1 00:00:32,019 --> 00:00:34,619 Thank you very much for that, ladies. If you have your Bibles, 2 00:00:34,619 --> 00:00:37,659 turn to second Timothy, chapter number three. Second Timothy, 3 00:00:37,659 --> 00:00:43,419 chapter number three. I really appreciate having some teenage girls 4 00:00:43,419 --> 00:00:48,979 who are willing to get up and sing in that setting. It's much different 5 00:00:49,059 --> 00:00:52,219 if you're going to come up and stand in the choir loft, then actually 6 00:00:52,219 --> 00:00:55,259 have to hold a mic that you know is going to pick you up. But 7 00:00:55,259 --> 00:00:58,509 I appreciate their willingness to sing tonight. Second Timothy, 8 00:00:58,509 --> 00:01:01,029 chapter number three. We're looking at just a few verses tonight. 9 00:01:02,549 --> 00:01:07,909 We're going to start in verse number 14. The Bible says, but continue 10 00:01:08,069 --> 00:01:12,389 thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured 11 00:01:12,389 --> 00:01:17,149 of knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child 12 00:01:17,149 --> 00:01:19,989 thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make 13 00:01:19,989 --> 00:01:23,149 thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ 14 00:01:23,149 --> 00:01:28,029 Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable 15 00:01:28,029 --> 00:01:32,509 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction and 16 00:01:32,509 --> 00:01:36,749 righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished 17 00:01:36,749 --> 00:01:40,188 unto all good works. Let's pray and we'll talk about the topic 18 00:01:40,188 --> 00:01:43,309 of continuing tonight. Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Lord, 19 00:01:43,309 --> 00:01:46,069 thank you for our seniors and their families. Lord, thank you for 20 00:01:46,229 --> 00:01:49,429 your grace in all of our lives as you've brought us this far. Lord, 21 00:01:49,429 --> 00:01:52,589 I pray that you would hide me behind the cross tonight. Lord, I 22 00:01:52,589 --> 00:01:54,709 pray that you would help me to say only the words that you want 23 00:01:54,709 --> 00:01:57,949 me to say. Lord, I pray that something I say will be of some help 24 00:01:57,949 --> 00:02:01,109 to someone tonight. Lord, I pray that you would encourage our 25 00:02:01,109 --> 00:02:05,309 hearts through it, Lord, in Jesus name I pray. Amen. How many 26 00:02:05,309 --> 00:02:09,909 of you like a good road trip? We have road trippers in here. I 27 00:02:09,909 --> 00:02:13,469 like a good road trip, but a good road trip is like three hours, 28 00:02:14,349 --> 00:02:18,829 right? I need enough time to stop at a gas station, get some snacks. 29 00:02:20,749 --> 00:02:22,989 You know, snacks that you would never normally eat unless you're 30 00:02:22,989 --> 00:02:26,669 on a road trip. Is that just me? I don't know. I'm not a road. 31 00:02:27,069 --> 00:02:29,749 Certainly not a beef jerky guy, because I don't have beef jerky 32 00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:34,509 money, right? But on a road trip, beef jerky's on the table, 33 00:02:34,509 --> 00:02:40,549 right? I like short road trips. The long ones, they get me 34 00:02:40,549 --> 00:02:45,549 a little bit. The longest road trip I ever took was from Lancaster, 35 00:02:45,629 --> 00:02:53,469 California to Tampa, Florida. I was 18 and I was by myself and 36 00:02:53,629 --> 00:02:57,029 I stayed with a friend at his house there in Lancaster for a couple 37 00:02:57,029 --> 00:03:00,508 days after graduation while I was trying to figure out where I 38 00:03:00,508 --> 00:03:07,869 was going. And I got in my car. It must have been, I don't know, 39 00:03:07,869 --> 00:03:10,529 maybe six Five o' clock in the morning. Right. Because that's the 40 00:03:10,529 --> 00:03:13,609 appropriate time to start a road trip. And I got in the car and 41 00:03:13,609 --> 00:03:16,489 I drove. And if you drive from Lancaster, you drive down the 14 42 00:03:16,489 --> 00:03:19,929 and you drive into LA and you hit all the LA traffic and all that. 43 00:03:21,049 --> 00:03:25,489 Yeah, all that stuff there. And then you get on the 405 and you 44 00:03:25,489 --> 00:03:29,329 take it over and then you get on