1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,574 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church podcast, 2 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:06,182 where we are proclaiming the truth to the 3 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:06,606 world. 4 00:00:06,718 --> 00:00:09,662 My name is Pastor Josh and I want to thank you for listening to 5 00:00:06,718 --> 00:00:10,690 this podcast. 6 00:00:10,990 --> 00:00:14,630 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 7 00:00:10,990 --> 00:00:16,290 you in the word of God. 8 00:00:16,750 --> 00:00:17,558 Now come along. 9 00:00:17,614 --> 00:00:21,650 Let's look into the Bible and see what God has for us here today. 10 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:26,398 We have many different speakers come into our church through 11 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:28,836 the year, and every one of them we're 12 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:29,468 thankful for. 13 00:00:29,524 --> 00:00:33,780 But I can tell you honestly that I have a vested interest in 14 00:00:29,524 --> 00:00:34,840 this family. 15 00:00:35,140 --> 00:00:38,556 One being that Brother Colton and I are from the same place. 16 00:00:38,748 --> 00:00:42,276 We went to the same church, had the same pastor for a while, 17 00:00:38,748 --> 00:00:44,292 and we have a lot of things in common 18 00:00:38,748 --> 00:00:45,220 in that concept. 19 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:50,420 I actually had the privilege and the opportunity to be at Colton's 20 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:51,916 ordination this past summer. 21 00:00:51,948 --> 00:00:55,018 Some of you know, I went down there to South Carolina, and I told 22 00:00:51,948 --> 00:00:57,082 you this before, it was the best 23 00:00:51,948 --> 00:00:58,738 ordination I have ever been to. 24 00:00:58,874 --> 00:01:01,390 It turned to a worship service in the middle of the ordination, 25 00:00:58,874 --> 00:01:03,482 and so it was great. 26 00:01:03,546 --> 00:01:05,314 I was greatly encouraged by it. 27 00:01:05,482 --> 00:01:09,554 Colton and Ali are faithful, and there's nothing like seeing someone 28 00:01:05,482 --> 00:01:12,346 that you taught have children and 29 00:01:05,482 --> 00:01:13,562 be in the ministry that makes you 30 00:01:05,482 --> 00:01:14,978 feel really, really old. 31 00:01:15,114 --> 00:01:15,458 Okay. 32 00:01:15,474 --> 00:01:18,322 I had an opportunity to hang out with their family today, and 33 00:01:15,474 --> 00:01:20,522 I'm like, I cannot believe that they 34 00:01:15,474 --> 00:01:21,178 have children. 35 00:01:21,274 --> 00:01:23,674 And this is making me feel really old. 36 00:01:23,842 --> 00:01:28,562 But Colton is a fella that even though he's younger than me, 37 00:01:23,842 --> 00:01:30,306 I look up to his wisdom. 38 00:01:30,458 --> 00:01:34,762 He is really, really blessed and gifted in studying the word and 39 00:01:30,458 --> 00:01:35,830 preaching the word. 40 00:01:36,810 --> 00:01:39,794 And so I want to say, first and foremost, I'm proud of you, Colton. 41 00:01:39,882 --> 00:01:41,442 And that's in the biblical way. 42 00:01:41,626 --> 00:01:43,882 I'm thankful for what God is doing in his life. 43 00:01:43,986 --> 00:01:46,122 His parents were my Sunday school teachers. 44 00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:48,642 So through the years, there was a lot of things that we had in 45 00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:49,164 common. 46 00:01:49,282 --> 00:01:52,432 And I always been telling people tonight, everything that he 47 00:01:49,282 --> 00:01:54,792 is, is despite my teaching, okay? 48 00:01:54,816 --> 00:01:57,144 It isn't because of my teaching in school, okay? 49 00:01:57,272 --> 00:02:00,176 He made it through and survived on the other side, and so 50 00:01:57,272 --> 00:02:00,928 we're thankful for him. 51 00:02:00,944 --> 00:02:03,880 And Colton and Ali are going to be going to Spain. 52 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,152 They're on deputation. 53 00:02:05,336 --> 00:02:09,112 And so as they're coming in, they're looking to gain support in 54 00:02:05,336 --> 00:02:10,128 different churches, and that's what 55 00:02:05,336 --> 00:02:10,416 they're doing. 56 00:02:10,448 --> 00:02:11,688 They're traveling around the country. 57 00:02:11,744 --> 00:02:13,000 They're starting that process. 58 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,352 And so I'm thankful for them. 59 00:02:14,376 --> 00:02:16,728 I'm thankful for what they're doing for the Lord. 60 00:02:16,864 --> 00:02:19,056 And I'm looking forward to what God is going to do in their 61 00:02:16,864 --> 00:02:19,496 life. 62 00:02:19,608 --> 00:02:23,400 Colton has been serving at Grace Baptist down in west Columbia, 63 00:02:19,608 --> 00:02:24,048 South Carolina. 64 00:02:24,104 --> 00:02:27,256 Some of you might know the pastor there, my former pastor, Pastor 65 00:02:24,104 --> 00:02:28,256 David Goforth. 66 00:02:28,368 --> 00:02:31,368 And so we just have a lot of commonality in that way. 67 00:02:31,464 --> 00:02:33,736 And so I really know that your hearts are going to be blessed through 68 00:02:31,464 --> 00:02:35,312 his presentation here this evening. 69 00:02:35,416 --> 00:02:37,200 I encourage you to stop by the table. 70 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,712 I encourage you to get more information about what they're looking 71 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,920 to do for the Lord. 72 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:44,032 And I'm also going to say that here this evening at the end of the 73 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:45,152 service, just prepare your hearts. 74 00:02:45,176 --> 00:02:47,964 We're going to be taking up a love offering for them, and we want 75 00:02:45,176 --> 00:02:48,892 to make sure that we're a blessing 76 00:02:45,176 --> 00:02:50,140 to them as they travel on. 77 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:54,260 They're heading up to New York for a missions conference this weekend, 78 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:56,092 and so they have a lot on their plate 79 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:57,892 when it comes to that, and so just 80 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:59,028 be praying for them as they go through 81 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:59,196 this. 82 00:02:59,228 --> 00:03:02,796 So what we're going to do now is we're going to show you a video. 83 00:03:02,908 --> 00:03:03,580 Is that good? 84 00:03:03,660 --> 00:03:07,252 We're going to show you a video of their ministry, a little 85 00:03:03,660 --> 00:03:08,124 bit about what they're doing. 86 00:03:08,172 --> 00:03:10,532 Then after that video, Brother Colton's going to come up, share 87 00:03:08,172 --> 00:03:11,684 a few things, and then he's going to 88 00:03:08,172 --> 00:03:12,828 bring us the word this evening. 89 00:03:12,924 --> 00:03:15,080 And I know that our hearts are going to be blessed through that. 90 00:03:18,010 --> 00:03:20,122 Hi, I'm Colton and this is my wife, Allie. 91 00:03:20,186 --> 00:03:22,234 These are our daughters, Audrey and Annette. 92 00:03:22,322 --> 00:03:25,346 We are the Gideon's family and we are missionaries to Spain with 93 00:03:22,322 --> 00:03:26,938 biblical ministries worldwide. 94 00:03:27,034 --> 00:03:30,842 In spite of Christianity being in Spain for the last 2000 years, 95 00:03:27,034 --> 00:03:33,562 today only less than 2% of its population 96 00:03:27,034 --> 00:03:35,738 actually professes belief in Christ. 97 00:03:35,914 --> 00:03:40,082 My wife and I have always desired to go to an unreached place, 98 00:03:35,914 --> 00:03:41,890 and for the longest time, we thought 99 00:03:35,914 --> 00:03:43,322 that would be somewhere in what's 100 00:03:35,914 --> 00:03:45,018 called the 1040 window places in 101 00:03:35,914 --> 00:03:47,070 the Middle east and South Asia. 102 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:50,494 However, it wasn't until recently that the Lord really made 103 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:53,190 us aware of just how unreached places 104 00:03:47,470 --> 00:03:54,742 in Europe still are. 105 00:03:54,846 --> 00:03:57,822 In the country of Spain, Christianity has been present for 106 00:03:54,846 --> 00:03:59,326 about 2000 years. 107 00:03:59,438 --> 00:04:04,318 However, today, less than 2% of its population actually professes 108 00:03:59,438 --> 00:04:05,558 faith in Christ. 109 00:04:05,654 --> 00:04:09,462 And most of the people who do profess some sort of religion follow 110 00:04:05,654 --> 00:04:10,918 Roman Catholicism. 111 00:04:11,094 --> 00:04:15,534 But even then, each generation over the last 40 years or so has 112 00:04:11,094 --> 00:04:19,118 continued to get more and more irreligious 113 00:04:11,094 --> 00:04:21,950 agnostic, atheist, throwing off any 114 00:04:11,094 --> 00:04:24,046 belief in God whatsoever. 115 00:04:24,238 --> 00:04:28,366 And in addition to that, out of the 8000 towns or so there are 116 00:04:24,238 --> 00:04:31,326 across the whole country, 7000 of 117 00:04:24,238 --> 00:04:33,870 them still do not have a single gospel 118 00:04:24,238 --> 00:04:35,970 preaching church among them. 119 00:04:36,550 --> 00:04:38,262 I grew up in a ministry home. 120 00:04:38,366 --> 00:04:41,094 My parents left for the mission field when I was just one 121 00:04:38,366 --> 00:04:44,238 year old, and so missions was all 122 00:04:38,366 --> 00:04:46,294 that I ever knew, and I loved it. 123 00:04:46,342 --> 00:04:49,426 My parents still did a wonderful job of just being very 124 00:04:46,342 --> 00:04:52,250 real and genuine and showing people 125 00:04:46,342 --> 00:04:54,362 the love of Christ and preaching 126 00:04:46,342 --> 00:04:55,978 the gospel wherever they went. 127 00:04:56,114 --> 00:05:00,682 And so when I accepted Christ as my savior, missions was always 128 00:04:56,114 --> 00:05:02,698 on my heart and on my mind. 129 00:05:02,834 --> 00:05:07,114 And as I went to college, that desire to go into missions began 130 00:05:02,834 --> 00:05:07,954 to grow. 131 00:05:08,122 --> 00:05:11,866 And Colton and I met, and we both had that desire. 132 00:05:11,938 --> 00:05:16,658 The Lord really used missions to bring us together and to make 133 00:05:11,938 --> 00:05:18,386 it clear that it was his will for us 134 00:05:11,938 --> 00:05:19,110 to be. 135 00:05:19,950 --> 00:05:22,158 And so we got married in 2019. 136 00:05:22,294 --> 00:05:25,006 We have two little girls now, Audrey and Annette. 137 00:05:25,078 --> 00:05:28,078 We decided to stay in the United States for a few years to 138 00:05:25,078 --> 00:05:29,742 get some ministry experience while 139 00:05:25,078 --> 00:05:31,090 we were growing our family. 140 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:35,286 But the Lord began to make it clear that it was time for us to 141 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:36,718 go into missions. 142 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:40,166 For the first few years there in Spain, we'd like to take some 143 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:42,342 time to work under some veteran missionaries, 144 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:45,224 learn ministry in Spain with them, 145 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:46,816 also take that time to go through 146 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:48,664 language school, get accustomed to 147 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:49,832 the culture, and get to know the 148 00:05:36,894 --> 00:05:50,736 people there. 149 00:05:50,888 --> 00:05:54,496 We're also praying that the Lord would, during that time, guide 150 00:05:50,888 --> 00:05:56,792 us and help us to identify another 151 00:05:50,888 --> 00:05:58,960 place that is in need of a gospel 152 00:05:50,888 --> 00:06:00,232 preaching church so that we could 153 00:05:50,888 --> 00:06:02,896 go there and plant a church among those 154 00:05:50,888 --> 00:06:03,500 people. 