1 00:34:50,819 --> 00:34:54,099 If you wouldn't, your Bibles tonight turn to the Book of Colossians, 2 00:34:54,179 --> 00:35:04,028 chapter 1, verse 18. In fact, our purpose in life is to bring glory 3 00:35:04,028 --> 00:35:11,188 to God and to give him glory. A great message in this song. Well, 4 00:35:11,188 --> 00:35:14,828 I had the opportunity yesterday or Monday to drive the 5 00:35:14,828 --> 00:35:28,199 bus with the juniors campers to Lake Texoma. I on the shuttle 6 00:35:28,199 --> 00:35:41,559 bus that I drove was all the girls. No comment. Yeah, let us pray. 7 00:35:43,319 --> 00:35:50,199 But I know Ms. Bercy kept saying, I'm sorry we're so loud. 8 00:35:50,199 --> 00:35:54,929 I said, I. I get it. I mean, number one, they're junior campers. 9 00:35:54,929 --> 00:35:59,249 I mean, that's just part of the deal. And then just the girls. 10 00:35:59,569 --> 00:36:03,569 It was awesome. I actually enjoyed it. I enjoyed hearing them 11 00:36:03,569 --> 00:36:07,889 back there just having a good time. And then the boys were on the 12 00:36:07,889 --> 00:36:13,649 van. We got up to Lake Texoma there to the Texoma Baptist Youth 13 00:36:13,649 --> 00:36:17,759 Camp, and we had to sit in the bus for a while because they certain 14 00:36:17,759 --> 00:36:21,239 rules about filling out forms and all sorts of stuff. So anyway, 15 00:36:21,319 --> 00:36:24,559 we're just kind of sitting there, but right after we finally 16 00:36:24,559 --> 00:36:28,839 got off the bus and got him inside and I saw Archer come around. 17 00:36:28,839 --> 00:36:34,239 Archer, everybody know Jantz's boy? He came around the side of that 18 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:38,559 bus and I went to the back of the bus. And as he came out from 19 00:36:38,559 --> 00:36:45,089 behind the bus, I just flattened him and him and I just 20 00:36:45,649 --> 00:36:50,529 rolled on the ground a little bit. It was awesome. Classic tackle 21 00:36:50,529 --> 00:36:54,729 technique, you know, the small little boy. Anyway, he's not small 22 00:36:54,729 --> 00:37:01,529 anymore, but I'm so thankful we have a little fun and pray for 23 00:37:01,529 --> 00:37:05,929 them and pray they have a good week, that God protects them, that 24 00:37:05,929 --> 00:37:08,809 God would speak to their hearts and that they have a great 25 00:37:08,809 --> 00:37:13,289 time. They have a great time. So. And pray for our counselors. 26 00:37:13,849 --> 00:37:21,249 Amen. Colossians, chapter 1, verse 18. Paul says here, and he 27 00:37:21,249 --> 00:37:24,889 that is talking about Christ is the head of the body, the church, 28 00:37:25,369 --> 00:37:28,569 who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in 29 00:37:28,569 --> 00:37:32,449 all things he might have the preeminence. And it hasn't been too 30 00:37:32,449 --> 00:37:34,889 long ago, we preached on the book of Colossians, and we preached 31 00:37:34,889 --> 00:37:38,219 this verse reminding you that Christ is the head of the church. 32 00:37:39,179 --> 00:37:42,619 And for us, as we've been studying this, understand that Christ 33 00:37:42,619 --> 00:37:47,419 is the head of every church. That the body of Christ is the church, 34 00:37:47,419 --> 00:37:52,979 is each individual church is the body of Christ. Because we know 35 00:37:52,979 --> 00:37:57,019 the Bible teaches a local, visible church only. No universal, 36 00:37:57,019 --> 00:38:01,019 invisible church, no universal, visible church. The Bible 37 00:38:01,919 --> 00:38:06,719 implicitly teaches a local church only. And so Christ is to 38 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:08,719 be the head of the church. Look at Philippians. You just Turn 39 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,399 back a couple of pages. Philippians 1:1. A couple of pages 40 00:38:12,399 --> 00:38:17,598 back. Philippians 1:1 says Paul and Timotheus, the servants 41 00:38:17,598 --> 00:38:20,599 of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are 42 00:38:20,599 --> 00:38:27,279 at Philippi. So again Paul is writing to Philippi. He's again addressing 43 00:38:27,849 --> 00:38:32,849 those that are there. He says, with the bishops and deacons just 44 00:38:32,849 --> 00:38:37,049 showing that there was some structure. There's again officers 45 00:38:37,049 --> 00:38:40,969 of the church and those who lead the church, the bishops, again 46 00:38:40,969 --> 00:38:45,249 a bishop, elder, pastor, are the same office, the same office 47 00:38:45,249 --> 00:38:50,009 in the Bible. Now turn with me to first Peter, chapter five and 48 00:38:50,329 --> 00:38:58,179 we'll one Peter chapter five. Let's look at verse one, First Peter, 49 00:38:58,179 --> 00:39:05,059 chapter five and verse one through three. Peter says, the elders 50 00:39:05,059 --> 00:39:08,019 which are among you. So he's talking to pastors, the pastors that 51 00:39:08,019 --> 00:39:12,619 are among you, the bishops that are among you, I exhort, who 52 00:39:12,619 --> 00:39:17,859 am also an elder and a witness of the suffering of Christ, and also 53 00:39:17,859 --> 00:39:21,889 a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed, feed the flock 54 00:39:21,889 --> 00:39:26,889 of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not 55 00:39:26,889 --> 00:39:31,889 by constraint, not because you have to, but willingly, not for filthy 56 00:39:31,889 --> 00:39:36,649 lucre, not for money, but of a ready mind, neither as being lords 57 00:39:36,889 --> 00:39:40,249 over God's heritage, you shouldn't be a dictator, but being 58 00:39:40,729 --> 00:39:43,889 examples or ensamples to the flock. And that's what a pastor should 59 00:39:43,889 --> 00:39:47,489 do. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word 60 00:39:47,489 --> 00:39:52,039 and Lord, we thank you for the doctrines that are taught. And I 61 00:39:52,039 --> 00:39:55,799 pray tonight that these would be very clear. Help me, give me wisdom 62 00:39:55,799 --> 00:40:00,119 as I teach them. And we'll thank you in Jesus name. Amen. The 63 00:40:00,119 --> 00:40:03,039 Baptist distinctives. This is our. I don't know how many messages, 64 00:40:03,599 --> 00:40:07,359 but we're coming down to the end. We're on number nine and 10 65 00:40:07,359 --> 00:40:10,559 tonight and there'll be 11 and 12. There'll be one more, one more 66 00:40:10,559 --> 00:40:16,159 message. And so tonight is on the Baptist distinctive of self supporting, 67 00:40:16,159 --> 00:40:21,599 self governing, self propagating. The church is to be 68 00:40:21,839 --> 00:40:25,799 self supporting, self governing and self propagating. Some 69 00:40:25,799 --> 00:40:28,639 of those are the last one's a little big of a word and we'll