Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / A Charge to Discipleship - Week 1
Transcript
- 0:00Turn to the Gospel according to Mark. Go ahead and turn to chapter 1 with me this morning.
- 0:03! We are going to take a break from our verse-by-verse working through the Gospel of Mark.
- 0:17I can't tell you exactly how many weeks that's going to be at this point, likely for the month of February, we're going to do this.
- 0:25And we're doing so because I think there's an issue in the American church, which is true of our church as well, that needs to be addressed.
- 0:35And we need to take some time to sit and to consider and to really search our hearts concerning the matter.
- 0:43Let me first give you a hug before I step on our toes.
- 0:50As a church, we do so much right.
- 0:54I'm immensely grateful for all of you, and I don't know all of you in the room.
- 0:58Some of you are guests with us here this morning.
- 1:01This church is a wonderful church.
- 1:04There's so much that's good and healthy about what we're doing.
- 1:08In fact, as I meet with pastors in the area to be encouraged and to press one another on,
- 1:15I always leave those meetings so happy to be the pastor of Christ Family Church.
- 1:20Because I don't deal with nearly the messes that they're dealing with in their churches.
- 1:26I found myself being a little bit mean about it.
- 1:32Like, hey, you want to meet with me so I can hear all your trouble so I can be really happy about my life and my church and the things that are happening in our congregation.
- 1:43But there's more, and there's better work that we can be doing.
- 1:47And there's a danger that we always look at the good things, which we should certainly look at.
- 1:52We should certainly give God much praise for those things that are happening in the life of our church.
- 1:57But that we, in doing that, we ignore those things that need to be worked on.
- 2:03And I don't think that I would be a good leader to you if knowing those things are true and not telling you about them and not pushing you beyond them,
- 2:12not looking for a greater degree of growth in your life.
- 2:15It would be unloving for me to withhold that from you.
- 2:19There's a school of thought that says if it isn't broken, don't fix it.
- 2:24It's a very American way of thinking about business, for an example.
- 2:27But I say there's always more.
- 2:32Jesus comes back today, we're done.
- 2:34But until that time, we're not perfected.
- 2:37And we have much work to do.
- 2:40And that's why I want to take some time to address this issue.
- 2:44And I will say that as we get into it, that there are many of you who do this well.
- 2:51That the Lord is pleased with the work that you're doing.
- 2:54And my charge to you would be, help me give leadership in surmounting this problem for us.
- 3:02So what is that?
- 3:03The Gospel of Mark, the great labor of it was to give evidence that Jesus is the Christ.
- 3:12Mark does this at great pains.
- 3:14He establishes Jesus' power over demons, over sickness.
- 3:17His power over Satan, religion itself, the traditions of men.
- 3:22His power over nature and his power over sin.
- 3:26So Mark really wants his readers to see Jesus is the Christ.
- 3:34And as such, he wants his readers to see what it means to follow Jesus Christ.
- 3:41That if Jesus is Lord, what does his Lordship look like?
- 3:45And how does it bring bearing in our lives?
- 3:47How then should we live if we're to be disciples of Jesus Christ?
- 3:54And if we're to say that we're disciples of Jesus Christ, this means that we follow him.
- 3:58That we walk in his ways.
- 4:01And if this is true of us, we as believers must be about the work of making disciples.
- 4:11We must be.
- 4:12And I think that this is a fairly large failure on our part.
- 4:18Certainly to say that there are various giftings in our church.
- 4:22There are those with a particular evangelistic gifting that do such a wonderful job of opening the door and inviting people in.
- 4:31There are those who are really gifted teachers and can explain things with such clarity to help people understand.
- 4:38And a shame is that in our American churches, we have so segregated and so specialized the ministry that we have left that work in the hands of few,
- 4:50while the many do very, very little.
- 4:55I want this to be untrue of our congregation.
- 4:58And I hope that in these coming weeks, it will begin to be the case for us.
- 5:03But let me take you through Mark and just help establish what Jesus is trying to do in his ministry and the way in which Mark, led by the Spirit, records it for us.
- 5:13Look first in chapter 1.
- 5:14Almost every chapter.
- 5:16Chapter 1, verse 14 and 15.
- 5:19Now after John, that's John the Baptist, was arrested,
- 5:22Jesus came into Galilee, the place where he ministered primarily in his earthly ministry,
- 5:28proclaiming the gospel of God, the good news of God, and saying,
- 5:33the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.
- 5:37Repent and believe in the gospel, in the good news.
- 5:42The very thing that Jesus came to do, even as he's establishing his power on the earth,
- 5:48was coming to preach.
- 5:52Just after this, he calls the first disciples.
- 5:54Chapter 1, verse 17.
- 5:56He says to Simon and Andrew,
- 5:59follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
- 6:04If you were to follow me,
- 6:05the thing you're going to be about doing is not fishing for fish any longer,
- 6:10but fishing for men.
- 6:13Chapter 1, verse 38.
- 6:16After some people, a crowd is looking for him,
- 6:19Jesus says,
- 6:20let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also.
- 6:25For this is why I came out.
- 6:31Chapter 2, verse 17.
- 6:35Those who are well have no need of a physician,
- 6:39but those who are sick,
- 6:41I came not to call the righteous,
- 6:43but sinners.
- 6:45Jesus didn't come to hang out with those who thought they all had it figured out,
- 6:48who thought they were already righteous,
- 6:50but rather those who were humble and who were broken and knew they needed a Savior.
- 6:57Chapter 3, verses 33-35.
- 7:00Jesus' family has come to take him back.
- 7:09Earlier in the chapter, we see that they thought that he was insane,
- 7:12that he totally lost his mind.
- 7:15So they're standing outside,
- 7:16and the disciples tell them that they're standing outside.
- 7:18In verse 33, he says,
- 7:19Who are my mother and my brothers?
- 7:22And looking about those who sat around him, he said,
- 7:25Here are my mother and my brothers.
- 7:27For whoever does the will of God,
- 7:29he is my brother and sister and mother.
- 7:33We're to be part of the family of God.
- 7:35We are to do the very will of God.
- 7:38Chapter 4, verse 8.
- 7:39He tells the parable of the sower.
- 7:43He says,
- 7:43And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain,
- 7:48growing up and increasing and yielding 30-fold and 60-fold and 100-fold.
- 7:54Some soil receives the good news of the gospel,
- 7:58the seed planted in them,
- 7:59and grows up and produces more gospel,
- 8:04growth in the kingdom.
- 8:06And he gives explanation of that in verse 20 of chapter 4.
- 8:09But those that were sown on the good soil
- 8:11are the ones who hear the word
- 8:13and accept it and bear fruit,
- 8:1530-fold and 60-fold and 100-fold.
- 8:20It doesn't make this a conditional thing.
- 8:22If you are in fact found in Christ,
- 8:25if you have accepted the word,
- 8:26you will produce fruit.
- 8:30Chapter 5, verse 19.
- 8:36Jesus heals the man
- 8:38with the subtitle in my copy.
- 8:41It says,
- 8:41A Demon,
- 8:42but we find out that it's actually a legion of demons
- 8:44cast them into a group of pigs
- 8:46who run off into the sea.
- 8:48This man wants to follow him,
- 8:50but rather Jesus says to him in verse 19,
- 8:52Go home to your friends
- 8:53and tell them how much the Lord has done for you
- 8:57and how he has had mercy on you.
- 9:01This man wanted to devote his life
- 9:03because he had been delivered from these demons to Jesus.
- 9:06The way Jesus has him do that
- 9:07is to go back to his family,
- 9:09back to his friends,
- 9:10and to share about the mercy of God on his behalf.
- 9:15Chapter 6, verses 10-12.
- 9:20Jesus sends out the twelve apostles
- 9:23and says to them,
- 9:25When you enter a house,
- 9:26stay there until you depart from there.
- 9:28And if any place will not receive you,
- 9:30and they will not listen to you,
- 9:32there's a proclamation happening.
- 9:33When you leave, shake off the dust
- 9:35that is on your feet as a testimony against them.
- 9:39So, they went out and proclaimed
- 9:42that people should repent.
- 9:45Jesus sets them in motion
- 9:47to do the very thing that he intends for them to do
- 9:49when he departs from them,
- 9:51gathers them back together,
- 9:52and teaches them lessons
- 9:53because of their experience.
- 9:56Skip over chapter 7.
- 9:58It's a great chapter.
- 10:01Verse 34.
- 10:02I'm sorry.
- 10:04Chapter 8, verse 34.
- 10:06I'm going to come back to this in a moment.
- 10:08But just the statement of verse 34.
- 10:11And I will tell you that this is the statement
- 10:13that has just been resonating in my heart
- 10:15as we've been preaching through Mark,
- 10:17as I've been seeing thematic this development.
- 10:21Not that this is a strange concept to us, right?
- 10:23Like, we know this, right?
- 10:24Like, as Christians,
- 10:25we're meant to share our faith.
- 10:26We're meant to preach the gospel, right?
- 10:28I think we get it here,
- 10:29but it needs to work down in
- 10:31and work around inside of us.
- 10:32So, this is the major statement of Christ
- 10:34that's been working in my heart.
- 10:35If anyone would come after me,
- 10:37let him deny himself
- 10:38and take up his cross
- 10:40and follow me.
- 10:42Let him set aside his self-determination,
- 10:45his self-worship,
- 10:46and let him die and follow me.
- 10:49Death and the pain that comes with death
- 10:51to pursue Jesus.
- 10:53chapter 9, verse 35.
- 11:00There's a debate amongst the apostles
- 11:02about who is greatest,
- 11:04who will be the best of apostles.
- 11:07Jesus says in verse 35,
- 11:08if anyone would be first,
- 11:10he must be last of all
- 11:12and servant of all.
- 11:16Chapter 10,
- 11:19verses 44 and 45.
- 11:23Once again,
- 11:24we have some debate.
- 11:26James and John want to sit at his right hand
- 11:28in the kingdom of God.
- 11:30And he says,
- 11:31whoever will be first among you
- 11:32must be slave of all.
- 11:34For even the Son of Man came
- 11:36not to be served,
- 11:38but to serve
- 11:39and to give his life a ransom
- 11:40for many.
- 11:43Chapter 11, verse 17.
- 11:47Jesus goes into the temple
- 11:48and he cleanses it.
- 11:49He flips over all of the tables
- 11:51and he runs out the money changers.
- 11:52He stops people from cutting through
- 11:54the court of Gentiles.
- 11:56And he says,
- 11:56is it not written,
- 11:57and this is from Isaiah 56, 7,
- 11:59my house shall be called
- 12:01a house of prayer
- 12:02for all the nations,
- 12:04but you have made it
- 12:05a den of robbers.
- 12:06The very temple of God
- 12:08was meant to serve
- 12:09as a place
- 12:10to ask God's blessing
- 12:12for all peoples.
- 12:13We see this in Isaiah.
- 12:14We see it other places
- 12:15in the Old Testament.
- 12:16Jesus confirms it for us here
- 12:17in Mark chapter 11.
- 12:20Chapter 12, verse 29.
- 12:28Jesus asks a question
- 12:29to test him
- 12:30by a scribe,
- 12:32kind of a modern day version
- 12:34of a lawyer slash theologian.
- 12:38And Jesus answers,
- 12:39the most important is,
- 12:41hear, O Israel,
- 12:42the Lord our God,
- 12:43the Lord is one.
- 12:45And you shall love
- 12:46the Lord your God
- 12:46with all your heart
- 12:47and with all your soul
- 12:49and with all your mind
- 12:50and with all your strength.
- 12:53The second is this.
- 12:55You shall love your neighbor
- 12:56as yourself.
- 12:58There is no other commandment
- 13:00greater than these.
- 13:04Chapter 13, verse 10.
- 13:07We're almost done.
- 13:07Jesus is telling the apostles
- 13:13things that will come to pass
- 13:16at the end of the age.
- 13:18In verse 10, he says,
- 13:18and the gospel,
- 13:19the good news of Jesus Christ
- 13:21must first be proclaimed
- 13:23to all nations.
- 13:27We saw in chapter 14,
- 13:29Jesus' arrest,
- 13:31and that's where we are
- 13:32now taking a break.
- 13:34In chapter 15 and 16,
- 13:36we're going to see his trial,
- 13:38his death,
- 13:40and his resurrection.
- 13:42And intentionally,
- 13:44I think this is such a good place
- 13:45for us to stop
- 13:46because we're about to really reflect
- 13:47upon the sacrifice
- 13:48of Jesus Christ.
- 13:50He's now been taken captive.
- 13:51The motion is going now.
- 13:53There's going to be
- 13:54this final thing,
- 13:55his death on the cross.
- 13:58And we're going to be
- 13:58really considering that
- 13:59in the coming months.
- 14:01But to stop and think
- 14:03about the cost
- 14:04for us to follow him.
- 14:07Recall that he's made predictions.
- 14:09Chapter 8,
- 14:10chapter 9,
- 14:11chapter 10,
- 14:11in all of these places,
- 14:12he's made predictions
- 14:13about what he's going to suffer
- 14:14when they finally make
- 14:15their final trip to Jerusalem.
- 14:18There's some objection to that.
- 14:20And even if there's not
- 14:21outward objection
- 14:22in some of those cases,
- 14:23they have objections
- 14:25in their hearts
- 14:26because they begin to debate
- 14:27about who's going to be
- 14:27greatest in the kingdom.