Interstate 10. And if you're a 45 00:03:29,329 --> 00:03:33,289 big maps person or geography person, Interstate 10 is a lawn one. 46 00:03:34,089 --> 00:03:38,639 And I will never, ever forget, my playlist was empty because I already 47 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:42,599 finished every song that we already had because I sat in LA traffic 48 00:03:43,639 --> 00:03:50,399 and I had already used all my skips on Pandora and I hit the little 49 00:03:50,399 --> 00:03:54,559 loop that comes off of 410 and I got Interstate 10 and Siri came 50 00:03:54,559 --> 00:04:00,119 over my phone or my car speaker and said, for the next 975 51 00:04:00,119 --> 00:04:08,689 miles, continue straight. Whoa. And it just hit me like a ton 52 00:04:08,689 --> 00:04:14,529 of bricks what I had gotten myself into. The Christian life is 53 00:04:14,849 --> 00:04:19,329 not unlike a really long road trip. It's not something that can 54 00:04:19,329 --> 00:04:23,569 be ran in a day. It's not something that is done in a week 55 00:04:23,569 --> 00:04:26,929 or a month. There may be periods of our lives that are more 56 00:04:26,929 --> 00:04:31,259 impactful than others, but really it's a slow marathon here. 57 00:04:31,259 --> 00:04:35,179 In this passage, we have the Apostle Paul writing to Timothy and 58 00:04:35,339 --> 00:04:40,339 he's giving him his final encouragements before Paul was to 59 00:04:40,339 --> 00:04:44,659 be killed. And you often wonder maybe what you might say in 60 00:04:44,659 --> 00:04:48,779 those situations. Read the book of second Timothy, because that's 61 00:04:48,779 --> 00:04:52,619 what Paul said to Timothy in that situation. However, I think 62 00:04:52,619 --> 00:04:56,099 some of it's very applicable, not just to our seniors, but to. 63 00:04:56,889 --> 00:05:00,769 To all of us tonight. And I really just have three things that 64 00:05:00,769 --> 00:05:04,169 we ought to continue in, three things that we ought to continue 65 00:05:04,329 --> 00:05:08,089 in. First off, tonight, we ought to continue in the things we 66 00:05:08,089 --> 00:05:12,649 learned as a child. Verse 13, it says. Verse 14, it says, but continue 67 00:05:12,649 --> 00:05:14,929 thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured 68 00:05:14,929 --> 00:05:18,169 of knowing of whom thou has learned them, and that from a child 69 00:05:18,569 --> 00:05:21,889 thou has known the Holy Scriptures. You see, Paul was talking 70 00:05:21,889 --> 00:05:25,319 to Timothy here, who was raised in a godly home, and he had 71 00:05:25,319 --> 00:05:28,799 a mother and a grandmother who instilled the Scriptures, specifically 72 00:05:28,799 --> 00:05:32,439 the Hebrew scriptures, into Timothy, and he knew the right things 73 00:05:32,439 --> 00:05:35,639 from the wrong things. And can I just tell you seniors tonight, 74 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:40,839 don't stray away from what you've learned as a child. Remember 75 00:05:41,239 --> 00:05:45,559 the people who taught you. If we sit back and we think about, especially 76 00:05:45,559 --> 00:05:48,359 those of us who have grown up in church, and I know there's some 77 00:05:48,359 --> 00:05:50,399 People in here who have grown up in church who are even further 78 00:05:50,399 --> 00:05:53,659 down the road than I am. I can recall things that Sunday school 79 00:05:53,659 --> 00:05:58,779 teachers told me as a kid that were impactful to me. If you're like 80 00:05:58,779 --> 00:06:00,659 me and you grew up some other churches. I also remember things 81 00:06:00,659 --> 00:06:03,019 that Sunday school teachers told me that were, like, way off, 82 00:06:03,499 --> 00:06:07,139 right? But I remember things that people told me that were impactful 83 00:06:07,139 --> 00:06:10,579 to me. I remember specific conversations that I had with my 84 00:06:10,579 --> 00:06:14,139 youth pastor, specific conversations that I had with my 85 00:06:14,139 --> 00:06:19,079 pastor that were impactful to me as a young person. And if I can 86 00:06:19,079 --> 00:06:22,599 just encourage you, remember those conversations and remember 87 00:06:22,599 --> 00:06:27,359 those people. I'll never forget when I asked Pastor with what 88 00:06:27,359 --> 00:06:32,359 he