¤¤
00:00:02.00\00:00:09.70
[ Piano plays ] ¤¤
00:00:14.18\00:00:24.92
¤¤ >> ¤ Cantate domino
00:00:24.92\00:00:33.66
canticum novum ¤ ¤
Cantate domino omnis terra
00:00:33.66\00:00:39.20
¤ Cantate
domino canticum novum ¤
00:00:39.20\00:00:42.60
¤ Cantate domino omnis
terra >> ¤ Cantate domino
00:00:42.60\00:00:50.01
canticum novum ¤ ¤
Cantate domino omnis terra
00:00:50.01\00:00:55.55
¤ Cantate
domino canticum novum ¤
00:00:55.55\00:00:59.02
>> ¤ Cantate
domino omnis terra ¤
00:00:59.02\00:01:04.69
¤ Cantate domino ¤ Et benedicite
00:01:04.69\00:01:08.13
¤ Nomini ejus ¤ Sing to the Lord
00:01:08.13\00:01:14.44
¤ Sing a new song
00:01:14.44\00:01:16.57
¤ Sing to the Lord ¤ Sing
all the Earth ¤ Sing to the Lord
00:01:16.60\00:01:23.18
¤ Bless His name ¤ Sing to
the Lord ¤ His glory proclaim
00:01:23.18\00:01:30.82
[ Piano plays ] ¤¤ >>
¤ I will sing a new song
00:01:30.82\00:01:41.36
>> ¤ I will sing >> ¤ Yes,
I will sing >> ¤ To the Lord
00:01:41.36\00:01:46.17
>> ¤ I will sing >> ¤
Cantate domino canticum novum ¤
00:01:46.17\00:01:50.77
>> ¤ I will sing >> ¤
Cantate domino canticum novum ¤
00:01:50.77\00:01:56.78
¤ Cantate domino
canticum novum ¤ >> ¤ Sing
00:01:56.78\00:02:02.42
>> ¤ I will sing
a joyful song ¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:02.42\00:02:11.59
>> ¤ Cantate domino canticum
novum ¤ ¤ Cantate domino omnis
00:02:11.59\00:02:17.97
terra ¤ Cantate domino canticum
novum ¤ ¤ Cantate domino omnis
00:02:17.97\00:02:26.91
terra ¤ Cantate domino canticum
novum ¤ ¤ Sing out with joy
00:02:26.91\00:02:37.02
¤ Cantate domino [ Applause ]
00:02:37.02\00:02:44.13
[ Piano plays ]
00:02:48.63\00:02:51.77
>> You may be
seated. [ Piano plays ]
00:09:01.57\00:09:07.11
>> Our scripture
reading for today is going to be
00:13:21.66\00:13:24.03
Mark 8:34-36. "Then
he called the crowd --
00:13:24.03\00:13:29.57
Then he called the crowd to
Him, along with His disciples,
00:13:29.57\00:13:32.07
and said, 'If
anyone would come after me,
00:13:32.07\00:13:34.54
he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me.
00:13:34.54\00:13:37.85
For whoever wants to save his
life will lose it. But whoever
00:13:37.88\00:13:41.22
loses his life for me and for
the Gospel will save it. What
good is it for a man
00:13:41.22\00:13:44.45
to gain the whole
world yet forfeit his soul?'"
00:13:44.45\00:13:47.69
[ Piano plays ]
>> ¤ And can it be?
00:14:08.51\00:14:25.19
¤ And can it be? >> ¤
Amazing love ¤ How can it be?
00:14:25.23\00:14:35.90
>> ¤ And can it be that I
should gain ¤ ¤ An interest in
00:14:35.90\00:14:45.35
the Savior's blood ¤ ¤ Died
He for me, who caused His pain ¤
00:14:45.35\00:14:55.79
¤ For me, who Him to death
pursued? ¤ >> ¤ Amazing love
00:14:55.79\00:15:07.50
¤ How can it be ¤ That Thou,
my God, shouldst die for me? ¤
00:15:07.50\00:15:28.42
¤¤ ¤¤ ¤¤
00:15:28.42\00:15:37.50
¤ He left His Father's throne
above ¤ ¤ So free, so infinite
00:15:37.50\00:15:46.37
His grace ¤ ¤ Emptied
Himself of all but love ¤
00:15:46.37\00:15:55.18
¤ And bled for Adam's helpless
race ¤ ¤ 'Tis mercy all,
00:15:55.18\00:16:06.16
immense and free ¤ ¤ For O
my God >> ¤ It found out me
00:16:06.16\00:16:22.34
>> ¤ And can it be? >> ¤
And can it be? >> ¤ Amazing love
00:16:22.34\00:16:30.95
¤ How can it be? ¤ No
condemnation now I dread >> ¤
00:16:30.95\00:16:40.30
Now I dread >> ¤ Jesus and all
in Him is mine ¤ ¤ Alive in Him,
00:16:40.30\00:16:52.51
my living head ¤ And clothed in
righteousness divine ¤ ¤ Bold I
00:16:52.51\00:17:05.55
approach the eternal throne
¤ ¤ And claim the crown through
00:17:05.55\00:17:22.60
Christ my own ¤ ¤ Amazing love
¤ How can it be ¤ That Thou, my
00:17:22.60\00:17:43.89
God >> ¤ Shouldst die for me? >>
¤ Amazing love ¤ How can it be?
00:17:43.89\00:17:59.24
>> ¤ Amazing ¤ Love >> Amen.
00:18:01.81\00:18:19.96
>> Amen.
00:18:19.96\00:18:21.00
>> Oh, God, amazing,
amazing love. You for us?
00:18:24.77\00:18:33.04
Please. Speak and may we hear
You now, we pray in Jesus' name.
00:18:33.04\00:18:41.15
Amen.
00:18:41.15\00:18:43.02
He's home for spring
break. Ah, no more classes.
00:18:43.05\00:18:49.06
That grin on his face is
stretching into a broad smile.
00:18:49.06\00:18:54.10
And what's more, what
does Mother do tonight?
00:18:54.10\00:18:58.03
But she spreads his
favorite comfort food
00:18:58.03\00:19:04.04
on that supper table.
It doesn't get any better
00:19:04.04\00:19:07.18
than this. He's
lying on his boyhood bed,
00:19:07.18\00:19:10.55
looking straight up
at the ceiling, that grin
00:19:10.55\00:19:13.31
still on his face.
00:19:13.31\00:19:16.12
[ Sighs ] What a
life. And he hears the sound
00:19:16.15\00:19:21.22
of slapping feet outside
his bedroom window down on the
00:19:21.22\00:19:28.06
alley. But, hey, when you're
living in a city, you're used to
00:19:28.06\00:19:31.47
sounds like that. And he is
rolling over to his contented
sleep when more footsteps,
00:19:31.47\00:19:39.24
a pack of footsteps. Slap, slap,
slap, slap, slap. The boy is
00:19:39.24\00:19:43.91
curious. He jumps out of bed,
throws the curtain back, looks
out -- full moon --
00:19:43.91\00:19:47.72
and in the shadows of the moon,
there they go. Another pack of
00:19:47.72\00:19:52.65
runners. But his eyes nearly pop
out as he looks at the man
coming up behind the pack.
