Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP081812
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00:06 From the campus of Andrews University,
00:08 this is New Perceptions with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson. 00:33 Praise God from whom all blessings flow 00:39 Praise Him all creatures here below 00:46 Praise Him above ye heavenly host 00:52 Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost 01:01 Amen 01:13 Holy Father, so here we are 01:15 all the good natured protesting aside 01:17 we can't halt the onward march of time, 01:21 we can't at a single date of this waiting summer 01:25 that alone our hearing lives. 01:27 And so, we've gathered from across this campus 01:30 and this community and this nation 01:32 as new students as long time residents. 01:36 We're hearing the sanctuary of time 01:38 this Seventh-day gift from You. 01:42 Here's our desire in our prayer 01:46 in this Your Sabbath presence, 01:50 may the staccato beat of our heart in our breaths low 01:54 to the gentile rhythm of your grace and your love. 01:59 We've come seeking Jesus. 02:01 If He's the one who will lead us in the New Year 02:03 that is not quite here then all is well. 02:07 If Christ shall rain and our king shall lead us, 02:11 all will be well. 02:13 Through Christ Jesus we worship You now, amen. 02:33 It was this last month that 14 of our high school 02:39 and college freshmen age 02:41 young people flew down to Panama 02:46 for a-- an evangelist trip. 02:53 Fourteen of our young people teamed up 02:55 with about 12 from Avon Park, Florida. 02:58 And together these young people did 24, 03:03 I'm not making the story up, 03:05 24 evangelistic series across the city of Panama 03:10 in the country of Panama, amen. 03:13 So, check this up, Pastor Dwight, 03:15 19 sermons in 16 days, amen. 03:24 The last Sabbath by the last Sabbath 03:26 conference there in Panama, 03:27 zipped us a report 136 baptisms 03:32 from the preaching of our young people. 03:35 I had the privilege of being there. 03:37 I want you to turn your attention to the screen 03:39 because you are going to have the privilege 03:41 of listening to them first hand, tell you what it was like. 03:47 Preaching, actually at first I was really nervous. 03:50 I was really nervous. It was stressful. 03:53 Nerve-racking. Nerve-racking. 03:54 At first, it was very hard for me 03:57 because English is not my first language nor Spanish. 04:01 Preaching now that something new and especially in Spanish 04:04 which is not my first language. 04:06 This was the foreign country I'm not in America anymore. 04:09 Honestly, I didn't really want to preach 04:13 but I kind of it kind of grew on to me. 04:16 And as the chipper rest, I actually was comfortable 04:19 after putting my own testimony in one of the sermons. 04:21 I can't even put in words what it was like for me. 04:24 Having myself the empty and have god filled 04:27 in order for me to send out the words to the people, 04:31 that was what preaching was like for me. 04:33 My first sermon was not really the best 04:36 because like it was just something 04:38 very new and everything. 04:40 So, I have lot of like pauses 04:42 in my sermon like awkward silences. 04:44 Like I'd stuttered really bad then I would pray 04:48 and I was like, Lord, speak through me. 04:50 It came to the part when I had to make the appeal 04:52 and so I made the appeal but no one came up. 04:55 Sometimes you don't know how they would respond, 04:58 so you wouldn't want to make a call 05:00 'cause you don't want-- no one to come up. 05:02 So, you'll be like, oh, maybe I shouldn't make a call. 05:04 The pastor of the church he comes up 05:05 and he said something in Spanish. 05:07 And then eight people came up and gave their heart to God. 05:09 Well, I remember the first time I gave a baptismal call 05:12 and no one came up and I was super excited 05:14 I wasn't worried about it all and I was like, God, 05:17 I'm gonna do this call for You. 05:19 So, I was really disappointed. 05:20 And I stood there like, 05:22 so this is what the pastor feels like, 05:24 if he makes an altar call nobody comes up. 05:25 Five minutes no one came up, 05:27 ten minutes one, one small kid came up. 05:31 I found out after I got off the stage 05:34 that there was this one day 05:35 who just-- she was too shame to come up 05:39 because she wanted to be re-baptized. 05:41 And I found that kind of powerful 05:43 because I was re-baptized. 05:45 I kept going and going 05:47 and finally the first day five people, 05:49 next day eight more people, 05:52 the next week about 25 baptized or going to be baptized. 05:56 There was an elder who brought along a bunch of street kids, 05:59 there was some young eager children 06:01 and then there was some tougher gangster boys 06:04 that came in and one of the first night 06:06 when I made the appeal I was a little nervous 06:08 whose gonna respond to God's call. 06:11 But it was the little children that came up. 06:13 If you jut believe that God will work on that not me 06:20 then they will-- it will actually test their hearts 06:23 and it will make them brave enough 06:25 to not care about what other people think 06:27 but to just make decisions in front of God. 06:29 The seeing of baptized 06:31 it kind of reminded me of my decision to be baptized, 06:34 it was-- it was like a new start. 06:37 Being on the side and just watching the baptisms, 06:40 it was amazing. 06:42 Four people ended up being baptized. 06:44 Seventeen people got baptized 06:48 and watching them go into the water 06:50 and coming back out it was such a blessing to me. 06:55 I thought I was going to Panama to bring others to God 06:57 and I did bring people to God. 07:00 But I realized that my church, you know, 07:02 that sponsor brought me to God to. 07:04 It just showed me that God is much bigger 07:07 than what I thought He was. 07:09 She had a mission for all of us. 07:11 Coming to Panama, it was a good thing. 07:13 It was totally just God working miracles through me. 07:16 I think I found a new hobby soul winning for Jesus. 07:19 That last Sabbath as we're outstanding there 07:21 they have them all hold hands in a big circle 07:24 and I told them this is what heaven will be like. 07:27 This is what God's work is all about 07:29 when He calls us to the missionaries. 07:30 If anybody has an opportunity to go to a mission trip, 07:33 they should really take the opportunity 07:34 because it will change you. 07:36 And there was a line that we all said 07:37 while we there in Panama, it Panama para Cristo. 07:41 Panama para Cristo. 07:43 Panama para Cristo. 07:44 Panama para Cristo. 07:45 Panama para Cristo. 07:47 Panama para Cristo. 07:48 Panama para Cristo. 07:50 Panama para Cristo. 07:51 Panama para Cristo. 07:53 Panama para Cristo. 07:55 Panama para Cristo. 07:56 It's true, Panama is for Christ. 08:01 We want to thank you all so very much for the donations 08:04 and prayers that you gave 08:05 that made this trip to Panama possible for us. 08:09 Many lives were changed 08:11 and many souls were won for Christ. 08:13 We were on a mission to change Panama 08:16 but in the end Panama also changed us. 08:18 So we were truly blessed 08:20 and words can't describe how much you, 08:22 this church has really helped us and sponsored us. 08:24 So thank you so much for your financial gifts and support. 