1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,149 Well, my name is Nate Gagne. 2 00:00:01,149 --> 00:00:03,019 I'm the lead pastor of Restoration Church. 3 00:00:03,189 --> 00:00:04,569 Welcome to church today. 4 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,789 Welcome to church today, Dover crew. 5 00:00:09,789 --> 00:00:10,549 Could you do me a favor? 6 00:00:10,549 --> 00:00:13,419 Could you give a huge welcome to our other locations, to 7 00:00:13,420 --> 00:00:15,159 Bethlehem, Milton and Plymouth? 8 00:00:17,910 --> 00:00:24,849 It is an exciting day as we, uh, will be celebrating water baptisms 9 00:00:24,849 --> 00:00:26,519 across all of our locations. 10 00:00:26,799 --> 00:00:30,859 But before we go into the baptisms, before we go into the word. 11 00:00:31,144 --> 00:00:36,854 Uh, it being Christmas season, I've been, uh, taking a moment to have the Pastor 12 00:00:36,854 --> 00:00:40,165 Nate Holiday Gift Giving Guide, all right? 13 00:00:40,444 --> 00:00:43,324 As I said last week, because I have a YouTube channel I don't 14 00:00:43,325 --> 00:00:47,165 want you to know about, uh, we're gonna do it here instead of there. 15 00:00:47,744 --> 00:00:51,115 We, uh, last week I shared something for the guys. 16 00:00:51,145 --> 00:00:54,375 This one is a, is for the parents. 17 00:00:54,749 --> 00:00:59,579 If you have children that are probably under the age of 30, 18 00:00:59,620 --> 00:01:01,460 this is the gift for them. 19 00:01:01,509 --> 00:01:04,578 This is a gift that, uh, I bought. 20 00:01:04,619 --> 00:01:07,949 My son just got his driver's license this week, so he's about that, my 21 00:01:07,949 --> 00:01:09,369 oldest son, so he's about that age. 22 00:01:09,599 --> 00:01:16,319 I probably bought this For him and his, uh, and his second brother, 23 00:01:16,408 --> 00:01:20,579 maybe like, uh, nine years ago. 24 00:01:20,779 --> 00:01:21,949 We still have it. 25 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:23,440 It's still in the house. 26 00:01:23,589 --> 00:01:25,839 It's still getting used by the younger brothers. 27 00:01:25,849 --> 00:01:27,599 So I'm saying a couple of things. 28 00:01:27,609 --> 00:01:31,479 One, That it's, um, playability, right? 29 00:01:31,479 --> 00:01:35,169 It, it's ability to be used over and over again is very high. 30 00:01:35,289 --> 00:01:38,199 Two, it's durability is very high. 31 00:01:38,199 --> 00:01:44,619 That it's surpr, that it's survived Four boys and toddlers and cousins and 32 00:01:44,619 --> 00:01:48,489 the pastor's kids when they, the other pastor's kids when they come visit. 33 00:01:48,759 --> 00:01:50,529 It's that for you as well. 34 00:01:50,589 --> 00:01:51,369 So here it is. 35 00:01:51,429 --> 00:01:51,848 All right. 36 00:01:52,524 --> 00:01:58,245 It is the Hot Wheels six lane racer, right here. 37 00:01:58,764 --> 00:02:02,115 If you've ever been part of a Pinewood Derby in your life, 38 00:02:02,194 --> 00:02:03,585 obviously those are great fun. 39 00:02:03,714 --> 00:02:06,404 This is that with your Hot Wheels car. 40 00:02:06,404 --> 00:02:08,704 So, uh, six cars at the top. 41 00:02:09,144 --> 00:02:10,844 The thing is huge. 42 00:02:11,085 --> 00:02:16,385 And then at the end, they go through, and then it tells you which car won. 43 00:02:16,524 --> 00:02:17,144 I'm telling you. 44 00:02:17,644 --> 00:02:19,595 So much fun. 45 00:02:20,255 --> 00:02:25,315 We would, and then if we needed, we hadn't used it in a long time, and we needed 46 00:02:25,315 --> 00:02:28,154 a special day, uh, we'd get every kid. 47 00:02:28,350 --> 00:02:31,480 A 1 matchbox car. 48 00:02:31,579 --> 00:02:33,130 And so we'd have six new cars. 49 00:02:33,310 --> 00:02:37,049 And then we'd play for it for another three or four hours that day. 50 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:40,639 Racing every car until you had a winner's heat. 51 00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:43,700 Racing all the cars until one car was the champion. 52 00:02:44,029 --> 00:02:47,420 I'm telling you, this thing cost 60. 53 00:02:48,034 --> 00:02:54,654 And there is no gift that our children have used more in their life than this. 54 00:02:54,664 --> 00:02:57,634 And I would even include any system that we've owned. 55 00:02:57,885 --> 00:03:02,084 They put more hours on this than on the switch because we 56 00:03:02,084 --> 00:03:03,214 haven't owned the switch as long. 57 00:03:03,234 --> 00:03:05,584 So that is your gift guide. 58 00:03:05,655 --> 00:03:08,474 Ladies and gentlemen, do yourselves a favor, buy it. 59 00:03:08,654 --> 00:03:09,605 You'll like it. 60 00:03:09,644 --> 00:03:11,704 All right, you will like it. 61 00:03:12,194 --> 00:03:12,524 All right. 62 00:03:12,734 --> 00:03:14,984 Now I want to talk about our miracle offering. 63 00:03:14,984 --> 00:03:15,044 Thank you. 64 00:03:15,469 --> 00:03:21,109 At Restoration Church, we give to, um, we give our tithes, and we give 65 00:03:21,409 --> 00:03:23,179 kingdom, and we give to Kingdom Builders. 66 00:03:23,469 --> 00:03:29,039 And Kingdom Builders are projects that go toward local church expansion, to 67 00:03:29,039 --> 00:03:32,889 global missions projects, and helping raise future Christian leaders. 68 00:03:33,709 --> 00:03:37,689 And, a couple weeks ago, we had our miracle offering, which 69 00:03:37,699 --> 00:03:39,049 goes toward Kingdom Builders. 70 00:03:39,319 --> 00:03:46,900 And our one day offering was 81, 097 and one penny. 71 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,160 Absolutely amazing. 72 00:03:52,159 --> 00:03:55,260 And we've highlighted a bunch of different projects, but we've done 73 00:03:55,260 --> 00:03:58,659 projects in Tanzania, in Cuba, locally. 74 00:03:58,769 --> 00:04:04,379 And, um, I, and I thank you for giving absolutely, absolutely 75 00:04:04,379 --> 00:04:06,289 unbelievable, outstanding. 76 00:04:06,389 --> 00:04:07,269 Thank you for that. 77 00:04:07,299 --> 00:04:12,799 And that wasn't one person who gave 80, 000 and the rest of the church gave. 78 00:04:12,799 --> 00:04:14,059 No, it's everybody just saying. 79 00:04:14,459 --> 00:04:16,439 What does God want me to do? 80 00:04:17,159 --> 00:04:18,519 We did our part. 81 00:04:18,629 --> 00:04:23,639 And collectively, it was more than we ever could have imagined. 82 00:04:23,649 --> 00:04:25,379 So, thank you guys for that. 83 00:04:25,589 --> 00:04:28,520 We'll be finishing up the projects this year. 84 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,319 So, uh, uh, if it hasn't already go out, Free International was 85 00:04:32,319 --> 00:04:33,990 here in the beginning of November. 86 00:04:34,169 --> 00:04:36,058 So the money will be going out to them. 87 00:04:37,065 --> 00:04:41,004 This week, if it hasn't already gone out, and any other remaining 88 00:04:41,004 --> 00:04:45,485 projects that we have, we finish out the year, and hopefully 89 00:04:45,514 --> 00:04:47,414 we've accomplished every project. 90 00:04:47,444 --> 00:04:50,454 So, if you still want to give toward the Miracle Offering, 91 00:04:50,454 --> 00:04:51,694 just give to Kingdom Builders. 92 00:04:51,825 --> 00:04:54,524 It goes in the same fund, and it goes toward the same project. 93 00:04:55,484 --> 00:05:00,964 And then in January, we'll share with you our projects for 2025. 