00:19:52.65\00:19:57.19
He recognizes it's his own home
church pastor, and the pastor
00:19:57.19\00:20:02.36
slips by, and behind the pastor,
men from the church. Of all
00:20:02.36\00:20:06.90
things tonight. What's up? You
can't be a young man and not be
00:20:06.90\00:20:12.71
drawn by that. "I got to check
this one out." So he jumps out
of his bed and races out of his
00:20:12.71\00:20:18.25
bedroom, went boom. He stops.
And this is the embarrassing
00:20:18.25\00:20:22.32
part of the story. He remembers
that he has gone to bed
00:20:22.32\00:20:29.99
without anything on. We're
talking about buck naked. He
can't go running like that.
00:20:29.99\00:20:37.33
He grabs the sheet on top of his
bed, wraps it around himself.
00:20:37.33\00:20:40.94
"I got to catch them." And he's
down the stairs and out into the
00:20:40.94\00:20:44.47
alleyway, the moon shining its
silver as he races to catch up
00:20:44.47\00:20:52.18
with that pack. Police running
now. "No. What's going on? What
are we going to have,
00:20:52.18\00:20:56.55
a rumble in the city park?" He
gets to the gates of the city
park, and sure enough,
00:20:56.55\00:21:01.09
there's a band of young men
already in the park. Here comes
00:21:01.09\00:21:04.39
this other band of young men.
The police are surrounding the
00:21:04.39\00:21:07.83
second band. And our spy -- shh
-- doesn't want anybody to know
he's here, of course.
00:21:07.83\00:21:13.54
Is ducking behind the trees,
getting as close as he can to
00:21:13.54\00:21:19.24
this showdown. Some words are
exchanged. He can't quite hear
from here behind the tree,
00:21:19.24\00:21:24.61
but... And then suddenly, angry
voices erupt. And then there's a
00:21:24.61\00:21:30.05
scream. The police lunge at the
first crowd in the park, and
this young spy knows this
00:21:30.05\00:21:37.53
is time to get out of dodge now.
"I'm out of here." And as he
00:21:37.53\00:21:42.66
runs, a hand out of the dark
grabs him, a strong grip has him
00:21:42.66\00:21:48.80
by the arm. He's caught. But
with the adrenaline that --
adrenaline that's now flowing,
00:21:48.80\00:21:54.38
he wriggles in that iron grip
and slips out, leaves the sheet
00:21:54.38\00:22:00.28
in the man's hand and starts
running for home... naked. The
boy, in a few minutes, plops
00:22:00.28\00:22:07.59
onto that same boyhood bed
[panting] his mouth dry with
00:22:07.59\00:22:14.20
adrenaline, his heart pumping
with fear, naked in the night.
Naked but at least not dead.
00:22:14.20\00:22:25.04
Wow. It's hard to
believe that that bizarre tale
00:22:25.04\00:22:29.94
is told in the
Bible. Yep. Book of Mark.
00:22:29.94\00:22:34.98
Open your Bible to Mark,
chapter 14. Book of Mark.
00:22:34.98\00:22:40.69
14. Drop down to verse -- short
little story that it is -- verse
00:22:40.69\00:22:45.93
51 and 52. Book of Mark. And
here it is, Mark 14:51. "A young
man wearing nothing
00:22:45.93\00:22:51.40
but a linen garment"... I didn't
make it up. ..."was following
00:22:51.40\00:22:57.84
Jesus." Oh, good thing to do, I
guess. "When they seized him, he
00:22:57.84\00:23:04.75
fled naked, leaving his garment
behind." Come on. Are you
serious? That's in the Bible?
00:23:04.75\00:23:13.32
Sure is. The young -- Well,
scholars are quite clear that
this is none other than
00:23:13.32\00:23:18.66
the young John Mark, the author
of the story who anonymously
00:23:18.66\00:23:27.44
inserts himself. Let's call him
John Mark, the patron saint of
00:23:27.44\00:23:33.71
third millennials. That would be
you and me. Not getting too
close to Jesus, unh-unh, but
00:23:33.71\00:23:38.88
close enough to see the action,
yep, without having to make any
commitment, unh-unh. That's the
00:23:38.88\00:23:44.52
story of John Mark that begins
right here. Let's you and me
pull out the story pad
00:23:44.52\00:23:50.99
and just sketch a few lines,
for surely in this story, you're
00:23:50.99\00:23:56.80
going to find you and I'm going
to find me. I believe we will.
So let's turn to the first place
00:23:56.80\00:24:01.10
John Mark shows up
anywhere in the Bible. Yep.
00:24:01.10\00:24:04.97
Happens to be the upper room.
That's right, the upper room
where Jesus and the 12
00:24:04.97\00:24:10.35
have just been. John Mark
was there. No, no, no, no, no.
00:24:10.35\00:24:15.35
He's not around the table.
No. His mother prepared supper
00:24:15.35\00:24:19.79
somewhere else for him.
00:24:19.79\00:24:22.06
I've actually seen it, the room,
the house where John Mark lived.
Yep. Archeologists have
00:24:24.73\00:24:31.90
excavated the entire house in
the city of Jerusalem, and they
are absolutely certain
00:24:31.90\00:24:37.67
this is the very house that
has a broad and wide upper room.
00:24:37.67\00:24:42.28
I've preached in
that upper room. It's big.
00:24:42.28\00:24:45.61
The very house where John Mark
lived, the house where the Last
00:24:45.61\00:24:52.32
Supper took place. John Mark was
there. The house where Pentecost
00:24:52.32\00:24:56.89
took place and the Holy Spirit
is poured out like a firefall.
John Mark was there.
00:24:56.89\00:25:02.26
The house where they're gathered
tonight with an all-night prayer
00:25:02.26\00:25:05.70
meeting. You know why? Because
tomorrow morning, Peter will be
00:25:05.70\00:25:09.80
beheaded if God doesn't
intervene. And they're praying
00:25:09.80\00:25:14.28
their hearts out. Yep. We'll go
to that moment. John Mark is
there. Watch this. First time he
00:25:14.28\00:25:19.48
appears in the New Testament.
Here it is. Acts 12:11.
00:25:19.48\00:25:22.85
"Then Peter came to himself."
This is Peter, who's been sound
00:25:22.85\00:25:26.72
asleep. On the eve of your
death, you're sleeping like a
baby? You must be pretty secure.