155 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,536 Because I grew up in the Caribbean on the mission field, the 156 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:09,152 spanish speaking people have always 157 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:12,472 had a special place in my heart insomuch 158 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:15,096 that the spanish culture really is 159 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:16,476 part of who I am. 160 00:06:16,648 --> 00:06:19,556 So when Cuom came to me and said, what do you think about going 161 00:06:16,648 --> 00:06:21,000 to the country of Spain? 162 00:06:21,460 --> 00:06:24,708 I was very excited about the possibility. 163 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:28,020 One of the things that has drawn us to the country of Spain 164 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:30,300 and really given us a burden for its 165 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:33,132 people is the knowledge that many 166 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:35,436 of the people who have grown up there 167 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:38,116 under Roman Catholicism have come 168 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:40,356 to reject a gospel that they really 169 00:06:24,884 --> 00:06:42,010 haven't even understood yet. 170 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:46,518 They've been given a picture of who Christ is, and many of their 171 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:47,926 young people are now rejecting that 172 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:50,334 completely without really understanding 173 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:52,822 who Jesus is and how much he really loves 174 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:55,486 them and how amazing his grace is 175 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:56,450 towards them. 176 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:01,646 We are so excited to see how the Lord leads our family as we seek 177 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:03,718 to join in his work that he's already 178 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:05,342 doing there in the country of Spain. 179 00:07:05,446 --> 00:07:09,466 And so we'd like to invite you to also consider praying for us and 180 00:07:05,446 --> 00:07:10,962 financially supporting us so you, 181 00:07:05,446 --> 00:07:12,466 too, could be a part of what God 182 00:07:05,446 --> 00:07:14,666 is doing there in the country of Spain. 183 00:07:14,738 --> 00:07:17,610 Well, good evening, Middletown Baptist Church. 184 00:07:17,690 --> 00:07:22,402 We are excited to be here with you and just share a little bit about 185 00:07:17,690 --> 00:07:24,602 what God has called us to do and 186 00:07:17,690 --> 00:07:27,050 to let you know more about us, our family, 187 00:07:17,690 --> 00:07:29,330 the field that we believe God has 188 00:07:17,690 --> 00:07:30,470 led us to. 189 00:07:31,770 --> 00:07:33,536 Our family's mission. 190 00:07:33,658 --> 00:07:38,500 Our mission statement is to make disciples and plant healthy 191 00:07:33,658 --> 00:07:40,948 churches in Spain that the people 192 00:07:33,658 --> 00:07:44,760 may know and worship Jesus. 193 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:49,300 You know, the book of Revelation paints a picture of the 194 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:50,836 end of time when the great commission 195 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:53,644 is over and we see a picture of people 196 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:55,884 from every nation, every tribe, every 197 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:59,036 tongue, every family worshiping Jesus 198 00:07:46,100 --> 00:08:00,112 at his feet. 199 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:04,220 In revelation five nine, it says they sung a new song saying, 200 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:08,056 thou art worthy to take the book and to 201 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:10,392 open the seals thereof, for thou 202 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:12,976 wast slain and hast redeemed us to 203 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:15,960 God by thy blood out of every kindred 204 00:08:00,276 --> 00:08:18,900 and tongue and people and nation. 205 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:24,280 So we believe that Jesus is worthy of worship from every nation 206 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:25,016 on the earth. 207 00:08:25,048 --> 00:08:28,960 And our desire is that God would use us to play a part in his 208 00:08:25,048 --> 00:08:31,996 plan of redeeming a people from the 209 00:08:25,048 --> 00:08:33,988 spanish nation so that they too, 210 00:08:25,048 --> 00:08:37,116 with all of us, can enjoy worshiping 211 00:08:25,048 --> 00:08:39,644 him for all of eternity. 212 00:08:39,692 --> 00:08:42,652 Like we mentioned, like Pastor Josh mentioned, my name is Colton. 213 00:08:42,716 --> 00:08:43,716 My wife's name is Allie. 214 00:08:43,748 --> 00:08:45,132 We are the Gideon's family. 215 00:08:45,316 --> 00:08:48,524 We have two little girls that are in the nursery in the kids program. 216 00:08:48,612 --> 00:08:52,172 Audrey is three years old, Annette is one, and so they're here 217 00:08:48,612 --> 00:08:53,156 with us this evening. 218 00:08:53,188 --> 00:08:56,180 We come from west Columbia, South Carolina, where I've been serving 219 00:08:53,188 --> 00:08:57,916 on staff as an assistant pastor there 220 00:08:53,188 --> 00:08:59,644 for the past four years. 221 00:08:59,772 --> 00:09:01,100 About four years. 222 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:04,828 And our pastor there was my pastor growing up, Pastor Josh's 223 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:07,892 pastor there in Florida for several 224 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:08,132 years. 225 00:09:08,156 --> 00:09:10,020 That's how the Lord ended up leading us there. 226 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:13,924 And so, like we mentioned, I'm originally from Tampa, Florida, where 227 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:15,212 you've probably seen that in the 228 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:16,372 news quite a bit lately with the 229 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:18,716 storm that is coming up through that 230 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:18,988 area. 231 00:09:19,044 --> 00:09:22,556 I've got lots of family there who have evacuated, so hopefully 232 00:09:19,044 --> 00:09:23,956 they will all stay safe there. 233 00:09:23,988 --> 00:09:27,398 But my wife, even though I grew up in one place, grew up in 234 00:09:23,988 --> 00:09:29,358 Florida, most of my life just moved 235 00:09:23,988 --> 00:09:30,286 away after we got married. 236 00:09:30,318 --> 00:09:32,198 My wife actually grew up all over the place. 237 00:09:32,294 --> 00:09:34,678 She mentioned in the video that her parents were missionaries 238 00:09:32,294 --> 00:09:35,366 in the Caribbean. 239 00:09:35,398 --> 00:09:39,046 They spent time in Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic. 240 00:09:39,198 --> 00:09:41,862 Her parents are Chris and Don Phillips. 241 00:09:42,046 --> 00:09:43,462 Chris Phillips, my father in law. 242 00:09:43,526 --> 00:09:44,646 I believe many of you would know. 243 00:09:44,678 --> 00:09:47,566 He was just here recently for a marriage conference, I believe 244 00:09:44,678 --> 00:09:48,198 it was. 245 00:09:48,334 --> 00:09:50,166 So that is Allie's dad. 246 00:09:50,358 --> 00:09:53,566 So she grew up on the mission field with them, and so she speaks 247 00:09:50,358 --> 00:09:54,302 Spanish already. 248 00:09:54,366 --> 00:09:55,810 I'm trying to learn it. 249 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:00,316 And then my in laws, after serving on the field overseas for 250 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:01,588 several years, came back to the states, 251 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:03,724 planted a hispanic church, a spanish 252 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:04,916 speaking church in Charleston, South 253 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:06,668 Carolina, and then now are part of 254 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:08,548 a counseling ministry that he may 255 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:09,820 have talked about when he was here 256 00:09:56,460 --> 00:10:12,120 just a few weeks ago. 257 00:10:12,540 --> 00:10:17,460 Now, around the time that Ali and I met in Bible College, we came 258 00:10:12,540 --> 00:10:19,012 to believe that the Lord wanted us 259 00:10:12,540 --> 00:10:20,916 to serve him in international missions. 260 00:10:21,028 --> 00:10:24,188 And the Lord did that through a missions conference that we got 261 00:10:21,028 --> 00:10:26,126 to be a part of at the church there 262 00:10:21,028 --> 00:10:27,222 at our Bible college. 263 00:10:27,326 --> 00:10:30,982 And so it was during one of the missions conference sermons that 264 00:10:27,326 --> 00:10:33,990 the speaker simply read these words 265 00:10:27,326 --> 00:10:37,090 from Romans, chapter ten, verse 14. 266 00:10:38,190 --> 00:10:42,646 It says, how shall they believe in him of whom they have 267 00:10:38,190 --> 00:10:43,438 not heard? 268 00:10:43,574 --> 00:10:47,650 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 269 00:10:48,750 --> 00:10:52,030 Now, at that point, I was in Bible college studying to go into 270 00:10:48,750 --> 00:10:52,614 ministry. 271 00:10:52,702 --> 00:10:55,494 Knew God wanted me to be in ministry, but I was still wrestling 272 00:10:52,702 --> 00:10:58,054 with what exactly God wanted me to do, 273 00:10:52,702 --> 00:10:59,886 how he wanted me to serve him. 274 00:11:00,038 --> 00:11:03,742 And it was during that message that the Holy Spirit used that truth 275 00:11:00,038 --> 00:11:05,774 from scripture, that there are people 276 00:11:00,038 --> 00:11:07,718 in places all around the world who 277 00:11:00,038 --> 00:11:09,358 will never hear the gospel unless 278 00:11:00,038 --> 00:11:11,126 someone shares it. 279 00:11:11,318 --> 00:11:15,262 And God used that truth to grip my heart, to convince me that 280 00:11:11,318 --> 00:11:17,150 he wanted me and my family one day 281 00:11:11,318 --> 00:11:20,734 to go and serve him in reaching an 282 00:11:11,318 --> 00:11:22,410 unreached people. 283 00:11:23,230 --> 00:11:27,054 Now, when you hear the term unreached people or unreached places, 284 00:11:23,230 --> 00:11:30,318 what kind of places come to mind? 285 00:11:30,494 --> 00:11:31,510 And you can answer. 286 00:11:31,550 --> 00:11:33,366 You can just shout it out if you feel more comfortable raising 287 00:11:31,550 --> 00:11:34,534 your hand, I can call on you if you want 288 00:11:31,550 --> 00:11:35,086 to do it that way. 289 00:11:35,118 --> 00:11:38,550 What comes to mind when you hear the word unreached, whether 290 00:11:35,118 --> 00:11:40,014 people or places? 291 00:11:40,182 --> 00:11:40,890 Africa. 292 00:11:41,670 --> 00:11:42,510 Yeah, of course. 293 00:11:42,590 --> 00:11:43,410 Any others? 294 00:11:44,870 --> 00:11:45,894 South America. 295 00:11:45,982 --> 00:11:46,790 Aborigines. 296 00:11:46,910 --> 00:11:47,730 What else? 297 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:51,168 Asia. 298 00:11:51,264 --> 00:11:52,008 Yeah. 299 00:11:52,184 --> 00:11:57,416 So when I hear unreached, I think of the 1040 window. 300 00:11:57,448 --> 00:12:01,344 Now, I forgot to use the clicker here to. 301 00:12:01,472 --> 00:12:02,216 Is it gonna work? 302 00:12:02,288 --> 00:12:03,016 Hi, I'm Colton. 303 00:12:03,088 --> 00:12:03,820 It is. 304 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:06,776 I don't know where it is. 305 00:12:06,808 --> 00:12:08,392 I don't know if you want to find where that presentation is. 306 00:12:08,416 --> 00:12:09,840 And then I'll get going. 