1 00:00:30,099 --> 00:00:30,435 Amen. 2 00:00:30,435 --> 00:00:33,675 It's good to have brother Glenn Farron with us tonight. 3 00:00:33,707 --> 00:00:36,987 Brother Glenn is pastor of the Five Forks Baptist Church in Five 4 00:00:37,043 --> 00:00:39,199 Forks, North Carolina. 5 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:41,899 Five Forks, Hillsboro. 6 00:00:41,979 --> 00:00:43,519 I was told it was Five Forks. 7 00:00:48,019 --> 00:00:49,879 I won't tell you who told me that. 8 00:00:51,939 --> 00:00:53,479 It was a family member. 9 00:00:54,899 --> 00:00:55,799 All right. 10 00:00:56,109 --> 00:00:57,269 And you know what? 11 00:00:57,309 --> 00:01:01,525 It's even more important that Vianney is here and Clarissa and 12 00:01:01,597 --> 00:01:05,381 Oliver, that that's who I really wanted to see and not Glenn. 13 00:01:05,445 --> 00:01:06,469 I'm just kidding. 14 00:01:06,629 --> 00:01:09,205 Glenn was on our staff for several years now. 15 00:01:09,277 --> 00:01:10,849 Been pastor in there how long now? 16 00:01:11,229 --> 00:01:12,069 Three years. 17 00:01:12,189 --> 00:01:13,493 You were on staff here three years? 18 00:01:13,581 --> 00:01:14,373 Three years. 19 00:01:14,541 --> 00:01:18,089 All right, Brother Glenn, come on, preach to us after we've. 20 00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:23,327 Not very dignified, am I? 21 00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:24,219 You know what? 22 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:27,151 I'm glad Glenn's here. 23 00:01:27,175 --> 00:01:29,007 Come on, make this thing clean up the. 24 00:01:29,063 --> 00:01:30,299 Yeah, help us out. 25 00:01:32,439 --> 00:01:35,983 I appreciate that, Pastor, and I always appreciate the opportunity 26 00:01:36,031 --> 00:01:37,231 to come back here and preach. 27 00:01:37,295 --> 00:01:43,231 And preaching is a passion of mine, and I enjoy it. 28 00:01:43,415 --> 00:01:49,817 And I'll be honest with you, the more that I preach, the more 29 00:01:49,873 --> 00:01:52,989 work I end up having to put into preaching. 30 00:01:54,369 --> 00:01:59,609 If when you first start out preaching, this is just kind of my 31 00:01:59,649 --> 00:02:03,945 experience, I kind of would go to all the passages I was familiar 32 00:02:03,977 --> 00:02:06,233 with, and then I would exhaust those passages. 33 00:02:06,281 --> 00:02:11,401 And now I'm like, I don't know what to preach, but I've had to really 34 00:02:11,425 --> 00:02:13,529 put in a lot of work into it. 35 00:02:13,569 --> 00:02:16,073 And right now, on Sunday mornings, we're going through the 36 00:02:16,081 --> 00:02:16,505 book of Luke. 37 00:02:16,537 --> 00:02:17,833 We're in Luke, chapter 17. 38 00:02:17,921 --> 00:02:21,065 We've been going through that for two years at this point. 39 00:02:21,217 --> 00:02:23,225 And on Sunday nights, we're in the book of Hebrews. 40 00:02:23,257 --> 00:02:25,737 And right now, we're in the midst of Hebrews, chapter 11. 41 00:02:25,873 --> 00:02:29,209 And we've been in there for about a year and a half or so, and 42 00:02:29,249 --> 00:02:33,209 both of those books have been a huge help, and I really enjoy it. 43 00:02:33,249 --> 00:02:35,449 I really enjoy studying the word of God and all of that. 44 00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:38,233 And by the way, every Christian should enjoy studying the 45 00:02:38,241 --> 00:02:39,081 word of God. 46 00:02:39,225 --> 00:02:40,349 I really believe that. 47 00:02:40,449 --> 00:02:43,973 And if you don't, I think something's wrong. 48 00:02:44,101 --> 00:02:49,861 And that's maybe my personal opinion, but I think pastor would 49 00:02:49,885 --> 00:02:50,709 agree with that. 50 00:02:50,829 --> 00:02:56,613 And so anyway, I won't say too much fluff here before the message 51 00:02:56,661 --> 00:02:57,301 tonight. 52 00:02:57,445 --> 00:02:59,557 Turn, if you would, with me to Mark, chapter number two. 53 00:02:59,613 --> 00:03:01,449 Mark chapter number two this evening. 54 00:03:02,109 --> 00:03:04,741 And I just want to be a help to you tonight if I could, for just 55 00:03:04,765 --> 00:03:05,653 a few moments. 56 00:03:05,781 --> 00:03:07,305 I'm thankful to be back. 57 00:03:07,437 --> 00:03:10,961 And again, I'm thankful that you have graciously allowed me to 58 00:03:10,985 --> 00:03:11,953 preach tonight. 59 00:03:12,081 --> 00:03:15,569 And I want to Be a help and a blessing to you as a church this 60 00:03:15,609 --> 00:03:16,309 evening. 61 00:03:16,649 --> 00:03:19,601 This is not a time to serve myself. 62 00:03:19,665 --> 00:03:23,745 I want to serve the Lord and to serve you by means of preaching 63 00:03:23,777 --> 00:03:24,513 the word of God. 64 00:03:24,561 --> 00:03:28,481 And so I hope that what's said here tonight that you'll take it 65 00:03:28,505 --> 00:03:29,229 to heart. 66 00:03:29,609 --> 00:03:32,929 And I want to pull out just a small portion of this passage here 67 00:03:32,969 --> 00:03:33,601 tonight. 68 00:03:33,745 --> 00:03:37,033 And if you would stand with me for the reading of the word of God. 69 00:03:37,201 --> 00:03:38,329 Mark chapter number two. 70 00:03:38,369 --> 00:03:40,089 Verse number one is where we're going to begin. 71 00:03:40,169 --> 00:03:42,069 We'll read down through verse number 12. 72 00:03:42,449 --> 00:03:44,057 The Bible says, and again he entered. 73 00:03:44,073 --> 00:03:45,769 Into Capernaum after some days. 74 00:03:45,809 --> 00:03:48,185 And it was noised that he was in the house. 75 00:03:48,337 --> 00:03:51,033 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that 76 00:03:51,041 --> 00:03:54,681 there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the 77 00:03:54,705 --> 00:03:55,289 door. 78 00:03:55,449 --> 00:03:57,001 And he preached the word unto them. 79 00:03:57,025 --> 00:03:59,481 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which 80 00:03:59,505 --> 00:04:00,713 was born of four. 81 00:04:00,881 --> 00:04:03,481 And when they could not come nigh unto him, for the press, they 82 00:04:03,505 --> 00:04:05,163 uncovered the roof where he was. 83 00:04:05,321 --> 00:04:07,687 And when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein 84 00:04:07,703 --> 00:04:09,223 the sick of the palsy lay. 85 00:04:09,351 --> 00:04:12,071 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the 86 00:04:12,095 --> 00:04:15,255 palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 87 00:04:15,447 --> 00:04:17,815 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning 88 00:04:17,847 --> 00:04:19,543 in their hearts, why doth this man speak? 89 00:04:19,591 --> 00:04:20,423 Blasphemies. 90 00:04:20,551 --> 00:04:22,599 Who can forgive sins but God only? 91 00:04:22,719 --> 00:04:25,351 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they 92 00:04:25,375 --> 00:04:28,711 reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, why reason ye these 93 00:04:28,735 --> 00:04:29,859 things in your heart? 