1 00:00:31,779 --> 00:00:32,179 Amen. 2 00:00:32,499 --> 00:00:34,339 They don't light your fire, your woods wet. 3 00:00:34,339 --> 00:00:34,819 Amen. 4 00:00:35,539 --> 00:00:36,819 Some good music this morning. 5 00:00:36,819 --> 00:00:40,739 I appreciate our choir musicians and do such a wonderful 6 00:00:40,739 --> 00:00:44,259 job and it is good to have Brother Locke with us this morning. 7 00:00:44,579 --> 00:00:47,899 And Brother Locke is the former pastor of Lake Worth Baptist 8 00:00:47,899 --> 00:00:49,579 Church, but pastored there for years and years. 9 00:00:49,579 --> 00:00:55,299 As your emeritus title, I don't know, but minister at large. 10 00:00:56,119 --> 00:00:58,839 And not a large ministry, the ministry at large. 11 00:00:58,839 --> 00:01:01,199 And it's good to see Brother Zellner here this morning as well. 12 00:01:01,199 --> 00:01:03,559 And I know Brother Zellner and Brother Locke are good friends. 13 00:01:04,119 --> 00:01:07,079 And Brother Locke, you come on preach to us this morning. 14 00:01:10,599 --> 00:01:11,479 Thank you, my friend. 15 00:01:11,479 --> 00:01:12,119 Thank you. 16 00:01:13,079 --> 00:01:17,759 Well, let me take a moment, if I might today to say how I am such 17 00:01:17,759 --> 00:01:20,119 indebted to Edwin Zellner. 18 00:01:20,599 --> 00:01:25,569 61 years ago I walked into his life and as a professor at a Bible 19 00:01:25,569 --> 00:01:31,089 college and we have had an ongoing relationship that's been 20 00:01:31,089 --> 00:01:34,209 very positive and profitable for me. 21 00:01:34,849 --> 00:01:40,449 Don't believe anything he says about fly fishing, though we have 22 00:01:40,449 --> 00:01:42,289 had some times out on the. 23 00:01:42,369 --> 00:01:45,889 Out on the streams and have enjoyed that time. 24 00:01:45,889 --> 00:01:48,689 But what a precious man brother Zellner is. 25 00:01:48,689 --> 00:01:51,569 And you've been blessed having been in your church for a while. 26 00:01:52,089 --> 00:01:53,449 And I thank God for him. 27 00:01:53,929 --> 00:01:57,449 Turn your Bibles today to Matthew chapter 16, if you will, 28 00:01:57,449 --> 00:01:57,849 please. 29 00:01:58,249 --> 00:01:59,689 Matthew, chapter 16. 30 00:02:00,729 --> 00:02:03,849 I want to preach today, this afternoon about the beginning of 31 00:02:03,849 --> 00:02:05,369 New Testament churches. 32 00:02:06,089 --> 00:02:08,569 The beginning of New Testament churches. 33 00:02:10,569 --> 00:02:14,089 Now, if you were to study about where the first light bulb 34 00:02:14,089 --> 00:02:18,289 came from, it would be from Thomas Edison in 1879. 35 00:02:18,289 --> 00:02:21,129 Aren't you glad you're living in an illuminated building today? 36 00:02:22,079 --> 00:02:23,559 Somebody said if it hadn't been for. 37 00:02:23,559 --> 00:02:26,639 Thomas Edison, you'd have to watch TV in the dark. 38 00:02:28,959 --> 00:02:29,919 Praise God. 39 00:02:30,079 --> 00:02:30,719 Amen. 40 00:02:31,839 --> 00:02:33,439 Now aren't you glad you're not flying. 41 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,519 To someplace distant in that little contraption yet? 42 00:02:38,519 --> 00:02:40,319 That's how people traveled years ago. 43 00:02:40,319 --> 00:02:44,759 We can thank the Wright brothers for the traveling of airplanes 44 00:02:44,759 --> 00:02:46,559 that take us all over the world today. 45 00:02:47,529 --> 00:02:49,529 And you can thank Henry Ford for. 46 00:02:49,769 --> 00:02:52,849 Putting together a simulign of T models. 47 00:02:52,849 --> 00:02:56,489 And have changed the world about transportation today. 48 00:02:56,889 --> 00:02:58,289 But if you're going to study about. 49 00:02:58,289 --> 00:03:00,369 The first church, you're going to have. 50 00:03:00,369 --> 00:03:01,689 To turn to Matthew 16. 51 00:03:02,489 --> 00:03:07,329 And you're going to need to understand that Jesus Christ started 52 00:03:07,329 --> 00:03:08,249 the first church. 53 00:03:09,209 --> 00:03:12,979 Matthew 16, verse 17. 54 00:03:13,859 --> 00:03:16,899 And Jesus answered and said unto him, that's to Peter. 55 00:03:16,899 --> 00:03:18,779 Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona. 56 00:03:18,779 --> 00:03:20,939 For flesh and blood hath not revealed. 57 00:03:20,939 --> 00:03:23,139 Unto thee, but my father which is in heaven. 58 00:03:23,459 --> 00:03:25,899 And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter. 59 00:03:25,899 --> 00:03:29,099 And upon this rock I will build my church. 60 00:03:29,099 --> 00:03:32,699 And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 61 00:03:32,699 --> 00:03:35,659 And I give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 62 00:03:35,659 --> 00:03:37,899 And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth. 63 00:03:37,899 --> 00:03:39,219 Shall be bound in heaven. 64 00:03:39,709 --> 00:03:42,069 Whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall. 65 00:03:42,069 --> 00:03:44,109 Be loosed in heaven. 66 00:03:44,589 --> 00:03:46,589 You need to know this about the church. 67 00:03:46,909 --> 00:03:48,829 Jesus planted the first church. 68 00:03:49,469 --> 00:03:50,989 He planted the first church. 69 00:03:51,309 --> 00:03:53,029 He's the one that thought about it. 70 00:03:53,029 --> 00:03:56,149 Now, I know most people think, well, I bet it was a committee of. 71 00:03:56,149 --> 00:03:57,829 Preachers that got together and wanted to. 72 00:03:57,829 --> 00:03:58,989 Foul up our weekend. 73 00:03:59,469 --> 00:04:00,789 So he created the church. 74 00:04:00,789 --> 00:04:03,229 No, Jesus started the first church. 75 00:04:03,709 --> 00:04:05,149 He's the source of it. 76 00:04:05,559 --> 00:04:07,639 He also possesses the church. 77 00:04:07,799 --> 00:04:10,519 He said, I will build my church. 78 00:04:10,519 --> 00:04:13,159 Not your church, not our church, his church. 79 00:04:13,719 --> 00:04:16,639 He's been doing that now for 2,000 years. 80 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:19,639 He purchased that church with his own blood. 81 00:04:20,919 --> 00:04:24,999 He also presides over it as the head of the church. 82 00:04:25,719 --> 00:04:26,999 He's present here today. 83 00:04:26,999 --> 00:04:28,399 I don't know how many you have here today. 