307 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:10,472 There it is. 308 00:12:10,496 --> 00:12:10,704 Perfect. 309 00:12:10,752 --> 00:12:11,312 Perfect. 310 00:12:11,456 --> 00:12:11,792 Okay. 311 00:12:11,816 --> 00:12:12,420 Yes. 312 00:12:16,290 --> 00:12:16,642 Yeah. 313 00:12:16,666 --> 00:12:20,034 So, when I hear the term unreached, I think of what's called 314 00:12:16,666 --> 00:12:22,626 the 1040 window. 315 00:12:22,658 --> 00:12:23,914 And I'll show you a picture of that real quick. 316 00:12:23,962 --> 00:12:26,510 Sorry, it's kind of gotten a little out of order here. 317 00:12:28,170 --> 00:12:28,826 There it is. 318 00:12:28,898 --> 00:12:29,842 The 1040 window. 319 00:12:29,866 --> 00:12:31,710 How many of you ever heard that term before? 320 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:35,450 Yeah, so it's between ten degrees, 40 degrees latitude on the 321 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:38,050 eastern hemisphere, and it's known 322 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:40,146 among missions, organizations as 323 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:42,806 being one of the most unreached places 324 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:43,630 in the world. 325 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:46,774 If you hear the term unreached people groups, the vast majority 326 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:49,182 of them, billions of people among these 327 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:50,654 people groups, live in that region 328 00:12:43,710 --> 00:12:51,606 of the world. 329 00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:54,614 So naturally I thought if God wanted me to go to an unreached place, 330 00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:56,502 it would be somewhere here in the 331 00:12:51,638 --> 00:12:57,310 1040 window. 332 00:12:57,350 --> 00:12:59,770 The Middle East, South Asia, North Africa. 333 00:13:00,230 --> 00:13:05,570 I never once had Spain or anywhere in Europe on my radar. 334 00:13:06,190 --> 00:13:10,482 In my mind, most people in Europe are probably christians, right? 335 00:13:10,646 --> 00:13:14,082 Or maybe if they're not mostly christian, there's at least enough 336 00:13:10,646 --> 00:13:16,242 believers there that they can spread 337 00:13:10,646 --> 00:13:18,590 the gospel without any outside help. 338 00:13:19,410 --> 00:13:22,266 Well, I used to think that, but then a few years ago, I became 339 00:13:19,410 --> 00:13:24,986 aware that that is not the case. 340 00:13:25,018 --> 00:13:27,070 I'll jump back a couple slides here. 341 00:13:29,890 --> 00:13:33,154 So God made me aware, just through studying and learning different 342 00:13:29,890 --> 00:13:35,026 things when he was preparing us to 343 00:13:29,890 --> 00:13:37,066 go into missions, made me aware of 344 00:13:29,890 --> 00:13:38,970 just how significant the need in 345 00:13:29,890 --> 00:13:40,522 Spain is. 346 00:13:40,666 --> 00:13:43,738 First of all, the number of believers in Spain actually remains 347 00:13:40,666 --> 00:13:45,858 significantly low. 348 00:13:46,034 --> 00:13:50,698 Less than 2% of the population of the entire country professes faith 349 00:13:46,034 --> 00:13:51,750 in Christ. 350 00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:55,722 And that's not much higher than many places across the 1040 351 00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:56,074 window. 352 00:13:56,122 --> 00:13:59,554 You go to Iran, Iran is a little more than 1% that would profess 353 00:13:56,122 --> 00:14:02,314 faith in Christ, and Spain is not 354 00:13:56,122 --> 00:14:04,510 much more than that. 355 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:08,074 Now, Roman Catholicism, as I'm sure you're aware, is still pretty 356 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:10,386 strong in Spain, but even that is 357 00:14:04,810 --> 00:14:11,958 dwindling pretty quickly. 358 00:14:12,114 --> 00:14:16,726 Each generation is actually becoming even more and more nonreligious. 359 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:21,286 If you look at this, this kind of shows you the 18 to 29 year olds 360 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:24,574 over the last 25, 30 years or so, 361 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:26,446 each generation, every ten or so 362 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:28,318 years, the number of people who are 363 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:30,014 just throwing off any belief in God 364 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:32,070 or religion whatsoever is growing 365 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:33,886 rapidly in different parts of the 366 00:14:16,758 --> 00:14:34,206 country. 367 00:14:34,278 --> 00:14:36,530 You see that even higher. 368 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,664 Now, there are many people, again, who still claim to be Roman 369 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,056 Catholic. 370 00:14:41,088 --> 00:14:42,488 But something interesting you'd find there. 371 00:14:42,504 --> 00:14:45,368 In fact, when we took a trip there, we would meet people who would 372 00:14:42,504 --> 00:14:48,376 say, I am Roman Catholic, but I don't 373 00:14:42,504 --> 00:14:50,220 really know if I believe in God, 374 00:14:42,504 --> 00:14:52,184 because Roman Catholicism is. 375 00:14:52,272 --> 00:14:55,248 Catholicism is so ingrained in their culture, they still claim to 376 00:14:52,272 --> 00:14:56,104 be part of it. 377 00:14:56,192 --> 00:15:00,180 But again, most of them will say, I don't actually believe in 378 00:14:56,192 --> 00:15:01,024 God. 379 00:15:01,112 --> 00:15:04,584 And to them, their perception of Christianity is what they were 380 00:15:01,112 --> 00:15:06,304 raised on with Catholicism. 381 00:15:06,352 --> 00:15:09,406 And in their minds, it is all about rules. 382 00:15:09,518 --> 00:15:11,286 That's one of the things we heard from those very same people 383 00:15:09,518 --> 00:15:12,542 who said, I'm Catholic, but I don't believe 384 00:15:09,518 --> 00:15:12,894 in God. 385 00:15:12,942 --> 00:15:14,998 They would just talk about their upbringing and how strict it 386 00:15:12,942 --> 00:15:16,366 was, and how harsh it was. 387 00:15:16,478 --> 00:15:19,630 Because in their mind, their perception of the gospel of Christianity 388 00:15:16,478 --> 00:15:22,094 is simply about a list of rules to follow 389 00:15:16,478 --> 00:15:23,062 and to be punished. 390 00:15:23,126 --> 00:15:27,526 If you didn't follow their rules, there's no room, no understanding 391 00:15:23,126 --> 00:15:29,830 of the love and the grace of Christ. 392 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:33,798 And so with so few believers in the country, it's not a surprise 393 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:36,268 then that actually most towns across the 394 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:38,404 whole country still do not have a 395 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:41,840 single gospel preaching church. 396 00:15:42,260 --> 00:15:47,172 In fact, there's close to a little over 8000 cities, towns, villages 397 00:15:42,260 --> 00:15:48,092 across the whole country. 398 00:15:48,156 --> 00:15:54,236 And out of those 8000 or so, over 7000 do not have one gospel 399 00:15:48,156 --> 00:15:55,680 preaching church. 400 00:15:56,180 --> 00:15:58,628 And that's not just a baptist church. 401 00:15:58,804 --> 00:16:01,636 I'm not just saying they have a healthy church of some kind that 402 00:15:58,804 --> 00:16:03,340 probably will be wrong on other things. 403 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:07,396 I'm saying they don't have a church that at the very least preaches 404 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:09,572 salvation by grace through faith 405 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:11,196 in Christ alone. 406 00:16:11,348 --> 00:16:12,280 Not one. 407 00:16:12,740 --> 00:16:15,884 Most of them, in fact, all of them really will have a large cathedral 408 00:16:12,740 --> 00:16:16,820 in the middle of their town. 409 00:16:16,860 --> 00:16:19,380 Even if it's a really tiny town of just a couple hundred people. 410 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:22,788 They'll have a large catholic cathedral, but not a single gospel 411 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:24,004 preaching church. 412 00:16:24,052 --> 00:16:27,204 So there's just a visual there of every single town in the country 413 00:16:24,052 --> 00:16:30,454 that does not have church. 414 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:33,278 And one other interesting thing about the country of Spain 415 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:35,366 that really makes us aware of how needy 416 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:36,910 it is, is that even though Spain is 417 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:39,782 not in the 1040 window, even though 418 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:41,694 it's not considered one of those 419 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:46,150 traditionally unreached places, many 420 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:47,830 of the unreached people from these 421 00:16:30,622 --> 00:16:50,406 places are coming into Spain. 422 00:16:50,598 --> 00:16:54,630 They have people from South Asia, East Asia, the Middle east, 423 00:16:50,598 --> 00:16:56,472 and especially from North Africa. 424 00:16:56,646 --> 00:16:59,644 A lot of people moving in, especially to the major cities and 425 00:16:56,646 --> 00:17:03,080 the major population centers of Spain. 426 00:17:04,380 --> 00:17:09,500 Now our plan first of all, is we desire to go to find a church 427 00:17:04,380 --> 00:17:12,124 that already exists and to seek mentorship. 428 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:14,988 We want to find a place that's already been planted, an established 429 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:17,116 church, and take time there while 430 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:18,916 we're getting settled and while we 431 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:21,284 are going through language school 432 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:23,356 and discerning what exactly the Lord 433 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:24,692 would have us do and where he'd have 434 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:26,374 us go to plant a church, we want 435 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:27,942 to take that time to partner with a 436 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:29,614 local church that already exists, 437 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:32,230 to learn from them, to serve with them, 438 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:34,806 and to hopefully through that relationship, 439 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:36,862 allow God to guide us to where he 440 00:17:12,292 --> 00:17:37,686 would want us to go. 441 00:17:37,718 --> 00:17:41,526 So during that time, we're hoping to also identify another unreached 442 00:17:37,718 --> 00:17:43,110 community, find another one of those 443 00:17:37,718 --> 00:17:45,118 towns on that map that don't have 444 00:17:37,718 --> 00:17:47,398 a gospel preaching church, and then 445 00:17:37,718 --> 00:17:49,490 go on from there. 446 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:52,662 And so the region of the country that we believe God would 447 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:54,094 have us go to is this little part 448 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:55,334 here in that highlighted area of 449 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:57,186 the map, the northern coast of Spain, 450 00:17:49,950 --> 00:17:59,750 called the Basque country. 