94 00:04:30,159 --> 00:04:33,351 Whether it is easier to say, the sick of the palsy, thy sins be 95 00:04:33,375 --> 00:04:33,927 forgiven thee? 96 00:04:33,943 --> 00:04:36,289 Or to say, arise and take up thy bed and walk. 97 00:04:36,439 --> 00:04:39,101 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to 98 00:04:39,125 --> 00:04:39,773 forgive sins. 99 00:04:39,821 --> 00:04:43,181 He saith to the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee, arise and 100 00:04:43,205 --> 00:04:45,229 take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 101 00:04:45,269 --> 00:04:49,309 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before 102 00:04:49,349 --> 00:04:52,621 them all, insomuch that they were all amazed and glorified. 103 00:04:52,685 --> 00:04:56,173 God saying, we never saw it on this fashion. 104 00:04:56,301 --> 00:04:59,021 Tonight I want to preach to you this message entitled simply 105 00:04:59,085 --> 00:05:00,925 teamwork in the ministry. 106 00:05:01,037 --> 00:05:03,933 And we see this man who comes to Christ, and his life is forever 107 00:05:03,981 --> 00:05:04,365 changed. 108 00:05:04,397 --> 00:05:06,559 And God gets all the glory because. 109 00:05:06,599 --> 00:05:09,199 Of the work of four men working together to bring this man 110 00:05:09,239 --> 00:05:09,887 to Christ. 111 00:05:10,023 --> 00:05:11,023 Let's pray this evening. 112 00:05:11,071 --> 00:05:13,855 Lord, thank you for allowing us to join together around the word 113 00:05:13,887 --> 00:05:14,207 of God. 114 00:05:14,223 --> 00:05:16,703 And I pray that you would change our minds tonight. 115 00:05:16,751 --> 00:05:19,279 Lord, I know that there is something in this passage for me 116 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:19,615 tonight. 117 00:05:19,647 --> 00:05:23,899 And for all of us that are present, Lord, something that needs 118 00:05:24,199 --> 00:05:27,007 to be awakened in our mind, whether it be. 119 00:05:27,143 --> 00:05:28,815 Something that we currently believe we ought. 120 00:05:28,847 --> 00:05:32,351 Not to or something that we haven't even considered yet in the 121 00:05:32,375 --> 00:05:33,055 Christian life. 122 00:05:33,127 --> 00:05:36,199 Somewhere where we fall short, Lord, I pray that you'd show us those 123 00:05:36,239 --> 00:05:36,487 things. 124 00:05:36,543 --> 00:05:39,191 And, Lord, may we be conformed to the image of your son. 125 00:05:39,335 --> 00:05:40,951 I pray, Lord, that any decision that. 126 00:05:40,975 --> 00:05:44,739 Is made here tonight to be more like Christ would not be because 127 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,391 Pastor Farrind said so or because Pastor Crawford said so, 128 00:05:48,415 --> 00:05:52,151 but would it be rooted in the word of God, that our faith may not 129 00:05:52,175 --> 00:05:56,023 stand in the wisdom of men, but as it is in truth, the word of 130 00:05:56,031 --> 00:05:56,263 God. 131 00:05:56,311 --> 00:05:59,415 And so, Lord, I pray tonight that you would help me to be a blessing. 132 00:05:59,527 --> 00:06:02,873 Empty me of myself, fill me with your spirit, and use me in the 133 00:06:02,881 --> 00:06:03,737 way that you see fit. 134 00:06:03,753 --> 00:06:05,289 In Jesus name I pray. 135 00:06:05,449 --> 00:06:05,913 Amen. 136 00:06:05,961 --> 00:06:06,905 Thank you so much for standing. 137 00:06:06,937 --> 00:06:08,349 You may be seated tonight. 138 00:06:08,849 --> 00:06:12,905 Now, tonight, I want us to quickly, by way of introduction, 139 00:06:13,097 --> 00:06:16,265 consider the matter of teamwork in the local church. 140 00:06:16,457 --> 00:06:20,681 Now, the goal of the team in the local church is what we see here 141 00:06:20,705 --> 00:06:22,457 in this passage closer to the end. 142 00:06:22,513 --> 00:06:24,105 It's found in two different verses. 143 00:06:24,217 --> 00:06:25,513 If you would, tonight, I want you. 144 00:06:25,521 --> 00:06:29,719 To notice in verse number 1010, where Jesus says, but that 145 00:06:29,759 --> 00:06:33,063 ye may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive 146 00:06:33,111 --> 00:06:33,719 sins. 147 00:06:33,879 --> 00:06:36,375 And then I want you to notice the response of this miracle. 148 00:06:36,407 --> 00:06:40,359 In verse number 12 at the end, it says, insomuch that they were 149 00:06:40,399 --> 00:06:46,759 all amazed and glorified God, saying, we never saw it on this fashion. 150 00:06:46,919 --> 00:06:51,751 Understand tonight that at the root of all of this ministry here 151 00:06:51,855 --> 00:06:56,773 at Heritage Baptist Church is the sole purpose of glorifying God. 152 00:06:56,901 --> 00:07:00,629 It is the sole purpose of bringing those within the church 153 00:07:00,709 --> 00:07:04,501 and those in the community surrounding the church into a greater 154 00:07:04,565 --> 00:07:06,597 understanding of who God is. 155 00:07:06,733 --> 00:07:11,221 This ministry exists not for the sake of building the name of 156 00:07:11,245 --> 00:07:14,997 Heritage Baptist Church, or so that Pastor Crawford could become 157 00:07:15,053 --> 00:07:18,501 more well known in the community, but for the purpose of 158 00:07:18,525 --> 00:07:21,595 helping God become more well known within this community. 159 00:07:21,667 --> 00:07:24,587 That is the purpose of the existence of this church. 160 00:07:24,683 --> 00:07:26,219 That is tonight. 161 00:07:26,299 --> 00:07:30,779 The goal of Heritage Baptist Church is to bring glory to God. 162 00:07:30,939 --> 00:07:32,763 Now, we do that in many different ways. 163 00:07:32,811 --> 00:07:34,875 We do that through the preaching of the Word of God, and 164 00:07:34,947 --> 00:07:38,523 we do that through the giving that you do in the offering plate 165 00:07:38,571 --> 00:07:42,155 so that the Word of God can go forward into all the world. 166 00:07:42,227 --> 00:07:46,091 We do that through the Sunday school classrooms and through all 167 00:07:46,115 --> 00:07:48,059 of the ministry efforts. 168 00:07:48,139 --> 00:07:49,499 All of that is fine and well. 169 00:07:49,539 --> 00:07:49,997 And. 170 00:07:50,123 --> 00:07:53,225 And the Bible commands us to do many of the things that Heritage 171 00:07:53,257 --> 00:07:57,145 Baptist Church is engaged in on a weekly basis, but all of that 172 00:07:57,297 --> 00:08:00,073 so that the glory of God could be known. 173 00:08:00,161 --> 00:08:03,529 And so that is the goal of the team tonight. 174 00:08:03,689 --> 00:08:07,977 And the reality is that Heritage Baptist Church must operate 175 00:08:08,073 --> 00:08:12,009 as a team in order for that goal to be met. 176 00:08:12,129 --> 00:08:14,457 Now you can glorify God as an individual. 177 00:08:14,553 --> 00:08:15,549 Absolutely. 178 00:08:16,649 --> 00:08:22,689 But in order for Heritage Baptist Church to properly and to 179 00:08:22,729 --> 00:08:28,417 most effectively fulfill its purpose, every single member of this 180 00:08:28,473 --> 00:08:31,681 church must work together with one another. 