My brief sermon today is focused on two words: "Wonderful Sacrifice." At first glance these two words seem almost contradictory. If you put a Methodist through a free-association exercise, don't expect him to respond to the word "sacrifice" by saying "wonderful." The word "sacrifice" causes many Methodists to grab their wallets and run for cover.

I heard a story about a little boy who attended church one Sunday with his grandmother. All went well until offering time. Gramma began to search through her pocketbook for her offering envelope. She couldn't find it; she had left it at home. Sensing her dilemma, the little boy rose to the occasion. He whispered, "Here Gramma, you take my quarter and put it in, and I'll hide under the pew." That must have been a Methodist kid.

Can a sacrifice real…