84 00:04:28,399 --> 00:04:30,279 I hope it's another record attendance. 85 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,119 But you need to add one more to it. 86 00:04:32,119 --> 00:04:33,159 Jesus is here today. 87 00:04:33,969 --> 00:04:37,689 He promised to walk in among us and do his work in our lives and 88 00:04:37,689 --> 00:04:38,609 thank God for that. 89 00:04:38,849 --> 00:04:43,809 And Jesus also perpetuated the church for now 2000 years. 90 00:04:43,889 --> 00:04:46,569 That first church then became churches. 91 00:04:46,569 --> 00:04:50,729 This is, by the way, the first time the word church is used in the 92 00:04:50,729 --> 00:04:51,089 Bible. 93 00:04:51,409 --> 00:04:56,049 And it's directly connected to Jesus Christ himself. 94 00:04:57,409 --> 00:05:00,129 See, the church was built by Jesus. 95 00:05:00,609 --> 00:05:03,329 On Jesus, and for Jesus. 96 00:05:03,489 --> 00:05:04,849 We're not here for ourselves. 97 00:05:05,969 --> 00:05:06,929 We're here for him. 98 00:05:07,569 --> 00:05:10,209 He's the one that made this all possible. 99 00:05:10,689 --> 00:05:13,689 And so the first thing I want to say today is that the origin. 100 00:05:13,689 --> 00:05:17,569 Of the New Testament church is divine and not human. 101 00:05:18,369 --> 00:05:19,569 This church has started. 102 00:05:19,809 --> 00:05:22,569 That Jesus started was a divine church. 103 00:05:22,569 --> 00:05:24,369 It wasn't started by a bunch of men. 104 00:05:24,919 --> 00:05:26,119 Men have started churches. 105 00:05:26,439 --> 00:05:30,439 But the church Jesus started was a divine institution. 106 00:05:30,679 --> 00:05:33,319 The church is not an Old Testament institution. 107 00:05:33,559 --> 00:05:35,319 It's a New Testament institution. 108 00:05:35,319 --> 00:05:37,999 You don't find the church in the Old Testament, not the church 109 00:05:37,999 --> 00:05:38,999 of Jesus Christ. 110 00:05:39,239 --> 00:05:40,679 It's in the New Testament. 111 00:05:40,919 --> 00:05:43,799 The church was founded by Jesus Christ. 112 00:05:44,359 --> 00:05:45,839 During his earthly ministry. 113 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,479 If you would turn to Mark 3. 114 00:05:47,479 --> 00:05:49,719 Or Luke 6, you can do that at your convenience. 115 00:05:49,959 --> 00:05:50,219 You can. 116 00:05:50,289 --> 00:05:53,089 You'd find out that after a night of prayer, Jesus took From 117 00:05:53,089 --> 00:05:56,609 the disciples 12 men that he ordained to be with him. 118 00:05:56,609 --> 00:06:00,129 And those those 12 became the first church. 119 00:06:00,129 --> 00:06:04,009 The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 12:28 that God sent some 120 00:06:04,009 --> 00:06:05,449 in the church first. 121 00:06:05,449 --> 00:06:09,489 Apostles says in Ephesians 2 that the church is built upon the 122 00:06:09,649 --> 00:06:14,729 foundation of the apostles and Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. 123 00:06:14,729 --> 00:06:15,289 Are you with me? 124 00:06:15,289 --> 00:06:19,819 Today Jesus Christ started the first church. 125 00:06:21,899 --> 00:06:22,419 LR. 126 00:06:22,419 --> 00:06:23,339 Scarborough said. 127 00:06:23,339 --> 00:06:26,299 It's certainly true that Christ, in his own personal ministry, 128 00:06:26,299 --> 00:06:27,419 established his church. 129 00:06:27,739 --> 00:06:31,579 LR Scarborough was the second president of Southwestern Seminary. 130 00:06:31,899 --> 00:06:34,979 You'll find most Southern Baptists, and if you're here today, 131 00:06:34,979 --> 00:06:36,139 you'll tolerate this. 132 00:06:36,459 --> 00:06:39,819 But most Southern Baptists do not believe in an ancient beginning, 133 00:06:39,819 --> 00:06:41,499 but in a modern beginning. 134 00:06:41,819 --> 00:06:43,779 They believe the church started much later. 135 00:06:43,779 --> 00:06:46,409 Than Christ and not by Christ himself. 136 00:06:46,809 --> 00:06:48,769 Out of the material prepared by John. 137 00:06:48,769 --> 00:06:52,489 The Baptist, Jesus organized and founded his churches during the 138 00:06:52,489 --> 00:06:55,369 days of his personal ministry here on the earth. 139 00:06:56,809 --> 00:07:01,409 The church was not founded on the day of Pentecost by the Holy 140 00:07:01,409 --> 00:07:01,849 Spirit. 141 00:07:02,489 --> 00:07:05,969 Was not founded on the day of Pentecost by the Holy Spirit. 142 00:07:05,969 --> 00:07:07,129 Most people believe that. 143 00:07:07,449 --> 00:07:09,849 They believe it because it's been taught to them. 144 00:07:09,849 --> 00:07:14,179 But the fact is, the day of Pentecost was not the formation of 145 00:07:14,179 --> 00:07:14,579 the church. 146 00:07:14,579 --> 00:07:16,739 It was the confirmation of the church. 147 00:07:18,259 --> 00:07:20,299 You remember the buildings that God had built? 148 00:07:20,299 --> 00:07:22,499 He had a temporary tabernacle. 149 00:07:22,579 --> 00:07:23,979 What happened to that tabernacle? 150 00:07:23,979 --> 00:07:25,499 When it was put together, a cloud. 151 00:07:25,499 --> 00:07:27,339 Of glory came on it and identified. 152 00:07:27,339 --> 00:07:28,659 That as the house of God. 153 00:07:28,899 --> 00:07:30,779 When the temple was built, what happened? 154 00:07:30,779 --> 00:07:34,339 A glory cloud came over the temple and it identified it as the 155 00:07:34,339 --> 00:07:35,139 house of God. 156 00:07:35,539 --> 00:07:38,579 And by the time Jesus came around when he built the church, 157 00:07:39,189 --> 00:07:41,269 when he left, he said, I'm going to give you the Spirit. 158 00:07:41,269 --> 00:07:43,669 And when the day of Pentecost came. 159 00:07:43,669 --> 00:07:45,509 Another cloud of glory came on that. 160 00:07:45,509 --> 00:07:49,069 And that was the work of the Lord on that new house. 161 00:07:49,069 --> 00:07:52,829 He's got a new house in the neighborhood now, and that house 162 00:07:52,829 --> 00:07:54,549 is the Lord's church. 163 00:07:56,149 --> 00:07:59,749 And so the Father envisioned the church, and the Son equipped 164 00:07:59,749 --> 00:08:02,709 the church, and the Spirit empowered the church. 165 00:08:04,879 --> 00:08:08,999 Number two, the nature of the New Testament church is local and 166 00:08:08,999 --> 00:08:11,759 visible, not universal and invisible. 