181 00:08:31,785 --> 00:08:33,729 In order to accomplish that goal. 182 00:08:33,889 --> 00:08:37,265 I know some Christians that have the mentality, well, God didn't 183 00:08:37,297 --> 00:08:40,869 call me into the ministry and so I really don't have to do anything. 184 00:08:41,539 --> 00:08:44,539 You're there, Pastor Crawford, to serve me. 185 00:08:44,579 --> 00:08:45,147 And Ms. 186 00:08:45,203 --> 00:08:46,491 Tanya, you're there to serve me. 187 00:08:46,515 --> 00:08:49,851 And Brother Stone, he's being paid by my tithe dollars so that 188 00:08:49,875 --> 00:08:51,243 he can serve me. 189 00:08:51,411 --> 00:08:53,439 Some Christians have that mentality. 190 00:08:53,859 --> 00:08:56,267 Some Christians have the mentality, well, you know what? 191 00:08:56,323 --> 00:09:00,639 Soul winning is really for those in full time Christian ministry. 192 00:09:01,859 --> 00:09:05,323 Some people that will take a familiar passage like Matthew chapter 193 00:09:05,371 --> 00:09:09,163 28 and say, well, Jesus gave that to his disciples, to the apostles, 194 00:09:09,211 --> 00:09:11,721 and those guys were full time Christian ministry. 195 00:09:11,785 --> 00:09:14,825 And so that calling is just for those in full time Christian 196 00:09:14,857 --> 00:09:15,145 ministry. 197 00:09:15,177 --> 00:09:16,777 And they kind of twist the word. 198 00:09:16,793 --> 00:09:17,829 Of God that way. 199 00:09:19,969 --> 00:09:22,729 I preached a message a few months. 200 00:09:22,769 --> 00:09:26,681 Ago and something that I had prayed about for a while on the matter 201 00:09:26,705 --> 00:09:29,785 of soul winning, that when somebody's life has been touched 202 00:09:29,817 --> 00:09:32,585 by the gospel of Jesus Christ, they don't need a commission. 203 00:09:32,737 --> 00:09:35,689 They have a passion burning within their hearts to go and share 204 00:09:35,729 --> 00:09:37,309 that news with somebody else. 205 00:09:39,279 --> 00:09:43,463 The disciples in Acts chapter number four said, hey, look, we can't 206 00:09:43,511 --> 00:09:45,767 but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 207 00:09:45,863 --> 00:09:48,167 We don't need a commission, we don't need a command. 208 00:09:48,263 --> 00:09:50,199 We have something burning within our hearts. 209 00:09:50,279 --> 00:09:52,379 We've got to go share it with someone else. 210 00:09:52,959 --> 00:09:56,423 I would imagine that somebody that has the mentality, well, soul 211 00:09:56,471 --> 00:10:00,791 winning is for the staff member probably doesn't have much 212 00:10:00,815 --> 00:10:02,551 of a passion for souls or much. 213 00:10:02,575 --> 00:10:03,739 Of a heart for God. 214 00:10:05,469 --> 00:10:08,437 Soul winning is not just for the staff members. 215 00:10:08,493 --> 00:10:12,469 It's for every born again believer who knows what God has done 216 00:10:12,509 --> 00:10:15,269 for them and that if God could do it for them, he could do it for 217 00:10:15,309 --> 00:10:16,609 someone else too. 218 00:10:18,109 --> 00:10:20,405 Think about the Christmas story, the shepherds. 219 00:10:20,517 --> 00:10:23,525 Long before Jesus ever gave the great commission, the shepherds 220 00:10:23,557 --> 00:10:24,373 were soul winners. 221 00:10:24,421 --> 00:10:28,277 After they had visited the manger scene, what about the woman 222 00:10:28,333 --> 00:10:28,981 at the well? 223 00:10:29,085 --> 00:10:30,629 She said, hey, come and see a man. 224 00:10:30,669 --> 00:10:34,045 Which told me all the things that I've ever Done. 225 00:10:34,117 --> 00:10:35,369 She didn't have a commission. 226 00:10:36,149 --> 00:10:39,741 Even people that Jesus said, don't tell anyone. 227 00:10:39,805 --> 00:10:41,809 They said, I've got to go tell somebody. 228 00:10:43,669 --> 00:10:47,341 I wonder if God's going to judge them for disobedience on that 229 00:10:47,365 --> 00:10:47,597 one. 230 00:10:47,653 --> 00:10:48,061 I don't know. 231 00:10:48,085 --> 00:10:48,749 That's a good. 232 00:10:48,869 --> 00:10:50,009 Interesting question. 233 00:10:51,189 --> 00:10:52,573 Teamwork is. 234 00:10:52,741 --> 00:10:53,769 It's a team. 235 00:10:55,349 --> 00:11:01,335 I've learned, pastoring a small church, a church much smaller 236 00:11:01,367 --> 00:11:06,919 than this one, that I play a role in the church, but I play a 237 00:11:06,959 --> 00:11:10,887 much lesser role than I thought a pastor actually played 238 00:11:10,943 --> 00:11:11,819 in the church. 239 00:11:12,959 --> 00:11:13,943 I'm one person. 240 00:11:14,031 --> 00:11:15,431 I get up and preach the word of God. 241 00:11:15,495 --> 00:11:19,543 I guess you could say I'm perhaps maybe the most prominent 242 00:11:19,591 --> 00:11:22,695 member of the church as far as what people see and who they interact 243 00:11:22,727 --> 00:11:23,871 with on a weekly basis. 244 00:11:23,975 --> 00:11:27,231 But there are so many people in our church that they do so many 245 00:11:27,255 --> 00:11:30,895 things behind the scenes that I could never do, that I'm not skilled 246 00:11:30,927 --> 00:11:32,735 at, that I don't have a passion for. 247 00:11:32,807 --> 00:11:35,343 But they keep that church functioning on a weekly basis. 248 00:11:35,391 --> 00:11:39,519 And I imagine here at Heritage Baptist Church, that's exacerbated 249 00:11:39,599 --> 00:11:40,287 times 10. 250 00:11:40,343 --> 00:11:46,127 Here, Pastor Crawford, he stands up behind the pulpit and preaches, 251 00:11:46,223 --> 00:11:47,599 and Brother Stone's on staff. 252 00:11:47,639 --> 00:11:51,423 And many people that stand up and you see them on a weekly basis, 253 00:11:51,471 --> 00:11:53,527 they're more proud, prominent in your sight. 254 00:11:53,623 --> 00:11:58,663 But there are way many more people that keep this church operating 255 00:11:58,711 --> 00:12:00,059 on a weekly basis. 256 00:12:01,119 --> 00:12:05,463 Hey, listen, by the way, this is in my notes tonight. 257 00:12:05,511 --> 00:12:06,899 This is absolutely free. 258 00:12:08,239 --> 00:12:10,295 If you say, you know, I can't. 259 00:12:10,327 --> 00:12:11,939 Do much, but I can at least. 260 00:12:12,239 --> 00:12:15,751 Pray at home, you're doing perhaps the. 261 00:12:15,775 --> 00:12:18,619 Most important thing you can do in the local church. 262 00:12:19,419 --> 00:12:20,595 You're praying for your pastor. 263 00:12:20,627 --> 00:12:21,795 You're praying for your staff members. 264 00:12:21,867 --> 00:12:23,235 You're praying for your church members. 265 00:12:23,307 --> 00:12:25,331 You're praying for a community, for souls to be saved. 266 00:12:25,395 --> 00:12:27,715 Hey, don't diminish the significance of that. 267 00:12:27,787 --> 00:12:29,919 That is a very important thing to do. 268 00:12:31,099 --> 00:12:34,963 What I'm saying here tonight is that it requires all of us working 269 00:12:35,051 --> 00:12:38,323 together, striving together for the faith of the gospel. 