¤
00:00:02.33\00:00:04.97
>> Good morning, church family.
00:00:21.45\00:00:22.55
My, it's nice to see all
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your smiling faces.
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And if they're not smiling,
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you know what you can do.
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You can find a smile
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and put it on there.
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And we welcome you.
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And if you're visiting with us
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via Internet or other media,
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we particularly welcome you.
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Would you stand with me
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for the invocation as we ask and
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invite God to be with us here?
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We'll appreciate it.
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He will appreciate it, too.
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Father in heaven,
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we gather in Your presence
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to worship, to praise,
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to honor, and to glorify you.
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So share this time with us,
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won't you, Father?
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May each of us
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sense your presence and
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your Holy Spirit speaking to us.
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We thank you so much.
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We ask in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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¤
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>> ¤ Gathered in God's
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presence ¤
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¤ In fellowship and gladness
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¤ Let us sing our praises
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¤ And pray for all the nations
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¤ Gathered in God's presence
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¤ Gathered in God's peace
00:01:54.21\00:01:59.35
¤ See a torch of promise
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¤ Lit within this place
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¤ Lit within this place
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¤ Gathered at God's altar
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¤ And in the Spirit's
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presence ¤
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¤ We may share the calling
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¤ To go to all the nations
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¤ Gathered in God's presence
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¤ Gathered in God's peace
00:02:56.64\00:03:02.21
¤ See our torch of promise
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¤ Lit within this place
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¤ Lit within this place
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¤ Gathered 'round God's
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calling ¤
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¤ We shall as faithful
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servants ¤
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¤ Bear the flame now kindled
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¤ As light to all the nations
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¤ Gathered in God's presence
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¤ Gathered in God's peace
00:04:01.60\00:04:07.34
¤ See our torch of promise
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¤ Lit within this place
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¤ Lit within this
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place ¤
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¤
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>> Welcome to Part 2
00:10:54.35\00:10:55.75
of our continuing
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and sporadic series entitled
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"Church Works."
00:11:00.12\00:11:02.19
Sporadic because in the second
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semester here at
00:11:03.43\00:11:04.46
Andrews University,
00:11:04.56\00:11:05.26
we do have a number
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of special Sabbaths that
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we are honored to celebrate.
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And that means
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that the various installments
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of this series will be spread
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out a fair amount
00:11:13.03\00:11:14.10
over this first semester.
00:11:14.20\00:11:15.24
A few weeks ago was Part 1.
00:11:15.34\00:11:16.94
If you missed Part 1,
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we talked about how the gates
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of hell shall fall.
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You can go back to pmchurch.org.
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You can see that archived there,
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if you wish to view that sermon.
00:11:26.58\00:11:27.42
I encourage you to do so,
00:11:27.52\00:11:28.35
because we looked at
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.45
how important God thinks
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organization is
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to the Christian witness.
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He's very clear about this.
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Both personally and corporately,
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we need to be organized.
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We're not to be haphazard
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or, you know, kind of dodgy and
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spotty in our work for the Lord.
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We're to give him our
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absolute best,
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to be organized for mission.
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We finished Part 1
00:11:48.54\00:11:50.14
by looking at perhaps one
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of the most powerful examples
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of teamwork and organization
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that Jesus Himself ever gives.
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Matthew 16, Jesus talks about
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that the gates of hell will not
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be able to withstand the
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onslaught of the battering ram.
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That's what's implied there,
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this battering ram,
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an instrument of war
00:12:07.29\00:12:08.86
that took an immense amount
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of competency and organization
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and teamwork
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to make work effectively.
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God is in favor of organization.
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And in the 1st century church,
00:12:18.23\00:12:21.24
that kingdom structure,
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that kingdom organization
00:12:22.60\00:12:24.21
worked marvelously.
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It was fantastic.
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Have you ever wanted to go back
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to the 1st century
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Christian church and maybe just
00:12:30.11\00:12:31.01
be a fly on the wall there?
00:12:31.11\00:12:31.98
Acts 2, those kinds of things.
00:12:32.08\00:12:33.75
I mean, what a time it must have
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been to be alive, to be a
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Christian.
00:12:36.28\00:12:37.22
You know, thousands of people
00:12:37.32\00:12:38.09
baptized in a day,
00:12:38.19\00:12:39.22
plus this steady trickle
00:12:39.32\00:12:40.36
of people coming in
00:12:40.46\00:12:41.36
and becoming believers
00:12:41.46\00:12:42.16
in Jesus Christ,
00:12:42.26\00:12:43.46
miracles being performed,
00:12:43.56\00:12:44.93
even Peter's shadow.
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You know,
00:12:45.66\00:12:46.33
God used that to heal people.
00:12:46.43\00:12:48.20
It was an astonishing,
00:12:48.30\00:12:50.20
vibrant, normal time
00:12:50.30\00:12:53.90
to be alive,
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normal in the eyes of heaven,
00:12:55.00\00:12:56.17
as we pointed out in
00:12:56.27\00:12:57.24
out in installment number one
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there, which makes
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me want to ask a question.
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What happened?
00:13:02.48\00:13:04.11
What happened that took
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the 1st century Christian
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church, with all of its vibrancy
00:13:11.92\00:13:13.42
and normalcy in the eyes of
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heaven, at least, to within
00:13:15.26\00:13:17.26
a few centuries,
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becoming a church
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that sometimes seems
00:13:19.96\00:13:20.76
like it could barely keep
00:13:20.86\00:13:21.50
its nose above water,
00:13:21.60\00:13:23.26
was sometimes filled
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with apostasy,
00:13:24.03\00:13:25.67
and was just a shadow
00:13:25.77\00:13:27.30
of the greatness in Christ
00:13:27.40\00:13:28.67
that it once held back in
00:13:28.77\00:13:30.07
Acts 2?
00:13:30.17\00:13:31.41
What happened?
00:13:31.51\00:13:33.74
Well, I suspect a number
00:13:37.58\00:13:39.98
of things happened,
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but one of the biggest things
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that happened was...
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Well, let me tell you a story.
00:13:46.62\00:13:49.09
And I'm going to tell you in
00:13:49.19\00:13:49.89
advance, I'm going to change
00:13:49.99\00:13:51.86
some details in this story
00:13:51.96\00:13:53.50
to disguise it from you.
00:13:53.60\00:13:55.16
You know, they say
00:13:55.26\00:13:56.23
that for the average human being
00:13:56.33\00:13:57.57
on Earth,
00:13:57.67\00:13:59.40
that we are six degrees
00:13:59.50\00:14:00.87
of separation from one another.
00:14:00.97\00:14:02.57
You know, six relationships.
00:14:02.67\00:14:03.61
You know somebody who knows
00:14:03.71\00:14:04.37
somebody who knows somebody
00:14:04.47\00:14:05.11
who knows somebody six times
00:14:05.21\00:14:05.87
away, and they will know
00:14:05.97\00:14:07.38
your friend, right?
00:14:07.48\00:14:08.54
Well, in Adventism, there's
00:14:08.64\00:14:09.91
two degrees of separation, okay?
00:14:10.01\00:14:12.31
So I know if I just told
00:14:12.41\00:14:13.35
this story straight up,
00:14:13.45\00:14:14.38
everything exactly like
00:14:14.48\00:14:15.25
what happened there, that
00:14:15.35\00:14:15.85
somebody's aunts,
00:14:15.95\00:14:16.92
cousins twice removed
00:14:17.02\00:14:18.59
would come to me afterwards and
00:14:18.69\00:14:19.39
say, "How dare you tell
00:14:19.49\00:14:20.22
that story about my uncle?"
00:14:20.32\00:14:21.22
So to avoid that,
00:14:21.32\00:14:22.69
I am going to change
00:14:22.79\00:14:23.63
some key details here,
00:14:23.73\00:14:24.76
but the substance of the story,
00:14:24.86\00:14:26.49
sadly, is absolutely true.
00:14:26.59\00:14:31.00
Within the last 30 years,
00:14:31.10\00:14:32.23
at a church within 10,000 miles
00:14:32.33\00:14:33.77
of here, it was during the week,
00:14:33.87\00:14:35.94
and I was coming into the church
00:14:36.04\00:14:37.17
there to do some work.
00:14:37.27\00:14:38.71
And I looked off
00:14:38.81\00:14:39.67
into the yard there
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.31
on one side of the church,
00:14:41.41\00:14:43.14
and nice landscaping there.
00:14:43.24\00:14:44.38
There was a rock garden
00:14:44.48\00:14:47.75
with some of the rocks
00:14:47.85\00:14:49.68
at the lower edge displaced.
00:14:49.78\00:14:52.69
Now, there's only four
00:14:52.79\00:14:53.56
or five of them, you know,
00:14:53.66\00:14:54.49
rocks about this big or so.
00:14:54.59\00:14:55.92
You know, rock gardens
00:14:56.02\00:14:56.76
fairly common in that arid part
00:14:56.86\00:14:57.86
of the world there.
00:14:57.96\00:14:58.76
And they had come down
00:14:58.86\00:14:59.83
onto the lawn a little bit,
00:14:59.93\00:15:01.26
and I thought, "Eh, you know,
00:15:01.36\00:15:02.16
landscaping guys or the deacons,
00:15:02.26\00:15:03.33
when they're mowing, that's
00:15:03.43\00:15:04.27
probably going to be in their
00:15:04.37\00:15:04.93
way, so I'll take just
00:15:05.03\00:15:05.90
a few moments to fix it."
00:15:06.00\00:15:07.44
Walk across the yard,
00:15:07.54\00:15:08.70
go up to the stones there,
00:15:08.80\00:15:09.74
pick them up, put them
00:15:09.84\00:15:10.67
in their spot there, step back.
00:15:10.77\00:15:12.24
And I'm thinking
00:15:12.34\00:15:13.14
"No one will ever know.
00:15:13.24\00:15:14.48
You know, good as new," right?
00:15:14.58\00:15:18.18
Well, indeed, I did think
00:15:18.28\00:15:19.05
that no one would ever know,
00:15:19.15\00:15:20.75
but I was disabused
00:15:20.85\00:15:22.12
of that notion the next Sabbath,
00:15:22.22\00:15:24.42
when, to my surprise,
00:15:24.52\00:15:25.75
I was in between services.
00:15:25.85\00:15:26.99
I was in my office there.
00:15:27.09\00:15:28.76
And brother Bill --
00:15:28.86\00:15:30.53
Not his real name,
00:15:30.63\00:15:31.33
so don't even try.
00:15:31.43\00:15:32.89
Bill came into my office
00:15:32.99\00:15:35.66
and Bill was mad.
00:15:35.76\00:15:37.80
He filled the door
00:15:37.90\00:15:38.83
of the office there.
00:15:38.93\00:15:39.83
He glowered over me
00:15:39.93\00:15:41.17
and he said,
00:15:41.27\00:15:42.64
"Did you touch my rock garden?"
00:15:42.74\00:15:47.24
"Your rock garden?"
00:15:47.34\00:15:49.44
I said, "What do you mean?"
00:15:49.54\00:15:50.15
He said, There were rocks
00:15:50.25\00:15:52.21
at the bottom of that,
00:15:52.31\00:15:53.35
and I heard you put them back."
00:15:53.45\00:15:57.05
I'm like, "How do you know
00:15:57.15\00:15:57.69
this?"
00:15:57.79\00:15:58.49
I mean, you know, is each --
00:15:58.59\00:16:00.26
Is a geolocator on each stone
00:16:00.36\00:16:01.46
that goes to your watch?
00:16:01.56\00:16:02.29
I have no idea how this happens.
00:16:02.39\00:16:03.26
I said, "Well, yeah,
00:16:03.36\00:16:04.63
they had fallen down there."
00:16:04.73\00:16:06.23
"Don't touch
00:16:06.33\00:16:08.23
my rock garden again.
00:16:08.33\00:16:12.73
I designed that garden.
00:16:12.83\00:16:14.54
I paid for it.
00:16:14.64\00:16:15.97
You are not to touch
00:16:16.07\00:16:17.57
that rock garden ever again."
00:16:17.67\00:16:22.01
And with that, he walked out.