thought about west coast, and I was like, 50, 50 on where I 89 00:06:32,359 --> 00:06:37,399 was going to go, and I was down between Heartland Baptist Bible 90 00:06:37,399 --> 00:06:40,919 College and West Coast Baptist Bible College. And if I'm being really 91 00:06:40,919 --> 00:06:43,519 honest with you guys tonight, the reason I wanted to go to Heartland 92 00:06:43,519 --> 00:06:48,289 is because it's cheap. It's really cheap. And I remember I was 93 00:06:48,289 --> 00:06:50,849 really nervous to talk to Pastor, and he was standing right 94 00:06:50,849 --> 00:06:53,689 outside under this port, a cachet here. And I went to him and 95 00:06:53,689 --> 00:06:55,929 I was like, hey, Pastor, you got a second? And he said, yeah. 96 00:06:55,929 --> 00:06:58,489 And I said, all right, I'm thinking about going, you know, to 97 00:06:58,489 --> 00:07:01,529 West Coast. What do you think of that? And he gave the spiel that 98 00:07:01,529 --> 00:07:03,729 he gives, probably everyone with it. And he said, well, he's 99 00:07:03,729 --> 00:07:06,729 like, I agree with West Coast 95%. And he started going into the 100 00:07:06,729 --> 00:07:10,009 5% that he disagreed with. And I said, okay, well, what do you think 101 00:07:10,009 --> 00:07:12,899 about Heartland? And he goes, I agree with Heartland 100%. And 102 00:07:12,899 --> 00:07:16,819 he started talking about some of the differences there. And so, 103 00:07:16,819 --> 00:07:19,779 like any good Christian, I left. And I was like, I think I'm 104 00:07:19,779 --> 00:07:25,459 supposed to go to West Coast. But remember the people who taught 105 00:07:25,459 --> 00:07:32,539 you. I'm using some silly examples here, right? But as I've 106 00:07:33,339 --> 00:07:39,419 grown up, gone through college and have continued to study and have 107 00:07:39,419 --> 00:07:43,159 continued to learn, I can honestly say that I've come back 108 00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:47,799 more grounded in the things that I was taught here in this church. 109 00:07:48,599 --> 00:07:52,839 The things that I've learned, I've become more sure of. I've become 110 00:07:53,079 --> 00:08:03,239 more positive in what you guys have been taught is not just opinion. 111 00:08:04,439 --> 00:08:11,529 It's not just, well, my way or the highway. What you guys have been 112 00:08:11,529 --> 00:08:13,529 taught and really what our church has been taught from this 113 00:08:13,529 --> 00:08:19,489 pulpit faithfully for 20 years or more is the truth from God's word. 114 00:08:20,369 --> 00:08:23,329 Let's not shy away from the things that we were taught as children. 115 00:08:24,049 --> 00:08:25,969 So, number one, we ought to continue in the things we learned 116 00:08:25,969 --> 00:08:28,209 as children. But number two, we ought to continue in the Scriptures. 117 00:08:30,049 --> 00:08:32,209 One of the things I so appreciate about Pastor and one of 118 00:08:32,209 --> 00:08:34,449 the things I so appreciate about this church, and really, every 119 00:08:34,449 --> 00:08:37,519 single person we have in this pulpit will tell you to go home and 120 00:08:37,519 --> 00:08:42,159 read your Bibles. It's one of the things. It's a reoccurring theme. 121 00:08:42,159 --> 00:08:45,039 You hear it all the time in every ministry, over and over and 122 00:08:45,039 --> 00:08:48,359 over and over and over and over and over again. And one of the 123 00:08:48,359 --> 00:08:51,119 most important things about that is one, yes, it's good for you 124 00:08:51,119 --> 00:08:55,519 spiritually, you will grow. But it backs up what's being said 125 00:08:55,519 --> 00:08:58,799 here. If you think that there's something different, go look 126 00:08:58,799 --> 00:09:04,569 for yourself. It's here. The guide for life is right here, written 127 00:09:04,569 --> 00:09:10,609 for us. I'm kind of a sentimental guy. I have three Bibles. 128 00:09:10,609 --> 00:09:13,529 I have one that's almost brand new that I bought specifically for 129 00:09:13,529 --> 00:09:18,048 preaching that I've never used. I have one that I used through 130 00:09:18,048 --> 00:09:22,449 all high school and all of college, and I cannot use it anymore. 