270 00:12:38,371 --> 00:12:41,683 But in some churches, and the reason I believe that some churches 271 00:12:41,731 --> 00:12:47,319 do not work as a team, or some people within the church are not 272 00:12:47,359 --> 00:12:51,239 engaged with the team, I believe, is because they fit a few 273 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:52,183 descriptions tonight. 274 00:12:52,231 --> 00:12:56,379 First of all, I think some Christians have a competitive mentality. 275 00:12:56,879 --> 00:12:58,259 What do I mean by that? 276 00:12:59,119 --> 00:13:01,335 They're trying to up one another. 277 00:13:01,407 --> 00:13:04,119 They're trying to be better than the other person. 278 00:13:04,239 --> 00:13:07,111 They're comparing themselves with themselves, which the Bible 279 00:13:07,175 --> 00:13:08,459 says is not wise. 280 00:13:08,799 --> 00:13:11,111 And they say, well, I would do it differently than that. 281 00:13:11,135 --> 00:13:12,809 And I, I wouldn't do it that way. 282 00:13:12,849 --> 00:13:14,553 And I think the way they did it was wrong. 283 00:13:14,601 --> 00:13:17,721 And they're constantly comparing and competing with one 284 00:13:17,745 --> 00:13:17,977 another. 285 00:13:18,033 --> 00:13:22,441 And listen, a team that's competing against one another cannot 286 00:13:22,505 --> 00:13:23,829 ever win the game. 287 00:13:27,489 --> 00:13:29,321 The competitive mentality. 288 00:13:29,385 --> 00:13:32,985 Paul even experienced this in Philippians 1:15. 289 00:13:33,057 --> 00:13:36,601 He said, Some indeed preach Christ, even of envy and strife, 290 00:13:36,665 --> 00:13:38,201 and some also of goodwill. 291 00:13:38,265 --> 00:13:42,331 The one preached Christ of contention, not sin, sincerely supposing 292 00:13:42,395 --> 00:13:45,039 to add afflictions to my bonds. 293 00:13:46,179 --> 00:13:50,539 I pray there's not someone here tonight that is trying to compete 294 00:13:50,619 --> 00:13:54,347 against your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but is trying 295 00:13:54,403 --> 00:13:58,731 to strive together to accomplish the goal of bringing glory 296 00:13:58,795 --> 00:13:59,323 to God. 297 00:13:59,371 --> 00:14:02,539 Often with the competitive mentality, we're trying to bring 298 00:14:02,579 --> 00:14:03,739 glory to ourselves. 299 00:14:03,819 --> 00:14:07,291 And sometimes when we try to bring glory to ourselves, we end 300 00:14:07,315 --> 00:14:13,579 up on purpose or sometimes haphazardly stepping on others and 301 00:14:13,619 --> 00:14:14,599 hurting them. 302 00:14:16,339 --> 00:14:20,011 We'll tear them down in the process in order to build ourselves 303 00:14:20,075 --> 00:14:22,203 up if we have that competitive mentality. 304 00:14:22,251 --> 00:14:24,559 Some Christians have a carnal mentality. 305 00:14:24,979 --> 00:14:26,683 I think of the Corinthian Church. 306 00:14:26,731 --> 00:14:28,715 They were known for their carnal mentality. 307 00:14:28,747 --> 00:14:33,595 And what was the evidence of that carnal, that immature mentality 308 00:14:33,627 --> 00:14:33,981 where. 309 00:14:34,075 --> 00:14:38,473 Well, they also had this comparative type of spirit. 310 00:14:38,601 --> 00:14:44,393 But it was a divisiveness within the church based on different 311 00:14:44,481 --> 00:14:45,817 camps and groups they fit in. 312 00:14:45,873 --> 00:14:49,721 But one said, well, I'm of Paul and I'm of Apollos, and you 313 00:14:49,745 --> 00:14:52,469 have the ultra spiritual, well, I'm of Christ. 314 00:14:54,529 --> 00:14:58,601 They were all comparing with each other and they were all divided 315 00:14:58,665 --> 00:15:01,789 based on who had baptized them or who had led them to Christ or 316 00:15:01,889 --> 00:15:02,709 whatever it may be. 317 00:15:02,749 --> 00:15:04,821 And Paul says, listen, I'm nothing. 318 00:15:04,885 --> 00:15:05,973 Apollos is nothing. 319 00:15:06,021 --> 00:15:08,741 But we're just men who watered, we're men who planted. 320 00:15:08,805 --> 00:15:10,677 God is the one who gave the increase. 321 00:15:10,813 --> 00:15:12,725 God is the one that saved your soul. 322 00:15:12,837 --> 00:15:15,717 God is the one that drew you by his Holy Spirit. 323 00:15:15,813 --> 00:15:17,813 God is the one that sanctifies you. 324 00:15:17,901 --> 00:15:22,409 We're just simply laborers together in the harvest with God. 325 00:15:23,949 --> 00:15:29,001 But a carnal mentality, one who's always concerning himself with 326 00:15:29,025 --> 00:15:33,161 the frivolous, with the vain, is not going to work together with 327 00:15:33,185 --> 00:15:33,989 the team. 328 00:15:34,769 --> 00:15:37,193 Hey, listen, if you walk into Heritage. 329 00:15:37,241 --> 00:15:42,361 Baptist Church and your first thought is, I can't believe they 330 00:15:42,385 --> 00:15:44,829 took the projectors down and put up the screens. 331 00:15:47,249 --> 00:15:48,989 That's a carnal mentality. 332 00:15:50,209 --> 00:15:52,489 Whether we have projectors, whether we have screens, whether 333 00:15:52,529 --> 00:15:55,385 we have carpet, tile or whether we have hardwood flooring, 334 00:15:55,497 --> 00:16:01,095 whether the pulpit is a light color wood or a dark color wood, 335 00:16:01,207 --> 00:16:03,879 whether the parking lot was designed the way we wanted, whether 336 00:16:03,919 --> 00:16:06,423 the new building that's going up is exactly what we thought it 337 00:16:06,431 --> 00:16:06,967 was going to be. 338 00:16:07,023 --> 00:16:09,991 Hey, listen, all of that doesn't matter very much in light 339 00:16:10,015 --> 00:16:11,019 of eternity. 340 00:16:11,839 --> 00:16:15,299 It's all a vessel that God uses to bring glory to him. 341 00:16:15,919 --> 00:16:19,447 But a carnal Christian can't get past those things and can't work 342 00:16:19,503 --> 00:16:20,119 together with. 343 00:16:20,159 --> 00:16:22,219 His team to accomplish the task. 344 00:16:22,879 --> 00:16:25,179 Some Christians have a careless mentality. 345 00:16:25,629 --> 00:16:27,409 They just simply don't care. 346 00:16:28,589 --> 00:16:31,861 They're content to come to church whenever they feel like it. 347 00:16:31,885 --> 00:16:36,549 They're content to kind of feed off of the pastor and feed off 348 00:16:36,589 --> 00:16:40,213 of what the church can do for them, but really what they can pour 349 00:16:40,261 --> 00:16:43,061 into the church and how they can serve in the church and how they 350 00:16:43,085 --> 00:16:44,181 can lead souls to Christ. 351 00:16:44,285 --> 00:16:45,649 They really don't care. 352 00:16:46,749 --> 00:16:48,049 Kind of sad, really. 353 00:16:48,909 --> 00:16:49,989 Somebody cared for them. 354 00:16:50,029 --> 00:16:52,645 Somebody came to their door and invited them to church. 355 00:16:52,677 --> 00:16:53,797 Somebody led them to Christ. 356 00:16:53,853 --> 00:16:56,389 Somebody gave their tithe dollars so that the gospel could 357 00:16:56,429 --> 00:16:57,001 reach. 358 00:16:57,165 --> 00:17:00,273 But when it comes to them getting active and participating 359 00:17:00,321 --> 00:17:03,601 to see others come to Christ, they don't really have any interest 360 00:17:03,705 --> 00:17:04,589 in that. 361 00:17:06,329 --> 00:17:08,785 Maybe they're too busy caring about other things. 