In Travels with Charley John Steinbeck said he liked to attend a fundamentalist church because the preacher made him feel bad and he knew right where he stood and that he was going to hell, so he could leave worship feeling like he had really heard from God. Lots of people think they have had a profound spiritual experience because they feel guilty, but then they don't change their behavior so they are only fooling themselves. I don't like to make you feel guilty, but if this scripture makes you feel guilty today, it's not my fault. It's probably because you are guilty, and I hope you'll do something about it. Guilt is good if you don't wallow in your self-pity.
Guilt is good if it becomes the opportunity for sober self-reflection and genuine change.
Guilt is good if it drives you into the arms of a forgiving and transforming God. Here's what I'm trying to say. But you also need to come to Monday Outreach Night or volunteer to help when we host the IHN or spend a few hours at the Baptist Soup Kitchen or help the deacons carry flowers to the homebound or pull your weight to pay the bills around here. You need to expect your staff to train, equip, and encourage you to minister to this community in the name of Christ, not to do the ministry for you. Of course, you also have a right to expect your staff to be modeling a ministry that acts.