00:16:22.11\00:16:25.08
Happy Sabbath to you, too, Bill,
00:16:25.18\00:16:26.08
right, okay?
00:16:26.18\00:16:28.75
And with this ray of sunshine
00:16:28.85\00:16:30.02
coming into my Sabbath morning,
00:16:30.12\00:16:31.22
I thought, "Okay, I got to ask
00:16:31.32\00:16:32.02
somebody about this."
00:16:32.12\00:16:32.69
So I poked my head out
00:16:32.79\00:16:33.42
in the hallway,
00:16:33.52\00:16:34.46
and here comes a church leader.
00:16:34.56\00:16:35.82
And I pull him into my office
00:16:35.92\00:16:36.86
and say, "You're not going
00:16:36.96\00:16:37.86
to believe the conversation
00:16:37.96\00:16:38.69
I just had with Bill."
00:16:38.79\00:16:39.89
He said, "Oh, really?
00:16:40.00\00:16:40.43
What happened?"
00:16:40.53\00:16:41.36
I said, I explained, "Well, you
00:16:41.46\00:16:42.56
know, the rock garden and the
00:16:42.66\00:16:43.47
rocks, I put them back up
00:16:43.57\00:16:44.00
there."
00:16:44.10\00:16:44.70
He said, "Oh yeah, yeah,
00:16:44.80\00:16:46.07
yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:16:46.17\00:16:46.77
That happens sometimes."
00:16:46.87\00:16:50.61
I said, "What do you mean
00:16:50.71\00:16:51.27
that happens sometimes?"
00:16:51.37\00:16:52.17
"Yeah, you know, sometimes,
00:16:52.27\00:16:53.01
Bill comes unglued at people
00:16:53.11\00:16:55.04
that, you know, do stuff.
00:16:55.14\00:16:56.41
Maybe the mower bumps one
00:16:56.51\00:16:57.41
of the rocks and stuff.
00:16:57.51\00:16:57.98
Yeah, he gets
00:16:58.08\00:16:58.65
pretty mad about that."
00:16:58.75\00:17:01.95
And I'm, like, sensing,
00:17:02.05\00:17:02.72
like, this is okay.
00:17:02.82\00:17:03.75
So, like,
00:17:03.85\00:17:05.42
"Shouldn't we do something
00:17:05.52\00:17:06.25
about that with Bill?
00:17:06.35\00:17:07.52
Like, you know, if I'm just one
00:17:07.62\00:17:08.76
in the most recent string
00:17:08.86\00:17:09.52
of victims?"
00:17:09.62\00:17:11.86
And the church leader looked
00:17:11.96\00:17:12.73
back to me and he said this.
00:17:12.83\00:17:15.20
He said, "Oh, do something
00:17:15.30\00:17:17.47
about -- Well, no, no,
00:17:17.57\00:17:18.57
no, no, no, pastor."
00:17:18.67\00:17:19.37
And this is exactly what
00:17:19.47\00:17:20.00
he said next here.
00:17:20.10\00:17:21.87
"That's just
00:17:21.97\00:17:23.34
the way that Bill is."
00:17:23.44\00:17:27.44
He smiled and he left my office.
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.61
Just the way that Bill is?
00:17:36.32\00:17:40.19
And, now, this is a saint of
00:17:40.29\00:17:41.39
long experience in the church,
00:17:41.49\00:17:42.56
Baptized member of the
00:17:42.66\00:17:43.79
Seventh Day Adventist Church
00:17:43.89\00:17:44.79
for dozens of years, right?
00:17:44.89\00:17:47.23
And that's
00:17:47.30\00:17:48.40
just the way that Bill is?
00:17:48.50\00:17:53.10
Hmm.
00:17:53.20\00:17:56.77
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:17:56.87\00:17:59.27
I wonder if this might be
00:17:59.37\00:18:02.68
an interesting window into
00:18:02.78\00:18:05.15
why the 1st century church
00:18:05.25\00:18:06.78
fell from its supernatural
00:18:06.88\00:18:08.05
vibrancy and perhaps also
00:18:08.15\00:18:09.58
why the current state
00:18:09.68\00:18:10.75
of Christianity in the West
00:18:10.85\00:18:12.22
is also not so good.
00:18:12.32\00:18:16.19
I would suggest
00:18:16.29\00:18:17.29
that one of the major reasons
00:18:17.39\00:18:18.33
that the 1st century
00:18:18.43\00:18:19.19
Christian church
00:18:19.29\00:18:20.10
fell from its vibrancy,
00:18:20.20\00:18:22.20
in large part, was due to this.
00:18:22.30\00:18:23.30
Let me put it
00:18:23.40\00:18:24.03
on the screen here for you.
00:18:24.13\00:18:25.70
The personal appreciation
00:18:33.64\00:18:34.54
of this journey
00:18:34.64\00:18:36.04
that Jesus calls us
00:18:36.14\00:18:37.21
to go on here --
00:18:37.31\00:18:39.41
it was something,
00:18:39.51\00:18:40.85
that its appreciation
00:18:40.95\00:18:41.95
dropped dramatically.
00:18:42.05\00:18:45.05
Let me show you what I mean.
00:18:45.15\00:18:46.49
If you have a Bible, take a look
00:18:46.59\00:18:47.42
at 1 Corinthians 3:9.
00:18:47.52\00:18:50.39
1 Corinthians 3:9.
00:18:50.49\00:18:52.36
It's page 768 in the red Bible
00:18:52.46\00:18:54.46
that's somewhere nearby
00:18:54.56\00:18:55.36
where you're at.
00:18:55.46\00:18:57.20
1 Corinthians, chapter 3,
00:18:57.30\00:18:58.57
beginning with verse 9.
00:18:58.67\00:19:00.34
The apostle Paul here is writing
00:19:00.44\00:19:01.77
to the church plant in Corinth.
00:19:01.87\00:19:03.41
Church plant in Corinth
00:19:03.51\00:19:04.37
was an interesting place to be.
00:19:04.47\00:19:05.91
They had some pretty serious
00:19:06.01\00:19:06.88
problems, all kinds of
00:19:06.98\00:19:09.24
immorality, lots of division
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.25
going on.
00:19:11.35\00:19:12.25
And Paul repeatedly tries
00:19:12.35\00:19:13.95
to show them a better way,
00:19:14.05\00:19:15.35
including here in
00:19:15.45\00:19:16.22
1 Corinthians 3.
00:19:16.32\00:19:18.42
And he's going to bring up --
00:19:18.52\00:19:19.25
He's going to build this analogy
00:19:19.35\00:19:22.59
that will help us to understand
00:19:22.69\00:19:23.66
this journey that
00:19:23.76\00:19:24.73
Christ is wanting to take us on.
00:19:24.83\00:19:25.93
Verse 9, chapter 3.
00:19:26.03\00:19:28.00
Paul says, "For we are God's
00:19:28.10\00:19:29.66
fellow workers.
00:19:29.76\00:19:31.57
You are God's
00:19:31.67\00:19:32.93
field, God's building.'"
00:19:33.03\00:19:35.37
Pause right there, please.
00:19:35.47\00:19:36.87
"God's fellow workers."
00:19:36.97\00:19:37.97
So God is doing something,
00:19:38.07\00:19:39.97
but He wants us to go with Him.
00:19:40.08\00:19:41.14
We're to work together, side
00:19:41.24\00:19:42.24
by side here, to make
00:19:42.34\00:19:43.21
whatever this is.
00:19:43.31\00:19:44.45
And then he brings into
00:19:44.55\00:19:45.45
this thing his idea of a field.
00:19:45.55\00:19:46.78
And then there's
00:19:46.88\00:19:47.65
a building analogy.
00:19:47.75\00:19:49.15
He's going to take the building
00:19:49.25\00:19:50.55
one and run with it here.
00:19:50.65\00:19:52.42
Look at the next verse,
00:19:52.52\00:19:53.05
verse 10.
00:19:53.15\00:19:54.39
"'By the grace God has given me,
00:19:54.49\00:19:56.26
I laid a foundation as an expert
00:19:56.36\00:19:57.93
builder, and someone else
00:19:58.03\00:19:58.89
is building on it.
00:19:58.99\00:20:00.36
But each one should be
00:20:00.46\00:20:01.60
careful how he builds,
00:20:01.70\00:20:03.57
for no one
00:20:03.67\00:20:05.17
can lay any foundation other
00:20:05.27\00:20:07.44
than the one already laid,
00:20:07.54\00:20:09.27
which is Jesus Christ.'"
00:20:09.37\00:20:12.61
Pause right there, please.
00:20:12.71\00:20:14.71
In other words...
00:20:14.81\00:20:17.88
Jesus is the foundation.
00:20:17.98\00:20:21.35
Not even the first,
00:20:21.45\00:20:23.22
second, or third floor.
00:20:23.32\00:20:26.49
Do you follow me now?
00:20:26.59\00:20:28.52
Paul is making this analogy
00:20:28.62\00:20:29.59
here, under the inspiration
00:20:29.69\00:20:30.36
of the Holy Spirit of God,
00:20:30.46\00:20:31.33
saying, to be a disciple,
00:20:31.43\00:20:32.66
it begins --
00:20:32.76\00:20:33.73
the foundation is Jesus.
00:20:33.83\00:20:35.33
There's this initial encounter
00:20:35.43\00:20:36.63
with Jesus Christ.
00:20:36.73\00:20:37.40
We accept Him
00:20:37.50\00:20:38.43
as our Lord and Savior.
00:20:38.53\00:20:40.10
That is only the foundation
00:20:40.20\00:20:43.20
of this disciple building
00:20:43.30\00:20:45.14
that we are now to engage with.
00:20:45.24\00:20:46.81
In other words,
00:20:46.91\00:20:48.11
it's just the beginning.
00:20:48.21\00:20:49.31
There's more to come.
00:20:49.41\00:20:51.21
We are to be co-builders with
00:20:51.31\00:20:53.01
Jesus in building
00:20:53.11\00:20:54.65
up this disciple kind of life.
00:20:54.75\00:20:56.65
Now, Paul gives a little
00:20:56.75\00:20:57.82
more color here to this.
00:20:57.92\00:20:59.02
Verse 12 -- "'If any man builds
00:20:59.12\00:21:01.06
on this foundation using --'"
00:21:01.16\00:21:02.56
and then he gives a list
00:21:02.66\00:21:03.56
of kind of worldly materials
00:21:03.66\00:21:04.69
here -- "'gold, silver,
00:21:04.79\00:21:06.03
costly stones, wood,
00:21:06.13\00:21:07.10
hay, or straw,
00:21:07.20\00:21:08.63
his work will be shown
00:21:08.73\00:21:10.00
for what it is, because the
00:21:10.10\00:21:11.70
Day --'" capital "D"
00:21:11.80\00:21:12.77
in my Bible, and that's a good
00:21:12.87\00:21:13.80
reason for that.
00:21:13.90\00:21:14.54
Refers to the Second Coming
00:21:14.64\00:21:15.24
of Jesus.
00:21:15.34\00:21:16.20
"'Because the Day
00:21:16.30\00:21:17.37
will bring it to light.
00:21:17.47\00:21:18.71
It will be revealed with fire,
00:21:18.81\00:21:20.84
and the fire will test the
00:21:20.94\00:21:22.64
quality of each one's work.'"
00:21:22.74\00:21:27.12
Alright, so, let this sink in.
00:21:27.22\00:21:29.22
Jesus is the foundation.
00:21:29.32\00:21:31.05
To put a foundation down implies
00:21:31.15\00:21:33.39
strongly that there will be
00:21:33.49\00:21:34.36
a structure built upon it.
00:21:34.46\00:21:35.52
Correct?
00:21:35.62\00:21:36.89
We are not just to let Jesus do
00:21:36.99\00:21:38.53
this on His own,
00:21:38.63\00:21:39.43
because Jesus Himself,
00:21:39.53\00:21:40.70
through His Holy Spirit
00:21:40.80\00:21:41.50
here, is saying, "We are
00:21:41.60\00:21:42.43
co-laborers together."
00:21:42.53\00:21:43.83
We're to work together to build
00:21:43.93\00:21:45.67
on the foundation of Jesus
00:21:45.77\00:21:47.14
into this disciple building.