362 00:17:08,857 --> 00:17:12,913 By the way, I've never met a person who's totally careless about 363 00:17:13,001 --> 00:17:13,629 everything. 364 00:17:14,409 --> 00:17:16,189 You care about something. 365 00:17:16,889 --> 00:17:18,161 You care about yourself. 366 00:17:18,225 --> 00:17:20,017 You care about your job. 367 00:17:20,073 --> 00:17:21,249 You care about making money. 368 00:17:21,289 --> 00:17:22,257 You care about your friends. 369 00:17:22,313 --> 00:17:23,101 You care about your. 370 00:17:23,145 --> 00:17:24,309 Your favorite sports team. 371 00:17:24,349 --> 00:17:26,129 You care about this and that. 372 00:17:27,469 --> 00:17:30,245 God give us some Christians who care about souls. 373 00:17:30,277 --> 00:17:31,701 God give us some Christians who care. 374 00:17:31,725 --> 00:17:35,781 About God himself, who love God, who aren't careless about the 375 00:17:35,805 --> 00:17:39,157 local church, but are passionate about seeing it move forward 376 00:17:39,213 --> 00:17:40,309 for the glory of God. 377 00:17:40,389 --> 00:17:43,637 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life 378 00:17:43,693 --> 00:17:48,009 for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 379 00:17:48,678 --> 00:17:51,278 You ought to care about one another here tonight. 380 00:17:51,438 --> 00:17:55,246 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have 381 00:17:55,302 --> 00:17:57,658 love one to another. 382 00:17:59,478 --> 00:18:02,830 But a careless mentality will never accomplish the work of the 383 00:18:02,854 --> 00:18:03,134 team. 384 00:18:03,206 --> 00:18:05,778 Some Christians have a corrosive mentality. 385 00:18:06,198 --> 00:18:08,606 They want to see things fall apart. 386 00:18:08,702 --> 00:18:10,338 It brings them pleasure. 387 00:18:10,838 --> 00:18:12,190 It brings them joy. 388 00:18:12,254 --> 00:18:15,378 To cause division and to cause strife. 389 00:18:16,169 --> 00:18:18,705 We learn of those in second Timothy. 390 00:18:18,737 --> 00:18:22,257 Chapter two, where Paul says, shun profane and vain babblings, 391 00:18:22,273 --> 00:18:25,989 for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 392 00:18:26,729 --> 00:18:27,729 Let me ask you this. 393 00:18:27,769 --> 00:18:32,961 Are you the type of person who is promoting godliness or ungodliness 394 00:18:33,025 --> 00:18:34,709 at Heritage Baptist Church? 395 00:18:36,329 --> 00:18:38,589 You're doing one or the other. 396 00:18:40,329 --> 00:18:42,033 Some people have the idea I can. 397 00:18:42,041 --> 00:18:43,651 Just kind of come and kind of. 398 00:18:43,675 --> 00:18:46,947 Sneak in the back and nobody's going to know my Name. 399 00:18:47,003 --> 00:18:50,211 Nobody's going to know that I'm here and I'm just going to kind 400 00:18:50,235 --> 00:18:52,479 of do my thing and then move on. 401 00:18:55,099 --> 00:18:59,779 You will promote godliness at Heritage Baptist Church or you will 402 00:18:59,819 --> 00:19:00,835 promote ungodliness. 403 00:19:00,867 --> 00:19:03,779 And here were those in the church that were promoting ungodliness. 404 00:19:03,859 --> 00:19:05,523 They will increase unto more ungodliness. 405 00:19:05,571 --> 00:19:09,683 Their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and 406 00:19:09,691 --> 00:19:12,561 Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the 407 00:19:12,585 --> 00:19:18,109 resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some. 408 00:19:20,009 --> 00:19:27,217 Be very careful in this church that God has built over the last 409 00:19:27,273 --> 00:19:30,109 25 years, 24 years. 410 00:19:31,129 --> 00:19:36,433 Be very careful that you don't come into this church and start tearing 411 00:19:36,481 --> 00:19:38,369 down everything that God has built. 412 00:19:38,449 --> 00:19:42,089 Start tearing down everything that Pastor Crawford has built the 413 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:42,933 through the grace of God. 414 00:19:42,981 --> 00:19:46,069 Start tearing down that staff members and church members and those 415 00:19:46,109 --> 00:19:48,869 that were here especially in the early days have instilled in 416 00:19:48,909 --> 00:19:49,637 other people's lives. 417 00:19:49,693 --> 00:19:53,797 Hey, listen, be very careful you don't come into church and start 418 00:19:53,853 --> 00:19:55,621 to overthrow the faith of some. 419 00:19:55,725 --> 00:20:00,569 It can be very easy if we come in with a careless mentality. 420 00:20:02,749 --> 00:20:07,941 Let's just say that somebody has been faithful that week to go 421 00:20:07,965 --> 00:20:08,725 out soul winning. 422 00:20:08,757 --> 00:20:09,571 And they finally, they. 423 00:20:09,605 --> 00:20:12,419 They've got their first guest that's coming to church ever. 424 00:20:13,599 --> 00:20:14,951 They finally got a guest. 425 00:20:15,015 --> 00:20:19,959 By the way, in my experience, it takes hundreds and thousands of 426 00:20:19,999 --> 00:20:23,019 invitations for me to bring one person to church. 427 00:20:23,599 --> 00:20:25,219 It takes a lot of work. 428 00:20:26,719 --> 00:20:29,139 And you finally bring your first soul to Christ. 429 00:20:30,719 --> 00:20:34,139 And they come in the back door of the church and you're so excited 430 00:20:35,689 --> 00:20:41,729 and they see brother Gentry and Brother Gentry is like, oh, they 431 00:20:41,769 --> 00:20:42,469 stink. 432 00:20:43,529 --> 00:20:48,113 Now I'm being silly tonight and I'm picking on Brother Gentry 433 00:20:48,161 --> 00:20:50,145 because I don't think he'd get mad at me, but maybe Mrs. 434 00:20:50,177 --> 00:20:50,721 Gentry would. 435 00:20:50,745 --> 00:20:51,549 So I don't. 436 00:20:54,569 --> 00:20:56,309 Now that's a silly illustration. 437 00:20:57,929 --> 00:21:00,145 But that visitor over here is Brother Gentry. 438 00:21:00,177 --> 00:21:00,909 Say that. 439 00:21:02,819 --> 00:21:07,835 And now Brother Gentry has overthrown the work of that one soul 440 00:21:07,867 --> 00:21:08,559 winner. 441 00:21:09,779 --> 00:21:14,039 Now, I'm not saying Brother Gentry would do that, I don't think. 442 00:21:15,619 --> 00:21:19,723 But listen, it can be very easy with a bad attitude to begin 443 00:21:19,771 --> 00:21:23,163 to tear down something that has been built. 444 00:21:23,211 --> 00:21:24,523 Up in someone's life. 445 00:21:24,691 --> 00:21:26,491 We ought to be very intentional when. 446 00:21:26,515 --> 00:21:27,761 We come into church. 447 00:21:27,955 --> 00:21:30,181 We ought to be very intentional with the words that we 448 00:21:30,205 --> 00:21:30,437 say. 449 00:21:30,493 --> 00:21:32,389 We ought to be very intentional in. 450 00:21:32,429 --> 00:21:33,189 All of those things. 451 00:21:33,229 --> 00:21:34,933 And so I've got to hurry tonight. 452 00:21:34,981 --> 00:21:36,629 So some have a corrosive mentality. 