94 00:05:00,965 --> 00:05:06,934 If you have your Bibles, there, we're going to be jumping over, um, in a few 95 00:05:06,934 --> 00:05:08,864 different places in Scripture today. 96 00:05:09,324 --> 00:05:16,054 And we, I, I want to look at this verse, and it's probably, if you've gone to 97 00:05:16,054 --> 00:05:17,564 church, a verse you're familiar with. 98 00:05:17,624 --> 00:05:20,964 But I want you to think about it a different way today. 99 00:05:21,304 --> 00:05:24,814 And then we want to talk through this in Scripture today. 100 00:05:25,044 --> 00:05:29,024 So it is in the book of Matthew, chapter 16. 101 00:05:29,474 --> 00:05:32,864 And so, if you don't have a Bible, we'd love to give you one for free. 102 00:05:32,884 --> 00:05:35,204 You can also download a Bible app on your phone. 103 00:05:35,364 --> 00:05:39,514 Or, if the internet's working, you can Google Matthew chapter 104 00:05:39,514 --> 00:05:41,534 16 and follow along there. 105 00:05:41,784 --> 00:05:44,964 We want you to read the Bible for yourself, alright? 106 00:05:45,564 --> 00:05:47,744 It is important that we hear preaching. 107 00:05:47,754 --> 00:05:52,615 We want And that we place ourself under preaching, but it is more 108 00:05:52,615 --> 00:05:57,694 important that, uh, you are studying scripture on your own. 109 00:05:57,724 --> 00:06:00,744 God wants to talk to you through your Bible. 110 00:06:01,194 --> 00:06:04,655 So Matthew chapter 16, verse number 26, and I'll have this 111 00:06:04,814 --> 00:06:05,934 here on the screen for you. 112 00:06:05,934 --> 00:06:11,555 It says, What do you benefit if you gain the whole world, but lose your own soul? 113 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:15,020 Is anything worth more than your soul? 114 00:06:15,349 --> 00:06:18,589 This is a great self reflective question. 115 00:06:18,919 --> 00:06:25,870 Because we probably, um, some of us have experienced moments in our life where 116 00:06:25,870 --> 00:06:27,780 we feel like we've lost our own soul. 117 00:06:28,135 --> 00:06:32,874 We've chased something, we've chased something, discovered it was sin, 118 00:06:33,084 --> 00:06:38,254 discovered it was destructive, and then found ourselves hollow, empty, 119 00:06:38,855 --> 00:06:42,834 without hope, without joy, full of depression, full of sin, full of 120 00:06:42,834 --> 00:06:47,484 problem, full of pain, and some of our baptisms today are celebrating that 121 00:06:47,524 --> 00:06:54,054 even in the midst of that despair, Jesus showed up and changed their life. 122 00:06:54,104 --> 00:06:55,164 He changes their lives. 123 00:06:56,754 --> 00:07:01,575 It's a great verse because maybe you're flirting with a co worker. 124 00:07:01,575 --> 00:07:07,234 Maybe you're, you're starting to take office supplies from the office. 125 00:07:07,254 --> 00:07:10,764 Maybe you've begun to pursue partying. 126 00:07:10,775 --> 00:07:17,375 Maybe you're focused more on being, on being popular or on, uh, or on, 127 00:07:17,385 --> 00:07:20,560 uh, You know, on anything really. 128 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:25,030 But you've, you've started to chase some things other than Jesus. 129 00:07:26,260 --> 00:07:30,250 And you've got to think, what will it benefit? 130 00:07:30,740 --> 00:07:31,920 If you gain everything, 131 00:07:34,370 --> 00:07:35,620 what will it benefit? 132 00:07:36,610 --> 00:07:40,180 If you got everything, but yet lost your soul. 133 00:07:41,369 --> 00:07:43,699 And this is a, again, a great question. 134 00:07:44,359 --> 00:07:50,099 To contemplate, am I doing things that are leading me towards my own destruction? 135 00:07:51,020 --> 00:07:56,150 Have I allowed things in my life that will lead me away from my Savior? 136 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,889 But this Christmas time, and on this message, I want you to reflect 137 00:08:00,889 --> 00:08:03,129 on this verse in a different way. 138 00:08:03,829 --> 00:08:08,020 I want you to reflect on it in a, and think about it in a way that you 139 00:08:08,020 --> 00:08:09,680 maybe haven't thought about it before. 140 00:08:09,964 --> 00:08:12,514 And it's, we'll reword this to this. 141 00:08:13,605 --> 00:08:19,634 What will they benefit if you give them the whole world but they lose their soul? 142 00:08:20,734 --> 00:08:25,664 And I want you to think about this from the perspective of a parent, from 143 00:08:25,664 --> 00:08:31,055 the perspective of a caretaker, from even the perspective of an employer. 144 00:08:32,203 --> 00:08:37,024 What will it benefit if you give those under you, if you give those you're 145 00:08:37,024 --> 00:08:40,594 in charge of, if you give those you're responsible for, what will it benefit 146 00:08:40,594 --> 00:08:42,424 them if you give them everything? 147 00:08:43,899 --> 00:08:46,660 But they lose their soul in the process. 148 00:08:47,570 --> 00:08:49,240 This is what I want us to talk about today. 149 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:52,150 Our series is for the person who has everything. 150 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:54,990 Last week, we talked about give the gift of encouragement. 151 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,430 Today, I want to talk about give the gift of the gospel. 152 00:08:59,139 --> 00:09:02,790 And the gospel is a church word that simply means this. 153 00:09:03,030 --> 00:09:03,760 Good. 154 00:09:05,395 --> 00:09:08,335 That the message of Jesus is good news. 155 00:09:09,194 --> 00:09:14,694 And because of culture, because of attacks against Jesus, because of 156 00:09:14,984 --> 00:09:20,265 churches who have not represented Jesus as being good news, it has been lost. 157 00:09:20,575 --> 00:09:25,234 This idea of Jesus as being something worth sharing, Jesus as being something 158 00:09:25,234 --> 00:09:31,035 worth celebrating outside of Christmas, Jesus being something that brings great 159 00:09:31,055 --> 00:09:33,584 things into people's life, that is lost. 160 00:09:33,585 --> 00:09:33,731 Amen. 161 00:09:35,490 --> 00:09:40,880 Unfortunately, not many people know who he is and what he can do, and 162 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:46,649 you have the opportunity of bringing the gift of good news, bringing the 163 00:09:46,649 --> 00:09:52,209 gift of the gospel in our lives. 164 00:09:52,329 --> 00:09:57,119 And I'm going to talk today, um, mostly to parents, but if you're not a parent, 165 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,950 just put this in your perspective. 166 00:09:58,980 --> 00:10:03,500 Maybe you're a manager, maybe you've got nieces and nephews, But, but, uh, 167 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,370 adopt it to your under understanding because these principles would be true. 168 00:10:08,550 --> 00:10:17,460 For example, I was, um, getting counsel from a therapist for my children. 169 00:10:18,420 --> 00:10:23,470 And the therapist gave me an article to help me in my parenting. 170 00:10:23,770 --> 00:10:27,020 And the article was about prison inmates. 171 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:33,810 So, the principles aren't the same for running a prison as they are 172 00:10:33,810 --> 00:10:35,330 for running a home, apparently. 173 00:10:35,649 --> 00:10:38,760 And, uh, same thing here with our message today. 