Bill wore a t-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and flip-flops–his wardrobe for literally his entire four years of college.  Admittedly, a bit strange, though very bright, Bill had become a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus was very conservative church, where people dressed up to attend. They wanted to develop a ministry to the students but were not sure how to go about it.

One day Bill decided to go there—in his usual attire of jeans and torn t-shirt.  When he walked in, the church was packed. People watched a bit uncomfortably as he continued down the aisle and, not finding a seat, finally sat down right on the carpet at the front.  By now the people were really uptight, and the tension in the air was thick.

About this time, the minister noticed that from away at the back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way toward Bill.  The godly, silver-haired gentleman in his eighties was wearing a fine suit–very elegant, very dignified.  As he started toward the young man, everyone was saying to himself, “You can’t blame him for what he’s going to do.  How can you expect a man of his age and background to understand some college kid on the floor?”

The church was silent, all eyes focused on the two.  The minister couldn’t even preach the sermon until the deacon did what he had to do.

But now they see this elderly man with great difficulty lower himself and sit down next to Bill and worship with him so he won’t be alone.

When the minister gained control of his emotions, he said quietly, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember.  What you have just seen, you will never forget. My sermon text this morning is Ephesians 5:15: “Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” And then he added, “You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.”