167 00:08:13,359 --> 00:08:16,639 Gray Allison, who I got to preach a conference with, once said 168 00:08:16,639 --> 00:08:16,959 this. 169 00:08:17,119 --> 00:08:19,279 The Ecclesia is a local church. 170 00:08:19,279 --> 00:08:22,079 This is what Christ meant when he used the Word. 171 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:25,679 Would the apostles have been able to understand any other meaning? 172 00:08:26,239 --> 00:08:29,879 What other kind can minister the word to lost persons as well 173 00:08:29,879 --> 00:08:34,089 as minister the physical needs of poor other Other kind? 174 00:08:34,169 --> 00:08:38,489 Or what other kind can preach the gospel? 175 00:08:39,369 --> 00:08:41,689 You see, the church is local and visible. 176 00:08:41,849 --> 00:08:43,609 Now, when I use the term local. 177 00:08:43,689 --> 00:08:45,849 Church, that's a redundancy. 178 00:08:46,409 --> 00:08:48,169 That's the only kind of church in the Bible. 179 00:08:48,169 --> 00:08:49,769 That's like saying widow woman. 180 00:08:49,849 --> 00:08:51,689 Well, if she's a widow, she's a woman. 181 00:08:53,449 --> 00:08:56,849 If you have a free gift, you don't need to put free on it. 182 00:08:56,849 --> 00:08:58,169 If it's a gift, it's free. 183 00:08:59,779 --> 00:09:02,619 If it's ancient history, you already know it's ancient because 184 00:09:02,619 --> 00:09:03,299 it's history. 185 00:09:05,219 --> 00:09:07,299 It's redundant to say local church. 186 00:09:07,299 --> 00:09:11,259 Now the only reason that I use it is to clarify it for those who 187 00:09:11,259 --> 00:09:13,299 don't understand what the New Testament. 188 00:09:13,299 --> 00:09:15,139 Says about the church. 189 00:09:17,059 --> 00:09:21,499 One of our pastors in this area, Bob Pearl over at Birchman 190 00:09:21,499 --> 00:09:25,389 Avenue Baptist Church, wrote a book called the the Vanishing Church. 191 00:09:25,389 --> 00:09:26,309 And he said this. 192 00:09:26,309 --> 00:09:30,469 Why all the debate about the distinction between the universal 193 00:09:30,469 --> 00:09:31,309 and local church? 194 00:09:31,309 --> 00:09:36,029 Why spend all so much time on the etymology of ecclesia and its 195 00:09:36,029 --> 00:09:37,549 uses in the New Testament? 196 00:09:37,709 --> 00:09:39,069 The reason is simple. 197 00:09:39,309 --> 00:09:41,909 Misunderstanding the New Testament concept of the. 198 00:09:41,909 --> 00:09:45,269 Church diminishes the importance of the local church to 199 00:09:45,269 --> 00:09:46,509 the individual believer. 200 00:09:47,469 --> 00:09:51,869 With the local church, when the local church is trumped by the 201 00:09:51,869 --> 00:09:55,989 universal church, personal accountability is minimized, Christian's 202 00:09:55,989 --> 00:09:59,789 growth is stunted and practically the local church vanishes. 203 00:09:59,789 --> 00:10:01,949 That's the title of his church, the Vanishing Church. 204 00:10:02,429 --> 00:10:06,309 People move from church to church to bless each congregation 205 00:10:06,309 --> 00:10:11,229 with their gifts and insights only to become spiritual pygmies. 206 00:10:11,229 --> 00:10:12,109 That's what he said. 207 00:10:12,429 --> 00:10:17,389 The work of God in this world is done primarily through the local 208 00:10:17,629 --> 00:10:18,429 congregation. 209 00:10:18,429 --> 00:10:20,389 That's God's plan. 210 00:10:21,029 --> 00:10:21,949 That's God's plan. 211 00:10:21,949 --> 00:10:23,469 You're in the right place today for. 212 00:10:23,469 --> 00:10:26,309 God to do a work because he does it in his. 213 00:10:26,549 --> 00:10:27,829 In his congregation. 214 00:10:30,309 --> 00:10:35,989 BH Carroll said the whole modern idea of a now existent universal 215 00:10:35,989 --> 00:10:40,349 invisible, that is, he said in his day it became something new. 216 00:10:40,349 --> 00:10:42,829 It was a modern idea from. 217 00:10:42,829 --> 00:10:49,339 It was borrowed from Paedo Baptist, that is churches that don't 218 00:10:49,819 --> 00:10:52,779 practice sprinkling. 219 00:10:53,979 --> 00:10:58,939 They borrowed it from churches that sprinkle confessions of faith 220 00:10:58,939 --> 00:11:00,379 during the Reformation time. 221 00:11:00,699 --> 00:11:05,419 And the paedobaptists devised it to offset the equally erroneous 222 00:11:05,419 --> 00:11:08,459 idea of the Romanist universal visible church. 223 00:11:08,859 --> 00:11:10,219 I love this next statement. 224 00:11:10,779 --> 00:11:14,389 We, we need to be well indoctrinated on this point because 225 00:11:14,389 --> 00:11:15,749 the air is not harmless. 226 00:11:16,549 --> 00:11:22,229 The use of it is used to depreciate Christ. 227 00:11:22,869 --> 00:11:25,909 Earth church, the pillar and ground of the trees. 228 00:11:26,629 --> 00:11:28,069 God's got an earth church. 229 00:11:28,629 --> 00:11:29,829 He's got several of them. 230 00:11:29,829 --> 00:11:30,869 He's got a lot of them. 231 00:11:31,509 --> 00:11:33,749 And it's a local visible church. 232 00:11:35,989 --> 00:11:41,789 1644, First London Baptist Confession of Faith had no mention 233 00:11:41,949 --> 00:11:44,829 of a universal church, just a local church. 234 00:11:44,989 --> 00:11:47,869 They came together for prayer and ministry and stuff. 235 00:11:48,509 --> 00:11:54,629 In 1833, the New Hampshire Confession of Faith had no mention 236 00:11:54,629 --> 00:11:55,789 of Universal Church. 237 00:11:56,909 --> 00:12:01,749 1925, the Baptist faith and message that was taken on by the 238 00:12:01,749 --> 00:12:04,079 Southern Baptist Convention had no mention of. 239 00:12:04,629 --> 00:12:06,629 Of a universal Church. 240 00:12:07,589 --> 00:12:11,829 It was not until 1963, the year I graduated high school. 241 00:12:12,149 --> 00:12:12,909 What a great year. 242 00:12:12,909 --> 00:12:15,909 I'm surprised you didn't walk up and say, are you the bullfrog 243 00:12:15,909 --> 00:12:16,949 from Lake worth? 244 00:12:17,589 --> 00:12:18,749 Graduated in 63. 245 00:12:18,749 --> 00:12:20,468 You gotta be tough to be a bullfrog. 