cover 70 00:40:28,639 --> 00:40:32,439 that in a moment. But the Baptist distinctives are a collection 71 00:40:32,439 --> 00:40:37,039 of biblical truths unique to Baptists. And again I have to clarify 72 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:41,279 because I've already had some who have questioned. Well, preacher, 73 00:40:41,679 --> 00:40:45,729 other denominations, other groups teach these. They teach some 74 00:40:45,729 --> 00:40:50,289 of them. But what makes this list unique is that Baptists teach 75 00:40:50,289 --> 00:40:55,329 all of them and believe all of them. Historic Baptists believe all 76 00:40:55,329 --> 00:41:01,369 of these. It's unique to Baptists to believe this particular 77 00:41:01,689 --> 00:41:05,649 list of doctrines by the way. It's a Bible list. It's what the 78 00:41:05,649 --> 00:41:10,899 Bible teaches. I said to someone actually twice today, I said 79 00:41:11,219 --> 00:41:14,299 if I didn't believe Baptists were as close doctrinally to what 80 00:41:14,299 --> 00:41:18,259 the Bible teaches, I would be something else. Whether that be a 81 00:41:18,259 --> 00:41:21,459 Lutheran or Methodist or whatever it may be or a non denominational. 82 00:41:21,459 --> 00:41:24,659 I said somebody tonight, non denominational. There really is no 83 00:41:24,659 --> 00:41:30,979 such thing, their non denominational denomination anyway. 84 00:41:31,219 --> 00:41:36,429 That's a whole other discourse we can have together. But understand 85 00:41:36,589 --> 00:41:41,229 that Baptists have historically believed these doctrines, 86 00:41:41,629 --> 00:41:45,349 these teachings, and they are, that's because they're found in the 87 00:41:45,349 --> 00:41:49,949 word of God. And so Baptists are a little unique. We're a little 88 00:41:49,949 --> 00:41:53,389 bit unique. That's a good thing. Our theme verse for the study 89 00:41:53,709 --> 00:41:57,909 is again 2 Timothy 2:2 the things that thou has heard of me 90 00:41:57,909 --> 00:42:02,339 among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithful men who shall 91 00:42:02,339 --> 00:42:06,699 be able to teach others also. And I've told you you ought to circle 92 00:42:06,699 --> 00:42:11,299 the word in second Timothy 2, 2 the things that thou has heard 93 00:42:11,299 --> 00:42:15,379 and you ought to circle the word same. The things that we have 94 00:42:15,379 --> 00:42:19,059 heard and we have learned and we've been taught the same we teach 95 00:42:19,059 --> 00:42:23,219 to others. And the greatest illustration of that, and I should 96 00:42:23,219 --> 00:42:26,339 have really emphasized this last Wednesday, the greatest illustration 97 00:42:26,339 --> 00:42:30,549 of that is baptism. Because because there are so many who teach 98 00:42:30,629 --> 00:42:34,349 contrary to the Bible concerning baptism. Baptism does 99 00:42:34,349 --> 00:42:38,189 not save you. Baptism does not. Baptism is a picture of the 100 00:42:38,189 --> 00:42:41,829 life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so there are 101 00:42:41,829 --> 00:42:48,069 the majority even of beliefs around the world is that baptism 102 00:42:48,069 --> 00:42:50,469 saves you. If you're not baptized, you're not going to heaven. 103 00:42:50,869 --> 00:42:54,309 And sometimes it's a belief that baptism in a certain church 104 00:42:54,309 --> 00:42:58,429 or a certain that you have to be baptized in their church in order 105 00:42:58,429 --> 00:43:04,149 to go to heaven. And so understand that it's important that 106 00:43:04,149 --> 00:43:08,309 we take what the Bible teaches, Bible doctrine and we teach 107 00:43:08,309 --> 00:43:13,309 the listen again, the same commit thou to faithful men. And 108 00:43:13,309 --> 00:43:17,029 that we don't deviate from what the Bible teaches and what the 109 00:43:17,029 --> 00:43:22,029 Bible says. No matter what, you know, tradition may have or no 110 00:43:22,029 --> 00:43:26,719 matter what some man may say. We teach the Bible, we preach the 111 00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:32,959 Bible and accurately and we interpret the Bible according to 112 00:43:32,959 --> 00:43:35,999 Scripture and the context of the scripture and so forth and so 113 00:43:35,999 --> 00:43:38,919 on. I can't be adamant about that enough. And I had that question 114 00:43:38,919 --> 00:43:44,999 last week. Again, baptism is probably the best example of a doctrine 115 00:43:44,999 --> 00:43:49,399 that has not been the thing that was committed to them, has not 116 00:43:49,399 --> 00:43:54,389 been taught the same on down through the generations and generations. 117 00:43:54,949 --> 00:43:58,789 And so we have to hold the line. We have to teach the next Generation. 118 00:43:58,789 --> 00:44:03,589 All right, so tonight we have again, 9 and 10. Really, these go 119 00:44:03,589 --> 00:44:08,949 together. Self supporting. The church is to be self supporting. 120 00:44:09,109 --> 00:44:13,509 In other words, it ought to be self supporting by the resources 121 00:44:13,509 --> 00:44:19,949 of its own membership. All right, so a church, to be self supporting. 122 00:44:20,429 --> 00:44:23,349 A church is to be self governing. We've talked about this 123 00:44:23,349 --> 00:44:25,389 one a little bit. We won't cover this as much as some of the 124 00:44:25,389 --> 00:44:29,109 other points. Self governing, it means controlled, directed by 125 00:44:29,109 --> 00:44:34,589 its own membership. Its own membership. And not outside authority. 126 00:44:35,069 --> 00:44:39,869 Not outside authority. I've lived a very, very sheltered life. 127 00:44:39,869 --> 00:44:45,579 I was raised in an independent Baptist church. Been in an independent 128 00:44:45,579 --> 00:44:50,579 Baptist church all my life. A couple of times I have been in a 129 00:44:50,579 --> 00:44:54,339 service of another denomination and I probably not been 130 00:44:54,339 --> 00:44:59,379 in another church that was not of, like faith. No less than five 131 00:44:59,379 --> 00:45:03,379 times. It just, just. I don't have any want to, to do that, number 132 00:45:03,379 --> 00:45:07,579 one. So I just looked up today, what did Methodists, how does 133 00:45:07,579 --> 00:45:11,739 the hierarchy of the Methodist churches, how does that work? And 134 00:45:12,379 --> 00:45:16,619 it's pretty intricate the way the Methodist Church works and how 135 00:45:16,619 --> 00:45:18,939 they, you know, the congregations don't choose their 136 00:45:18,939 --> 00:45:23,139 pastors. You know, the hierarchy chooses the pastors and 137 00:45:23,139 --> 00:45:28,499 they send them to churches and the hierarchy decides when that pastor 138 00:45:28,499 --> 00:45:31,499 leaves. And by the way, it