131 00:09:22,769 --> 00:09:26,809 It is falling apart so much that Hebrews is in the Old Testament 132 00:09:26,809 --> 00:09:30,979 now, and we just. We're causing some issues there. And then 133 00:09:30,979 --> 00:09:34,099 I have this Bible. I've had this Bible forever. But one of my 134 00:09:34,099 --> 00:09:37,699 friends stole this Bible and wrote in the front of it the little 135 00:09:37,699 --> 00:09:40,459 acronym for Bible. I know you guys have heard this before. Basic 136 00:09:40,459 --> 00:09:43,219 instructions before leaving earth. Written right here in the 137 00:09:43,219 --> 00:09:48,779 front. You know, the Scriptures are truly the cornerstone, 138 00:09:48,779 --> 00:09:52,659 the guide for our whole life. It's the foundation upon which we 139 00:09:52,659 --> 00:09:56,759 build not just our beliefs, but our worldview. See, worldview 140 00:09:56,759 --> 00:10:04,119 is more than just beliefs. It's all encompassing. A Christian 141 00:10:04,119 --> 00:10:08,199 worldview takes what you believe and applies it to every area 142 00:10:08,199 --> 00:10:12,719 of life. And the scripture can give you this worldview. Can I tell 143 00:10:12,719 --> 00:10:16,839 you that the Scripture is authoritative? All scripture is given 144 00:10:16,839 --> 00:10:21,759 by inspiration of God. Let me tell you, I've done some study in 145 00:10:21,759 --> 00:10:25,579 the last few months on this word, inspiration. It is so cool. 146 00:10:26,619 --> 00:10:29,459 If you have time, I recommend you go and do a little word study 147 00:10:29,459 --> 00:10:32,419 there. The Greek word, which I can't pronounce and don't even want 148 00:10:32,419 --> 00:10:36,779 to try the Greek word there. Inspiration is actually a word that 149 00:10:36,779 --> 00:10:42,499 comes from the Odyssey, that story. And the word there was originally 150 00:10:42,499 --> 00:10:47,059 used as a wayfaring, a seafaring word. And it means to have 151 00:10:47,059 --> 00:10:51,229 the boat be guided by wind. That's how it was used. So when you 152 00:10:51,229 --> 00:10:54,549 have a sailboat and your sailboat's going, it's guided by 153 00:10:54,549 --> 00:10:57,029 that wind. And really, you have some control, but not really 154 00:10:57,029 --> 00:11:00,189 a whole lot there. And this whole verse here, all scripture is 155 00:11:00,189 --> 00:11:03,989 given by inspiration. It says literally God was driving the boat 156 00:11:03,989 --> 00:11:08,789 that the men were using to write the scripture. It's authoritative. 157 00:11:10,069 --> 00:11:15,069 Not only is the Bible completely true, it contains all 158 00:11:15,069 --> 00:11:20,369 truth. It contains all practical truth for your life. Everything 159 00:11:20,369 --> 00:11:23,129 that you could possibly know, everything that you could possibly 160 00:11:23,129 --> 00:11:27,529 need to know in life is here in the book. But not just its authority. 161 00:11:28,809 --> 00:11:33,609 It's applicable. It's applicable. This isn't just something 162 00:11:33,609 --> 00:11:37,529 that we read and study to gain more head knowledge, it's heart knowledge. 163 00:11:38,569 --> 00:11:42,249 As we read the book, the book gets into us and it ought to change 164 00:11:42,249 --> 00:11:47,479 us. The mark of a Christian life is one who studies the Bible 165 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:53,279 and lets it change them. Second Timothy, earlier on in this 166 00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:56,879 book, Paul implores Timothy, he says, study to show thyself approved 167 00:11:56,879 --> 00:12:00,399 unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Why? Because 168 00:12:00,399 --> 00:12:06,039 he rightly divides the word of truth. The Bible's authority in our 169 00:12:06,039 --> 00:12:11,169 life has no bounds. You want to know what you should do for college? 170 00:12:11,729 --> 00:12:15,449 Look in the book. Want to know who you should marry? Look in the 171 00:12:15,449 --> 00:12:19,369 book. Want to know what we should play on the radio? It's in 172 00:12:19,369 --> 00:12:25,889 the book. Want to know how we should dress or. I was going to say 173 00:12:25,889 --> 00:12:27,769 what color the church carpet ought to be, but I don't think that 174 00:12:27,769 --> 00:12:33,489 one's in there. You see, it gives a plan and a guide for every 175 00:12:33,489 --> 00:12:37,239 area of our life. So not only should we continue in scripture, 176 00:12:37,239 --> 00:12:40,359 but if I can encourage you guys tonight, continue in your calling. 