246 00:12:22,069 --> 00:12:22,789 That's it. 247 00:12:23,669 --> 00:12:30,789 Well, in 1963, they added, the church is the body of Christ, which 248 00:12:30,789 --> 00:12:33,029 includes all the redeemed of all the ages. 249 00:12:33,719 --> 00:12:35,799 Southern Baptists had never believed that or. 250 00:12:35,799 --> 00:12:40,439 Taught that until it was codified in 1963. 251 00:12:43,079 --> 00:12:47,239 The man that did that was Herschel Hobbes, pastor of the First 252 00:12:47,239 --> 00:12:48,839 Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. 253 00:12:49,239 --> 00:12:53,159 He made this remark, the first new development in ecclesiology among 254 00:12:53,239 --> 00:12:56,319 Southern Baptists since 1845. 255 00:12:56,319 --> 00:12:58,919 That's when the convention began, 1845. 256 00:12:59,159 --> 00:13:01,479 He said, this is the first time this has happened. 257 00:13:02,039 --> 00:13:04,999 And he was celebrating the fact that they had finally brought 258 00:13:04,999 --> 00:13:06,999 a universal church position into it. 259 00:13:07,319 --> 00:13:09,639 I wondered what Dr. Hobbs would say today. 260 00:13:10,999 --> 00:13:13,319 Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. 261 00:13:13,719 --> 00:13:19,559 That church today has a woman pastor by the name of Sarah Stewart. 262 00:13:20,279 --> 00:13:24,239 Her husband works as the minister of discipleship in youth. 263 00:13:24,239 --> 00:13:25,879 Wouldn't that be an interesting evening meal? 264 00:13:30,079 --> 00:13:32,879 It doesn't take very much movement for some people to go wrong. 265 00:13:33,119 --> 00:13:38,879 They confirmed this position in 2000 when they declared, the New 266 00:13:38,879 --> 00:13:43,239 Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ, which 267 00:13:43,239 --> 00:13:47,519 includes the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe 268 00:13:47,519 --> 00:13:49,759 and tongue and people and nations. 269 00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:53,319 Let me just give you real five really quick reasons why you need 270 00:13:53,319 --> 00:13:54,879 to have a local only position. 271 00:13:55,659 --> 00:13:58,459 It advances the meaning of the word ecclesia. 272 00:13:59,019 --> 00:14:01,019 Ecclesia means assembly. 273 00:14:01,259 --> 00:14:03,659 You can't have a church that doesn't assemble. 274 00:14:05,259 --> 00:14:08,139 If you're a congregation, you got to congregate. 275 00:14:08,699 --> 00:14:11,419 If you're an assembly, you've got to assemble. 276 00:14:11,819 --> 00:14:14,299 Excuse me for doing a Dave McCracken move here. 277 00:14:15,179 --> 00:14:16,939 I taught Dave in Bible College. 278 00:14:16,939 --> 00:14:17,339 Don't. 279 00:14:17,499 --> 00:14:19,979 And I appreciate you not reminding me of that. 280 00:14:25,219 --> 00:14:28,899 It also reinforces the compelling need for church membership. 281 00:14:29,299 --> 00:14:31,899 You need to have a membership in your church to be able to know 282 00:14:31,899 --> 00:14:33,699 who's a believer and who's not a believer. 283 00:14:34,179 --> 00:14:39,139 It also exposes the danger of interdenominationalism, ecumenicalism. 284 00:14:39,379 --> 00:14:43,539 It underscores the church's complete autonomy and dependence 285 00:14:43,539 --> 00:14:44,059 on Christ. 286 00:14:44,059 --> 00:14:48,979 And it places the need to maintain doctrinal purity in each 287 00:14:48,979 --> 00:14:49,859 congregation. 288 00:14:50,829 --> 00:14:52,269 Let me say this about this church. 289 00:14:52,349 --> 00:14:52,789 I know. 290 00:14:52,789 --> 00:14:53,669 I've known about you. 291 00:14:53,669 --> 00:14:57,309 Matter of fact, you started in Lake Worth and you got out of God's 292 00:14:57,309 --> 00:14:58,429 will and moved to Haslet. 293 00:14:59,469 --> 00:15:01,349 No, I told the pastor yesterday. 294 00:15:01,349 --> 00:15:04,829 I said this was a God thing for you guys to get out here, buy 295 00:15:04,829 --> 00:15:07,789 this land, no houses out here at that time. 296 00:15:07,789 --> 00:15:12,029 And God blew it up just for you, just for his glory, just so 297 00:15:12,029 --> 00:15:13,149 you could reach this community. 298 00:15:13,149 --> 00:15:14,589 And I thank God for that. 299 00:15:15,229 --> 00:15:16,429 I thank God for that. 300 00:15:19,159 --> 00:15:20,159 But you know what you need? 301 00:15:20,159 --> 00:15:22,719 You not only need a good pastor and a good staff, you need 302 00:15:22,719 --> 00:15:24,919 a good congregation that believes this stuff. 303 00:15:25,719 --> 00:15:27,519 You need to know why you are. 304 00:15:27,519 --> 00:15:32,279 What you are as an independent, sound Baptist church. 305 00:15:32,839 --> 00:15:36,199 You need to know and you need to stand for it yourself. 306 00:15:37,559 --> 00:15:42,119 Third, the root and fruit of the New Testament church is historical, 307 00:15:43,079 --> 00:15:44,279 not modern. 308 00:15:46,599 --> 00:15:50,879 John Broadus, who was president of Southern Baptist Seminary 309 00:15:50,879 --> 00:15:54,719 in Louisville, Kentucky, said, speaking of death, all earthly things 310 00:15:54,719 --> 00:15:58,718 go down through these dread gates, but Christ's church for which 311 00:15:58,718 --> 00:16:01,159 he gave himself will never cease to exist. 312 00:16:01,719 --> 00:16:04,039 There will always be Christians in the world. 313 00:16:04,359 --> 00:16:08,559 This was a bold statement prediction for a homeless teacher 314 00:16:08,559 --> 00:16:09,869 with a handful of followers. 315 00:16:10,499 --> 00:16:13,819 Broadus believed that there would be churches in every age from 316 00:16:13,819 --> 00:16:14,659 the time of Christ. 317 00:16:15,059 --> 00:16:17,419 That's what we believe because Christ said. 318 00:16:17,419 --> 00:16:18,339 That that would happen. 319 00:16:19,939 --> 00:16:24,539 SH Ford, who was a Baptist historian, said succession among 320 00:16:24,539 --> 00:16:29,299 Baptists is not a link, chain of churches or ministers uninterrupted 321 00:16:29,299 --> 00:16:31,699 and traceable to this distant day. 322 00:16:32,019 --> 00:16:36,579 The true and defensible doctrine is that baptized believers 323 00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:41,119 have existed in every age since John the Baptist baptized in 324 00:16:41,119 --> 00:16:44,839 Jordan and have met as a baptized congregation in covenant 325 00:16:44,839 --> 00:16:47,519 and fellowship where an opportunity permitted. 