08:27 And thank you, God bless. 08:30 Say, I promised I wanted to you show you something, 08:32 I have it right here in my pocket. 08:37 Oh, no, this is not a camera. 08:40 This is I want to see if you recognize this. 08:45 This-- I heard it right there. 08:48 I heard it right there. 08:50 I have a what is this? Gold medal. 08:54 This is a gold medal. 08:57 So where do you think I have been? 09:00 Panama. 09:01 Did you see me on TV? No. 09:05 They had me doing when the stadium was empty. 09:08 But here is a real, I've gold medal. 09:10 Now this is really not mine. 09:11 My friend Don Wilson 09:12 who was a member here and a CPA he said, Dwight, 09:15 If you want to do anything about the Olympics 09:16 when you come back 09:17 from your sabbatical here's a gold medal. 09:19 So, I have a gold medal. 09:20 Anybody want to wear this by the way? 09:21 Me. 09:22 Oh, I'm sorry that you can't but I just wanted to know. 09:27 So I have this gold medal. 09:29 Now I want to tell you story that came out of the Olympics 09:31 because look-- the problem about putting this gold medal 09:34 on is that everybody thinks 09:37 you got to have a gold medal to be special. 09:41 People think, oh, boy, if you don't get a gold 09:44 what's the other medal? Silver. 09:46 And if you don't get a silver then maybe you get a-- bronze. 09:50 And then after that people think you lose. 09:54 But that's not true at all. That's not true at all. 09:56 And I want to share a story we do that-- 09:58 oh, this is something else. 10:00 Let me get this gold medal off 10:02 and let's put a picture on the screen 10:04 please, up in that corner. Can you see him? 10:06 Young man put on the big screen too, there he is. 10:09 This is the world champion Norwegian breaststroke 10:15 that's a certain kind of stroke 10:17 that you do when you're swimming 10:18 that it's the most natural human stroke. 10:20 If somebody throws a human being in the water, 10:22 this is what he start doing, this is what she starts doing 10:23 immediately to keep them afloat. 10:25 He is the world champion, 10:27 the fastest breaststroke swimmer. 10:31 Holds the world record from Norway. 10:33 His name is Alexander Oen. Oen. 10:38 Alexander Oen. 10:40 Now because he goes to the swim meets 10:43 he made a friend with a young man from Hungary. 10:46 Let's put the young man from Hungary on the screen. 10:49 There is the young man from Hungary, 10:51 his name is Daniel Gyurta. 10:54 All right, Daniel Gyurta. 10:55 So, you have Alexander and Daniel. 10:57 And guess what? 10:58 They became the best of friends 11:00 and they knew that they were gonna have to swim 11:03 to see which one of them could get the shiny gold medal. 11:07 Now the Norwegian swimmer is already a world record holder. 11:12 The Hungarian swimmer Daniel says, I'm gonna try hard. 11:16 I'm gonna give you a run for your money. 11:17 So they were practicing together. 11:20 They were at meets together. 11:21 And in fact, this Norwegian swimmer came over to Arizona 11:25 and last May he was swimming in training in Arizona 11:29 when suddenly, Oh, I'm sorry to report this. 11:32 Suddenly, his heart stop beating and they could not save him. 11:37 Something was wrong in his heart that he didn't know about, 11:40 26-years-old the world record holder for the breaststroke. 11:47 Oh, now Daniel is without friend. 11:51 He goes to the Olympics and Daniel says, all right, 11:53 I'm gonna race the very best 11:56 that my God given strength will allow. 11:58 I'm gonna swim as hard and as fast as I can. 12:00 And wouldn't you know it, the 200 meter breaststroke 12:04 Daniel from Hungary not a lot of people from Hungary 12:06 at the Olympics, Daniel from Hungary, 12:09 he received this beautiful gold medal. 12:14 He received the gold medal. 12:17 But the story didn't end there because here's what so special. 12:21 You know what Daniel told the reporters 12:22 who all came up afterwards. 12:23 Oh, hey, Daniel, how does it feel to-- how does it feel 12:26 to have the god medal around your neck? 12:28 You really did swim that fast. 12:32 How does it feel, Daniel? 12:33 Daniel says, let me tell you something. 12:37 I know that if my friend Alexander had been here, 12:42 he would have won the gold medal. 12:44 So as soon as I get back to Hungary 12:46 I'm gonna take this medal to a goldsmith 12:49 and I'm gonna have the goldsmith 12:51 make an exact copy and exact replica 12:55 and then I'm going to take it to Alexander's family. 13:00 He would have won the medal had he'd been here. 13:06 And the whole world were, oh, my isn't that wonderful. 13:12 He could have said I'm the best now. 13:14 No, he said if my friend had been here 13:17 he would have had this medal. 13:18 And he had a gold medal perfectly reproduced. 13:24 Oh, boys, but you know what the problem with the Olympics. 13:26 Come on, guys. 13:27 The problem with Olympics is we think that 13:28 if we don't get a medal, we don't-- 13:31 we're not somebody special. 13:32 But the-- listen, hold on the Bible says, 13:35 that if you're in the race of life 13:38 guess how many people who crossed 13:40 the finished line with Jesus. 13:42 Guess how many will get not a gold medal 13:45 but a gold, what? 13:47 Gold crown. 13:49 Guess how many will get a gold crown 13:50 if you stay in the race to the very end with Jesus. 13:53 How many will get a gold crown? 13:56 Every single one. 13:57 Hey, do you see this cross here? 13:59 Do you see the cross in the platform? 14:00 You see it look down on the floor. 14:02 Yeah, the cross is in the floor. 14:04 When Jesus died, get these guys, 14:07 when Jesus die, He won the gold, 14:10 He won the gold medal for the whole human race 14:13 and everybody who runs the race with Him. 14:16 Look at that? 14:17 Everybody gets the gold crown. 14:20 How many are thankful, number one that Jesus died 14:22 and won the gold medal for us. 14:24 And how many want to say Jesus, 14:26 "I want to stay close to You 14:27 and cross the finished line with You 14:29 and receive that gold crown 14:33 with You forever and ever." 14:38 Hey, listen, let me tell you this-- 14:40 hey, guys, I got an idea. 14:42 I got an idea 14:44 when we did the survey last spring 14:46 some of the worshippers said Dwight, 14:48 instead of having the same 14:50 little junior pastor have the prayer 14:52 at the end of the children story 14:53 why don't you thrown it open and let anybody 14:55 who wants to pray from Sabbath, the Sabbath. 14:59 So, I'm gonna get a microphone right here 15:01 and here's the question. 15:02 Who would like to thank Jesus 15:04 for winning the gold medal for us? 15:07 Sissy, I want to go with you right here. 15:10 Would you come and pray and would you thank Jesus 15:12 for winning the gold medal for us, okay? 15:16 Dear, Jesus, hope we'll have a good day today, 15:19 bless their food and bless their bodies now. 15:22 Gold medal. 15:23 And gold medal to His name, amen. 15:26 Amen. 15:27 All right. Thank you, Sissy. 15:29 As you go quietly and reverently back to your seats, 15:32 you can be saying that in your hearts. 15:34 Thank you, Jesus. 15:35 Thank you, Jesus for winning the gold for all of us. 15:39 Happy Sabbath. 