00:25:26.72\00:25:31.43
And he is. The angels said, "Get
up, boy. We got to get out of
00:25:31.43\00:25:35.96
here." Like magic, the doors are
open and closing, open, closing.
Guards are all asleep.
00:25:35.96\00:25:40.34
Peter thinks, I'm sleepwalking."
That's what it is -- He gets out
00:25:40.34\00:25:43.34
in the fresh night air, and it
suddenly hits him. Here we go.
00:25:43.34\00:25:47.08
"Then Peter came to himself
and said, 'Now I know without a
00:25:47.08\00:25:51.18
doubt that the Lord has sent His
angel and rescued me from
Herod's clutches and from
00:25:51.18\00:25:56.38
everything the Jewish people
were hoping would happen' to
me." Now it's the next line
00:25:56.38\00:26:02.06
we meet John Mark. When this had
dawned on Peter, "He went to the
00:26:02.06\00:26:08.10
house of Mary, the mother of
John, also called Mark, where
many people had gathered
00:26:08.10\00:26:14.90
and were praying." My,
my, my. It's the upper room,
00:26:14.90\00:26:21.81
the same upper room. The very
first church headquarters for
00:26:21.81\00:26:27.58
Christianity in history is that
borrowed house upper room. And
John Mark, young John
00:26:27.58\00:26:35.76
was there, because it's not just
his mother's house. It's his
00:26:35.76\00:26:39.96
house, too. You bet. It's quite
possible, as we put the pieces
00:26:39.96\00:26:44.37
together, that John Mark's dad
has died, died young. Must have
00:26:44.37\00:26:50.07
been wealthy because his mother,
a wealthy widow, offers her
00:26:50.07\00:26:54.71
house as the first church of
Christianity. Interestingly
enough, we find the very same
00:26:54.71\00:27:01.65
generosity in somebody else. In
the early church story, he, too,
00:27:01.65\00:27:09.29
is a Jew who becomes a
Christian. And he steps forward
and says, "I have a piece of
00:27:09.29\00:27:13.23
property, and I'm selling that
property, and I'm going to give
the money to the church."
00:27:13.23\00:27:16.23
And that's what Barnabas does.
Barnabas from Cyprus. It must be
00:27:16.23\00:27:22.70
that Mother Mary of John
Mark and Barnabas are somehow
00:27:22.70\00:27:27.11
related. Not related only in
generosity, by the way. Oh, no.
There must be a little
00:27:27.11\00:27:30.88
family tree going on here. And,
in fact, when Paul describes
00:27:30.88\00:27:35.55
John Mark in Colossians 4:10, he
refers to Mark as the cousin of
00:27:35.55\00:27:39.92
Barnabas. That's how the new
translations put it, but the
King James actually renders it
00:27:39.92\00:27:43.93
sister's son to Barnabas,
because the Greek word can go
00:27:43.93\00:27:48.23
either way. Nephew? Cousin? Hey,
we don't know. They're related.
00:27:48.23\00:27:53.67
So who's surprised when Barnabas
and Saul, who've been on a
mission to Jerusalem,
00:27:53.67\00:27:58.77
by the way, the very night of
that prayer meeting, they are in
00:27:58.77\00:28:02.74
town? They've come down from
up North, the Gentile bastion
00:28:02.74\00:28:07.65
called Antioch, where they've
planted a church. They've come
down, and now they're going to
00:28:07.65\00:28:12.05
go back. Who's surprised that
when they go back, "Let's make
00:28:12.05\00:28:16.29
this a party of three going
home"? Who do you think they
might have invited to come
00:28:16.29\00:28:20.53
along? Watch this -- The last
line in chapter 12, you don't
00:28:20.53\00:28:23.50
have to guess. "When Barnabas
and Saul had finished their
mission" -- they're in the Holy
00:28:23.50\00:28:26.97
City -- "they returned from
Jerusalem, taking with them
John, also called Mark."
00:28:26.97\00:28:34.81
"Come on up here, Mark. We're
going to have a time together."
00:28:34.81\00:28:42.62
Yeah. But the plot
thickens now. Turns out
00:28:42.62\00:28:47.66
there's another prayer meeting.
Let's go to that prayer meeting.
00:28:47.66\00:28:51.49
You'll see. Very next line is
chapter 13. "While they were
worshiping the Lord and fasting,
00:28:51.49\00:28:57.13
the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart
for me Barnabas and Saul for the
00:28:57.13\00:29:02.94
work to which I have called
them.'" Oh, I like that. I like
00:29:02.94\00:29:07.01
that line. There are people
today who are saying that the
Holy Spirit is just this little
00:29:07.01\00:29:10.78
nothing. He's not a member
of the Godhead. There is no
00:29:10.78\00:29:13.78
Godhead. Those people are so
dead wrong. I'm sorry. The Holy
00:29:13.78\00:29:18.42
Spirit is a separate person.
He's a separate being. There's
00:29:18.42\00:29:22.32
God the Father. There's God the
Son. And there's God the Holy
Spirit. And here he's saying,
00:29:22.32\00:29:25.79
"Not separate them for the
Father. Not separate them for
the Lord. No, for me.
00:29:25.79\00:29:30.63
I want you to separate
Barnabas and Saul for me. I have
00:29:30.63\00:29:34.34
something for them to do." And
do you know what? That very same
00:29:34.34\00:29:38.27
Holy Spirit has said that about
you when you were born. Yep,
just like the little baby
00:29:38.27\00:29:43.51
this morning?
Probably. The Holy Spirit said,
00:29:43.51\00:29:47.78
"I want that girl. I have
something special for her to do.
00:29:47.78\00:29:51.92
I want that boy. I have
something special for him to
00:29:51.92\00:29:55.39
do." I want to tell you
something. Your life is no
accident. I don't care how you
00:29:55.39\00:29:59.26
got here or why you got here.
You're here, and God has wanted
00:29:59.26\00:30:03.60
you here. You're here because
God has a -- has a dream, a
vision for your life.
00:30:03.60\00:30:08.20
"Set apart that boy for me.
Set apart that girl for me." God
00:30:08.20\00:30:14.71
doesn't need -- God doesn't need
just anybody. He needs boys and
girls who are willing to give
00:30:14.71\00:30:24.09
everything to Him. For
what? I mean what do you think
00:30:24.09\00:30:28.19
this work is, this work that
the Holy Spirit has? This is a
00:30:28.19\00:30:31.89
no-brainer. You know what the
work is? To become an AirTag for
Jesus. That's what it is.