174 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,559 I'm talking to the parents, but every single one of us can find our, 175 00:10:42,620 --> 00:10:44,550 the way God wants us to apply this. 176 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,950 We can be wildly out of focus. 177 00:10:49,110 --> 00:10:53,140 And, and I, I'm specifically talking to the Christian parents, because 178 00:10:53,140 --> 00:10:55,210 you have said, Hey, we follow Jesus. 179 00:10:55,940 --> 00:10:57,400 Our house follows Jesus. 180 00:10:57,560 --> 00:10:59,930 We desire for our children to follow Jesus. 181 00:11:00,089 --> 00:11:02,890 But then we're wildly out of focus from that vision. 182 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,290 And we're actually, if we evaluate ourselves, not doing anything 183 00:11:07,290 --> 00:11:11,730 to move toward that vision of helping our children, our 184 00:11:11,730 --> 00:11:14,060 spouse, our family find Jesus. 185 00:11:14,060 --> 00:11:14,309 It's just us. 186 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,200 And that is something I want us to reflect on. 187 00:11:17,420 --> 00:11:20,790 We are focused on getting them every material thing they need, 188 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,810 especially at Christmastime. 189 00:11:23,380 --> 00:11:26,909 We're focused on what we can't provide for them at Christmastime. 190 00:11:27,090 --> 00:11:28,680 We're focused on their education. 191 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:30,590 We're focused on their experiences. 192 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,570 We're focused on, on helping them experience everything 193 00:11:34,570 --> 00:11:35,640 the world has to offer. 194 00:11:36,685 --> 00:11:42,035 But sometimes, we've, we, we, and what I want us to evaluate is, 195 00:11:42,445 --> 00:11:48,525 is our focus, have we set it up for, to help them to know Jesus? 196 00:11:48,975 --> 00:11:53,215 To help them to experience the good news of Jesus. 197 00:11:54,060 --> 00:12:00,240 We can mortgage our home, our future, our retirement to give 198 00:12:00,510 --> 00:12:02,259 our kids the things they want. 199 00:12:02,460 --> 00:12:09,099 The, the education, the college, the, uh, the wedding, the, you know, the homes. 200 00:12:09,099 --> 00:12:11,730 We're trying to give them every material thing. 201 00:12:11,889 --> 00:12:14,849 But again, what will it benefit if you give them everything? 202 00:12:15,579 --> 00:12:19,179 What will it benefit if you gave them every material thing you never had? 203 00:12:20,159 --> 00:12:21,069 But they lose. 204 00:12:21,485 --> 00:12:22,925 their soul. 205 00:12:23,345 --> 00:12:30,225 Somewhere in the list of things that are important for the Christian parent, 206 00:12:30,425 --> 00:12:38,475 somewhere on your list, there is church, there is Jesus, but sometimes 207 00:12:38,475 --> 00:12:40,074 it's at the bottom of the list. 208 00:12:41,354 --> 00:12:46,675 And we've got to look and evaluate and to decide it needs to be the 209 00:12:46,675 --> 00:12:51,230 most important thing on the list. 210 00:12:52,290 --> 00:12:53,930 The most important thing on the list. 211 00:12:54,620 --> 00:12:59,600 One of the values that Michelle and I have for our boys, there's a few, there's a few 212 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,020 things I won't go into all of them today. 213 00:13:01,020 --> 00:13:02,990 I've talked about them before, but one of them is that they 214 00:13:02,990 --> 00:13:04,149 have a work ethic, right? 215 00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:05,500 That's important to me. 216 00:13:05,709 --> 00:13:10,940 I want to make sure that my boys are not the perpetual 29 year old adolescent that 217 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,990 doesn't work, that just plays video games, not even making money from video games. 218 00:13:15,130 --> 00:13:16,500 Like if you're going to do it, at least. 219 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:22,830 Put me into retirement through it, uh, but, but I want them to know how to work. 220 00:13:22,890 --> 00:13:26,700 If you know how to work, you, you'll be wealthy, right? 221 00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:29,290 If you know how to work, you'll get promotions. 222 00:13:29,359 --> 00:13:34,130 It's a very rare thing, but one of the things, one of the values for us, 223 00:13:34,669 --> 00:13:39,354 for our children, is that they will love Jesus and love His children. 224 00:13:39,705 --> 00:13:44,075 Church, and that's the value for us that we make sure is at the top of 225 00:13:44,075 --> 00:13:47,745 our priority now I have a benefit of being a pastor so I can make sure 226 00:13:47,945 --> 00:13:52,364 that church is such is We are doing church in such a way that they love it. 227 00:13:52,435 --> 00:13:56,094 All right That's why we do some of the things we do here because I don't just 228 00:13:56,095 --> 00:14:01,475 want my children to love Jesus and his church I want your children to as 229 00:14:01,515 --> 00:14:07,125 well, but some on the list of things That we're providing for our children. 230 00:14:07,315 --> 00:14:10,925 On the list of things that we're giving to our children. 231 00:14:11,155 --> 00:14:14,384 The gospel must be first. 232 00:14:14,615 --> 00:14:15,965 So rewrite your list. 233 00:14:16,635 --> 00:14:17,245 Rewrite your list. 234 00:14:17,275 --> 00:14:18,615 Give me a blank screen here for a second. 235 00:14:18,615 --> 00:14:19,314 Rewrite your list. 236 00:14:19,885 --> 00:14:22,795 You've got now, uh, college. 237 00:14:23,254 --> 00:14:25,005 You've got kale. 238 00:14:25,544 --> 00:14:28,745 Um, uh, you've got a high speed internet. 239 00:14:29,075 --> 00:14:31,575 Alright, all the important things you're trying to give to your children. 240 00:14:31,945 --> 00:14:36,205 Let's move the gospel to the top of that list. 241 00:14:37,035 --> 00:14:40,935 The good news of Jesus to the top of that list. 242 00:14:41,095 --> 00:14:43,265 Now, what is the gospel? 243 00:14:43,595 --> 00:14:45,355 I want to give you nine words. 244 00:14:45,465 --> 00:14:47,764 So you can take a picture of this, you can write this down. 245 00:14:47,984 --> 00:14:49,435 But I want you to memorize this. 246 00:14:50,055 --> 00:14:52,825 Nine words to explain the gospel. 247 00:14:52,835 --> 00:14:55,655 The whole scripture in nine words. 248 00:14:55,884 --> 00:14:57,625 So when someone says, well what is the gospel? 249 00:14:57,625 --> 00:14:59,035 What is the good news of Jesus? 250 00:14:59,165 --> 00:15:02,565 That you would know it, you would memorize it, you'd understand it, and 251 00:15:02,565 --> 00:15:04,205 you'd be able to tell others about it. 252 00:15:04,315 --> 00:15:04,965 It is this. 253 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:06,940 God wants you. 254 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:10,120 Sin enslaves you. 255 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:12,120 Jesus rescues you. 256 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,520 If you've experienced that, could you make some noise? 