451 00:18:01,170 --> 00:18:08,570 Now, this region is known for being the homeland of the basque 452 00:18:01,170 --> 00:18:09,270 people. 453 00:18:09,570 --> 00:18:14,082 And something really neat about the basque people is they have 454 00:18:09,570 --> 00:18:16,514 lived there in Spain, in that region 455 00:18:09,570 --> 00:18:19,194 of Spain for thousands of years. 456 00:18:19,322 --> 00:18:22,378 They actually lived there since long before the people who 457 00:18:19,322 --> 00:18:23,994 eventually became the Spaniards ever 458 00:18:19,322 --> 00:18:26,014 settled the peninsula. 459 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:29,302 The basque people have, for some reason, somehow, over the last 460 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:31,142 few thousand years, maintained a 461 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:33,206 distinct culture, a distinct identity, 462 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:35,838 their own language, completely separate 463 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:38,102 from the spanish language and the 464 00:18:26,182 --> 00:18:39,022 spanish people. 465 00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:42,702 And so when Ali and I took a trip there earlier this year, we 466 00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:45,518 got to go to that region of the country 467 00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:47,966 and meet the basque people, and we 468 00:18:39,166 --> 00:18:50,072 just fell in love with those people. 469 00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:53,180 And so we, through that, came to believe that that is where God 470 00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:54,988 would have us to go. 471 00:18:55,084 --> 00:18:57,660 And through that trip, we also got to meet a couple of missionaries, 472 00:18:55,084 --> 00:18:59,132 a couple of churches that are there 473 00:18:55,084 --> 00:19:00,852 that we are praying about and hoping 474 00:18:55,084 --> 00:19:02,316 to possibly partner with when we 475 00:18:55,084 --> 00:19:03,840 land in Spain. 476 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:06,268 If you look there on the map, you probably can't see it. 477 00:19:06,284 --> 00:19:06,876 It's pretty tiny. 478 00:19:06,908 --> 00:19:09,460 But the city that we'll be in is called San Sebastian. 479 00:19:09,580 --> 00:19:11,468 It's the second largest city of the region. 480 00:19:11,524 --> 00:19:15,436 About half a million people in the whole area, and maybe about 15 481 00:19:11,524 --> 00:19:17,910 or so gospel preaching churches of 482 00:19:11,524 --> 00:19:19,310 many different kinds in that region. 483 00:19:19,350 --> 00:19:23,810 So in significant need of more churches to be planted. 484 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:32,502 Beyond that, our plan is to do what every local church exists to 485 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:34,966 do, and that's to share the gospel, 486 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:38,038 to make disciples, and just to plant 487 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:40,958 more churches to start more communities 488 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:44,054 of disciples, people who can know and 489 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:46,150 worship and love the savior that 490 00:19:25,790 --> 00:19:49,200 we know, love, and worship. 491 00:19:49,820 --> 00:19:53,492 So we are partnering with our home church, Grace Baptist Church 492 00:19:49,820 --> 00:19:54,780 from West Columbia, South Carolina. 493 00:19:54,820 --> 00:19:56,908 They've agreed to be our sending church. 494 00:19:57,044 --> 00:19:59,908 And then we also have decided to partner with biblical ministries 495 00:19:57,044 --> 00:20:01,812 worldwide as a missions agency that 496 00:19:57,044 --> 00:20:03,396 has provided a lot of help for us 497 00:19:57,044 --> 00:20:05,740 in training and teaching and connecting 498 00:19:57,044 --> 00:20:06,804 us with churches. 499 00:20:06,932 --> 00:20:10,036 And our hope and our prayer is that churches like yours would also 500 00:20:06,932 --> 00:20:11,852 consider partnering with us so that 501 00:20:06,932 --> 00:20:14,406 we can go to Spain to make disciples, 502 00:20:06,932 --> 00:20:16,710 so that people can know and love and 503 00:20:06,932 --> 00:20:18,570 worship Jesus. 504 00:20:18,990 --> 00:20:22,350 Now, if you have your bibles for just the last few minutes here, 505 00:20:18,990 --> 00:20:24,094 we're going to look at Matthew, chapter 506 00:20:18,990 --> 00:20:25,010 28. 507 00:20:26,590 --> 00:20:29,810 Matthew, chapter 28, verse 16. 508 00:20:30,670 --> 00:20:37,134 If you are familiar at all with missions, then I am sure you 509 00:20:30,670 --> 00:20:38,930 already know this passage. 510 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:44,114 It is the great commission that Christ gave a well known, probably 511 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:46,546 the most commonly known passage of 512 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:48,442 scripture that deals with the subject 513 00:20:40,570 --> 00:20:50,070 of missions. 514 00:20:50,690 --> 00:20:53,506 So go ahead and turn there to Matthew, chapter 28, and we'll read 515 00:20:50,690 --> 00:20:55,474 in just a few minutes there in verse 516 00:20:50,690 --> 00:20:56,110 16. 517 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:02,210 This past April, when my wife Allie and I were able to take our 518 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:04,098 survey trip to the country of Spain, 519 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:05,538 one of the things that we decided 520 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:09,450 to do was to rent a vehicle to drive ourselves 521 00:20:58,170 --> 00:21:10,514 around the country. 522 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:12,842 People would tell us, you know, the public transportation is 523 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:14,594 great, but we were going to be going 524 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:16,850 over quite a big distance from Barcelona 525 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:17,890 on the Mediterranean, all the way 526 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:19,202 to the basque country on the atlantic 527 00:21:10,682 --> 00:21:19,570 coast. 528 00:21:19,650 --> 00:21:22,322 So we figured it probably better just to rent a vehicle. 529 00:21:22,466 --> 00:21:26,402 But one thing that I did not think about ahead of time, I failed 530 00:21:22,466 --> 00:21:29,498 to think about was whether or not I 531 00:21:22,466 --> 00:21:31,090 was going to be able to read the 532 00:21:22,466 --> 00:21:32,230 street signs. 533 00:21:33,770 --> 00:21:36,714 Now, fortunately, most of the signs, they're pretty self explanatory. 534 00:21:36,762 --> 00:21:40,402 I figured it out pretty quickly, but there were some things 535 00:21:36,762 --> 00:21:41,282 that really threw me off. 536 00:21:41,306 --> 00:21:43,242 For instance, go ahead and take a look. 537 00:21:43,346 --> 00:21:44,394 Oh, I'm going to have to go. 538 00:21:44,482 --> 00:21:45,002 Oh, there it is. 539 00:21:45,026 --> 00:21:45,298 Perfect. 540 00:21:45,354 --> 00:21:46,110 Thank you. 541 00:21:47,050 --> 00:21:50,202 This sign here, looking at these two signs, I want you to tell 542 00:21:47,050 --> 00:21:52,510 me, which one do you think means 543 00:21:47,050 --> 00:21:54,830 no cars allowed? 544 00:21:56,370 --> 00:21:57,714 The one on the right. 545 00:21:57,882 --> 00:22:02,600 That's the one that we would see here in the US, no cars allowed. 546 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:03,984 But it's kind of a trick question there. 547 00:22:04,032 --> 00:22:06,824 Actually, both of them mean no cars allowed. 548 00:22:06,912 --> 00:22:08,536 The one on the right, that's what we would see here. 549 00:22:08,568 --> 00:22:11,752 But in Spain, their sign looks like the one on the left. 550 00:22:11,856 --> 00:22:15,272 Whenever you see a circle sign that has a red ring around it, that 551 00:22:11,856 --> 00:22:17,592 usually means it's prohibiting something. 552 00:22:17,776 --> 00:22:18,744 But I didn't know that. 553 00:22:18,792 --> 00:22:22,992 All right, I see that, and I think it means cars are allowed to 554 00:22:18,792 --> 00:22:24,336 go down this road. 555 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:31,698 So there I was in Spain, driving down a super narrow road 556 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:34,322 in a very tiny town where the road is 557 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:35,922 so narrow, it seems like our mirrors 558 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:37,322 are about to scratch the walls on 559 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:39,666 both sides, and we're driving around 560 00:22:24,368 --> 00:22:41,938 and I want to turn a corner. 561 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:46,226 Google Maps is telling me to go a certain way, and I don't remember 562 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:48,794 if this particular sign was up above, 563 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:50,738 but there was some sign up there 564 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:52,314 that before I made the turn, I remember 565 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:54,132 Allie pointing it out and questioning, 566 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:55,876 like, are we really supposed to go down that 567 00:22:41,994 --> 00:22:56,460 road? 568 00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:59,388 And I thought, yeah, of course, you know, Google Maps is 569 00:22:56,620 --> 00:23:00,444 telling us to go this way. 570 00:23:00,532 --> 00:23:05,796 So I turned down the road, and so now I'm driving down an even narrower 571 00:23:00,532 --> 00:23:08,180 road, and people are walking all 572 00:23:00,532 --> 00:23:08,612 around. 573 00:23:08,716 --> 00:23:10,840 And I hit somebody. 574 00:23:11,380 --> 00:23:11,996 I'm just kidding. 575 00:23:12,028 --> 00:23:13,492 I didn't actually hit anybody. 576 00:23:13,676 --> 00:23:16,260 The story is much less dramatic than that, I promise. 577 00:23:16,380 --> 00:23:18,932 We just came up to an end where there were some, you know, 578 00:23:16,380 --> 00:23:20,300 poles or something blocking the way. 579 00:23:20,340 --> 00:23:22,498 Made it obvious this is actually just for pedestrians. 580 00:23:22,604 --> 00:23:25,774 And then I had to do like a bajillion point turn just to get 581 00:23:22,604 --> 00:23:27,790 around and get out of that narrow 582 00:23:22,604 --> 00:23:28,470 alleyway. 583 00:23:28,510 --> 00:23:31,694 So fortunately, I didn't actually hit anybody. 584 00:23:31,822 --> 00:23:35,246 But I could have, right, driving down a street that apparently 585 00:23:31,822 --> 00:23:37,750 wasn't for cars. 586 00:23:37,910 --> 00:23:44,430 And I was doing that because I misunderstood what this sign was 587 00:23:37,910 --> 00:23:45,050 for. 588 00:23:46,110 --> 00:23:51,420 I had a flawed view of what the sign was for. 589 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,056 I could have hurt someone at the very least. 590 00:23:54,128 --> 00:23:57,940 I wasted our time getting to wherever it was that we were going. 591 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,312 But all of that happened because I had a flawed view of what 592 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:04,700 the street sign was for. 593 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:14,928 I am convinced that many of us have a flawed view of what Jesus 594 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:17,620 has commissioned us to do. 595 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:23,808 We have a deficiency and an incompleteness in our view of what 596 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:26,340 missions is really for. 597 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,140 And, you know, many of the problems that we face in our churches, 598 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:33,640 I believe, actually stem from this 599 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:34,860 deficiency. 