16:22 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound 16:25 And time shall be no more 16:27 When the morning breaks eternal, bright and fair 16:33 When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore 16:38 And the roll is called up yonder 16:41 I'll be there 16:43 When the roll is called up yonder 16:48 When the roll is called up yonder 16:53 When the roll is called up yonder 17:00 When the roll is called up yonder, 17:03 I'll be there 17:06 On that bright and cloudless morning 17:10 When the dead in Christ shall rise 17:12 And the glory of His resurrection share 17:17 When His chosen ones shall gather 17:20 to their home beyond the skies 17:23 And the roll is called up yonder 17:26 I'll be there 17:28 When the roll is called up yonder 17:34 When the roll is called up yonder 17:38 When the roll is called up yonder 17:45 When the roll is called up yonder, 17:50 I'll be there 17:53 Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun 17:58 Let us talk about His wondrous love and care 18:03 Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done 18:09 And the roll is called up yonder 18:11 I'll be there 18:14 When the roll is called up yonder 18:20 When the roll is called up yonder 18:25 When the roll is called up yonder 18:32 When the roll is called up yonder, 18:35 I'll be there 18:39 Oh, God, when the roll is called up yonder, 18:41 please, please, please I'll be there, 18:45 will be there by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18:49 On the cusp of a New Year, what's the teaching 18:51 that You would have for us. 18:53 Jesus will speak in today's scriptures 18:55 so may we hear His voice loud and clear hide mine 18:59 and all the others to make sure that happens. 19:02 We pray in His name, amen. 19:06 I'm gonna put a picture on the screen for you right now. 19:09 When you see it, I'm gonna ask you, 19:10 do you know who this is? 19:12 This is from our recent news see if you recognize. 19:17 I apologize for the picture being out of focus, 19:19 let's put it on the screen. 19:22 It's out of focus because the cameraman 19:23 can't keep up with him. 19:24 Do you know who that is? 19:26 Do you-- you don't know who that is. 19:29 I give you one more picture. This should be a help to you. 19:35 That's my man, Usain Bolt. Take and look at him. 19:39 You are looking at-- you are looking 19:41 at the world's fastest human being alive today. 19:45 When he ran the 100 meters sprint 19:48 and won that sprint with the gold. 19:51 He ran it in 9.63 seconds. 19:55 I figure that how fast that is. 19:56 That is moving at 34 feet per second, 34 feet. 20:02 That's moving at 37.38 kilometers per hour 20:07 or 23.02 miles per hour 20:10 which is fast enough to get you a ticket 20:12 on this campus from campus security. 20:14 That's how fast he moves. 20:17 That's how fast. 20:19 Usain Bolt, the lightening bolt. 20:22 And get this, he was even faster 20:24 when he partnered with his three Jamaican buddies 20:27 in that-- excuse me, 20:29 in that final 4x100 relay. 20:32 In fact, they figured out the average time 20:34 that all four ran for each of their 100s, 20:36 9.21 seconds. 20:40 Now you understand with the relay, 20:42 you get to start running before you get the baton or the batten 20:47 whichever way you prefer to call it. 20:48 So, you, you're not starting from scratch, 20:51 so, it's a little faster. 20:53 But the deal with the relay, 20:55 the deal with the relay as you know 20:58 you're gonna be the fastest, 20:59 you're gonna be the fastest human being on this earth 21:01 but if you do not connect, if you do not connect-- 21:06 let's put the picture the American team up, 21:07 they were right behind just a few hundreds behind are 21:11 friends the Jamaican's. 21:13 But the deal on relay is 21:15 if you do not connect the race is over. 21:18 You have to connect, 21:20 the secret to the race is the connect. 21:24 You know what, that's a truth about this life, isn't it? 21:26 The secret of life is the connect. 21:29 No connect. No finish. 21:33 The secret is the connect. 21:35 Now you're saying what in the world 21:36 are you talking about, Dwight? 21:37 I'm talking about what Jesus is talking about 21:39 in a very peculiar parable. 21:41 Open your Bible, please open your Bible 21:43 to the gospel of Luke Chapter 14. 21:46 Luke Chapter 14 21:47 and while you're finding Luke 14, 21:48 we're gonna put the title slide on the screen 21:50 because there are two little-- there are two part series, 21:52 mini series let's put it up right now, bless you. 21:55 This little mini series is entitled 21:56 "Simple Church for unSimple times." 21:59 The dark night is rising. 22:01 These are unsimple times. 22:02 So, today and next week simple church runs simple times 22:05 then two weeks in a day the dark night rises. 22:09 Luke Chapter 14, 22:13 I'm in the New King James version, 22:15 in fact, I've been in my Andrews Study Bible, 22:16 New King James version and I'm saying that 22:18 because here who are new students here 22:20 that's one of the gifts that you're gonna receive. 22:22 You're gonna get you really on Andrews Study Bible 22:25 and you're gonna be blessed by it. 22:26 So I preach out of. 22:28 So we're here at-- we're here at Luke 14. 22:30 You didn't bring a Bible you got-- 22:31 this is peculiar parable you got to track it. 22:33 Here is the page number for the parable 703 22:35 in your pew Bible, pull that pew Bible out. 22:37 Let's go 703. 22:41 All right. 22:42 Any translation you bring is fine by me by the way, 22:44 it doesn't matter at all. 22:45 Let's begin in verse 15. 22:47 "Now when one of those who sat at the table with Jesus, 22:50 heard these things," 22:52 oh, hit the pause button right here. 22:55 Because what has happened 22:57 is that Jesus has just dropped a little bombshell 23:03 in the polite company of a Sabbath dinner. 23:04 The host is a ruling Pharisee. 23:07 The hoity toady of the Pharisees of that town, 23:09 they're all reclining around the table. 23:12 Bad timing, Jesus 23:16 because what happened was but-- 23:18 the wealthy would have their feast 23:19 even on Sabbath and the poor would come 23:21 because sometimes they were handouts 23:23 and Jesus spots in the periphery, 23:26 a man who drops his swollen portion, 23:28 abnormal swelling of his body. 23:30 And Jesus decides, He's gonna heal the man on the Sabbath 23:33 and He heels them. 23:35 Not a good way to begin dinner with the Pharisee 23:37 on the Sabbath. 23:41 More over after He does that Jesus has, 23:45 this is a rather blunt word to his host. 23:47 Just turn back at verse 12. 23:48 "Then Jesus said to him who had invited Him," 23:50 you're talking to your host now. 23:51 You haven't even start eating yet 23:53 and you're talking to your host. 23:55 And Jesus said to him, 23:56 "When you give a dinner or a supper, 23:59 do not ask your friends, 24:00 your brothers and sisters, your relatives, 24:03 nor your rich neighbors, 24:04 lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid." 24:08 No, no, no, no. 24:09 "When you give a feast, invite the poor, 24:13 the maimed, the lame, and the blind." 24:18 Now, ladies and gentlemen, Jesus certainly is not against 24:21 having your friends over for a Sabbath dinner. 24:23 Jesus loved eating with His friends, 24:26 Martha, Mary and Lazarus. 24:27 He loved those moments. 24:29 What Jesus was saying is much deeper than that. 24:31 In fact, the Greek reads this way. 24:33 Here's the Greek. 24:35 Do not be in the habit of inviting only your friends. 