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.57
This is why we find,
00:21:50.67\00:21:52.41
in the Great Commission,
00:21:52.51\00:21:53.24
these words.
00:21:53.34\00:21:53.94
Matthew 28, 19
00:21:54.04\00:21:54.91
and first part of 20.
00:21:55.01\00:21:56.24
Jesus said, "'Therefore,
00:21:56.34\00:21:57.15
go and make disciples
00:21:57.25\00:21:57.98
of all nations,
00:21:58.08\00:21:58.98
baptizing them in the name
00:21:59.08\00:22:00.15
of the Father and of the Son
00:22:00.25\00:22:01.18
and of the Holy Spirit,
00:22:01.28\00:22:02.45
and teaching them to obey --'"
00:22:02.55\00:22:03.52
How much?
00:22:03.62\00:22:04.45
What's it say? Everything.
00:22:04.55\00:22:06.05
"'Everything I have commanded
00:22:06.15\00:22:07.06
you.'"
00:22:07.16\00:22:07.82
Baptism is the beginning,
00:22:07.92\00:22:11.16
and then comes this journey
00:22:11.26\00:22:14.56
that Jesus longs to take us on.
00:22:14.63\00:22:16.40
So let it be crystal,
00:22:16.50\00:22:17.27
crystal clear.
00:22:17.37\00:22:18.57
As important as baptism is,
00:22:18.67\00:22:23.24
as important as conversion is,
00:22:23.34\00:22:25.74
as important as making that
00:22:25.84\00:22:27.84
initial commitment to Jesus is,
00:22:27.94\00:22:30.31
it is only the beginning.
00:22:30.41\00:22:33.21
It is only the first step
00:22:33.31\00:22:34.68
in becoming a genuine,
00:22:34.78\00:22:36.45
mature disciple of Jesus Christ.
00:22:36.55\00:22:39.49
Jesus has so much more to go.
00:22:39.59\00:22:42.52
So, what does
00:22:45.29\00:22:45.86
that journey look like?
00:22:45.96\00:22:47.66
The journey
00:22:47.76\00:22:48.36
that the 1st century church
00:22:48.46\00:22:49.43
and maybe the church
00:22:49.53\00:22:50.20
today has devalued.
00:22:50.30\00:22:52.83
What does it mean to become
00:22:52.93\00:22:54.27
a genuine,
00:22:54.37\00:22:55.57
mature disciple of Christ?
00:22:55.67\00:22:59.11
Well, I suppose there's a number
00:23:01.98\00:23:02.78
of ways to answer that question.
00:23:02.88\00:23:04.15
One of my favorites
00:23:04.25\00:23:04.95
is what I'm going to share
00:23:05.05\00:23:05.58
with you this morning.
00:23:05.68\00:23:06.25
I am indebted to
00:23:06.35\00:23:07.15
Dr. Philip Samaan,
00:23:07.25\00:23:08.78
a professor in
00:23:08.88\00:23:09.68
Adventist education.
00:23:09.78\00:23:11.05
He's written a number of books
00:23:11.15\00:23:12.52
on this topic, including one
00:23:12.62\00:23:13.72
called "Christ's Way of Making
00:23:13.82\00:23:14.82
Disciples."
00:23:14.92\00:23:15.96
And he has formulated
00:23:16.06\00:23:17.19
eight characteristics
00:23:17.29\00:23:18.76
of a genuine,
00:23:18.86\00:23:19.89
mature disciple of Christ.
00:23:20.00\00:23:21.60
I've embellished some of them,
00:23:21.70\00:23:22.66
put my own touch on them there,
00:23:22.76\00:23:23.50
but I want to give my thanks
00:23:23.60\00:23:24.47
to Dr. Samaan for his help.
00:23:24.57\00:23:26.53
Now, in a general way,
00:23:26.63\00:23:28.80
the word "disciple" --
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.14
Let's put it this way.
00:23:30.24\00:23:31.24
The word "disciple" does not
00:23:31.34\00:23:32.47
belong to Christianity, does it?
00:23:32.57\00:23:34.44
There are disciples outside
00:23:34.54\00:23:35.54
of Christianity, right?
00:23:35.64\00:23:37.01
The word is a general one,
00:23:37.11\00:23:38.08
and it usually refers to
00:23:38.18\00:23:39.65
a person who is seeking to
00:23:39.75\00:23:41.75
not just follow somebody,
00:23:41.85\00:23:42.92
but to become as much
00:23:43.02\00:23:44.69
like that person as possible.
00:23:44.79\00:23:46.65
Okay? Well, certainly, that
00:23:46.76\00:23:48.32
applies to Christianity, as
00:23:48.42\00:23:49.09
well.
00:23:49.19\00:23:49.86
It's a pretty good definition
00:23:49.96\00:23:50.66
of a Christian disciple.
00:23:50.76\00:23:51.89
We want to become as much
00:23:51.99\00:23:53.36
like our master as possible.
00:23:53.46\00:23:54.73
Right?
00:23:54.83\00:23:56.03
And along that path,
00:23:56.13\00:23:58.60
there are at least eight
00:23:58.70\00:23:59.77
characteristics
00:23:59.87\00:24:01.24
that will come to define us.
00:24:01.34\00:24:03.34
Number 1...
00:24:03.44\00:24:05.01
Now, this is really important.
00:24:12.58\00:24:14.22
You know, so often,
00:24:14.32\00:24:14.85
we think about --
00:24:14.95\00:24:15.68
You know, in pastoral ministry,
00:24:15.78\00:24:17.29
we talk about making an appeal
00:24:17.39\00:24:18.75
or making a call.
00:24:18.85\00:24:20.79
It's a figure of speech.
00:24:20.89\00:24:21.42
I get it.
00:24:21.52\00:24:22.16
We kind of have to talk that
00:24:22.26\00:24:22.69
way.
00:24:22.79\00:24:23.16
But, truly,
00:24:23.26\00:24:25.03
if it's a genuine call,
00:24:25.13\00:24:25.93
it's from Jesus.
00:24:26.03\00:24:27.76
I mean, picture this.
00:24:27.86\00:24:28.50
This afternoon,
00:24:28.60\00:24:29.80
you're busily engaged.
00:24:29.90\00:24:32.93
All right, you're taking a nap,
00:24:33.03\00:24:33.47
okay?
00:24:33.57\00:24:34.37
And, so, you hear
00:24:34.47\00:24:36.10
this knock on the door.
00:24:36.20\00:24:37.21
If you're in your dorm room,
00:24:37.31\00:24:37.94
it's your dorm-room door.
00:24:38.04\00:24:38.61
If you're at a house,
00:24:38.71\00:24:39.17
knock on the door.
00:24:39.27\00:24:40.21
Then like, "Oh, man,
00:24:40.31\00:24:40.94
I'm not expecting anybody.
00:24:41.04\00:24:41.94
I'm tired," whatnot.
00:24:42.04\00:24:43.31
The knock keeps coming.
00:24:43.41\00:24:45.01
Finally, you get up,
00:24:45.11\00:24:46.28
you go to the door,
00:24:46.38\00:24:47.42
and you open it.
00:24:47.52\00:24:48.58
And I want you to imagine
00:24:48.68\00:24:49.48
that this was actually the case,
00:24:49.58\00:24:50.85
that this was actually true,
00:24:50.95\00:24:53.72
that Jesus Christ, physically,
00:24:53.82\00:24:54.92
in the flesh,
00:24:55.02\00:24:55.82
was standing there at your door.
00:24:55.92\00:25:00.06
And with all the
00:25:00.16\00:25:02.16
love and the grace
00:25:02.26\00:25:04.13
and the mercy radiating
00:25:04.23\00:25:06.53
from his face,
00:25:06.63\00:25:08.57
the scars in His hands
00:25:08.67\00:25:10.21
from dying for you.
00:25:10.31\00:25:12.81
And with a smile,
00:25:12.91\00:25:15.11
He holds out his hand
00:25:15.21\00:25:17.28
and He says,
00:25:17.38\00:25:18.08
"I want you to be my disciple."
00:25:18.18\00:25:19.58
Follow me.
00:25:19.68\00:25:21.82
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:25:26.19\00:25:26.86
the call to discipleship
00:25:26.96\00:25:28.09
is not extended by some loser.
00:25:28.19\00:25:31.73
It's not even extended by some
00:25:31.83\00:25:32.93
by some human VIP.
00:25:33.03\00:25:35.73
You know, we might be impressed
00:25:35.83\00:25:36.56
if a prime minister or a king or
00:25:36.67\00:25:38.30
a president asks us to do
00:25:38.40\00:25:39.60
something, right?
00:25:39.70\00:25:40.44
This is God!
00:25:40.54\00:25:42.00
Jesus Himself has reached
00:25:42.10\00:25:43.54
out His hand to you
00:25:43.64\00:25:44.47
and said, "I want you.
00:25:44.57\00:25:45.84
I want you."
00:25:45.94\00:25:47.04
No matter how far down the scale
00:25:47.14\00:25:48.38
you've gone, no matter
00:25:48.48\00:25:49.18
how much you've messed up,
00:25:49.28\00:25:50.05
no matter how many warts
00:25:50.15\00:25:51.01
on your soul you may have,
00:25:51.11\00:25:52.38
Jesus looks at you,
00:25:52.48\00:25:53.18
and He loves you
00:25:53.28\00:25:54.08
and He wants you to be
00:25:54.18\00:25:55.08
part of His kingdom.
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.18
And He says, "Come, follow me."
00:25:56.28\00:25:58.79
Do you understand the value
00:25:58.89\00:26:00.56
that that puts on you?
00:26:00.66\00:26:03.53
You are not trash.
00:26:03.63\00:26:06.39
You are not to be thrown away.
00:26:06.49\00:26:08.43
You are embraced
00:26:08.53\00:26:09.90
by the King of the universe.
00:26:10.00\00:26:12.30
A disciple is one
00:26:12.40\00:26:13.64
who is called by Christ Himself.
00:26:13.74\00:26:16.54
Number 2.
00:26:16.64\00:26:19.31
Oh, yes, Jesus chose you.
00:26:19.41\00:26:20.68
You did not choose Him.
00:26:20.78\00:26:21.94
Number 2...
00:26:22.04\00:26:23.41
Not just by Christ Himself,
00:26:29.78\00:26:31.19
but to Christ Himself.
00:26:31.29\00:26:32.75
Now, Jesus is
00:26:32.85\00:26:33.66
pretty explicit about this.
00:26:33.76\00:26:34.69
Notice this -- Matthew 11:28-30.
00:26:34.79\00:26:37.03
"'Come to --'" What's that word?
00:26:37.13\00:26:38.79
"Me," Jesus says.
00:26:38.89\00:26:39.86
"'Come to me,
00:26:39.96\00:26:40.86
all you who are weary
00:26:40.96\00:26:41.63
and burdened,
00:26:41.73\00:26:42.50
and I will give you rest.
00:26:42.60\00:26:43.87
Take my yoke upon you
00:26:43.97\00:26:45.00
and learn from me,
00:26:45.10\00:26:46.10
for I am gentle and humble
00:26:46.20\00:26:47.30
in heart, and you will find
00:26:47.40\00:26:48.57
rest for your souls.
00:26:48.67\00:26:49.54
For My yoke is easy,
00:26:49.64\00:26:51.14
and My burden is light.'"
00:26:51.24\00:26:55.18
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:26:55.28\00:26:55.81
I think sometimes,
00:26:55.91\00:26:57.81
maybe particularly for
00:26:57.91\00:26:59.11
Seventh day Adventists --
00:26:59.21\00:26:59.81
I don't know.
00:26:59.91\00:27:02.18
But I think, sometimes,
00:27:02.28\00:27:03.35
when we think about
00:27:03.45\00:27:04.02
discipleship,
00:27:04.12\00:27:04.95
we think about adherence to
00:27:05.05\00:27:06.79
certain precepts and dogma
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.72
and beliefs and whatnot.
00:27:09.82\00:27:10.63
And I hope by now,
00:27:10.73\00:27:11.53
you understand I'm a huge fan
00:27:11.63\00:27:12.83
of Adventist theology.