326 00:16:48,319 --> 00:16:51,519 Our doctrine identifies us as Baptists. 327 00:16:52,079 --> 00:16:55,519 What we believe makes people understand who we are. 328 00:16:58,079 --> 00:16:58,639 L.R. 329 00:16:58,639 --> 00:17:02,599 scarborough, again second pastor, second president of Southern 330 00:17:02,599 --> 00:17:04,079 Baptist Convention, said this. 331 00:17:04,559 --> 00:17:05,999 He look at the bottom. 332 00:17:06,409 --> 00:17:13,129 He made this in 1939 at a Southern Baptist Convention presidential 333 00:17:13,129 --> 00:17:13,449 address. 334 00:17:13,609 --> 00:17:14,489 Now get this. 335 00:17:14,969 --> 00:17:17,049 This is a presidential he's got all. 336 00:17:17,049 --> 00:17:20,129 The convention together at this meeting in 1939. 337 00:17:20,129 --> 00:17:21,129 Listen what he said. 338 00:17:21,849 --> 00:17:28,089 Without boast, but with joy and certainty, Baptists trace their 339 00:17:28,089 --> 00:17:31,969 lineage back to an ancient and honorable beginning to the meeting 340 00:17:31,969 --> 00:17:37,688 of John the Forerunner and Jesus holy baptizing seen in in the 341 00:17:37,688 --> 00:17:42,608 Jordan river through the centuries, sometimes by indistinct 342 00:17:42,768 --> 00:17:46,848 lines and sometimes by indefinite groups and mighty doctrines. 343 00:17:46,848 --> 00:17:50,727 They professed love for and loyalty to the teachings and principles 344 00:17:50,727 --> 00:17:54,328 for which Christ gave the apostolic group and are recorded 345 00:17:54,328 --> 00:17:55,248 in the New Testament. 346 00:17:55,408 --> 00:17:57,848 Now, I'm not going to be unkind with this statement, but I'm 347 00:17:57,848 --> 00:17:58,528 going to say it. 348 00:17:58,768 --> 00:18:00,088 That would empty the building. 349 00:18:00,088 --> 00:18:03,819 If you did that in a Southern Baptist Convention today, they would 350 00:18:03,819 --> 00:18:04,699 not believe that. 351 00:18:04,699 --> 00:18:06,419 They do not believe that today. 352 00:18:06,739 --> 00:18:10,779 The young modern Baptist among Southern Baptists do not believe 353 00:18:10,779 --> 00:18:12,019 in an ancient church. 354 00:18:12,419 --> 00:18:14,259 They believe in a modern church. 355 00:18:15,059 --> 00:18:17,459 Thank God we Believe in an ancient church. 356 00:18:18,099 --> 00:18:19,299 Where did all that start? 357 00:18:19,299 --> 00:18:23,019 Well, that modern view started with a guy by the name of William 358 00:18:23,019 --> 00:18:23,699 Whitsit. 359 00:18:24,179 --> 00:18:26,059 William Whitsett was a professor. 360 00:18:26,059 --> 00:18:30,809 He was the president of the the Southern Baptist Seminary in 361 00:18:30,809 --> 00:18:31,969 Louisville, Kentucky. 362 00:18:32,289 --> 00:18:34,689 And he said that and this all. 363 00:18:34,689 --> 00:18:37,409 Started in his view that Baptists began. 364 00:18:37,409 --> 00:18:41,489 In 1644 where the name began to appear. 365 00:18:42,049 --> 00:18:45,329 And he argued that the practice of immersion only began 366 00:18:45,329 --> 00:18:47,169 in the 17th century in England. 367 00:18:47,729 --> 00:18:48,689 Can you imagine this? 368 00:18:48,689 --> 00:18:54,209 He taught that up to 1641 all Baptists employed pouring or sprinkling 369 00:18:54,809 --> 00:18:55,969 their mode for baptism. 370 00:18:55,969 --> 00:19:01,049 That in no case immersion took place among Baptists before the year 371 00:19:01,129 --> 00:19:02,409 1644. 372 00:19:03,689 --> 00:19:05,449 You know what that got Dr. Whitson? 373 00:19:06,729 --> 00:19:13,929 He was on the verge of being dismissed, fired by Southern Seminary. 374 00:19:14,409 --> 00:19:18,969 But just before he got fired, he resigned and left. 375 00:19:20,659 --> 00:19:21,299 You know why? 376 00:19:21,539 --> 00:19:23,859 Because that's not what Baptists believed back then. 377 00:19:24,819 --> 00:19:26,899 They knew that they had an ancient past. 378 00:19:26,899 --> 00:19:31,139 They knew that Christ had been the one who established the church. 379 00:19:31,619 --> 00:19:32,659 They knew that. 380 00:19:34,979 --> 00:19:37,779 And yet Dr. Whitsett taught otherwise. 381 00:19:38,499 --> 00:19:39,139 D.B. 382 00:19:39,219 --> 00:19:45,259 ray, Baptist apologist, said no man now living will see the end 383 00:19:45,259 --> 00:19:48,849 of the hurt Dr. Whitsit has done the Baptist, no matter how often 384 00:19:48,849 --> 00:19:51,609 his position is disproved. 385 00:19:53,289 --> 00:19:55,209 You know, it really matters what you believe. 386 00:19:56,649 --> 00:19:58,089 And you ought to believe what's right. 387 00:19:58,329 --> 00:20:00,809 And you ought to know what you believe until you know it. 388 00:20:02,489 --> 00:20:05,889 You need to sit under somebody and listen and believe and teach 389 00:20:05,889 --> 00:20:09,129 and be instructed in God's word to know that. 390 00:20:11,129 --> 00:20:12,169 Here's my final point. 391 00:20:12,169 --> 00:20:15,019 But don't grab for use sweater yet. 392 00:20:17,259 --> 00:20:21,339 The importance of the New Testament church is essential and 393 00:20:21,339 --> 00:20:22,299 not optional. 394 00:20:24,219 --> 00:20:30,299 Now in 2020, the government tried to establish what was essential 395 00:20:31,259 --> 00:20:32,539 and we got wrote off. 396 00:20:33,899 --> 00:20:39,579 The liquor stores were essential, cannabis stores were essential. 397 00:20:41,199 --> 00:20:44,959 But gathering of God's people in churches was non essential. 398 00:20:46,479 --> 00:20:47,879 That's not the only thing that the. 399 00:20:47,879 --> 00:20:49,679 Government'S been wrong about in a long time. 400 00:20:51,599 --> 00:20:53,999 I'm telling you today the church is essential. 401 00:20:58,159 --> 00:21:01,959 I wasn't pastoring back then and I'm glad I don't have that on 402 00:21:01,959 --> 00:21:02,439 my record. 403 00:21:02,439 --> 00:21:04,759 But I'll tell you, I don't think churches need to shut down 404 00:21:04,759 --> 00:21:05,359 for anything. 405 00:21:05,999 --> 00:21:06,999 Only thing we're going to shut down. 406 00:21:06,999 --> 00:21:07,999 For is the Rapture. 407 00:21:07,999 --> 00:21:08,639 Amen. 408 00:21:10,239 --> 00:21:12,559 And you can carry on after that if you're left behind. 