24:42 I mean, come on, what's the point 24:43 of only inviting people who can invite you back? 24:47 It's if Jesus is saying, hey, guys, 24:50 the next time you put your Sabbath dinner lists together 24:52 I wish your hospitality list would be driven 24:56 by the needs of your fellow men and women, the needy. 25:02 I wish you would leave your friends and invite-- 25:05 like this man I just healed, invite some of them 25:08 to your Sabbath dinner. 25:13 In fact, why don't you invite the poor, 25:15 the marginalize, the disenfranchised 25:17 why don't you invite the alienated to your dinner? 25:21 Oh, they'll never be able to repay you 25:24 but you will have made-- 25:25 you will have made a forever difference by that invitation. 25:31 Silence, awkward silence. 25:36 And one of the Pharisees in an effort 25:38 to get the attention off of them 25:40 and it kind of break this uncomfortable pause. 25:44 He burst out in a pain of pious blether. 25:47 It only make sense, oh, blessed the ones who gets 25:50 invited to eat bread in the kingdom of God. 25:51 What? 25:52 What I'm gonna talk about eating bread in the kingdom of God. 25:55 But he was so nervous he had to slip something in. 25:58 Jesus says, "oh, really." 26:00 You're planned to be there, are you? 26:01 Let me tell you a story and here we go. 26:03 Now here comes a peculiar story, verse 16. 26:05 When Jesus said, "Then Jesus said to him," 26:07 the man with this pious platitude, 26:09 "Then Jesus said to him, 'A certain man 26:12 gave a great supper and invited many." 26:15 ' Now you're gonna be thinking about a certain man 26:17 but you and I already know that between the lines 26:20 this certain man is representing a very certain God, you watch. 26:25 So, "A certain man gave a great supper 26:27 and invited many, " verse 17, 26:29 "and sent His servant at supper time 26:31 to say to those who were invited." 26:33 Notice this ladies and gentlemen, 26:34 they've already been invited. 26:36 They've already been invited. 26:38 Now this is just a little confirmation. 26:39 "He sent His servant to them to say, 26:42 'Come, for all things." 26:45 ' You all come now 'cause everything is ready. 26:49 Do you get these little save the date postcards? 26:54 This is a whole new-- whole new thing in society, I guess. 26:57 You send on a postcards, saying hey, 26:59 we're gonna have this big event 27:00 in two months, three months whatever. 27:02 We'll send a more official and formal invitation later 27:06 but save the date. 27:08 We do that now, don't we? 27:09 Well, it was dated in the time of Christ. 27:11 Invitation went out people marked it out I'll be there, 27:13 he already or else repeat. 27:14 Now comes, now comes the personal invitation. 27:18 Come for all things are now ready. 27:21 Now watch this. 27:23 Verse 18, but they all--- 27:27 obviously this man was put 27:29 this man has put together a list of his closest friends, 27:31 these are friends. 27:32 These are people that he loves hanging around with 27:36 but they all. 27:37 Can you believe this? 27:38 "But they all one accord began to make excuses." 27:41 The first-- it's almost like this is not 27:43 some kind of collusion going on here. 27:45 "The first said to the servant, 27:48 'I have bought a piece of ground, 27:50 and I must go and see it. 27:52 I ask you to have me excused." 27:55 ' Are you serious? 27:56 That is the flimsiest of excuses. 27:59 Nobody buys a piece of real estate site unseen, 28:02 do you? 28:03 Now you can, you walk it off you examine. 28:05 No, I like this. 28:06 And you say, I bought some and I need to go check it out. 28:08 Flimsy, flimsy. 28:11 And then the servant goes to another verse 19, 28:13 "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, 28:16 and I am going to test them. 28:18 I ask you to have me excused." 28:20 ' Flimsy, flimsy. 28:22 I'll tell you something the first automobile 28:24 I ever bought was on old 1961, VW Beetle. 28:28 You remember those VW Beetles? 28:30 Yes, you do. Six volt. 28:33 I bought it from an owner in Downtown Chattanooga 28:36 and I made the-- I made the first mistake 28:38 in my auto purchasing experience. 28:41 I bought the car in the dark. 28:45 Now wise, 28:47 you got to see this thing-- it was under a street lamp. 28:50 I'm taking this guys word for-- this is beautiful. 28:55 I learned my lesson. 28:57 Nobody makes a purchase of five yoke of oxen 29:00 and not having checked, hey, 29:02 okay, I think you'll be fine, right. 29:06 Flimsy excuse. 29:07 It's like they're trying to come up with something whack 29:09 I don't want to be with you tonight, 29:10 I have something more important. 29:13 That wouldn't be you, that wouldn't be me of course 29:15 but I'm, you know, it's in the parable. 29:17 So, he goes to a third. 29:18 Where is the third? 29:19 "Still another said," verse 20. 29:21 "Still another said to the servant, 29:22 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come." 29:29 ' Has a henpecked husband if ever. 29:32 I have married you, truth of the matter is, 29:36 truth what the matter is that in the ancient code 29:40 newly weds were given a year off from civil and military service. 29:45 This is just one night with your host, friend. 29:48 What do you mean you can't give a night with him. 29:52 And by the way this, this guy, 29:53 this young newly wed is so in your face 29:56 and he just said, "I'm not coming." 29:58 The other two said, oh, please have me excused. 30:00 I ask to be excuse please. 30:02 Not this guy to just out. 30:07 How it's like to be the servant? 30:08 You gone through their whole invitation list, 30:10 the closest friends to the host. 30:13 I'd like to be the servant 30:14 I have to go back and tell your master, 30:15 oh, by the way nobody has time for you. 30:18 I mean, this next moment is a very embarrassing moment 30:20 because he has to go back and he has to-- 30:25 so, what did you find out? How many are coming? 30:26 You got the list. 30:30 And he asked to announce 30:32 then not a single soul of the closest 30:34 in a circle of the host has time for the host. 30:38 Now, I tell you what in the oriental culture in which 30:40 Jesus is telling the story the refusal of the invitation 30:45 was the refusal of the friendship. 30:50 I don't want to come. 30:53 I don't want to come. 30:55 I'm too busy. I got stuff. 30:57 I mean, come on you're not coming up 30:58 with excuses like that. 31:00 Am I? 31:03 And the poor master, the poor host, 31:04 what's he gonna do? 31:05 He has labored for hours to prepare this feast. 31:09 Hours, major expenses invested in this banquet 31:15 and now nobody's coming. 31:18 Would you be upset? 31:19 Yes or no. 31:22 I'll ask the women here. 31:23 Would you be upset if you plan 31:25 for a whole day a dinner and nobody came? 31:27 Would you be upset? Ladies, let me hear. 31:29 All right. 31:32 The question would be he'd be terribly upset and offended. 31:35 Let me come on, these are my friends. 31:37 But if plan "A" doesn't work 31:40 the host who reminds us of somebody else 31:43 the host moves from plan A to plan B. 31:46 And the host turns he said, okay, okay. 31:47 Let's do this, where is this. 31:49 Verse 21, 31:50 "So that servant came and reported 31:51 these things to his master. 31:52 Then the master of the house, being angry, 31:53 said to his servant," okay, "Go out quickly 31:55 into the streets and lanes of the city, 31:57 and I want you to bring in here the poor 31:58 and the maimed and the lame and the blind." 