00:30:31.89\00:30:36.73
"I want you to help me find lost
people." That means no matter
00:30:36.73\00:30:40.97
what your occupation is or ever
will be, you still have the same
work. You and I have the same
00:30:40.97\00:30:47.94
work. "Help me find. Be an
AirTag for me. Help me find the
00:30:47.94\00:30:52.58
lost. I have a special work for
you, girl. Boy, I have a special
00:30:52.58\00:30:56.32
work for you." That's why He
needs us. Which is why, by the
00:30:56.32\00:31:01.16
way, I remind you, Acts begins
with this huge red-letter
promise, which we've already
00:31:01.16\00:31:05.86
been to. This winter series is
from Acts. You've already picked
00:31:05.86\00:31:08.93
up on that. But let's go back
to Acts 1:8, just before Jesus
00:31:08.93\00:31:12.93
ascends to Heaven, He speaks
these words. You remember these
words? "But you will receive
00:31:12.93\00:31:16.84
power." He's talking to 11 men.
"But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you,
00:31:16.84\00:31:24.51
and you will be,"... I
promise you. ..."you will be my
00:31:24.51\00:31:29.48
witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judea and Samaria and to the
ends of the Earth."
00:31:29.48\00:31:35.62
Come on! Yeah. And I
know what you're saying.
00:31:35.62\00:31:41.10
You say, "Not me." "What do you
mean, not you?" "No, I mean it.
00:31:41.10\00:31:45.67
It's not me." "You're crazy."
"No, I do not have witnessing as
00:31:45.67\00:31:50.67
my spiritual gift. I already
know it. Not me." You are so
dead wrong. Witnessing is not
00:31:50.67\00:31:57.38
about spiritual gifts.
Witnessing is about being a
00:31:57.38\00:32:01.15
universal role. Every man,
woman, and child that follows
the Lord Jesus immediately has
00:32:01.15\00:32:05.02
it the moment you say, "I'm
following You." It's no gift.
Everybody has the role.
00:32:05.02\00:32:10.79
"You're going to be a witness
for me." I've watched guys fall
00:32:10.79\00:32:16.77
in love on this campus, little
tongue-tied dudes that they are.
00:32:16.77\00:32:22.60
I've watched them fall in love.
And then I'll bump into them a
00:32:22.60\00:32:25.91
week later. "Yo, bro, tell me
about that new girl of yours."
>> "Oh! I'm not going to --
00:32:25.91\00:32:32.08
I'm not going to talk about it.
No, I'm not going to talk about
00:32:32.08\00:32:35.45
her at all." "Come on, just show
me a picture. You got to have a
00:32:35.45\00:32:38.49
picture on your phone." "No,
I'm not going to show anybody a
00:32:38.49\00:32:42.52
picture. I hate to have to do
something, and I'm not going to
do it." Are you kidding?
00:32:42.52\00:32:46.80
I don't care how tongue-tied
that boy is. The moment you ask
00:32:46.80\00:32:50.10
him about that girl, he's
all talk. Why? Because he has
00:32:50.10\00:32:55.20
a special relationship
with a special somebody.
00:32:55.20\00:32:58.44
"And I'm so glad you
asked. Do you have an hour?"
00:32:58.47\00:33:02.48
Come on! I see it all the
time. Don't tell me you can't be
00:33:02.48\00:33:05.35
a witness.
00:33:05.35\00:33:06.68
What is a witness? Somebody who
has a special relationship with
00:33:06.72\00:33:10.82
a somebody that you haven't met
yet, "But I can't show you a
picture, but I'm going to tell
00:33:10.82\00:33:14.72
you all about him." That's a
witness. You don't do it because
00:33:14.72\00:33:18.53
you're obligated. You do
it because you get to do it.
00:33:18.53\00:33:22.70
Ah! So what does Jesus say
here? "When the Holy Spirit
00:33:22.70\00:33:28.17
comes upon you." "When the
Holy Spirit comes upon you," you
00:33:28.17\00:33:34.91
little tongue-tied boy. "When
the Holy Spirit comes upon you,"
you little tongue-tied
00:33:34.91\00:33:39.41
girl. "When the Holy
Spirit comes upon you,
00:33:39.41\00:33:43.25
you will be my witness to
the end of the world." Yeah.
00:33:43.25\00:33:52.53
How cool is that? Well, the
prayer meeting is just ending.
00:33:52.53\00:33:56.63
We got -- We caught them right
at the end. So here's the next
00:33:56.63\00:34:00.07
line. "So after they had fasted
and prayed" -- This is up in
00:34:00.07\00:34:03.41
Antioch, remember? Paul and
Barnabas. "After they had fasted
and prayed, they placed
00:34:03.41\00:34:06.57
their hands on," the two of
them, and they sent them off.
00:34:06.57\00:34:10.05
"Here we go. The adventure
begins. The two of them sent
00:34:10.05\00:34:13.05
on their way." And I love this
-- "Sent on their way by the
00:34:13.05\00:34:16.85
Holy Spirit." The Spirit's the
one who sends you places. They
went down to Seleucia
00:34:16.85\00:34:21.22
and sailed from there to Cyprus,
Barnabas' homeland, home island.
"When they arrived at Salamis,
00:34:21.22\00:34:28.30
they proclaimed the word of God
in the Jewish synagogues." And
00:34:28.30\00:34:32.20
here it comes. "John was with
them as their helper." That's
00:34:32.20\00:34:37.01
John. That's John Mark,
the young John. There he is.
00:34:37.01\00:34:42.01
Oh, wow. But after -- Oh, mercy.
After a harrowing experience
00:34:42.01\00:34:49.55
with a demonic sorcerer, John
Mark is saying, "I'm not so sure
00:34:49.55\00:34:57.86
about this calling business.
This is tough sledding." "Oh,
00:34:57.86\00:35:03.73
come on, boy. You'll get over
it. It gets better." Verse 13.
00:35:03.73\00:35:08.90
From Paphos. So they're leaving
Cyprus now. "Paul and his
companion sailed to Perga in
00:35:08.90\00:35:13.84
Pamphylia, where John" --
Oh. "Where John left them."
00:35:13.84\00:35:19.71
Can you believe that? "Where
John left them to return to
00:35:19.71\00:35:28.96
Jerusalem." Ah, bummer. I
can't believe that. [ Scoffs ]
00:35:28.96\00:35:35.43
John Mark, patron
saint for third millennials.
00:35:35.46\00:35:39.93
[ Sighs ] Maybe
that's you, maybe that's me
00:35:39.93\00:35:43.67
chickening out on
God. Isn't that what we do?
00:35:43.67\00:35:47.28
We chicken out on
God. "Can't do it."
00:35:47.28\00:35:51.51
[ Clicking
tongue ] "Not for me."
00:35:51.51\00:35:54.88
Hey, listen, folks, we might as
well admit it. Our default focus
00:35:54.92\00:35:58.39
as a generation alive today
is "me, me, me." We've been
00:35:58.39\00:36:08.63
well-school. Thank you, Abraham
Maslow, for teaching us that the
highest -- the high-octane
00:36:08.63\00:36:13.10
pinnacle of human need, the top
of that pyramid, what is it?
Come on, scholars. What is it?
00:36:13.10\00:36:18.94
Self-actualization.