- 14:29Right?
- 14:30And the correction
- 14:31he brings to them
- 14:32is that the first
- 14:33will be last
- 14:34and the last
- 14:35will be first.
- 14:37That if we're to follow Jesus,
- 14:38we're going to follow him
- 14:39into his death.
- 14:42And upon his resurrection,
- 14:44he gives a command
- 14:45in chapter 16,
- 14:46verse 15,
- 14:47go into all the world
- 14:50and proclaim the gospel
- 14:51to the whole creation.
- 14:55Whoever believes
- 14:56and is baptized
- 14:56will be saved,
- 14:57but whoever does not believe
- 14:58will be condemned.
- 15:01And there's a more
- 15:02famous record
- 15:04of Jesus' great commission
- 15:05found in Matthew 28,
- 15:07verses 18-20,
- 15:09where Jesus says,
- 15:10So it is the great
- 15:30call on the Christian life.
- 15:34There's much conversation
- 15:35about calling in our society,
- 15:37what God has called you to.
- 15:39And the New Testament
- 15:40is only clear on two things
- 15:41that you've been called to,
- 15:42all believers.
- 15:43We've been called to believe.
- 15:45We've done that thing,
- 15:46I hope,
- 15:47for everybody in this room
- 15:47that's true.
- 15:48And the second thing
- 15:49is that you're called
- 15:50to make disciples.
- 15:51To be about the work
- 15:53of having others believe.
- 15:55These are the two things
- 15:56that you can be very sure of.
- 15:58The particulars
- 15:58of how you'll do that,
- 16:00I don't know.
- 16:02But you could be about
- 16:03that activity,
- 16:04not simply making converts,
- 16:06but disciples.
- 16:07disciples.
- 16:08Teaching them to observe.
- 16:10Not just teaching,
- 16:11but teaching them to observe
- 16:12all the things
- 16:13that Jesus has commanded us
- 16:14to do.
- 16:17Now go back,
- 16:18if you will,
- 16:18with me.
- 16:18Turn back a few pages
- 16:19back to Mark chapter 8.
- 16:20And I want to just expand
- 16:21our text a bit.
- 16:23I think that verse 34,
- 16:35what Jesus says here
- 16:36is kind of this axiomatic statement.
- 16:40This statement on which
- 16:41many things hinge.
- 16:44And to look at the context
- 16:45is so massively important for us.
- 16:47As we see what he begins to do,
- 16:49verse 31,
- 16:50he begins to teach them
- 16:51that the Son of Man
- 16:53must suffer many things
- 16:54and be rejected by the elders
- 16:56and the chief priests
- 16:57and the scribes
- 16:58and be killed.
- 17:00The suffering that he's going
- 17:01to experience
- 17:01is told to them
- 17:02and after three days
- 17:04he will rise again.
- 17:06He even gives to the apostles
- 17:08in this prediction of his death
- 17:10the hope that he will again rise.
- 17:13And he said this plainly,
- 17:15verse 32 says.
- 17:16Right?
- 17:16He says it plainly to them.
- 17:18He doesn't speak in any kind of parable.
- 17:20He doesn't try to confuse
- 17:21in any way whatsoever.
- 17:22He says this to them plainly.
- 17:23This thing will come to pass.
- 17:26And Peter misses the point altogether.
- 17:29He takes him aside
- 17:30and he begins to rebuke him.
- 17:32And I believe that Peter does so
- 17:34out of a love for Jesus.
- 17:36Don't say such things, Jesus.
- 17:38Don't say that this is the way
- 17:39the kingdom is going to come to pass.
- 17:41That you're going to have to suffer
- 17:42and you're going to have to die.
- 17:43That's not the way I envisioned
- 17:45this happening.
- 17:46And in so doing,
- 17:48he's formed Jesus
- 17:50the way he wants him to be.
- 17:54Here is the Son of Man,
- 17:56the predicted one,
- 17:57the Christ,
- 17:58the Lord of all.
- 17:59Recall some of the things
- 18:00that Jesus has accomplished
- 18:01up to this point
- 18:02that Peter has been witness to.
- 18:05Phenomenal things.
- 18:06The one that continually blows my mind
- 18:08because I love nature
- 18:09and being outside
- 18:10and I did so much study
- 18:11on the Sea of Galilee.
- 18:13Was he calling that storm?
- 18:14Storm.
- 18:15Phenomenal thing.
- 18:16This period of the year,
- 18:18storms kick up on the Sea of Galilee.
- 18:21Ten foot waves
- 18:21on a body of water
- 18:23about the size of Lake Lanier.
- 18:24Can you imagine
- 18:25being on Lake Lanier
- 18:26in like a fishing boat
- 18:27and ten foot waves begin?
- 18:29And Jesus just says,
- 18:30be still.
- 18:31And it all stops.
- 18:33Dead.
- 18:34He's seen these kinds of things happen.
- 18:35And then he tells them
- 18:36what will come to pass.
- 18:38And Peter still says,
- 18:39oh no.
- 18:40No, no.
- 18:41This is not the way
- 18:41that Christ comes to reign.
- 18:45And I'm afraid in many ways
- 18:46we do the same thing.
- 18:47We fashion Jesus
- 18:49the way we want Him to look.
- 18:51Right?
- 18:52We in this church
- 18:53certainly shun the gospel
- 18:55of prosperity.
- 18:56I'm not sure
- 18:56that we shun the gospel
- 18:58of comfort.
- 19:00We think that if we add
- 19:01Jesus to our life,
- 19:02life will get better
- 19:04by our terms.
- 19:05And when it doesn't,
- 19:06many people reject it
- 19:08altogether.
- 19:08We're apathetic
- 19:11because we know
- 19:11that being obedient
- 19:12will lead us
- 19:13into uncomfortable discomfort
- 19:15and we don't want it.
- 19:17We make Jesus
- 19:18into our own fashion.
- 19:20That Jesus would come
- 19:21and sit amongst us
- 19:23and chill out with us
- 19:24wouldn't be the case
- 19:25if He were to visit.
- 19:27It would be clear
- 19:27He won't visit again
- 19:28until He's ready to vindicate
- 19:30and wipe the slate clean
- 19:32once again.
- 19:33But if He were
- 19:34just to come and hang out,
- 19:36He might pop by
- 19:37and just say what's up.
- 19:38To our crowd.
- 19:40Sitting together
- 19:41in our comfort,
- 19:42doing our comfortable things.
- 19:43I'm convinced
- 19:44He would be someplace dangerous.
- 19:46Someplace working.
- 19:47Getting in the face
- 19:48of those leading people astray.
- 19:51Laying out His life
- 19:53for the sake of the kingdom
- 19:54of God.
- 19:57Verse 35 says,
- 19:58For whoever would save his life
- 20:00will lose it,
- 20:01but whoever loses his life
- 20:02for my sake
- 20:03and the gospels
- 20:03will save it.
- 20:04Look at the promise there.
- 20:05If we're willing
- 20:06to sacrifice ourselves
- 20:08for the sake of the kingdom,
- 20:10this promise that our life
- 20:11will be saved.
- 20:12For what does it profit
- 20:13a man to gain the whole world
- 20:15and to forfeit his soul?
- 20:17Nothing.
- 20:18It profits him nothing.
- 20:19For what can a man
- 20:20give in return for a soul?
- 20:21Absolutely nothing.
- 20:24And then verse 38.
- 20:26For whoever is ashamed of me
- 20:29and of my words
- 20:31in this adulterous
- 20:32and sinful generation,
- 20:34of him will the Son of Man
- 20:36also be ashamed
- 20:37when he comes in the glory
- 20:38of his Father
- 20:38with the holy angels.
- 20:43And I think that those words
- 20:45need to sink
- 20:46into our hearts.
- 20:48And I think that we need
- 20:49to think about the times
- 20:50in our lives
- 20:51when we have been given
- 20:52opportunity
- 20:53to be obedient
- 20:54to the call of Christ.
- 20:56when we know full well
- 20:58we can proclaim the gospel
- 20:59in a situation
- 21:00and we shrink back
- 21:02and we're ashamed.
- 21:08Certainly at the core
- 21:09of all of this
- 21:10is an issue of heart.
- 21:13If our hearts were
- 21:14properly aligned,
- 21:15if we love God
- 21:17the way we're meant
- 21:18to love God,
- 21:20overflowing from us
- 21:21would be proper response
- 21:23and obedience.
- 21:24So it's an issue of heart
- 21:26and therefore
- 21:26it needs treatment
- 21:28in that way.
- 21:29Like not by some new program
- 21:31or some new model
- 21:32but we need
- 21:32to really examine
- 21:34our hearts.
- 21:35And the very best way
- 21:36I know to do that
- 21:37is by the scriptures.
- 21:38The scriptures are
- 21:38a two-edged sword
- 21:40in this case.
- 21:41I think maybe a scalpel
- 21:42to really get at
- 21:43and to do some surgery
- 21:44on our hearts.
- 21:47And so I want to give to you
- 21:48eight cuts.
- 21:50I hope that they're
- 21:53fine cuts.
- 21:55I hope that they hurt
- 21:56a little bit.
- 21:59Eight things I think
- 22:00we may believe
- 22:03or believe improperly.
- 22:05I'm sure there are more.
- 22:08But things that we can
- 22:09begin to think about
- 22:11and to look at
- 22:12and to process
- 22:13and to pray through
- 22:14and consider
- 22:15if this is why
- 22:17there's not a greater
- 22:18movement of God
- 22:19amongst us.
- 22:21If this is why
- 22:22we're content
- 22:23with addition
- 22:24and not excited
- 22:26and looking toward
- 22:27multiplication.
- 22:28God bringing people
- 22:29into His kingdom
- 22:30in droves.
- 22:33So eight cuts.
- 22:37Number one.
- 22:39We may not.
- 22:40It is possible
- 22:41that we do not
- 22:43understand
- 22:44the heart
- 22:45of our Father.
- 22:47We do not understand
- 22:49the heart
- 22:49of our Father.
- 22:52For His great name's sake,
- 22:55He is building
- 22:56a family.
- 22:58He is adopting
- 22:59those
- 23:00into His family
- 23:01that have
- 23:02no right
- 23:02to be part of His family,
- 23:04who have sinned
- 23:05grievously against Him,
- 23:06have in every way
- 23:07said to Him,
- 23:08I do not want you
- 23:09to be
- 23:09my Father.
- 23:11And yet,
- 23:11He does a work in us
- 23:12and He calls us
- 23:13into His family.
- 23:15He is not
- 23:16exclusive.
- 23:18But the God of Scripture
- 23:19seems to be
- 23:20so very inclusive,
- 23:22drawing people
- 23:23of all variety
- 23:25to Himself.
- 23:28Revelation 7,
- 23:299 and 10
- 23:29gives us
- 23:30a peek at this.
- 23:32John's vision,
- 23:33he says,
- 23:33after this I looked
- 23:34and behold
- 23:35a great multitude
- 23:37that no one
- 23:38could number
- 23:38from every nation,
- 23:40from all tribes
- 23:41and peoples
- 23:42and languages,
- 23:42standing before the throne
- 23:43and before the Lamb,
- 23:44clothed in white robes
- 23:45with palm branches
- 23:46in their hands
- 23:47and crying out
- 23:48with a loud voice,
- 23:49salvation belongs
- 23:50to our God
- 23:51who sits on the throne
- 23:52and to the Lamb.
- 23:53a multitude
- 23:54that no one
- 23:56can number,
- 23:57a vast,
- 23:58vast number.
- 23:59Do you sometimes
- 24:00think that those
- 24:01in heaven
- 24:01are going to be
- 24:02the minority
- 24:02of humankind?
- 24:06I can't say for sure,
- 24:07but it seems to me
- 24:08that as God wins
- 24:10this great redemptive
- 24:11battle,
- 24:12it's a sure thing,
- 24:13that maybe He wins
- 24:14in numbers too.
- 24:16Maybe those
- 24:17who will one day
- 24:17be glorified
- 24:18will outnumber
- 24:19those
- 24:20who will be damned.
- 24:21Either way,
- 24:23we certainly know
- 24:23that He loves
- 24:24and He loves immensely
- 24:25and He's building
- 24:26a family
- 24:26for the praise
- 24:27of His name.
- 24:29I find sometimes
- 24:31that we seem
- 24:31to operate
- 24:32under the assumption
- 24:33that God does not
- 24:35want to save people
- 24:36rather than
- 24:39under the assumption
- 24:40that He does
- 24:41and that He fully
- 24:42intends to
- 24:43and that He's powerful
- 24:44to accomplish this
- 24:45and that because
- 24:46He loves us,
- 24:47He wants us
- 24:47to get involved
- 24:48in that.
- 24:49That He just
- 24:49is waiting,
- 24:50just go share,
- 24:52just go be the friend
- 24:53you know you're
- 24:54supposed to be.
- 24:56Open your mouth
- 24:57and give gospel
- 24:58proclamation
- 24:58and I'll change
- 24:59their heart
- 25:00and you'll both
- 25:01be immensely blessed
- 25:02and I'll be glorified
- 25:03in this.
- 25:05Do you find that
- 25:06you do that
- 25:06with your friends
- 25:08assuming that
- 25:08they're so far gone?
- 25:10They're so dark
- 25:12in their understanding
- 25:13that God can't
- 25:13change their hearts?