177 00:12:41,399 --> 00:12:48,519 Continue in your calling. I find it interesting and enjoyable, 178 00:12:50,519 --> 00:12:53,759 sometimes humorous, to sit down with some of our juniors and 179 00:12:53,759 --> 00:12:57,879 seniors and start talking with them about their plans for college 180 00:12:58,199 --> 00:13:03,529 and beyond. Some of them are very sure of themselves by that time 181 00:13:03,529 --> 00:13:06,329 and they know exactly what they're doing. They say, I believe 182 00:13:06,329 --> 00:13:09,729 this is what God's called me to do. And I'm gonna go be an ICU 183 00:13:09,729 --> 00:13:13,889 nurse. And I say, God bless you. That's a lot of school. Not 184 00:13:13,889 --> 00:13:19,209 for me. Go you right? Sometimes I'll sit down and talk 185 00:13:19,209 --> 00:13:22,849 with them and they'll say, well, I want to do this. And usually 186 00:13:22,849 --> 00:13:25,329 my follow up question is, well, what does God want you to do? 187 00:13:26,699 --> 00:13:31,259 And I find it interesting sometimes those two don't match up, 188 00:13:32,059 --> 00:13:36,219 right? They'll say one thing for what they want to do and then 189 00:13:36,219 --> 00:13:38,099 I say, well, what does God want you to do? And they'll say, 190 00:13:38,099 --> 00:13:42,979 well, God wants me to do this. Can I tell you? God has a calling 191 00:13:42,979 --> 00:13:50,019 on each and every one of Our life. It's something that is written 192 00:13:50,019 --> 00:13:57,069 on our hearts. I have been told this and it said a lot to ministry 193 00:13:57,069 --> 00:13:59,749 students, especially as you're in Bible college, they'll tell you, 194 00:13:59,749 --> 00:14:04,909 they say if you can go do anything else, go do it. It's not 195 00:14:04,909 --> 00:14:10,189 really good encouragement. Right. But the reality is is they 196 00:14:10,189 --> 00:14:15,389 want you to know it's a calling. But if I can say it this 197 00:14:15,389 --> 00:14:19,599 way, whatever it is you're going to go do, if you could do anything 198 00:14:19,599 --> 00:14:23,799 else, go do it. You ought to be so sure in what you are going 199 00:14:23,799 --> 00:14:27,919 to go do is God's will for your life that you couldn't possibly 200 00:14:28,159 --> 00:14:32,399 do anything else. We talked just this morning in youth group 201 00:14:32,399 --> 00:14:36,439 about the Widow with no Name. It was an awesome lesson. It was 202 00:14:36,439 --> 00:14:41,239 titled no Name, no Money. It was awesome. But as we talked about 203 00:14:41,239 --> 00:14:45,399 the widow who gave her two mites, it's probably the best outline 204 00:14:45,399 --> 00:14:48,719 I've ever heard for discerning God's will in your life. And it's 205 00:14:48,719 --> 00:14:53,319 opportunity and obligation. When God presents opportunities in 206 00:14:53,319 --> 00:14:59,119 our life and I'm obligated to do it. I could give many examples 207 00:14:59,119 --> 00:15:04,679 and I did this morning. One of the most prevalent examples in my 208 00:15:04,679 --> 00:15:07,119 mind is when Pastor approached me a couple years ago and asked about 209 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:10,209 working in the youth department. And I told him I would 210 00:15:10,209 --> 00:15:15,489 pray about it. And that was a opportunity presented to me. And 211 00:15:15,489 --> 00:15:18,329 I sought counsel and I got counsel, kind of both directions. 212 00:15:18,329 --> 00:15:20,249 I had some people tell me to do it, some people tell me not to 213 00:15:20,249 --> 00:15:24,249 do it. But as I thought about it, this opportunity that was in 214 00:15:24,249 --> 00:15:28,329 front of me, I felt obligated to do it. And it was God's way of 215 00:15:28,489 --> 00:15:34,489 confirming in my heart his calling. You ought to feel obligated 216 00:15:35,419 --> 00:15:38,259 to what God is wanting you to do. You ought to continue in your 217 00:15:38,259 --> 00:15:42,299 calling. Why? Because verse 17, that the man of God may be perfect, 218 00:15:42,699 --> 00:15:47,619 thoroughly furnished unto all good