00:36:18.94\00:36:22.04
And we forget that we've been
schooled by a Jesus of Calvary
who says, "If you want that
00:36:23.88\00:36:29.72
high-octane pinnacle, it's
not self-actualization. It's
00:36:29.72\00:36:38.69
self-crucifixion. You offer
yourself as a sacrifice for
others." That's what Jesus says.
00:36:38.69\00:36:48.94
Jesus says, "You who live in
a 'me, me, me' world, I have to
00:36:48.94\00:36:55.94
change -- I have to change
the pronoun. Third person. Them.
00:36:55.94\00:37:01.22
Them. Them. I have to move from
00:37:01.22\00:37:04.35
first person to third person
so that you can do what you were
00:37:04.35\00:37:10.73
born to do, what I've called you
to do. Set apart that boy for
me. Set apart that girl for me.
00:37:10.73\00:37:15.86
Please, I got them." You
got to move from 'me, me, me' to
00:37:15.86\00:37:20.07
'them, them, them.' And
who are the them, them, them?
00:37:20.07\00:37:23.10
They are the lost, lost, lost.
That's what they are. That's it.
00:37:23.10\00:37:29.64
It's a no-brainer. Guess what? I
can't preach this in to you. And
you cannot preach it
00:37:29.64\00:37:35.28
into me, and I cannot preach
it into me. I'm wrapping up 50
00:37:35.28\00:37:39.59
years as a pastor, 40
years right here on this campus.
00:37:39.59\00:37:43.89
I'm wrapping it up. I've
tried. Oh, through the years,
00:37:43.89\00:37:47.56
I have tried to preach it
in to you. Preach it in to you.
00:37:47.56\00:37:52.17
But finally -- Some stuff
doesn't come till late in life.
Finally, it has occurred to me.
00:37:52.17\00:37:57.31
You can't preach it in to
nobody. There's only one way
00:37:57.31\00:38:01.44
you can go from "me, me, me"
to "them, them, them." Only one
00:38:01.44\00:38:06.08
way. And it's this. I'm
absolutely convinced. You have
00:38:06.08\00:38:12.22
to ask for it. You have to pray
for it. And if you're saying,
"This is so simple, this is so
00:38:12.22\00:38:16.39
simplistic," the reason you're
saying it, I'm letting you know,
is because you have no idea
00:38:16.39\00:38:23.73
of the transfer yet. You haven't
made it yet. And that's why it's
00:38:23.73\00:38:29.84
no big deal. Oh, it's a big
deal. It's a huge prayer. "God,
move me from 'me, me, me,'
00:38:29.84\00:38:34.71
please, to 'them, them, them.'"
Come on, I'm going to get really
up front and up close
00:38:34.71\00:38:39.91
and personal with you now.
When's the last time -- I'm
00:38:39.91\00:38:43.42
serious. When's the last time
you left your little morning
worship -- whatever it is,
00:38:43.42\00:38:46.69
wherever it is -- when's the
last time you left with a prayer
00:38:46.69\00:38:51.33
to Jesus? Simple little prayer
might go something like this.
"Lord, make me a humble witness
00:38:51.33\00:38:56.73
for You today. Let me cross
the path of someone who is lost.
00:38:56.73\00:39:03.87
And let me bring You to them."
I.E., in other words, "Make me
00:39:03.87\00:39:13.62
an AirTag today. I'll find them
for you." Do you know what? God
00:39:13.62\00:39:19.32
cannot do it. God cannot do what
He's asking you to do. That's
why He's asking you.
00:39:19.32\00:39:23.39
If He could do it, He would do
it. If He shows up, it's over.
00:39:23.39\00:39:26.59
Nobody will listen to Him.
Nobody does anyway. If He shows
00:39:26.59\00:39:32.60
up, they're gone. He says, "I
need somebody that looks like
her. I need somebody that acts
00:39:32.60\00:39:36.10
like him to show up for me.
You'll be way better at this
00:39:36.10\00:39:42.94
than I am. When the Holy Spirit
comes on you, you will be -- I
00:39:42.94\00:39:46.11
promise you -- you will be a
witness for me." It's just, we
got to get the Holy Spirit.
00:39:46.11\00:39:52.72
Well, that's not so complicated.
Have you prayed this prayer?
I'll be honest. I'm just going
00:39:52.72\00:39:57.79
to really be up front with you.
There are many days I don't pray
00:39:57.79\00:40:02.13
it, either. Many days. I'm
only at the end of my -- I'm not
00:40:02.13\00:40:07.40
going to say life, but at the
end of my career, so to speak,
starting to get it.
00:40:07.40\00:40:12.97
I repeat, there is no other way
to shift our focus from "me, me,
00:40:15.81\00:40:21.55
me" to "them, them, them."
We must ask for it. We must pray
00:40:21.55\00:40:26.22
for it. But why do it? Because
you've been born for it. You
were born for this.
00:40:26.22\00:40:31.33
And if you do it, you will
realize your destiny. Without
00:40:31.33\00:40:36.70
it, your destiny is incomplete.
I'm telling you the truth.
That's why this is so important.
00:40:36.70\00:40:45.11
You got to pray it. Hey, by the
way, this prayer that you and I
00:40:45.11\00:40:48.58
have been looking at in the few
weeks that we've been in the
Book of Acts, Acts 4:29,
00:40:48.58\00:40:54.68
you remember that prayer? I'll
put it on the screen for you.
00:40:54.68\00:40:57.69
"Now, Lord, enable your
servants." Listen, you're a
00:40:57.69\00:41:01.82
servant of Jesus, I'm a servant
of Jesus. "Now, Lord, enable
00:41:01.82\00:41:04.83
your servants to speak Your word
with great boldness." That is
00:41:04.83\00:41:08.56
not a "me, me, me" prayer. A
"me, me, me" prayer would have
been, "Keep me out of jail.
00:41:08.56\00:41:12.60
Just keep me out of jail." That
would have been "me, me." No,
no, it's "them, them, them."
00:41:12.60\00:41:17.21
"Help me to do it better. Give
me great boldness. I want to
articulate for You.
00:41:17.21\00:41:21.21
I want to speak for You. I want
to do this with all the power
00:41:21.21\00:41:25.65
that You promised. Enable
me." That's a "them, them, them"
00:41:25.65\00:41:31.22
prayer right there. Ellen White,
that little American -- that
00:41:31.22\00:41:35.79
American writer, she pleads for
us to pray the prayer that will
get us from "me, me, me"
00:41:35.79\00:41:41.23
to "them, them, them." I've been
carrying this quotation around
00:41:41.23\00:41:45.13
for years. I want to share it
with you now. It's a good time.
Put it on the screen.
00:41:45.13\00:41:49.27
Watch this. Are you
using all your powers, Dwight,
00:41:49.27\00:41:55.38
"In an effort to bring the lost
sheep back to the fold?" I want
to insert your name.