453 00:21:36,709 --> 00:21:38,661 Some Christians have a cowardly mentality. 454 00:21:38,725 --> 00:21:39,973 They're just not going to get involved. 455 00:21:40,021 --> 00:21:40,805 It scares them. 456 00:21:40,877 --> 00:21:43,045 The times that we live in, they're just a little bit nervous 457 00:21:43,077 --> 00:21:43,525 about it. 458 00:21:43,597 --> 00:21:44,005 Hey, listen. 459 00:21:44,037 --> 00:21:46,421 God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and 460 00:21:46,445 --> 00:21:48,165 of love and of a sound mind. 461 00:21:48,237 --> 00:21:51,221 Hey, listen, when we have the authority of Christ behind us and 462 00:21:51,245 --> 00:21:53,941 the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, there's no reason to 463 00:21:53,965 --> 00:21:54,389 be scared. 464 00:21:54,419 --> 00:21:54,849 Scared. 465 00:21:54,929 --> 00:21:57,825 There's every reason to move forward with boldness, preaching 466 00:21:57,857 --> 00:21:58,689 the word of God. 467 00:21:58,769 --> 00:22:00,961 One of the prayers we find in Acts, chapter 4. 468 00:22:01,065 --> 00:22:04,513 After the apostles had stood before the council and had been commanded 469 00:22:04,561 --> 00:22:08,241 not to preach any more of the gospel, there was a prayer by the 470 00:22:08,265 --> 00:22:12,149 church that God would give them boldness in their witness. 471 00:22:12,649 --> 00:22:13,713 We all need boldness. 472 00:22:13,761 --> 00:22:15,457 And so that's, by the way, that's. 473 00:22:15,473 --> 00:22:17,665 My introduction and it's already 6:40. 474 00:22:17,737 --> 00:22:20,721 So if you'll give me just 10 minutes of your time to get through 475 00:22:20,745 --> 00:22:23,389 these notes tonight and we'll be on our way. 476 00:22:23,429 --> 00:22:27,129 But let's be reminded, the Bible says we are to strive together 477 00:22:27,429 --> 00:22:29,293 for the faith of the gospel. 478 00:22:29,341 --> 00:22:30,509 This is a team effort. 479 00:22:30,589 --> 00:22:33,821 And we see here in Mark, chapter number two, some teamwork 480 00:22:33,885 --> 00:22:35,485 to get this man to Christ. 481 00:22:35,557 --> 00:22:38,669 This man who could not, by the way, get himself there. 482 00:22:38,789 --> 00:22:40,813 It required four men bringing him there. 483 00:22:40,901 --> 00:22:45,213 So notice if you would, four descriptions tonight of an effective 484 00:22:45,341 --> 00:22:46,541 church team. 485 00:22:46,645 --> 00:22:49,581 An effective church that's going to work together to accomplish 486 00:22:49,645 --> 00:22:52,411 the mission of bringing glory to God. 487 00:22:52,475 --> 00:22:53,131 Number one. 488 00:22:53,235 --> 00:22:56,299 It requires a team with compassion. 489 00:22:56,379 --> 00:22:58,139 It requires a team with compassion. 490 00:22:58,219 --> 00:23:01,639 Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not going to carry a man 491 00:23:02,179 --> 00:23:03,691 who is sick of the palsy. 492 00:23:03,755 --> 00:23:06,395 I'm not going to carry him as far as these men would have carried 493 00:23:06,427 --> 00:23:09,675 him and do all the work that they would have done unless I loved 494 00:23:09,707 --> 00:23:13,099 that man, unless I cared for his soul, unless I wanted to see 495 00:23:13,139 --> 00:23:14,699 him healed of his infirmity. 496 00:23:14,779 --> 00:23:17,929 Here are four men who looked on a man that had a disease, who. 497 00:23:17,979 --> 00:23:20,781 Who looked on a man that had an ailment, who looked on a man that 498 00:23:20,805 --> 00:23:24,397 was crippled from his birth and said, I love you enough to bring 499 00:23:24,453 --> 00:23:27,517 you to Christ Jesus. 500 00:23:27,613 --> 00:23:29,085 He looked out on the fields. 501 00:23:29,117 --> 00:23:31,437 He saw that they were white already to harvest. 502 00:23:31,613 --> 00:23:34,285 He's looking out amongst all of the multitude. 503 00:23:34,317 --> 00:23:38,557 And the Bible says he was moved with compassion on them because 504 00:23:38,613 --> 00:23:41,245 he saw them as sheep having no shepherd. 505 00:23:41,277 --> 00:23:44,925 They were faded and scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. 506 00:23:44,957 --> 00:23:48,887 Hey, listen, I know sometimes it's easy to get angry at what goes 507 00:23:48,903 --> 00:23:50,023 on in Washington, D.C. 508 00:23:50,071 --> 00:23:53,943 and sometimes it's easy to get angry at that person that cut you 509 00:23:53,951 --> 00:23:54,759 off in traffic. 510 00:23:54,839 --> 00:23:58,807 Hey, but listen, we don't know what these people go through behind 511 00:23:58,863 --> 00:23:59,463 closed doors. 512 00:23:59,511 --> 00:24:01,911 We don't know what they're crying about at night. 513 00:24:01,935 --> 00:24:03,751 We don't know the burdens of their hearts. 514 00:24:03,815 --> 00:24:06,295 We don't know who's hurt them, who's broken their heart. 515 00:24:06,367 --> 00:24:09,191 We don't know all of the problems that are going on in their 516 00:24:09,215 --> 00:24:09,447 life. 517 00:24:09,503 --> 00:24:12,711 And instead of them getting another angry response at what they 518 00:24:12,735 --> 00:24:16,065 did, they maybe what we need to do is reach out with some compassion 519 00:24:16,097 --> 00:24:16,769 and love those. 520 00:24:16,809 --> 00:24:17,389 People. 521 00:24:21,449 --> 00:24:25,109 That cashier at Walmart who's just unkind. 522 00:24:26,009 --> 00:24:28,193 Hey, maybe instead of leaving a nasty. 523 00:24:28,241 --> 00:24:31,841 Google review, if you still do that. 524 00:24:31,865 --> 00:24:33,249 I don't know if that's still a thing I do. 525 00:24:33,289 --> 00:24:35,189 I leave Google reviews. 526 00:24:36,329 --> 00:24:39,349 I've got 4,000 views on my Google reviews. 527 00:24:41,479 --> 00:24:43,979 Maybe instead of leaving that nasty Google review. 528 00:24:44,439 --> 00:24:48,339 Hey, can I invite you to Heritage Baptist Church? 529 00:24:49,079 --> 00:24:51,179 It seems like you're having a rough day. 530 00:24:51,639 --> 00:24:52,959 And you can come here to this. 531 00:24:52,999 --> 00:24:56,419 Church this Sunday and I promise you you'll receive a blessing. 532 00:24:57,399 --> 00:24:59,247 Hey, can I tell you what God did for you? 533 00:24:59,303 --> 00:25:00,459 He loved you. 534 00:25:01,159 --> 00:25:04,517 He loved you so much he sent his only son to die for you. 535 00:25:04,703 --> 00:25:06,789 And I just feel like you need to hear that today. 536 00:25:07,329 --> 00:25:08,825 Maybe reach out with some compassion. 537 00:25:08,857 --> 00:25:10,441 Here were some men who had compassion. 538 00:25:10,505 --> 00:25:14,457 Secondly, an effective church team is a team not only with compassion, 539 00:25:14,553 --> 00:25:16,393 but a team with confidence. 540 00:25:16,521 --> 00:25:17,817 A team with confidence. 541 00:25:17,913 --> 00:25:21,801 Now this wasn't a self confidence, but this was a God confidence. 542 00:25:21,865 --> 00:25:24,921 Notice if you would with me in verse number five where the Bible 543 00:25:24,985 --> 00:25:27,709 says when Jesus saw their faith. 