- 25:16He changed yours.
- 25:17You're no further,
- 25:19you're no better off
- 25:21than they are.
- 25:24Secondly,
- 25:27God's love for us
- 25:28may too often
- 25:29be stale
- 25:31in our minds
- 25:32and hearts.
- 25:33Not fresh,
- 25:35stale,
- 25:35like it's a forgotten
- 25:36thing how incredibly
- 25:38God has loved us.
- 25:40Turn to Psalm 103.
- 25:41For our ministry
- 25:55apprenticeship,
- 25:56we're reading
- 25:56through the Bible
- 25:57in a year,
- 25:58this chronological
- 25:58Bible reading plan
- 25:59we're doing
- 26:00and Psalm 103
- 26:01was part of that reading
- 26:02a couple of weeks ago
- 26:03and God just really
- 26:04arrested my attention
- 26:05and I've been meditating
- 26:06on verses 8-12
- 26:09and it is good.
- 26:10Let me read it to you.
- 26:11I hope it'll have
- 26:12some of the same effect
- 26:13it's had on me.
- 26:16Psalm 103
- 26:17verses 8-12
- 26:17The Lord is merciful
- 26:19and gracious,
- 26:22slow to anger
- 26:23and abounding
- 26:24in steadfast love.
- 26:26He will not always chide
- 26:28nor will He keep
- 26:29His anger forever.
- 26:31He does not deal with us
- 26:33according to our sins
- 26:35nor repay us
- 26:36according to our iniquities.
- 26:39Praise Him.
- 26:40For as high
- 26:41as the heavens are
- 26:43above the earth
- 26:43Anybody know?
- 26:45Infinite.
- 26:46That's what is trying
- 26:47to be communicated here.
- 26:48I'm sure there's a measure
- 26:48but it's infinite
- 26:49is what is being
- 26:50communicated here.
- 26:51As high as the heavens
- 26:52are above the earth
- 26:53so great
- 26:54is His steadfast love
- 26:56toward those
- 26:56who fear Him.
- 26:58Just stare up at the sky
- 27:00when you walk out
- 27:00of this building today.
- 27:02Verse 12
- 27:03As far as the east
- 27:04is from the west
- 27:06so far does He remove
- 27:08our transgressions from us.
- 27:10Do you know how far
- 27:10the east is from the west?
- 27:12It's infinite.
- 27:13No matter where you go
- 27:14no matter where you travel
- 27:15in the circumference
- 27:16of this planet
- 27:17the east and the west
- 27:18will always be
- 27:19infinitely far
- 27:20from one another.
- 27:22This is God's
- 27:23great love
- 27:24for us.
- 27:25It is infinite
- 27:26in its nature.
- 27:27It is good.
- 27:301 John 4.19
- 27:31says that we love
- 27:32because He first
- 27:34loved us.
- 27:35that the reason
- 27:36in which we can
- 27:37reach out
- 27:38and we can love
- 27:39others
- 27:39that we can have
- 27:40affection for other
- 27:41people is because
- 27:41of God's great love
- 27:42for us.
- 27:46Luke 6.45
- 27:47Jesus says
- 27:48the good person
- 27:49out of the good
- 27:50treasure of his heart
- 27:51produces good
- 27:52and the evil person
- 27:53out of his evil
- 27:54treasure produces
- 27:55evil.
- 27:57For out of the
- 27:57abundance
- 27:58of the heart
- 27:59his mouth
- 28:01speaks.
- 28:02beloved
- 28:04what do you
- 28:04speak about?
- 28:06What do you
- 28:07get excited
- 28:08about talking
- 28:09about?
- 28:11Many of you
- 28:11know that
- 28:12kind of
- 28:13sort of
- 28:13in a past
- 28:14life of mine
- 28:14some
- 28:15oh a decade
- 28:16ago
- 28:16I used to do
- 28:18a lot of
- 28:18white water
- 28:19paddling
- 28:19very into that
- 28:21Wes and I
- 28:22part of our
- 28:22friendship was
- 28:23formed around
- 28:24paddling
- 28:24together
- 28:25in fact
- 28:26Wes has
- 28:27most of my
- 28:28gear
- 28:28and just
- 28:28uses it
- 28:29you are
- 28:32welcome
- 28:32I used to
- 28:36be a
- 28:36white water
- 28:36kayak
- 28:37instructor
- 28:37and still
- 28:38to this
- 28:38day
- 28:38if somebody
- 28:38talks about
- 28:39white water
- 28:39my ears
- 28:40perk up
- 28:41and I want
- 28:41to go over
- 28:42and hear
- 28:42what's going
- 28:42on
- 28:42like what
- 28:43river
- 28:43they were
- 28:43on
- 28:43and what
- 28:44they
- 28:44experienced
- 28:44it
- 28:45even if
- 28:45from
- 28:45rafting
- 28:46class 2
- 28:47to paddling
- 28:47class 5
- 28:48I want
- 28:48to know
- 28:48what's
- 28:48going on
- 28:49that
- 28:49excites
- 28:49me
- 28:50I want
- 28:50to be
- 28:50around
- 28:51it
- 28:51do
- 28:51we
- 28:51do
- 28:51the
- 28:51same
- 28:52thing
- 28:52with
- 28:52the
- 28:53good
- 28:53news
- 28:53of
- 28:53Jesus
- 28:53Christ
- 28:54do
- 28:54we
- 28:54find
- 28:55ways
- 28:59it
- 28:59not
- 29:00because
- 29:00there's
- 29:00some
- 29:00duty
- 29:01to
- 29:01share
- 29:01it
- 29:01but
- 29:02because
- 29:02the
- 29:03love
- 29:03of
- 29:04God
- 29:04overflows
- 29:04out of
- 29:05our
- 29:05hearts
- 29:05and
- 29:06into
- 29:06our
- 29:06speech
- 29:07this
- 29:07is
- 29:07what
- 29:08Jesus
- 29:08is
- 29:08saying
- 29:08will
- 29:08happen
- 29:09the
- 29:09good
- 29:10treasure
- 29:11of
- 29:12your
- 29:12heart
- 29:12the
- 29:12thing
- 29:12you
- 29:13care
- 29:13most
- 29:14about
- 29:14is
- 29:15the
- 29:15thing
- 29:15you
- 29:16will
- 29:16talk
- 29:16about
- 29:16most
- 29:18so
- 29:19what
- 29:19does
- 29:19it
- 29:19say
- 29:19about
- 29:19us
- 29:19when
- 29:20we
- 29:20don't
- 29:20when
- 29:21we
- 29:21find
- 29:21ourselves
- 29:22in
- 29:22situations
- 29:22where
- 29:22we
- 29:22would
- 29:23rather
- 29:23fit
- 29:23in
- 29:23and
- 29:23be
- 29:23cool
- 29:24and
- 29:25share
- 29:25the
- 29:25thing
- 29:25that
- 29:25we
- 29:26love
- 29:26the
- 29:26most
- 29:27double
- 29:28minded
- 29:29acts
- 29:318
- 29:311
- 29:33through
- 29:334
- 29:33this
- 29:33is
- 29:34after
- 29:35the
- 29:35stoning
- 29:35of
- 29:35Stephen
- 29:36it
- 29:38says
- 29:38and
- 29:38Saul
- 29:38approved
- 29:39of
- 29:39his
- 29:39execution
- 29:40and
- 29:41there
- 29:41arose
- 29:41on
- 29:42that
- 29:42day
- 29:42a
- 29:42great
- 29:43persecution
- 29:43against
- 29:44the
- 29:44church
- 29:44in
- 29:45Jerusalem
- 29:45and
- 29:46they
- 29:46were
- 29:46all
- 29:46scattered
- 29:47throughout
- 29:47the
- 29:47regions
- 29:48of
- 29:48Judea
- 29:49and
- 29:49Samaria
- 29:50except
- 29:50the
- 29:50apostles
- 29:51devout
- 29:52men
- 29:52buried
- 29:53Stephen
- 29:53made
- 29:53great
- 29:54lamentation
- 29:54over
- 29:55him
- 29:55but
- 29:56Saul
- 29:56was
- 29:56ravaging
- 29:57the
- 29:57church
- 29:57and
- 29:58entering
- 29:59house
- 29:59after
- 29:59house
- 30:00he
- 30:00dragged
- 30:00off
- 30:01men
- 30:01and
- 30:02women
- 30:02and
- 30:03committed
- 30:03them
- 30:03to
- 30:04prison
- 30:04and
- 30:04so
- 30:04there's
- 30:05this
- 30:05great
- 30:06deal
- 30:06the
- 30:06early
- 30:06days
- 30:07of
- 30:07the
- 30:07church
- 30:07that
- 30:07formed
- 30:08in
- 30:08Jerusalem
- 30:08after
- 30:08the
- 30:09days
- 30:09of
- 30:09Pentecost
- 30:09there's
- 30:10this
- 30:10great
- 30:10deal
- 30:10of
- 30:10persecution
- 30:11at
- 30:11the
- 30:11hands
- 30:11of
- 30:12Saul
- 30:12and
- 30:12look
- 30:12at
- 30:13the
- 30:13way
- 30:13that
- 30:13God
- 30:13is
- 30:14even
- 30:14now
- 30:14using
- 30:15Saul
- 30:15to
- 30:23and
- 30:23a
- 30:24better
- 30:24word
- 30:25that's
- 30:26translated
- 30:26here
- 30:26into
- 30:27our
- 30:27English
- 30:27preaching
- 30:27would be
- 30:28and
- 30:28gossiped
- 30:29the
- 30:30word
- 30:30but
- 30:30we
- 30:30think
- 30:31of
- 30:31gossip
- 30:31as
- 30:31a
- 30:31bad
- 30:31thing
- 30:32so
- 30:32we
- 30:32got to
- 30:32be
- 30:33careful
- 30:33about
- 30:33our
- 30:33translation
- 30:34but
- 30:34it
- 30:35literally
- 30:35means
- 30:35they
- 30:35went
- 30:35about
- 30:36just
- 30:36talking
- 30:37about
- 30:37what
- 30:37had
- 30:37happened
- 30:38in
- 30:38Jerusalem
- 30:38and
- 30:39what
- 30:39Jesus
- 30:39had
- 30:39done
- 30:40for
- 30:40them
- 30:40they
- 30:40went
- 30:40about
- 30:41sharing
- 30:41that
- 30:41with
- 30:42everyone
- 30:42they
- 30:43encountered
- 30:44we
- 30:45see
- 30:45this
- 30:45great
- 30:46massive
- 30:46advance
- 30:47of the
- 30:48gospel
- 30:48because
- 30:49of
- 30:49the
- 30:50persecution
- 30:50because
- 30:51of
- 30:51the
- 30:51work
- 30:52of
- 30:52the
- 30:52apostles
- 30:52out
- 30:53and
- 30:53beyond
- 30:53because
- 30:53it
- 30:54overflowed
- 30:55out
- 30:55of
- 30:56their
- 30:56hearts
- 30:56and
- 30:58I'm
- 30:58afraid
- 30:58for
- 30:58many
- 30:58of
- 30:59us
- 30:59too
- 30:59often
- 30:59that
- 31:00truth
- 31:00is
- 31:01stale
- 31:01in
- 31:01us
- 31:02forgotten
- 31:03it
- 31:03just
- 31:03doesn't
- 31:04have
- 31:04effect
- 31:04any
- 31:05longer
- 31:05the
- 31:06way
- 31:06you
- 31:06renew
- 31:06that
- 31:07in
- 31:07yourself
- 31:07as
- 31:07you
- 31:08get
- 31:08into
- 31:08the
- 31:08word
- 31:08of
- 31:08God
- 31:09and
- 31:09you
- 31:09let
- 31:09the
- 31:09gospel
- 31:10speak
- 31:10to
- 31:10you
- 31:10and
- 31:11speak
- 31:11to
- 31:11you
- 31:11get
- 31:12around
- 31:12the
- 31:12church
- 31:13and
- 31:13let
- 31:13people
- 31:13preach
- 31:14the
- 31:14gospel
- 31:14to
- 31:14you
- 31:14you
- 31:15come
- 31:15and
- 31:15you
- 31:15sing
- 31:15gospel
- 31:16songs
- 31:16the
- 31:16reason
- 31:16we
- 31:17keep
- 31:17the
- 31:17volume
- 31:17low
- 31:18so
- 31:18you
- 31:18can
- 31:18hear
- 31:18everybody
- 31:19in
- 31:19this
- 31:19room
- 31:19reminding
- 31:20you
- 31:21that
- 31:21the
- 31:21gospel
- 31:21is
- 31:21good
- 31:22and
- 31:22precious
- 31:23and
- 31:23has
- 31:23effect
- 31:24in
- 31:24our
- 31:24lives
- 31:25number
- 31:27three
- 31:27I
- 31:29should
- 31:29move
- 31:29faster
- 31:29than
- 31:29I
- 31:30am
- 31:30right
- 31:30now
- 31:30we
- 31:31may
- 31:31not
- 31:31understand
- 31:32the
- 31:32nature
- 31:33of
- 31:33the
- 31:33enemy
- 31:33or
- 31:35the
- 31:35accomplishments
- 31:36of
- 31:37our
- 31:37victor
- 31:38we
- 31:38may
- 31:39not
- 31:39understand
- 31:40the
- 31:40reality
- 31:41that
- 31:42the
- 31:43power
- 31:44of
- 31:44Satan
- 31:44has
- 31:45been
- 31:46destroyed
- 31:48in
- 31:50a
- 31:50similar
- 31:50account
- 31:50chapter
- 31:518
- 31:51Peter
- 31:51confesses
- 31:52Jesus
- 31:52as
- 31:52the
- 31:52Christ
- 31:53in
- 31:53Matthew
- 31:53we
- 31:53get
- 31:54a bit
- 31:54more
- 31:54detail
- 31:54beginning
- 31:55of
- 31:55verse
- 31:5613
- 31:56now
- 31:56when
- 31:57Jesus
- 31:57came
- 31:57into
- 31:57the
- 31:57district
- 31:58of
- 31:58Caesaro
- 31:58Philippi
- 31:59he
- 31:59asked
- 31:59his
- 31:59disciples
- 31:59who
- 32:00do
- 32:00people
- 32:01say
- 32:01that
- 32:01the
- 32:01son
- 32:01of
- 32:01man
- 32:01is
- 32:02and
- 32:02they
- 32:02said
- 32:03some
- 32:03say
- 32:03John
- 32:03the
- 32:03Baptist
- 32:04others
- 32:04say
- 32:07Simon
- 32:11Peter
- 32:12replied
- 32:12you
- 32:13are
- 32:14the
- 32:14Christ
- 32:15the
- 32:15son
- 32:16of
- 32:16the
- 32:16living
- 32:16God
- 32:16and
- 32:18Jesus
- 32:18answered
- 32:18him
- 32:18blessed
- 32:18are
- 32:19you
- 32:19Simon
- 32:19Barjona
- 32:20for
- 32:21flesh
- 32:21and
- 32:21blood
- 32:21has
- 32:21not
- 32:22revealed
- 32:22this
- 32:22to
- 32:22you
- 32:22but
- 32:22my
- 32:23father
- 32:23who
- 32:24is
- 32:24in
- 32:24heaven
- 32:24and
- 32:25I
- 32:25tell
- 32:25you
- 32:26you
- 32:26are
- 32:26Peter
- 32:26and
- 32:27on
- 32:27this
- 32:27rock
- 32:27that
- 32:27truth
- 32:28I
- 32:29will
- 32:29build
- 32:29my
- 32:29church
- 32:30and
- 32:30the
- 32:30gates
- 32:31of
- 32:31hell
- 32:32shall
- 32:33not
- 32:33prevail
- 32:34against
- 32:35it
- 32:35there's
- 32:36a
- 32:36sure
- 32:36promise
- 32:37in
- 32:37scripture
- 32:37that
- 32:38the
- 32:38work
- 32:38of
- 32:38the
- 32:39church
- 32:39by
- 32:39the
- 32:39grace
- 32:39of
- 32:39God
- 32:40will
- 32:41advance
- 32:41upon
- 32:42the
- 32:42gates
- 32:42of
- 32:43hell
- 32:43don't
- 32:43hear
- 32:43we
- 32:44have
- 32:44gates
- 32:44and
- 32:45we
- 32:45hold
- 32:45out
- 32:45hell
- 32:46many
- 32:47churches
- 32:47function
- 32:48in
- 32:48this
- 32:48way
- 32:48many
- 32:48individuals
- 32:49function
- 32:49in
- 32:49this
- 32:50way
- 32:50keeping
- 32:50at
- 32:50a
- 32:50distance
- 32:51the
- 32:51evil
- 32:51of
- 32:51the
- 32:52world
- 32:52but
- 32:52rather
- 32:53we
- 32:53advance
- 32:53on
- 32:54it
- 32:54and
- 32:55the
- 32:55gates
- 32:55of
- 32:55hell
- 32:55will
- 32:56not
- 32:57prevail
- 32:57against
- 32:57the
- 32:58advance
- 32:58!