could, in the Methodist Church, it 139 00:45:31,499 --> 00:45:36,789 could be a man or a woman pastor. And so it's really, to me, 140 00:45:36,789 --> 00:45:42,109 that's just a foreign thought because nowhere in the Bible does 141 00:45:42,109 --> 00:45:46,949 it teach that. Nowhere. It doesn't teach it anywhere. And so 142 00:45:46,949 --> 00:45:51,429 that is a tradition that they have that they have installed within 143 00:45:51,429 --> 00:45:55,549 the hierarchy. And so again, when we say self governing, we're 144 00:45:55,549 --> 00:46:00,749 saying that Heritage Baptist Church, its membership makes the 145 00:46:00,749 --> 00:46:05,309 decisions. Now somebody has said, well, then the church is a 146 00:46:05,309 --> 00:46:08,149 democracy. That's not true either. The church is really not 147 00:46:08,549 --> 00:46:14,309 a democracy. It's a limited democracy. And by that I mean we 148 00:46:14,309 --> 00:46:18,989 have some rules to go by. I make the comparison to the United 149 00:46:18,989 --> 00:46:23,189 States. The United States is not a democracy. And I just love. 150 00:46:23,189 --> 00:46:27,109 I read an article today about a liberal who was saying he rewrote 151 00:46:27,109 --> 00:46:31,779 the. Y' all saw that? Probably the, the filmmaker rewrote the Pledge 152 00:46:31,779 --> 00:46:36,059 of Allegiance and he put in there a democracy. America is not 153 00:46:36,059 --> 00:46:41,339 a democracy. America is a republic. It's really a limited democracy. 154 00:46:41,979 --> 00:46:45,819 Why? Because we have the Constitution. We have rules that 155 00:46:45,819 --> 00:46:48,899 we go by that don't change, doesn't matter what you think or 156 00:46:48,899 --> 00:46:51,379 I think. Here are the rules that, you know, unless you can get 157 00:46:51,379 --> 00:46:55,209 all the states, four of them, 35 of them, to make the change, and 158 00:46:55,209 --> 00:46:58,449 that's difficult add to or take Away from the Constitution. 159 00:46:58,529 --> 00:47:02,769 So the Church is the same way. It is a democracy, yes, but it's 160 00:47:02,769 --> 00:47:07,249 limited in its scope because we follow the head of the church, 161 00:47:07,249 --> 00:47:11,209 which is Jesus Christ. And how does Jesus Christ lead the church? 162 00:47:11,209 --> 00:47:15,329 He leads the church through his word. And so we have Paul especially 163 00:47:15,489 --> 00:47:19,529 writing in his epistles, and others writing Peter and others writing 164 00:47:19,529 --> 00:47:23,989 epistles that help us know how the church should function and help 165 00:47:23,989 --> 00:47:28,309 us know how the church should be led. And so we follow the head 166 00:47:28,309 --> 00:47:32,549 of the church, which is Jesus Christ. And the pastor is the under 167 00:47:32,549 --> 00:47:35,549 shepherd. And that's why I read First Peter, chapter five. I 168 00:47:35,549 --> 00:47:40,029 just want you to see that, that the pastor is there. He is exhorted 169 00:47:40,029 --> 00:47:43,949 to lead the flock. He is exhorted to do so willingly and not 170 00:47:43,949 --> 00:47:47,549 for money. And to be of a ready mind. He's there to not be 171 00:47:47,549 --> 00:47:52,709 lord over the, the heritage. In other words, he's not to be a 172 00:47:52,709 --> 00:47:56,229 dictator, but he's to be a shepherd and lead the flock. Lead 173 00:47:56,229 --> 00:47:58,749 the flock. And we'll cover that some more in a moment. But again, 174 00:47:59,229 --> 00:48:02,789 self governing, self supporting. So again, the membership 175 00:48:02,789 --> 00:48:06,749 supplying the resources that the church needs. Self governing, 176 00:48:06,829 --> 00:48:10,429 controlled directly from the congregation according to the Bible. 177 00:48:10,749 --> 00:48:14,189 And no council of bishops, no general conference, no judicial council 178 00:48:14,349 --> 00:48:18,099 outside the church. It's all inside the church. And then lastly, 179 00:48:18,099 --> 00:48:25,459 self propagating, propagating, propagating. It's a big word. Reproducing, 180 00:48:26,499 --> 00:48:33,179 reproducing, replicating. It's the church's purpose to propagate 181 00:48:33,179 --> 00:48:39,339 the gospel. We are to spread the gospel. And we ought to that, 182 00:48:39,339 --> 00:48:42,749 and that is our primary purpose. Churches birth churches. 183 00:48:43,229 --> 00:48:46,029 And we see this in College Station with Brother Jonathan Moore. 184 00:48:46,189 --> 00:48:50,749 As we birth that church, our church is birthing that church. Again, 185 00:48:50,749 --> 00:48:54,229 the word church means called out assembly of baptized believers 186 00:48:54,229 --> 00:48:57,148 carrying out the Great Commission. Again, carrying out the 187 00:48:57,148 --> 00:49:00,389 commands of Christ. That's the purpose of the church. The purpose 188 00:49:00,389 --> 00:49:03,349 of the church. We have it up, you know, we have our purposes up 189 00:49:03,349 --> 00:49:06,919 on the, on the wall here again, loving God. We ought to love 190 00:49:06,919 --> 00:49:09,199 the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind. 191 00:49:09,279 --> 00:49:12,839 We ought to worship him as a congregation. We ought to worship 192 00:49:12,839 --> 00:49:16,199 him individually. We ought to love him. He ought to be supreme 193 00:49:16,199 --> 00:49:20,479 in our life. You know, he is the one we focus on. Number two is 194 00:49:20,479 --> 00:49:23,519 growing together. We ought to grow together through discipleship, 195 00:49:23,519 --> 00:49:27,239 through the ministries of the church. And then we are to serve 196 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:33,599 each other and we're to serve our community. But if you put anything, 197 00:49:33,599 --> 00:49:39,029 you put above all of that, we know, number one, the purpose of 198 00:49:39,029 --> 00:49:45,389 the Church is to spread the gospel, the church governance. There 199 00:49:45,389 --> 00:49:50,189 are various ways in which churches in America and around the 200 00:49:50,189 --> 00:49:55,109 world govern the churches. One is Episcopal. It means it's run by 201 00:49:55,109 --> 00:50:00,229 officials and has a headquarters. In other words, it's 202 00:50:00,229 --> 00:50:03,699 through hierarchy. That's kind of like the Methodists and the Episcopalians 203 00:50:03,699 --> 00:50:07,619 and many of the others who have hierarchies. The Catholic Church 204 00:50:07,619 --> 00:50:13,019 especially is the best example of that one where the local assemblies 205 00:50:13,019 --> 00:50:15,779 make some decisions, but are very limited in what they can do. 206 00:50:16,579 --> 00:50:19,659 The bishops and the cardinals and everybody above them make the 207 00:50:19,659 --> 00:50:24,779 decisions. Then there's a presbytery. And this really kind 208 00:50:24,779 --> 00:50:31,219 of goes back to a convention. In other words, some churches are 209 00:50:31,219 --> 00:50:34,499 a part of a convention where the convention does have some say. 210 00:50:35,539 --> 00:50:39,579 And those pastors, those presbytery, those pastors of that 211 00:50:39,579 --> 00:50:43,579 convention will have some say. And that would be the Southern Baptist 212 00:50:43,579 --> 00:50:46,459 Convention and some others, American Baptists. There's many different 213 00:50:46,459 --> 00:50:51,699 conventions in America, and all of them have their place. But 214 00:50:51,699 --> 00:50:56,149 I would say to you, it's not found in the Bible either. You say, 215 00:50:56,149 --> 00:50:58,429 well, we're part of fellowship. There's a difference. 