32:00 The very categories by the way 32:01 Jesus has just said, be really nice of you, 32:03 you brought these kind of people home. 32:05 The host does it, plan B, bring in the riff-raff, 32:09 bringing the marginalized. 32:11 I have you gone all these trouble 32:12 and not be able to give my food to somebody in this house? 32:17 And the servant goes out, he really as he goes out 32:19 and then he comes back I'm not hour too later. 32:22 He comes back what is this in verse 22, 32:24 "And the servant comes back and says, 'Master, 32:26 it is done as you commanded, and still we still got room." 32:30 ' So the master who first says, 32:31 "Go to the street and lanes that's inside the city walls." 32:34 Now he says listen, we saturated the city, okay. 32:36 I'm asking you to now go to the highways 32:38 and byways out to the hedges, go as far as you can go. 32:42 Anybody who is breathing give him the invitation, 32:46 bring them, bring them into my house. 32:49 Because now notice-- and this is the punch line 32:51 I want you to get it. 32:52 "Then the master" verse 23, "said to the servant, 32:54 'Go out into the highways and hedges, 32:56 and compel them to come in, that my house may be,"' what? 33:01 I'm gonna say that loud with you. 33:02 "That my house may be," what? 33:05 "May be filled." 33:06 Let's say that again. 33:07 "That My House may be filled." 33:10 There it is. 33:11 That's the whole punch line to today's teaching. 33:14 "That my house may be filled." 33:19 What's going on here? 33:20 You've got a host. 33:23 Let's close friends, 33:24 we don't have timeframe apparently, 33:26 you go along saying oh, I'm a friend of his, 33:28 oh, I'm a friend of his have no timeframe. 33:31 And the host says, no one we're not having an empty party. 33:35 I'll take anybody. 33:37 Anybody? 33:38 Connect, connect, connect with anybody. 33:43 Bring them in to my house. 33:46 Wow, remember that remember that old gospel hymn, 33:49 bring them in, bring them in. 33:52 Bring the wandering ones to Jesus. 33:54 Remember that to Jesus. 33:56 That's what they're doing. Just bring them in. 33:57 Hey, hey, oh, come here. 33:58 Come here, come here, come here and come here. 34:01 My house must be filled. 34:05 It's the God with filled house. 34:07 He's just like you. 34:10 He hates empty places around his table. 34:12 You know, it's embarrassing some times 34:13 we go to somebody's house 34:14 and then they'll say, we're so glad you came. 34:16 And there are all these empty places around the table. 34:19 Like maybe I don't know something here. 34:23 Maybe this isn't the home to go to. 34:26 Don't you think a host feels little embarrassed 34:28 all these empty places. 34:30 Find anybody you can. 34:32 You know what God is a God of a house 34:34 above that will be filled. 34:36 I was with the Koreans a few Sabbaths ago preaching-- 34:39 1,200 Koreans came on to our campus 34:41 for their camp meeting from the east, 34:42 the eastern half of the United States. 34:45 And I had the privilege of working with them 34:47 doing a satellite series the end of September 34:49 with the Korean translator beside me 34:50 from Baltimore to every Korean church 34:53 in North America, 1,50,000 Adventists. 34:55 There are 2.5 million Koreans belief or no belief 34:59 in America and Canada, US and Canada. 35:02 So, I chose it's our text, this text 35:04 and I want you to see the picture of the God 35:06 who wants a house filled. 35:08 This is John and he's given those snapshot 35:09 of what's gonna be 35:11 when Jesus takes all the saved back to heaven. 35:12 "After these things I looked, 35:14 and behold, a great multitude 35:16 which no one could number, " arithmesai. 35:19 Nobody could do the arithmetic on this 35:21 "of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues." 35:24 By the way John has done the numbers on the angels 35:26 10, 000 times 10,000 and 1,000s of 1,000s. 35:29 He's come up with the hundred million plus angels 35:30 but when he tries to count the saved humans 35:33 he runs out of fingers. 35:34 He cannot count them, amazing. 35:37 Apparently God really goes out into the hedges 35:40 and the highways and gets anybody. 35:44 Okay, what's the next slide? 35:45 There were all these unaccountable innumerable throne 35:49 there they are, "standing before the throne 35:50 and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, 35:53 with palm branches in their hands, 35:55 and they're crying with a loud voice, 35:56 " megaphone in the Greek like a megaphone shout. 36:00 They're singing, "It belongs to our God 36:02 who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 36:06 When God throws a party at the end of human history, 36:09 trust me His house will be full. 36:13 The people he wanted may not be there 36:17 but He still have a full house. 36:19 He's not going into eternity 36:20 with half of the place settings empty. 36:24 Everybody who wants to cross the finish line 36:28 with Him will be there. 36:31 He's the God of the full house. 36:33 I love that. My house will be filled. 36:36 God is huge, isn't He ladies and gentlemen, 36:37 God is huge on connecting with lost people. 36:39 And clearly Jesus story suggests that even 36:42 so we must be huge on connecting with lost people. 36:48 Big on connecting with lost people. 36:50 I'm gonna put a line on the screen for you right now. 36:53 Over the last few months you've seen some, 36:56 some frame statements. 36:59 It's planned its mission in a single line 37:01 "Transforming This Generation." 37:02 We're all about this generation, 37:03 we're not about to one that come, 37:04 we're not about to one is left. 37:05 We're about this one 37:06 because we're on a university campus. 37:08 "Transforming This Generation" 37:09 and our mission is one line long, watch this. 37:11 Our mission begins with connect. 37:15 Then our mission goes to grow. 37:17 Just four words in our mission statement. 37:19 Connect, Grow, Serve is the next line. 37:24 Go is the last word. Four words. 37:28 Connect, Grow, Serve, Go. 37:30 But for this morning, I want to take that connect. 37:32 Let's drop that connect down 37:33 and I want to spend a few moments 37:36 just brooding over what it means to Connect. 37:38 Connecting with people and connecting people with God. 37:44 Let me think about. 37:45 Isn't that what cavalry was all about 37:46 connecting people with God. 37:49 Panama para Cristo, 37:52 that's the whole you connecting people with God. 37:56 El Mundo para Cristo, 37:58 the whole world we've got to connect with God. 38:01 You know, that's what Calvary is about. 38:03 By the way that's the passion of Calvary 38:05 it surely would be the passion of the church of Calvary, 38:07 wouldn't it. 38:08 They would-- that would have to be our passion. 38:10 Young and aged in between, red and yellow, black and white 38:14 what's God passion? 38:15 Put it on the screen please. 38:16 "That My House may be filled." 38:19 That's all I want just fill my house 38:25 which is why God's house-- I want you to think about this. 38:28 God's house is the perfect opportunity to connect. 38:32 Notice house up there 38:33 I'm thinking about His house right here. 38:34 I'm thinking about how God is here in this house 38:40 in a sense in which He is in nether house in this community. 