00:27:12.93\00:27:14.40
I mean, you know, I eat
00:27:14.50\00:27:15.26
and breathe this stuff
00:27:15.36\00:27:16.30
and very gladly and joyfully.
00:27:16.40\00:27:18.13
This is my world, right?
00:27:18.23\00:27:20.10
And I also know this,
00:27:20.20\00:27:21.94
that all of the Adventist
00:27:22.04\00:27:23.00
teaching in the world,
00:27:23.10\00:27:23.81
all of the biblical
00:27:23.91\00:27:25.11
teaching, Christian teaching
00:27:25.21\00:27:25.97
in the world,
00:27:26.07\00:27:27.01
without Jesus Christ, it's just
00:27:27.11\00:27:28.48
a noose around my neck.
00:27:28.58\00:27:31.71
It's just
00:27:31.81\00:27:32.45
a noose around my neck,
00:27:32.55\00:27:34.35
because Jesus is the reason.
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.02
He is the center.
00:27:36.12\00:27:37.05
He is the focus of discipleship.
00:27:37.15\00:27:38.45
Anything else is
00:27:38.55\00:27:39.22
not discipleship.
00:27:39.32\00:27:40.66
Not Christian discipleship.
00:27:40.76\00:27:42.12
When you are called to be
00:27:42.22\00:27:43.32
a disciple of Jesus,
00:27:43.43\00:27:44.69
you are called to Jesus himself.
00:27:44.79\00:27:47.56
Yes, along the way, absolutely,
00:27:47.66\00:27:48.86
there's important things to --
00:27:48.96\00:27:50.20
"Yes, this is me, this is me.
00:27:50.30\00:27:50.93
I'm a part of this."
00:27:51.03\00:27:51.63
That's what it means, in part,
00:27:51.73\00:27:52.77
to become a Seventh Day
00:27:52.87\00:27:53.74
Adventist Christian.
00:27:53.84\00:27:54.60
And make no mistake,
00:27:54.70\00:27:56.24
Jesus must be at the core
00:27:56.34\00:27:57.94
of all of that,
00:27:58.04\00:27:58.74
else it is false.
00:27:58.84\00:28:00.58
Else it's a waste of
00:28:00.68\00:28:01.31
your time and mine.
00:28:01.41\00:28:03.18
Jesus loves you.
00:28:03.28\00:28:04.25
He died for you.
00:28:04.35\00:28:05.31
He wants to be with you.
00:28:05.41\00:28:06.75
He doesn't just want you
00:28:06.85\00:28:07.82
to believe the right things.
00:28:07.92\00:28:08.78
He wants you
00:28:08.88\00:28:09.52
to know the right one.
00:28:09.62\00:28:12.05
That's what Jesus said in
00:28:12.15\00:28:12.85
John 17, you know?
00:28:12.95\00:28:15.42
"'This is eternal life,
00:28:15.52\00:28:16.66
that they may know you,
00:28:16.76\00:28:17.56
the one true God --'" pointing
00:28:17.66\00:28:18.66
to his Father in heaven.
00:28:18.76\00:28:19.26
"'And Jesus Christ,
00:28:19.36\00:28:20.06
whom you have sent.'"
00:28:20.16\00:28:21.23
Jesus wants a relationship
00:28:21.33\00:28:23.40
with us, nothing less.
00:28:23.50\00:28:26.37
To be called a disciple
00:28:26.47\00:28:27.77
of Jesus Christ is to be called
00:28:27.87\00:28:29.60
to Jesus Himself,
00:28:29.70\00:28:30.94
and by the power
00:28:31.04\00:28:31.91
of the indwelling Holy Spirit,
00:28:32.01\00:28:34.24
we can be closer to Jesus
00:28:34.34\00:28:36.14
than even his 12 disciples
00:28:36.24\00:28:37.51
were when Jesus walked
00:28:37.61\00:28:38.51
physically among them.
00:28:38.61\00:28:40.72
This is our birthright, because
00:28:40.82\00:28:42.42
Jesus came from the grave.
00:28:42.52\00:28:44.15
And you can have that.
00:28:44.25\00:28:45.52
That's what discipleship means.
00:28:45.62\00:28:49.69
And when Jesus lives within,
00:28:49.79\00:28:51.86
when Jesus is inside,
00:28:51.96\00:28:53.19
in my heart and in yours,
00:28:53.29\00:28:55.00
incredible things
00:28:55.10\00:28:56.16
begin to take place.
00:28:56.26\00:28:57.30
Because Jesus loves us,
00:28:57.40\00:28:58.63
He will take us exactly
00:28:58.73\00:29:00.14
where we're at,
00:29:00.24\00:29:01.30
but He loves us too much
00:29:01.40\00:29:02.20
to leave us there.
00:29:02.30\00:29:03.87
Which brings us
00:29:03.97\00:29:04.61
to characteristic number 3.
00:29:04.71\00:29:05.91
Now, this is
00:29:14.58\00:29:15.22
not just me talking.
00:29:15.32\00:29:15.95
Jesus Himself
00:29:16.05\00:29:16.82
makes this quite clear.
00:29:16.92\00:29:17.42
John 14:15.
00:29:17.52\00:29:18.22
"'If you --'"
00:29:18.32\00:29:19.55
What's that third word?
00:29:19.65\00:29:21.09
"'If you love me, keep my...'"
00:29:21.19\00:29:23.99
Ah! Okay.
00:29:24.09\00:29:24.59
'"If you love me.'"
00:29:24.69\00:29:25.53
And, now, again here,
00:29:25.63\00:29:26.56
Jesus, in this very short text,
00:29:26.66\00:29:28.13
is pointing again
00:29:28.23\00:29:28.93
to the relationship,
00:29:29.03\00:29:29.83
this love relationship
00:29:29.93\00:29:31.03
that He wants to have with us.
00:29:31.13\00:29:32.67
Springing from that
00:29:32.77\00:29:34.30
is this desire to be loyal
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.10
to Jesus and to keep His will.
00:29:36.20\00:29:40.01
Now, let's just be straight
00:29:40.11\00:29:40.74
here.
00:29:40.84\00:29:41.61
Many people,
00:29:41.71\00:29:42.41
when they think about obedience,
00:29:42.51\00:29:43.51
immediately think about
00:29:43.61\00:29:44.48
legalism and people trying
00:29:44.58\00:29:46.38
to earn their salvation.
00:29:46.48\00:29:47.88
And make no mistake,
00:29:47.98\00:29:49.32
it can happen.
00:29:49.42\00:29:51.25
Any good relationship
00:29:51.35\00:29:52.42
with Jesus, yes,
00:29:52.52\00:29:53.59
if we are not careful,
00:29:53.69\00:29:54.59
it can devolve into legalism.
00:29:54.69\00:29:56.29
And by the way,
00:29:56.39\00:29:57.26
that's not an Adventist thing.
00:29:57.36\00:29:58.46
That's a human thing.
00:29:58.56\00:29:59.66
Okay?
00:29:59.76\00:30:00.96
We're just wired this way.
00:30:01.03\00:30:01.90
Since the Garden of Eden
00:30:02.00\00:30:02.66
and the fall came
00:30:02.76\00:30:03.33
and flesh was changed,
00:30:03.43\00:30:03.93
all of this,
00:30:04.03\00:30:04.93
we aim towards legalism.
00:30:05.03\00:30:06.33
We want to pay our way.
00:30:06.43\00:30:07.74
Okay? So let's just be
00:30:07.84\00:30:09.64
clear about this.
00:30:09.74\00:30:10.67
You cannot get to heaven
00:30:10.77\00:30:12.81
by keeping the Ten Commandments.
00:30:12.91\00:30:15.11
You cannot enter the kingdom
00:30:15.21\00:30:16.51
because you walk up to the door
00:30:16.61\00:30:17.15
and say,
00:30:17.25\00:30:17.85
"Look how good I've been."
00:30:17.95\00:30:19.11
Okay? You can't do that.
00:30:19.21\00:30:20.92
Being good will not save you,
00:30:21.02\00:30:22.48
but if you are saved,
00:30:22.58\00:30:23.72
you will strive to be good.
00:30:23.82\00:30:25.59
Okay?
00:30:25.69\00:30:26.89
This is part of the glory
00:30:26.99\00:30:28.96
that God has put in His law.
00:30:29.06\00:30:30.66
Not that it saves us.
00:30:30.76\00:30:31.79
Well, let's
00:30:31.89\00:30:32.46
just put it this way.
00:30:32.56\00:30:34.36
All of God's laws,
00:30:34.46\00:30:35.53
rightly understood,
00:30:35.63\00:30:36.60
are laws of love.
00:30:36.70\00:30:37.60
Amen?
00:30:37.70\00:30:38.27
>> Amen.
00:30:38.37\00:30:39.13
>> They're all laws of love.
00:30:39.23\00:30:40.00
Not a single one of God's laws
00:30:40.10\00:30:41.60
are designed to harm you.
00:30:41.70\00:30:42.57
Not a single one. Okay?
00:30:42.67\00:30:44.71
All of God's laws,
00:30:44.81\00:30:46.07
furthermore, rightly understood,
00:30:46.17\00:30:47.41
are laws that bring freedom.
00:30:47.51\00:30:49.58
Right? When the law asks us to
00:30:49.68\00:30:51.48
not do something, we are freed,
00:30:51.58\00:30:53.25
if we keep it, from experiencing
00:30:53.35\00:30:54.98
the negative consequences
00:30:55.08\00:30:55.82
that come from
00:30:55.92\00:30:56.42
breaking God's law.
00:30:56.52\00:30:57.95
This is the law that brings
00:30:58.05\00:30:58.89
freedom into our lives.
00:30:58.99\00:31:00.12
I'd like to have more freedom.
00:31:00.22\00:31:00.99
Wouldn't you?
00:31:01.09\00:31:02.39
I mean, we live in a world
00:31:02.49\00:31:03.16
where, you know, our habits
00:31:03.26\00:31:04.16
and all of these things
00:31:04.26\00:31:04.76
enslave us, right?
00:31:04.86\00:31:05.66
Fear enslaves us.
00:31:05.76\00:31:06.66
Wouldn't it be great
00:31:06.76\00:31:07.30
to be free from that?
00:31:07.40\00:31:08.56
God says, "I've got a way.
00:31:08.66\00:31:09.96
I've got a way."
00:31:10.07\00:31:11.83
And because we understand
00:31:11.93\00:31:13.97
that we are saved
00:31:14.07\00:31:14.97
by Jesus Christ,
00:31:15.07\00:31:17.41
not by our works,
00:31:17.51\00:31:18.71
but by His grace,
00:31:18.81\00:31:19.61
by faith in Him,
00:31:19.71\00:31:21.48
we are now freed from the fear
00:31:21.58\00:31:22.98
of having to earn our salvation.
00:31:23.08\00:31:25.45
And in the absence of that
00:31:25.55\00:31:26.95
fear -- In fact, let me just put
00:31:27.05\00:31:27.62
this statement up here
00:31:27.72\00:31:28.22
for you to see.
00:31:28.32\00:31:29.72
Now, how much
00:31:39.16\00:31:40.30
progress we make, you know,
00:31:40.40\00:31:41.20
total obedience, well,
00:31:41.30\00:31:42.43
that's up to God and us
00:31:42.53\00:31:43.63
how far that works
00:31:43.73\00:31:44.77
before the Second Coming comes.
00:31:44.87\00:31:45.87
But that it is
00:31:45.97\00:31:47.80
our desire, that we crave this,
00:31:47.90\00:31:50.24
that we want to follow Jesus
00:31:50.34\00:31:51.71
because we love Him.
00:31:51.81\00:31:52.91
He has given His life for us.
00:31:53.01\00:31:54.14
Now we give it back
00:31:54.24\00:31:54.88
to Him in return.
00:31:54.98\00:31:58.61
We are not good to be saved,
00:31:58.71\00:32:00.55
but if we are saved,
00:32:00.65\00:32:02.18
good things are going to happen.
00:32:02.28\00:32:04.42
This is Christ's promise to us.