600 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:40,008 Many times we hesitate to share the gospel because we have 601 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:42,370 a deficient view of the great commission. 602 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:48,774 We in many churches across our country, we habitually lead people 603 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:51,086 to make professions of faith in Christ, 604 00:24:43,830 --> 00:24:53,970 just to see them quickly turn away. 605 00:24:54,550 --> 00:24:58,638 And we do that and we see that happen, I believe, because we have 606 00:24:54,550 --> 00:25:01,730 a deficient view of the great commission. 607 00:25:03,150 --> 00:25:06,870 We even have disagreements and arguments and disputes among church 608 00:25:03,150 --> 00:25:08,678 members where we refuse to forgive 609 00:25:03,150 --> 00:25:09,670 and to reconcile. 610 00:25:09,710 --> 00:25:13,456 And I believe that happens because we have a deficient view 611 00:25:09,710 --> 00:25:15,620 of the great commission. 612 00:25:16,320 --> 00:25:18,728 And when I say we, I don't mean you. 613 00:25:18,864 --> 00:25:22,180 I don't mean some kind of nebulous we other people out there. 614 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,024 I mean, first of all, me. 615 00:25:24,152 --> 00:25:25,216 I operate. 616 00:25:25,288 --> 00:25:30,088 I live and act many times with a deficient view of the great commission. 617 00:25:30,264 --> 00:25:32,180 I hesitate to share the gospel. 618 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,568 I have led multiple people to make professions of faith just to 619 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,946 see them quickly turn away. 620 00:25:37,048 --> 00:25:38,210 It didn't mean nothing. 621 00:25:38,590 --> 00:25:42,862 I have struggled to forgive people in my own church because of 622 00:25:38,590 --> 00:25:45,450 my flawed view of the great commission. 623 00:25:46,550 --> 00:25:51,390 I've done all of those things because I often forget what missions 624 00:25:46,550 --> 00:25:53,650 is really for. 625 00:25:55,190 --> 00:25:59,358 You know, for some reason ingrained into my thinking is that 626 00:25:55,190 --> 00:26:01,810 the great commission is primarily 627 00:25:55,190 --> 00:26:04,354 about getting people into heaven. 628 00:26:04,502 --> 00:26:05,858 And that's true, right? 629 00:26:05,994 --> 00:26:10,370 We want people to live forever with God in heaven. 630 00:26:10,490 --> 00:26:11,890 That's part of it. 631 00:26:12,050 --> 00:26:16,030 But missions is not merely for getting people into heaven. 632 00:26:16,650 --> 00:26:20,070 It's first of all for getting heaven into people. 633 00:26:20,450 --> 00:26:23,906 Because when you get heaven into people, you will get people 634 00:26:20,450 --> 00:26:25,230 into heaven. 635 00:26:26,010 --> 00:26:27,350 What do I mean by that? 636 00:26:28,410 --> 00:26:31,954 Another way to put it, or what we're really going to look at tonight. 637 00:26:32,002 --> 00:26:36,836 What scripture teaches us from Matthew 28 is that the reason missions 638 00:26:32,002 --> 00:26:41,600 exists is to make disciples of Jesus 639 00:26:32,002 --> 00:26:45,760 who worship and enjoy him forever. 640 00:26:46,860 --> 00:26:49,840 It's not just about preparing people to die. 641 00:26:50,220 --> 00:26:56,000 It's about preparing people to live with and for Christ. 642 00:26:56,620 --> 00:27:01,016 So let's look here at Matthew 28, verse 16, and unpack this here 643 00:26:56,620 --> 00:27:02,940 from the text this evening. 644 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:08,472 In verse 16, it says, then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, 645 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:10,656 into a mountain where Jesus had appointed 646 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:11,120 them. 647 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:15,660 And when they saw him, they worshiped him. 648 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:21,420 But some doubted, and Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 649 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:24,920 all power is given unto me in heaven 650 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:26,112 and in earth. 651 00:27:26,296 --> 00:27:33,016 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 652 00:27:26,296 --> 00:27:35,424 of the Father and of the Son and 653 00:27:26,296 --> 00:27:37,592 of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to 654 00:27:26,296 --> 00:27:40,856 observe all things whatsoever I have 655 00:27:26,296 --> 00:27:41,832 commanded you. 656 00:27:41,976 --> 00:27:46,500 And lo, I am with you alway even into the end of the world. 657 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:47,820 Amen. 658 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,456 Let's pray before we dive into this this evening. 659 00:27:50,488 --> 00:27:55,140 Lord, I pray that you would help us to understand why it is that 660 00:27:50,488 --> 00:27:57,400 you have given us this great commission, 661 00:27:50,488 --> 00:27:59,756 what it is that you truly desire 662 00:27:50,488 --> 00:28:00,800 us to do. 663 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:06,604 God, I pray that your spirit would speak to each and every one 664 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:08,492 of us this evening so that we would 665 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:10,908 understand personally how this applies 666 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:15,044 to us, so that we can go and glorify 667 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:18,068 you by making disciples who worship 668 00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:19,160 and love you. 669 00:28:19,470 --> 00:28:21,262 We ask this in your son's name. 670 00:28:21,406 --> 00:28:22,170 Amen. 671 00:28:22,750 --> 00:28:27,530 So according to Matthew 28, what is missions for? 672 00:28:28,070 --> 00:28:32,930 First missions is for worship. 673 00:28:33,630 --> 00:28:35,750 Missions is for worship. 674 00:28:35,790 --> 00:28:40,230 Did you notice before jesus got up to say a word, what were his 675 00:28:35,790 --> 00:28:41,450 disciples doing? 676 00:28:43,070 --> 00:28:44,412 They worshiped him. 677 00:28:44,566 --> 00:28:45,880 It says, some of them doubted. 678 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,656 Some of them were still, like, amazed and wondering, how can this 679 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:49,144 be? 680 00:28:49,272 --> 00:28:52,720 But most of the disciples there, before they ever went off 681 00:28:49,272 --> 00:28:54,672 to tell other people of how great and 682 00:28:49,272 --> 00:28:56,656 how good their messiah was, they 683 00:28:49,272 --> 00:28:58,896 took time to fall down before him 684 00:28:49,272 --> 00:29:02,020 and take in his greatness for themselves. 685 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,848 And then when jesus spoke still before he actually gave them 686 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:07,312 the commission, before he said to 687 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:09,424 go, what did he say to his disciples 688 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:10,060 then? 689 00:29:11,610 --> 00:29:15,670 He said, all power is given unto me. 690 00:29:15,970 --> 00:29:19,026 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 691 00:29:19,058 --> 00:29:23,842 And by saying that, what jesus was doing was, he was announcing 692 00:29:19,058 --> 00:29:27,910 that now he reigns over everything. 693 00:29:28,890 --> 00:29:33,402 And because he reigns, he was making it clear that he is the one 694 00:29:28,890 --> 00:29:37,412 who deserves worship from all nations. 695 00:29:37,596 --> 00:29:41,564 Everybody under heaven, everybody in earth, on the earth, 696 00:29:37,596 --> 00:29:43,644 was under his rule, under his reign, 697 00:29:37,596 --> 00:29:47,124 and deserved, he deserved their worship. 698 00:29:47,252 --> 00:29:49,844 We see this especially in places in the Old Testament, in different 699 00:29:47,252 --> 00:29:51,860 songs, where they worship and praise 700 00:29:47,252 --> 00:29:53,868 God because he reigns. 701 00:29:53,924 --> 00:29:57,300 First chronicles 1631 says, let the heavens be glad. 702 00:29:57,420 --> 00:30:02,506 Let the earth rejoice, and let men say, among the nations, the Lord 703 00:29:57,420 --> 00:30:03,658 reigneth. 704 00:30:03,794 --> 00:30:09,314 Psalm 67 four says, o, let the nations be glad and sing for joy, 705 00:30:03,794 --> 00:30:11,690 for thou shalt judge the people righteously 706 00:30:03,794 --> 00:30:14,950 and govern the nations upon the earth. 707 00:30:15,810 --> 00:30:20,698 One of my favorite books on missions is a book called let the 708 00:30:15,810 --> 00:30:24,498 nations be glad by a pastor who is 709 00:30:15,810 --> 00:30:24,978 an author. 710 00:30:25,034 --> 00:30:28,484 His name is John Piper, but he wrote this book, and it's been one 711 00:30:25,034 --> 00:30:30,548 of the most really impactful books 712 00:30:25,034 --> 00:30:32,652 about missions in my life. 713 00:30:32,676 --> 00:30:35,596 And in the opening lines of the book, he makes a really interesting 714 00:30:32,676 --> 00:30:36,200 statement. 715 00:30:36,580 --> 00:30:42,480 He says, missions exists because worship doesn't. 716 00:30:43,460 --> 00:30:46,640 Missions exist because worship doesn't. 717 00:30:47,300 --> 00:30:48,680 Why would he say that? 718 00:30:50,260 --> 00:30:51,440 What does that mean? 719 00:30:52,430 --> 00:30:55,006 Well, he's actually trying to point out two things, really. 720 00:30:55,078 --> 00:30:59,490 First of all, that the goal of missions is to worship. 721 00:31:00,670 --> 00:31:04,150 Missions serves the worship of God. 722 00:31:04,230 --> 00:31:07,918 And the goal of missions is to lead people to worship him. 723 00:31:08,014 --> 00:31:10,690 You know, one day, the great commission is going to be over, right? 724 00:31:11,110 --> 00:31:12,158 Jesus will return. 725 00:31:12,254 --> 00:31:13,422 Our task will be done. 726 00:31:13,486 --> 00:31:17,094 We won't be able to share the gospel with anyone else. 727 00:31:17,262 --> 00:31:19,000 Our task will end. 728 00:31:19,190 --> 00:31:23,640 Missions will end, but worship will never end. 729 00:31:24,220 --> 00:31:26,360 Like we looked at in revelation, five. 730 00:31:26,660 --> 00:31:31,680 People will fall down at Jesus feet and worship him for all of eternity. 731 00:31:32,020 --> 00:31:36,804 Psalm 1611 tells us, in thy presence, God is fullness of joy. 732 00:31:36,852 --> 00:31:40,556 At thy right hand are pleasures forevermore. 733 00:31:40,708 --> 00:31:45,488 So God intends missions just to play a temporary part. 734 00:31:45,684 --> 00:31:50,480 It's his plan to prepare a people from every nation to one day 735 00:31:45,684 --> 00:31:52,640 worship him and be in his presence 736 00:31:45,684 --> 00:31:53,512 forever. 737 00:31:53,656 --> 00:31:55,904 So worship is the goal of missions. 738 00:31:55,992 --> 00:32:00,432 But what that statement also is intending to teach is that worship 739 00:31:55,992 --> 00:32:02,660 is the fuel of missions. 740 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:07,904 Worship is what fires us up and makes us go and want to tell 741 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:10,056 people about our savior. 742 00:32:10,168 --> 00:32:14,516 It's our passion for Jesus, our love for him and his greatness. 743 00:32:14,588 --> 00:32:18,228 That is what compels us to tell others about him. 744 00:32:18,404 --> 00:32:21,316 You know, you can't lead others to worship someone that you 745 00:32:18,404 --> 00:32:22,892 yourself don't worship. 