- 32:58It's
- 32:58a
- 32:58military
- 33:00idea
- 33:01that
- 33:01we
- 33:01will
- 33:02make
- 33:02this
- 33:02accomplish
- 33:04this
- 33:04war
- 33:05by the
- 33:05grace
- 33:05of
- 33:06God
- 33:06Jesus'
- 33:08final
- 33:08words
- 33:09it
- 33:09is
- 33:10finished
- 33:11on
- 33:12the
- 33:12cross
- 33:12has
- 33:12such
- 33:13far
- 33:13reaching
- 33:14implications
- 33:15and
- 33:15he's
- 33:16certainly
- 33:16saying
- 33:17when
- 33:17he
- 33:17dies
- 33:18that
- 33:18the
- 33:18death
- 33:19blow
- 33:19has
- 33:19been
- 33:20delivered
- 33:20to
- 33:21the
- 33:21dragon
- 33:22he
- 33:22has
- 33:22plunged
- 33:23his
- 33:23sword
- 33:23deep
- 33:24into
- 33:24his
- 33:24heart
- 33:25and
- 33:25the
- 33:25things
- 33:25that
- 33:26we're
- 33:26experiencing
- 33:26now
- 33:27that
- 33:27are
- 33:27carried
- 33:27!
- 33:27by
- 33:28Satan
- 33:28are
- 33:28just
- 33:29his
- 33:29writhing
- 33:30and
- 33:30seething
- 33:31as
- 33:32he's
- 33:32dying
- 33:32he
- 33:35has
- 33:35been
- 33:36defeated
- 33:36and
- 33:37in fact
- 33:38Jesus
- 33:38has
- 33:39his
- 33:39foot
- 33:39on
- 33:40his
- 33:40neck
- 33:40he
- 33:42lets
- 33:42him
- 33:42act
- 33:43only
- 33:44under
- 33:45his
- 33:45authority
- 33:45it's
- 33:46been
- 33:46subjected
- 33:47to
- 33:47him
- 33:48this
- 33:49is
- 33:49our
- 33:49God
- 33:50the
- 33:51darkness
- 33:51of the
- 33:52world
- 33:52seems
- 33:52so
- 33:53overbearing
- 33:53at
- 33:53times
- 33:54if
- 33:56you're
- 33:56in
- 33:56the
- 33:56Lord's
- 33:56army
- 33:56God
- 33:58is
- 33:58for
- 33:58us
- 33:58who
- 34:00can
- 34:00be
- 34:00against
- 34:00us
- 34:00so
- 34:02we
- 34:02may
- 34:02not
- 34:02understand
- 34:03the
- 34:03nature
- 34:03of
- 34:03the
- 34:03enemy
- 34:03or
- 34:04the
- 34:04accomplishments
- 34:05of
- 34:06our
- 34:06victor
- 34:07it
- 34:07is
- 34:07finished
- 34:09he
- 34:09will
- 34:09accomplish
- 34:10his
- 34:11will
- 34:11we
- 34:12are
- 34:12part
- 34:12of
- 34:12that
- 34:12we're
- 34:12part
- 34:13of
- 34:13that
- 34:13army
- 34:13marching
- 34:14behind
- 34:15him
- 34:15number
- 34:16four
- 34:17we
- 34:19may
- 34:19not
- 34:19consider
- 34:20the
- 34:21condition
- 34:22of
- 34:22the
- 34:22world
- 34:22or
- 34:24the
- 34:24nature
- 34:24of
- 34:25hell
- 34:25hell
- 34:25we
- 34:27may
- 34:27not
- 34:27consider
- 34:28the
- 34:28condition
- 34:28of
- 34:28the
- 34:28world
- 34:29or
- 34:30the
- 34:30nature
- 34:30of
- 34:32hell
- 34:32I
- 34:33find
- 34:33this
- 34:33to
- 34:33be
- 34:33true
- 34:34in
- 34:34me
- 34:34often
- 34:34I
- 34:34become
- 34:35kind
- 34:35of
- 34:35numb
- 34:35and
- 34:36I
- 34:36don't
- 34:36tend
- 34:37to
- 34:37look
- 34:37at
- 34:37people
- 34:37through
- 34:37spiritual
- 34:38eyes
- 34:38so
- 34:40there's
- 34:40that
- 34:40agitation
- 34:41about
- 34:41the
- 34:41guy
- 34:41that
- 34:41pulls
- 34:42out
- 34:42in
- 34:42front
- 34:42of
- 34:42you
- 34:42on
- 34:43the
- 34:43road
- 34:43that's
- 34:44an
- 34:44eternal
- 34:44soul
- 34:45the
- 34:45one
- 34:46that
- 34:46you're
- 34:46so
- 34:46frustrated
- 34:47with
- 34:47because
- 34:48he
- 34:48inconvenienced
- 34:49me
- 34:4930
- 34:49seconds
- 34:50on
- 34:50my
- 34:50commute
- 34:50from
- 34:51Gainesville
- 34:52to
- 34:52this
- 34:52building
- 34:52who
- 34:55cares
- 34:55really
- 34:57the
- 34:58world
- 34:59is
- 34:59broken
- 34:59it's
- 35:00falling
- 35:00apart
- 35:01because
- 35:01of
- 35:01this
- 35:02writhing
- 35:02and
- 35:03seething
- 35:03of
- 35:03the
- 35:04enemy
- 35:04having
- 35:05its
- 35:05effect
- 35:06pay
- 35:07attention
- 35:07to
- 35:07the
- 35:08news
- 35:08put
- 35:08on
- 35:09talk
- 35:09radio
- 35:09and
- 35:10just
- 35:10hear
- 35:10about
- 35:11all
- 35:11the
- 35:11tragic
- 35:12things
- 35:13that
- 35:13are
- 35:13happening
- 35:13in the
- 35:14world
- 35:14about
- 35:14us
- 35:14the
- 35:15effects
- 35:15of
- 35:16sin
- 35:16it
- 35:16is
- 35:16having
- 35:17its
- 35:17way
- 35:18here
- 35:18and
- 35:19now
- 35:19beyond
- 35:21that
- 35:21these
- 35:23people
- 35:23will be
- 35:23delivered
- 35:23to
- 35:24eternal
- 35:24damnation
- 35:24does that
- 35:25have
- 35:25any
- 35:25effect
- 35:25in
- 35:26your
- 35:26heart
- 35:26at
- 35:26all
- 35:26do
- 35:28you
- 35:28remember
- 35:29what
- 35:29you've
- 35:29been
- 35:29saved
- 35:30from
- 35:31or
- 35:33has
- 35:33Christianity
- 35:33just
- 35:34always
- 35:34been
- 35:34like
- 35:34this
- 35:34happy
- 35:35hunky
- 35:35dory
- 35:35thing
- 35:35that
- 35:35!