409 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:21,079 Gary Thomas wrote in his book Authentic Faith. 410 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:27,879 It may sound shocking to some, but biblically, living for God means 411 00:21:27,879 --> 00:21:29,439 living for the church. 412 00:21:32,169 --> 00:21:33,209 You know what shocks me? 413 00:21:34,009 --> 00:21:36,489 That that would be shocking to anybody that reads the Bible. 414 00:21:37,689 --> 00:21:39,849 The church has a principal place. 415 00:21:40,809 --> 00:21:45,289 God's churches have a principal place in The New Testament. 416 00:21:48,969 --> 00:21:50,489 Okay, here's a little tip. 417 00:21:50,489 --> 00:21:52,729 Can you find the table of contents in your Bible? 418 00:21:53,849 --> 00:21:55,249 It's the easiest place you'll find. 419 00:21:55,249 --> 00:21:56,169 It's right up front. 420 00:21:58,259 --> 00:21:59,139 Turn over there. 421 00:22:00,579 --> 00:22:01,859 Hey, if you got one of those. 422 00:22:02,899 --> 00:22:05,179 Screen deals, you know you got to. 423 00:22:05,179 --> 00:22:06,499 Make the noise of turning a page. 424 00:22:06,499 --> 00:22:07,059 Okay. 425 00:22:10,579 --> 00:22:11,939 Look at the table of contents. 426 00:22:11,939 --> 00:22:13,058 On the New Testament. 427 00:22:13,059 --> 00:22:15,099 What's Matthew, Mark, Luke and John about? 428 00:22:15,099 --> 00:22:16,819 Well, that's about starting the church. 429 00:22:17,939 --> 00:22:21,059 That's about Jesus installing leaders. 430 00:22:21,379 --> 00:22:24,759 That's about Jesus establishing the Lord's Supper. 431 00:22:24,999 --> 00:22:27,479 That's about them codifying baptism. 432 00:22:27,799 --> 00:22:30,119 I mean, the church is all in the Gospels. 433 00:22:30,199 --> 00:22:34,479 Do you know most life of Christ books do not have any record 434 00:22:34,479 --> 00:22:37,079 of a church starting in the gospel time. 435 00:22:38,039 --> 00:22:40,359 If you need one, go back and get my one on. 436 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,159 Consider Christ. 437 00:22:41,239 --> 00:22:43,799 I've got a chapter on the church in the Gospels. 438 00:22:44,519 --> 00:22:45,399 It's in there. 439 00:22:45,879 --> 00:22:47,079 What's the Book of Acts? 440 00:22:47,079 --> 00:22:49,249 It's not about the the one church. 441 00:22:49,249 --> 00:22:51,449 The one church became many churches in. 442 00:22:51,449 --> 00:22:52,369 The Book of Acts. 443 00:22:52,849 --> 00:22:56,089 It's when the church of Jerusalem began to be spread out 444 00:22:56,089 --> 00:23:00,369 because of the persecution and they went to Antioch and other places. 445 00:23:00,529 --> 00:23:02,809 So Acts is about the spreading of. 446 00:23:02,809 --> 00:23:04,289 Churches, the growth of churches. 447 00:23:04,368 --> 00:23:08,329 Romans 1st, 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 448 00:23:08,329 --> 00:23:10,369 Colossians 1st, 2nd Thessalonians. 449 00:23:10,529 --> 00:23:13,289 That's all church epistles, by the way. 450 00:23:13,289 --> 00:23:15,329 Epistles are not the apostles wives. 451 00:23:17,249 --> 00:23:21,729 The epistles are letters written by the apostles to local 452 00:23:21,729 --> 00:23:22,449 churches. 453 00:23:23,249 --> 00:23:24,609 Does that surprise you? 454 00:23:25,809 --> 00:23:28,569 And then you have, after that you have first, second Timothy and 455 00:23:28,569 --> 00:23:29,009 Titus. 456 00:23:29,009 --> 00:23:29,569 What's that? 457 00:23:29,649 --> 00:23:31,888 Well, that's pastoral epistles. 458 00:23:32,049 --> 00:23:35,489 That's men who serve God's churches as pastors. 459 00:23:37,169 --> 00:23:39,409 We got it all right here in the New Testament. 460 00:23:39,809 --> 00:23:42,963 What do you have when you have Philemon in Hebrews and James 1, 461 00:23:43,015 --> 00:23:45,479 2, Peter, 2nd, 3rd John and Jude. 462 00:23:45,479 --> 00:23:49,399 Those are called general epistles that were not written to 463 00:23:49,399 --> 00:23:54,039 any specific church but was always circulated among the churches. 464 00:23:56,039 --> 00:23:57,799 And then Revelation, what do you have? 465 00:23:58,199 --> 00:24:00,839 You have seven churches that begin the book. 466 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,079 You got the church in all of the New Testament. 467 00:24:07,399 --> 00:24:13,049 It's essential you see in the Bible. 468 00:24:13,049 --> 00:24:14,929 In the New Testament, when you assemble. 469 00:24:14,929 --> 00:24:17,009 With believers, it was a church assembly. 470 00:24:19,569 --> 00:24:24,769 When you had Christian fellowship, it's church fellowship. 471 00:24:26,289 --> 00:24:29,569 When you had a prayer meeting, it was a church prayer meeting. 472 00:24:31,569 --> 00:24:35,489 When you did a Bible study, it was church Bible study. 473 00:24:36,779 --> 00:24:38,219 Can I take a time out here? 474 00:24:38,539 --> 00:24:41,339 You need to quit listening to all those blogs and whatever those 475 00:24:41,339 --> 00:24:41,539 are. 476 00:24:41,539 --> 00:24:43,259 I don't even know what they are sometimes. 477 00:24:43,739 --> 00:24:44,779 Everybody's got a blog. 478 00:24:44,779 --> 00:24:46,539 Everybody's got what is, what else they have. 479 00:24:46,539 --> 00:24:47,339 What are they called? 480 00:24:48,059 --> 00:24:48,779 What is it? 481 00:24:49,739 --> 00:24:50,459 Podcast. 482 00:24:51,019 --> 00:24:55,299 I thought that was a. I thought that was some kind of disease 483 00:24:55,299 --> 00:24:55,899 or something. 484 00:24:56,379 --> 00:24:57,099 Podcast. 485 00:24:58,059 --> 00:24:58,459 Listen. 486 00:24:58,459 --> 00:25:01,379 You need to quit listening to all that as your primary means of 487 00:25:01,379 --> 00:25:02,459 getting God's word. 488 00:25:02,479 --> 00:25:04,229 And you need to listen to your pastor. 489 00:25:06,709 --> 00:25:08,629 That's his job to teach you. 490 00:25:09,429 --> 00:25:12,749 Now, sure, you can dabble a little bit in all that stuff, but 491 00:25:12,749 --> 00:25:14,549 all it's done is cause confusion. 492 00:25:15,669 --> 00:25:19,028 You need to clarify what you believe by the preaching of your 493 00:25:19,509 --> 00:25:20,069 pastor. 