746 00:32:22,956 --> 00:32:23,564 Right? 747 00:32:23,732 --> 00:32:27,676 It's kind of like trying to sell someone a product that you don't 748 00:32:23,732 --> 00:32:29,396 believe is worth it, right? 749 00:32:29,468 --> 00:32:30,948 They're gonna see right through it. 750 00:32:30,964 --> 00:32:31,764 It's fake. 751 00:32:31,932 --> 00:32:34,100 It's the people who really believe in the product. 752 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:37,220 They're the ones that convince people to want to buy it, to receive 753 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:37,682 it. 754 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:41,342 So why would people want to worship Jesus, want to know him and 755 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:44,126 spend eternity with him, if we aren't 756 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:46,890 worshiping him, if we don't actually 757 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:49,694 enjoy him, if we're not passionate 758 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:52,598 about Jesus, why would our neighbors want 759 00:32:37,796 --> 00:32:53,290 to be? 760 00:32:54,270 --> 00:32:59,078 If we're not passionate about worshiping Jesus, why would our coworkers 761 00:32:54,270 --> 00:32:59,970 want to. 762 00:33:01,190 --> 00:33:06,230 Our goal is to proclaim to them that Jesus is worthy their worship. 763 00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:10,774 And if that's our goal, it first has to be what fuels us, what 764 00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:13,006 drives us and what moves us. 765 00:33:13,158 --> 00:33:18,370 Our lives ought to burst with joy at the goodness of Jesus. 766 00:33:19,310 --> 00:33:21,886 Now, just saying that you ought to enjoy something, does that 767 00:33:19,310 --> 00:33:23,210 make you enjoy it? 768 00:33:24,350 --> 00:33:24,710 No. 769 00:33:24,750 --> 00:33:28,118 Have you ever tried to tell your kids, if you have kids, to eat 770 00:33:24,750 --> 00:33:29,414 a meal that they weren't enjoying, 771 00:33:24,750 --> 00:33:30,910 did it work out very well? 772 00:33:31,070 --> 00:33:33,486 Maybe eventually you got them to eat it, but it's pretty tough, 773 00:33:31,070 --> 00:33:33,662 right? 774 00:33:33,686 --> 00:33:36,530 You can't make them want to do something. 775 00:33:37,590 --> 00:33:42,206 Now, the truth is, if you know God, you truly have multiple reasons 776 00:33:37,590 --> 00:33:44,126 to rejoice and to enjoy and to worship 777 00:33:37,590 --> 00:33:44,926 him, right? 778 00:33:45,078 --> 00:33:47,886 Sometimes we just need to be reminded of those truths. 779 00:33:48,078 --> 00:33:51,366 So to do that, you can turn to scripture and look at the many places 780 00:33:48,078 --> 00:33:53,182 that remind us of all the reasons 781 00:33:48,078 --> 00:33:56,366 that we have this privilege of worshiping. 782 00:33:56,398 --> 00:33:56,998 Goddess. 783 00:33:57,084 --> 00:34:00,650 One of my favorites, psalm 103, rehearses over and over again 784 00:33:57,084 --> 00:34:03,250 all of the benefits of knowing God. 785 00:34:03,290 --> 00:34:05,690 It says there in psalm 103, bless the Lord, o my soul. 786 00:34:05,730 --> 00:34:09,586 Forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, 787 00:34:05,730 --> 00:34:12,834 who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth 788 00:34:05,730 --> 00:34:15,738 thy life from destruction, who crowneth 789 00:34:05,730 --> 00:34:18,042 thee with loving kindness and tender 790 00:34:05,730 --> 00:34:18,870 mercies. 791 00:34:19,370 --> 00:34:22,274 One of my favorite parts, where he says later, for as a father 792 00:34:19,370 --> 00:34:24,728 pitieth his children, so the Lord 793 00:34:19,370 --> 00:34:26,888 pitieth them that fear him. 794 00:34:27,064 --> 00:34:31,180 For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust. 795 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,660 The compassion of God moves us to worship. 796 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:40,376 Or you can go all the way to the end, back to the book of revelation, 797 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:42,328 and look at the very end, the last 798 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:44,248 chapter, where you hear and you read 799 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:46,980 Jesus words, where he says, behold, 800 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:51,520 I make all things, things new. 801 00:34:52,740 --> 00:34:56,612 All of the sorrows, all of the suffering, all of the trouble that 802 00:34:52,740 --> 00:34:58,596 you face, all of the hard things 803 00:34:52,740 --> 00:35:00,680 of this life are done. 804 00:35:01,180 --> 00:35:02,916 Everything is new. 805 00:35:03,068 --> 00:35:05,800 Everything is perfect forever. 806 00:35:06,580 --> 00:35:10,100 Those truths, he's reminded of us over and over and over again. 807 00:35:10,140 --> 00:35:13,676 If we just rehearse those, remember those, meditate on his word, 808 00:35:10,140 --> 00:35:16,166 that reminds these of these truths 809 00:35:10,140 --> 00:35:18,290 that we will be led into worship, 810 00:35:10,140 --> 00:35:19,970 to enjoying, to praising him. 811 00:35:20,010 --> 00:35:24,834 And that is what will fuel us to go and share the gospel. 812 00:35:24,882 --> 00:35:28,378 So missions is first of all for worship. 813 00:35:28,474 --> 00:35:31,954 But more than that, Jesus tells us there in Matthew 28 that 814 00:35:28,474 --> 00:35:36,350 missions is also for discipleship. 815 00:35:37,210 --> 00:35:39,530 Missions is for discipleship. 816 00:35:39,650 --> 00:35:43,498 You know, in this passage, Jesus actually only gives just one 817 00:35:39,650 --> 00:35:44,310 command. 818 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:48,912 Only one phrase in this passage is an imperative, where he's 819 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:51,448 telling his disciples to do something 820 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:54,040 and all the other statements he makes 821 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:55,912 in the great commission are just telling 822 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:57,872 them how to do it, how to carry out 823 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:59,040 his one command. 824 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,584 And the only command that Jesus gives that lies at the center 825 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:05,048 of the great commission is the phrase 826 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:10,100 there in verse 19, teach all nations. 827 00:36:11,770 --> 00:36:15,150 Now, when you hear the word teach, what does that bring to mind? 828 00:36:17,450 --> 00:36:22,906 Maybe classrooms, a chalkboard, textbooks, things like 829 00:36:17,450 --> 00:36:23,594 that, right? 830 00:36:23,682 --> 00:36:25,430 Elementary school, high school. 831 00:36:26,250 --> 00:36:28,034 It brings to mind schoolwork, right? 832 00:36:28,082 --> 00:36:28,898 Homework. 833 00:36:29,074 --> 00:36:33,018 Well, the word teach that Jesus actually uses here is not that 834 00:36:29,074 --> 00:36:34,810 word for, like, giving instruction. 835 00:36:34,850 --> 00:36:37,202 He uses that word later where he says, teach them to observe all 836 00:36:34,850 --> 00:36:38,510 things I've commanded you. 837 00:36:38,690 --> 00:36:42,702 But this word teach is actually a verb for the same word 838 00:36:38,690 --> 00:36:44,930 that means a disciple. 839 00:36:45,590 --> 00:36:48,830 So when Jesus said, go teach all nations, what he was saying is, 840 00:36:45,590 --> 00:36:55,050 go make disciples among all nations. 841 00:36:56,150 --> 00:36:57,610 But what is a disciple? 842 00:37:01,350 --> 00:37:04,646 You know, sometimes bible words kind of lose their meaning 843 00:37:01,350 --> 00:37:05,900 on us over time, don't they? 844 00:37:05,990 --> 00:37:08,056 We get used to them, we get familiar with them. 845 00:37:08,128 --> 00:37:12,368 We use them, but we kind of forget what they actually mean, what 846 00:37:08,128 --> 00:37:14,112 they actually meant to Jesus and 847 00:37:08,128 --> 00:37:16,232 his followers at the time when he 848 00:37:08,128 --> 00:37:16,896 used it. 849 00:37:17,008 --> 00:37:18,368 It's kind of like the word church. 850 00:37:18,464 --> 00:37:21,912 We all know that the church is not the building, it's the what the 851 00:37:18,464 --> 00:37:22,336 people. 852 00:37:22,448 --> 00:37:24,160 But we still call our buildings churches. 853 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:24,352 Right. 854 00:37:24,376 --> 00:37:25,248 It's just habit. 855 00:37:25,344 --> 00:37:28,424 We're used to using scriptural terms in certain ways that we forget 856 00:37:25,344 --> 00:37:29,344 really what they mean. 857 00:37:29,392 --> 00:37:31,232 Even if we know in our minds what they mean. 858 00:37:31,376 --> 00:37:35,318 Our lives and our habits kind of betray that we, what we say that 859 00:37:31,376 --> 00:37:35,990 they mean. 860 00:37:36,110 --> 00:37:37,806 I think the word disciple is very similar. 861 00:37:37,878 --> 00:37:38,782 We're used to it. 862 00:37:38,806 --> 00:37:42,430 We use it, but we sometimes forget what it actually means. 863 00:37:42,470 --> 00:37:45,534 So when that happens, I find it helpful sometimes to think of 864 00:37:42,470 --> 00:37:47,262 another word or to use a different 865 00:37:42,470 --> 00:37:47,814 term. 866 00:37:47,942 --> 00:37:51,210 That kind of keeps the meaning fresh in my mind. 867 00:37:51,870 --> 00:37:54,894 And one person who's really helped me to better understand what 868 00:37:51,870 --> 00:37:57,894 discipleship to jesus is, is an author 869 00:37:51,870 --> 00:38:00,086 named Dallas Willard, and he defines 870 00:37:51,870 --> 00:38:01,560 discipleship this way. 871 00:38:01,750 --> 00:38:07,400 He says a disciple is simply an apprentice to Jesus. 872 00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:10,860 It's an apprentice to Jesus. 873 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:12,360 But why is that? 874 00:38:13,020 --> 00:38:16,920 Because an apprentice is somebody who learns from a master 875 00:38:13,020 --> 00:38:20,200 to become like his master. 876 00:38:21,180 --> 00:38:24,820 For example, in an apprenticeship, what does the student 877 00:38:21,180 --> 00:38:26,954 actually do in that relationship? 878 00:38:27,132 --> 00:38:29,854 Do they just sit in a classroom and receive instruction, 879 00:38:27,132 --> 00:38:31,526 write down notes and take a test, and that's 880 00:38:27,132 --> 00:38:32,130 it? 881 00:38:32,630 --> 00:38:33,370 No. 882 00:38:34,150 --> 00:38:38,398 You know, we use that, the word student, to describe that the 883 00:38:34,150 --> 00:38:39,870 word student can mean anybody that 884 00:38:34,150 --> 00:38:41,270 is just having information thrown 885 00:38:34,150 --> 00:38:42,598 at them, whether they receive it and 886 00:38:34,150 --> 00:38:43,790 actually use it or not. 887 00:38:43,950 --> 00:38:45,646 But an apprentice is different. 888 00:38:45,718 --> 00:38:49,530 An apprentice requires a much more personable approach. 889 00:38:49,910 --> 00:38:54,220 The aim is to become like the person who's training you. 890 00:38:54,720 --> 00:38:58,680 You spend time watching their movements, learning from them, usually 891 00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:00,736 how to do a certain craft or a certain 892 00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:03,920 job, and you watch them, and then 893 00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:05,456 you begin to copy them. 894 00:39:05,568 --> 00:39:07,860 You begin to do things like them. 895 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:10,992 At first, it feels awkward because it's not normal for you to 896 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:12,312 do things their way. 897 00:39:12,336 --> 00:39:15,680 But then the more you do it, you find yourself taking on their 898 00:39:12,336 --> 00:39:18,672 character, taking on their habits, 899 00:39:12,336 --> 00:39:21,272 where eventually what they do becomes 900 00:39:12,336 --> 00:39:22,664 like second nature to you. 901 00:39:22,792 --> 00:39:26,192 And then you become fully trained in that craft, and you can 902 00:39:22,792 --> 00:39:29,420 do that craft as well as the master. 