- 35:36Have you
- 35:38ever
- 35:38actually
- 35:39really
- 35:39considered
- 35:40what
- 35:40your
- 35:40sin
- 35:41purchased
- 35:41for
- 35:42you
- 35:42and
- 35:43therefore
- 35:43what
- 35:43Jesus
- 35:44delivered
- 35:45you
- 35:45from
- 35:45eternal
- 35:46damnation
- 35:472nd
- 35:47Thessalonians
- 35:481.9
- 35:49Paul says
- 35:50they will
- 35:50suffer
- 35:50the
- 35:51punishment
- 35:51of
- 35:52eternal
- 35:53destruction
- 35:54being
- 35:54destroyed
- 35:55for
- 35:56forever
- 35:57and I
- 35:57can't
- 35:57even
- 35:58possibly
- 35:58wrap
- 35:58my
- 35:59mind
- 35:59around
- 35:59what
- 35:59eternity
- 36:00is
- 36:00like
- 36:00but
- 36:01forever
- 36:01this
- 36:02destruction
- 36:02will
- 36:03go
- 36:03on
- 36:03and
- 36:05he
- 36:05adds
- 36:05to
- 36:05this
- 36:06probably
- 36:06the
- 36:07more
- 36:07piercing
- 36:07aspect
- 36:08of
- 36:08it
- 36:08away
- 36:09from
- 36:10the
- 36:10presence
- 36:10of
- 36:11the
- 36:11Lord
- 36:11and
- 36:12from
- 36:12the
- 36:12glory
- 36:13of
- 36:13his
- 36:13might
- 36:14separated
- 36:15from
- 36:15God
- 36:16forever
- 36:17it's
- 36:18a great
- 36:19deal
- 36:19of
- 36:19tragedy
- 36:20in
- 36:20that
- 36:21whiteboard
- 36:23it's been
- 36:24here for
- 36:24a while
- 36:24hasn't
- 36:24it
- 36:25I'm
- 36:26going
- 36:26to
- 36:26try
- 36:27to
- 36:27stand
- 36:27in
- 36:27such
- 36:27a
- 36:27way
- 36:27that
- 36:27everybody
- 36:28can
- 36:28see
- 36:28I
- 36:29tried
- 36:30to
- 36:30draw
- 36:30the
- 36:31three
- 36:31counties
- 36:31that
- 36:31we
- 36:32mostly
- 36:32affect
- 36:33and
- 36:33live
- 36:33in
- 36:33Dawson
- 36:37County
- 36:38Lumpkin
- 36:38County
- 36:39Hall
- 36:39County
- 36:40here's
- 36:41your
- 36:42city
- 36:42centers
- 36:43Dahlonega
- 36:43Gainesville
- 36:44Dawsonville
- 36:45and this
- 36:45is approximately
- 36:46where we
- 36:46are
- 36:46it's a
- 36:47star
- 36:47I'm
- 36:48sure
- 36:48it looks
- 36:48like
- 36:48a
- 36:48blob
- 36:49from
- 36:49where
- 36:49you
- 36:49are
- 36:49out
- 36:50there
- 36:50so
- 36:51just
- 36:51three
- 36:51counties
- 36:52and we
- 36:52certainly
- 36:52have
- 36:52some
- 36:52effect
- 36:53beyond
- 36:53that
- 36:53we
- 36:53have
- 36:53people
- 36:54who
- 36:54live
- 36:54in
- 36:54white
- 36:55county
- 36:55we
- 36:55may
- 36:55have
- 36:55some
- 36:56folks
- 36:56here
- 36:56from
- 36:56Forsyth
- 36:57county
- 36:57as
- 36:57well
- 36:57but
- 36:57just
- 37:02if
- 37:02we
- 37:02are
- 37:03an
- 37:03army
- 37:03for
- 37:04God
- 37:04that
- 37:04we
- 37:04should
- 37:04be
- 37:04working
- 37:05and
- 37:05moving
- 37:06and
- 37:06this
- 37:06is
- 37:06how
- 37:06many
- 37:06people
- 37:07live
- 37:07in
- 37:07this
- 37:07area
- 37:08232,000
- 37:10people
- 37:10for
- 37:13curiosity's
- 37:13sake
- 37:13180,000
- 37:14in
- 37:14Hall
- 37:15County
- 37:1530,000
- 37:15in
- 37:16Lumpkin
- 37:16County
- 37:16and
- 37:1622,000
- 37:17in
- 37:17Dawson
- 37:18County
- 37:18232,000
- 37:20people
- 37:20now
- 37:21we're
- 37:21part of
- 37:22the
- 37:22Chattahoochee
- 37:22Baptist
- 37:23Association
- 37:23which is
- 37:24a collection
- 37:24of
- 37:25churches
- 37:25and
- 37:25according
- 37:25to
- 37:26their
- 37:26statistics
- 37:32people
- 37:33okay
- 37:33now I
- 37:34think
- 37:34that's
- 37:35probably
- 37:35a pretty
- 37:35positive
- 37:36number
- 37:36unchurched
- 37:38because
- 37:38this
- 37:38would
- 37:38be
- 37:38people
- 37:38who
- 37:38are
- 37:39just
- 37:39saying
- 37:39I
- 37:39go
- 37:40to
- 37:40a
- 37:40church
- 37:40so
- 37:40believe
- 37:41it
- 37:41or
- 37:41not
- 37:41what
- 37:42kind
- 37:43of
- 37:43church
- 37:43what
- 37:43kind
- 37:43of
- 37:43denomination
- 37:44I
- 37:44don't
- 37:44really
- 37:44know
- 37:44but
- 37:45let's
- 37:45just
- 37:45use
- 37:45their
- 37:45statistic
- 37:47and
- 37:50this
- 37:50that's
- 37:52our
- 37:53unchurched
- 37:54population
- 37:54in those
- 37:55three
- 37:55counties
- 37:55185,600
- 37:59people
- 37:59that's a
- 38:00massive
- 38:00number
- 38:01of
- 38:02people
- 38:02who
- 38:03likely
- 38:04couldn't
- 38:05be sure
- 38:05but
- 38:06likely
- 38:06do not
- 38:07know
- 38:07Jesus
- 38:08is
- 38:08Lord
- 38:09who
- 38:09right
- 38:09now
- 38:09are
- 38:09separated
- 38:10from
- 38:10him
- 38:10and
- 38:11will
- 38:11be
- 38:11separated
- 38:11from
- 38:12him
- 38:12for
- 38:13eternity
- 38:13the
- 38:16mortality
- 38:16rate
- 38:17I didn't
- 38:18take the
- 38:18time to
- 38:18do the
- 38:18math
- 38:18on this
- 38:19population
- 38:19but the
- 38:20mortality
- 38:20rate
- 38:20for the
- 38:21United
- 38:22States
- 38:22means
- 38:23that
- 38:24every
- 38:25year
- 38:25two and
- 38:26a half
- 38:26million
- 38:27people
- 38:27die
- 38:28so even
- 38:30life itself
- 38:30is fleeting
- 38:31opportunities to
- 38:32share the
- 38:32gospel with
- 38:32people
- 38:33is fleeting
- 38:34right
- 38:35there's a
- 38:37population
- 38:37here
- 38:38that's
- 38:39fleeting
- 38:39it's
- 38:40passing
- 38:40away
- 38:40it's
- 38:40going
- 38:41away
- 38:41to
- 38:41eternal
- 38:42damnation
- 38:42right
- 38:43we're at
- 38:44war
- 38:45we're not
- 38:45at peace
- 38:46we're at
- 38:46war
- 38:47there are
- 38:48dark
- 38:48forces
- 38:48working
- 38:49at keeping
- 38:50this
- 38:50the same
- 38:51way
- 38:52we ought
- 38:53to be
- 38:54about the
- 38:54work of
- 38:54changing
- 38:55that
- 38:55of
- 38:56moving
- 38:56that
- 38:56in
- 38:57another
- 38:57direction
- 38:58it ought
- 38:59to be
- 38:59heartbreaking
- 38:59to us
- 39:00that people
- 39:00don't know
- 39:01Christ
- 39:01right
- 39:02the great
- 39:02treasure
- 39:03the treasure
- 39:03in a
- 39:03field
- 39:03that we
- 39:04go and sell
- 39:04all that we
- 39:04have
- 39:04and buy
- 39:05that field
- 39:05right
- 39:06this thing
- 39:07that we
- 39:07want to
- 39:07share
- 39:08with
- 39:08everyone
- 39:09we're
- 39:09so
- 39:09unloving
- 39:10so often
- 39:11because we
- 39:11don't press
- 39:12at people
- 39:13to respond
- 39:13to the
- 39:14good news
- 39:14of Jesus
- 39:15Christ
- 39:15one of my
- 39:17favorite
- 39:17Charles Spurgeon
- 39:18quotes
- 39:18he said
- 39:18if sinners
- 39:19be damned
- 39:19at least
- 39:20let them
- 39:21leap to
- 39:21hell
- 39:21over our
- 39:22dead
- 39:22bodies
- 39:23let's
- 39:24die for
- 39:25the sake
- 39:25of
- 39:26sinners
- 39:26and if
- 39:26they
- 39:27perish
- 39:27let
- 39:28them
- 39:28perish
- 39:28with
- 39:28our
- 39:29arms
- 39:29wrapped
- 39:29about
- 39:30their
- 39:30knees
- 39:30imploring
- 39:31them
- 39:31to
- 39:32stay
- 39:32if
- 39:33hell
- 39:33must
- 39:34be
- 39:34filled
- 39:34let
- 39:35it
- 39:35be
- 39:35filled
- 39:36in
- 39:36the
- 39:36teeth
- 39:37of
- 39:37our
- 39:37exertions
- 39:38and
- 39:38let
- 39:39not
- 39:39one
- 39:39go
- 39:39unwarned
- 39:40and
- 39:41unprayed
- 39:41for
- 39:42this
- 39:44is a
- 39:45massive
- 39:45work
- 39:46but don't
- 39:47be
- 39:48overwhelmed
- 39:48by this
- 39:48you
- 39:49have
- 39:49a
- 39:49part
- 39:49to
- 39:49play
- 39:50that
- 39:51you'll
- 39:51be
- 39:51held
- 39:51accountable
- 39:52for
- 39:52that
- 39:52you
- 39:52should
- 39:53be
- 39:53obedient
- 39:53to
- 39:54and
- 39:54if
- 39:54we
- 39:55would
- 39:55do
- 39:55that
- 39:55if
- 39:56the
- 39:56people
- 39:57of
- 39:57God
- 39:57would
- 39:57respond
- 39:58to
- 39:58the
- 39:58call
- 39:59of
- 39:59God
- 39:59to
- 39:59make
- 40:00disciples
- 40:00I
- 40:02can't
- 40:02say
- 40:02exactly
- 40:02what
- 40:03God
- 40:03would
- 40:03do
- 40:03with
- 40:03this
- 40:03parable
- 40:04of
- 40:04the
- 40:04sowers
- 40:04there's
- 40:05different
- 40:05types
- 40:05of
- 40:06soil
- 40:06I
- 40:07don't
- 40:07know
- 40:07for
- 40:07sure
- 40:08what
- 40:08he
- 40:08would
- 40:08intend
- 40:08to
- 40:09do
- 40:09I
- 40:10want
- 40:10to
- 40:10work
- 40:10under
- 40:11the
- 40:11assumption
- 40:11that
- 40:11he
- 40:12just
- 40:12may
- 40:12let
- 40:14revival
- 40:14break
- 40:15out
- 40:15in
- 40:15these
- 40:15three
- 40:15counties
- 40:16and
- 40:16all
- 40:16of
- 40:16these
- 40:16people
- 40:17would
- 40:17be
- 40:17counted
- 40:18amongst
- 40:19His
- 40:19family
- 40:20we
- 40:22may
- 40:22not
- 40:22consider
- 40:23the
- 40:23condition
- 40:23of
- 40:23the
- 40:23nature
- 40:24of
- 40:24hell
- 40:24we
- 40:24may
- 40:24not
- 40:24actually
- 40:25think
- 40:26about
- 40:26it
- 40:26day
- 40:26to
- 40:26day
- 40:27what
- 40:27have
- 40:27we
- 40:27been
- 40:27saved
- 40:28from
- 40:28beloved
- 40:29if
- 40:29the
- 40:29gospel
- 40:29is
- 40:29precious
- 40:29to
- 40:30us
- 40:30we'll
- 40:30know
- 40:30that
- 40:30we'll
- 40:31know
- 40:31that
- 40:31we've
- 40:31been
- 40:31delivered
- 40:32from
- 40:32eternal
- 40:33damnation
- 40:34that's
- 40:34part
- 40:35of
- 40:35what
- 40:35makes
- 40:35it
- 40:35so
- 40:36good
- 40:37fifthly
- 40:39disciple
- 40:42making
- 40:43may not
- 40:43be
- 40:43worked
- 40:43into
- 40:44the
- 40:44DNA
- 40:44!
- 40:44of
- 40:45new
- 40:45believers
- 40:45we
- 40:47coddle
- 40:48far
- 40:49too
- 40:49much
- 40:49in
- 40:50fact
- 40:50many
- 40:51of
- 40:51us
- 40:51probably
- 40:51became
- 40:52believers
- 40:52at a
- 40:52very
- 40:52early
- 40:53age
- 40:54and
- 40:55what
- 40:55happened
- 40:56after
- 40:56we
- 40:56became
- 40:56believers
- 40:57at
- 40:57very
- 40:58young
- 40:58ages
- 40:58is
- 40:58we
- 40:59sat
- 40:59in
- 40:59Sunday
- 41:00school
- 41:00classes
- 41:00and
- 41:00we
- 41:01got
- 41:01lots
- 41:01of
- 41:01nice
- 41:01Bible
- 41:02stories
- 41:02about
- 41:03the
- 41:03different
- 41:03people
- 41:03in
- 41:04the
- 41:04Bible
- 41:04that
- 41:04we
- 41:04should
- 41:05emulate
- 41:05but
- 41:07no
- 41:07one
- 41:07ever
- 41:08said
- 41:08and
- 41:08I
- 41:08could
- 41:09be
- 41:09wrong
- 41:09about
- 41:09this
- 41:10I
- 41:10probably
- 41:10am
- 41:10and
- 41:11just
- 41:11didn't
- 41:11hear
- 41:11it
- 41:12as
- 41:13a
- 41:13seven
- 41:14year
- 41:14old
- 41:14I
- 41:14didn't
- 41:14feel
- 41:14pressed
- 41:15to
- 41:15go
- 41:15share
- 41:15the
- 41:15gospel
- 41:15with
- 41:16my
- 41:16seven
- 41:16year
- 41:16old
- 41:16friends
- 41:17we
- 41:18don't
- 41:19work
- 41:19it
- 41:19into
- 41:19the
- 41:19DNA
- 41:20we
- 41:20hide
- 41:20people
- 41:21away
- 41:21we
- 41:21kind
- 41:41so
- 41:41much
- 41:41image
- 41:42bearing
- 41:42capability
- 41:43to
- 41:43accomplish
- 41:44so
- 41:44much
- 41:45but
- 41:46everybody
- 41:46says
- 41:46wait
- 41:47wait
- 41:47you're
- 41:47not
- 41:47ready
- 41:47yet
- 41:48hold
- 41:48on
- 41:48hang
- 41:48on
- 41:49how
- 41:49much
- 41:50exactly
- 41:51do
- 41:51we
- 41:51have
- 41:51to
- 41:51know
- 41:51before
- 41:53we're
- 41:53willing
- 41:53to
- 41:53go
- 41:54and
- 41:54to
- 41:54build
- 41:55and
- 41:55to
- 41:55mark
- 41:574
- 41:5717
- 41:57says
- 41:58this
- 42:00is
- 42:00again
- 42:00the
- 42:00parable
- 42:01of
- 42:01the
- 42:01soils
- 42:01says
- 42:03of
- 42:03the
- 42:03rocky
- 42:03soil
- 42:04and
- 42:04they
- 42:05have
- 42:05no
- 42:05root
- 42:05in
- 42:06themselves
- 42:06but
- 42:07endure
- 42:08for
- 42:08a
- 42:08while
- 42:09!