544 00:25:28,369 --> 00:25:32,303 Now the word confidence can be synonymous with the word faith. 545 00:25:32,481 --> 00:25:36,291 It is knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is who he says 546 00:25:36,315 --> 00:25:36,611 he is. 547 00:25:36,635 --> 00:25:39,107 And that is God is going to work his will. 548 00:25:39,163 --> 00:25:40,579 He has the power to do so. 549 00:25:40,619 --> 00:25:43,699 The Bible says, for without faith it is impossible to please 550 00:25:43,739 --> 00:25:43,987 him. 551 00:25:44,043 --> 00:25:47,571 For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is 552 00:25:47,595 --> 00:25:49,891 a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 553 00:25:49,915 --> 00:25:53,619 And listen, tonight we have a powerful God and we have a loving 554 00:25:53,699 --> 00:25:57,107 God who wants the best for each and every one of us. 555 00:25:57,163 --> 00:26:00,581 And it's about time that some members of Heritage Baptist Church 556 00:26:00,645 --> 00:26:03,941 who have not gotten in with the team start getting in with the 557 00:26:03,965 --> 00:26:07,861 team, believing that God can use them to do something great for 558 00:26:07,885 --> 00:26:08,729 his glory. 559 00:26:09,629 --> 00:26:12,133 Those cowardly we talked about just a little bit ago. 560 00:26:12,221 --> 00:26:16,165 Hey, listen, you need to have some confidence in God tonight knowing 561 00:26:16,197 --> 00:26:19,893 that it's not you who's trying, it's not you who has to produce 562 00:26:19,941 --> 00:26:24,155 the results, it's God who doesn't I plant? 563 00:26:24,317 --> 00:26:31,167 I've planted plants before and I've watered plants before and I've 564 00:26:31,183 --> 00:26:32,939 killed every one of them. 565 00:26:34,439 --> 00:26:39,659 I'm so glad that it is not up to me to make the plant grow. 566 00:26:42,679 --> 00:26:44,815 On a more serious note tonight, I'm. 567 00:26:44,847 --> 00:26:46,367 So glad it's not up to me. 568 00:26:46,503 --> 00:26:48,139 To make the church grow. 569 00:26:49,079 --> 00:26:53,409 God is the one who blesses our efforts of planting and watering 570 00:26:53,489 --> 00:26:56,305 if we are faithful just to step out in. 571 00:26:56,377 --> 00:26:58,829 Confidence, knowing that he can. 572 00:27:00,089 --> 00:27:04,709 Thirdly, tonight, a team with confidence, a team with cooperation. 573 00:27:05,689 --> 00:27:08,001 Now, this is kind of the point of the message tonight, but a team 574 00:27:08,025 --> 00:27:11,521 that is cooperating together, a team that is working together. 575 00:27:11,625 --> 00:27:13,697 First Corinthians, chapter three, verse number nine. 576 00:27:13,753 --> 00:27:16,525 We are laborers together with God. 577 00:27:16,657 --> 00:27:19,573 Some people labor in the church separately from one another. 578 00:27:19,661 --> 00:27:21,733 But my friend, that is not a biblical concept. 579 00:27:21,781 --> 00:27:23,141 We are to labor together. 580 00:27:23,245 --> 00:27:24,565 When you go out soul winning. 581 00:27:24,597 --> 00:27:28,037 Listen, it's a good thing to share the gospel wherever you go, 582 00:27:28,093 --> 00:27:29,301 even if you're by yourself. 583 00:27:29,365 --> 00:27:32,421 But can I encourage you not to go knock doors by yourself, but to 584 00:27:32,445 --> 00:27:33,729 bring a partner with you? 585 00:27:34,749 --> 00:27:36,549 There's a lot of wisdom in that. 586 00:27:36,589 --> 00:27:38,165 That we won't get into tonight. 587 00:27:38,277 --> 00:27:42,693 But there's also, there's a cooperation that's going on. 588 00:27:42,781 --> 00:27:47,995 When I go out door knocking with somebody, actually draw closer 589 00:27:48,027 --> 00:27:49,559 with them in the process. 590 00:27:50,739 --> 00:27:53,931 I get to talk with them and I get to learn about them and I get 591 00:27:53,955 --> 00:27:56,315 to train them or they get to train me. 592 00:27:56,387 --> 00:27:58,971 Those of you who don't know how to win a soul to Christ, why 593 00:27:58,995 --> 00:28:01,067 don't you ask somebody who does? 594 00:28:01,203 --> 00:28:02,759 Can I go with you? 595 00:28:03,699 --> 00:28:05,239 Can you teach me? 596 00:28:05,779 --> 00:28:08,795 Can you show me how to do this thing called soul winning? 597 00:28:08,827 --> 00:28:11,611 I don't even know what that means, but can you take me and show 598 00:28:11,635 --> 00:28:12,759 me what you do? 599 00:28:14,559 --> 00:28:15,671 Cooperate together? 600 00:28:15,775 --> 00:28:21,559 And by the way, let us not have an arrogant mentality where 601 00:28:21,599 --> 00:28:26,659 we are too good to go with someone lesser and help them. 602 00:28:31,279 --> 00:28:32,979 I tend towards that. 603 00:28:33,599 --> 00:28:36,279 I want to always go with someone who's going to make me stronger, 604 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,819 not someone who I perceive is going to drag me down. 605 00:28:40,299 --> 00:28:42,563 And that's a sinful mentality. 606 00:28:42,611 --> 00:28:47,203 To have those that are stronger in the faith, we ought to 607 00:28:47,211 --> 00:28:48,547 help encourage their faith. 608 00:28:48,643 --> 00:28:50,691 Those that are weaker, we ought to help grow them. 609 00:28:50,715 --> 00:28:52,131 We ought to help nurture them. 610 00:28:52,155 --> 00:28:55,139 We ought to bring them along with us, help disciple them. 611 00:28:55,259 --> 00:28:58,131 Listen, it may be a little awkward to hear them present the 612 00:28:58,155 --> 00:29:01,331 gospel for the first time, but there's some great excitement in 613 00:29:01,355 --> 00:29:03,999 that they're presenting the gospel for the first time. 614 00:29:05,749 --> 00:29:09,213 Cooperation sometimes. 615 00:29:09,341 --> 00:29:11,661 I remember playing on sports teams in. 616 00:29:11,685 --> 00:29:15,901 High school and maybe I wasn't as good as the older person of the 617 00:29:15,925 --> 00:29:17,229 older people on the team. 618 00:29:17,269 --> 00:29:20,589 And I was often the one who would get neglected to have the ball. 619 00:29:20,629 --> 00:29:23,969 Passed to me because, well, I wasn't as good as someone else. 620 00:29:24,389 --> 00:29:27,309 And then when I got old enough to be a starter on the team. 621 00:29:27,349 --> 00:29:28,349 Then I would do the same thing. 622 00:29:28,389 --> 00:29:29,277 I wouldn't pass to that guy. 623 00:29:29,293 --> 00:29:29,861 He's gonna. 624 00:29:29,965 --> 00:29:30,981 I'm going to kick him the ball. 625 00:29:31,005 --> 00:29:33,209 And he's just going to dribble it right out of bounds. 626 00:29:36,109 --> 00:29:40,645 But listen, that's kind of a silly illustration because that's 627 00:29:40,757 --> 00:29:42,089 high school sports. 628 00:29:42,749 --> 00:29:47,157 But in the work of the ministry, if we don't pass the ball 629 00:29:47,213 --> 00:29:47,381 to. 630 00:29:47,405 --> 00:29:50,485 Them and give them an opportunity, give them a chance, 631 00:29:50,597 --> 00:29:51,701 train them, how are. 632 00:29:51,725 --> 00:29:52,929 They ever going to do it? 633 00:29:53,709 --> 00:29:55,333 How are they ever going to be a soul winner? 