903 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,640 So at that point, you no longer have to consciously think 904 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:34,280 and feel awkward trying to do things 905 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:35,000 like your master. 906 00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:38,220 It just becomes like second nature to you. 907 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:42,856 Well, Jesus actually tells us that that is what discipleship is. 908 00:39:43,008 --> 00:39:44,880 Luke chapter six, verse 40. 909 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,600 Jesus said that the disciple is not above his master, but everyone 910 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:50,552 that is perfect, or the word there 911 00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:52,100 means fully trained. 912 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:59,180 Everybody who's fully trained shall be as his master. 913 00:40:00,240 --> 00:40:04,848 So to be an apprentice to Jesus means you are learning from 914 00:40:00,240 --> 00:40:07,500 him to be like him. 915 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,368 Whereas the author I mentioned, who's helping me, the 916 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:12,630 one way he put it, he said, apprenticeship 917 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:16,302 to jesus means learning from jesus to 918 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:19,930 be whom he would be if he were me. 919 00:40:20,830 --> 00:40:25,318 So if jesus were a retired grandparent living in Middletown, 920 00:40:20,830 --> 00:40:28,118 Delaware, what would he be? 921 00:40:28,294 --> 00:40:29,530 What would he do? 922 00:40:30,030 --> 00:40:35,334 If jesus worked in your place of work, how would he interact with 923 00:40:30,030 --> 00:40:36,406 the coworkers? 924 00:40:36,558 --> 00:40:40,000 How would he treat the boss that mistreats you? 925 00:40:40,700 --> 00:40:44,560 How would he treat the neighbor who mistreats you? 926 00:40:45,780 --> 00:40:49,812 As an apprentice to Jesus, you are learning to become like him. 927 00:40:49,836 --> 00:40:52,428 And at first, like an apprentice with his master in the 928 00:40:49,836 --> 00:40:52,876 craft. 929 00:40:52,948 --> 00:40:55,020 It feels awkward, doesn't feel normal. 930 00:40:55,060 --> 00:41:00,044 But the more you follow him, become like him, it becomes like 931 00:40:55,060 --> 00:41:01,236 second nature. 932 00:41:01,308 --> 00:41:05,672 You take on his character, the character of Christ, and truly become 933 00:41:01,308 --> 00:41:07,728 what God has predestined us to be, 934 00:41:01,308 --> 00:41:09,448 what he says in romans eight, to 935 00:41:01,308 --> 00:41:12,420 be conformed to the image of Christ. 936 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:18,928 When jesus saves a person, he really, truly desires to save them 937 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:21,016 completely, not just forgive them, 938 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:23,528 not just allow them to live forever. 939 00:41:23,704 --> 00:41:28,040 He wants to save them and remake them into his image until 940 00:41:23,704 --> 00:41:30,140 the day he returns and he completes. 941 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:33,656 Colossians three tells us, you have put on the new man, which is 942 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:35,400 renewed in knowledge after the image 943 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:37,672 of him that created him. 944 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:41,392 One John three two says, beloved, now are we the sons of God, 945 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:42,608 and it does not yet appear what we 946 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:44,392 shall be, but we know that when he 947 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:46,960 shall appear, we shall be like him, 948 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:51,488 for we shall see him as he is, so 949 00:41:37,776 --> 00:41:54,024 we will become like Christ. 950 00:41:54,112 --> 00:41:57,178 And that is the central task of. 951 00:41:57,344 --> 00:41:58,490 Of the great commission. 952 00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:05,926 That is what Jesus commanded us to do, to be apprentices to him 953 00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:09,250 and then to go and to make more apprentices, 954 00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:12,006 more disciples who love him, worship 955 00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:15,126 him, follow him, and become like 956 00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:15,730 him. 957 00:42:16,590 --> 00:42:22,670 You know, what would happen to us in our churches if we truly believed 958 00:42:16,590 --> 00:42:25,342 that that is what missions was for? 959 00:42:25,486 --> 00:42:28,950 Not just for getting people into heaven, but for seeing them 960 00:42:25,486 --> 00:42:31,238 come to know Christ so that they 961 00:42:25,486 --> 00:42:33,770 can follow him and become like him? 962 00:42:34,550 --> 00:42:36,850 What would that do to our churches? 963 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:40,758 You know, how many church squabbles and disputes and arguments 964 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:44,670 would be quickly diffused if we believed, 965 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:46,810 and we taught people from the start 966 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:49,810 to become like Jesus, that Jesus 967 00:42:37,150 --> 00:42:51,630 saved them, to become like him. 968 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:56,994 How many people would turn to Christ and worship him if they saw 969 00:42:53,130 --> 00:42:59,150 the light of Jesus in us? 970 00:42:59,810 --> 00:43:04,670 They saw his compassion in us even when they mistreated us. 971 00:43:06,210 --> 00:43:10,058 How much better off would our neighbors be if our churches were 972 00:43:06,210 --> 00:43:13,218 permeated with people who lived so 973 00:43:06,210 --> 00:43:16,356 like Jesus that the distinction in 974 00:43:06,210 --> 00:43:18,400 their life made a huge difference 975 00:43:06,210 --> 00:43:20,564 where they truly were like what Jesus said. 976 00:43:20,612 --> 00:43:20,940 Salt. 977 00:43:20,980 --> 00:43:22,680 That hasn't lost its savor. 978 00:43:24,060 --> 00:43:27,268 You know, many times the reason we don't see these things 979 00:43:24,060 --> 00:43:30,324 happening in many churches is because 980 00:43:24,060 --> 00:43:32,508 we operate with an incomplete view 981 00:43:24,060 --> 00:43:34,120 of the great commission. 982 00:43:34,700 --> 00:43:39,200 We substitute apprenticeship to Jesus for other things. 983 00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:43,562 We tell people Jesus can save them from hell, but then we don't 984 00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:45,066 tell them he actually wants to do 985 00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:45,866 more than that. 986 00:43:45,978 --> 00:43:49,322 He wants to save them from their sin and remake them into his 987 00:43:45,978 --> 00:43:49,950 image. 988 00:43:50,410 --> 00:43:53,410 We teach people how to present the gospel. 989 00:43:53,530 --> 00:43:57,110 We provide evangelistic programs and times to do so. 990 00:43:58,010 --> 00:44:01,682 But we don't emphasize the need for people to live like Jesus 991 00:43:58,010 --> 00:44:03,710 by actually doing what he said. 992 00:44:04,490 --> 00:44:07,562 We tell people that their lives need to be distinct from the 993 00:44:04,490 --> 00:44:09,286 world to make a difference. 994 00:44:09,478 --> 00:44:12,902 But many times we limit what that distinction is to just how they 995 00:44:09,478 --> 00:44:14,570 vote or how they look. 996 00:44:15,230 --> 00:44:18,790 And we don't actually train them to live with radical compassion 997 00:44:15,230 --> 00:44:21,650 and goodness and kindness like Christ. 998 00:44:23,190 --> 00:44:25,806 And please know when I'm saying that, I'm not saying this 999 00:44:23,190 --> 00:44:26,870 because I think that your church 1000 00:44:23,190 --> 00:44:28,198 is doing that at all. 1001 00:44:28,334 --> 00:44:32,598 I don't know your church very well, but I know myself, and I know 1002 00:44:28,334 --> 00:44:33,726 the churches I've been in. 1003 00:44:33,758 --> 00:44:38,064 I know how I have acted many times within my own church. 1004 00:44:38,192 --> 00:44:41,776 I've cared more about articulating the gospel correctly 1005 00:44:38,192 --> 00:44:43,600 than I have actually treating fellow church 1006 00:44:38,192 --> 00:44:45,128 members like Christ commanded me 1007 00:44:38,192 --> 00:44:45,700 to. 1008 00:44:47,080 --> 00:44:49,296 I have done all of these things. 1009 00:44:49,448 --> 00:44:52,920 You know, we all fall short of being like Jesus in one way or another. 1010 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:56,048 But apprenticeship to Jesus isn't an option, is it? 1011 00:44:56,224 --> 00:45:00,912 It's what he commanded us to do, to follow him and to make disciples 1012 00:44:56,224 --> 00:45:03,578 so that others would follow and worship 1013 00:44:56,224 --> 00:45:04,390 him. 1014 00:45:04,850 --> 00:45:07,658 He's commissioned us to not only be like him ourselves, but to 1015 00:45:04,850 --> 00:45:10,018 go into all the world to reach others 1016 00:45:04,850 --> 00:45:12,522 and to train them to become like 1017 00:45:04,850 --> 00:45:13,110 him. 1018 00:45:14,090 --> 00:45:18,650 You know, I'm beyond grateful for how our churches and others like 1019 00:45:14,090 --> 00:45:21,210 ours have had a passion for missions, 1020 00:45:14,090 --> 00:45:23,890 a passion for spreading the gospel 1021 00:45:14,090 --> 00:45:25,426 around the world. 1022 00:45:25,458 --> 00:45:26,106 And I'm glad. 1023 00:45:26,178 --> 00:45:29,094 I grew up in a church that was passionate about missions. 1024 00:45:29,242 --> 00:45:31,862 I grew up in a church that had missions, conferences where I got 1025 00:45:29,242 --> 00:45:33,222 to meet missionaries and see what 1026 00:45:29,242 --> 00:45:34,166 missions was about. 1027 00:45:34,278 --> 00:45:37,886 And already from a young age, God used that to stir in my heart 1028 00:45:34,278 --> 00:45:40,570 a love and a desire for missions. 1029 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:44,726 And I hope that your church and my church and other churches 1030 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:47,670 like ours will continue for generations 1031 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:50,502 to be used by God to spread the gospel 1032 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:52,494 around the world. 1033 00:45:52,662 --> 00:45:57,582 But to do that for us to truly be a part of what Jesus is doing 1034 00:45:52,662 --> 00:45:59,814 in our world and what he wants people 1035 00:45:52,662 --> 00:46:02,262 to do for us to continue to do that 1036 00:45:52,662 --> 00:46:05,030 for generations to come, I believe we 1037 00:45:52,662 --> 00:46:07,070 have to remember what missions is 1038 00:45:52,662 --> 00:46:08,290 really for. 1039 00:46:09,110 --> 00:46:13,766 Missions exists to make disciples of Jesus who worship and 1040 00:46:09,110 --> 00:46:16,302 enjoy him forever. 1041 00:46:16,486 --> 00:46:17,598 That's our mission. 1042 00:46:17,694 --> 00:46:18,710 That's our desire. 1043 00:46:18,790 --> 00:46:19,870 That's our goal. 1044 00:46:19,990 --> 00:46:23,558 To go to Spain to make disciples and plant healthy churches 1045 00:46:19,990 --> 00:46:25,966 so that the people in Spain can know 1046 00:46:19,990 --> 00:46:28,340 and worship Jesus. 