216 00:50:59,309 --> 00:51:03,669 Sometimes guys in fellowships forget that. Me and Brother Stone 217 00:51:03,669 --> 00:51:07,629 could have a conversation about that. But we're independent. 218 00:51:08,589 --> 00:51:12,109 We're independent. I love Worth Baptist Church. I do. I love 219 00:51:12,109 --> 00:51:15,509 brother Dr. Barber and brother Weaver. Now Brother Gillett. That's 220 00:51:15,509 --> 00:51:19,509 a great, wonderful sister church. But we're independent of 221 00:51:19,509 --> 00:51:24,239 them. I'm thankful that I can go to and get some advice from Brother 222 00:51:24,239 --> 00:51:26,959 Gillett and some of the members that I've known over there 223 00:51:26,959 --> 00:51:28,839 for years and years. Victory Baptist Church in Weatherford. I 224 00:51:28,839 --> 00:51:33,039 love that church, but we're not a part of a convention. And we're 225 00:51:33,039 --> 00:51:37,959 not everybody. Good. We'll describe this some more in a minute. 226 00:51:38,119 --> 00:51:41,159 And then again, what we just described was a limited democracy 227 00:51:41,479 --> 00:51:45,399 led by the pastor of the churches of the church's own choosing. 228 00:51:45,969 --> 00:51:49,289 So led by a pastor of the church's own choosing that you, as 229 00:51:49,289 --> 00:51:54,649 the congregation, get to choose the pastor. You've had one 230 00:51:54,649 --> 00:52:03,169 for a while. So sorry. Maybe we ought to put it. No. Every church 231 00:52:03,409 --> 00:52:07,449 is to be independent and autonomous, functioning as a limited 232 00:52:07,449 --> 00:52:11,369 democracy following one head. That's Jesus Christ under the leadership 233 00:52:11,369 --> 00:52:15,359 of a pastor and under shepherd, directed by the Holy Spirit. 234 00:52:15,359 --> 00:52:21,759 That is the biblical church. Somebody say amen. Help me out. Okay, 235 00:52:21,759 --> 00:52:26,799 good. Thank you. Let me say that again, then. Every church biblically 236 00:52:26,799 --> 00:52:31,959 is to be independent. That means autonomous, functioning as 237 00:52:31,959 --> 00:52:36,279 a limited democracy following one head. That's Jesus Christ, through 238 00:52:36,279 --> 00:52:40,369 the word of God, under the leadership of a pastor who is an 239 00:52:40,369 --> 00:52:45,289 under shepherd directed by the Holy Spirit. That's it. That is a 240 00:52:45,449 --> 00:52:49,689 biblical. Thank you. Appreciate that. Biblical governance 241 00:52:49,689 --> 00:52:55,209 of the church. Of the church. It is to operate by freewill offerings 242 00:52:56,489 --> 00:53:02,009 of its members. That's why over the years we haven't. We will 243 00:53:02,009 --> 00:53:05,409 use fundraisers for. We'll do anything for the youth department. 244 00:53:05,729 --> 00:53:10,489 I mean, that's like we'll do weird stuff for the. I mean, we're 245 00:53:10,489 --> 00:53:12,689 going to raise money. We're going to do it for the youth department. 246 00:53:13,409 --> 00:53:16,129 But I've had people ask over the years, well, why don't we have 247 00:53:16,209 --> 00:53:19,009 this sale or do something like some of the other churches do? Like 248 00:53:19,009 --> 00:53:21,809 if we have a yard sale, it's for the youth or if we have a car 249 00:53:21,809 --> 00:53:24,689 wash, it's for the youth. We're not going to raise building 250 00:53:24,689 --> 00:53:30,419 funds and general expense funds by having garage sales. That's 251 00:53:30,419 --> 00:53:34,419 not what the Lord intended. The Lord intended for us as members 252 00:53:35,059 --> 00:53:39,019 to support the church in order for it to function as it needs to 253 00:53:39,019 --> 00:53:42,299 function. And God's been so good to Heritage Baptist Church over 254 00:53:42,299 --> 00:53:47,499 the years and you have been so faithful to give it is to. Again, 255 00:53:47,499 --> 00:53:51,099 it's to operate under the freewill offerings of its membership. 256 00:53:51,099 --> 00:53:55,789 It is to fulfill its purpose to evangelize, baptize and disciple. 257 00:53:55,789 --> 00:54:00,349 All right, so number one, it's to be self supporting. Self supporting? 258 00:54:00,349 --> 00:54:03,949 The church is to be self supporting how? By way of the tithes 259 00:54:03,949 --> 00:54:07,829 and offerings of its membership. Of its membership. It's 260 00:54:07,829 --> 00:54:12,109 not the world's responsibility to finance the church. I've been 261 00:54:12,109 --> 00:54:16,349 very reluctant over the years. I have yet to go outside of the church 262 00:54:16,509 --> 00:54:20,469 and try to raise money from, you know, local businesses and so 263 00:54:20,469 --> 00:54:22,829 forth. Unless we're again, for the youth department would do anything. 264 00:54:23,099 --> 00:54:28,019 I don't know why that's true. Maybe what's good for the youth to 265 00:54:28,019 --> 00:54:32,139 get out and work for their money, you know, and bake sales, 266 00:54:32,139 --> 00:54:35,859 whatever we do. But been reluctant over the years. I think 267 00:54:35,859 --> 00:54:40,419 there is, there is a time and place for that. If we ever did the 268 00:54:40,419 --> 00:54:43,979 community building over here, that's on the master plan. That community 269 00:54:44,059 --> 00:54:48,459 building, I believe could be under that kind of designation where 270 00:54:48,779 --> 00:54:51,699 if the community is going to be using it and there's many different 271 00:54:51,699 --> 00:54:54,859 various ways in which we could use it, that we might raise money 272 00:54:54,859 --> 00:54:57,779 outside the church. But I'm telling you, the Bible makes it very 273 00:54:57,779 --> 00:55:02,779 clear. The church is to function and operate with the offerings 274 00:55:02,779 --> 00:55:07,819 of its membership. It's God's people who are financially obligated 275 00:55:07,819 --> 00:55:11,099 to carry out the work of God and to do so through their giving. 