38:43 I'm thinking about how God is here 38:44 in this day of the Sabbath 38:46 in which He is no other day of the week. 38:50 So, you get Sabbath His day and church His house. 38:54 This is the perfect place to connect for that reason. 38:59 In your worship bulletin today 39:01 is a little tiny card that looks like this. 39:03 Would you pull it out for a moment please? 39:05 This is what we call the connect card. 39:07 The connect card. 39:09 What's it about? It's about connecting people. 39:11 It's about connecting people with God. 39:15 I want you to take a look at it. 39:18 This sort of-- this simple little card by the way 39:21 every Sabbath we've had it in the bulletin since March. 39:25 This little card is for you and me. 39:27 Are you a guest here? 39:29 Are you a member here? It doesn't matter. 39:30 Are you a young or you aged? 39:31 It doesn't matter. 39:33 Are you saved, are you lost? 39:34 It doesn't matter. This is for all of us. 39:36 This is the connect card 39:38 because you can't come to an end of a teaching 39:40 as we have here every Sabbath. 39:42 You can't come to the end of a teaching 39:43 and not take the next step, there's has to be something. 39:45 I got to-- I got to reconnect with God. 39:47 And by the way the preacher has to reconnect. 39:49 I fill these cards out because I'm preaching to myself 39:52 even as we're sharing a Bible teaching. 39:54 I have to make a next step. 39:56 So, on the-- let's put that in front of the card up please. 40:00 On the front of the card you have the sailing information 40:02 that will enable us to send you something. 40:04 If you put an email address there 40:06 sometimes we offer material bingo, 40:08 you get that material within 48 hours, 40:09 that's our pledge to get it to you the material. 40:14 You want to put your name of course, email. 40:16 This is your first time, I'm glad to have you. 40:19 So, I'm not-- not gonna reach through that. 40:20 You want to put your demographic information that you may. 40:23 Nobody's come-- nobody's coming to your door 40:25 with this information. 40:26 But you give an email address we'll get it to you. 40:29 So this is about yourself but at the end of every teaching 40:31 here's what happens. 40:33 The connect card now becomes the next step. 40:34 Let's put the next step up. 40:36 Let's turn the card around. 40:37 This is the-- we call this the next step 40:39 beside of the card. 40:40 And how does the next step work? 40:41 Works like this. 40:43 Every teaching has some practical specific ways. 40:48 I can take the next step. 40:49 I don't want just hear this and go out and forget it. 40:50 I wanted to do something about it. 40:52 I want to act and what the Holy Spirit 40:54 is impressing me to do. 40:55 So that's why the back of your card 40:57 says my next step today is and then we'll list something, 41:01 something practical, something you can do. 41:04 I try to make sure I get at least two, 41:06 two out of those usually there are three. 41:10 But now I want to draw your attention 41:12 to the right side of the card 41:14 that little box I'm interested in. 41:16 Listen carefully for some worshippers 41:18 this second box 41:21 is what becomes the life changing box. 41:24 We've seen it happened in 41:25 just the few weeks we've been doing it. 41:27 Look at this-- look at the little box. 41:30 I'm interested in beginning a relationship with Jesus, 41:34 right university campus. 41:36 Come on we got, we got students from 41:38 almost 100 different nations. 41:40 It is possible that in a campus this large 41:42 there are many who have yet to connect with Christ. 41:46 We may have some new students who were sitting right here. 41:49 But I want to tell you something, Dwight, 41:50 I got a collection of butterflies in my stomach, 41:53 I can't believe I'm doing this, our whole new chapter. 41:56 I'm scared, spindles. 41:58 We may have some freshmen here 42:01 who need to take the next step and begin a full fledge 42:05 not because I'm under mommy and daddy. 42:07 No, I'm on my own now. 42:09 A full fledge next step relationship with Jesus. 42:13 If you put a check mark there, 48 hours, 42:16 you give us an email address, 48 hours 42:18 we'll send you a material 42:19 to begin to grow a friendship with Jesus. 42:21 We'll send you a little video. 42:23 We'll send it all to you. 42:24 We're not coming to your home or dorm room. 42:27 We have to make this connect opportunity available. 42:30 Look at the next one, information on baptism. 42:33 This one is blown us out of the water 42:35 it will be-- be very candid with you. 42:36 Our baptisms in this universe congregation 42:39 have gone just like this. 42:40 Why? 42:41 Because every single Sabbath 42:42 the Holy Spirit has an opportunity 42:44 to speak to somebody. 42:45 You've been here five weeks in a row 42:46 and you said, I'm not into that. 42:47 I'm not into that. 42:48 Week number six, you were sitting here 42:50 and Holy Spirit says, "by the way, 42:51 I have been thinking about you with this number two. 42:54 Could you-- do you want to follow Jesus in baptism?" 42:57 Nobody gets baptized on the spot 42:59 but everybody gets an opportunity to decide 43:02 that maybe you, you've never been baptized. 43:05 You've been waiting. 43:06 What are you waiting for? This is perfect. 43:08 You're here now at Andrew University 43:10 your new opportunity to begin a brand new chapter 43:14 just you and Jesus. 43:15 I thank God for your parents 43:17 who invested a lot of money to get you here 43:19 and have invested their lives 43:20 to protect you till you've gotten here 43:22 but you're on your own now. 43:24 We're here to journey with you. 43:26 We're not-- hey, mom and dad 43:27 I see you and turn to each other. 43:28 We're-- you're not dumping with them off 43:29 we'll stay with them. 43:31 We'll stay with them. 43:32 But madam, young madam, young sir, 43:35 you're on your own now. 43:37 It's not family and Jesus. It's you and Jesus. 43:41 Haven't been baptized put a check mark there. 43:43 Number three, what's number three? 43:44 Information on church membership. 43:46 We have a visitor from all over Michiana 43:48 who coming into this church all over the world. 43:52 We need to make that available. 43:54 We have number four, 43:55 I want to sign up for a ministry team. 43:56 I want-- I don't want to just be here and lump and log 43:58 I want to be involved. 43:59 You check number four, 44:01 we'll send you a 12-14 ministries 44:02 that right now can take you. 44:03 We'll tell you how to get in touch 44:04 with that ministry later. 44:06 It's to make the next step possible, 44:08 it's to connect, to connect. 44:12 So we call it the connect card. 44:13 And what's the big deal about it 44:15 put it up on the screen again please. 44:16 "That My House may be filled." 44:22 God has a passion. 44:23 Listen, I can't get my friends go on the streets. 44:25 I can't get those in the streets, 44:26 go out in the highways and hedges, get Me, 44:28 bring, bring My run away earth children to Me. 44:31 Come to Me. Come, come, come, come. 44:34 It's God's passion. 44:35 It must be our passion too. 44:37 All right, all of this is leading out for me 44:39 to make a big announcement now to our Pioneer family. 44:41 We are announcing today right now 44:43 a brand new worship paradigm 44:45 for this university congregation. 