Do you ever feel like you need to apologize for your faith?  If you share your testimony, maybe you even start by saying, “I’m sorry, this may offend you and I don’t mean to sound like a bigot but…”  It’s interesting to note the manner of Jesus and the apostles on this matter.  Because they believed the Father was drawing people and the Spirit was at work, they simply shared the truth and let it stand.  They believed that where there was good soil, there would be good fruit.  In our text for Sunday Paul shares an “apologia,” a defense of his life and actions.  That the defense caused offense was no fault of Paul’s.  These days people are offended over just about everything.  Cancel culture has virtually eliminated dialogue and the freedom of speech on the college campus.  It’s not much better in the everyday conversations among people at work, play and business.  What are we to do when so many are offended?  We should honestly evaluate our message and our manner but, when the gospel is the offense, we must simply remember the words of our Lord when the disciples said that He had offended the Pharisees, “He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."  Whoa!  That sounds a little harsh but remember Who said that and that a disciple is not above his master.