276 00:55:11,659 --> 00:55:14,219 Well, I don't know how many times I've had this. Somebody say 277 00:55:14,219 --> 00:55:16,859 to me, well, preacher, you know, the tithe was Old Testament. 278 00:55:17,329 --> 00:55:21,009 That was Old Testament law. And because it's Old Testament law, 279 00:55:21,009 --> 00:55:24,769 the New Testament tells us that that's been done away with wrong. 280 00:55:25,569 --> 00:55:30,209 The tithe was before the law. The Mosaic Law was, of course, given 281 00:55:30,209 --> 00:55:33,569 to God, to Moses, to the children of Israel when they came 282 00:55:33,569 --> 00:55:37,529 out of Egypt. And before that, we had Abraham, who gave tithes to 283 00:55:37,529 --> 00:55:41,409 Melchizedek. And you can go throughout and see that the tithe 284 00:55:41,569 --> 00:55:44,579 has always been around, even back to the Garden of Eden, where 285 00:55:44,649 --> 00:55:49,729 where they made sacrifices and so forth. And so the tithe is the 286 00:55:49,729 --> 00:55:54,169 Lord's. That is a new test, Old and New Testament principle. 287 00:55:54,409 --> 00:55:58,089 The tithe, again, is the Lord's. The tithe was before the 288 00:55:58,089 --> 00:56:04,689 Mosaic Law. I love again. And we got to attend Dr. House's birthday 289 00:56:04,689 --> 00:56:10,249 party here a few weeks ago, and I miss him. I do. He taught our 290 00:56:10,249 --> 00:56:13,299 Story Stewardship conference every year. He really did educate 291 00:56:13,299 --> 00:56:17,699 our church family and the core of our church family on giving. And 292 00:56:17,699 --> 00:56:21,739 we're going to miss that. And so from time to time, we're going 293 00:56:21,739 --> 00:56:25,139 to. We have different speakers now. Brother Weatherby or Brother 294 00:56:25,139 --> 00:56:28,739 Knickerbocker, maybe others. But I just remember Dr. House saying 295 00:56:28,739 --> 00:56:33,899 over and over and over again, I ain't got no stuff. I just love 296 00:56:33,899 --> 00:56:37,669 that. I love the way it's worded. It's eloquent, very eloquent. 297 00:56:37,669 --> 00:56:43,109 Dr. House was always eloquent. He was never to the point. I ain't 298 00:56:43,109 --> 00:56:48,989 got no stuff. It's not mine. It never was mine. My stuff ain't 299 00:56:48,989 --> 00:56:53,949 my stuff. It all belongs to the Lord. Psalm 24, verse 1 says, 300 00:56:53,949 --> 00:56:56,749 the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and 301 00:56:56,749 --> 00:57:01,669 they that dwell therein. I am simply to be a steward of the resources 302 00:57:01,669 --> 00:57:06,569 God has given me. And again, it's God's stuff. I'm not going to 303 00:57:06,569 --> 00:57:08,609 turn over there. But one of the greatest scriptures in the Old 304 00:57:08,609 --> 00:57:12,609 Testament in regards to understanding that we don't have 305 00:57:12,609 --> 00:57:15,369 no stuff is actually King David. It's found if you want to 306 00:57:15,369 --> 00:57:19,169 look it up later. First Chronicles 29 and read verses 2 through 307 00:57:19,169 --> 00:57:23,449 14. And there David is raising some funds and doing some things, 308 00:57:23,769 --> 00:57:29,679 and he makes this statement. He says, of thine own have we given 309 00:57:30,159 --> 00:57:34,399 thee. In other words, all we are doing, David's saying, is giving 310 00:57:34,399 --> 00:57:42,599 back what you gave to us. Even King David understood that. King 311 00:57:42,599 --> 00:57:45,839 David understood he ain't got no stuff. He probably didn't say 312 00:57:45,839 --> 00:57:50,919 it just like that, but he ain't got no stuff. I'm thankful 313 00:57:50,919 --> 00:57:55,239 God's blessed us with stuff. I enjoy the stuff. All the great gifts 314 00:57:55,239 --> 00:57:57,439 the Bible says comes down from above, from the Father of lights. 315 00:57:57,439 --> 00:58:01,139 And we, and we are to enjoy the stuff God's given us, but understand 316 00:58:01,139 --> 00:58:07,539 it's not ours. We only give back what he first, what he first 317 00:58:07,539 --> 00:58:11,419 had. We understand and know that the tithe belongs to the Lord. 318 00:58:12,219 --> 00:58:15,539 And if you are a growing Christian, if you're a new Christian 319 00:58:15,539 --> 00:58:18,059 and you're a growing Christian, encourage you to step 320 00:58:18,059 --> 00:58:21,579 out by faith and start tithing 10% before the government gets their 321 00:58:21,579 --> 00:58:24,939 hands in it. And I promise you, based upon the scripture and 322 00:58:24,939 --> 00:58:28,289 the promises of the Bible and that if you will do that, God will 323 00:58:28,289 --> 00:58:33,849 bless you. My dad taught me and I believe it 100% because the 324 00:58:33,849 --> 00:58:36,969 Bible teaches the principle that God, if you are a Christian, 325 00:58:37,369 --> 00:58:41,609 a born again child of God, that you can do more with the 90 326 00:58:42,329 --> 00:58:48,289 than you will the hundred, you just will. Because in giving and 327 00:58:48,289 --> 00:58:52,049 tithing and giving as God has commanded you and in obedience to 328 00:58:52,049 --> 00:58:57,969 him, then God will bless you. God will bless that. God will bless 329 00:58:57,969 --> 00:59:01,769 it. I've heard preachers say, you know, step out by faith, start 330 00:59:01,769 --> 00:59:05,209 tithing and if it doesn't work for you, we'll give your money back. 331 00:59:06,649 --> 00:59:13,129 Maybe. But I promise you it will work. Every time I've had people 332 00:59:13,129 --> 00:59:16,089 come to my office and say, preacher, we, you know, we're broke 333 00:59:16,089 --> 00:59:18,529 and we do the Dave Ramsey thing around here. And if you are 334 00:59:18,529 --> 00:59:22,309 broke, you don't have your act together, encourage you to sign up. 335 00:59:22,309 --> 00:59:24,909 They're fixing to get started here in a week or two. Sign up for 336 00:59:24,909 --> 00:59:29,309 the Dave Ramsey course. It's a biblical based on biblical principles, 337 00:59:29,389 --> 00:59:33,589 how to manage your money. But if you're in a. Most people are in 338 00:59:33,589 --> 00:59:36,789 a bind as Christians, notice I'm saying as Christians, a lost 339 00:59:36,789 --> 00:59:40,589 person, it ain't going to affect them either way. It's still 340 00:59:40,589 --> 00:59:44,189 God's stuff. But now I'm a Christian, now I'm a child of God, 341 00:59:44,669 --> 00:59:49,909 I want to obey the Lord, I delight in his law. Amen. And so 342 00:59:49,909 --> 00:59:55,149 I'm going to give and God will bless that. Every time I've had people 343 00:59:55,149 --> 00:59:57,549 come to my office and say, preacher, I'm broke and if I was 344 00:59:57,549 --> 01:00:01,669 to tithe, I couldn't pay my water bill. What should I do? Tithe. 