494 00:25:20,069 --> 00:25:21,669 Bible study conducted. 495 00:25:22,469 --> 00:25:24,829 If you had Christian ministry, it was church ministry. 496 00:25:24,829 --> 00:25:26,949 I don't have a ministry outside of our church. 497 00:25:27,749 --> 00:25:31,299 Our church is allowed me to be out here and there doing what I do. 498 00:25:31,299 --> 00:25:32,499 I'm no longer a pastor. 499 00:25:32,499 --> 00:25:33,459 I'm a pester. 500 00:25:34,419 --> 00:25:36,099 I go out and pester God's people. 501 00:25:36,099 --> 00:25:36,859 They can do better. 502 00:25:36,859 --> 00:25:39,539 But I don't have a Jerry Lock ministry. 503 00:25:39,699 --> 00:25:42,739 I have a Lake Worth Baptist church ministry. 504 00:25:46,979 --> 00:25:48,419 If you had a spiritual gift, it. 505 00:25:48,419 --> 00:25:49,139 Was a church gift. 506 00:25:49,139 --> 00:25:51,459 You know, all these people got all these spiritual gifts. 507 00:25:51,619 --> 00:25:54,339 All those gifts were to be exercised in a local church. 508 00:25:57,219 --> 00:25:58,299 You had spiritual authority. 509 00:25:58,299 --> 00:25:59,459 It was church authority. 510 00:26:00,739 --> 00:26:03,539 If you gave financially, it was money given to a church. 511 00:26:05,699 --> 00:26:07,139 I should back up on that one. 512 00:26:07,139 --> 00:26:08,499 Let me back up on that one. 513 00:26:08,899 --> 00:26:09,539 I give. 514 00:26:10,418 --> 00:26:11,819 I try to be led by the. 515 00:26:11,819 --> 00:26:15,539 Lord to give to other situations other than our local church, 516 00:26:15,619 --> 00:26:16,659 but nothing will. 517 00:26:16,659 --> 00:26:17,459 Ever take the place. 518 00:26:17,459 --> 00:26:20,899 What I give to my church, God's church, where I'm at. 519 00:26:21,249 --> 00:26:22,049 Are you with me today? 520 00:26:22,449 --> 00:26:24,449 Y' all gonna do that at the end of the church, aren't you? 521 00:26:24,529 --> 00:26:24,969 Right here. 522 00:26:24,969 --> 00:26:26,009 At the end of the service here. 523 00:26:26,009 --> 00:26:26,609 That's good. 524 00:26:26,769 --> 00:26:28,449 I was hoping we weren't forgetting it. 525 00:26:29,329 --> 00:26:30,849 That's a reminder, Brother Crawford. 526 00:26:35,089 --> 00:26:37,489 You know, if you're doing God's work, you're doing church work. 527 00:26:38,529 --> 00:26:40,609 You know, some people get too big for the church. 528 00:26:41,249 --> 00:26:44,009 They start out with doing something, and then they just get 529 00:26:44,009 --> 00:26:44,609 too big. 530 00:26:45,089 --> 00:26:48,609 They get out from under the authority of the church, and that's 531 00:26:48,609 --> 00:26:49,129 not right. 532 00:26:52,729 --> 00:26:55,129 If you do missionary work, you need to do it through the church. 533 00:26:56,729 --> 00:27:00,649 That's the only authority that anybody has to do missionary work 534 00:27:00,649 --> 00:27:01,849 is through a local church. 535 00:27:03,529 --> 00:27:04,969 That's what the Bible says. 536 00:27:05,929 --> 00:27:06,969 Now, what's wrong. 537 00:27:07,049 --> 00:27:08,369 What's wrong with the picture? 538 00:27:08,369 --> 00:27:10,209 When you get outside the doors of. 539 00:27:10,209 --> 00:27:12,649 This building here and you associate with. 540 00:27:12,729 --> 00:27:14,409 A lot of people, you know what's wrong? 541 00:27:15,059 --> 00:27:17,539 There are too many professed Christians who are homeless. 542 00:27:18,339 --> 00:27:20,019 They don't have a church home. 543 00:27:23,059 --> 00:27:24,099 You know, I just. 544 00:27:24,339 --> 00:27:28,379 I am so glad that I'm not a pastor now, because in my old. 545 00:27:28,379 --> 00:27:29,539 Age, I don't have A lot of. 546 00:27:29,539 --> 00:27:31,219 Patience for all this foolishness. 547 00:27:31,379 --> 00:27:33,139 I can't find a good church. 548 00:27:33,219 --> 00:27:34,339 Are you blind? 549 00:27:36,659 --> 00:27:37,699 Are you kidding? 550 00:27:38,259 --> 00:27:39,979 Well, there's not one in my neighborhood. 551 00:27:39,979 --> 00:27:40,679 Well, there's. 552 00:27:40,829 --> 00:27:42,829 I bet you don't just eat in your neighborhood. 553 00:27:44,269 --> 00:27:47,069 You probably drive across town to be at a good restaurant. 554 00:27:47,149 --> 00:27:50,229 And you shouldn't be worried about driving across town to be in 555 00:27:50,229 --> 00:27:50,909 a good church. 556 00:27:54,589 --> 00:27:55,629 Too many homeless. 557 00:27:57,469 --> 00:27:59,109 Well, I got offended in church. 558 00:27:59,109 --> 00:28:01,709 I get offended at Walmart every time I go there. 559 00:28:02,029 --> 00:28:03,549 I cannot go there now. 560 00:28:03,549 --> 00:28:04,629 I send my wife. 561 00:28:04,629 --> 00:28:06,029 She's stronger than I am. 562 00:28:09,639 --> 00:28:13,119 Homeless people say they're Christians, say they're going to 563 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:13,559 heaven. 564 00:28:14,279 --> 00:28:15,239 They don't have a home. 565 00:28:19,319 --> 00:28:20,679 Some of you need to get saved. 566 00:28:21,239 --> 00:28:23,719 Some of you in this building probably need to get saved today. 567 00:28:24,039 --> 00:28:25,559 You've walked in here and wonder even. 568 00:28:25,559 --> 00:28:26,839 Why you're here to hear all this. 569 00:28:26,839 --> 00:28:27,719 I'm telling you why. 570 00:28:27,879 --> 00:28:30,839 Because Jesus died for you and he wants to save your soul. 571 00:28:32,449 --> 00:28:33,889 He wants you to know him. 572 00:28:34,129 --> 00:28:35,329 He died for you. 573 00:28:35,729 --> 00:28:36,809 He wants you saved. 574 00:28:36,809 --> 00:28:41,089 Now, being saved doesn't have to happen today, but it can happen 575 00:28:41,089 --> 00:28:41,489 today. 576 00:28:41,809 --> 00:28:44,049 It can happen this week sometime. 577 00:28:44,129 --> 00:28:46,689 But I can't say what your week's going to be this week. 578 00:28:47,329 --> 00:28:49,249 I only know you're in the building today. 579 00:28:49,249 --> 00:28:51,329 And if you're lost, you need to be saved. 580 00:28:53,169 --> 00:28:56,729 And if you don't even know what that means, but somehow you're 581 00:28:56,729 --> 00:28:57,649 motivated to. 582 00:28:58,159 --> 00:29:01,999 To do something about it, then come forward in this service and 583 00:29:01,999 --> 00:29:05,239 ask one of these pastors to help lead you. 584 00:29:05,239 --> 00:29:06,319 To know what that means. 