- 42:09so
- 42:09this
- 42:09appearance
- 42:11Christianity
- 42:11then
- 42:12when
- 42:12tribulation
- 42:13or
- 42:14persecution
- 42:14arises
- 42:15on account
- 42:16of the
- 42:16word
- 42:16immediately
- 42:17they
- 42:17fall
- 42:17away
- 42:18young
- 42:20believers
- 42:20need to
- 42:21be pushed
- 42:21out
- 42:21into the
- 42:22sun
- 42:22of
- 42:22tribulation
- 42:23kick
- 42:24them out
- 42:24of the
- 42:24shade
- 42:25and into
- 42:25the
- 42:25sun
- 42:25they
- 42:26need
- 42:26to be
- 42:26spurred
- 42:27on
- 42:27to being
- 42:28obedient
- 42:28to the
- 42:28things
- 42:29they
- 42:29know
- 42:29and they
- 42:30know
- 42:30the
- 42:30gospel
- 42:30so
- 42:31they
- 42:31should
- 42:31share
- 42:31the
- 42:31gospel
- 42:32the
- 42:33gospel
- 42:33isn't
- 42:34just
- 42:34for
- 42:34an
- 42:34individual
- 42:35it's
- 42:35for
- 42:36all
- 42:36of
- 42:36those
- 42:36that
- 42:37be
- 42:37counted
- 42:37in
- 42:37God's
- 42:41is
- 42:41the
- 42:41sharing
- 42:42of
- 42:42it
- 42:42is
- 42:42the
- 42:43going
- 42:43and
- 42:43the
- 42:43sharing
- 42:44of
- 42:44the
- 42:45good
- 42:45news
- 42:45of
- 42:45Jesus
- 42:45Christ
- 42:46and yet
- 42:46we
- 42:46keep
- 42:46them
- 42:46in
- 42:47the
- 42:47shade
- 42:47no
- 42:47no
- 42:47block
- 42:48out
- 42:48the
- 42:48sun
- 42:48block
- 42:48out
- 42:49the
- 42:49sun
- 42:49don't
- 42:49let
- 42:49the
- 42:49sun
- 42:49hit
- 42:50them
- 42:50they
- 42:52need
- 42:52to be
- 42:52pushed
- 42:52out
- 42:52we need
- 42:53to be
- 42:53pushed
- 42:53out
- 42:54into
- 42:54the
- 42:54sun
- 42:54right
- 42:55we need
- 42:55to have
- 42:55our
- 42:56faith
- 42:56affirmed
- 42:57in fact
- 42:57experience
- 42:58emboldens
- 42:59belief
- 42:59moved
- 43:02in such
- 43:02a way
- 43:02having
- 43:03your heart
- 43:03changed
- 43:04that
- 43:04you
- 43:04want
- 43:04to
- 43:04share
- 43:05the
- 43:05gospel
- 43:05that
- 43:06you
- 43:06want
- 43:06to
- 43:06be
- 43:06weird
- 43:07that
- 43:07you
- 43:07want
- 43:07to
- 43:07be
- 43:08seen
- 43:08as
- 43:08strange
- 43:09that
- 43:09it's
- 43:09okay
- 43:09if
- 43:10people
- 43:10think
- 43:10that
- 43:10of
- 43:10you
- 43:10because
- 43:11you're
- 43:11sharing
- 43:11you're
- 43:11rejoicing
- 43:12in the
- 43:12suffering
- 43:12of
- 43:13Christ
- 43:13affirms
- 43:15that
- 43:15kind
- 43:15of
- 43:15stuff
- 43:16in
- 43:17you
- 43:17we
- 43:18coddle
- 43:19far
- 43:19too
- 43:19much
- 43:19disciple
- 43:20making
- 43:20may
- 43:20not
- 43:20be
- 43:20worked
- 43:20in
- 43:21the
- 43:21DNA
- 43:21of
- 43:21new
- 43:21believers
- 43:21that
- 43:22could
- 43:22be
- 43:22!
- 43:22the
- 43:22!
- 43:22the
- 43:22!
- 43:23It's
- 43:23not
- 43:23part
- 43:23of
- 43:23your
- 43:23DNA
- 43:24you
- 43:24didn't
- 43:24realize
- 43:25the
- 43:26best
- 43:27of
- 43:27intentions
- 43:27sitting
- 43:27here
- 43:28today
- 43:28you
- 43:28just
- 43:28may
- 43:28not
- 43:28have
- 43:28known
- 43:29that
- 43:29it's
- 43:29so
- 43:30massively
- 43:30important
- 43:31for
- 43:31your
- 43:31Christian
- 43:32living
- 43:32sixthly
- 43:34wow
- 43:36in a
- 43:36moment
- 43:36I'm
- 43:36going to
- 43:36say
- 43:36seventhly
- 43:37and
- 43:37eighthly
- 43:37how
- 43:38about
- 43:38that
- 43:38that
- 43:39doesn't
- 43:39happen
- 43:39often
- 43:39sixthly
- 43:40disciple
- 43:41making
- 43:41may
- 43:42not
- 43:42be
- 43:43the
- 43:43cultural
- 43:43norm
- 43:43in
- 43:44our
- 43:44churches
- 43:44!
- 43:45And
- 43:45I
- 43:45would
- 43:45argue
- 43:45In
- 43:46most
- 43:46cases
- 43:46!
- 43:46this
- 43:47is
- 43:48true
- 43:48the
- 43:49great
- 43:49deception
- 43:49of
- 43:50the
- 43:50devil
- 43:50that
- 43:51he's
- 43:51turned
- 43:51our
- 43:52churches
- 43:52into
- 43:52events
- 43:53and
- 43:54our
- 43:54members
- 43:54into
- 43:54audiences
- 43:55we
- 43:57need
- 43:57to
- 43:57recognize
- 43:57that
- 43:57the
- 43:57church
- 43:58is
- 43:58a
- 43:58gathering
- 43:58of
- 43:59saints
- 43:59around
- 44:00the
- 44:00event
- 44:00of
- 44:01Jesus
- 44:02life
- 44:02death
- 44:02and
- 44:02resurrection
- 44:03and
- 44:03return
- 44:04and
- 44:05that
- 44:05we're
- 44:05an
- 44:05army
- 44:05we're
- 44:07his
- 44:07army
- 44:07an
- 44:08extension
- 44:08of
- 44:09who
- 44:09he
- 44:09is
- 44:09in
- 44:10this
- 44:10world
- 44:10and
- 44:11this
- 44:11is
- 44:11a
- 44:11war
- 44:11not
- 44:11fought
- 44:11with
- 44:12missiles
- 44:12or
- 44:12!
- 44:12bullets
- 44:16hear
- 44:22me
- 44:23it
- 44:23is
- 44:23not
- 44:23okay
- 44:24for you
- 44:25just
- 44:26to
- 44:26come
- 44:26here
- 44:26and
- 44:26sit
- 44:27and
- 44:27consume
- 44:28it's
- 44:28not
- 44:29okay
- 44:30you
- 44:31must
- 44:32find
- 44:33a
- 44:33way
- 44:33if
- 44:33you're
- 44:33going
- 44:33to
- 44:33be
- 44:33part
- 44:34of
- 44:34this
- 44:34church
- 44:34or
- 44:35any
- 44:35other
- 44:36to
- 44:36invest
- 44:37in
- 44:37those
- 44:37people
- 44:37for
- 44:38equipping
- 44:39for
- 44:40every
- 44:40good
- 44:40work
- 44:40and
- 44:41going
- 44:41it's
- 44:42not
- 44:43about
- 44:43putting
- 44:43on
- 44:44an
- 44:44event
- 44:45this
- 44:46thing
- 44:46we
- 44:46do
- 44:46on
- 44:46Sunday
- 44:47morning
- 44:47and
- 44:48I
- 44:48get
- 44:48that
- 44:48there's
- 44:48a
- 44:49consumption
- 44:49aspect
- 44:50to
- 44:50it
- 44:50but
- 44:50you
- 44:51have
- 44:51a
- 44:51responsibility
- 44:52to
- 44:52do
- 44:53something
- 44:53with
- 44:54what
- 44:54you've
- 44:54been
- 44:54given
- 44:55so
- 44:56many
- 44:56of
- 44:56us
- 44:57are
- 44:57so
- 44:57spiritually
- 44:58fat
- 44:58you
- 44:58get
- 44:58carb
- 44:59loaded
- 44:59on
- 44:59Sunday
- 45:00morning
- 45:00and
- 45:01you
- 45:01don't
- 45:01do
- 45:01anything
- 45:02with
- 45:02all
- 45:02the
- 45:02energy
- 45:02those
- 45:03carbs
- 45:03provide
- 45:03you
- 45:04just
- 45:04louse
- 45:05around
- 45:06pack
- 45:07on
- 45:07some
- 45:08weight
- 45:08right
- 45:09what
- 45:11if
- 45:12we
- 45:12just
- 45:13said
- 45:13150
- 45:14we're
- 45:14probably
- 45:14a few
- 45:15more
- 45:15than
- 45:15that
- 45:15this
- 45:16morning
- 45:16but
- 45:17what
- 45:17if
- 45:17we
- 45:17just
- 45:17said
- 45:17there's
- 45:18a
- 45:18consistent
- 45:18150
- 45:19people
- 45:19that
- 45:19come
- 45:19to
- 45:20our
- 45:20Sunday
- 45:20morning
- 45:20services
- 45:21who
- 45:21would
- 45:21say
- 45:21they're
- 45:21part
- 45:22of
- 45:22Christ
- 45:23family
- 45:23church
- 45:23whether
- 45:23member
- 45:24or
- 45:24regular
- 45:24attendee
- 45:24or
- 45:25whatever
- 45:25we're
- 45:26a part
- 45:26of
- 45:27Christ
- 45:27family
- 45:27church
- 45:27we want
- 45:28to be
- 45:28about
- 45:28the
- 45:29work
- 45:29of
- 45:29God
- 45:29using
- 45:30this
- 45:31church
- 45:31we
- 45:31just
- 45:31said
- 45:31150
- 45:32and
- 45:33if
- 45:34you
- 45:34just
- 45:34put
- 45:34on
- 45:34some
- 45:34evangelical
- 45:35imagination
- 45:35with
- 45:36me
- 45:36what
- 45:37if
- 45:37each
- 45:38of
- 45:38those
- 45:38disciples
- 45:39of
- 45:39Jesus
- 45:39Christ
- 45:40were
- 45:40about
- 45:41the
- 45:41work
- 45:41of
- 45:42making
- 45:42another
- 45:42disciple
- 45:43of
- 45:43Jesus
- 45:43Christ
- 45:43in
- 45:43a
- 45:44year
- 45:44one
- 45:44in
- 45:44a
- 45:44year
- 45:45now
- 45:45to
- 45:46be
- 45:46sure
- 45:47some
- 45:47people
- 45:47may
- 45:48do
- 45:48many
- 45:48more
- 45:48some
- 45:49people
- 45:49none
- 45:49at
- 45:50all
- 45:50some
- 45:51people
- 45:51may
- 45:51give
- 45:52their
- 45:52very
- 45:52best
- 45:53effort
- 45:53to
- 45:54it
- 45:54like
- 45:54Jeremiah
- 45:54God
- 45:55delays
- 45:55blessing
- 45:56they
- 45:56press
- 45:57and
- 45:57they
- 45:57press
- 45:57and
- 45:57no
- 45:59one
- 45:59responds
- 45:59!
- 45:59no
- 45:59one
- 46:00seems
- 46:00to
- 46:00care
- 46:01very
- 46:06hear
- 46:07me
- 46:07out
- 46:07but
- 46:08just
- 46:08a
- 46:09little
- 46:09evangelical
- 46:09imagination
- 46:10what
- 46:10if
- 46:11you
- 46:11just
- 46:12said
- 46:12make
- 46:13a
- 46:13disciple
- 46:13whether
- 46:14that's
- 46:14somebody
- 46:14who's
- 46:15converted
- 46:15to
- 46:15Christ
- 46:16and
- 46:16grown
- 46:16up
- 46:17or
- 46:17somebody
- 46:17who's
- 46:18really
- 46:18nominally
- 46:18committed
- 46:19as a
- 46:19Christian
- 46:19and
- 46:20you
- 46:20can
- 46:20just
- 46:20get
- 46:20them
- 46:21to
- 46:21the
- 46:21point
- 46:21where
- 46:21they
- 46:21go
- 46:22and
- 46:22they
- 46:22turn
- 46:22they
- 46:22do
- 46:22the
- 46:23same
- 46:23thing
- 46:23multiplication
- 46:25is
- 46:26what
- 46:26we're
- 46:26going
- 46:26to
- 46:26talk
- 46:27about
- 46:27here
- 46:27I
- 46:27have
- 46:28a
- 46:28!
- 46:28cheat
- 46:28!