00:32:04.52\00:32:05.59
And that's why Jesus said,
00:32:05.69\00:32:06.79
"If you love me,
00:32:06.89\00:32:08.42
keep my commandments."
00:32:08.52\00:32:11.03
Number 4.
00:32:11.13\00:32:12.63
Now, again,
00:32:18.77\00:32:19.53
Jesus speaks about this
00:32:19.63\00:32:20.60
in a number of places.
00:32:20.70\00:32:21.54
Let's look at some of them.
00:32:21.64\00:32:22.60
John 15:4, 5, & 16.
00:32:22.70\00:32:25.17
Jesus says, "'Remain in me --'"
00:32:25.27\00:32:27.08
There's that relationship again.
00:32:27.18\00:32:28.41
In Jesus, called to Jesus.
00:32:28.51\00:32:30.21
"'And I will remain in you.
00:32:30.31\00:32:32.15
Just as no branch can bear fruit
00:32:32.25\00:32:33.48
by itself
00:32:33.58\00:32:34.45
unless it remains in the vine,
00:32:34.55\00:32:35.95
neither can you bear fruit
00:32:36.05\00:32:37.32
unless you remain in me.
00:32:37.42\00:32:38.99
I am the vine,
00:32:39.09\00:32:39.92
and you are the branches.
00:32:40.02\00:32:41.19
The one who remains in me
00:32:41.29\00:32:42.22
and I in them
00:32:42.32\00:32:43.53
will bear much fruit.
00:32:43.63\00:32:45.36
For apart from Me,
00:32:45.46\00:32:46.76
you can do nothing.'"
00:32:46.86\00:32:47.76
Then verse 16.
00:32:47.86\00:32:49.16
"'You did not choose me,
00:32:49.26\00:32:50.60
but I chose you and I appointed
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.63
you to go and bear fruit --
00:32:52.73\00:32:55.04
fruit that will last.'"
00:32:55.14\00:32:58.41
Let's just be
00:32:58.51\00:32:59.01
crystal-clear here.
00:32:59.11\00:32:59.51
And, again,
00:32:59.61\00:33:00.24
these are not my words.
00:33:00.34\00:33:01.18
These are Jesus' words.
00:33:01.28\00:33:02.64
Productivity,
00:33:02.74\00:33:04.45
fruitfulness is, indeed,
00:33:04.55\00:33:05.88
a key sign
00:33:05.98\00:33:07.92
of a true disciple of Jesus.
00:33:08.02\00:33:11.09
If there is only a little fruit,
00:33:11.19\00:33:13.36
well, the disciple might be ill
00:33:13.46\00:33:14.69
and in need of merciful aid.
00:33:14.79\00:33:17.19
If there is no fruit,
00:33:17.29\00:33:18.83
then the disciple is
00:33:18.93\00:33:20.06
either deathly ill, spiritually,
00:33:20.16\00:33:21.60
or else not a disciple.
00:33:21.70\00:33:24.83
And what is
00:33:24.93\00:33:25.50
the fruit of a disciple?
00:33:25.60\00:33:26.90
Well, there's at least two
00:33:27.00\00:33:27.64
that the Bible talks about.
00:33:27.74\00:33:29.30
The fruit of the disciple,
00:33:29.40\00:33:29.97
first of all,
00:33:30.07\00:33:30.71
is the fruits of the Spirit.
00:33:30.81\00:33:31.47
You're probably
00:33:31.57\00:33:32.07
familiar with this.
00:33:32.17\00:33:33.17
Galatians 5:22-23.
00:33:33.27\00:33:36.81
"But the fruit of the spirit
00:33:36.91\00:33:38.78
is --'" And then look at this
00:33:38.88\00:33:39.61
list.
00:33:39.71\00:33:40.28
Man, this is incredible.
00:33:40.38\00:33:41.65
"Love, joy, peace, patience,
00:33:41.75\00:33:45.49
kindness, goodness,
00:33:45.59\00:33:47.36
faithfulness, gentleness,
00:33:47.46\00:33:48.86
and self-control."
00:33:48.96\00:33:51.23
You know, if you grew up
00:33:51.33\00:33:51.89
in the Adventist Church
00:33:51.99\00:33:52.79
and you went to Sabbath School,
00:33:52.89\00:33:53.90
I can guarantee you there's
00:33:54.00\00:33:54.93
a time when you drew fruit
00:33:55.00\00:33:56.23
and you put those words on them,
00:33:56.33\00:33:57.20
didn't you?
00:33:57.30\00:33:58.27
Right? Okay?
00:33:58.37\00:33:59.47
Because we want
00:33:59.57\00:34:00.27
our children --
00:34:00.37\00:34:01.14
We want all of it, right?
00:34:01.24\00:34:02.54
Wouldn't
00:34:02.64\00:34:03.27
you like to live next door
00:34:03.37\00:34:04.61
to somebody who's like that?
00:34:04.71\00:34:06.94
Wouldn't that be awesome, okay?
00:34:07.04\00:34:08.38
Wouldn't you like to work
00:34:08.48\00:34:09.58
with people that are all
00:34:09.68\00:34:10.65
about love and joy and peace
00:34:10.75\00:34:11.65
and patience and kind--
00:34:11.75\00:34:12.45
Wouldn't that be awesome?
00:34:12.55\00:34:13.65
Can you imagine
00:34:13.75\00:34:14.95
how different the world would be
00:34:15.05\00:34:16.69
if all of God's children
00:34:16.79\00:34:17.95
were big into this?
00:34:18.05\00:34:20.32
Would it change the news cycle?
00:34:20.42\00:34:22.82
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:34:22.92\00:34:24.33
What a difference it would make.
00:34:24.43\00:34:28.83
There's a second fruit
00:34:28.93\00:34:30.90
of a disciple,
00:34:31.00\00:34:32.03
and that's another
00:34:32.13\00:34:33.34
reproducing disciple.
00:34:33.44\00:34:37.37
This one's pretty clear.
00:34:37.47\00:34:38.57
You say,
00:34:38.67\00:34:39.24
"Well, how do you know?"
00:34:39.34\00:34:40.08
Let's go back
00:34:40.18\00:34:40.78
to the Great Commission.
00:34:40.88\00:34:41.88
Matthew 28:18-20.
00:34:41.98\00:34:43.78
"Then Jesus came to them
00:34:43.88\00:34:44.35
and said,
00:34:44.45\00:34:45.08
'All authority in heaven and
00:34:45.18\00:34:46.01
earth has been given to me.
00:34:46.11\00:34:47.38
Therefore, go and make disciples
00:34:47.48\00:34:48.58
of all nations,
00:34:48.68\00:34:49.42
baptizing them in the name
00:34:49.52\00:34:50.49
of the Father and of the Son
00:34:50.59\00:34:51.55
and of the Holy Spirit,
00:34:51.65\00:34:52.92
and teaching them to obey --'"
00:34:53.02\00:34:54.02
there's that word again --
00:34:54.12\00:34:55.06
"'everything I have commanded
00:34:55.16\00:34:56.46
you...'"
00:34:56.56\00:34:57.26
Including this command
00:34:57.36\00:34:59.09
to make more disciples.
00:34:59.19\00:35:02.23
So if somebody has Jesus
00:35:02.33\00:35:03.80
in their heart
00:35:03.90\00:35:04.43
and Jesus is allowed
00:35:04.53\00:35:05.37
to work in them
00:35:05.47\00:35:06.10
as He wishes to,
00:35:06.20\00:35:07.77
this is going to come back.
00:35:07.87\00:35:09.24
There's this command
00:35:09.34\00:35:10.01
to make disciples.
00:35:10.11\00:35:10.84
So one disciple
00:35:10.94\00:35:12.31
is actively engaged
00:35:12.41\00:35:13.44
in making another disciple.
00:35:13.54\00:35:15.14
And they look at this command
00:35:15.24\00:35:16.01
and say, "Well, I want to obey
00:35:16.11\00:35:16.41
that.
00:35:16.51\00:35:17.08
Jesus is in my heart.
00:35:17.18\00:35:17.75
I want to obey this."
00:35:17.85\00:35:18.81
They make another disciple,
00:35:18.91\00:35:19.98
who makes another disciple.
00:35:20.08\00:35:21.05
Et cetera, et cetera,
00:35:21.15\00:35:21.85
et cetera, et cetera.
00:35:21.95\00:35:23.35
And note the key point.
00:35:23.45\00:35:25.55
This fruitfulness,
00:35:25.65\00:35:27.96
fruits of the spirit
00:35:28.06\00:35:28.82
and another disciple making
00:35:28.92\00:35:29.89
a disciple, is one
00:35:29.99\00:35:31.36
of the specific signs
00:35:31.46\00:35:33.16
that Jesus says indicate
00:35:33.26\00:35:35.03
we are His disciples.
00:35:35.13\00:35:37.03
John 15:8.
00:35:37.13\00:35:39.30
"'This is to My Father's glory,
00:35:39.40\00:35:41.27
that you bear much fruit --'"
00:35:41.37\00:35:42.84
What's the next word there?
00:35:42.94\00:35:44.31
"Proving."
00:35:44.41\00:35:45.57
Showing it to be true.
00:35:45.67\00:35:46.74
"'Proving yourselves
00:35:46.84\00:35:47.91
to be My disciples.'"
00:35:48.01\00:35:50.55
Ladies and gentlemen...
00:35:54.42\00:35:57.82
the facts of being with Jesus
00:35:57.92\00:35:59.65
as His disciple are these.
00:35:59.75\00:36:04.03
We are not genuine,
00:36:04.13\00:36:05.49
mature disciples of Christ
00:36:05.59\00:36:07.13
unless we are actively seeking
00:36:07.23\00:36:08.53
to grow in the fruits
00:36:08.63\00:36:09.76
of the spirit and to make
00:36:09.86\00:36:11.13
more disciples for Him.
00:36:11.23\00:36:14.24
That's just -- Again,
00:36:14.34\00:36:15.40
these are not my words.
00:36:15.50\00:36:16.10
These are Jesus' words,
00:36:16.20\00:36:17.54
because He knows
00:36:17.64\00:36:18.44
how important this is.
00:36:18.54\00:36:19.57
Again, fruitfulness isn't
00:36:19.67\00:36:21.21
going to earn your way
00:36:21.31\00:36:22.14
into the kingdom.
00:36:22.24\00:36:23.35
Jesus loves you
00:36:23.45\00:36:24.41
whether you're fruitful or not.
00:36:24.51\00:36:26.28
You cannot earn your way
00:36:26.38\00:36:27.48
by your good works
00:36:27.58\00:36:28.45
or your fruitfulness.
00:36:28.55\00:36:29.42
No, that's not how this works.
00:36:29.52\00:36:30.79
But if Jesus lives inside of
00:36:30.89\00:36:32.49
you, there will be fruitfulness.
00:36:32.59\00:36:35.02
It's the evidence.
00:36:35.12\00:36:36.02
It's not what makes you saved.
00:36:36.12\00:36:37.46
It is the evidence
00:36:37.56\00:36:38.29
that you have been.
00:36:38.39\00:36:40.10
And so Jesus,
00:36:40.20\00:36:40.96
when He says, "I am the vine,
00:36:41.06\00:36:42.23
and you are the branches.
00:36:42.33\00:36:43.47
Stay in me, and we're going to
00:36:43.57\00:36:45.13
be fruitful together.
00:36:45.23\00:36:46.53
We're going to be fruitful.
00:36:46.63\00:36:48.00
Work with me."
00:36:48.10\00:36:48.74
Remember, God --
00:36:48.84\00:36:49.37
he says co-laborers,
00:36:49.47\00:36:50.11
co-builders.
00:36:50.21\00:36:51.04
Work with Je--
00:36:51.14\00:36:51.67
Jesus is inside of us.
00:36:51.77\00:36:52.97
He simply asks for our
00:36:53.07\00:36:54.21
cooperation.
00:36:54.31\00:36:55.61
Sometimes, all He needs
00:36:55.71\00:36:56.41
is our permission,
00:36:56.51\00:36:57.51
and great things can happen,
00:36:57.61\00:36:59.51
including fruitfulness for Him.