44:48 We want on-- on a retreat this summer 44:49 I've seen a leadership team back in June 44:52 and we prayerfully wrestle with okay, 44:53 if God is big if God has a passion 44:55 to connect with lost people 44:57 are we making this golden Sabbath morning 45:01 opportunity really accessible. 45:04 Are we making it easy to go to or are we kind of like, 45:07 you know, this is a little difficult 45:08 but if you really get up early and come 45:11 where will be able to do this with you. 45:16 We've run this by our leadership team. 45:17 We've run this by our elected leadership. 45:23 It's no secret that here at Andrews University 45:26 we have a significant number of students 45:28 who either sleep to the morning in their residences 45:30 or simply are disconnected 45:32 with any notion of church, worship and God. 45:34 What could we do if you could be a friend of one of them 45:38 could bring him here, 45:39 how could we make this as easily accessible as possible? 45:46 I want to put a sentence on the screen for you. 45:48 Therefore, because-- 45:49 I just want you to see the whole sentence. 45:51 "Because Sabbath morning is the most opportune time 45:54 to connect people with God," burn on there's no other time 45:57 as opportunists. 45:59 "Because Sabbath morning is the most opportune time 46:01 to connect people with God," here's the rest of the sentence. 46:03 "We need to make Sabbath morning 46:05 the most accessible time for people to connect with God." 46:09 This has to be just as easy as we can possibly make it 46:13 for your friends and you to connect with God. 46:18 And so we are recommending two actions 46:19 and these will begin on September 11. 46:21 Two weeks from today the dark night rises 46:24 that's when we begin the new time, 46:26 our new paradigm. 46:27 Two actions. 46:29 Action number one, 46:30 we're gonna shorten each worship service 46:31 by 15 minutes shortening it. 46:35 We had a member come up afterwards and say, 46:37 first service to say, come on pastor, 46:39 it's like I really-- I look all week 46:42 I'm looking forward to this and you're cutting it down. 46:44 Oh, don't, don't jump that to that conclusion. 46:47 Step two is grow. 46:48 I'll say more about grow later not today. 46:50 Grow is gonna bring some of the elements that you think 46:52 you're missing by a shorter service 46:54 you're gonna get it in the grow. 46:56 Connect grow serve go. 46:59 Now we're gonna cut it down. 47:01 We're gonna cut it down. 47:03 Action number two, 47:04 we're gonna take those saved minutes 47:06 and put together a new Sabbath morning schedule. 47:11 That God's house maybe filled. 47:13 All right, let's go, let's put it on the screen 47:14 I want to show you. 47:16 First celebration 9 o'clock in the morning. 47:20 We've been having first celebration at 9, at 8:20. 47:24 Forty minutes later we're gonna start first church. 47:27 It'll be a shorter service. 47:29 Nine o'clock in the morning-- by the way students, 47:33 freshmen who are kind of-- 47:34 you're gonna just check it out these first few weeks. 47:37 By the way, is a very fresh kind of service, I mean, 47:41 it's the first thing in the morning 47:42 but it's not so hard now. 47:44 It's not 8:20, its 9 o'clock. 47:47 Young parents who were saying, 47:48 "man, I love to get my kids to first service 47:50 'cause they're always the most attentive, 47:52 there's a children story always in first. 47:53 There won't be a children straight come September 1 and 2. 47:56 I'd like to get it but 8:20 towards 47:57 I can't get my kids ready. 47:58 Hey, mom, 9 o'clock now, perfect, 48:02 9 to 10:15, 75 minutes long. 48:05 This worship of service has been cut down, 48:06 15 minutes cut off, 75 minutes long. 48:09 Okay, so, then Sabbath school will now be 48:10 let's see the next line, 48:11 Sabbath school be after 15 minutes break, 48:13 you get 15 minute break. 48:15 Then Sabbath school will be from 10:30 to 11:30. 48:17 I thought it'd have been an hour long downstairs. 48:19 Some of our satellite Sabbath schools 48:21 are gonna cut back 10 minutes, 48:22 for the children it's already been an hour. 48:24 Now this will cut back 10 minuets, 48:25 Sabbath school from 10:30, 10:30 to 11:30. 48:30 we'll have a 15 minute break then we go to second celebration 48:33 and that will be at 11:45 to 1:00. 48:36 Notice this old timers 1:00 48:39 that the ending time is still the same. 48:42 We didn't push anything later than 1 o'clock, 48:43 it's still the same, we just cut it down 15 minutes. 48:47 First celebration Sabbath school, 48:48 second celebration. 48:49 Now look we understand, we understand 48:55 that in order to pull this off 48:56 it will necessitate careful planning and execution. 49:00 The sermons will have to be shorter hold your applause. 49:06 The sermons will have to be shorter, 49:08 so the stats are all right, Dwight, 49:09 you got to get it down to 30 49:10 but then we'll give you 10 minutes Q&A, 49:13 live Q&A live microphone Q&A. 49:15 Oh, I could do that. All right. 49:21 Sermons will have to be shorter, a more streamline flow music 49:24 we can't have organizations coming here 49:25 and say, we want to play three numbers today. 49:27 We're gonna fill upon, nope, sorry you can't do it. 49:30 Music live to be more streamline, 49:32 they need to be a creative blending a special features 49:34 with the changing template from Sabbath to Sabbath 49:36 particularly in our second celebration. 49:38 You're not gonna get a better music director 49:40 than Josh will have a whole team, 49:41 praise team up here in next Sabbath, 49:43 they're ready to go 75 minutes, 49:46 it's gonna be tight. 49:49 But it's now accessible. 49:51 We love to see some-- 49:53 who are coming to second now say, hey, 49:54 I could do the 9 o'clock 49:55 that open a more room here then we can get more. 49:57 The whole point is that his house maybe filled. 49:59 We have to fill the house of God, 50:01 people connecting with Him. 50:03 "That My House may be filled." 50:07 For that reason all three worship communities 50:09 that Pioneer sponsors new life, 50:11 one place and Pioneer one and two, 50:14 all of these will officially launch 50:15 this new schedule September 1. 50:18 Everybody is on it come September 1. 50:20 Two weeks because if its-- it is not enough for us 50:25 to maintain the stat score around here, 50:26 if God is passionate about connecting with people 50:32 and having His house filled 50:33 and we must do whatever it takes to reach people 50:35 on a Sabbath morning, it's the most opportune time. 50:38 Now we put it one more time on the screen for you. 50:41 What's the big deal? 50:42 The punch line of Jesus parable, "That My House may be filled." 50:47 Which is why I want to end with the story now. 50:50 The short story just learned about this Kathy 50:52 and comrade Demsky are active members 50:55 in our congregation right here. 50:56 Kathy by the way is the school of architectural librarian, 50:59 she is a-- an expert 51:01 in Waldensian history quite a scholar. 51:04 Anyway they invited last Sabbath, 51:06 so this is the very fresh story. 51:07 Last Sabbath they invited some friends to come to church-- 51:10 hey, come to church with us 51:11 'cause that's what all this is about just come to church. 51:15 They've invited some friends and lo and behold the friends 51:17 show up and they brought their pastor. 51:19 And so the friends and the pastor are here 51:21 last Sabbath heard a great sermon 51:22 with Pastor Michael preaching last Sabbath. 