585 00:29:07,599 --> 00:29:12,559 Well, I was saved in a church service on a Sunday night. 586 00:29:12,959 --> 00:29:16,799 My buddy had gotten saved that morning, January 1, 1956. 587 00:29:16,959 --> 00:29:18,319 He had gotten saved that morning. 588 00:29:18,399 --> 00:29:21,079 My dad was a pastor, and he asked me. 589 00:29:21,079 --> 00:29:22,959 His name was Cheryl Robinson. 590 00:29:23,119 --> 00:29:27,129 S H E R R E L L He grew up and changed his name to William. 591 00:29:28,009 --> 00:29:30,169 Sounded too much like a girl, the other one did. 592 00:29:30,409 --> 00:29:32,449 But he asked me, he said, jerry, when are you going to get 593 00:29:32,449 --> 00:29:32,689 saved? 594 00:29:32,689 --> 00:29:34,329 And I said, you know, I didn't. 595 00:29:34,329 --> 00:29:36,769 Even say anything but that question, Jerry. 596 00:29:36,769 --> 00:29:37,849 When are you going to get saved? 597 00:29:38,329 --> 00:29:39,369 God used that. 598 00:29:39,449 --> 00:29:40,009 That night. 599 00:29:40,009 --> 00:29:41,489 I sat right here, where this gentleman. 600 00:29:41,489 --> 00:29:46,049 Right here is, and my dad preached the message. 601 00:29:46,049 --> 00:29:49,049 I have no idea what it is, but God convicted me. 602 00:29:49,049 --> 00:29:51,449 God got me lost and I began to weep. 603 00:29:52,519 --> 00:29:57,999 I stepped out and that brokenness of. 604 00:29:57,999 --> 00:30:00,079 Sadness because of what my sin had. 605 00:30:00,079 --> 00:30:04,359 Done to my savior was changed into joy when I received him into 606 00:30:04,359 --> 00:30:04,919 my life. 607 00:30:07,159 --> 00:30:09,879 And I got saved that night. 608 00:30:10,839 --> 00:30:12,359 You know, I've been saved ever since. 609 00:30:13,239 --> 00:30:14,919 You know, I've never been lost once. 610 00:30:16,359 --> 00:30:17,239 Can you say that. 611 00:30:17,239 --> 00:30:18,359 Do you know that for sure? 612 00:30:18,919 --> 00:30:20,919 That's the kind of salvation God gives you. 613 00:30:21,519 --> 00:30:22,719 He doesn't put you on probation. 614 00:30:22,719 --> 00:30:23,839 He gives you salvation. 615 00:30:30,719 --> 00:30:31,839 That night we were baptized. 616 00:30:31,839 --> 00:30:34,479 And so my dad said, jerry, we lived in the parsonage right behind 617 00:30:34,479 --> 00:30:38,039 the church building, said, go get you a change of clothes and we'll 618 00:30:38,039 --> 00:30:38,559 baptize you. 619 00:30:38,559 --> 00:30:41,359 And within 15 minutes of being saved, I became a Baptist. 620 00:30:41,759 --> 00:30:42,799 Isn't that amazing? 621 00:30:43,599 --> 00:30:47,559 I had no idea what that meant, but I've been so glad I haven't had 622 00:30:47,559 --> 00:30:50,799 to have that redone because I got the right kind the first time. 623 00:30:53,209 --> 00:30:54,169 Thank God for that. 624 00:30:55,209 --> 00:30:57,049 See, some of you need to be baptized. 625 00:30:57,929 --> 00:30:59,329 You've been in a Baptist church. 626 00:30:59,329 --> 00:31:01,929 You've been in all kind of churches, but you never been in one 627 00:31:01,929 --> 00:31:02,129 like. 628 00:31:02,129 --> 00:31:03,049 This kind of church. 629 00:31:03,289 --> 00:31:06,489 And now you need to know now that you believe you need to be baptized. 630 00:31:06,489 --> 00:31:09,049 You need to be baptized the Bible way. 631 00:31:09,529 --> 00:31:12,529 There is a way the world does it, and there's a way the Bible does 632 00:31:12,529 --> 00:31:12,809 it. 633 00:31:12,969 --> 00:31:15,889 And the Bible says, the way you need to do it is get in the water 634 00:31:15,889 --> 00:31:18,329 and go under the water and come up out of the water and. 635 00:31:18,399 --> 00:31:19,279 And do it in that order. 636 00:31:19,279 --> 00:31:20,879 And be sure you get out of it. 637 00:31:21,599 --> 00:31:25,039 Once you get in it, you need to be baptized. 638 00:31:26,879 --> 00:31:28,719 That'll make you accountable to this church. 639 00:31:29,839 --> 00:31:32,759 Some of you need to be thinking about transferring your 640 00:31:32,759 --> 00:31:35,679 membership to this church you've been attending. 641 00:31:35,679 --> 00:31:37,279 You know in your heart this is. 642 00:31:37,279 --> 00:31:38,959 You're not going to go anyplace else. 643 00:31:39,039 --> 00:31:41,119 But you've never done anything about transferring. 644 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:43,839 Your membership coming from another Baptist church. 645 00:31:45,059 --> 00:31:46,939 You know, we get all emotional about this. 646 00:31:46,939 --> 00:31:48,499 My wife hates it when I go here. 647 00:31:49,379 --> 00:31:50,339 She'll get over it. 648 00:31:52,179 --> 00:31:55,859 But people get all emotional about, well, you know, I just can't 649 00:31:55,859 --> 00:31:58,779 leave that church where I was at because Grandma and Grandpa are 650 00:31:58,779 --> 00:32:00,739 buried in the old church cemetery. 651 00:32:01,139 --> 00:32:02,819 You know what I tell folks like that? 652 00:32:03,459 --> 00:32:05,059 We'll dig them up and bring them here. 653 00:32:05,059 --> 00:32:07,459 We'll put them in the flower bed out here, whatever. 654 00:32:08,259 --> 00:32:11,299 You shouldn't let anything keep you from being in the church 655 00:32:11,299 --> 00:32:12,339 God's put you in. 656 00:32:13,569 --> 00:32:16,769 Transfer your membership, and if it's not exactly right, they'll 657 00:32:16,769 --> 00:32:17,729 help you to know that. 658 00:32:19,649 --> 00:32:21,569 And if you're saved and you're baptized. 659 00:32:21,569 --> 00:32:23,729 And you're a member of the church, you just need to get involved. 660 00:32:24,529 --> 00:32:27,009 Too many people sit in church and never do anything. 661 00:32:27,009 --> 00:32:30,569 They give a little bit of money, they have a prayer every now 662 00:32:30,569 --> 00:32:30,689 and. 663 00:32:30,689 --> 00:32:34,609 Then, but they're not signed up, they're not sold out. 664 00:32:35,489 --> 00:32:37,409 God's people today need to do that. 665 00:32:37,649 --> 00:32:40,849 I'm praying God will do it today, right here in this building. 666 00:32:41,089 --> 00:32:42,609 Stand with me for prayer, please.