00:41:55.38\00:42:02.42
"Are you using all your
powers"... You just inserted it.
00:42:02.42\00:42:07.72
Good. ..."in an effort to bring
the lost sheep back?" This has
00:42:07.72\00:42:10.73
nothing to do with your
occupation. This has nothing to
do with how you make money.
00:42:10.73\00:42:13.56
This has nothing to do with
nothing. If you're human and
00:42:13.56\00:42:18.00
you've accepted Jesus, I'm
asking you a personal question.
Are you using all your powers
00:42:18.00\00:42:23.64
in an effort to bring the lost
sheep back to the fold? There
are thousands, boy.
00:42:23.64\00:42:27.68
There are thousands and
thousands in ignorance who might
00:42:27.68\00:42:32.05
be warned. Keep reading.
"Pray as you have never prayed
00:42:32.05\00:42:36.89
before." That's pretty intense.
"Pray as you have never prayed
before for the power of Christ."
00:42:36.89\00:42:43.66
Now, here it comes. "Pray for
the inspiration of His Spirit,
00:42:43.66\00:42:48.33
that you may be filled with
a"... What is this word here?
That's all -- That's all
00:42:48.33\00:42:54.14
this quotation is asking. You
just ask for the desire. You
don't ask for the event.
00:42:54.14\00:42:58.61
You don't ask for the act. You
don't ask for nothing. You just
00:42:58.61\00:43:01.74
say, "Give me the desire." Ask
for the desire. "Pray for the
00:43:01.74\00:43:07.35
inspiration of His Spirit, that
you may become filled with a
desire to save those who are
00:43:07.35\00:43:11.55
perishing." Ask God to give
you the desire, because once the
00:43:11.55\00:43:19.03
desire is there, you will act
on it. That's the deal. If the
00:43:19.03\00:43:24.67
desire is there, you will act on
it. The reason you're not acting
00:43:24.67\00:43:28.90
on it is because the desire
is not there. You're trying to
00:43:28.90\00:43:32.57
force something. "Do I have to
show you her picture? Do I have
to tell you about her?
00:43:32.57\00:43:36.54
Why are you making me do this?"
The desire is not there. You
have to ask for the desire
00:43:36.54\00:43:41.88
to be implanted in your heart.
This is key. This is huge. If
you take this one line away,
00:43:41.88\00:43:47.89
that's all I'm standing up here
for, is that you'll go away and
you'll go back to your room
00:43:47.89\00:43:51.99
and you're going to pray, "God,
I need the desire to reach lost
00:43:51.99\00:43:56.00
people. I'm not asking you to
help me reach lost people. I
just need the desire to."
00:43:56.00\00:43:59.87
Because once you have the
desire, you can't help it. You
00:43:59.87\00:44:05.71
will do it. I'm promising you
the truth. You will do it.
That's why that prayer
00:44:05.71\00:44:13.08
is critical. Because if you
don't want to, God's not going
00:44:13.08\00:44:17.15
to make you do it. Why would
He? He's ruining your life.
00:44:17.15\00:44:22.82
No, He's not ruining your life.
He's giving you a chance to move
into your sweet spot of destiny.
00:44:22.82\00:44:31.87
But He can't get there unless
you want to get there. "Give me
00:44:31.87\00:44:37.31
the desire. Give me the desire."
Wow. And that's what's happening
00:44:37.31\00:44:41.48
to to John Mark, by the way.
He quits. He ducks out of the
00:44:41.48\00:44:46.15
missionary team called Paul and
Barnabas. He's gone. "I'm out
here. I'm back to Mommy.
00:44:46.15\00:44:50.19
I'm back to my bed at
home. I'm back in Jerusalem now.
00:44:50.19\00:44:55.06
Hallelujah. Goodbye tough
work." Hmm. And he would have
00:44:55.06\00:45:00.80
disappeared from history were it
not for the God who never gives
00:45:00.80\00:45:05.87
up on us, who never gave up
on John Mark, either. God said,
00:45:05.87\00:45:11.31
"No, you can run. You can run,
but you can't hide. I came back
to Jerusalem with you.
00:45:11.31\00:45:16.75
Don't quit. Do not
quit." Some of you have tried
00:45:16.75\00:45:20.72
witnessing before and you're
absolutely convinced, "I can't
00:45:20.72\00:45:23.85
do it." Yes, you can. Of course
you can't. But the spirit who is
00:45:23.85\00:45:28.09
in you will do it. And He'll
give you a freedom that you've
never known before.
00:45:28.09\00:45:33.90
That's why you were
born. Just ask for the desire.
00:45:33.90\00:45:38.07
Winston Churchill. These words
are reputed to have been spoken
00:45:40.50\00:45:45.34
by him. I'm going to put them on
the screen here. "Success is not
00:45:45.34\00:45:48.41
final. Failure is not fatal. It
is the courage to continue that
00:45:48.41\00:45:54.18
counts." Don't quit. I know
you've tried it before, maybe.
00:45:54.18\00:45:57.99
You're a teen -- You're a teen,
and you say, "I've never tried
00:45:57.99\00:46:01.39
it before." Oh, you're perfect.
You're ready to go. Just like
00:46:01.39\00:46:04.06
John Mark, you're ready to go.
You've tried it before, and you
failed -- Forget it.
00:46:04.06\00:46:07.96
What is this? "Success is
not final. Failure is not fatal.
00:46:07.96\00:46:11.43
It is the courage -- It is
the courage to continue that
00:46:11.43\00:46:15.20
counts." Praise God Barnabas
continued with John -- young
00:46:15.20\00:46:19.61
John Mark. He continued to
mentor young John Mark. And so
00:46:19.61\00:46:23.68
did Peter, back at church
headquarters, by the way, in
Jerusalem. Peter saw that boy
00:46:23.68\00:46:29.42
coming. Peter says, "I can do
something with this boy." The
boy feels like a failure.
00:46:29.42\00:46:34.72
Peter says, "How do you
think I feel? I shamed myself.
00:46:34.72\00:46:39.23
I shamed my Lord. The whole
world heard me crash and burn.
00:46:39.23\00:46:44.77
I did it. Come here, John
Mark." Peter puts his arm around
00:46:44.77\00:46:51.61
that boy like a whipped puppy,
and he says, "Come here. Come
00:46:51.61\00:46:55.81
on. You and I are going to start
over together. We'll be fine.
00:46:55.81\00:47:01.88
You'll make it." Oh, thank God
for Godly mentors, men and women
that just feel burdened to do
00:47:01.88\00:47:07.56
something for the young that
they move among. That's what a
teacher is. A teacher is a
00:47:07.56\00:47:11.43
mentor. I don't care what your
subject is or discipline,
whether you're a graduate or
00:47:11.43\00:47:14.96
undergraduate. It makes no
difference. You are a mentor of
the young who have paid big
00:47:14.96\00:47:19.60
bucks to sit at your feet.
