Although we may not realise it, we all live surrounded by an empire. The society in which Jesus and the first disciples lived was controlled by the Roman Empire. Today the empire is not quite so obvious, but no less powerful. As Christians today, how will we respond? What empire do we seek to serve? The gods of consumerism, of personal gain, of getting the best job, the nicest car? The gods of political correctness, of refusing to upset anyone by suggesting that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation? The temptations are there, even if the gods are more subtle than they were in Roman times.