51:24 He had a chance to meet them afterwards. 51:26 They say, we're gonna come again. 51:28 Ladies and gentlemen, that's it. 51:32 That's what I need to be doing. 51:34 That's what you can be doing. 51:35 It's just coming up to somebody and saying, hey, 51:38 once you come to-- once you come to worship with me. 51:40 You know, you'll never be embarrassed here. 51:43 You will never be embarrassed here. 51:45 You can bring anybody you want, any religion, 51:48 any persuasion, no religion, bring them. 51:52 Listen, if you will get your neighbor 51:55 your colleague, your roommate, 51:58 the guy across the hall in the dorm 52:00 if you will get your friend here, 52:03 the Holy Spirit will take it from here. 52:07 You just get him here. 52:08 We'll do-- the Holy Spirit will do the rest. 52:10 We'll try to help, corporate with the spirit 52:12 and when that connect card comes 52:14 as it will come every single week 52:16 the Holy Spirit says good, 52:18 I have some private conversations, 52:20 I need to quickly do here. 52:23 That my house may be filled. 52:25 The most opportune time in the Pioneers' life, 52:29 life of this university congregation, 52:30 the most opportune moment to connect 52:32 with God is always Sabbath morning. 52:34 We're not bringing in the higher guns 52:35 in every three years have them try to find lost people. 52:38 We're gonna do it here every single week. 52:42 Bring your friend. You got a friend. 52:45 Bring, bring a colleague. Bring your classmate. 52:50 You bring them here 52:51 the Holy Spirit will take it from here. 52:54 All you have to do is say, come. 52:55 So if I were gonna tweet this bottom line 52:58 to this teaching today. 52:59 Here is my tweeted line today, because I have a-- an account 53:02 on Twitter as most of you know. 53:05 Here is the bottom line today. 53:06 "It only takes 1 'Come' 2 'Connect.'" 53:11 That's the truth. 53:13 It only takes one come to connect. 53:17 You have the come, God will do the connect. 53:22 Do the come, He'll do the connect 53:25 and His house gets filled one by one. 53:31 What do you say to that? Amen and amen. 53:35 Would you take your card now, 53:36 we're at the end of our service. 53:38 Take your card. 53:39 I want to go through these three with you just these three. 53:43 My next step today, okay, Dwight, 53:44 what's my next step on the teaching 53:45 that you have just shared. 53:46 Number one, I'm gonna put a check on these, 53:49 like I already had mine marked up here. 53:51 Here is the one I have marked up. 53:53 So I'll put a check here 53:54 I want to connect people with God. 53:56 Is there anybody here who doesn't want 53:57 to connect people with living God, 53:59 the Creator, the Savior, 54:01 the forever friend of the universe? 54:02 Anybody here don't want to connect anybody with God? 54:03 No. 54:04 We all can put a check mark right there. 54:06 You've been a member here for 20 years, 54:08 put a check mark there. 54:09 You are brand new today I want to help. 54:12 I don't even know God, your box is number two, 54:17 put a check mark there we'll in touch with you email. 54:20 Okay, number one, I want to connect with God. 54:21 Number two, I will ask God to show me people 54:24 I know who are ready to connect with Him. 54:27 That's not a bad deal, God I never know who is ready. 54:30 Just impress me, impress me, impress me, 54:32 am I working around somebody 54:33 and am I playing golf with somebody, 54:36 am I shooting hoops with somebody 54:39 who is ready to come. 54:41 Impress me, that's number two. 54:43 So I'll put a check mark there. 54:44 Now, here is the third option 54:46 because it only takes one come to connect 54:49 I will seek to invite someone to come 54:52 to this worship celebration next week 54:55 or some Sabbath service. 54:56 So you are not in a pressure 54:58 you have to do this by next week, 54:59 some Sabbath soon just bring somebody with you, 55:02 we'll never embarrass you. 55:04 And the Holy Spirit will be right here ready to go. 55:10 It only takes one come to connect. 55:14 After you put those check marks long time member, 55:17 you're offering the plate is coming by just a moment, 55:21 just drop it in the offering plate, 55:23 just drop it in the offering plate. 55:24 Visitor for the first time glad you are here, 55:26 guest just drop it in the offering plate, 55:29 honor to have you. 55:32 Our morning tithes and offerings now 55:33 we will also be returned 55:34 that's why we have to do this at the end. 55:36 Now, you know, we have to do this at the end, 55:37 can't be done anywhere else in the service but right now. 55:42 Our morning tithes and offerings, 55:43 you know, Jesus said freely you receive, freely give, 55:46 this is our chance to worship with our giving. 55:49 You have something to give to God today 55:52 and give a decision to Him, 55:53 you can give our grower kingdom. 55:56 I want to pray a prayer dedication 55:58 for these cards right now. 55:59 Dear God, you are huge on connecting with people 56:05 lost people, aren't You? 56:07 Your friends won't come 56:08 You go to those little further away 56:11 if they won't come You'll go, 56:12 You go to the ends with the earth. 56:14 Calvary has taught us 56:16 to save last men, women, teenagers and children. 56:20 Oh, God, we're trying to do, we're trying to be like You. 56:24 We want to connect lost people to You, 56:26 not to us to You. 56:28 And so take this humble beginning and grow Your house, 56:31 fill Your house for Your glory alone. 56:35 Our tithes and offerings we cheerfully return. 56:39 Take our humble gifts and multiply them 56:41 for Your glory anywhere on earth 56:43 in Jesus name we pray, amen. 56:50 Before you go I'd like to take a moment and talk to you about 56:53 your relationship with Jesus. 56:54 So often we go to church we're listening to a sermon 56:56 about the things that Jesus said 56:58 or that which Jesus did. 57:00 We learned all these facts about Him. 57:01 Yeah, when it comes down to it 57:02 we sometimes realize we haven't actually 57:05 come to know Him personally ourselves 57:07 or perhaps you've only recently discovered the love of Christ 57:10 and you're wondering where you go from here. 57:12 That's why I'd like to invite you 57:13 to take advance of this free book offer 57:15 the little classics Steps to Christ. 57:17 Since this book was first penned a century ago, 57:20 it sold over 50 million copies, 57:21 its been translated into 135 different languages. 57:25 You know what the good news of the gospel is so direct 57:28 and so sublimely simple that we often look right past it. 57:31 So, what this book does is, 57:32 it will help you see the good news 57:34 and all its glory and all its beauty. 57:36 What you're gonna discover here 57:37 are clear simple steps to help you enter into the most 57:41 important friendship of your life. 57:43 So, please give us a call. 57:45 Toll free number you see it on your screen 877 57:47 and then the two words His-Will, 877-His-Will. 57:50 Ask one of our friendly operators 57:52 for your free copy of "Steps to Christ." 57:55 By the way, years ago this book led me to Christ 57:58 and I pray that it will lead you to Him as well. 58:00 So, give us a call. 58:01 And in the mean time, God be with you every step of the way 58:04 until we're here again next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17