257 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,169 And part of the good news, for some people, the good news 258 00:15:22,180 --> 00:15:25,230 starting place for you right now is the fact that God wants you. 259 00:15:25,369 --> 00:15:26,620 Because you can't even believe that. 260 00:15:26,630 --> 00:15:27,390 No, God doesn't want me. 261 00:15:27,895 --> 00:15:28,805 I'm too messed up. 262 00:15:28,875 --> 00:15:30,065 I've made too many mistakes. 263 00:15:30,185 --> 00:15:31,265 I've done horrible things. 264 00:15:31,425 --> 00:15:32,395 God does not want me. 265 00:15:32,515 --> 00:15:34,295 That is not true. 266 00:15:34,475 --> 00:15:37,975 That is one of the lies of sin that is trying to enslave you. 267 00:15:38,105 --> 00:15:39,114 Don't go to God. 268 00:15:39,155 --> 00:15:40,124 Don't believe in God. 269 00:15:40,175 --> 00:15:41,044 Don't call out to God. 270 00:15:41,114 --> 00:15:41,954 He doesn't want you. 271 00:15:41,954 --> 00:15:42,514 He hates you. 272 00:15:42,515 --> 00:15:43,064 You're dirty. 273 00:15:43,065 --> 00:15:43,754 You're disgusting. 274 00:15:43,765 --> 00:15:44,945 Get your life together first. 275 00:15:45,095 --> 00:15:46,925 Make yourself worth something. 276 00:15:47,085 --> 00:15:48,885 Make yourself appear like something. 277 00:15:48,895 --> 00:15:51,335 Then maybe you'll convince God to like you. 278 00:15:51,465 --> 00:15:53,245 That's one of the lies of sin. 279 00:15:53,475 --> 00:15:56,615 And if you've ever been stuck in addiction, you've ever gone 280 00:15:56,745 --> 00:15:59,645 and pursued something that you can't even believe you've done. 281 00:15:59,665 --> 00:16:00,665 How did I get here? 282 00:16:00,665 --> 00:16:01,895 How did I experience this? 283 00:16:02,085 --> 00:16:04,415 Where, how did this happen to my life? 284 00:16:04,555 --> 00:16:07,254 You know, sin, you recognize this. 285 00:16:07,435 --> 00:16:08,665 Sin enslaves you. 286 00:16:09,260 --> 00:16:14,140 And it's not just the, the sins of, uh, of addiction, but church people are caught 287 00:16:14,150 --> 00:16:19,849 up in the sins of, of religious movement, caught up in sins of religious pride. 288 00:16:20,010 --> 00:16:23,420 And they, they, they, because they won't even recognize it as sin, 289 00:16:23,519 --> 00:16:25,429 they're not even able to repent of it. 290 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,040 And they're just stuck in it, going to church and going to hell. 291 00:16:29,890 --> 00:16:31,990 But the beauty of this whole thing. 292 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:37,200 That we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Easter, we celebrate every 293 00:16:37,390 --> 00:16:40,530 single week is that Jesus rescues you. 294 00:16:40,710 --> 00:16:46,399 And all you have to do to be worthy of a rescue is to admit you need being rescued. 295 00:16:47,510 --> 00:16:51,009 When the helicopter's flying over Mount Washington trying to find 296 00:16:51,009 --> 00:16:54,700 the person who went camping in tennis sneakers and a tank top. 297 00:16:55,605 --> 00:16:56,675 And they're like, I'm fine. 298 00:16:56,675 --> 00:16:58,305 I wonder why that helicopter's up there. 299 00:16:58,335 --> 00:16:59,955 It's because you're about to die. 300 00:17:00,325 --> 00:17:02,965 Wave your hands and let the helicopter know you're there. 301 00:17:02,965 --> 00:17:03,855 That's all you have to do. 302 00:17:04,045 --> 00:17:06,909 Is to have the awareness of, I am dead in my chair. 303 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:11,220 And I may not be dead now, but I'm going, but I'm going to be dead soon. 304 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:16,520 I need to recognize that that helicopter, I need to recognize that that Savior 305 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:19,050 Jesus, He died on the cross for me. 306 00:17:19,219 --> 00:17:23,469 And if you'll say, Hey, actually, I think I need to be rescued. 307 00:17:24,099 --> 00:17:26,480 Then you pray a simple prayer. 308 00:17:27,220 --> 00:17:30,310 Jesus, I believe that you're God's son. 309 00:17:31,490 --> 00:17:35,640 And the reason you came and died on the cross was to forgive me. 310 00:17:36,830 --> 00:17:37,839 And I ask you. 311 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,810 And I am going to follow you now. 312 00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:46,170 That is it. 313 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,700 It'll be the same thing as the helicopter. 314 00:17:49,859 --> 00:17:52,140 Hey, I recognize, I shouldn't have done this. 315 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:57,250 I recognize I shouldn't be here right now, but there's a helicopter, 316 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,650 and hey, I need to be rescued. 317 00:18:01,330 --> 00:18:04,919 Forgive me, and you know, if you get, get rescued by a helicopter, 318 00:18:04,950 --> 00:18:06,190 there's gonna be huge fines. 319 00:18:06,309 --> 00:18:08,369 You're gonna have to pay huge fines for your rescue. 320 00:18:09,110 --> 00:18:10,710 Jesus doesn't do that, alright? 321 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:11,709 He does not do that. 322 00:18:11,790 --> 00:18:15,510 You're gonna have to pay the fines to the helicopter company, but, and 323 00:18:15,510 --> 00:18:16,830 to the state police and everybody. 324 00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:19,530 But all you have to do is ask for it. 325 00:18:22,890 --> 00:18:23,850 Ask Jesus. 326 00:18:24,950 --> 00:18:26,080 This is why it's good news. 327 00:18:26,965 --> 00:18:29,215 Because you can't work off the things you've done. 328 00:18:30,735 --> 00:18:35,605 You cannot rescue yourself, but our Lord and Savior rescues us. 329 00:18:36,335 --> 00:18:40,454 My question for you is, for those of you who've received the gospel, 330 00:18:40,455 --> 00:18:41,784 you've received the good news. 331 00:18:42,005 --> 00:18:45,324 Have you shared this with your children? 332 00:18:45,745 --> 00:18:49,445 Have you shared this, teenagers, with your parents? 333 00:18:49,655 --> 00:18:52,725 Have you shared this, everyone, with your friends? 334 00:18:53,250 --> 00:18:56,370 Have you shared what you've experienced? 335 00:18:57,290 --> 00:19:01,850 Have you shared the good news you've received with anybody 336 00:19:01,850 --> 00:19:04,680 else, with anybody recently? 337 00:19:05,020 --> 00:19:07,680 And I'm not talking about trying to convince them. 338 00:19:09,290 --> 00:19:13,350 I'm not talking about trying to convince them or argue them or somehow 339 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,479 turn it into a political debate. 340 00:19:15,639 --> 00:19:18,480 I'm talking about sharing the good news of Jesus. 341 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:20,820 This is who I was. 342 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,780 This is what Jesus did. 343 00:19:23,050 --> 00:19:24,650 This is who I am now. 344 00:19:25,770 --> 00:19:27,230 Sharing that. 345 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:28,460 Have you done that? 346 00:19:29,670 --> 00:19:34,300 If we're going to give the gift of the gospel, the first thing we have 347 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:36,900 to do is we have to know the gospel. 348 00:19:36,900 --> 00:19:37,640 We have to know it. 349 00:19:37,670 --> 00:19:39,070 We have to experience it. 350 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:43,860 And sometimes we are not able to share the gospel with people. 