345 01:00:03,429 --> 01:00:07,549 First thing. That's the first check you write. Since we don't write 346 01:00:07,549 --> 01:00:10,149 checks anymore, it's the first thing that comes electronically out 347 01:00:10,149 --> 01:00:14,799 of your bank. Account. And it ought to be the first thing number 348 01:00:14,799 --> 01:00:18,719 one on the list. Before my car payment, before my house payment, 349 01:00:18,799 --> 01:00:21,959 everything. It's number one. It's just to me, it's a no brainer. 350 01:00:21,959 --> 01:00:27,039 I never even give it a thought. Just going to obey the Lord 351 01:00:27,359 --> 01:00:31,119 because I know, I've experienced it, I've witnessed it, 352 01:00:31,359 --> 01:00:37,159 the blessings of God. Now, is he going to TV evangelist you? If 353 01:00:37,159 --> 01:00:40,849 you give a thousand, God's going to give you 10,000. No, that's, 354 01:00:40,849 --> 01:00:45,769 that's, that's malarkey. Bible doesn't promise that. That's just, 355 01:00:46,009 --> 01:00:52,649 that's Joel Osteen and the guy out here about the lake, Mr. Copeland, 356 01:00:54,489 --> 01:00:58,569 you know, he ought to just come on. He ought to come on TV and 357 01:00:58,569 --> 01:01:02,529 say, you know what? You give a thousand, God will give you 10,000. 358 01:01:02,529 --> 01:01:06,349 If God doesn't, I'll give you 10,000. Wouldn't that fix it? That 359 01:01:06,349 --> 01:01:10,069 would, that would be awesome. He wouldn't do that because he knows 360 01:01:10,069 --> 01:01:14,229 it's not true. He ought to get people's money. All right, I feel 361 01:01:14,229 --> 01:01:19,749 better about the whole thing. Oh, and I know we have some visitors 362 01:01:19,749 --> 01:01:24,069 and things here, so let me clarify. Jesus Christ pointed out 363 01:01:24,069 --> 01:01:27,829 people. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees, vipers and 364 01:01:27,829 --> 01:01:31,499 snakes. And I think as a pastor, I have. I have no problem 365 01:01:31,499 --> 01:01:35,859 calling names when it's, when it's the right thing. When it's called 366 01:01:35,859 --> 01:01:39,739 upon to be a shepherd. Watch out for those wolves in sheep clothing. 367 01:01:39,739 --> 01:01:43,619 Amen. And I again encourage you, if you're going to listen to 368 01:01:43,619 --> 01:01:48,019 people on TV or podcasts or whatever, make sure it's a pastor 369 01:01:48,019 --> 01:01:51,219 most of the time. These evangelists who are on TV and radio, 370 01:01:52,099 --> 01:01:56,579 man, they're messed up. And some others are too. All right, I 371 01:01:56,579 --> 01:02:00,839 got distracted. Distracted. Tithing again belongs to the Lord. 372 01:02:00,839 --> 01:02:05,279 Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek. Again. The New Testament 373 01:02:05,279 --> 01:02:09,759 never addressed the setting aside of the tithe. In fact, it infers 374 01:02:09,839 --> 01:02:16,399 and it. Jesus Christ watched them tithe and he never said, no, 375 01:02:16,399 --> 01:02:20,999 no, they shouldn't be doing that. No, he endorsed it. And so 376 01:02:20,999 --> 01:02:26,929 we are to tithe and give an offering. The tithe belongs to the 377 01:02:26,929 --> 01:02:35,409 Lord. The offering is my love gift, my freewill offering. That's 378 01:02:35,409 --> 01:02:40,409 my mission given. That's other areas in which I can be a blessing 379 01:02:40,409 --> 01:02:46,409 to pay for a child to go to junior camp. I appreciate some of 380 01:02:46,409 --> 01:02:51,609 you doing that. What a blessing. The temple in the Old Testament 381 01:02:51,609 --> 01:02:57,329 was the center of Jewish life. Church, our church. The church is 382 01:02:58,049 --> 01:03:04,089 our spiritual temple and ought to be the center of our Life. And 383 01:03:04,089 --> 01:03:09,049 by that I mean your family's life. It's where your friends ought 384 01:03:09,049 --> 01:03:17,219 to be. It's where life happens. Amen. It's where I get to 385 01:03:17,219 --> 01:03:23,059 give. It's where I can serve. It's where I can worship. It's where 386 01:03:23,059 --> 01:03:28,379 I can have life. I was reminded this week again of what 387 01:03:29,099 --> 01:03:33,939 the blessings of heritage that literally your child can come to 388 01:03:33,939 --> 01:03:41,809 our school, meet and have friends there. The same friends for 389 01:03:41,809 --> 01:03:44,569 the most part that they're going to have on Wednesday night 390 01:03:45,049 --> 01:03:52,369 and Sunday, I promise you. And I can look back on 30 something years 391 01:03:52,369 --> 01:03:58,289 now and I can tell you that is a wonderful benefit. That is not 392 01:03:58,289 --> 01:04:00,529 a detriment. I know some people have said, well we're just 393 01:04:00,529 --> 01:04:05,409 up at the church all the time. All the time. Hallelujah. And as 394 01:04:05,409 --> 01:04:08,889 long as you as a mom and dad are leading the way and serving with 395 01:04:08,889 --> 01:04:12,659 your kids and not just pushing them out there, but you're alongside 396 01:04:12,659 --> 01:04:17,659 and working with them and doing and singing. No, no, no. They're 397 01:04:17,659 --> 01:04:22,659 going to look back on it like I do. I'm thankful my dad drug us 398 01:04:22,659 --> 01:04:27,779 to church and I'm thankful he we served and we went soul winning 399 01:04:27,779 --> 01:04:33,499 and all the things that we did as kids and it was amazing. Life 400 01:04:33,499 --> 01:04:38,349 was church and church was life. Good stuff. I need to move 401 01:04:38,349 --> 01:04:41,989 on. Number two, self governing churches. I'll spend two seconds 402 01:04:41,989 --> 01:04:45,349 on this. Christ again is the head of the church through his word 403 01:04:45,749 --> 01:04:48,829 and again under the earthly leadership of a pastor. The under 404 01:04:48,829 --> 01:04:52,629 shepherd directed by the Holy Spirit. And we've spent time on that 405 01:04:52,709 --> 01:04:56,149 on another section a few weeks ago and so I'm going to go on past 406 01:04:56,149 --> 01:04:59,909 it. Number three, self propagating church. And we got about 407 01:04:59,909 --> 01:05:04,939 five minutes here. So I just wanted to tell you I'm so burdened 408 01:05:04,939 --> 01:05:09,259 about church planting and about missions and the need to spread 409 01:05:09,259 --> 01:05:14,699 the gospel. I'm telling you it's amazing. Number one, it's amazing 410 01:05:14,699 --> 01:05:18,659 the opportunities out there and that people for the most part 411 01:05:19,699 --> 01:05:23,699 will respond if we get out there in love and kindness and give 412 01:05:23,699 --> 01:05:29,169 them the gospel. And there's so many areas now that the population 413 01:05:29,169 --> 01:05:33,929 has exploded and that need a church, need a church so badly. I 414 01:05:33,929 --> 01:05:37,409 