1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Hey everybody, this is Pastor John Ewart from Englewood 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,920 Baptist Church in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina. 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,119 Thank you so much for tuning in to our podcast. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,320 You're going to hear from God today as we share from his word 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,080 about important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:21,440 according to the Bible. Well, good morning, Englewood. 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,040 Good to see everybody here. If you're a guest with us, thank 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,800 you so much for being here with us. 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,800 Take your Bibles and turn to Matthew chapter 28. 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,000 We'll be there momentarily. I want us to have a time of 11 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:39,200 prayer together as we continue to lift up our friends overseas. 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,760 Not a lot of new news really, to be honest with you. 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:48,560 They are hopefully going to come to some new opportunities this 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,600 week. After Wednesday, we'll see. 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,080 We need to pray for judges and attorneys, pray for prison doors 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,720 to open up, and we'll want to pray for them in just a moment. 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,920 I also want to recognize this is first responder week. 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,160 And so we we have several in our church who service first 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:08,800 responders. Thank you so much for your 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,440 service. Thank you for protecting us, 21 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,920 taking care of us in time of crisis. 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:17,760 So I was going to pray for you as well. 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:18,840 So let's go to the Lord in prayer. 24 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,880 Father, we're so thankful. Father, I thank you, first of 25 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,760 all for these who serve our community and they serve us. 26 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,760 They keep us safe. They run to us in times of 27 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,760 trouble, in crisis. Thank you for these first 28 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,240 responders and all these different fields. 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,760 Lord, I pray that you will protect them and bless them. 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,040 Encourage them, Father, and thank you so much for the way 31 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,320 you use them. And Father, we lift up our 32 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:45,120 friends still. We lift up their family, their 33 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,840 family here, their family there. Pray, Father, for attorneys, for 34 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,720 judges, for diplomats, for politicians, for everybody who's 35 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,200 involved, that Lord, we would see swift action. 36 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,680 We pray for freedom. We pray for your will to be 37 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,440 done. We pray for salvation in the 38 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,280 gospel to spread in the meantime. 39 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,920 But Father, we look forward to some good news. 40 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,840 And hopefully, Father, even by the end of this week, maybe we 41 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,960 would pray for that news. So, Lord, just work, work 42 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,480 swiftly. Let us honor you and glorify you 43 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,800 in that in Christ's name, Amen. Well, it's good to see everybody 44 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:20,280 here. I do want to just encourage you 45 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,760 to be back tonight, as as Charles has already mentioned to 46 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:25,160 you, it's going to be a huge night going to be different. 47 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,840 We're going to celebrate not only what happened in 2025, but 48 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,160 I'm going to be showing you about 2026. 49 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:33,480 We're going to be going to places you've never been before 50 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,560 in various parts of the world. I'll talk a little more about 51 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,320 that as we walk through it. I'm also going to begin a new 52 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:44,560 series both this Wednesday night as well as next Sunday, next 53 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,960 Sunday. This kind of kicks off our our 54 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,880 missions month. And so I'm going to start a 55 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,480 series called Go Go fulfill the Great Commission where we go 56 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,640 back to the book of Acts. For those who've been here for 57 00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:58,440 months, we ended at the chapter 13. 58 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,160 We're going to go back, pick up a couple of those missionary 59 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,040 journeys. And then I have some incredible 60 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,280 special guests coming in November that you don't want to 61 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,240 miss. These are one of them is 93, a 62 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,720 93 year old legend in the international missions world and 63 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,400 a mentor to so many and then another incredible brother that 64 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,320 you're not going to want to miss their testimonies and them 65 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,000 sharing with you. We'll also even talk about our 66 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,360 budget and our offerings for the end of the year as part of our 67 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:26,960 missions world in these next few weeks. 68 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:31,040 So come back tonight. How is your discipleship journey 69 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,800 going? That's a question to kind of 70 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:37,160 kick us off this morning with four Baptist preachers met in a 71 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,400 coffee shop. Now, anytime a story starts like 72 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:40,480 that, you know, you're in trouble. 73 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,720 So four Baptist preachers met in a coffee shop and they 74 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,800 recognized we, we need accountability. 75 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,920 And so let, let's be an accountability group. 