| East Tipp Baptist Church | 5300 E 300 North Lafayette, Indiana 47905 | (765) 589-3587 Office | Copyright 2007 East Tipp Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved. |
Story of the Week
Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of
the community. A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon.
The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the
small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother. The
bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it.
The youngster gave the same answer, so the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living
room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed.
The bus pastor asked the boy, “Where do you go to church?”
The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, “I've never been to church in my whole life.” The bus pastor thought
to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house.
“Are you sure you have never been to church?” he asked again.
“I sure haven't”, came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, “Well, son, more Important than going to church, have you
ever heard the greatest love story ever told?” and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy.
The young lad's heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the bus pastor's story the bus pastor asked he wanted
to receive this free gift from God.
The youngster exclaimed, “You bet!” The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his
little heart and received the free gift of salvation.
The bus pastor asked if he could pick the boys up for church the next morning. “Sure,” the nine old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning & found the lights off. He let himself in & snaked his way to the
boy's bedroom. He woke him and his brother and helped get them dressed.
They got onto the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church. Keep in mind that this boy had never been
to church before. The church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on.
A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates.
One of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know
what was going on.
All of a sudden like a bolt of lightning it hit the kid what was taking place. These people must be giving money to Jesus.
He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just 24 hours earlier.
He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering
plate was being passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to it.
He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him.
Then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the
sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked
about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time.
Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and
stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give
you today, but just me. I give you me!"
You really never give Jesus anything until first you give Him yourself!
Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of
the community. A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon.
The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the
small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother. The
bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it.
The youngster gave the same answer, so the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living
room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed.
The bus pastor asked the boy, “Where do you go to church?”
The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, “I've never been to church in my whole life.” The bus pastor thought
to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house.
“Are you sure you have never been to church?” he asked again.
“I sure haven't”, came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, “Well, son, more Important than going to church, have you
ever heard the greatest love story ever told?” and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy.
The young lad's heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the bus pastor's story the bus pastor asked he wanted
to receive this free gift from God.
The youngster exclaimed, “You bet!” The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his
little heart and received the free gift of salvation.
The bus pastor asked if he could pick the boys up for church the next morning. “Sure,” the nine old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning & found the lights off. He let himself in & snaked his way to the
boy's bedroom. He woke him and his brother and helped get them dressed.
They got onto the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church. Keep in mind that this boy had never been
to church before. The church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on.
A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates.
One of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know
what was going on.
All of a sudden like a bolt of lightning it hit the kid what was taking place. These people must be giving money to Jesus.
He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just 24 hours earlier.
He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering
plate was being passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to it.
He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him.
Then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the
sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked
about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time.
Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and
stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give
you today, but just me. I give you me!"
You really never give Jesus anything until first you give Him yourself!