351 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,190 We're not able to share the good news with people. 352 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,760 We don't even necessarily understand the good news. 353 00:19:48,910 --> 00:19:52,190 It's because we haven't received it ourselves. 354 00:19:52,870 --> 00:19:56,920 And this is probably true for the long time church attender. 355 00:19:57,230 --> 00:20:01,339 You were born in church, you grew up in church, and the worst thing 356 00:20:01,340 --> 00:20:03,720 you ever did was say the B word. 357 00:20:04,170 --> 00:20:09,849 And so you're like, yeah, the good news saved me from my sin. 358 00:20:10,870 --> 00:20:15,240 But if you have a nonchalant attitude about Jesus and what he's 359 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:20,740 done, then I'm telling you this, you have not received it yet. 360 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:23,980 We are all sinners. 361 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:33,300 Whether we're murderers or gossips, we are all in need of Jesus. 362 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:37,879 And if you think that gossiping's not so bad, you haven't received it yet. 363 00:20:38,290 --> 00:20:41,480 All sin separates us from God. 364 00:20:41,779 --> 00:20:45,589 Sin enslaves all of us, no matter what it is. 365 00:20:46,450 --> 00:20:48,930 You can't free yourself from it. 366 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:55,040 One of the reasons it could be why we don't prioritize it in our family 367 00:20:55,610 --> 00:20:58,550 is because we haven't experienced it. 368 00:21:01,140 --> 00:21:03,200 Well, I don't want to force my kids to go to church. 369 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:07,150 Well, I don't want to force my kids to Listen, if you've ever If you ever 370 00:21:07,150 --> 00:21:11,780 go hiking, and you nearly die, and you get rescued, you'll be preaching 371 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,979 to your kids, bring a backpack, bring an emergency blanket, don't 372 00:21:15,979 --> 00:21:19,130 wear cotton, wear wool, and you'll be telling them over and over again, 373 00:21:19,259 --> 00:21:21,260 Do you know what I was rescued from? 374 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:25,050 And you've got to evaluate yourself. 375 00:21:25,090 --> 00:21:29,030 Am I not sharing it because I've not received it? 376 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:36,200 Luke, you know, Chapter 18 verses 9 to 14. 377 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:41,900 I might not read all of this But Jesus is telling a story and he's telling a 378 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:45,179 story similar to what i've been talking about there's someone who had great 379 00:21:45,180 --> 00:21:52,659 confidence in their religious activity and Not only were they confident in 380 00:21:52,659 --> 00:21:57,919 their own religious activity They looked down on everybody else and you if you've 381 00:21:57,919 --> 00:22:01,470 ever been in part of church now I've been to this church my whole life, but 382 00:22:01,470 --> 00:22:04,430 i've also been part of other churches I've been on staff and done internships 383 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,890 at other churches you meet these people 384 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,040 They look down on you. 385 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,920 And sometimes, they'll do it with a smile. 386 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,220 Oh, look at your Bible. 387 00:22:23,650 --> 00:22:24,200 Oh, look at that. 388 00:22:24,550 --> 00:22:25,459 Your Bible's so cute. 389 00:22:26,130 --> 00:22:27,240 Should be King James Version. 390 00:22:32,309 --> 00:22:33,630 Oh, your church. 391 00:22:33,689 --> 00:22:34,200 Cute, cute. 392 00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:35,309 Wonderful, wonderful. 393 00:22:35,309 --> 00:22:36,549 But we don't believe that. 394 00:22:36,549 --> 00:22:37,660 And actually, you're going to hell. 395 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:42,940 It is just, our religious activity is superior to your religious activity. 396 00:22:44,035 --> 00:22:45,105 And this is the story. 397 00:22:45,315 --> 00:22:49,325 And so, uh, verse 18, chapter 10. 398 00:22:49,575 --> 00:22:52,645 Uh, excuse me, chapter 18, verse number 10. 399 00:22:53,535 --> 00:22:56,835 Jesus says this, Two men went to the temple to pray. 400 00:22:57,324 --> 00:22:58,524 One was a Pharisee. 401 00:22:58,574 --> 00:23:00,585 Those were religious elites. 402 00:23:01,585 --> 00:23:05,055 And the other was a despised tax collector. 403 00:23:05,175 --> 00:23:08,645 Whoever is on your list of worst people, that's that guy. 404 00:23:10,415 --> 00:23:11,865 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. 405 00:23:11,865 --> 00:23:13,625 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer. 406 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,810 I thank you, God, that I am not like other people. 407 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,510 Cheaters, sinners, adulterers. 408 00:23:22,060 --> 00:23:25,779 I'm certainly not like that tax, that tax collector. 409 00:23:26,130 --> 00:23:30,090 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income. 410 00:23:31,189 --> 00:23:35,050 Unfortunately, that might be a prayer that you prayed. 411 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:39,360 I can't even believe they struggle with addiction. 412 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,750 I can't even believe they sin that way. 413 00:23:41,750 --> 00:23:45,529 I can't even believe, oh, I thank you, God, that I'm not like that. 414 00:23:46,730 --> 00:23:48,880 I thank you God that I don't look like that. 415 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:49,880 I don't act like that. 416 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:51,850 I thank you God I can't even believe 417 00:23:53,860 --> 00:23:57,649 but verse number 13, but the tax collector stood at a distance This is 418 00:23:57,649 --> 00:24:01,939 this is the bad guy if you recognize yourself as a bad guy who shouldn't be 419 00:24:01,939 --> 00:24:04,119 approaching God This is you in this story. 420 00:24:05,010 --> 00:24:08,729 He stood in the distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven 421 00:24:08,809 --> 00:24:14,430 as he prayed Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, O God, be 422 00:24:14,430 --> 00:24:18,859 merciful to me, for I am a sinner. 423 00:24:19,970 --> 00:24:25,069 And Jesus says, I tell you this, I tell you, that it was this sinner, 424 00:24:25,629 --> 00:24:30,619 not the Pharisee, who returned home justified by God, who returned home 425 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,910 forgiven, who returned home made right. 426 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:36,950 The sinner was made right. 427 00:24:38,460 --> 00:24:40,979 The sinner was taken care of. 428 00:24:40,979 --> 00:24:41,860 The Pharisee, 429 00:24:44,860 --> 00:24:45,799 he continued. 