00:36:59.61\00:37:03.75
You know, part of the good news
00:37:03.85\00:37:04.62
is also that all of Christ's
00:37:04.72\00:37:06.55
callings are His enablings.
00:37:06.65\00:37:08.96
Some of you right now
00:37:09.06\00:37:09.92
have never won
00:37:10.03\00:37:11.89
somebody to Jesus.
00:37:11.99\00:37:13.03
You've been a Christian maybe
00:37:13.13\00:37:13.86
for a while, but you've
00:37:13.96\00:37:14.83
never had the privilege
00:37:14.93\00:37:15.73
of leading someone to Christ.
00:37:15.83\00:37:17.90
I just want you to know,
00:37:18.00\00:37:18.77
do not be discouraged.
00:37:18.87\00:37:20.37
Do not be discouraged.
00:37:20.47\00:37:21.64
Jesus never asks us to do
00:37:21.74\00:37:23.20
something that, by His grace
00:37:23.30\00:37:24.34
and power, we can't do.
00:37:24.44\00:37:26.41
I mean, He has foreseen this.
00:37:26.51\00:37:28.14
He puts you together just
00:37:28.24\00:37:30.01
like -- with your giftedness,
00:37:30.11\00:37:32.41
with the sets and the passions
00:37:32.51\00:37:33.82
that he's put in your heart.
00:37:33.92\00:37:35.15
He knows how to use those
00:37:35.25\00:37:36.69
by the power of His Holy Spirit
00:37:36.79\00:37:38.09
to reach somebody for Jesus.
00:37:38.19\00:37:39.85
Even you. Even you.
00:37:39.95\00:37:43.36
So I just want to invite you
00:37:43.46\00:37:44.19
to join this part of
00:37:44.29\00:37:45.06
the discipleship adventure.
00:37:45.16\00:37:46.76
This is where so much of
00:37:46.86\00:37:47.56
the excitement takes place.
00:37:47.66\00:37:48.26
I mean,
00:37:48.36\00:37:49.16
trying to help make disciples
00:37:49.26\00:37:50.30
for Jesus is spiritual bungee
00:37:50.40\00:37:51.80
jumping at its best.
00:37:51.90\00:37:53.80
This is good stuff.
00:37:53.90\00:37:55.24
So, find out.
00:37:55.34\00:37:56.84
Find out what it takes for you,
00:37:56.94\00:37:58.67
in the armor
00:37:58.77\00:37:59.54
that God has given you,
00:37:59.64\00:38:00.94
the gifts that God has given
00:38:01.04\00:38:02.24
you, to make other disciples.
00:38:02.34\00:38:04.58
And I'll give you a little tip.
00:38:04.68\00:38:05.41
In the not-too-distant future,
00:38:05.51\00:38:06.25
we're going to do
00:38:06.35\00:38:06.85
some training here.
00:38:06.95\00:38:08.25
If you feel like, "Well,
00:38:08.35\00:38:09.28
I don't know how to share my
00:38:09.38\00:38:09.65
faith.
00:38:09.75\00:38:10.42
I don't know how to be a part
00:38:10.52\00:38:11.19
of this disciple-making
00:38:11.29\00:38:11.95
process."
00:38:12.05\00:38:13.02
We're going to help you out.
00:38:13.12\00:38:14.02
You don't have to wait for us.
00:38:14.12\00:38:14.92
You know, if you're ready to go,
00:38:15.02\00:38:15.86
go.
00:38:15.96\00:38:16.93
And we're going to offer
00:38:17.03\00:38:17.73
some help here in the
00:38:17.83\00:38:18.69
not-too-distant future, because
00:38:18.79\00:38:20.23
a genuine, mature disciple
00:38:20.33\00:38:21.90
of Jesus is fruitful.
00:38:22.00\00:38:24.27
Number 5...
00:38:26.74\00:38:28.04
Now, again,
00:38:41.75\00:38:42.38
Jesus is clear about this.
00:38:42.48\00:38:43.89
Matthew 20, second part
00:38:43.99\00:38:45.09
of verse 26 through 28.
00:38:45.19\00:38:46.42
He says, "...whoever wants to
00:38:46.52\00:38:47.56
become great among you must be
00:38:47.66\00:38:49.89
your servant, and whoever wants
00:38:49.99\00:38:51.99
to be first among you must be
00:38:52.09\00:38:53.03
your slave --
00:38:53.13\00:38:54.20
just as the Son of Man
00:38:54.30\00:38:55.23
did not come to be served,
00:38:55.33\00:38:57.13
but to serve, and to give
00:38:57.23\00:38:58.63
His life as a ransom for many."
00:38:58.73\00:39:02.00
Jesus talks about this
00:39:02.10\00:39:02.97
in a number of other places.
00:39:03.07\00:39:04.84
Luke 9:23-24.
00:39:04.94\00:39:07.31
"Then Jesus said to all of them,
00:39:07.41\00:39:08.74
'If anyone wants to come
00:39:08.84\00:39:09.84
after me, they must deny
00:39:09.94\00:39:11.58
themselves and take up their
00:39:11.68\00:39:13.25
cross daily and follow Me.
00:39:13.35\00:39:15.75
For whoever wants to save
00:39:15.85\00:39:16.72
their life will lose it,
00:39:16.82\00:39:17.59
but whoever loses their life
00:39:17.69\00:39:18.82
for My sake will save it.'"
00:39:18.92\00:39:20.99
And lastly here, Luke 14:27.
00:39:21.09\00:39:24.06
"'And whoever does not carry
00:39:24.16\00:39:25.19
their cross and follow me
00:39:25.29\00:39:26.96
cannot be my disciple.'"
00:39:27.03\00:39:29.36
You know, the cross of Christ
00:39:31.57\00:39:33.10
is a very familiar symbol
00:39:33.20\00:39:35.07
for Christians all over
00:39:35.17\00:39:36.27
the world, obviously.
00:39:36.37\00:39:38.37
And sometimes, I can't help
00:39:38.47\00:39:39.34
but wonder if the familiarity
00:39:39.44\00:39:40.81
breeds apathy.
00:39:40.91\00:39:42.94
You know, not so much here,
00:39:43.04\00:39:44.41
perhaps, in our faith circle,
00:39:44.51\00:39:46.11
but many Christians all over
00:39:46.21\00:39:47.32
the world, you know,
00:39:47.42\00:39:48.12
Christians on necklaces,
00:39:48.22\00:39:49.65
Christians on, you know,
00:39:49.75\00:39:50.52
lapel pins, this kind of
00:39:50.62\00:39:51.65
a thing, bumper stickers,
00:39:51.75\00:39:53.12
on churches and whatnot.
00:39:53.22\00:39:54.69
You know, we're familiar
00:39:54.79\00:39:55.59
with the cross,
00:39:55.69\00:39:56.56
but do we recall that the cross
00:39:56.66\00:39:59.76
was an object of shame?
00:39:59.86\00:40:02.40
Do we recall that to take
00:40:02.50\00:40:03.93
up your cross meant that
00:40:04.03\00:40:05.30
you were about to participate
00:40:05.40\00:40:06.33
with an instrument
00:40:06.43\00:40:07.17
of torture and death?
00:40:07.27\00:40:09.24
Jesus was not asking for
00:40:09.34\00:40:10.97
half-baked disciples.
00:40:11.07\00:40:12.34
Remember, Jesus only asks us
00:40:12.44\00:40:13.71
for one thing,
00:40:13.81\00:40:14.84
and that one thing is
00:40:14.94\00:40:15.81
everything we've got.
00:40:15.91\00:40:17.61
That's it.
00:40:17.71\00:40:18.28
That's all He asked for.
00:40:18.38\00:40:21.45
And so this is quite
00:40:21.55\00:40:22.32
serious when Jesus says
00:40:22.42\00:40:23.28
to take up your cross.
00:40:23.39\00:40:24.39
And many times,
00:40:24.49\00:40:25.52
when Christians read verses
00:40:25.62\00:40:26.86
like this one, at first,
00:40:26.96\00:40:28.66
an appropriate kind of dialogue
00:40:28.76\00:40:29.96
in their brain goes off,
00:40:30.06\00:40:30.73
I think.
00:40:30.83\00:40:31.56
They're like, "Oh."
00:40:31.66\00:40:32.36
You know, and they'll ponder
00:40:32.46\00:40:33.60
this potential sacrifice.
00:40:33.70\00:40:35.00
You know, they think about the
00:40:35.10\00:40:36.03
martyrs that took place.
00:40:36.13\00:40:36.80
You know, Jan Hus
00:40:36.90\00:40:37.47
burned at the stake,
00:40:37.57\00:40:38.27
these kinds of things,
00:40:38.37\00:40:39.60
you know, dying for their faith.
00:40:39.70\00:40:41.04
You know, here's the truth
00:40:41.14\00:40:42.10
as best I understand it.
00:40:42.20\00:40:44.97
There will be some of you
00:40:45.07\00:40:46.07
probably listening
00:40:46.17\00:40:48.74
that will have the privilege
00:40:48.84\00:40:49.71
of giving your life physically
00:40:49.81\00:40:50.85
for Jesus Christ.
00:40:50.95\00:40:53.15
I don't say that lightly.
00:40:53.25\00:40:55.45
Some of you
00:40:55.55\00:40:56.15
will be martyrs for the cause.
00:40:56.25\00:41:00.62
But here's
00:41:00.72\00:41:01.39
the next part of the truth.
00:41:01.49\00:41:03.63
Probably not many of you.
00:41:03.73\00:41:06.39
And when people realize this,
00:41:06.49\00:41:08.60
Christians will say, "Phew!"
00:41:08.70\00:41:12.50
"Still in the land
00:41:12.60\00:41:13.30
of the free, home of the brave.
00:41:13.40\00:41:14.04
Nobody beating
00:41:14.14\00:41:14.70
down my door right now.
00:41:14.80\00:41:15.40
Life's okay."
00:41:15.50\00:41:16.30
And on they move from this text,
00:41:16.40\00:41:17.91
completely missing,
00:41:18.01\00:41:19.44
almost excusing themselves --
00:41:19.54\00:41:20.54
"Well, because
00:41:20.64\00:41:21.34
I don't have to be a martyr" --
00:41:21.44\00:41:23.81
the much wider application
00:41:23.91\00:41:25.35
of this principle of sacrifice.
00:41:25.45\00:41:27.58
Because even
00:41:27.68\00:41:28.32
if you don't give your life
00:41:28.42\00:41:29.28
physically, we are called
00:41:29.38\00:41:30.49
to be living sacrifices
00:41:30.59\00:41:32.29
for Jesus Christ.
00:41:32.39\00:41:33.39
And in what way?
00:41:33.49\00:41:34.62
Well, let me just put
00:41:34.72\00:41:35.22
something up here.
00:41:35.32\00:41:36.09
"Desire of Ages," page 504.
00:41:36.19\00:41:37.93
She says...
00:41:38.03\00:41:39.26
Oh, wow. Interesting.
00:41:52.57\00:41:54.38
She says this.
00:41:54.48\00:41:55.41
"Unless there is
00:41:55.51\00:41:56.68
practical self-sacrifice --"
00:41:56.78\00:41:58.88
There's that word again --
00:41:58.98\00:41:59.45
"sacrifice."
00:41:59.55\00:42:00.52
"Unless there is practical
00:42:00.62\00:42:01.98
self-sacrifice for the good
00:42:02.08\00:42:03.62
of others, in the family circle,
00:42:03.72\00:42:05.59
in the neighborhood,
00:42:05.69\00:42:06.45
in the church,
00:42:06.55\00:42:07.26
and wherever we may be,
00:42:07.36\00:42:09.02
then whatever our profession,
00:42:09.12\00:42:10.79
we are not Christians."
00:42:10.89\00:42:13.29
Wouldn't it be awesome
00:42:17.60\00:42:19.13
if every Adventist,
00:42:19.23\00:42:20.90
every Christian all over
00:42:21.00\00:42:22.17
the world were known for their
00:42:22.27\00:42:24.04
self-sacrificing
00:42:24.14\00:42:25.87
care for those around them?