could not believe that College Station and Brian down there had, 415 01:05:37,489 --> 01:05:40,889 did not have an independent Baptist church anymore. I'm like 416 01:05:40,889 --> 01:05:45,129 how does 200,000 people in population and 80,000 students and 417 01:05:45,129 --> 01:05:48,649 there's not an independent Baptist church. And what a blessing 418 01:05:48,649 --> 01:05:51,809 it is to plant one there. What a blessing it is for us to get to 419 01:05:51,809 --> 01:05:54,579 birth a church there. And Brother Moore's doing a Great job 420 01:05:54,579 --> 01:06:00,019 and Ms. Edith and the kids and just pray for them. But that's it. 421 01:06:00,019 --> 01:06:04,139 We need a revival of church planting. We need revival of church 422 01:06:04,139 --> 01:06:09,819 planting and understanding what that is. Again, we are commanded 423 01:06:09,899 --> 01:06:13,379 to preach the gospel to every creature. That's our purpose as a 424 01:06:13,379 --> 01:06:17,259 church, to spread the gospel. In Acts, we know that we are to spread 425 01:06:17,259 --> 01:06:21,159 the gospel and again in Haslett and in Texas and the United 426 01:06:21,159 --> 01:06:24,079 States and then to the uttermost around the world. We're 427 01:06:24,079 --> 01:06:28,319 to reproduce ourselves as much as possible as we can. Understand 428 01:06:28,319 --> 01:06:31,439 that the early church was given the command to spread the gospel. 429 01:06:31,439 --> 01:06:36,239 And for the most part, early on, they did not do so. They did 430 01:06:36,239 --> 01:06:40,319 not spread out past Jerusalem. And guess what happened? Persecution. 431 01:06:40,319 --> 01:06:43,119 And because of the persecution, they got spread all 432 01:06:43,119 --> 01:06:47,609 over the place and churches started popping up, Churches were 433 01:06:47,609 --> 01:06:51,609 planted. Then you had Paul come on board as Paul was persecuting 434 01:06:51,609 --> 01:06:55,169 the church and of course the Lord slapped him around and he got 435 01:06:55,169 --> 01:06:59,489 saved and he began to, you know, serve the Lord and he began 436 01:06:59,489 --> 01:07:02,369 to plant churches, him and Barnabas, out of the Church of Antioch. 437 01:07:02,369 --> 01:07:05,809 So remember this too. If you go back and you read Acts, chapter 438 01:07:05,809 --> 01:07:08,649 eight, you'll see where Barnabas and Paul were called out 439 01:07:08,649 --> 01:07:13,859 of the Church of Antioch to go and to plant churches. They made 440 01:07:13,859 --> 01:07:16,259 their first missionary journey. They come back and they 441 01:07:16,259 --> 01:07:18,899 report to the Church of Antioch. That's the biblical pattern 442 01:07:18,979 --> 01:07:21,979 and that's what we do here. We support the missionaries that are 443 01:07:21,979 --> 01:07:24,819 in the hallway here and all the letters are up. We support them. 444 01:07:24,819 --> 01:07:27,459 And then from periodically, from time to time, they come back 445 01:07:27,459 --> 01:07:30,259 and they report to us, let us know how things are going. They give 446 01:07:30,259 --> 01:07:34,019 us letters supposed to every two or three months anyway, and you 447 01:07:34,019 --> 01:07:37,739 can go read about it. That makes them accountable. But they're 448 01:07:37,739 --> 01:07:41,539 our representative there. They're planting a church in Honduras. 449 01:07:41,539 --> 01:07:44,979 Brother Parade has planted many churches in Honduras and we 450 01:07:44,979 --> 01:07:48,819 had a part in that. Around the world. We're planting churches right 451 01:07:48,819 --> 01:07:53,099 now in America, we're planting churches right now. Brother Martinez 452 01:07:53,099 --> 01:07:56,939 up in Colorado and again, Matthew Gage and there's so many 453 01:07:56,939 --> 01:08:00,939 other church planters. We support the church plant that we 454 01:08:00,939 --> 01:08:07,789 supported in Georgia, McLaren, what's his anyway, McElreath. They're 455 01:08:07,789 --> 01:08:13,229 this close, this close to buying a beautiful building. And 456 01:08:13,229 --> 01:08:15,309 they've been around three years now. We supported them three 457 01:08:15,309 --> 01:08:21,989 years. And a investment banker, a real estate man who became. 458 01:08:22,629 --> 01:08:27,389 He's going around and if you're inner city churches, he's 459 01:08:27,389 --> 01:08:30,439 buying inner city churches for independent Baptist churches. If 460 01:08:30,439 --> 01:08:32,919 you'll plant a church in the inner city, he'll buy a building 461 01:08:32,919 --> 01:08:36,879 for you. And that's fixing to happen to the church there. Isn't 462 01:08:36,879 --> 01:08:41,919 that amazing? And we do need to reseed the inner cities, man. 463 01:08:41,919 --> 01:08:45,759 A lot of the inner cities, man, the church has left. And so 464 01:08:46,239 --> 01:08:50,439 there is a revival of people going back into the inner cities 465 01:08:50,439 --> 01:08:53,679 and reaching the inner cities. So again, planting churches. We are 466 01:08:53,679 --> 01:08:57,479 self propagating again, starting churches and reaching the 467 01:08:57,479 --> 01:09:00,129 gospel around the world. And we preach this all the time. But 468 01:09:00,209 --> 01:09:03,609 I'm just reminding you that the church ought to be planting churches. 469 01:09:03,609 --> 01:09:08,009 Now. In the past, we planted two or three and we've learned a 470 01:09:08,009 --> 01:09:10,609 few things. We're just never going to give up. We keep planting 471 01:09:10,609 --> 01:09:14,768 churches. People getting saved, people getting called to preach. 472 01:09:14,768 --> 01:09:17,409 Josh Herrera, me and Brother Stone just had this conversation. 473 01:09:17,409 --> 01:09:22,969 Josh Herrera wouldn't be in the ministry, humanly speaking, if 474 01:09:22,969 --> 01:09:26,108 the church in Corpus didn't exist. And I believe God's going 475 01:09:26,108 --> 01:09:30,748 to use Joshua in a great way. I'm telling you, there are opportunities 476 01:09:30,908 --> 01:09:35,188 all over America and Texas to plant churches. And we need to be 477 01:09:35,188 --> 01:09:39,428 tenacious about it and never give up, never surrender, don't turn 478 01:09:39,428 --> 01:09:47,268 back, keep planting churches and keep on keeping on. Amen. I believe 479 01:09:47,268 --> 01:09:51,359 that. I do. God's going to bless that. We need a church planting 480 01:09:51,359 --> 01:09:54,159 mentality at Heritage Baptist Church. We've always kind of had 481 01:09:54,159 --> 01:09:57,639 that because we are a church plant and we need to continue that. 482 01:09:58,039 --> 01:10:03,479 We are to plant churches, by the way. Churches plant churches, 483 01:10:03,479 --> 01:10:06,839 not man. So Jonathan Moore is not planting a church. Actually, 484 01:10:06,839 --> 01:10:09,519 we are planting a church. And John Moore, Jonathan Moore is our 485 01:10:09,519 --> 01:10:16,449 representative. Amen. We had that discussion about ordination 486 01:10:16,529 --> 01:10:20,329 too. You know, the Presbyterian, the pastor don't ordain. 