That's what mentors do. They
just put their arms around
00:47:19.60\00:47:25.21
and just love on them. And you
do it well. We got some -- We
00:47:25.21\00:47:28.81
have some wonderful mentors
sitting here right now, sitting
00:47:28.81\00:47:33.08
in this community right now,
loving on the young who are
hoping, "Somebody will take me
00:47:33.08\00:47:38.99
when I crash and burn and say,
'Girl, it's not the end. You're
00:47:38.99\00:47:43.83
going to be okay. And I'll
be with you, boy.'" Yeah. Wow.
00:47:43.83\00:47:49.60
Scholars believe, in fact, that
-- Well, let me just show you.
00:47:49.60\00:47:53.64
There's not a whole lot of
scholarship to draw this
conclusion, because when Peter
00:47:53.64\00:47:56.97
writes a letter from Rome, watch
what he says at the end of 1
00:47:56.97\00:48:01.84
Peter, chapter 5. Here we go.
"She who is in Babylon" --
That's code language in case
00:48:01.84\00:48:04.91
a letter ever gets picked up and
turned in to the authorities.
"She who is in Babylon" --
00:48:04.91\00:48:09.15
Where's Babylon? Nobody knows.
But the Christians know that's
00:48:09.15\00:48:12.15
Rome. "She who was in Babylon"
-- In other words, a church in
Babylon, "Chosen together with
00:48:12.15\00:48:15.26
you, sends you her greetings,
and so does my son Mark."
00:48:15.26\00:48:21.80
That mentoring has meant Mark
has gone with Peter to Rome.
Scholars believe Mark is there
00:48:24.20\00:48:30.07
translating for Peter. Mark
is bilingual. And scholars say,
00:48:30.07\00:48:37.58
"You know what? That explains
it. That explains that he's been
00:48:37.58\00:48:40.58
following Peter around. He's
been -- All that Peter knows how
00:48:40.58\00:48:44.19
to preach are the stories
of Jesus." "When I was with
00:48:44.19\00:48:48.22
Jesus"... And Mark has heard
every storyteller, he could do
00:48:48.22\00:48:51.39
it himself. And one day, the
Spirit said, "Hey, Mark, you've
heard all those stories.
00:48:51.39\00:48:53.96
Why don't you put them down?
They'll call it the Gospel of
00:48:53.96\00:48:57.03
Mark. But you and I know it's
the gospel according to Peter."
00:48:57.03\00:49:01.90
And it is. Scholars are clear
these are Peter's stories. You
can tell by the details
00:49:01.90\00:49:05.67
that Mark inserts that no other
gospel writer does. Oh, when you
00:49:05.67\00:49:12.58
feel like you've crashed and
burned, somebody comes on --
comes along and loves on you,
00:49:12.58\00:49:16.69
and suddenly, your life story
has been rewritten, and you are
ending in a way you
00:49:16.69\00:49:21.12
never knew could be
possible. Mark is in Rome...
00:49:21.12\00:49:27.50
...when two of his heroes, Paul
and Peter, are executed. Paul a
00:49:33.94\00:49:42.68
hero? Mark a whipped puppy? Hey,
I got some good news for you.
00:49:42.68\00:49:47.05
The story gets even better.
Somewhere along this bumpy way,
00:49:47.05\00:49:50.69
Paul, who accused Mark of
desertion -- "And you will never
work with me again.
00:49:50.69\00:49:53.79
Do you understand it? You
failure!" Somewhere along the
00:49:53.79\00:50:00.00
way, those two men were
reconciled. Paul mentions Mark
four times, and he can't say
00:50:00.00\00:50:05.40
enough about him. I'm going to
go to the last one because Paul
00:50:05.40\00:50:08.80
is going to die in just a few
weeks. He has no idea. He's
writing to another young
00:50:08.80\00:50:12.04
friend of his named Timothy.
He says, "Timothy, you've got to
00:50:12.04\00:50:14.71
get here. Get here before
winter. I don't know if I will
make it." But notice what he
00:50:14.71\00:50:18.65
says. "I'm in prison. I'm in
prison in Rome." And he says,
00:50:18.65\00:50:25.69
"Only Luke" -- Good to have a
doc with you. "Only Luke is with
me." Hey, come on, Timothy, "Get
00:50:25.69\00:50:32.29
Mark and bring him with you,
because he is helpful to me in
00:50:32.29\00:50:39.67
my ministry." God can take the
most emotional breakup and heal
00:50:39.67\00:50:47.68
it and put the pieces back
together so that everybody wins.
Isn't that something?
00:50:47.68\00:50:53.05
"Come on. He's helpful
to me. This is my boy."
00:50:53.05\00:50:56.65
Peter calls him "his
boy." Paul calls him "his boy."
00:50:56.69\00:51:01.02
That's John Mark, patron
saint of third millennials,
00:51:01.02\00:51:05.19
who after Paul is
beheaded and Peter is crucified,
00:51:05.19\00:51:11.70
tradition says, upside
down, John Mark steps into --
00:51:11.70\00:51:14.87
steps onto a ship, sails
across the Mediterranean,
00:51:14.87\00:51:18.14
sails to Africa, to Egypt, moves
into the city of Alexandria,
00:51:18.14\00:51:22.71
and tradition is clear.
He plants a church, the first
00:51:22.71\00:51:27.22
Christian church in Alexandria,
the first Christian church
00:51:27.22\00:51:30.49
in Africa. John Mark,
00:51:30.49\00:51:35.49
the crash-and-burn
failure, becomes a hero because
00:51:35.49\00:51:40.10
God never gave up on him,
and neither did his mentors.
00:51:40.10\00:51:44.70
Wow. They were -- John Mark made
such an impact on Alexandria,
00:51:44.73\00:51:49.94
they celebrated it by tying a
rope around his neck and
dragging him through
00:51:49.94\00:51:53.27
the city until he was dead.
Adios. John Mark was the first
00:51:53.27\00:51:59.45
to ever record these words of
Jesus. We heard them just a
moment ago. Hear the words
00:51:59.45\00:52:04.99
again. Mark 8:35. "Whoever wants
to save their life will lose it,
00:52:04.99\00:52:10.26
but whoever loses their life for
me," and only Mark adds, "and
00:52:10.26\00:52:16.56
the Gospel," because Mark has
learned that's what you
sacrifice for. "And the Gospel."
00:52:16.56\00:52:21.00
Only Mark will include that.
But, "Whoever loses their life
for me and the Gospel"
00:52:21.00\00:52:27.71
will what? Save it. Save it.