00:42:25.97\00:42:27.74
Wouldn't it be great
00:42:27.84\00:42:28.51
if we were known for --
00:42:28.61\00:42:29.51
"Oh, there's
00:42:29.61\00:42:30.25
the Seventh Day Adventists.
00:42:30.35\00:42:31.28
They're the ones that clothe
00:42:31.38\00:42:32.48
the naked and feed the hungry
00:42:32.58\00:42:34.25
and counsel the confused
00:42:34.35\00:42:35.45
and lift up the downtrodden.
00:42:35.55\00:42:36.75
That's those people."
00:42:36.85\00:42:37.92
Wouldn't it be great
00:42:38.02\00:42:39.12
if when somebody moved in
00:42:39.22\00:42:40.36
next door to a Seventh Day
00:42:40.46\00:42:41.62
Adventist Christian, they said,
00:42:41.72\00:42:42.66
"Ah, phew, I'm so glad,
00:42:42.76\00:42:45.33
because they're so kind
00:42:45.43\00:42:46.36
and they're so loving and
00:42:46.46\00:42:47.30
they're reaching out to people.
00:42:47.40\00:42:48.46
I'm glad to be able to live with
00:42:48.56\00:42:49.73
that kind of person."
00:42:49.83\00:42:50.97
Wouldn't you like
00:42:51.07\00:42:51.93
to be that kind of person?
00:42:52.03\00:42:55.50
Because is this
00:42:55.60\00:42:56.34
not what Jesus modeled
00:42:56.44\00:42:57.91
probably every day of his life?
00:42:58.01\00:43:01.01
This self-sacrificing
00:43:01.11\00:43:02.64
for the good of others.
00:43:02.74\00:43:05.65
And sometimes, that
00:43:05.75\00:43:06.58
will call for some suffering.
00:43:06.68\00:43:08.52
There's no doubt about it.
00:43:08.62\00:43:10.89
But this is our calling.
00:43:10.99\00:43:12.75
Jesus has asked us
00:43:12.85\00:43:14.72
to do this sacrifice,
00:43:14.82\00:43:16.29
this living sacrifice
00:43:16.39\00:43:17.56
for others.
00:43:17.66\00:43:21.36
And now we get to
00:43:21.46\00:43:22.36
the irony of it all.
00:43:22.46\00:43:24.90
It's the sixth
00:43:25.00\00:43:25.90
characteristic of a disciple.
00:43:26.00\00:43:28.97
You might think that with all
00:43:29.07\00:43:30.17
of this sacrificing and service
00:43:30.27\00:43:32.47
and stooping to help others,
00:43:32.57\00:43:34.64
that life would be awful.
00:43:34.74\00:43:36.01
Well, characteristic number 6.
00:43:36.11\00:43:37.21
This is the upside-down kingdom,
00:43:42.18\00:43:43.02
is it not?
00:43:43.12\00:43:44.65
And Jesus is
00:43:44.75\00:43:45.45
quite clear about this.
00:43:45.55\00:43:46.35
Look at this. John 14:27.
00:43:46.45\00:43:47.82
He says...
00:43:47.92\00:43:49.26
This is supernatural peace.
00:44:01.44\00:44:02.57
It doesn't make any sense.
00:44:02.67\00:44:03.61
In fact, the Bible refers to it
00:44:03.71\00:44:04.87
as the peace
00:44:04.97\00:44:05.57
that passes all understanding.
00:44:05.67\00:44:07.28
It doesn't make any sense
00:44:07.38\00:44:08.14
by the world's standard.
00:44:08.24\00:44:09.08
And, yet, Christians,
00:44:09.18\00:44:09.88
even in the darkest times,
00:44:09.98\00:44:11.01
in the darkest places,
00:44:11.11\00:44:11.98
at the darkest hours,
00:44:12.08\00:44:13.28
can still have the peace and joy
00:44:13.38\00:44:14.85
of Christ within them.
00:44:14.95\00:44:16.79
You know, the Bible records some
00:44:16.89\00:44:17.79
of these instances.
00:44:17.89\00:44:18.59
You may recall, in Part 1, we
00:44:18.69\00:44:19.62
talked about Acts 5.
00:44:19.72\00:44:20.89
The disciples are called
00:44:20.99\00:44:21.79
before the Sanhedrin
00:44:21.89\00:44:23.46
to account for preaching
00:44:23.56\00:44:24.26
about Jesus Christ,
00:44:24.36\00:44:25.49
and they want to kill them,
00:44:25.59\00:44:26.23
but Gamaliel stands
00:44:26.33\00:44:27.23
and gives a speech
00:44:27.30\00:44:27.96
and convinces them not to.
00:44:28.03\00:44:29.33
Acts 5:40-42.
00:44:29.43\00:44:30.87
"At this,
00:44:30.97\00:44:31.67
they yielded to Gamaliel.
00:44:31.77\00:44:33.20
They called the apostles in
00:44:33.30\00:44:34.40
and had them flogged."
00:44:34.50\00:44:35.44
That's severely beaten.
00:44:35.54\00:44:37.04
"Then they ordered them
00:44:37.14\00:44:38.04
not to speak in the name
00:44:38.14\00:44:39.11
of Jesus and released them.
00:44:39.21\00:44:41.01
The apostles left the Sanhedrin,
00:44:41.11\00:44:43.28
rejoicing that they had been
00:44:43.38\00:44:45.01
counted worthy of suffering
00:44:45.11\00:44:46.31
disgrace for the Name.
00:44:46.41\00:44:47.92
Every day in the temple courts
00:44:48.02\00:44:49.45
and from house to house,
00:44:49.55\00:44:50.45
they did not stop teaching
00:44:50.55\00:44:52.02
and proclaiming the good news
00:44:52.12\00:44:53.66
that Jesus is the Christ."
00:44:53.76\00:44:58.46
Who would have thunk it?
00:44:58.56\00:45:00.96
It turns out
00:45:01.06\00:45:02.73
that total commitment
00:45:02.83\00:45:04.17
to Jesus Christ --
00:45:04.27\00:45:05.17
the commitment
00:45:05.27\00:45:05.97
to serve and to suffer and,
00:45:06.07\00:45:07.27
if need be, to die for Him --
00:45:07.37\00:45:09.37
turns out to be the only path
00:45:09.47\00:45:11.37
to lasting
00:45:11.47\00:45:12.47
and true joy and peace.
00:45:12.57\00:45:15.04
We live in a world
00:45:20.48\00:45:23.05
which is so often chaotic
00:45:23.15\00:45:25.05
and painful and dark.
00:45:25.15\00:45:29.02
But when the master
00:45:29.12\00:45:29.69
of the universe,
00:45:29.79\00:45:31.46
the creator of all,
00:45:31.56\00:45:33.70
our Lord and Savior
00:45:33.80\00:45:34.60
Jesus Christ, is on your side,
00:45:34.73\00:45:37.63
really, what else
00:45:37.73\00:45:39.83
is there to worry about?
00:45:39.93\00:45:42.94
>> Amen!
00:45:43.04\00:45:46.17
>> Number 7...
00:45:46.27\00:45:47.78
My reference for this
00:46:00.92\00:46:01.96
is the New Testament, okay?
00:46:02.06\00:46:03.66
You can just read that and
00:46:03.76\00:46:04.56
you'll see that this is true,
00:46:04.66\00:46:05.23
okay?
00:46:05.33\00:46:06.33
Now, we need to be
00:46:06.43\00:46:06.96
real clear about this.
00:46:07.03\00:46:08.33
This power and authority
00:46:08.43\00:46:09.36
is 100% derived.
00:46:09.46\00:46:10.80
Humans have none
00:46:10.90\00:46:11.73
of this on their own.
00:46:11.83\00:46:12.50
Zero. Okay?
00:46:12.60\00:46:14.90
It is instead, number 2,
00:46:15.00\00:46:15.94
the power of
00:46:16.04\00:46:16.84
the indwelling spirit,
00:46:16.94\00:46:18.27
the spirit living in people
00:46:18.37\00:46:19.81
such that they are under
00:46:19.91\00:46:20.58
His influence,
00:46:20.68\00:46:21.81
His direction, His power,
00:46:21.91\00:46:23.38
and because of this,
00:46:23.48\00:46:24.58
when such Christians do
00:46:24.68\00:46:25.68
something for God,
00:46:25.78\00:46:26.72
it produces fruit,
00:46:26.82\00:46:28.95
because they have
00:46:29.05\00:46:29.52
spiritual power
00:46:29.62\00:46:30.59
and spiritual authority.
00:46:30.69\00:46:32.19
Now, here's the thing.
00:46:32.29\00:46:32.85
Some of you
00:46:32.95\00:46:33.56
know people like this.
00:46:33.66\00:46:35.29
Some of you
00:46:35.39\00:46:35.96
know people like this.
00:46:36.06\00:46:37.06
They are humble. They are meek.
00:46:37.16\00:46:37.96
They understand
00:46:38.06\00:46:38.59
that they are a vessel
00:46:38.69\00:46:40.23
that God has filled.
00:46:40.33\00:46:41.50
But they have spiritual
00:46:41.60\00:46:42.46
power and authority,
00:46:42.56\00:46:43.73
and when God moves through them,
00:46:43.83\00:46:45.13
fruitful things happen.
00:46:45.23\00:46:47.50
Let me just tell you something.
00:46:47.60\00:46:48.44
When the majority
00:46:48.54\00:46:50.24
of God's people
00:46:50.34\00:46:52.14
are this kind of disciple,
00:46:52.24\00:46:54.58
when the majority of God's
00:46:54.68\00:46:55.61
people are people
00:46:55.71\00:46:56.41
that have spiritual power
00:46:56.51\00:46:57.51
and authority,
00:46:57.61\00:46:59.15
then the world will be turned
00:46:59.25\00:47:00.58
upside down one last time,
00:47:00.68\00:47:02.45
the gospel work will be
00:47:02.55\00:47:03.85
finished, and we will go home.
00:47:03.95\00:47:06.49
I crave
00:47:06.59\00:47:07.32
to be this kind of person, and
00:47:07.42\00:47:08.29
I hope that you do, too.
00:47:08.39\00:47:09.36
Not for our glory, God forbid,
00:47:09.46\00:47:11.73
but for His and for the harvest.
00:47:11.83\00:47:13.66
>> Amen.
00:47:13.76\00:47:15.00
>> Number 8, lastly...
00:47:15.10\00:47:17.17
You're familiar with the text
00:47:26.51\00:47:27.41
if you've been around
00:47:27.51\00:47:28.01
Christian circles
00:47:28.11\00:47:28.71
for any length of time.
00:47:28.81\00:47:29.41
1 Corinthians 10:31.
00:47:29.51\00:47:31.08
For this type of disciple,
00:47:36.45\00:47:38.05
there is one test for all
00:47:38.15\00:47:39.79
that they think and say and do.
00:47:39.89\00:47:42.12
"Will what I'm about
00:47:42.22\00:47:43.02
to think or say or do bring
00:47:43.12\00:47:45.06
glory to God or not?"
00:47:45.16\00:47:48.50
They live their lives that way
00:47:48.60\00:47:50.80
because Jesus lives
00:47:50.90\00:47:51.73
in their heart and He has
00:47:51.83\00:47:53.84
full sway in their lives.
00:47:53.94\00:47:56.81
Let's sum it up.
00:47:56.91\00:47:58.61
Can you see that
00:48:26.23\00:48:27.20
maybe, just maybe,
00:48:27.30\00:48:29.30
the personal appreciation
00:48:29.40\00:48:30.71
for the journey
00:48:30.81\00:48:31.44
that Christ is longing
00:48:31.54\00:48:32.61
to take us on has dropped
00:48:32.71\00:48:33.94
since that 1st century church?
00:48:34.04\00:48:36.54
Maybe we've kind of lost
00:48:36.64\00:48:37.55
the understanding and
00:48:37.65\00:48:38.38
appreciation of this?
00:48:38.48\00:48:40.92
And just might a return to this
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.12
be a major part
00:48:43.22\00:48:44.42
of the restoration of God's
00:48:44.52\00:48:45.85
final work on this planet?
00:48:45.95\00:48:48.66
And further notice this.
