The Great Commission - Part 6 - Trends and opportunities - HIV-AIDS

Sermon synopsis: HIV-AIDS is a pandemic that is ravaging families, communities and entire nations. Since the start of the epidemic around 78 million have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses. Worldwide, 1.8 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2016, of which 160 000 were children. In 2016, there were 36.7 million people living with HIV worldwide and 1 million people died from AIDS-related causes.

We have an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to those who are suffering. Look at how Jesus treated lepers who were the outcasts of his day and the equivalent of modern AIDS sufferers.

We need to repent of attitudes of prejudice, apathy, lack of compassion, and double standards in relation to sexual sin, recognizing the suffering of millions who are affected directly and indirectly by this disease, many through no fault of their own. But we also have to challenge and confront the sins that contribute to the spread of HIV.