430 00:24:46,305 --> 00:24:48,125 in his sin. 431 00:24:48,575 --> 00:24:52,025 God, Jesus said for those who humble themselves, those who exalt 432 00:24:52,035 --> 00:24:56,795 themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 433 00:24:57,775 --> 00:25:00,465 Religious activity does not make us right before God. 434 00:25:00,704 --> 00:25:03,655 Jesus makes us right before God. 435 00:25:04,095 --> 00:25:06,674 Second thing here is we must share it. 436 00:25:07,055 --> 00:25:10,745 You know it, you receive it, you've got to share it. 437 00:25:11,535 --> 00:25:16,595 It is a command that we share it, but also, why should it be a command? 438 00:25:18,264 --> 00:25:20,955 There's, uh, there's a couple jokes that go around in culture. 439 00:25:21,085 --> 00:25:22,625 How do you know someone's a vegan? 440 00:25:22,655 --> 00:25:23,794 Because they'll tell you, right? 441 00:25:23,855 --> 00:25:25,235 Or how do you know someone's in CrossFit? 442 00:25:25,284 --> 00:25:26,114 Because they'll tell you. 443 00:25:26,255 --> 00:25:28,075 It should be, how do you know someone's a Christian? 444 00:25:28,125 --> 00:25:28,915 Because they'll tell you. 445 00:25:30,565 --> 00:25:33,925 It should be something that's a part of our conversation. 446 00:25:34,815 --> 00:25:36,585 Not because we're trying to convince people. 447 00:25:36,715 --> 00:25:39,015 Not because we're trying to argue people. 448 00:25:39,145 --> 00:25:41,325 Not because we think we're better than people. 449 00:25:41,475 --> 00:25:46,015 But because we've received something that's changed our life and we 450 00:25:46,015 --> 00:25:50,004 want everybody to receive something that can change their life as well. 451 00:25:52,375 --> 00:25:53,795 That's our motivation. 452 00:25:53,795 --> 00:25:55,525 That has to be our motivation. 453 00:25:55,545 --> 00:26:02,135 And we must know and love Jesus in a way that it naturally becomes our motivation. 454 00:26:05,885 --> 00:26:09,725 If you want to go to a movie this week, don't go see Moana 2. 455 00:26:09,725 --> 00:26:11,475 I rate that a 4 out of a 10. 456 00:26:11,585 --> 00:26:17,345 But, but, go see the best Christmas pageant ever. 457 00:26:18,805 --> 00:26:19,515 Amazing. 458 00:26:20,495 --> 00:26:21,055 Amazing. 459 00:26:21,065 --> 00:26:22,134 9 out of 10. 460 00:26:22,215 --> 00:26:22,775 So good. 461 00:26:24,510 --> 00:26:26,400 So just for the record monotube 462 00:26:30,260 --> 00:26:31,190 Share it. 463 00:26:32,270 --> 00:26:37,439 There's a famous passage in Scripture where Jesus is talking 464 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,520 to a lady That's kind of like us. 465 00:26:41,070 --> 00:26:45,999 She's got some sexual history She's got she's part of a group that 466 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:47,620 people are prejudiced against. 467 00:26:48,470 --> 00:26:53,569 She's not part of the elite She wouldn't be welcome to even have conversation 468 00:26:53,569 --> 00:27:00,465 with the religious elite, but yet here's Jesus God of the universe Searching her 469 00:27:00,465 --> 00:27:02,025 out and having a conversation with her. 470 00:27:03,065 --> 00:27:08,595 He tells her the wrong things she's done, but he doesn't say it pointing his finger. 471 00:27:08,825 --> 00:27:12,694 He just says it like, Hey, I'm talking with you, and don't feel like you need 472 00:27:12,695 --> 00:27:15,625 to hide anything from me, because I know everything about you, and I'm not 473 00:27:15,625 --> 00:27:19,564 going to treat you different knowing the things that you're afraid I might know. 474 00:27:19,865 --> 00:27:21,245 Yeah, you've had five husbands. 475 00:27:21,425 --> 00:27:23,215 Yeah, you're living with a guy who's not your husband. 476 00:27:23,355 --> 00:27:27,885 I know that, but what I want to talk to you about is the good news. 477 00:27:28,715 --> 00:27:30,455 I want to talk to you about the good news. 478 00:27:31,035 --> 00:27:34,175 Change your behavior that's not gonna do anything for you. 479 00:27:34,585 --> 00:27:38,675 But you meet, and he calls himself the living water, you meet the living water. 480 00:27:40,150 --> 00:27:41,260 And it'll change everything. 481 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,990 I won't have to, I'm not going to have to convince you to live differently, 482 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,140 because when you meet the living water, when you experience the good news, 483 00:27:49,330 --> 00:27:52,440 you'll live differently, out of joy. 484 00:27:52,740 --> 00:27:56,830 And if you've ever gone to a church where they tell you, follow the rules, follow 485 00:27:56,830 --> 00:28:00,261 the rules, follow the rules, everybody sing it with me, follow the rules, follow 486 00:28:00,261 --> 00:28:03,190 the rules, that could have been one of the Moana songs, it would have made it better. 487 00:28:03,425 --> 00:28:09,625 Um, What would happen if you, the reason you've experienced church like that, 488 00:28:09,625 --> 00:28:13,125 because unfortunately it's filled with too many people busy with religious 489 00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:16,534 activity, not people who've met a savior. 490 00:28:18,595 --> 00:28:24,804 And so in John 4, 42, the lady experiences Jesus, and she runs to her city, and she's 491 00:28:24,824 --> 00:28:29,800 telling everybody, She's not like, hey, don't go near the well, creepy guy there. 492 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:34,160 She's not saying, hey, don't go near the well, a really judgmental, um, 493 00:28:34,169 --> 00:28:36,380 narcissistic religious guy there. 494 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:40,669 No, she runs to the city and she said, I, I, I, I, I, I think I've 495 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:42,959 met the, I think I've met Jesus. 496 00:28:42,959 --> 00:28:44,440 I think I've met the good news. 497 00:28:44,580 --> 00:28:45,580 I think I've met the Messiah. 498 00:28:45,770 --> 00:28:47,890 He told me everything I've ever done in my life. 499 00:28:48,065 --> 00:28:49,785 And she's not saying it in a shameful way. 500 00:28:50,035 --> 00:28:51,855 She's not saying it in a condemned way. 501 00:28:52,365 --> 00:28:55,755 He told me everything the reason she's saying that because she's blown away that 502 00:28:55,755 --> 00:28:59,285 he knew everything about her but he still treated her with kindness and dignity. 503 00:28:59,895 --> 00:29:03,045 He knows everything about you and he's still going to treat 504 00:29:03,045 --> 00:29:05,145 you with kindness and dignity. 505 00:29:06,275 --> 00:29:07,414 And she's blown away. 506 00:29:07,415 --> 00:29:08,325 I can't even believe. 507 00:29:08,325 --> 00:29:08,685 I can't even. 508 00:29:08,765 --> 00:29:09,635 And she tells everybody. 509 00:29:09,745 --> 00:29:11,755 They all, I mean, everybody's like, What? 510 00:29:11,785 --> 00:29:12,115 What? 511 00:29:12,165 --> 00:29:12,485 What? 512 00:29:12,735 --> 00:29:17,505 And it's like, It It's like, um, uh, uh, a commercial, people are just coming 513 00:29:17,655 --> 00:29:21,415 out of their houses, and they're all marching down the street to go find Jesus. 