works. You see, as you build 219 00:15:47,619 --> 00:15:50,698 your life, you continue in the things that you have learned as a 220 00:15:50,698 --> 00:15:55,459 child. You don't depart from them. Not to the left, not to the 221 00:15:55,459 --> 00:16:00,739 right. You stay in from there. You continue to build your life on 222 00:16:00,739 --> 00:16:06,079 the scriptures. You seek the Book. What does God want for me? 223 00:16:06,239 --> 00:16:11,319 What does God's revealed truth to humankind have for my life? And 224 00:16:11,319 --> 00:16:15,999 if you build your life on the Scriptures, at the end of it, you 225 00:16:15,999 --> 00:16:20,919 have a calling that you can be short of. It's something that you 226 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:24,799 can be faithful where you're planted, whether that's Crown College, 227 00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:31,039 whether that's pcc, tcc, Texas Women's University, whatever it may 228 00:16:31,039 --> 00:16:35,079 Be wherever you are. You ought to be faithful where you're planted. 229 00:16:36,199 --> 00:16:39,159 Can I tell you tonight? Wherever you are, let's be faithful 230 00:16:39,159 --> 00:16:42,839 where we're planted. The steps of a good man are ordered by the 231 00:16:42,839 --> 00:16:48,479 Lord. We're all here where we're at for a reason. Let's be faithful 232 00:16:48,479 --> 00:16:56,369 here. We ought to be fruitful with purpose. We got to seek to follow 233 00:16:56,369 --> 00:17:07,969 the Lord and do our best in it. We ought to continue, seniors, 234 00:17:07,969 --> 00:17:17,049 you ought to continue. Time would be too far gone to really dig 235 00:17:17,049 --> 00:17:26,059 into this. And as I'm thinking up here, I'm thinking through many 236 00:17:26,059 --> 00:17:29,419 conversations I've had with, with each and every one of you and 237 00:17:29,419 --> 00:17:34,099 thinking through the conversations I had as a teenager 238 00:17:34,099 --> 00:17:39,459 with some of you in their spot. And I feel like we're all just 239 00:17:39,459 --> 00:17:44,179 kind of telling each other the same thing to stay faithful. And 240 00:17:44,179 --> 00:17:48,859 that's what a church family does. It's a place for you to call 241 00:17:48,859 --> 00:17:54,699 home, for you to return home to, that we can encourage you. We're 242 00:17:54,699 --> 00:17:59,499 excited for you. We really are. We want you guys to go and do 243 00:17:59,499 --> 00:18:05,059 great things, but come back home. We miss you guys. So we can 244 00:18:05,059 --> 00:18:15,189 encourage you and tell you to continue and stay faithful like you've 245 00:18:15,189 --> 00:18:22,909 done for me and so many others. I really believe we're grateful 246 00:18:22,909 --> 00:18:27,589 to be in one of the best churches in America. I never thought 247 00:18:27,989 --> 00:18:36,789 I'd be on staff with one of my old youth pastors. Little literal 248 00:18:36,789 --> 00:18:42,989 there, but it's okay. Some of the kids in my youth department were 249 00:18:42,989 --> 00:18:47,269 in the same youth department with my youth pastor. It's a big 250 00:18:47,269 --> 00:18:52,469 cycle goes over and over where we encourage you to continue. But 251 00:18:52,469 --> 00:19:00,229 can I tell you, it's your turn. Give it a couple years over 252 00:19:00,229 --> 00:19:03,109 there. Some of the kiddos out here, they're gonna be right where 253 00:19:03,109 --> 00:19:06,789 you're at, and you're gonna be sitting out here. It's your turn. 254 00:19:07,669 --> 00:19:12,069 You gotta encourage them to continue. But if I can just close 255 00:19:12,069 --> 00:19:16,109 with this as pastor comes, the only way you can encourage them to 256 00:19:16,109 --> 00:19:21,189 continue as you have is you have to be there. If you're not there, 257 00:19:21,589 --> 00:19:25,549 you can't encourage them. If you don't stick with it, you can't 258 00:19:25,549 --> 00:19:32,499 tell them to continue. It's a big cycle it, and you're just a part 259 00:19:32,499 --> 00:19:37,499 in it. But now it's your time to take the truth that God has given 260 00:19:37,499 --> 00:19:42,859 you and run with it and continue in the things which thou 261 00:19:42,859 --> 00:19:44,619 hast been taught. As pastor comes.