00:52:27.71\00:52:32.28
The boy died. Saved. Because
God doesn't know a failure
00:52:32.28\00:52:43.09
when you're His friend. And that
was John Mark, patron saint of
00:52:43.09\00:52:49.16
third millennials. It's the only
way, by the way, to move from
"me, me, me" to "them, them,
00:52:49.16\00:52:56.10
them" -- right there.
Take the cross. You'll be fine.
00:52:56.10\00:53:04.08
I'm going to send that prayer
to you. Let's go to the Connect
00:53:04.08\00:53:07.68
Card, and then I'll pray with
you. Go to the Connect Card. Do
00:53:07.68\00:53:11.42
it on your device. You know the
number -- 269-281-2345. I want
to send that prayer
00:53:11.42\00:53:15.82
to you so that you can print it
off. You can keep it where you
00:53:15.82\00:53:18.96
have your morning prayers or
your night prayers or whenever.
Just text "MISSION4"
00:53:18.96\00:53:26.20
to these
numbers -- 269-281-2345.
00:53:26.20\00:53:30.64
And you'll get immediately
-- You'll get the Connect Card.
00:53:30.67\00:53:34.64
And it'll have three next
steps. Here are the three.
00:53:34.64\00:53:37.28
Number one, "I want to
move from 'me, me, me' focus
00:53:37.28\00:53:40.35
to a them, them, them'
focus." Oh, boy. Me too.
00:53:40.35\00:53:43.18
Sign me up, Jesus. Get
me out of the "me" mode.
00:53:43.18\00:53:47.66
Get me into the
"them" mentality, please.
00:53:47.66\00:53:52.39
Put a checkmark there. Put a
checkmark here, and this will be
00:53:52.43\00:53:56.10
the prayer, now. "Please send me
that prayer I can pray each new
day." And here's the prayer.
00:53:56.10\00:53:59.37
"God, grant me the power of
Christ and the inspiration of
00:53:59.37\00:54:03.27
the Holy Spirit that I may be
filled with the desire -- with
00:54:03.27\00:54:08.14
the desire to save those who are
lost." You click that box, you
just hit "send," that prayer
00:54:08.14\00:54:13.68
will come to you in a reply.
You'll get it as a text reply.
You will have that prayer.
00:54:13.68\00:54:18.89
There's one more box. "I want to
be baptized in Jesus and receive
00:54:18.89\00:54:22.76
the power of the Holy Spirit to
ignite my witness for Christ."
That's how you move from the
00:54:22.76\00:54:28.80
"me, me, me" to the "them,
them, them." You follow Jesus.
00:54:28.80\00:54:31.80
You get baptized. Some of
you have not been baptized.
00:54:31.80\00:54:34.54
I have no idea why. It's
none of my business, really.
00:54:34.54\00:54:38.17
But I wish you would
make a decision to be.
00:54:38.21\00:54:40.31
It's as simple as
making a decision.
00:54:40.31\00:54:42.11
There'll be no angels
singing when you click that box.
00:54:42.11\00:54:45.81
The angels sing when
you get baptized, trust me.
00:54:45.81\00:54:48.75
More joy in Heaven over
one sinner who gets saved.
00:54:48.75\00:54:54.42
But just click the box. It's
that easy. Why wait? Come on.
00:54:54.46\00:55:02.00
Click the box. "I want to follow
Jesus. I want to move out of my
'me, me, me' state.
00:55:02.00\00:55:07.70
And I want to help Him to reach
the 'them, them, them.'" Just
click that box, sitting
00:55:07.70\00:55:14.28
in the back of the church,
sitting in the balcony. You're
00:55:14.28\00:55:18.71
online right now. Be good for
you just to do this. Because you
want to -- you want to follow
00:55:18.71\00:55:24.59
Jesus, as well. You click that
box, and somewhere on the
planet, we'll get your decision
00:55:24.59\00:55:28.69
to somebody near to you than we
are. We'll get in touch with you
00:55:28.69\00:55:32.59
electronically if you haven't
made a decision to follow Jesus.
00:55:32.59\00:55:35.90
Come on. John Mark -- Take
a page out of his playbook.
00:55:35.90\00:55:41.97
Be sold out for Christ. I want
to pray with you. Oh, Jesus,
00:55:41.97\00:55:49.61
Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit,
separate those girls, separate
00:55:49.61\00:55:57.02
those boys, separate that people
for me. I have a work to do. We
00:55:57.02\00:56:06.26
want to be -- We want to be in
that. So do whatever it takes.
Just give us the courage to pray
00:56:06.26\00:56:12.93
the prayer, give me the desire.
Dear God, give me the desire to
00:56:12.93\00:56:18.67
save lost people, to reach lost
people. Let me be an AirTag for
00:56:18.67\00:56:22.91
you. I'm willing. It's not
glamorous. It's what You need.
And I want to be what You need
00:56:22.91\00:56:28.58
until I die. Must Jesus bear the
cross alone and all the world go
00:56:28.58\00:56:36.62
free? No, there's a cross for
everyone. And there's a cross
00:56:36.62\00:56:45.30
for me. >> We've been really
blessed by the financial support
00:56:48.30\00:56:50.67
that comes from our viewers, and
we've made a conscious decision
00:56:50.67\00:56:53.71
-- and you know this is true --
not to continually appeal to you
00:56:53.71\00:56:56.95
for that support. But
the fact is, as everyone in
00:56:56.95\00:56:59.41
the industry will tell you,
we need to be making constant
00:56:59.41\00:57:02.58
upgrades to our technology.
While I'll be leaving Pioneer
00:57:02.58\00:57:06.05
soon, I'm confident that God has
a plan to continue growing the
00:57:06.05\00:57:09.49
media ministry
here with a new leader.
00:57:09.49\00:57:12.23
The new lead pastor will
need your support in prayer
00:57:12.23\00:57:15.80
and financially. If
God has blessed you and
00:57:15.80\00:57:18.83
you'd like to further the work
of this ministry, we invite you
00:57:18.83\00:57:21.77
to partner with us.
Every bit of your gift goes to
00:57:21.77\00:57:24.77
the mission of blessing
your community and our world.
00:57:24.77\00:57:27.88
You can donate on our
website. Here's the website --
00:57:27.88\00:57:30.48
pmchurch.org.
Then click "giving"
00:57:30.48\00:57:33.55
up at the top.
And then select "media
00:57:33.55\00:57:35.58
ministry." Or you
can call the number.
00:57:35.58\00:57:37.95
877-HIS-WILL. Again,
that number is 877 and
00:57:37.95\00:57:41.99
then the two words "HIS-WILL."
My prayer is that the God who
00:57:41.99\00:57:46.09
has blessed you will continue
to pour into your life the gifts
00:57:46.09\00:57:49.56
of His joy and His
hope. So thank you in advance
00:57:49.56\00:57:54.17
for your gracious generosity.
00:57:54.17\00:57:56.57
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:00.24\00:58:20.26
¤¤
00:58:20.26\00:58:27.54