1047 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:32,224 And my hope is that God will use your church, Middletown Baptist, 1048 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:34,920 to do that here and do that as you support 1049 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:36,832 and send people around the world 1050 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:38,976 to obey the great commission to make 1051 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:41,200 disciples so people will love, know 1052 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:43,848 and worship our savior who's worthy 1053 00:46:28,680 --> 00:46:44,888 of worship. 1054 00:46:45,064 --> 00:46:45,576 Let's pray. 1055 00:46:45,608 --> 00:46:49,180 Lord, I thank you that you have given us this task. 1056 00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:54,016 Lord, you have allowed us to be a part of your plan in redeeming 1057 00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:55,660 people from around the world. 1058 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:00,464 Lord, not only have you given us the privilege of knowing you ourselves 1059 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:02,480 and having confidence that we will 1060 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:04,888 spend eternity in heaven with you 1061 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:07,392 before your face, worshiping you 1062 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:08,256 forever. 1063 00:47:08,448 --> 00:47:12,000 But, Lord, you have done so much more in allowing us to participate 1064 00:47:08,448 --> 00:47:14,112 with you and seeing others be able 1065 00:47:08,448 --> 00:47:15,100 to do the same. 1066 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:20,456 I pray that we as a church, and we as followers of Christ would 1067 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:22,632 love you, cherish you, adore you, 1068 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:25,168 and strive to become like you by 1069 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:27,392 the power of your spirit so that 1070 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:29,256 we can be the kind of people that you 1071 00:47:15,560 --> 00:47:31,020 use to make disciples. 1072 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:32,296 We love you. 1073 00:47:32,408 --> 00:47:34,216 We ask this in Jesus name. 1074 00:47:34,368 --> 00:47:35,180 Amen. 1075 00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:40,780 Thank you, Colton. 1076 00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:43,312 There we go. 1077 00:47:43,416 --> 00:47:43,952 Thank you, Colton. 1078 00:47:43,976 --> 00:47:44,664 I appreciate that. 1079 00:47:44,712 --> 00:47:48,312 You know, I think a lot of times we think that there are things 1080 00:47:44,712 --> 00:47:50,726 that we have to do in church, like 1081 00:47:44,712 --> 00:47:51,798 we have to do this and we have to 1082 00:47:44,712 --> 00:47:52,574 meet at this time. 1083 00:47:52,662 --> 00:47:55,654 There's a lot of things that we think are mandatory within church. 1084 00:47:55,782 --> 00:47:58,438 You know, the one thing that's mandatory within the church is what 1085 00:47:55,782 --> 00:47:59,366 we just heard about this evening, 1086 00:47:55,782 --> 00:48:00,250 the great commission. 1087 00:48:00,590 --> 00:48:03,758 But so many times we put the great commission way behind all the 1088 00:48:00,590 --> 00:48:04,966 other things that we think have to 1089 00:48:00,590 --> 00:48:05,934 happen within the church. 1090 00:48:06,022 --> 00:48:08,822 Not that those things are wrong, but so many times we get our 1091 00:48:06,022 --> 00:48:10,238 priorities mixed up. 1092 00:48:10,414 --> 00:48:11,902 This is the priority. 1093 00:48:11,966 --> 00:48:16,466 This is the marching order from God to the church to follow 1094 00:48:11,966 --> 00:48:17,710 the great commission. 1095 00:48:18,770 --> 00:48:23,550 I hope as a church that we see that as our first and foremost priority. 1096 00:48:24,530 --> 00:48:27,258 Many times we can see ourselves thinking, well, you know 1097 00:48:24,530 --> 00:48:27,830 what? 1098 00:48:28,370 --> 00:48:29,682 This isn't the way that I like it. 1099 00:48:29,706 --> 00:48:31,098 This isn't the way that I want it to be. 1100 00:48:31,154 --> 00:48:34,738 And I loved what Colton said about a lot of the squabbles that 1101 00:48:31,154 --> 00:48:36,202 we have within churches could just go 1102 00:48:31,154 --> 00:48:37,466 away if we just realized that that's 1103 00:48:31,154 --> 00:48:37,738 not. 1104 00:48:37,794 --> 00:48:38,890 That's not helping us. 1105 00:48:39,010 --> 00:48:41,434 When we fight amongst ourselves or when we have issues 1106 00:48:39,010 --> 00:48:43,304 amongst ourselves, we're not going 1107 00:48:39,010 --> 00:48:44,840 to do the effective work of the gospel 1108 00:48:39,010 --> 00:48:45,536 ministry. 1109 00:48:45,688 --> 00:48:47,160 And so I thank you for that, Colton. 1110 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:49,560 We all needed to hear that message here this evening. 1111 00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:50,344 For sure. 1112 00:48:50,512 --> 00:48:52,968 It's a little bit of a precursor to what our theme is going 1113 00:48:50,512 --> 00:48:54,420 to be for 2025. 1114 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:58,000 I can tell you that our theme for 2025 is going to be wrapped up 1115 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:59,912 in that passage of scripture right 1116 00:48:54,960 --> 00:49:00,264 there. 1117 00:49:00,352 --> 00:49:02,328 I don't want to give away too much, but we're looking forward to 1118 00:49:00,352 --> 00:49:03,360 some awesome things that are going 1119 00:49:00,352 --> 00:49:05,032 to happen next year when it comes to 1120 00:49:00,352 --> 00:49:05,576 being. 1121 00:49:05,728 --> 00:49:08,380 Being the church and being a missional church. 1122 00:49:08,990 --> 00:49:11,182 You know, we have missionaries, but why do we have 1123 00:49:08,990 --> 00:49:11,678 missionaries? 1124 00:49:11,734 --> 00:49:14,206 Because all independent baptist churches have missionaries 1125 00:49:11,734 --> 00:49:15,126 and we need to have missionaries. 1126 00:49:15,158 --> 00:49:18,646 No, there's a purpose to why we have 29 missionary families. 1127 00:49:18,678 --> 00:49:19,382 There's a purpose to. 1128 00:49:19,406 --> 00:49:20,654 Why we want to add more on. 1129 00:49:20,702 --> 00:49:22,094 There's a purpose to all of this. 1130 00:49:22,222 --> 00:49:25,278 And that is as acts chapter one, verse eight, says, to go to 1131 00:49:22,222 --> 00:49:28,862 our Jerusalem here in Judea and Samaria. 1132 00:49:28,966 --> 00:49:29,646 And then what? 1133 00:49:29,678 --> 00:49:31,022 To the uttermost part of the earth. 1134 00:49:31,086 --> 00:49:31,470 And that's. 1135 00:49:31,510 --> 00:49:33,014 That's the whole goal for our church. 1136 00:49:33,142 --> 00:49:33,382 So. 1137 00:49:33,406 --> 00:49:35,350 So you might not be called to Spain, but guess what? 1138 00:49:35,390 --> 00:49:36,388 The Gideons are. 1139 00:49:36,534 --> 00:49:39,560 And so you can pray and you can invest into the Gideon's life 1140 00:49:36,534 --> 00:49:42,576 so that we can then effectively reach 1141 00:49:36,534 --> 00:49:44,608 all people, all nations. 1142 00:49:44,704 --> 00:49:45,688 All right, so that's. 1143 00:49:45,784 --> 00:49:46,464 That's the thought. 1144 00:49:46,512 --> 00:49:47,500 That's the goal. 1145 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:49,664 Well, I thank you, Colton. 1146 00:49:49,712 --> 00:49:52,224 Thank you, Allie, for being here with us, and I appreciate their 1147 00:49:49,712 --> 00:49:52,744 video. 1148 00:49:52,872 --> 00:49:55,280 Appreciate to hear the wife's perspective right. 1149 00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:57,792 Sometimes we see folks going off into a mission field and we think, 1150 00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:58,936 what's the family thinking about 1151 00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:59,540 this? 1152 00:50:00,120 --> 00:50:00,488 You know? 1153 00:50:00,504 --> 00:50:02,688 And I would encourage you to pray for them as they're going through 1154 00:50:00,504 --> 00:50:03,980 this deputation process. 1155 00:50:04,510 --> 00:50:07,550 Two young girls that are going to be going off into the mission 1156 00:50:04,510 --> 00:50:09,638 field and, you know, I can't even imagine 1157 00:50:04,510 --> 00:50:11,502 taking my children to another country, 1158 00:50:04,510 --> 00:50:12,110 no less. 1159 00:50:12,190 --> 00:50:14,846 We left Florida and came to Delaware and everyone freaked out. 1160 00:50:14,918 --> 00:50:17,730 I can't imagine going across the Atlantic Ocean. 1161 00:50:18,030 --> 00:50:22,010 But I know that they have a supportive family, both sides. 1162 00:50:22,350 --> 00:50:24,894 And I was going to mention, you guys know Allie's dad. 1163 00:50:24,942 --> 00:50:27,370 He was just here, brother Chris Phillips. 1164 00:50:27,750 --> 00:50:29,382 So I know they have a good support staff. 1165 00:50:29,446 --> 00:50:32,214 I know they're being sent out from a wonderful church at Greece. 1166 00:50:32,342 --> 00:50:34,222 And so I'm excited to see what God's going to do. 1167 00:50:34,246 --> 00:50:36,894 So as you guys head out this evening, please stop by the table, 1168 00:50:34,246 --> 00:50:38,382 let Colton and Allie know you're praying 1169 00:50:34,246 --> 00:50:39,130 for them. 1170 00:50:39,470 --> 00:50:40,310 Grab a prayer. 1171 00:50:40,350 --> 00:50:41,390 You have prayer cards, right? 1172 00:50:41,430 --> 00:50:41,686 All right. 1173 00:50:41,718 --> 00:50:42,886 Make sure you grab a prayer card. 1174 00:50:42,918 --> 00:50:45,734 Put that up somewhere that you're used to seeing a lot. 1175 00:50:45,822 --> 00:50:48,558 I know for me, it's either the fridge or at my office. 1176 00:50:48,654 --> 00:50:48,982 Okay. 1177 00:50:49,006 --> 00:50:51,686 Because those are the two places I'm at the most, I think so. 1178 00:50:51,718 --> 00:50:52,190 So those. 1179 00:50:52,230 --> 00:50:54,262 Those are places that you could do that. 1180 00:50:54,286 --> 00:50:54,894 You could put those. 1181 00:50:54,942 --> 00:50:58,342 And then, like I said before, if you feel like God's leading you 1182 00:50:54,942 --> 00:51:00,022 to give a love offering to them, 1183 00:50:54,942 --> 00:51:00,846 make sure you do that. 1184 00:51:00,878 --> 00:51:03,502 Put that in the box there in the lobby, and I know that they would 1185 00:51:00,878 --> 00:51:05,462 appreciate that and just be praying 1186 00:51:00,878 --> 00:51:07,050 about how we can partner with them. 1187 00:51:07,870 --> 00:51:10,390 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 1188 00:51:07,870 --> 00:51:11,270 podcast. 1189 00:51:11,430 --> 00:51:13,970 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 1190 00:51:14,350 --> 00:51:16,606 If you would like to find out more information about our church 1191 00:51:14,350 --> 00:51:20,286 or this sermon, you can find us@middletownbaptistchurch.org 1192 00:51:14,350 --> 00:51:23,210 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 1193 00:51:23,710 --> 00:51:28,770 You can also email me directly@joshmissaroiddletownbaptastchurch.com. 1194 00:51:29,080 --> 00:51:32,592 if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 1195 00:51:29,080 --> 00:51:35,660 along for future podcasts and updates. 1196 00:51:36,040 --> 00:51:37,176 Thank you so much. 1197 00:51:37,288 --> 00:51:38,104 God bless. 1198 00:51:38,232 --> 00:51:39,820 Have a wonderful day. 1199 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:43,544 Foresee maybe in the future, once they're settled in Spain, you 1200 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:43,912 know, we can. 1201 00:51:43,936 --> 00:51:46,032 We already have a lot of spanish speakers in the church. 1202 00:51:46,136 --> 00:51:47,712 We can just go on over there and make it. 1203 00:51:47,736 --> 00:51:48,680 Make it a trip. 1204 00:51:48,840 --> 00:51:51,080 Excited to see what God's going to do in their lives.