If I had to Live it Over Again
“If I Had to Live It Over Again”
Dr. Tony Campolo
- Sociological Study- 50 people over the age of 95 were asked “If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently?”
- Three answers dominated the responses- Reflect more, Risk More, More things that would live on after death
- Reflect More- Stop, think, and consider with intensity the things that we took for granted
- Although you deserve God’s punishment, Jesus took it for you and took our sins upon himself
- Jesus has imputed unto us His righteousness- all the good things Jesus ever did is ascribed to us
- Stop, listen, pay attention
- You need to reflect not just on what Jesus has done, but on life itself
- Story about Tony in the 9th grade
- “How long have you lived?”
- Jesus can invade your life and create within you an awakened awareness of life. He can open your eyes to things.
- If these people could do it over again, they would probably do it the exact same way, unless they were surrendered to Christ
- Two categories of people- The bored and the boring
- Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town”
- Do any of you ever really live life while you’re alive?
- Story about stick ball and going to retrieve the broomsticks from the cops
- The most exciting thing is taking a risk
- You can’t have friends if you don’t take risks
- If you know who you are, you can’t understand yourself as a loser
- “You were one a sperm…you made it to the finish line…you are a winner!”
- You are not worthless, you are unworthy!
- Friendship depends on risk
- Marriage depends on risk
- The Christian lifestyle is a call to risk taking
- Hebrews 11
- You don’t have to make a living, you have to live
- Niche said “Live dangerously…”
- Christianity is a call to not play it safe
- Star Trek- “Challenge to boldly go where no one has gone before!”
- Nothing is sadder than the words “What might have been?”
- Live on after you are dead
- Story about Student Recognition Day at Tony’s church
- When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. When you die, is everyone else going to cry and you’re the only one that’s happy?
- Titles vs. Testimonies
- Story about Tony’s son who played soccer and beat a senior in high school out for the position of goalie
- Paul and Barnabas
- Story- Ms. Thompson and Teddy Stallard
- “Only one life twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Jesus will last.”
- If you can learn from 50 old folks over the age of 95, then you cant learn at all.
Tags: old people, reflect, risk, death, punishment, imputed righteousness, Thornton Wilder, Our Town, stickball, friendship, marriage, cops, winner, loser, sperm, worthless, unworthy, Hebrews 11, Niche, Star Trek, Student Recognition Day, titles, testimonies, Paul, Barnabas, Ms. Thompson, Teddy Stallard