you to are celebrated? Join us as we close out the Imagine series with a final look at two very important and powerful words.

Do you blush less often than you used to? Do things you used to find offensive hardly raise an eyebrow anymore? Would you listen to your favorite music if your mom was riding in the car with you? We live in a coarse culture. And if you play in the yard, you’re going to track in some dirt. This week, we take a look at how we have become accustomed to impurity.

When you choose to do the right thing – what’s behind that? Why do you sometimes say “Yes,” when you’d rather say “No,” because in that moment, saying “Yes,” is the right thing to do? Why do you sometimes stay when you’d rather run – or run when you’d rather stay? In this sermon, I’ll show you how your answer probably has something to do with marbles.