Contend: All in for Him, All out for Others

In this standalone sermon, we learn from an New Testament apostle and a 17th-century mathematician what it looks like to contend for the Jesus and for others, being all in for Him and all out for others. In Colossians 1:29-2:1, Paul writes about contending strenuously, working agonizingly hard, for fellow believers, surrendered to the strength Christ and his work through the Holy Spirit. We see the same striving in the life of Blaise Pascal, who, after he became a believer by writing his Mémorial, passionately defended his Christian faith in his Pensées, which included his famous wager. Both Paul and Pascal contended for Jesus and for others with their talents and time. For both of them, Jesus provided the example, the strength, and the inspiration to be focused on leading people to know Jesus and encouraging them to grow in faith, and he has given us the same through his spirit so that we can be all in for Him and all out for others.