76 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:50,080 Let's hold each other accountable. 77 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,560 And so they decided, well, let's kick this off by sharing about 78 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,440 some of the bad habits that we have with one another so we can 79 00:03:57,440 --> 00:03:59,480 encourage and hold each other accountable. 80 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,400 And the first one said, well, you know, when I'm on the road 81 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,560 out of town, I'll just be honest with you. 82 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,680 I, I skipped church and I like to go see a movie. 83 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:11,040 And the second one said, you know, I, I take a shot of 84 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,320 whiskey every now and then. And the third one said, well, I, 85 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,880 I love to gamble and I buy way too many lottery tickets. 86 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,560 And the fourth one said, well, I love to gossip and I can't wait 87 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:31,170 to get out of here. Well, I, I do hope you love to 88 00:04:31,170 --> 00:04:33,450 tell everyone out there what God's doing here at Inglewood. 89 00:04:33,450 --> 00:04:36,010 We're going to be baptizing people next Sunday like normal. 90 00:04:36,010 --> 00:04:37,810 And the Sunday after that, I know for sure. 91 00:04:37,810 --> 00:04:39,490 And God just continues to bring people. 92 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,200 You know, I began months ago preaching a series from Acts. 93 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,360 As I mentioned Acts one through 13, that sermon series was 94 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,080 called Come Join the King's Mission. 95 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,920 We talked about the fact that God has a predetermined plan. 96 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,160 We don't lay the train tracks. Train tracks are already there. 97 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,240 There's predetermined direction, predetermined plan for his 98 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,240 church. It's an eternal plan. 99 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:58,920 You can read the word of God and find that. 100 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:04,440 And God's mission, we believe, is to bring glory to himself and 101 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,720 for us to join him in redeeming the nations. 102 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:09,640 And we're trying to emphasize that. 103 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,600 So we don't decide that mission. We don't get to determine what 104 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,480 the mission of the church is. The Bible does that. 105 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,240 God does that. He's already determined that a 106 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,000 long time ago. And we just need to decide 107 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,600 whether or not we're going to join his mission or not. 108 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,040 That's the question. And to help us make that 109 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,760 decision, I've been preaching this sermon series, which is 110 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,760 called Come Live the Church's Vision, The Seven Essentials of 111 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,560 Discipleship. So how will Englewood Baptist 112 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:38,840 Church specifically, contextually implement a plan to 113 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:42,320 fulfill God's mission at this moment in time with the 114 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,240 resources we have, the people that are here? 115 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,400 So we believe Englewood's vision is to make disciples who love 116 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:53,920 God, love people, and join God's mission, very simply so. 117 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,440 But in order to do that, we need to know what a disciple is. 118 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,240 So that's what we've been talking about over the last few 119 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,440 weeks. What does it mean to be like 120 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,120 Jesus? That's what we're trying to nail 121 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:03,920 down. How can I be one of those? 122 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,720 How, how can I make one of those? 123 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,800 How can I, I help my kids become one of those? 124 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,640 And, and how am I going to do that unless I really know what, 125 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,720 what this thing called a disciple really is and what they 126 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,360 look like? So we started to understand and 127 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,440 embrace these 7 essentials. Just little foundational blocks 128 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,360 as all we've laid so far. And we're going to be expanding 129 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,080 the teaching and the application of each one of these areas over 130 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,320 across all our ministries in various ways. 131 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,040 In fact, our small groups, which we call connect groups here are 132 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,560 going to be reinforcing engaging the Bible with a humble and 133 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,680 teachable spirit as well as as uniting in fellowship through 134 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:45,400 hospitality and authenticity. And then our prayer meeting and 135 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,520 even last Wednesday night, if you were here was an expansion 136 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:52,840 of abiding in prayer with dependence and anticipation and 137 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:54,840 our reach strategy. And our small groups are going 138 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:58,520 to continue to reinforce that. And across all our ministries, 139 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,320 we're asking for 100% participation, to commit to 140 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,760 service with generosity and, and compassion, to discover real 141 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:10,200 needs, real service needs in our church and opportunities that 142 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,840 you can, you can help with here. And you can go online to learn 143 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,600 about those or call the church office or ask a ministry leader 144 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:18,360 about that. And here we are on Sunday 145 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,200 morning and our gathering to, to give you the opportunity to 146 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,720 respond in worship with awe and surrender. 147 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,520 And, and our upcoming midweek series that I just mentioned, 148 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,480 it's going to be expanding on the idea of living out 149 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,600 evangelism with boldness and love. 150 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,720 I'm going to share with you not just how to memorize the Gospel, 151 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:39,200 not just that's not the whole point. 152 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,920 The point is, how do I develop that relationship with my lost 153 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,080 friend or my family member, that Co worker? 154 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,280 How do I, how do I move a conversation from talking about 155 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,600 sports in the weather to Jesus? How do I do that? 156 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,080 That's the difficult turning point for a lot of people. 157 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:53,440 We're going to talk a lot about that. 158 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,320 We're going to fun together on Wednesday nights. 159 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,640 Some of it's going to be interactive workshop style. 160 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,640 And so you need to be here on Wednesday starting this week. 161 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,400 And then all of our additional important auxiliary ministries, 162 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:09,520 vital parts of our church that focus on gender or age or some 163 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,560 kind of fellowship or even support ministries, these 164 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,880 specific ministries are going to be building upon one or more of 165 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,000 these essentials as well. So I want you to connect the 166 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,960 dots. I want you to think of these 167 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,080 things as the couplings on those trains. 168 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,640 They hold the train cars together and and they help us to 169 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:29,600 move with one heart, one mind and one in one accord with one 170 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,320 vision to fulfill 1 mission. So it's like building a train 171 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:38,000 coupled together with shared, understood, valued essentials of 172 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:42,320 discipleship that guide our hearts and actions to in that 173 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,000 One Direction that God's determined for us running down 174 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,920 those tracks that he's pre laid of his mission and synergy and 175 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,840 that predetermined will. And that's what's going to 176 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:56,400 produce mature fruit producing discipleship that glorifies him. 177 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,560 We want to make disciples who make disciples who make 178 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:00,480 disciples who make disciples, etcetera. 179 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,480 So no more bumper cars. No more bumper cars allowed. 180 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:09,320 The Holy Spirit has to be that engine that pulls us. 181 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,720 He's going to drive us forward. He's going to save others to 182 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,680 join us as he has been. So though this is the last 183 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:17,680 sermon in this specific series, it's actually just the beginning 184 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:21,600 of the teaching and the application of these 7 185 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,600 essentials. So to begin the journey though 186 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:28,000 of of discipleship period, we have to recognize that that the 187 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,880 first step in making a disciple is to actually show the gospel 188 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,400 with somebody. They've got to hear the gospel. 189 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,680 They've got to be saved. And maybe you're here this 190 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:37,000 morning and that's what you need. 191 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,640 So, so one reason that we're left here behind, I mean, I 192 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,640 mean, think about it. God could save us and just take 193 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,440 us home. That'd be quite the testimony, 194 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,280 wouldn't it? You'd know whether somebody's 195 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,760 salvation was authentic or not or not, whether they died and 196 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,120 went to heaven, right? I mean, God could just save us 197 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,240 and kill us and bring, take us home right then. 198 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,080 But there's a reason he leaves us here. 199 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,840 More than one. But one of the reasons is we've 200 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,040 got to take the gospel to people all around the world who've 201 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,280 never heard about him. We pray for him every Sunday 202 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,320 morning. And so we must, and this is my 203 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,360 definition of evangelism, we must intentionally prepare for 204 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,640 and pursue opportunities to personally share the gospel of 205 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:18,200 Jesus Christ with those who are unsaved in the power of the Holy 206 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,000 Spirit while leaving the results to God. 207 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,200 Now, I want you to see this intentionality and I want you to 208 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,840 see this focus. How intentional are you in 209 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,960 preparing for and pursuing these opportunities? 210 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:33,360 And that's that's part of the key. 211 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:37,600 Am I proactively looking for these opportunities? 212 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,800 You need to come on Wednesday nights because we we must love 213 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,840 others by urgently and, and, and a word that is scary. 214 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:49,680 Often in the American Church sacrificially engage our world 215 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:53,280 with the gospel. So are you prepared to do this 216 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:56,600 urgently? Are you prepared to do this 217 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,040 sacrificially? Often in the American Church, 218 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,400 the focus is much more on my own comfort. 219 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,280 It's, it's whether or not I feel like my own self defined felt 220 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,040 needs are being met or not. And that, that, that that's how 221 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,560 I determine my relationship to the body of Christ. 222 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,640 The pastor didn't say what I wanted him to or he said what I 223 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,640 didn't want him to. Therefore I'm going to go find 224 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,640 another church. And so because my felt needs 225 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,680 aren't being met. And, and, and I pray that you 226 00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:25,840 base those decisions on scriptural issues and not just 227 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,200 your opinions. And so I hope that we recognize 228 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,920 that that we're incomplete in our maturity as disciples. 229 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:38,120 We're we're not mature disciples if we don't share about our Lord 230 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,040 to the lost. So last week I preached to you 231 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,160 about living out evangelistically with boldness 232 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,920 and love. But this morning, our hope and 233 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,640 our goal is to bring God glory by being used by him to make 234 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:54,680 disciples all around the world by participating in missions 235 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,160 with urgency. And there's that cuss word, 236 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,200 sacrifice. Turn to your neighbor and say 237 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:05,480 sacrifice. I just wanted to see if you 238 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,080 could do it or not. Did it leave a bad taste in your 239 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,120 mouth? You OK that word? 240 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,280 All right, so what's the difference between evangelism 241 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,160 and missions? What's the difference? 242 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:17,760 I have to talk about this in class all the time. 243 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,600 What is 1? Just a subset of the other 244 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,480 missions is usually broader. Usually in missions it includes 245 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,040 pre evangelism, things that we need to do in order to develop 246 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,160 the relationships before we can share Jesus with somebody. 247 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,520 And then it has evangelism and then has post evangelism where 248 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,360 we have to do the follow up and the discipleship. 249 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,440 And often this is done in some cross cultural context, usually, 250 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,600 but not always in, in some kind of way. 251 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,000 Now, in the early church, we stopped in Acts 13 where they're 252 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,920 sending out the very first missionaries to go to their 253 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:49,520 bigger world. You got to understand that was a 254 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,280 big deal because they didn't go to their bigger world on a 255 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,960 normal, a normal basis. And God's heart is that all 256 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,080 people, This goes all the way back to the Old Testament, that 257 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,800 God's heart was that all the nations would know him. 258 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,960 That was part of the part of the whole purpose of the Hebrew 259 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:07,240 nation. In the Old Testament. 260 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,640 It's called the universality of God's intent. 261 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:11,880 There's your fancy term. In other words, God wanted 262 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,800 everybody to know about him. He wanted the nations to 263 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,200 understand who He was. And the Hebrews were supposed to 264 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,360 testify to that by their life. This is how man walks with 265 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,120 Yahweh. They didn't do a good job of 266 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,240 that. So in the New Testament, God 267 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,040 comes to us, but what we see is he wants people from all tribes, 268 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,960 all tongues, and all nations worshipping him and we see that 269 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,440 at the end of time. And so we're part of that. 270 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:38,400 So what's the definition of missions? 271 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,520 It's going to sound familiar and similar. 272 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,000 It's intentionally preparing for and pursuing. 273 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:44,600 I'm never going to leave those phrases out. 274 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,400 Personal and corporate opportunities to engage in pre 275 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:52,280 evangelism, evangelism and post evangelism in cross cultural 276 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,520 context and the power of the Holy Spirit toward the 277 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,880 fulfillment of God's mission. So we're in this together. 278 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:02,000 This is all of us. This is the church working 279 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,440 together. And I believe in intentionality. 280 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:09,680 Missions in its purest form is simply a natural but intentional 281 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:15,720 overflowing and outpouring of our response to God's grace and 282 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,560 mission. And and so it's our intentional 283 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:22,160 relationship with God and his people overflowing or pouring 284 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,160 out into our very intentional relationship with the world and 285 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,040 its people. And our relationship with this 286 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,840 world needs to be very intentional, right? 287 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,040 So let me show you how this must work in one of the most familiar 288 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,760 passages of Scripture to the evangelical church, Matthew 289 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,440 chapter 28. But maybe there'll be some 290 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,200 things we haven't seen before. Look at verse 16. 291 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,880 It says now the 11 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain 292 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,720 to which Jesus had directed them, and when they saw him, 293 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,360 they worshipped him. But some doubted. 294 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,680 Don't miss that little part. And Jesus came and said to them, 295 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,640 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 296 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:01,000 Got a simple outline for you today? 297 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,040 First of all, I want you to see Christ's power for making 298 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,760 disciples. They, they worshipped Him. 299 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:08,520 But some still doubt it. You've got to think about that. 300 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,040 Even after all they've been through, after all he had taught 301 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,800 them, after all they had just witnessed, frankly, over the 302 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:18,200 last few days, after everything they had seen, they still needed 303 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,160 assurance. Now, don't judge him too hard. 304 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:24,120 The Holy Spirit hadn't come yet. We're not to Acts chapter 2 yet. 305 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,320 And so he hadn't come yet. He hadn't and dwelt them in the 306 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,240 same way yet. They're going to need him. 307 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:32,040 They needed his help. They needed the Holy Spirit's 308 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:34,520 power. And my friends, so do we. 309 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,960 He is our engine, He is our guide, He is our power source. 310 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:43,160 We have to follow his lead to keep us on track. 311 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:47,520 And so the disciples needed authentic spiritual power to be 312 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:49,960 able to make disciples, and we do too. 313 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,360 And Jesus, the Bible says, had all of it. 314 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,360 Turn to your neighbor and say all I'm going to keep you awake 315 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,360 this morning. It's cold out there, you all 316 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:05,600 snugly warm in your flannels. He had all of it. 317 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,840 He has all of it. Exousia is the word here. 318 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,240 It's the authority to do. In other words, this word means 319 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,360 it's the right amount of strength and power to do the job 320 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,080 right? That's kind of what it means. 321 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:23,040 Jesus has absolutely all the power and authority he needs to 322 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:27,640 do what he needs to do. He has the right, the perfect 323 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,800 amount. There's an old story about a 324 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,480 government surveyor who went to a farmer and he needed to get 325 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,240 over the fence to do some survey work on the farm. 326 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:37,680 And he said, can I go in your field? 327 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,760 And the farmer says no. And the surveyor begins to pull 328 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,360 out all these documents, all these government documents that 329 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,680 says, well, well, according to the government, I have the 330 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,040 authority and the power to go anywhere I want to go. 331 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:52,000 And the farmer said, all right, open the gate for him. 332 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,640 Then the farmer went down to the other end of the field, and he 333 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,040 opened another gate and let in his fiercest bull. 334 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:01,400 And the surveyor started running. 335 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,240 And the farmer shouted out to him, Show him your authority, 336 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,880 you know. So the surveyor may have had the 337 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,119 authority to enter, but the bull had the real power. 338 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:16,640 Well, Jesus has both. He has the real authority and 339 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,119 the real power. So here's what that means. 340 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,760 What that translates into is that Jesus sent missionaries. 341 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,240 US, Jesus sent missionaries, have both the full delegated 342 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,920 authority and power of Jesus to fulfill his Commission. 343 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,560 We can't do it without that. And so Jesus tells his disciples 344 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,800 that they would receive the power, the dunamis, the power of 345 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,880 the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses. 346 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,400 We know I've shown you this first about 4000 times. 347 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,400 Acts 1/8 and you'll receive the power this word dunamis, we get 348 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,840 our word dynamite from it Dunamis when the Holy Spirit has 349 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,280 come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all 350 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:53,880 Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth. 351 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:58,280 The root word for that power Duna means means the to the 352 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,960 ability to So in the words you have the ability to do this. 353 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,920 You have the power to do this. You have the strength to pull it 354 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,200 off. And so one of my prayers for us 355 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,280 is that we receive and are filled with genuine Holy Spirit 356 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,640 power because it's time for us to move forward. 357 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:22,160 Inglewood parents, it's time for you to show your kids, senior 358 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:23,640 adults, it's time to be an example. 359 00:18:24,120 --> 00:18:27,640 Students, it's time to take a stand because this world is 360 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:32,480 crying out in desperation. In, in, in, in response to the 361 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:36,720 growing darkness. They want the light we possess. 362 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,680 They may not know it yet, but that's what they want. 363 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:44,440 In fact, I was just reading an article this week, yesterday in 364 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,080 fact, about certain protests that take place. 365 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:49,240 Now. I'm not going to go down any 366 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,280 political Rd. here. So you are OK everybody. 367 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,520 OK, You all right? I'm not going to talk about what 368 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,600 protests we're talking about because it doesn't matter. 