514 00:29:21,705 --> 00:29:24,775 And they meet Jesus, and they're like, hey, this lady told us about you. 515 00:29:24,955 --> 00:29:27,635 They have a conversation with Jesus, and they say this, this is so 516 00:29:27,635 --> 00:29:29,655 beautiful, they say this to the lady. 517 00:29:29,834 --> 00:29:31,375 This is the lady with the past. 518 00:29:33,545 --> 00:29:34,525 Now we believe. 519 00:29:34,685 --> 00:29:36,295 Now we believe. 520 00:29:37,745 --> 00:29:42,895 Not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. 521 00:29:43,315 --> 00:29:46,615 Now we know that he is indeed the savior of the world. 522 00:29:46,865 --> 00:29:48,454 I want to stop here for a moment. 523 00:29:49,155 --> 00:29:51,264 I'd like you to close your eyes for me for a moment. 524 00:29:51,475 --> 00:29:52,625 If you're comfortable, you don't have to. 525 00:29:55,894 --> 00:29:59,434 Some of you, you're putting a lot of activity into bringing 526 00:29:59,435 --> 00:30:01,115 your, your kids to church. 527 00:30:02,775 --> 00:30:04,775 You're spending money to send them to camp. 528 00:30:05,335 --> 00:30:07,375 You're not sure if it's making a difference. 529 00:30:08,425 --> 00:30:12,155 Some of you, you've never shared your testimony, your faith with your kids. 530 00:30:12,555 --> 00:30:15,765 I want you to imagine in this moment, where you share your testimony with 531 00:30:15,765 --> 00:30:20,555 your kids, you, you, you've put in, you're going, you, you've got Jesus 532 00:30:20,575 --> 00:30:23,295 priority at first, not just of your life, but of their life as well. 533 00:30:23,315 --> 00:30:25,155 It's not their decision at this stage yet. 534 00:30:26,005 --> 00:30:30,815 Now imagine them coming to you and saying, Now I believe, not just 535 00:30:30,815 --> 00:30:36,745 because you forced me to go to church, but because I have heard Him myself. 536 00:30:38,145 --> 00:30:39,195 That's the prayer I have for you. 537 00:30:39,195 --> 00:30:40,505 You can look back up at me. 538 00:30:41,155 --> 00:30:44,805 And I know one of our baptisms this morning, 539 00:30:47,395 --> 00:30:55,415 One of our baptisms this morning is, um, uh, a guy in his 20s 540 00:30:57,315 --> 00:31:03,285 whose father dedicated him as a baby on the stage of our church. 541 00:31:04,714 --> 00:31:10,564 And now many years later, after the last couple months, has given his life back to 542 00:31:10,565 --> 00:31:12,945 the Lord and is getting baptized today. 543 00:31:12,945 --> 00:31:18,105 He's saying, hey, now I believe, not just, Dad, because what you told me 544 00:31:18,105 --> 00:31:23,925 to believe, but because I've heard him, We've got to know the gospel. 545 00:31:23,935 --> 00:31:25,075 We've got to share the gospel. 546 00:31:25,075 --> 00:31:27,405 The last thing is this, we've got to prioritize it. 547 00:31:28,465 --> 00:31:30,545 Matthew 6. 548 00:31:30,545 --> 00:31:34,405 33 Uh, this is a prayer people pray when they're single, right, 549 00:31:34,545 --> 00:31:35,805 and they're waiting for a date. 550 00:31:36,265 --> 00:31:40,455 Uh, it says, Seek the kingdom of God above all else and live righteously and 551 00:31:40,455 --> 00:31:42,154 He will give you everything you need. 552 00:31:42,244 --> 00:31:44,454 Listen, that's probably, that's a good dating principle. 553 00:31:44,455 --> 00:31:45,625 That's not what it's talking about here. 554 00:31:45,765 --> 00:31:48,165 It goes much broader and deeper than that. 555 00:31:48,375 --> 00:31:52,205 We tend to only quote this prayer or pray this prayer when we 556 00:31:52,205 --> 00:31:53,485 don't have something we want. 557 00:31:53,675 --> 00:31:57,225 This is a way of living. 558 00:31:58,655 --> 00:32:02,485 It's not a way of being patient to get what you don't have yet. 559 00:32:02,695 --> 00:32:04,145 It's a way of living. 560 00:32:04,445 --> 00:32:06,715 Seek first the kingdom of God. 561 00:32:07,025 --> 00:32:10,294 When it's going good, when it's going bad, in your relationships, 562 00:32:10,295 --> 00:32:15,814 in your finances, in your health, in your business, in everything. 563 00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:18,205 Seek God above all else. 564 00:32:19,095 --> 00:32:20,785 Seek God before all else. 565 00:32:20,855 --> 00:32:22,795 And live righteously. 566 00:32:24,545 --> 00:32:28,435 Live like you say you believe in Him. 567 00:32:29,204 --> 00:32:29,774 Live! 568 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:36,890 Like he's changed your life, and he will give you everything you need. 569 00:32:37,460 --> 00:32:39,780 Prioritize the gospel. 570 00:32:40,610 --> 00:32:47,930 This means that we put the good news of Jesus first in every part of our life. 571 00:32:49,649 --> 00:32:54,450 When we talk about tithing, tithing 10%, this is the, this comes not 572 00:32:54,450 --> 00:32:56,820 just out of this scripture, but out of a bunch of scriptures. 573 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:57,584 This is one of those. 574 00:32:58,375 --> 00:33:01,435 The per the, the, the principle of first fruits. 575 00:33:01,615 --> 00:33:08,425 The principle of tithing is God, first, I prioritize God above everything else. 576 00:33:08,635 --> 00:33:13,435 I prioritize him above my mortgage, above my, uh, above my Netflix account, 577 00:33:13,525 --> 00:33:23,415 above my, uh, my, my, uh, my gas, my car payment, eating out before taxes. 578 00:33:24,545 --> 00:33:30,005 God, first in attending church, we start on Sunday. 579 00:33:30,035 --> 00:33:31,170 Some churches are on Saturdays. 580 00:33:32,125 --> 00:33:32,685 But we, 581 00:33:35,625 --> 00:33:38,285 whether this was why it was originally installed, we can 582 00:33:38,285 --> 00:33:39,565 make it the reason we do it now. 583 00:33:39,725 --> 00:33:42,615 It's the first thing, the first moments of the first day of the week. 584 00:33:42,755 --> 00:33:43,705 We put God first. 585 00:33:43,735 --> 00:33:45,545 We come to church and we do that. 586 00:33:46,045 --> 00:33:49,304 Serving, I don't use all my time for myself. 587 00:33:49,384 --> 00:33:54,335 I first decide when I'm gonna serve God and I design my life around that 588 00:33:54,465 --> 00:33:56,195 within our scheduling and our calendar. 589 00:33:56,795 --> 00:33:59,095 We put God first. 590 00:33:59,275 --> 00:34:03,375 We put the things for God first, and then we prioritize 591 00:34:03,545 --> 00:34:04,994 the rest of our life around it. 592 00:34:05,255 --> 00:34:11,804 There's something that is used in, in, in, um, not just in church, you know, 593 00:34:11,945 --> 00:34:15,605 calendar scheduling, but you can use in your personal calendar as well. 594 00:34:15,895 --> 00:34:17,495 And it's the idea of big rocks. 595 00:34:18,010 --> 00:34:23,100 And um, because our ground's frozen, it's kind of hard to just find rocks and sand. 596 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:24,730 So just imagine this with me. 597 00:34:24,730 --> 00:34:31,159 But if we had a, a, a glass vase here, and we have big rocks, medium rocks, and sand. 598 00:34:31,210 --> 00:34:35,219 If you put the, the sand in first, and the medium rocks in second, there'll 599 00:34:35,219 --> 00:34:37,000 be no room to fit the big rocks in. 600 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:40,909 But if you go in reverse order, and you put the priority things 601 00:34:40,909 --> 00:34:46,449 in first, the big rocks in first, then the medium rocks, and then the 602 00:34:46,449 --> 00:34:48,039 sand, the least priority things in. 603 00:34:48,670 --> 00:34:51,580 Next, it will all fit in your calendar. 