Message summary: When we share the Gospel those who believe in Christ find the message a pleasing aroma, a message of new life. But to those perishing they find the message like a foul odor, a reminder of death.

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"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 a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

Yesterday I taught our Adult Bible Fellowship class, a group of about fifty fellow travelers walking the same pilgrim pathway.* We are teaching a series on apologetics and sharing our faith. My particular topic was "Destroying Strongholds". In this context these are the stongholds we encounter that limit receptivity to the truth of the Gospel. "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

I illustrated using a verse that describes how we all spread an aroma (spiritually and figuratively speaking), "the fragrance of the knowledge of Him". To those who believe in Christ it is a pleasant aroma, a fragrance of "life to life". But to those perishing (lost without Christ, dead in their sins) it is a fragrance of "death to death".

In the course of the lesson I asked for examples of pleasant fragrances such as a scented candle, lilacs, bread baking and so forth. Then I asked for a response regarding unpleasant (really foul) odors with a photo of a manure spreader on the slide. The class responded with examples like skunk, but one responded with "limburger cheese".

How many of you are familiar with limburger cheese? My first memory is that my PaPa (my Mom's dad) really enjoyed limburger cheese and wanted others to enjoy it as well. But he had few takers since limburger cheese is known for its very foul odor. It's famously used in pranks when a foul odor is desired.

Then we had a class demonstration. Likely the only Sunday School class in the world that had a limburger cheese tasting. In Friday's message we shared about Rick, a class member, who is retiring after over 50 years of working at farm market stands selling meats and cheeses.

Rick brought in some limburger cheese and gave a slice with a tasty cracker to those who might want to try it out. It seems the majority of the class did and based on hands raised most enjoyed it (including Brooksyne)! I was quite surprised.

But class members commented on the after taste and the smell it left on their fingers. (I wouldn't want a stinky foot smell on my fingers). I suppose the foul smell I experienced at my PaPa's is a first impression that has never left me so I had no interest in trying it.

The cheese produces its notorious smell because of the bacterium used to ferment it. This is Brevibacterium linens, the same one found on human skin that is partially responsible for body odor (particularly foot odor). That gives you a pretty good sense of how bad it can smell!

Today, the only limburger producer in the United States of America is Chalet Cheese Cooperative in Monroe, Wisconsin.

I am sure many in our class will not soon forget that we had a limburger cheese tasting in our Sunday School class. I just hope they remember the main point to the illustration!

The main point being: when we share the Gospel those who believe in Christ find the message a pleasing aroma, a message of new life. But to those perishing they find the message like a foul odor, a reminder of death. That's why conversion is absolutely essential.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber