Welcome to another edition of the Rapp Report.
Andrew RappaportI'm your host, Andrew Rappaport, the executive director of Striving for Eternity and the Christian podcast community of which this podcast is a proud member.
Andrew RappaportPlease go out to strivingforattorney.org check out all the good work we are doing there.
Andrew RappaportIf you want to have us out at your church, please invite us.
Andrew RappaportJust go to strivingforternity.org you can find our different speakers, different topics and we will be happy to come to you.
Andrew RappaportI am was on the Caleb Gordon podcast on radio and we were talking about, well, a conference he's doing him in the topics that I'm going to be doing as we go to his conference, talking on biblical evangelism.
Andrew RappaportWe're going to talk about the conference, talk a little bit about evangelism.
Andrew RappaportI hope that this will be encouraging to you, but I do hope that if you're in anywhere near 10 hours from Oklahoma, even further, that you check out the conference.
Andrew RappaportYou can get the details@caleb gordon.org for that conference.
Andrew RappaportSo hope this encourages you to get out and share your faith and maybe even attend the conference.
Andrew RappaportI hope to see you there.
Andrew RappaportAnd now for the show.
Andrew RappaportWelcome to the RAP Report with your host, Andrew Rapaport, where we provide biblical interpretation and application.
Andrew RappaportThis is a ministry of striving for eternity and the Christian podcast community.
Andrew RappaportFor more content or to request a speaker for your church, go to strivingforeeternity.org.
Caleb GordonForeign welcome to the podcast, Mr.
Caleb GordonAndrew Rapaport.
Caleb GordonHow in the world are you doing, my friend?
Andrew RappaportBetter than I deserve.
Andrew RappaportHow you doing?
Caleb GordonOh, yeah, fantastic.
Caleb GordonLet's just get right into it here.
Andrew RappaportDo you know any other way than just getting right into it?
Andrew RappaportI mean, let's be honest here.
Caleb GordonI mean, just jumping both feet.
Caleb GordonAll right, announcement.
Caleb GordonAndrew Rapaport is joining the Built to Conquer conference.
Andrew RappaportWait, what?
Caleb GordonHere first.
Andrew RappaportDude, I'm definitely going now.
Caleb GordonYeah, I'm definitely gonna go to the podcast, the show and we're gonna.
Caleb GordonWe might even do a podcast.
Caleb GordonYou never know.
Andrew RappaportWe could do that.
Caleb GordonI think that's a great idea.
Caleb GordonOkay, so you're coming to the Built to Conquer Conference on February 22, 2025, Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Caleb GordonHope Presbyterian Church.
Caleb GordonSuper excited.
Caleb GordonWe've been talking about this for a couple days now and we're announcing it tonight here on the podcast.
Caleb GordonSo excited for this.
Caleb GordonWhat.
Caleb GordonWhat's been going on?
Caleb GordonYou.
Caleb GordonYou got any?
Caleb GordonNow we're jumping from conference to let's talk about cold plunges.
Andrew RappaportThat's A cold subject, man.
Caleb GordonSo what.
Caleb GordonWhat's been going on in your world?
Caleb GordonDid you guys have a good Christmas?
Andrew RappaportI did, I did.
Andrew RappaportWe went.
Andrew RappaportWe went to New York where it was not cold plunge, but cold.
Andrew RappaportIt was.
Andrew RappaportWe decided to walk around in the day.
Andrew RappaportWe walked around.
Andrew RappaportIt was 14 degrees in New York.
Andrew RappaportSo that was a cold.
Caleb GordonThat's what's going to be tomorrow.
Caleb GordonIt's going to be 14 degrees here in Oklahoma.
Caleb GordonSo.
Andrew RappaportYeah, yeah.
Andrew RappaportAnd, but see the difference is in Oklahoma you could probably find like a cup of coffee or something to keep you warm for less than $8.
Andrew RappaportAnd we there, we got like a 8 ounce cup of hot co.
Andrew RappaportHot cocoa that was 8 bucks and that was the cheapest we could find.
Andrew RappaportSo.
Andrew RappaportYeah, that's New York for you.
Andrew RappaportThat's ridiculous.
Caleb GordonInsane.
Caleb GordonSo I wanted to have you on the podcast and talk about evangelism.
Caleb GordonThat is sort of kind of your niche.
Caleb GordonYou're.
Caleb GordonBut between that and apologetics, you, you're.
Caleb GordonYou're striving for eternity by advancing the kingdom by sharing the gospel talking talk about evangelism.
Caleb GordonWe don't.
Caleb GordonI think the church sometimes has a.
Caleb GordonA problematic issue with actually evangelizing properly.
Caleb GordonTalk about that for just a little bit.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Andrew RappaportAnd, and actually striving fraternity.
Andrew RappaportThe name of the ministry I work for is actually dealing with sanctification.
Andrew RappaportAnd so we, we're a discipling ministry.
Andrew RappaportHowever, what a lot of people don't realize is the first part of discipleship is evangelism.
Andrew RappaportYou teach people.
Andrew RappaportYou know, Christ taught us everything that we are to teach those that.
Andrew RappaportEverything he's taught us.
Andrew RappaportWell, if we.
Andrew RappaportThey don't know Christ, the first thing is teach them about Christ.
Andrew RappaportRight.
Andrew RappaportThey need to come to repentance is the first thing I'll tell you.
Andrew RappaportSo many people have a fear of evangelizing, you know, Caleb, why do you think that is?
Caleb GordonWhy do you think that is?
Caleb GordonThe people are so terrified to evangelize.
Caleb GordonI just like, I'm curious as to why you think that.
Andrew RappaportThere's many reasons that or many excuses people will give.
Andrew RappaportI'm afraid I'm not going to know what to say.
Andrew RappaportWell, you know, I'm just.
Andrew RappaportI don't want to get rejected.
Andrew RappaportI don't want to look like a kook.
Andrew RappaportI don't want to be challenged when and not have an answer for something.
Andrew RappaportWhat really whatever the excuses are, they're.
Caleb GordonThey're just that if people understood the reality of hell.
Caleb GordonI think this is the reason people don't understand the reality of what hell actually is.
Caleb GordonAnd I think if we understood that from like a tangible grasping position, there would not be those concerns.
Caleb GordonI think that if we were like, okay, hell is a real place and these people that we're talking to potentially are going there and I don't want anybody to go to hell.
Caleb GordonAnd so I, I am driven to try to share the gospel with people.
Caleb GordonSo that's my driving factor.
Caleb GordonBut I don't know, maybe I guess I used to be afraid, but I don't know.
Andrew RappaportWell, I think that really what it is is people want to fit in with the world.
Andrew RappaportAnd the thing I think we have to recognize first and foremost is we won't just get over that.
Andrew RappaportBut here's the thing that amazes me, Caleb.
Andrew RappaportIf I came on here and told you that I just got a letter from the President United States to come to dinner and you know, I got invited, I'd be happy to tell you about it.
Andrew RappaportI'd be impressed to tell you about it.
Andrew RappaportI'd be bragging to tell you about it now.
Andrew RappaportNotice I didn't mention which president.
Andrew RappaportSo you guys can fit in whichever president you think is best.
Andrew RappaportBut, but, you know, I.
Andrew RappaportI have a friend of mine who has a golden invitation to Saudi Arabia from the King of Saudi Arabia.
Andrew RappaportRight.
Andrew RappaportSo, you know, and, and I guess they gold plate their invitations.
Andrew RappaportHe's got it hanging on his wall.
Andrew RappaportHe's happy to share that with folks.
Andrew RappaportWhy?
Caleb GordonSure.
Andrew RappaportBecause it's something to brag about, something they're excited about, something that other people don't have.
Andrew RappaportThe reality we have far better than a golden invitation to come to a country.
Andrew RappaportWe have the invitation of eternal life, something that most don't have that we didn't deserve.
Andrew RappaportAnd not only have we been given this reconciliation, as Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5, But God has given us a ministry of reconciliation.
Andrew RappaportSo not only does does he reconcile us to himself, but he gives us a ministry to tell others that they could be reconciled as well.
Andrew RappaportWhy are we so unwilling to share that?
Andrew RappaportThe king, not the king really, but the king of kings has given us an invitation into his household, into his abode.
Andrew RappaportAnd we.
Andrew RappaportNot only is it for us, but we can share it with others that they can enter in as well.
Caleb GordonYeah, I've often used the illustration as if you got a phone call and yours, which is very similar to your illustration.
Caleb GordonBut if you got a phone call and say, hey, you're going to go hang out with your favorite celebrity or sports star, your favorite athlete, if they called you and said, hey, we're going to go hang out and we're going to come and hang out for the weekend.
Caleb GordonWe're going to go eat dinner, we're going to take you to a game, we're going to take you to this thing.
Caleb GordonWe're going to do all the things with your favorite celebrity.
Caleb GordonYou would take so many pictures, so many videos, so many things.
Caleb GordonAnd you would brag insanely and incessantly on social media that you were hanging out with this person.
Caleb GordonLike, I just saw a friend of mine posted a picture which Russell Brand was at her church this morning.
Caleb GordonShe's posting pictures of Russell Brand at her church this morning.
Caleb GordonAnd so I'm like, you know, she took a picture with him, she's bragging about that.
Caleb GordonThe King of kings has invited us in.
Caleb GordonI think of Luke chapter 14 where he's invited us into this, this banquet.
Caleb GordonAnd so many people.
Caleb GordonI'd come, but I'd come, but I'd come.
Caleb GordonAnd it's just, it's mind boggling to me how many people are not interested in sharing this good news of eternal life with the people that are on their way to eternal destruction.
Caleb GordonLike, how do you, how much do you hate somebody to not tell them about the, about everlasting life?
Caleb GordonI just, I don't know.
Andrew RappaportWell, that's the very words that come from the mouth of a professing atheist from Penn and Teller.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Andrew RappaportBecause his exact words is someone gave him a Bible and, and he said, how, how much if this guy really believes that when I die, I'm going to hell, how much would he have to not to share it?
Andrew RappaportYeah.
Andrew RappaportAnd that's the reality is we have the words of eternal life.
Andrew RappaportWe would have to hate someone not to share it.
Andrew RappaportWe would have to be more concerned about our own pride because we don't want to be embarrassed or be rejected by people then for them to hear the good news.
Andrew RappaportWhat we're doing is we're waiting, Caleb.
Andrew RappaportWe're waiting for someone to just ask, can you tell me about Jesus?
Andrew RappaportI mean, literally, that's what people pray, Lord, just give me an opportunity.
Andrew RappaportI've watched people that pray for opportunities and someone will walk up to them, just say, you know, man.
Andrew RappaportWell, no, they'll be like, man, life is so hard.
Andrew RappaportWhy is there suffering in the world?
Andrew RappaportThere's your opportunity.
Andrew RappaportBut the opportunity they're waiting for is someone to just say, can you tell me about Jesus?
Caleb GordonYeah.
Andrew RappaportAnd they don't know they're looking for Jesus.
Andrew RappaportThey don't know they have a need for Jesus.
Andrew RappaportAnd so you, you look at this and it's like, well, okay, you're waiting for an opportunity, but you don't need one.
Andrew RappaportIn.
Andrew RappaportIn fact, I'll tell you what you could do if folks want to have some fun.
Andrew RappaportIf they.
Andrew RappaportIf you go out to the striving for eternity YouTube channel, we have a playlist called the Transition Spiritual Transition Game.
Andrew RappaportAnd you can watch a series of me being challenged to take anything and transition to the gospel.
Andrew RappaportI tell people, you don't need to pray for an opportunity, wait for an opportunity.
Andrew RappaportYou can make an opportunity.
Andrew RappaportThe hardest thing for people to do is to transition from this natural world to spiritual.
Andrew RappaportSo I made a game out of it and you could take anything.
Andrew RappaportOkay, so we're talking over microphones.
Andrew RappaportCan I go from a microphone to, to the gospel?
Andrew RappaportSure.
Andrew RappaportBecause the purpose of this microphone is to capture basically the radio waves that are coming from my voice.
Andrew RappaportIt's capturing that, digitizing that, transferring that to a computer and bringing that over to you who are hearing it through a speaker system.
Andrew RappaportAnd that's an amazing bit of technology.
Andrew RappaportAnd yet when we look at this, we think about, can you actually see the radio waves of my voice and the vibration it's having going through the air and able to take that and then convert that to digital?
Andrew RappaportWe can't see that, but we know that that's what's happening.
Andrew RappaportWe know that we can hear this when we're one on one and we can now hear it digitally and it sounds the same, even the voice sounds the same.
Andrew RappaportAnd yet we have this transformation that can occur.
Andrew RappaportAnd so we can look at this and say, wow, that's amazing bit of technology.
Andrew RappaportAnd now I tell you, that just happened by ch.
Andrew RappaportThat just there was no nothing that happened to form this microphone.
Andrew RappaportAnd you'd think I'm nuts.
Andrew RappaportAnd yet you could look at the microphone, realize, okay, someone had to make that design that.
Andrew RappaportBecause just as simple as is to take a radio wave and take that and be able to convert it to digital, well, that can't happen by chance.
Andrew RappaportWell, then how in the world can every cell in our body that has the complexity a language a called DNA, which by the way, we've recently in the past decade discovered that, you know, we thought there was one layer of information in DNA and now there's a sub DNA layer.
Andrew RappaportSo we thought we completely figured out the genome and now there's a second genome.
Andrew RappaportWe could go as deep as we want.
Andrew RappaportWe can go to the vastness of the universe and see all this and say, this happened by chance, but the microphone couldn't have.
Andrew RappaportHow could that be?
Andrew RappaportSo, so if we look at all of this, the complexity of the universe, the complexity of a single cell, you have something within your cel called that a little motor that can go from like 0 to 60 in a millisecond.
Andrew RappaportAnd.
Andrew RappaportAnd like, it basically will.
Andrew RappaportWill take information between the cells.
Andrew RappaportAnd you have things like this within the smallest part of your body.
Andrew RappaportAnd we go, that's got to be designed.
Andrew RappaportThat has to be somewhat.
Andrew RappaportWell, who would put that much time and effort into creating something as vast as universe and as small as the cell?
Andrew RappaportIf there is someone that did that, what would his message be to us?
Andrew RappaportWell, the message would really be simple.
Andrew RappaportMessage is that, I mean, if you just look at life, watch the news, and you can figure out we're not good people.
Andrew RappaportWe, we.
Andrew RappaportYou and I, both of us.
Andrew RappaportWell, we're not good.
Andrew RappaportWe like to think we are, but we're not good.
Andrew RappaportIn fact, we break God's law.
Andrew RappaportAnd in breaking God's law, there's a consequence that.
Andrew RappaportJust as if a criminal breaks the law of, in a human sense, they get prison or whatever.
Andrew RappaportThe consequence would be a fine.
Andrew RappaportWell, when we break God's law, it says that all liars, and that includes, well, every single one of us, all liars will have their place in a lake of fires, burns with brimstone, which is the second death.
Andrew RappaportGod says it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment.
Andrew RappaportSo as we look at that, we have to recognize the fact that you and I both are accountable to an infinitely holy, infinitely just God who will infinitely punish us for our crimes against him.
Andrew RappaportOh, but wait.
Andrew RappaportGod made a way of escape.
Andrew RappaportThis infinitely holy God came to earth.
Andrew RappaportBeing God, he can pay an eternal fine, not only for me and you and everyone else, because he's eternal.
Andrew RappaportSo he could do that once in time and it could count for eternity because his nature is eternal.
Andrew RappaportBut he became a man having never broken the law.
Andrew RappaportTherefore, he could be a proper substitute for you and I.
Andrew RappaportThat is the man we know of Jesus Christ, who went to the cross and paid the punishment for the sins.
Andrew RappaportAnd you and I pay.
Andrew RappaportOh, so that we could be set free.
Andrew RappaportThis is the only way you can have a God that is both just and merciful.
Andrew RappaportJustice and mercy are mutually exclusive.
Andrew RappaportBut see, being an infinitely holy God, he can pay it and pay the full consequence of sin, which takes forever to pay because it's eternal and.
Andrew RappaportOr he's outside of time, so he could do that.
Andrew RappaportAnd therefore he can now be a substitute for us.
Andrew RappaportNow that the full justice was paid, he can offer us mercy.
Andrew RappaportAnd so I just went from speaking about a microphone to the gospel.
Andrew RappaportNow, I didn't know how I was going to do it.
Andrew RappaportYeah, I didn't know how I was going to do it.
Andrew RappaportIt took me a bit.
Andrew RappaportRight, sure.
Andrew RappaportBut you can do that because once we start talking about the spiritual realm.
Caleb GordonWe feel more comfortable, especially because we've been born again.
Caleb GordonIf we've been born again.
Caleb GordonHaving those kinds of conversations should be a natural flow for us.
Caleb GordonThey really should.
Caleb GordonAnd they're not.
Caleb GordonIt's not a.
Caleb GordonJesus makes it very simple.
Caleb GordonThe gospel is not complex to the point where you can't understand it.
Caleb GordonIn fact, the scripture tells us if we can't come to him like a, like a small child, I mean, it's an elementary base level idea.
Caleb GordonAnd, and we tend to, especially in the reformed world, we get super complex with all of our, all of our deep and theological words that we use and we make it through feel like it's, as R.C.
Caleb Gordonsproul used to say, the Ivy League or golf club or, you know, the country club.
Caleb GordonAnd we feel this elitism.
Caleb GordonThat's not.
Caleb GordonThe gospel's super, super simple.
Caleb GordonAnd it's, you're wicked, you deserve God's wrath, but God loves you and he's willing to forgive you.
Caleb GordonYou just got to repent of your sins and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on your behalf.
Andrew RappaportYeah, it's.
Caleb GordonThat's, it's that simple.
Andrew RappaportYeah, I mean, it's, it's not.
Andrew RappaportLook, if there's someone listening and they go, I just, I don't have all the answers.
Andrew RappaportI'm going to tell you right now, Caleb, for that person, for that person who's listening, I can answer any question anyone has about God in the Bible, and I'm going to tell you how you can, too.
Caleb GordonSo people, excuse me, would immediately say, well, that sounds arrogant.
Andrew RappaportAnd I think that it might until they hear my answer, because here's the answer.
Andrew RappaportI don't know.
Andrew RappaportOh, I mean, that's a perfectly good answer.
Andrew RappaportSo if someone tries to trick you and I don't know.
Caleb GordonYeah, we figured out.
Andrew RappaportYeah, here's the, here's the thing.
Andrew RappaportI've done this with countless numbers of people now is they'll say, they'll ask me something.
Andrew RappaportI go, I don't know.
Andrew RappaportBut I'll tell you what, I'll research it, give me your email and I'll get back to you.
Andrew RappaportOh, that's okay.
Andrew RappaportOh, so you really didn't want an answer.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Caleb GordonYou're not interested.
Caleb GordonYou just want to debate.
Andrew RappaportYeah.
Andrew RappaportAnd that's the thing.
Andrew RappaportAnd then you know what happens?
Andrew RappaportThat, that discussion's over.
Andrew RappaportBecause they.
Andrew RappaportThey now know that every.
Andrew RappaportEverything they say, if I don't have the answer, what am I going to want?
Andrew RappaportA way to contact them.
Andrew RappaportI'm going to research it.
Andrew RappaportI'm going to study it.
Andrew RappaportAnd.
Andrew RappaportBecause that becomes one new thing that I now know after I finish the study.
Andrew RappaportRight.
Andrew RappaportAnd.
Andrew RappaportAnd I package that away in the.
Andrew RappaportIn my toolbox and say, okay, next time someone asked me, I now have the answer to that.
Caleb GordonGot the answer.
Andrew RappaportBut I often don't have to worry about them asking me another challenge like that, because they know I'm not going to, you know, care if I don't have an answer.
Andrew RappaportAnd they know.
Andrew RappaportThey don't want me to contact them.
Andrew RappaportBut here's the thing.
Andrew RappaportMy first pastor, I.
Andrew RappaportWe were used to go on Saturdays, we would go out door to door and knock on doors and share the gospel.
Andrew RappaportAnd we had this one guy who is.
Andrew RappaportBecause we'd start, we'd have a men's Bible study, and then we'd go out and one of the guys came to the Bible study, and he didn't want to go out to go door to door.
Andrew RappaportAnd the pastor asked him why, and he said, well, I'm really.
Andrew RappaportI don't want to be rejected.
Andrew RappaportAnd my pastor said something, and it just.
Andrew RappaportYou ever have, Caleb, one of those things when someone is saying something, it's not even to you, and you just feel like someone just stabbed you with a knife?
Caleb GordonYes.
Andrew RappaportHe turns.
Andrew RappaportHe turns this guy and says, so let me get this straight.
Andrew RappaportYou're afraid that people you don't know and you will probably never meet again might reject you.
Andrew RappaportAnd it was like, ow.
Andrew RappaportLike, yeah, I.
Andrew RappaportI am afraid of that.
Andrew RappaportAnd that makes no sense when you say it that way.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Caleb GordonAnd I think if we begin to actually think through those processes and we start to think like there's a potential, I'm never going to see this person ever again.
Caleb GordonI'm never going to talk to this person ever again.
Caleb GordonThat should embolden us to the reality of, oh, shoot, this may be the only chance I get to share the hope of who Jesus is.
Caleb GordonThat's the reason I love doing it at Walmart.
Caleb GordonYou've got a captive audience at the grocery store or at, you know, Walmart.
Caleb GordonWherever the cashier, you go through their line, they can't leave and so I love to stay right there.
Caleb GordonAnd they got their name badge on there, so you already know their, their name.
Caleb GordonAnd so you're just like, hey Kevin, I got a question.
Caleb GordonDo you know how to get to heaven?
Caleb GordonAnd, and hit.
Caleb GordonThey just look at you and then you begin the process of walking through the gospel.
Caleb GordonSimple as that?
Caleb GordonSimple as hey Kevin or hey, sue, how do you do you know how to get to heaven?
Caleb GordonAnd most of the time they'll just go, no, no.
Caleb GordonOr they'll say, just be a good person.
Caleb GordonOkay, well, let's talk about that.
Caleb GordonAnd they can't really, they can't leave because they're checking you out.
Caleb GordonAnd you can do all that within a five minute window.
Caleb GordonYou really can.
Caleb GordonIt just takes practice.
Caleb GordonI mean, just like with anything else working and, and working the muscle out and practicing it, you eventually can get to where you need to be.
Andrew RappaportWell, I'm still trying to figure out what this cashier thing is.
Andrew RappaportI just go to this machine, scan things and then, and then they want to check me at the door because they want to make sure I didn't steal anything.
Andrew RappaportHey, if you didn't, if you want to save money on and not paying people to actually ring things up, then I feel I shouldn't have to like get, you know, attacked at the door to make sure I didn't.
Andrew RappaportI did my job.
Andrew RappaportRight.
Andrew RappaportBecause guess what?
Andrew RappaportIt wasn't my job in the first place.
Andrew RappaportNo, but, but the thing is that we have opportunities we don't think of.
Caleb GordonYeah, come on.
Andrew RappaportOkay, so you get that call, you know, that call you want to avoid.
Andrew RappaportIt's just like, hello, we got something to sell you.
Andrew RappaportReally?
Andrew RappaportOkay, first I, I have a question for you.
Andrew RappaportYeah, but before, before we, we get to what you have to talk about.
Andrew RappaportSince you called me, it's my time.
Andrew RappaportI have something really important I'd like to talk to you about.
Andrew RappaportDo you know how to get to heaven?
Caleb GordonCome on now.
Andrew RappaportAfter I share that, and I usually take a lot of time to share that to see if they're just, you know, because I don't really care about their windows they have for sale.
Andrew RappaportBut I'll at least listen to their, their sales pitch after.
Andrew RappaportBut you know, you have an opportunity to take.
Andrew RappaportIf you're nervous about talking to people, buy gospel tracks.
Andrew RappaportAnd you do not have realize how many opportunities you have to share gospel tracks without ever leaving your house.
Andrew RappaportBecause I'm sure that many of you get like I do a bunch of junk mail with pre paid postage to return things.
Caleb GordonNever thought about that.
Andrew RappaportThis is what I do when I.
Andrew RappaportWhen I get those things.
Andrew RappaportI mean, the Trump campaign and the Biden campaign, I mean, people may have gotten saved over there because I have sent them.
Andrew RappaportDuring this election cycles, I've been getting tons of email or mail.
Andrew RappaportI mean, I.
Andrew RappaportI just take every one of those envelopes, I stick a gospel track and I put it in the mailbox.
Andrew RappaportAnd that is.
Andrew RappaportThat is not junk or spam mail.
Andrew RappaportThat is a tract dispenser for you to return.
Andrew RappaportThey're asking for a gospel tract for you to put it in there and send it back.
Andrew RappaportBecause someone's going to open that and they're going to be expecting, you know, some check or something, and they might be going through a bad day and just happen to get this and, hey, I'm going to read that.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Andrew RappaportSo that's a simple thing.
Andrew RappaportIf you're really afraid of sharing the gospel.
Andrew RappaportI don't want to actually engage with people.
Andrew RappaportHey, that's a great way to start.
Andrew RappaportJust.
Caleb GordonThat's it.
Andrew RappaportPut gospel tracks everywhere.
Andrew RappaportLove that.
Andrew RappaportI love it.
Caleb GordonAll right, let's transition and talk about the conference for a minute, because that's.
Caleb GordonThat's the initial reason we were going to put this podcast together.
Andrew RappaportI thought you said we're going to talk about cold plunging.
Andrew RappaportMan, oh, man.
Andrew RappaportWell, I mean, it's too cold there, huh?
Andrew RappaportAll right, I'm riddled.
Caleb GordonI'm riddled with add.
Caleb GordonWe're jumping back and forth.
Andrew RappaportAll right, so.
Andrew RappaportSo at this conference, should I bring my cold plunge?
Andrew RappaportWill you get in it?
Andrew RappaportIf I was to bring a cold plunge?
Caleb GordonDo you have a plunge?
Caleb GordonPortable coal plunge?
Andrew RappaportActually, I do.
Andrew RappaportMy, My.
Andrew RappaportMy tank is inflatable, so I can.
Caleb GordonIf you.
Andrew RappaportHere's.
Andrew RappaportIt's just the chiller part.
Caleb GordonYeah, I don't know, but, I mean, it's in February.
Caleb GordonIt's potentially cold here.
Caleb GordonI don't know.
Caleb GordonIt could be.
Caleb GordonWe get.
Caleb GordonI guarantee we could probably find a cold plunge.
Caleb GordonI'm sure I have some friends that have cold plunges.
Caleb GordonIf we could find somebody that watches this.
Caleb GordonDo you want to do a cold plunge with Andrew Rapaport and Caleb Gordon?
Caleb GordonWe'll make it happen.
Andrew RappaportI mean, it'll be a thing.
Caleb GordonSo February 22nd, you're coming.
Caleb GordonWe've got just.
Caleb GordonI mean, you're a stellar lineup, and that you're coming just adds that much more value.
Caleb GordonAnd I just.
Caleb GordonI'm so excited that you're coming.
Caleb GordonWe've got you.
Caleb GordonYou're speaking.
Caleb GordonWe've got Brandon Scalp is.
Caleb GordonIs preaching okay, let me just, let.
Andrew RappaportMe just stop there before you go on.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Andrew RappaportIf anyone has not heard Brandon preach.
Caleb GordonBefore, bro, come on.
Andrew RappaportHe is, he's like that diamond in the rough.
Andrew RappaportThe, the, the, the one of the great preachers that nobody knows about.
Andrew RappaportYeah, he's, he is just.
Andrew RappaportI, I've had the opportunity to preach with him before.
Andrew RappaportI love his preaching.
Andrew RappaportI've sat under it many times.
Andrew RappaportIt is some solid, solid preaching that is just filled with, with biblical truth.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Caleb GordonI mean, and this is the, this is what I want to try to help people understand is this is not Fly By Night.
Caleb GordonThis conference is not the Fly by night.
Caleb GordonJust.
Caleb GordonOh, we just brought the speaker in because, you know, it's got a podcast.
Caleb GordonNo, these are guys that study the text, love the text, love King Jesus, have a desire to see people saved.
Caleb GordonAnd, and they're local pastors who've shepherd local people and they're, they're taking care of souls right now right here.
Caleb GordonAnd I just, I think that the culture of celebrity, we follow the celebrity.
Caleb GordonYou know, if I've got, if I, you know, if you brought John MacArthur and everybody's like, oh my gosh, John McCarthy.
Caleb GordonI'm like, Bro, Brandon Scalp is on the level.
Caleb GordonAnd I'm, I'm not saying this haphazardly.
Caleb GordonHe is on the level of John MacArthur.
Caleb GordonHe's got the ability to exegete the text that well, and so does Brett.
Caleb GordonAnd Michael Stayton is going to be here.
Caleb GordonHe's on staff at Grace Community or at Grace Master Seminary.
Caleb GordonGolly, I went completely south.
Caleb GordonHe's the pastor at First Baptist Mustang, but he's on staff at Master Seminary.
Caleb GordonHe handles their doctoral like, these are, these are high level guys.
Caleb GordonAnd that you're coming as well.
Caleb GordonIt's just fantastic.
Caleb GordonAnd then you got, you know, the hillbilly over here in the corner.
Caleb GordonAnd so I'm excited just to be able to be amongst you guys.
Andrew RappaportYeah, Brett Baggett, I've preached with him before.
Andrew RappaportAnother great preacher.
Andrew RappaportSo I mean, this is, this is the thing, folks.
Andrew RappaportIf you're, if you're listening and you're thinking, I'd like to go to conferences where I get great teaching you.
Andrew RappaportA lot of people think they have to go to these big conferences where all these big name people are.
Andrew RappaportAnd you do not need to.
Andrew RappaportIn fact, you don't, you also don't need to spend.
Andrew RappaportYou know, you, you're like, oh, let me go to a Shepherd's conference or G3.
Andrew RappaportWell, okay.
Andrew RappaportAnd that's going to cost you about a grand or two between ticket sales and hotel and flights.
Andrew RappaportAnd you know, so this is somewhere, it's not in some big city where they have a big venue where it's going to cost hundreds of dollars for, for the tickets and you can get the same kind of preaching.
Andrew RappaportYeah, it's not about the person who's preaching as much as it is the, the content that is being preached.
Andrew RappaportAnd yes, with the guys that you have here, there's great content that is going to be delivered.
Andrew RappaportOkay.
Andrew RappaportI mean, I, I, some of the guys I don't know and I haven't preached alongside, but Michael Staton, I've preached with Brandon Scalf, Brett Baggott.
Andrew RappaportYou also have Gabe, who, who I've never heard preach, but I've, I've gotten to know him recently.
Caleb GordonYeah, Gabe's a good friend.
Andrew RappaportSo, you know, you got some great, great preaching here that you don't want to miss out.
Caleb GordonYeah, it is going to be a full day of just consuming fantastic content that's going to be able to give you strategies for advancing the kingdom, sharing the gospel in the places where we walk every single day.
Caleb GordonAnd so I, I just, that's my hope is that, and it's 50 bucks like that that covers the cost for us to handle this conference.
Caleb GordonWe're not charging.
Caleb GordonLike I just saw G3 put a post out for their conference that they got, they got great speakers as well, but you got to pay like 268 bucks.
Caleb GordonAnd I'm just like, come on, that's, that's wild.
Andrew RappaportWell, yeah, but then, then you end up, they have travel and hotel and because they're in a big city, hotels are not cheap.
Andrew RappaportAnd so, so how, if folks are now excited, they want to go.
Andrew RappaportCaleb, how do they find out more about the conference?
Andrew RappaportWhere do they go to get details?
Andrew RappaportTell us.
Caleb GordonGo to my website, caleb gordon.org and there's a big banner.
Caleb GordonThere'll be a big banner.
Caleb GordonYour face is going to be added to the banner tonight.
Caleb GordonAnd so there's a big banner.
Andrew RappaportWell, that just ruined the banner.
Caleb GordonClick on the banner and you go right to the place where you can click and buy the ticket and it's done and you're done.
Caleb GordonAnd so there's going to be some great sponsors that are going to be there who have great gospel centered content that are going to be there as well.
Caleb GordonIt's going to be a great day.
Caleb GordonAnd that we're hosting it.
Caleb GordonIt's being hosted at Hope Pres.
Caleb GordonHope Presbyterian Church here in Bartlesville.
Caleb GordonOklahoma.
Caleb GordonThis is the home of Philip 66.
Caleb GordonSo that's.
Caleb GordonWe're, we're a big, We're a small town with a big town feel.
Caleb GordonWe've got some skyscrapers and all the fun stuff, but it's, it's, it's small enough that you can enjoy.
Caleb GordonCome for the weekend.
Caleb GordonIf you come in early, you get in touch with us and we'll, we'll make, we'll make time to spend, spend time with you.
Caleb GordonUm, it's gonna be a great time.
Caleb GordonI, I can't wait.
Andrew RappaportI'm looking forward to it to be good.
Caleb GordonUm, if somebody's interested in finding out more about how they can get in touch with your ministry and, and, and figure out more about what you're doing, maybe they want to have you come speak at their conference.
Caleb GordonMaybe they're in somewhere in Idaho or they're in, in, you know, Wisconsin.
Caleb GordonHow do they get in touch with you?
Andrew RappaportJust go to your local post office, look for the wanted Dead or alive poster.
Andrew RappaportOh, wait, no.
Andrew RappaportIf they go to striving for eternity.org, they can find out all the information about me, the podcasts I do, the content, we do books, things like that.
Andrew RappaportBut here's the thing a lot of people don't realize, and the most speakers that do what, you know, travel around and speak, though they will limit.
Andrew RappaportThere needs to be a certain number of people or a certain amount of money for them to come and speak.
Andrew RappaportOkay, that is a problem because the majority of churches.
Andrew RappaportSomething to think about, Caleb.
Andrew RappaportThe average church In America is 75 people.
Andrew RappaportSo now when you think of the MacArthur churches with 10,000 or the, you know, when they include that they're including churches that are not.
Andrew RappaportWe wouldn't really consider churches.
Andrew RappaportBut you know, you think about, you know, the smiling pastors church of several, you know, what has he got the 40,000 there?
Caleb Gordon40,000, yeah.
Caleb GordonCrazy.
Andrew RappaportBut he smiles for, for everyone.
Caleb GordonHold that Bible up real high.
Caleb GordonNow we're done with it.
Caleb GordonPut it underneath your chair there.
Caleb GordonNot a pew.
Caleb GordonPut it under a chair.
Andrew RappaportYeah, that's so.
Andrew RappaportBut, but you know, when you think about that, 75 means that the, there's tons and tons of churches that got to be like 20, 25 people.
Andrew RappaportAnd the reality is, yeah, there are, there's a ton of churches that are under 50 people.
Andrew RappaportAnd those churches can't afford to have PE SPers come out, can't afford to have a conference like this in their church things.
Andrew RappaportAnd so what we do at Striving Fraternity is that's our target audience.
Andrew RappaportWe want churches that are 20, 30, 50, maybe 75 people that would like to have that conference feeling for their church.
Andrew RappaportAnd we come in and do weekend seminars and look, we'll travel anywhere.
Andrew RappaportAnd you say, well, how much will it cost?
Andrew RappaportNothing.
Andrew RappaportDo a love offering.
Andrew RappaportThat's fine.
Andrew RappaportYou know, don't pay.
Caleb GordonThe other reason I love you, because I've had so many different times where I've had conversations with.
Caleb GordonAnd listen, I understand people got to pay their bills.
Caleb GordonI get it.
Caleb GordonBut the thing that I.
Caleb GordonThat I so love about your ministry and what you have a heart for is you said, man, there's five people.
Caleb GordonThose five people need to hear about Jesus.
Caleb GordonI'm coming.
Caleb GordonYeah.
Caleb GordonThat's wild.
Caleb GordonI love that.
Andrew RappaportAnd you're.
Andrew RappaportCaleb is saying that because that is the smallest audience that I preached to was I was invited to a conference in Wyoming and the other two speakers pulled out because, by the way.
Andrew RappaportWell, they didn't.
Andrew RappaportThey.
Andrew RappaportThey didn't.
Andrew RappaportThey had like five ticket sales.
Andrew RappaportAnd he's like, we may not have any people here.
Andrew RappaportYou know, pastor and his family will be here.
Andrew RappaportI'll be here.
Andrew RappaportBut we don't know how many people are going to show up.
Andrew RappaportWell, there was one time where it was the pastor, his wife, you know, the guy who was organizing it.
Andrew RappaportI think it was the pastor's parents.
Andrew RappaportAnd, you know, that was it.
Andrew RappaportYou know, it was like.
Andrew RappaportI think there was.
Andrew RappaportI think it was like the.
Andrew RappaportI think it's.
Andrew RappaportIt was the pastor's father and then one person, one other person.
Andrew RappaportRight.
Andrew RappaportSo I've spoken to five people, and the guy that organized it, he turned to me afterwards.
Andrew RappaportHe's like, you know, I have seen you preach to hundreds, and I just saw you preach to five.
Andrew RappaportNo, differently.
Caleb GordonCome on, bring it.
Andrew RappaportYes.
Andrew RappaportAnd that's the thing, is that we need to help encourage the smaller churches so that they get fired up just as much.
Andrew RappaportSo they're excited to go out like we were talking about, to be able to go out and share the gospel, to defend the faith, to disciple others, to understand how to interpret the Bible, understand their theology, even.
Andrew RappaportWe have seminars on social justice to understand how to defend the biblical worldview in a world that's gone mad.
Caleb GordonI love it.
Andrew RappaportYou know, great.
Andrew RappaportAnd so we.
Andrew RappaportThat's what we do.
Andrew RappaportSo if, if that sounds interesting to you, we have four different speakers.
Andrew RappaportAnd so you could just go to our website, Striving for eternity dot org.
Andrew RappaportYou could see which speaker may be something.
Andrew RappaportHey, I'd like to have this talk you want something on, on more family related?
Andrew RappaportWe got a guy that's his focus on family and counseling.
Andrew RappaportWe got guy that is focused on creation science and you know, so we got a lot of different expertises and a lot of different areas and we'll find something to be able to help your, your church to be encouraged.
Caleb GordonFantastic.
Andrew RappaportI love that.
Caleb GordonWell, thank you so much for coming on the show today and sharing your heart and we're looking forward to seeing you in February.
Caleb GordonIt's, I mean, it's going to be fun.
Caleb GordonCan't wait to get in the cold plunge with you.
Andrew RappaportJust folks, we got to do this.
Andrew RappaportYou got to come, you got to buy a ticket and we got to find a way to make sure to, to get Caleb Gordon in at least 45 degree water, maybe even colder.
Andrew RappaportAnd he's got to stay in there with five minutes.
Caleb GordonIt's a five minute, five minutes.
Caleb GordonOkay.
Caleb GordonI promise if we can figure this out when you get here, I will do it.
Caleb GordonI'm already like.
Caleb GordonBut we'll do it.
Caleb GordonWe'll make it happen, bro.
Caleb GordonThank you so much for being on the show today, brother.
Andrew RappaportThanks for having me.
Andrew RappaportThis podcast is part of the Striving for Eternity Ministries.
Andrew RappaportFor more content or to request a speaker or seminar to your church, go to starvingforattornity.
Andrew RappaportOrg.