604 00:34:51,580 --> 00:34:56,060 One of the reasons why you can't time, find time for God is because 605 00:34:56,060 --> 00:34:58,760 you're not putting God first. 606 00:34:59,779 --> 00:35:02,649 Put Him in first. 607 00:35:03,510 --> 00:35:08,780 You know, my, my father and mother came, uh, started following Jesus when 608 00:35:08,780 --> 00:35:10,110 they were in their early twenties. 609 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:14,230 They were in like their first or second year of marriage when 610 00:35:14,260 --> 00:35:16,010 they started following Jesus. 611 00:35:16,439 --> 00:35:20,260 And since then, church on Sundays. 612 00:35:20,845 --> 00:35:22,055 It just was. 613 00:35:22,535 --> 00:35:23,585 It just was. 614 00:35:23,795 --> 00:35:28,545 And so now, for my kids, it's not even anything that we have to like, 615 00:35:29,275 --> 00:35:32,374 you know, someone asks us, hey, you want to come over Sunday morning? 616 00:35:32,434 --> 00:35:35,154 We don't have to, let me check the calendar and find out what's 617 00:35:35,165 --> 00:35:36,264 happening on Sunday morning. 618 00:35:36,375 --> 00:35:39,485 No, we know because the big rock has been put in first. 619 00:35:39,705 --> 00:35:46,210 The big rocks of Of Sunday, the big rocks of youth group for the kids, 620 00:35:46,370 --> 00:35:49,630 the big rocks of summer camp are already on our calendar for next year, 621 00:35:49,829 --> 00:35:57,029 the big rocks of, of, um, big rocks of, of, of dates and of vacations. 622 00:35:57,029 --> 00:35:58,519 You put in those things first! 623 00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:05,990 That way, the lesser important things don't happen. 624 00:36:05,990 --> 00:36:11,529 And when the big rocks are in first, it makes other decisions of, of, uh, of, 625 00:36:11,830 --> 00:36:14,980 uh, of sports, of hobbies, of activities. 626 00:36:15,050 --> 00:36:17,289 It helps them to get in line. 627 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:20,910 Seek first the kingdom. 628 00:36:22,409 --> 00:36:24,280 Make him the priority. 629 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:29,470 The band, I welcome, the musicians, I welcome you to get into your spots. 630 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:37,205 Today, we're celebrating in our church, As we see dozens of people across 631 00:36:37,205 --> 00:36:42,715 our locations declare the gospel to the world through water baptism. 632 00:36:43,705 --> 00:36:46,354 Water baptism is not something that saves us. 633 00:36:46,725 --> 00:36:50,204 Water baptism is not something that, that joins us to a church. 634 00:36:50,455 --> 00:36:54,495 Water baptism is not something that, that, that cleanses us. 635 00:36:54,675 --> 00:36:59,455 It is symbolic of the moment you gave your life to Jesus. 636 00:36:59,755 --> 00:37:03,965 And it is a declaration to the world, a public declaration to the world. 637 00:37:04,335 --> 00:37:10,855 I am his I follow the people getting water baptized today. 638 00:37:10,855 --> 00:37:17,045 They've met Jesus They are sharing it with you and part of the baptism is a 639 00:37:17,045 --> 00:37:24,015 declaration They're making a commitment to Jesus to make him first in their life. 640 00:37:25,455 --> 00:37:26,535 It's a beautiful thing 641 00:37:28,914 --> 00:37:31,768 It's a powerful thing and we're gonna celebrate that together. 642 00:37:31,768 --> 00:37:33,299 But before we do I 643 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,410 Want to take a moment to pray with you. 644 00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:40,420 If you'll close your eyes. 645 00:37:40,420 --> 00:37:42,870 Again, if you're comfortable, if you, if you're not comfortable, just stare at me. 646 00:37:42,870 --> 00:37:43,240 It's fine. 647 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:44,020 I'll stare back at you. 648 00:37:44,390 --> 00:37:45,660 You, then you'll close your eyes. 649 00:37:45,660 --> 00:37:46,340 I bet, I promise. 650 00:37:50,609 --> 00:37:54,580 But it's these moments where we recognize, maybe, I've gone to 651 00:37:54,580 --> 00:37:58,030 church my whole life, but I've never made a decision to follow Jesus. 652 00:37:59,290 --> 00:38:02,130 I've gone to church my whole life, but I've, I never even 653 00:38:02,140 --> 00:38:03,540 knew that He would forgive me. 654 00:38:04,460 --> 00:38:08,460 Or I'm here today, and this is the first church I've ever walked in and thought 655 00:38:08,479 --> 00:38:11,550 that maybe, maybe God will want me. 656 00:38:13,430 --> 00:38:14,150 He wants you. 657 00:38:15,780 --> 00:38:18,140 Maybe you're here today, and you are just stuck. 658 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:26,100 Sin has entangled you, it has captured you, it is destroying you, and you 659 00:38:26,100 --> 00:38:27,300 don't even know how to get free. 660 00:38:27,340 --> 00:38:30,460 It is with a simple prayer 661 00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:38,840 to a merciful God, a simple prayer to our powerful Savior. 662 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:42,570 Jesus, I need you. 663 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,540 Jesus, forgive me. 664 00:38:48,910 --> 00:38:51,190 Jesus, I follow you. 665 00:38:55,825 --> 00:39:01,015 As you pray that prayer and as you make that decision, it is a 666 00:39:01,015 --> 00:39:03,235 dramatic moment in a person's life. 667 00:39:03,655 --> 00:39:07,255 Jesus says that the moment you receive his forgiveness, the moment you decide to 668 00:39:07,265 --> 00:39:09,735 follow him, you start a brand new life. 669 00:39:09,765 --> 00:39:12,245 That's why he calls it, it's like you've been born again. 670 00:39:12,534 --> 00:39:15,225 You're learning how to talk, how to walk, how to act. 671 00:39:15,245 --> 00:39:16,325 You're starting all over. 672 00:39:16,325 --> 00:39:17,575 It's a brand new life. 673 00:39:18,565 --> 00:39:22,515 And today we celebrate that brand new life together. 674 00:39:23,855 --> 00:39:26,775 Jesus, for every person getting baptized today, we thank you. 675 00:39:27,340 --> 00:39:30,980 For every person who just made a decision right now to follow you, we thank you. 676 00:39:31,310 --> 00:39:35,110 For every person in the room just wrestling in their heart because 677 00:39:35,110 --> 00:39:37,899 they want to believe, but they're, but they've got so many questions. 678 00:39:38,050 --> 00:39:43,779 I pray that they will, that they, you, your word says that if they search 679 00:39:43,780 --> 00:39:47,470 after you, they'll find you when they're searching you with their whole heart. 680 00:39:47,730 --> 00:39:52,070 And I pray right now, God, that in their whole heart, they'd say, Jesus, 681 00:39:52,070 --> 00:39:53,510 if you're real, I want to find you. 682 00:39:53,820 --> 00:39:55,019 And they'd start that process. 683 00:39:55,019 --> 00:39:56,750 And we know what's going to happen at the end. 684 00:39:57,745 --> 00:40:01,805 The joy of salvation and a great moment of knowing and following 685 00:40:01,805 --> 00:40:04,215 you and we pray this in Jesus name. 686 00:40:04,615 --> 00:40:05,055 Amen. 687 00:40:06,015 --> 00:40:06,375 Amen