- 46:28It's
- 46:29easy
- 46:29in
- 46:29year
- 46:29one
- 46:29I
- 46:32could
- 46:32probably
- 46:32go
- 46:32a
- 46:32couple
- 46:33years
- 46:33year
- 46:34one
- 46:35150
- 46:35people
- 46:35that's
- 46:36what
- 46:36I'm
- 46:36using
- 46:37as
- 46:37my
- 46:37starting
- 46:37point
- 46:38just
- 46:39imagining
- 46:39together
- 46:40in the
- 46:41next
- 46:41year
- 46:41300
- 46:42we've
- 46:43outgrown
- 46:44our
- 46:44meeting
- 46:44space
- 46:44and I
- 46:46would
- 46:46challenge
- 46:46you
- 46:47push
- 46:47the
- 46:47leadership
- 46:48of
- 46:48this
- 46:48church
- 46:48to
- 46:48do
- 46:49something
- 46:49about
- 46:49that
- 46:50what
- 46:51we'll
- 46:51do
- 46:51exactly
- 46:52I
- 46:52do
- 46:52not
- 46:52know
- 46:52but
- 46:53I
- 46:53welcome
- 46:53that
- 46:54we
- 46:54filled
- 46:55!
- 46:55the
- 46:55room
- 46:55you
- 46:55might
- 46:56be
- 46:56thinking
- 46:56that's
- 46:56okay
- 46:57we
- 46:57filled
- 46:57the
- 46:57room
- 46:57hey
- 46:58that's
- 46:59not
- 46:59okay
- 46:59we'll
- 47:00go
- 47:00further
- 47:00and
- 47:00beyond
- 47:00this
- 47:01building
- 47:01could
- 47:02be
- 47:02leveled
- 47:03we
- 47:03could
- 47:03meet
- 47:03in a
- 47:04different
- 47:04building
- 47:04I
- 47:04don't
- 47:04know
- 47:04what
- 47:05we'll
- 47:05do
- 47:05right
- 47:05but
- 47:05make
- 47:06us
- 47:06have
- 47:06to
- 47:06make
- 47:06decisions
- 47:07and
- 47:07offer
- 47:08alternatives
- 47:08to
- 47:08you
- 47:09guys
- 47:09okay
- 47:10300
- 47:11here
- 47:11we
- 47:11go
- 47:12600
- 47:131200
- 47:14you can
- 47:15see how
- 47:15smart
- 47:15I
- 47:26yep
- 47:26and
- 47:26that's
- 47:26why
- 47:27I
- 47:27lose
- 47:27it
- 47:2738
- 47:274
- 47:2976
- 47:318
- 47:31okay
- 47:33so
- 47:33let me
- 47:34just
- 47:34I
- 47:34know
- 47:34most
- 47:34of
- 47:34you
- 47:34can't
- 47:35see
- 47:35this
- 47:35but
- 47:35in
- 47:35year
- 47:3510
- 47:36you'd
- 47:37have
- 47:3776
- 47:37800
- 47:38disciples
- 47:39of
- 47:39Jesus
- 47:39Christ
- 47:39right
- 47:40again
- 47:40assuming
- 47:40right
- 47:41God
- 47:41works
- 47:41God
- 47:42moves
- 47:42this
- 47:43is
- 47:43his
- 47:43work
- 47:43and
- 47:43his
- 47:43doing
- 47:44right
- 47:44I'm
- 47:44not
- 47:45suggesting
- 47:45some
- 47:45pragmatic
- 47:46thing
- 47:46like
- 47:46if
- 47:47you
- 47:47do
- 47:47it
- 47:47this
- 47:47way
- 47:48this
- 47:48will
- 47:48be
- 47:48the
- 47:49result
- 47:49of
- 47:49course
- 47:50right
- 47:50but
- 47:51what
- 47:51if
- 47:51what
- 47:53if
- 47:53God
- 47:54was
- 47:54so
- 47:54loving
- 47:55that
- 47:56he
- 47:56wanted
- 47:56to
- 47:56save
- 47:57people
- 47:57and
- 47:59we
- 47:59just
- 48:00were
- 48:00obedient
- 48:00to
- 48:01to
- 48:02working
- 48:02that
- 48:03method
- 48:03out
- 48:03to
- 48:03doing
- 48:04the
- 48:04things
- 48:04that
- 48:04the
- 48:04scriptures
- 48:05tell
- 48:06us
- 48:06that
- 48:06we
- 48:06ought
- 48:07to
- 48:07do
- 48:08right
- 48:08mature
- 48:09obedient
- 48:10believers
- 48:11of
- 48:11Jesus
- 48:12Christ
- 48:1276
- 48:12800
- 48:14right
- 48:16now
- 48:16to
- 48:18get
- 48:18to
- 48:18this
- 48:18number
- 48:19or
- 48:19this
- 48:19number
- 48:20whichever
- 48:20you
- 48:20prefer
- 48:20make
- 48:22a bit
- 48:22of a
- 48:22jump
- 48:23somewhere
- 48:23between
- 48:23year
- 48:2311
- 48:24and
- 48:2412
- 48:25year
- 48:2512
- 48:25would
- 48:25be
- 48:25this
- 48:26307
- 48:27200
- 48:28people
- 48:29so
- 48:30we
- 48:30far
- 48:30exceeded
- 48:30this
- 48:32number
- 48:32at that
- 48:33point
- 48:33the
- 48:35population
- 48:35of
- 48:35north
- 48:36Georgia
- 48:3639
- 48:37counties
- 48:38Atlanta
- 48:38and north
- 48:39is 6
- 48:39million
- 48:39people
- 48:40the
- 48:40population
- 48:41of
- 48:41Georgia
- 48:41is 9
- 48:42million
- 48:42people
- 48:43in the
- 48:43same
- 48:44year
- 48:44you would
- 48:46see this
- 48:46accomplished
- 48:47so
- 48:47about
- 48:484
- 48:48million
- 48:48oh
- 48:50my gosh
- 48:50I'm
- 48:51writing
- 48:51all
- 48:51these
- 48:51out
- 48:51there's
- 48:52like
- 48:524
- 48:52to
- 48:539
- 48:54million
- 48:54people
- 48:57year 16
- 48:58and 17
- 48:58and just
- 49:01for fun
- 49:01the population
- 49:03of the
- 49:03United
- 49:03States
- 49:04is
- 49:04313
- 49:05million
- 49:05people
- 49:06and in
- 49:07year 22
- 49:07you'd be
- 49:08at
- 49:08314
- 49:09million
- 49:09people
- 49:10now I
- 49:14know I've
- 49:14made a ton
- 49:15of assumptions
- 49:15in doing
- 49:16this
- 49:17I
- 49:19didn't
- 49:19work out
- 49:20the math
- 49:20for what
- 49:20I could
- 49:21do
- 49:21by
- 49:21myself
- 49:22right
- 49:24but it
- 49:24certainly
- 49:24isn't
- 49:25this
- 49:25it
- 49:26certainly
- 49:26doesn't
- 49:26equal
- 49:27this
- 49:27kind
- 49:27of
- 49:28expansive
- 49:29growth
- 49:30Jesus
- 49:32Christ
- 49:32came into
- 49:33the world
- 49:33at the
- 49:33perfect
- 49:34time
- 49:35right
- 49:36it
- 49:36had all
- 49:37been
- 49:37worked
- 49:37out
- 49:37so
- 49:38perfectly
- 49:38he
- 49:39didn't
- 49:39come
- 49:40into
- 49:40the
- 49:40world
- 49:40when
- 49:40there
- 49:40was
- 49:41technology
- 49:41I
- 49:42believe
- 49:43intentionally
- 49:43so
- 49:44right
- 49:45that
- 49:45people
- 49:46might
- 49:46go
- 49:46and
- 49:47person
- 49:47to
- 49:47person
- 49:48share
- 49:48the
- 49:48gospel
- 49:49of
- 49:49Jesus
- 49:49Christ
- 49:50I
- 49:50think
- 49:51Jesus
- 49:51hangs
- 49:51his
- 49:52head
- 49:52and
- 49:52wags
- 49:53it
- 49:53back
- 49:53and
- 49:53forth
- 49:54with
- 49:54online
- 49:56TV
- 49:56and the
- 49:57insanity
- 49:58of
- 49:59churches
- 49:59there's
- 50:00a church
- 50:01which I
- 50:01won't
- 50:01name
- 50:01the
- 50:01name
- 50:02of
- 50:02that's
- 50:02on
- 50:02the
- 50:02west
- 50:03coast
- 50:03in
- 50:03California
- 50:04and
- 50:05they're
- 50:05starting
- 50:05a
- 50:06version
- 50:07of
- 50:07that
- 50:07church
- 50:07in
- 50:07India
- 50:08and
- 50:09they're
- 50:09so
- 50:10arrogant
- 50:10to
- 50:11think
- 50:11that
- 50:11the
- 50:12Indian
- 50:12people
- 50:12need
- 50:13to
- 50:13hear
- 50:13his
- 50:13preaching
- 50:14that
- 50:15they're
- 50:15simulcasting
- 50:16him
- 50:17into
- 50:17India
- 50:18the
- 50:20arrogance
- 50:21of that
- 50:21kind
- 50:21of
- 50:22thing
- 50:22the
- 50:22kind
- 50:23of
- 50:23pride
- 50:23that
- 50:23comes
- 50:24from
- 50:24that
- 50:24rather
- 50:25than
- 50:25just
- 50:25equipping
- 50:26people
- 50:26equipping
- 50:27people
- 50:27to go
- 50:28and do
- 50:28good
- 50:28works
- 50:29right
- 50:30the
- 50:30gospel
- 50:31is
- 50:31on
- 50:31three
- 50:32continents
- 50:32in
- 50:33one
- 50:33generation
- 50:33after
- 50:34Jesus
- 50:34death
- 50:35resurrection
- 50:36because
- 50:37they
- 50:37went
- 50:37and they
- 50:38shared
- 50:38and they
- 50:38started
- 50:38churches
- 50:39and they
- 50:39went
- 50:39and they
- 50:40shared
- 50:40and they
- 50:40equipped
- 50:41and we
- 50:41never
- 50:42should have
- 50:42stepped
- 50:42outside
- 50:42of that
- 50:43model
- 50:43right
- 50:44we all
- 50:46have a
- 50:46responsibility
- 50:47to play
- 50:48in this
- 50:48process
- 50:49right
- 50:51you start
- 50:51eliminating
- 50:52some of you
- 50:53from this
- 50:53number
- 50:53and this
- 50:54multiplication
- 50:55gets
- 50:55dramatically
- 50:56smaller
- 50:56and I
- 50:59know
- 50:59and I
- 50:59know
- 50:59that
- 50:59many
- 51:01of you
- 51:02have
- 51:02hearts
- 51:02for
- 51:03this
- 51:03many
- 51:03of you
- 51:04are
- 51:04pressing
- 51:04and
- 51:05driving
- 51:05I
- 51:05have
- 51:05been
- 51:05so
- 51:05encouraged
- 51:06in the
- 51:06last
- 51:06couple
- 51:06of
- 51:07weeks
- 51:07for the
- 51:07amount
- 51:08of
- 51:08sharing
- 51:08I've
- 51:09heard
- 51:09about
- 51:09intentional
- 51:10gospel
- 51:11proclamation
- 51:12really
- 51:12connecting
- 51:13really
- 51:13pressing
- 51:14it's
- 51:15been
- 51:15massively
- 51:16encouraging
- 51:17to me
- 51:17and we're
- 51:18not seeing
- 51:19fruit of
- 51:19that
- 51:19yet
- 51:19but
- 51:20stick
- 51:20to
- 51:20it
- 51:20and keep
- 51:21going
- 51:21I don't
- 51:24think it's
- 51:24the cultural
- 51:24norm
- 51:25what if
- 51:25we
- 51:25change
- 51:25that
- 51:25culture
- 51:26in our
- 51:26churches
- 51:26what if
- 51:27it
- 51:27became
- 51:27strange
- 51:28if you
- 51:29didn't
- 51:29show up
- 51:29and have
- 51:30something
- 51:30to share
- 51:31about the
- 51:31work of
- 51:31God
- 51:31in your
- 51:32life
- 51:32in the
- 51:33gospel
- 51:33proclamation
- 51:34that week
- 51:34what if
- 51:34it was
- 51:35weird
- 51:35that all
- 51:35your
- 51:36buddies
- 51:36are
- 51:36talking
- 51:36about
- 51:37oh yeah
- 51:37I got to
- 51:38talk to
- 51:38so and so
- 51:38and this
- 51:38is what
- 51:39he
- 51:39said
- 51:39how would
- 51:41you have
- 51:41answered
- 51:41that question
- 51:42oh man
- 51:42this response
- 51:43this was
- 51:43really fantastic
- 51:44what if
- 51:44that was
- 51:45the case
- 51:45and you
- 51:45were like
- 51:51opposite of
- 51:52this
- 51:52it's
- 51:54plastic
- 51:55in so
- 51:55many
- 51:56regards
- 51:56how are
- 51:58you today
- 51:58brother
- 51:58oh I'm
- 51:59really good
- 51:59we go
- 52:01through our
- 52:01motions
- 52:01we are
- 52:04in a lot
- 52:05of ways
- 52:05a social
- 52:06club
- 52:06and we
- 52:08believe a lot
- 52:09of the same
- 52:09things
- 52:10and we're
- 52:10pressing
- 52:10and I know
- 52:11that you
- 52:11guys love
- 52:12holiness
- 52:12and you're
- 52:12working on
- 52:13those kinds
- 52:13of things
- 52:13but we're
- 52:15inwardly
- 52:16focused
- 52:17not outwardly
- 52:17focused
- 52:18if we're
- 52:19an army
- 52:20this is
- 52:20base
- 52:20camp
- 52:21you get
- 52:21here
- 52:22to get
- 52:22equipped
- 52:23you get
- 52:24trained
- 52:24you get
- 52:25ammunition
- 52:25say to
- 52:26people all
- 52:27the time
- 52:27I just
- 52:27need to
- 52:27remember
- 52:28why I'm
- 52:28fighting
- 52:28sometimes
- 52:29because the
- 52:30week's
- 52:30hard
- 52:31and I