634 00:29:55,381 --> 00:29:57,861 How are they ever going to be a good Bible teacher? 635 00:29:57,925 --> 00:30:00,181 How are they ever going to know how to study the Bible for themselves 636 00:30:00,245 --> 00:30:04,403 if we don't exert the effort and come alongside of them and maybe 637 00:30:04,451 --> 00:30:07,299 be willing to risk some embarrassment with them so that they 638 00:30:07,339 --> 00:30:10,755 can eventually become the soul winner that God wants them to be? 639 00:30:10,907 --> 00:30:12,371 A team with cooperation. 640 00:30:12,435 --> 00:30:13,715 We are laborers together with God. 641 00:30:13,747 --> 00:30:16,771 And then lastly tonight, a team with commitment. 642 00:30:16,915 --> 00:30:18,163 A team with commitment. 643 00:30:18,211 --> 00:30:19,475 Here we find four men. 644 00:30:19,547 --> 00:30:22,115 They had compassion on this man, so they brought him to Christ. 645 00:30:22,187 --> 00:30:25,075 They were confident, and so they brought him to the only one 646 00:30:25,147 --> 00:30:25,491 who could. 647 00:30:25,515 --> 00:30:26,419 Do something about it. 648 00:30:26,459 --> 00:30:27,667 They cooperated together. 649 00:30:27,723 --> 00:30:31,127 Each man on each corner of the bed, bringing him to where the Lord 650 00:30:31,283 --> 00:30:31,647 was. 651 00:30:31,703 --> 00:30:33,423 And then we see a team with commitment. 652 00:30:33,471 --> 00:30:36,619 Now notice what the Bible says in our passage tonight as we close 653 00:30:37,719 --> 00:30:39,259 in verse number four. 654 00:30:39,719 --> 00:30:42,671 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they 655 00:30:42,695 --> 00:30:44,463 uncovered the roof where he was. 656 00:30:44,631 --> 00:30:47,535 And when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein 657 00:30:47,567 --> 00:30:49,299 the sick of the palsy lay. 658 00:30:49,879 --> 00:30:52,495 And Jesus saw their faith and said, unto the sick of the palsy, 659 00:30:52,527 --> 00:30:54,979 son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 660 00:30:56,609 --> 00:30:58,069 Some teams give up. 661 00:30:59,489 --> 00:31:07,669 I often wonder why you would ever be a Bears fan this year. 662 00:31:08,769 --> 00:31:12,329 And then I look at my college team that I support, the NC State 663 00:31:12,369 --> 00:31:16,389 Wolf Pack, and our slogan is this. 664 00:31:17,569 --> 00:31:19,189 Well, next year's our year. 665 00:31:19,569 --> 00:31:20,829 That's our slogan. 666 00:31:21,889 --> 00:31:22,771 Next year. 667 00:31:22,905 --> 00:31:24,459 We got this next year. 668 00:31:24,919 --> 00:31:27,499 And always disappoints me. 669 00:31:30,199 --> 00:31:31,419 But you know what? 670 00:31:31,879 --> 00:31:33,819 I'm committed to my team. 671 00:31:34,759 --> 00:31:36,459 And you're committed to your team. 672 00:31:37,399 --> 00:31:39,699 Rain or shine, you're committed. 673 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:43,311 It's about time in the local church. 674 00:31:43,375 --> 00:31:46,899 That we get committed to the work of the ministry. 675 00:31:47,479 --> 00:31:48,975 And here's what I mean by that. 676 00:31:49,047 --> 00:31:52,979 Not that we're going to dabble in everything until something works, 677 00:31:54,479 --> 00:31:56,659 but that we're going to stick with something. 678 00:31:58,079 --> 00:31:59,511 I know God's called me to do this. 679 00:31:59,535 --> 00:32:01,543 I know God wants me to be involved in this way. 680 00:32:01,631 --> 00:32:04,087 I've asked Pastor, I've gone through the spiritual gifts test. 681 00:32:04,143 --> 00:32:05,751 I know this is where I need to be planted. 682 00:32:05,815 --> 00:32:08,935 And we give it two months, and nobody's been saved and our class 683 00:32:09,007 --> 00:32:11,511 hasn't grown, and I don't see any fruit from my ministry. 684 00:32:11,575 --> 00:32:12,215 So you know what? 685 00:32:12,287 --> 00:32:15,591 I'm just going to kind of give up and maybe I'll try something else 686 00:32:15,735 --> 00:32:16,659 later on. 687 00:32:20,169 --> 00:32:23,505 These men, when they got to the crowd, they didn't say, well, 688 00:32:23,577 --> 00:32:24,177 all right. 689 00:32:24,313 --> 00:32:26,429 Drop them on the ground and just walk away. 690 00:32:27,529 --> 00:32:28,177 That's it. 691 00:32:28,233 --> 00:32:29,377 We can't get to them. 692 00:32:29,513 --> 00:32:30,529 I'm sorry, buddy. 693 00:32:30,609 --> 00:32:32,349 We're going to have to try again next year. 694 00:32:33,209 --> 00:32:34,705 Next time he comes into town, maybe. 695 00:32:34,737 --> 00:32:35,709 No, no, no. 696 00:32:36,969 --> 00:32:40,513 They made a way where there was no way they were committed to 697 00:32:40,521 --> 00:32:41,537 getting this man to Christ. 698 00:32:41,593 --> 00:32:42,609 Hey, hey, listen. 699 00:32:42,689 --> 00:32:47,011 You may have not 55, 50,000 doors and not one person has come 700 00:32:47,035 --> 00:32:47,347 to Christ. 701 00:32:47,403 --> 00:32:50,147 Can I encourage you to knock 50,001 doors. 702 00:32:50,323 --> 00:32:51,971 50,002 doors. 703 00:32:52,115 --> 00:32:53,715 50,003 doors. 704 00:32:53,827 --> 00:32:56,707 I've taught my Sunday school class for four years, and I've only 705 00:32:56,763 --> 00:32:58,627 seen one new person come into my class. 706 00:32:58,683 --> 00:33:01,139 Hey, can I encourage you to teach that next year and that next 707 00:33:01,179 --> 00:33:05,331 year and pray and labor over those souls and continue to study 708 00:33:05,435 --> 00:33:09,279 and continue to go at the work, working together as a team. 709 00:33:11,109 --> 00:33:16,221 A team that is effective for the glory of God is a team that is 710 00:33:16,245 --> 00:33:18,249 committed to the cause of Christ. 711 00:33:19,349 --> 00:33:22,249 No matter whether the results come. 712 00:33:22,789 --> 00:33:24,301 The Bible says, let us not be. 713 00:33:24,325 --> 00:33:26,637 Weary in well doing, for in due. 714 00:33:26,693 --> 00:33:29,805 Season we shall reap if we faint. 715 00:33:29,837 --> 00:33:32,685 Not too many people faint. 716 00:33:32,877 --> 00:33:35,703 I believe, right when God wants to. 717 00:33:35,711 --> 00:33:38,247 Give the increase, let us not faint. 718 00:33:38,343 --> 00:33:39,783 In the work of the ministry. 719 00:33:39,831 --> 00:33:41,351 These four men, they work together as. 720 00:33:41,375 --> 00:33:43,543 A team to bring this man to Christ. 721 00:33:43,631 --> 00:33:45,671 As a church tonight, you have a. 722 00:33:45,695 --> 00:33:48,423 Great calling, and that is to bring glory to God. 723 00:33:48,551 --> 00:33:50,487 And you do so through a variety of means. 724 00:33:50,543 --> 00:33:54,839 And it's incumbent upon Heritage Baptist Church to strive 725 00:33:54,919 --> 00:33:59,175 together, together as a team for the faith of the gospel. 726 00:33:59,207 --> 00:33:59,799 Let us pray tonight.