Years ago, preacher friend Stan Bailey sent this story around in his church newsletter. It's a story about a visitor to a heavy-duty grease factory. He says the visitors were ushered into a large room and a tour host introduced them to the company history and the number of employees at work producing the best machine lubricants in the world.

They toured the noisy factory, with lots of machinery and wheels whirling, mixing, packaging-incredible activity.

As the tour ended, one of the visitors said, "I didn't see a shipping department." The guide responded, "Well, we don't have a shipping department because it takes all the grease we make to lubricate our equipment and keep the wheels turning."

Brother Stan concluded: Friends, the Church is the best lubricated grease factory in all of history. What's missing is the shipping department.

The church does not exist for itself; it exists to bring others to a commitment to and a relationship with Jesus Christ.

adapted from John E. Harnish, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

The man  (or woman) who is thoroughly devoted to the Lord does not need to wear some badge in his coat lapel, nor to proclaim that he is "living a life of victory." It is still true that actions speak louder than words.  - A.W. Pink