The scripture

the text for this evening comes from 2 Corinthians 2 verses 12 through 17.

If you're reading from a Pew Bible, it can be found on page 965.

2, versus 12 through 17.

When I came to Troas to preach the Gospel of Christ,

even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not

at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. But thanks be to

God who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are

perishing. To one a fragrance from death to death, to the other of fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not like so many peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity,

as commissioned by God in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Let's pray.

Father, would you come and be fragrant in this service with the knowledge of your son?

And don't let the aroma for anyone here be death.

Let the aroma be life.

May some awaken to the truth and reality of Jesus Christ and be saved.

And may others find this aroma so compelling

that they want to wear it as a garment in a place where there's no

Roma of Jesus at all. Help me handle this text faithfully I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Before we turn to the text in 2 Corinthians, let me put it in a missionary context.

Paul was a missionary.

We saw that crystal clear in Romans 15.

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