487 01:10:20,329 --> 01:10:24,369 The church ordains the power and the authorities in the church. 488 01:10:25,729 --> 01:10:32,049 Churches planting churches. I'll conclude with this. The church 489 01:10:32,769 --> 01:10:36,169 finances are provided by its membership through the tithes and 490 01:10:36,169 --> 01:10:42,339 offerings. I want to encourage you, be faithful, be faithful. Utilities 491 01:10:42,339 --> 01:10:45,259 have to be paid for. Aren't you thankful for air conditioning? 492 01:10:46,059 --> 01:10:48,979 But because we're kind of the core here tonight, we do have a couple 493 01:10:48,979 --> 01:10:51,899 of visitors. But I kind of remind you it's good every once in 494 01:10:51,899 --> 01:10:55,379 a while to be shocked at how much the electric bill is here. You 495 01:10:55,379 --> 01:11:02,459 know, it runs. Our utilities run about 70,000 a year. 70,000. 496 01:11:02,699 --> 01:11:07,099 That's not just electric, that's water and everything. I'm 497 01:11:07,099 --> 01:11:14,459 going to spill the beans here. Our building insurance is $45,000 498 01:11:14,459 --> 01:11:21,099 a year. We just got noticed this week it's going to 60. Yeah, 499 01:11:21,419 --> 01:11:28,459 yeah. I was down in Houston with all those pastors on Friday 500 01:11:28,699 --> 01:11:31,979 with the 30 by 30 Church Planting Conference and each one 501 01:11:31,979 --> 01:11:34,219 of them was talking about their insurance. I'm telling you, 502 01:11:35,399 --> 01:11:39,479 it's crazy. I know one church that they had to drop their insurance. 503 01:11:39,479 --> 01:11:41,839 They have buildings, just. In fact, they have more buildings than 504 01:11:41,839 --> 01:11:47,639 we do. And they had to drop it. They couldn't afford it. I'm 505 01:11:47,639 --> 01:11:51,599 just telling you, there are bills to pay. But more than that, 506 01:11:51,599 --> 01:11:56,679 there's local outreach, man. There's tracks to be bought, you 507 01:11:56,679 --> 01:12:02,709 know, there's new move in bags to be purchased and brochures to 508 01:12:02,709 --> 01:12:08,109 be printed. Amen, man. Opportunities we have around here 509 01:12:08,509 --> 01:12:13,949 to reach our community with the gospel, man. What a worthy investment. 510 01:12:14,829 --> 01:12:18,949 A worthy investment. The school, the daycare, all these hooks 511 01:12:18,949 --> 01:12:24,429 in the water. But they all require and necessitate the giving 512 01:12:25,229 --> 01:12:29,719 of the membership. I want to encourage you again, what better 513 01:12:29,719 --> 01:12:35,359 investment can you make? I believe we at Heritage Baptist have 514 01:12:35,359 --> 01:12:40,279 kept our focus on reaching people. And as long as that's there, 515 01:12:40,279 --> 01:12:43,479 God's going to bless that. By the way, God's got plenty of money 516 01:12:44,039 --> 01:12:47,479 and he's always provided for us. And then number two, church control. 517 01:12:47,959 --> 01:12:50,639 Remember again, that's local. I'm so thankful for our deacons. 518 01:12:50,639 --> 01:12:53,959 I'm thankful for our finance team. I'm thankful for our trustees. 519 01:12:54,119 --> 01:12:58,999 I'm thankful for our pastoral staff. I'm thankful for you. We don't 520 01:12:58,999 --> 01:13:02,919 need somebody outside of here telling us what to do. And that's 521 01:13:02,919 --> 01:13:07,399 not biblical. We under the leadership of the word of God, which 522 01:13:07,399 --> 01:13:14,359 is Jesus Christ. The church functions and then lastly the church 523 01:13:14,359 --> 01:13:21,489 plant planting churches. Our primary, primary purpose, reaching 524 01:13:21,489 --> 01:13:26,129 people with the gospel of Jesus Christ to give them the gospel 525 01:13:26,689 --> 01:13:32,129 to baptize them and then disciple them. That is our purpose, 526 01:13:32,609 --> 01:13:36,009 our primary purpose. I'm thankful we get to minister to others 527 01:13:36,009 --> 01:13:41,769 too, by way of caring for them. And yesterday that was our 528 01:13:41,769 --> 01:13:44,969 Lady's terrific job in feeding the family and all the things that 529 01:13:44,969 --> 01:13:48,399 go on with a funeral. And brother Elliot would testify to that. 530 01:13:48,399 --> 01:13:53,639 What a great church family we have. You guys are amazing. And that 531 01:13:53,639 --> 01:14:00,519 is part of it, but primarily is to give the gospel, tell the good 532 01:14:00,519 --> 01:14:08,399 news of Jesus Christ, to keep going, to keep on. Never surrender, 533 01:14:08,399 --> 01:14:12,359 never give up, keep on, keep on till Jesus comes, right? We're 534 01:14:12,359 --> 01:14:16,869 to work till he comes. Amen. Let's all stand. We have a verse 535 01:14:16,869 --> 01:14:18,789 invitation. Have thine own way, Lord. Maybe tonight you need 536 01:14:18,789 --> 01:14:22,229 to come down and just pray. And maybe you're not tithing and 537 01:14:22,229 --> 01:14:24,269 giving an offering. Maybe you need to come down and pray. Lord, 538 01:14:24,509 --> 01:14:28,149 help me. I want to make that commitment and I believe he will 539 01:14:28,149 --> 01:14:31,909 bless you. Maybe tonight. Again, just thinking about why we're 540 01:14:31,909 --> 01:14:36,229 Baptists and why we're self governing and having that knowledge 541 01:14:36,229 --> 01:14:39,949 and understanding from the Bible. If you need more scriptures, 542 01:14:39,949 --> 01:14:42,819 I encourage you. There's the 12 Baptist distinctives are on the 543 01:14:42,819 --> 01:14:46,019 back, back there by the bookstore. Just a paper. And it gives 544 01:14:46,019 --> 01:14:49,859 you a lot of references you can go through and you can look up 545 01:14:49,859 --> 01:14:53,259 a lot of these biblical references on your own. And then 546 01:14:53,259 --> 01:14:57,099 again, given the gospel. Heavenly Father, we thank you again, 547 01:14:57,099 --> 01:14:59,899 Lord, for our church family and what a blessing it is to be a 548 01:14:59,899 --> 01:15:03,099 part of this wonderful church. And I pray God that you would continue 549 01:15:03,099 --> 01:15:07,899 to have us focus on the main thing of reaching people with the 550 01:15:07,899 --> 01:15:10,899 gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, if there's someone here tonight who 551 01:15:10,899 --> 01:15:13,139 does not know you as their Savior, Lord, I pray they get saved 552 01:15:13,139 --> 01:15:17,459 tonight. In Jesus name, Amen. As we sing have Thine Own way, Lord.