- 52:32need to
- 52:32know
- 52:32sometimes
- 52:33that I'm
- 52:33not crazy
- 52:34so sing
- 52:34songs to
- 52:35the top
- 52:35of your
- 52:35lungs
- 52:35men
- 52:36don't let
- 52:37this room
- 52:37be dominated
- 52:38by female
- 52:38voices
- 52:39right
- 52:40because I
- 52:40need to
- 52:40hear your
- 52:41voices
- 52:41right
- 52:42I'm not
- 52:42a crazy
- 52:42man
- 52:43I need
- 52:44to know
- 52:44that
- 52:45it's just
- 52:46not me
- 52:46and the
- 52:46women
- 52:46that believe
- 52:47these
- 52:48things
- 52:48okay that's
- 52:53my sixth
- 52:53point
- 52:53seventhly
- 52:54we may
- 52:55not regularly
- 52:56recognize the
- 52:57transforming
- 52:58power of
- 52:59the gospel
- 52:59we may not
- 53:00regularly
- 53:00recognize it
- 53:01the gospel has
- 53:02transforming power
- 53:03it's transforming
- 53:03power in our
- 53:04lives all the
- 53:04time
- 53:05Paul says in
- 53:08Romans 1 16
- 53:09for I am not
- 53:10ashamed of the
- 53:10gospel
- 53:11he's not ashamed
- 53:12right we've
- 53:12seen this
- 53:12exhortation
- 53:13what will
- 53:14happen if we
- 53:14are ashamed
- 53:15in Mark
- 53:16chapter 8
- 53:16he's not
- 53:17ashamed
- 53:17why
- 53:18for it
- 53:18is the
- 53:19power of
- 53:20God
- 53:20for salvation
- 53:21to everyone
- 53:22who believes
- 53:22to the Jew
- 53:23first and also
- 53:24the Greek
- 53:24if we change
- 53:25the culture
- 53:26if people are
- 53:27sharing constantly
- 53:28about the
- 53:28transforming
- 53:28work of the
- 53:29gospel in
- 53:30their lives
- 53:30and the
- 53:31lives of
- 53:31the people
- 53:31around them
- 53:32I think
- 53:32that would
- 53:33be good
- 53:33for us
- 53:33because we
- 53:34remember
- 53:34that the
- 53:34gospel does
- 53:35in fact
- 53:36save people
- 53:37that our
- 53:37confidence
- 53:37will increase
- 53:38and that
- 53:39again experience
- 53:39emboldens
- 53:40your belief
- 53:41get out and
- 53:42share the
- 53:42gospel and
- 53:43see people
- 53:43respond to
- 53:45the gospel
- 53:45in the
- 53:46strangest of
- 53:46ways
- 53:47right
- 53:47melt
- 53:48in front
- 53:49of you
- 53:49so firmly
- 53:50believing
- 53:51one thing
- 53:51and then
- 53:51finding that
- 53:52their entire
- 53:52worldview
- 53:53has changed
- 53:54in an
- 53:54instant
- 53:55and you'll
- 53:56know
- 53:56that God's
- 53:57word is
- 53:58powerful
- 53:58to change
- 53:59people's
- 53:59hearts
- 54:00and
- 54:02eighthly
- 54:02and finally
- 54:03feel strange
- 54:05to say
- 54:05we may not
- 54:07believe that
- 54:07we are
- 54:07equipped
- 54:08we may not
- 54:10believe that
- 54:11we are
- 54:11equipped but
- 54:11you are all
- 54:12more equipped
- 54:12than you
- 54:13may think
- 54:14you have
- 54:16responded in
- 54:17faith to
- 54:18the good news
- 54:18of Jesus
- 54:19Christ
- 54:19if you claim
- 54:21to be a
- 54:21Christian you
- 54:22better know
- 54:22the gospel
- 54:23because you
- 54:24responded to
- 54:25the gospel
- 54:25you can't be a
- 54:27Christian and
- 54:27not understand
- 54:28the gospel
- 54:29God saves
- 54:30all of you
- 54:30he saves your
- 54:31heart he saves
- 54:32your mind
- 54:32as well
- 54:33this is the
- 54:33way that
- 54:34he accesses
- 54:35our hearts
- 54:35through our
- 54:36minds
- 54:36you better
- 54:37be able to
- 54:37give at
- 54:38least a
- 54:38simple
- 54:38gospel
- 54:39outline
- 54:40if you're
- 54:41a Christian
- 54:42and you've
- 54:45been given
- 54:45the helper
- 54:45the Holy
- 54:47Spirit
- 54:47you have
- 54:47within you
- 54:48an extension
- 54:49of Jesus
- 54:50Christ
- 54:50when the
- 54:51apostles were
- 54:52lamenting
- 54:52Jesus is
- 54:53leaving
- 54:53he said
- 54:54no no
- 54:54it's better
- 54:55that I go
- 54:55away
- 54:55sometimes
- 54:56that's
- 54:57hard to
- 54:57understand
- 54:57like I
- 54:57would have
- 54:58loved to
- 54:58sat at
- 54:59the feet
- 54:59of Jesus
- 54:59but he
- 55:00says no
- 55:00it's better
- 55:01that I go
- 55:01away
- 55:01because if I
- 55:01don't go
- 55:02away I
- 55:02can't send
- 55:03you the
- 55:03helper
- 55:03right so
- 55:04he has
- 55:05extended
- 55:05himself in
- 55:06a most
- 55:07magnificent
- 55:07way that
- 55:08we might
- 55:09all have
- 55:09this abiding
- 55:10presence of
- 55:11Christ in
- 55:12our lives
- 55:12to help
- 55:12us in
- 55:14what we
- 55:14should say
- 55:15and how
- 55:16we should
- 55:16say it
- 55:17Mark 13
- 55:1811
- 55:18Jesus'
- 55:19encouragement
- 55:19to the
- 55:19apostles as
- 55:20he's telling
- 55:20them about
- 55:21the end
- 55:21of things
- 55:22and the way
- 55:22that they're
- 55:22going to
- 55:23suffer
- 55:23he says
- 55:24that when
- 55:24they bring
- 55:24you to
- 55:25trial and
- 55:25deliver you
- 55:26over
- 55:26do not
- 55:27be anxious
- 55:28beforehand
- 55:28what you
- 55:29are to
- 55:29say
- 55:30as you're
- 55:31sitting in
- 55:31a prison
- 55:31and you're
- 55:33going to
- 55:33a trial
- 55:33likely to
- 55:35be killed
- 55:35don't be
- 55:35anxious
- 55:36about what
- 55:37you're going
- 55:37to say
- 55:37but say
- 55:38whatever is
- 55:39given you
- 55:39in that
- 55:40hour for
- 55:40it is not
- 55:40you who
- 55:41speak
- 55:41but the
- 55:42Holy Spirit
- 55:43so when
- 55:45your friend
- 55:45asks you a
- 55:45question about
- 55:46Christianity
- 55:47right
- 55:48and the end
- 55:49result may be
- 55:50that they just
- 55:50don't quite
- 55:51understand
- 55:51don't be
- 55:51anxious
- 55:52it's going
- 55:54to be
- 55:54alright
- 55:54the Spirit
- 55:55is going
- 55:55to speak
- 55:55through you
- 55:56you are
- 55:57probably going
- 55:58to flub it
- 55:59up sometimes
- 56:00but God
- 56:01seems to
- 56:01use the
- 56:03foolishness
- 56:03of men
- 56:04I feel
- 56:04this way
- 56:05most Sundays
- 56:05to accomplish
- 56:06his work
- 56:07the Spirit
- 56:09moves
- 56:09we have
- 56:10the helper
- 56:10I'll give you
- 56:11the example
- 56:12of Stephen
- 56:12in closing
- 56:13mere days
- 56:14maybe just
- 56:15weeks
- 56:16after Stephen
- 56:17believes
- 56:18he's made
- 56:19some issues
- 56:21that are arising
- 56:22in the church
- 56:22the apostles
- 56:23want to devote
- 56:23themselves to
- 56:24prayer and the
- 56:24study of the
- 56:25word
- 56:25and
- 56:27he's appointed
- 56:29as a deacon
- 56:30not long
- 56:33after that
- 56:33he is going
- 56:35about
- 56:35and he's
- 56:36preaching
- 56:36he's teaching
- 56:37the word
- 56:37and he's
- 56:39brought to
- 56:39trial
- 56:39and I'll
- 56:40just encourage
- 56:40you to read
- 56:41Acts chapter 6
- 56:41there's a
- 56:42fantastic sermon
- 56:43brought by the
- 56:46Spirit in
- 56:46Stephen's life
- 56:47but Stephen's
- 56:48not a
- 56:48he's filled
- 56:49with the
- 56:50Spirit
- 56:50not
- 56:53intellectually
- 56:53gifted in
- 56:54any manner
- 56:54whatsoever
- 56:55but Acts
- 56:566.10
- 56:56says
- 56:57but they
- 56:58those are
- 56:58those that
- 56:59brought him
- 56:59to trial
- 57:00they could
- 57:01not withstand
- 57:01the wisdom
- 57:02and the
- 57:03Spirit
- 57:04with which
- 57:05he was
- 57:05speaking
- 57:06read
- 57:09that sermon
- 57:10and just
- 57:10remember that
- 57:11he is
- 57:11an infant
- 57:12in the
- 57:13faith
- 57:14I'll give
- 57:15maybe weeks
- 57:16weeks
- 57:17in the
- 57:17faith
- 57:18and yet
- 57:19by the
- 57:19power
- 57:19of the
- 57:20Spirit
- 57:20he delivers
- 57:20this
- 57:21magnificent
- 57:21sermon
- 57:23the great
- 57:26mark of
- 57:26Christian
- 57:27maturity
- 57:27beloved
- 57:28is not
- 57:28how much
- 57:29you know
- 57:30we're a
- 57:31smart
- 57:32church
- 57:34it's not
- 57:35how much
- 57:35you know
- 57:36it's what
- 57:36you do
- 57:37with what
- 57:38you know
- 57:39and I know
- 57:40many Christians
- 57:41who know
- 57:41very very
- 57:42little
- 57:43but are to
- 57:44be esteemed
- 57:45for their
- 57:46obedience
- 57:46the way
- 57:47in which
- 57:47they respond
- 57:48to the
- 57:49things they
- 57:49know
- 57:49and I
- 57:49know
- 57:50many
- 57:50Christians
- 57:51who are
- 57:51rather
- 57:52brilliant
- 57:52in what
- 57:53they know
- 57:53and do
- 57:54so little
- 57:54with it
- 57:55and it's
- 57:56a shame
- 57:56it's an
- 57:57absolute
- 57:57shame
- 57:58so I
- 58:00would ask
- 58:00are you
- 58:01faithful
- 58:01with what
- 58:01God has
- 58:02given to
- 58:02you
- 58:02are you
- 58:04a disciple
- 58:05who makes
- 58:08disciples
- 58:08the two
- 58:09are absolutely
- 58:10inseparable
- 58:12next week
- 58:14we will
- 58:16talk
- 58:16we will
- 58:17preach to
- 58:19you
- 58:19the things
- 58:20that the
- 58:20scriptures
- 58:21show us
- 58:22that can
- 58:22be equipping
- 58:23the things
- 58:25that the
- 58:26model and
- 58:27the pattern
- 58:27in which we
- 58:28should follow
- 58:28as we look
- 58:29at the life
- 58:29and teaching
- 58:30of Jesus
- 58:31Christ
- 58:31so be
- 58:31encouraged
- 58:32by that
- 58:32but this
- 58:33week
- 58:33I want
- 58:34you to
- 58:35stew in
- 58:35it
- 58:36I want
- 58:38you to
- 58:38really
- 58:39take an
- 58:40account
- 58:40of your
- 58:41life
- 58:41and the
- 58:41things
- 58:41that you
- 58:42care
- 58:42about
- 58:42and the
- 58:43efforts
- 58:43that you
- 58:43put
- 58:44towards
- 58:44things
- 58:44and I'm
- 58:44not
- 58:45suggesting
- 58:45that we're
- 58:45not good
- 58:46parents
- 58:47and employees
- 58:47and that we
- 58:49don't work
- 58:49hard in our
- 58:50classes
- 58:50but we do
- 58:51all of that
- 58:51with the
- 58:52kingdom of
- 58:52God
- 58:53and the
- 58:53gospel
- 58:53in mind
- 58:54this is
- 58:54the aim
- 58:54should be
- 58:55the aim
- 58:56of everything
- 58:57and let me
- 58:58close
- 58:58just by
- 58:59reading to
- 58:59you again
- 59:00what Jesus
- 59:00said
- 59:00recorded in
- 59:02Mark 8
- 59:02verse 34
- 59:03if anyone
- 59:03would come
- 59:04after me
- 59:04let him
- 59:06deny himself
- 59:06and take up
- 59:07his cross
- 59:08and follow
- 59:10me
- 59:10let's pray
- 59:11together
- 59:12let's