00:48:48.76\00:48:50.69
In other words...
00:49:07.18\00:49:08.51
And this is why the elders covet
00:49:15.98\00:49:18.69
your prayers right now,
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.56
because we are in this process
00:49:20.66\00:49:21.76
of strategic planning,
00:49:21.86\00:49:22.79
of seeking to help make
00:49:22.89\00:49:23.79
the great things
00:49:23.89\00:49:25.06
that are already happening
00:49:25.16\00:49:25.93
here even better and
00:49:26.03\00:49:27.00
more efficient for the Kingdom.
00:49:27.10\00:49:28.53
This is why we are going through
00:49:28.63\00:49:30.33
this process,
00:49:30.43\00:49:31.63
because converts are born,
00:49:31.73\00:49:33.20
but disciples must be made.
00:49:33.30\00:49:35.57
They must be made.
00:49:35.67\00:49:39.47
And as you lift up our elders
00:49:39.57\00:49:40.51
in prayer, I would invite
00:49:40.61\00:49:41.78
you to consider
00:49:41.88\00:49:43.31
a gentle question or two.
00:49:43.41\00:49:45.58
When you look at
00:49:45.68\00:49:46.88
this description here
00:49:46.98\00:49:47.88
of a genuine, mature disciple,
00:49:47.98\00:49:49.55
where are you in this?
00:49:49.65\00:49:54.09
Maybe this is -- You're doing
00:49:54.19\00:49:55.16
this.
00:49:55.26\00:49:56.02
You're living with Jesus
00:49:56.12\00:49:56.56
each day.
00:49:56.66\00:49:57.19
You're moving forward.
00:49:57.29\00:49:58.09
Praise the Lord.
00:49:58.19\00:49:58.63
Let me just pour
00:49:58.73\00:49:59.26
gas on your fire.
00:49:59.36\00:50:00.20
Keep going, keep going.
00:50:00.30\00:50:02.36
Maybe you're far from this.
00:50:02.46\00:50:03.90
You know, maybe this isn't part
00:50:04.00\00:50:05.27
of your life at all,
00:50:05.37\00:50:06.13
but you see that it could be.
00:50:06.23\00:50:07.47
Maybe you're
00:50:07.57\00:50:08.10
somewhere in between.
00:50:08.20\00:50:08.90
Whatever the case,
00:50:09.00\00:50:11.27
whatever the case,
00:50:11.37\00:50:12.07
may I gently challenge you
00:50:12.17\00:50:14.11
to come to Jesus?
00:50:14.21\00:50:15.08
Don't let another day go by.
00:50:15.18\00:50:16.71
Make today your day.
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.41
Commit or recommit
00:50:18.51\00:50:19.51
yourself to Jesus Christ.
00:50:19.61\00:50:20.98
Commit yourself to becoming,
00:50:21.08\00:50:22.88
by His grace, the best disciple
00:50:22.98\00:50:24.92
of Jesus Christ
00:50:25.02\00:50:26.05
that you can possibly be.
00:50:26.15\00:50:28.16
You know, whatever sacrifice
00:50:28.26\00:50:29.02
that requires,
00:50:29.12\00:50:30.23
whether it be our physical lives
00:50:30.33\00:50:34.10
or just whatever your version
00:50:34.20\00:50:35.10
of a rock garden is,
00:50:35.20\00:50:37.53
whatever sacrifice it is
00:50:37.63\00:50:39.50
God calls you to make,
00:50:39.60\00:50:40.74
you will be glad you made it.
00:50:40.84\00:50:42.24
No one but no one,
00:50:42.34\00:50:43.77
when they're standing around
00:50:43.87\00:50:44.77
the sea of glass
00:50:44.87\00:50:45.51
or the tree of life
00:50:45.61\00:50:46.51
in heaven is going to say, "Boy,
00:50:46.61\00:50:47.41
I sure wish I hadn't made
00:50:47.51\00:50:48.28
that sacrifice for Jesus."
00:50:48.38\00:50:49.78
Nobody's going to do that.
00:50:49.88\00:50:51.15
Everybody is going to be
00:50:51.25\00:50:52.11
so thrilled that they were
00:50:52.21\00:50:53.11
there, because heaven is
00:50:53.21\00:50:54.42
cheap enough, after all.
00:50:54.52\00:50:57.49
And if we make this kind of
00:50:57.59\00:50:58.65
sacrifice to become the best
00:50:58.75\00:51:00.19
disciples that we can be,
00:51:00.29\00:51:01.22
we will also have
00:51:01.32\00:51:02.46
the great benefit
00:51:02.56\00:51:03.53
of avoiding becoming yet
00:51:03.63\00:51:05.26
another Christian congregation
00:51:05.36\00:51:07.03
who commits the great omission.
00:51:07.13\00:51:09.80
The great omission
00:51:09.90\00:51:11.60
of making converts, yes,
00:51:11.70\00:51:13.10
but of omitting to then continue
00:51:13.20\00:51:14.84
and also make actual, genuine,
00:51:14.94\00:51:16.84
mature disciples of Christ.
00:51:16.94\00:51:21.04
May this be a place --
00:51:21.14\00:51:22.78
may it always be a place
00:51:22.88\00:51:24.98
where Jesus-loving
00:51:25.08\00:51:26.68
Jesus-following, Jesus-honoring
00:51:26.78\00:51:28.45
disciples are made,
00:51:28.55\00:51:30.62
that as many as possible
00:51:30.72\00:51:32.59
might come to know Christ
00:51:32.69\00:51:34.36
before He returns.
00:51:34.46\00:51:36.09
>> Amen!
00:51:36.19\00:51:38.23
¤
00:51:42.53\00:51:44.27
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:52:00.68\00:52:04.09
a giving place ¤
00:52:04.19\00:52:08.46
¤ A house of prayer,
00:52:08.56\00:52:12.06
a sacred space ¤
00:52:12.16\00:52:17.37
¤ A chapel
00:52:17.47\00:52:19.13
of your boundless grace ¤
00:52:19.23\00:52:24.67
¤ Lord, make
00:52:24.77\00:52:26.81
this church a giving place ¤
00:52:26.91\00:52:33.65
¤ Lord, make this church
00:52:36.58\00:52:39.85
a giving
00:52:39.95\00:52:44.89
place ¤
00:52:44.99\00:52:51.40
¤ Lord, make
00:52:59.47\00:53:01.51
this church an open door ¤
00:53:01.61\00:53:07.38
¤ Where every word
00:53:07.48\00:53:12.02
redeems, restores ¤
00:53:12.12\00:53:17.06
>> ¤ A healing room
00:53:17.16\00:53:19.63
forevermore ¤
00:53:19.73\00:53:25.07
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:53:25.17\00:53:27.57
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:53:27.67\00:53:31.37
>> ¤ An open door
00:53:31.47\00:53:39.35
>> ¤ Lord, build this church
00:53:39.45\00:53:42.95
with broken hearts ¤
00:53:43.05\00:53:47.02
¤ On fragile jars of clay
00:53:47.12\00:53:55.76
¤ Through wounded windows,
00:53:55.86\00:53:58.80
shine Your light ¤
00:53:58.90\00:54:01.90
>> ¤ Lord, shine
00:54:02.00\00:54:04.64
in a thousand glorious ways ¤
00:54:04.74\00:54:08.34
>> ¤ In a thousand glorious
00:54:08.44\00:54:11.15
ways ¤
00:54:11.25\00:54:16.62
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:54:19.02\00:54:22.59
a light of hope ¤
00:54:22.69\00:54:26.86
¤ A beacon bright,
00:54:26.96\00:54:30.83
a welcome home ¤
00:54:30.93\00:54:36.10
¤ A gathering where
00:54:36.20\00:54:39.04
your love is shown ¤
00:54:39.14\00:54:48.18
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:54:55.12\00:54:59.83
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:54:59.93\00:55:08.24
>> ¤ Lord, make this church
00:55:08.34\00:55:12.97
¤ A giving
00:55:13.07\00:55:20.02
¤ Place
00:55:20.12\00:55:28.56
>> Jesus, we long
00:55:44.71\00:55:47.98
to more deeply and
00:55:48.08\00:55:49.04
to better reflect your heart,
00:55:49.14\00:55:52.78
your goodness, your love.
00:55:52.88\00:55:57.25
Humanly speaking, Lord,
00:55:57.35\00:55:58.05
this is beyond us.
00:55:58.15\00:55:58.89
We cannot achieve it.
00:55:58.99\00:56:02.06
But with God,
00:56:02.16\00:56:02.76
all things are possible.
00:56:02.86\00:56:06.03
Teach us, Lord,
00:56:06.13\00:56:06.83
to become the kind of disciples
00:56:06.93\00:56:08.26
that you would have us to be.
00:56:08.36\00:56:09.66
Grow us, Lord.
00:56:09.76\00:56:10.77
We thank you for saving us.
00:56:10.87\00:56:11.83
Now grow us, Lord,
00:56:11.93\00:56:12.77
into this great building
00:56:12.87\00:56:13.70
that you have in mind.
00:56:13.80\00:56:15.67
Restore unto us Your energy,
00:56:15.77\00:56:16.97
Your strength, Your passion,
00:56:17.07\00:56:18.14
Your power, and Your love.
00:56:18.24\00:56:19.37
Fill us with Your spirit,
00:56:19.47\00:56:21.34
that, indeed, this might be
00:56:21.44\00:56:22.34
a giving place, Lord,
00:56:22.44\00:56:23.31
that literally
00:56:23.41\00:56:25.38
spreads around the world,
00:56:25.48\00:56:28.02
that Your work might be
00:56:28.12\00:56:29.38
finished, and we can go home.
00:56:29.48\00:56:32.82
Bless us, Lord, in this way,
00:56:32.92\00:56:35.06
for we've asked in Your name.
00:56:35.16\00:56:36.96
Amen.
00:56:37.06\00:56:38.39
>> Amen.
00:56:38.49\00:56:40.06
¤
00:56:40.16\00:56:41.86
>> I'm Shane Anderson,
00:56:53.38\00:56:54.04
the lead pastor here
00:56:54.14\00:56:55.28
at Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:56:55.38\00:56:57.45
At Pioneer Media,
00:56:57.55\00:56:58.61
we have been blessed
00:56:58.71\00:56:59.55
by the financial support
00:56:59.65\00:57:01.25
that comes from our viewers like
00:57:01.35\00:57:02.62
you that enable us
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.15
to continue this ministry.
00:57:04.25\00:57:06.62
We've made a conscious decision
00:57:06.72\00:57:08.02
not to continually appeal to you
00:57:08.12\00:57:09.49
for that support.
00:57:09.59\00:57:11.16
However, keeping this ministry
00:57:11.26\00:57:12.33
going takes money
00:57:12.43\00:57:13.53
to support our staff and
00:57:13.63\00:57:14.93
technology needs.
00:57:15.03\00:57:16.80
If God has blessed you
00:57:16.90\00:57:18.40
and you would like to further
00:57:18.50\00:57:19.33
the work of this ministry,
00:57:19.43\00:57:20.84
we invite you
00:57:20.94\00:57:21.64
to partner with us.
00:57:21.74\00:57:23.34
You can donate
00:57:23.44\00:57:24.31
on our website, pmchurch.org.
00:57:24.41\00:57:27.54
Then click "giving" at the top,
00:57:27.64\00:57:29.74
then select "media ministry."
00:57:29.84\00:57:32.85
Or call the number 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:32.95\00:57:36.58
Again, that number is 877,
00:57:36.69\00:57:38.79
the two words HIS-WILL.
00:57:38.89\00:57:41.56
My prayer is that the God
00:57:41.66\00:57:43.19
who has blessed
00:57:43.29\00:57:43.99
you will continue to pour
00:57:44.09\00:57:45.73
into your life the gifts
00:57:45.83\00:57:46.76
of His joy and His hope.
00:57:46.86\00:57:49.16
Thank you, and
00:57:49.26\00:57:50.67
I'm looking forward to seeing
00:57:50.77\00:57:51.70
you right here again next time.
00:57:51.80\00:57:53.94
¤
00:58:00.14\00:58:01.64