369 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,200 It's about this article is about any protest, so it's not 370 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:07,720 pointing out something specific So easy, but some psychiatrists 371 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,440 who study these group movements and dynamics, we're actually 372 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:16,040 affirming something that I've been screaming about for years. 373 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,480 And so it's nice to have professional affirmation every 374 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,400 now and then. And so they were talking about 375 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,200 what we're seeing is a kind of group therapy playing out in the 376 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:29,400 streets. Says people need to feel like 377 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:34,280 they belong to a community and sharing grievances with like 378 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,600 minded people feels good, but it doesn't necessarily change 379 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,240 anything. And so he they keep going and 380 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,520 they said therapy speak is everywhere in our culture. 381 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,960 Therapy speaks everywhere in dating apps, on the news, even 382 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,600 in political rallies. People start labeling others as 383 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,600 narcissist or traumatized when these aren't clinical diagnosis 384 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,760 at all. But they hunger for connection 385 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,680 as the central point for much of their gathering. 386 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,400 Listen to what they say. People are craving community and 387 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,680 this gives them a place to channel that they're surrounded 388 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:13,120 by others who validate how they feel, and that validation can be 389 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:18,840 addictive. That fleeting catharsis can also 390 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:21,920 mask something darker. A lot of times people are 391 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,000 unhappy in their lives and they may have anxiety or angle anger 392 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,720 and they project that onto others. 393 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,800 Listen, I've been talking about this started at 911. 394 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,880 COVID exasperated it. Our current political, racial, 395 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:40,400 moral climate continues to to to to feed the fire. 396 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,400 And what we see is we see. And I keep telling you that we 397 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:46,040 live in a culture, a pre Christian, post postmodern 398 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:50,160 culture that is starving to death for communities of for 399 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:54,280 pure communities of truth. There's looking for other people 400 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,760 who will validate them. This is why social media works 401 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,520 the way it does. This is why reality TV works the 402 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,400 way it does. And This is why some of this 403 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,520 political stuff works the way it does. 404 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,600 And, and we need to recognize that as a church, we ought to be 405 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:13,120 the experts about this and helping people gather in a 406 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:19,240 community of real truth. So more and more are coming to 407 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,880 us. Thousands more are coming to us. 408 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,680 This is not a guess. So this is a test, Englewood. 409 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,840 We are at a crossroads to determine how we will respond. 410 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,560 We have both the right and the power to make disciples, not 411 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,640 because we're a special church, but because of the special and 412 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:46,200 unique work of our King Jesus. And it is his power, not ours. 413 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:48,520 And again, how much authority does he have? 414 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,720 How much? All in heaven and on earth. 415 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:56,400 So who gives us the right to reach out and share the gospel? 416 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,640 Who gives us the right to bring up Jesus in our conversations? 417 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,800 Who gives us the right to send them a card from a connect group 418 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,160 or knock on their door or call them on the phone or reach out 419 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:09,200 to them on social media? Who gives us the right to share 420 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,240 our testimony and share the gospel? 421 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:15,880 Well, as a matter of fact, Jesus the Christ, the Lord and Master 422 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,840 over all the universe, who died for us and has risen in complete 423 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,880 victory, gives us not only the right, but also the command and 424 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:28,120 the power. So the Creator of our life, the 425 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:32,880 very sustainer of our breath and heartbeat, and the only one in 426 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,440 whom we can have real hope, gives us the right. 427 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:43,640 I must not remain silent. I have the power and authority 428 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:46,440 to be obedient because Jesus gives it to me through the Holy 429 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:51,040 Spirit and therefore I can be used by him to make disciples. 430 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,360 Paul wrote in Romans 116. For I am not ashamed of the 431 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:59,600 gospel, for it is the power of salvation, of salvation for of 432 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,400 God, for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew 1st, 433 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:07,280 and also to the Greek. So the Great Commission passage 434 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,360 that we often read isn't just a command. 435 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:13,440 This is an empowerment, and we need to see it that way. 436 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:18,320 So you might worry less, you might worry less about who you 437 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:22,000 might offend, and you might worry a whole lot more about who 438 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:26,000 you can inspire when you share the gospel with somebody. 439 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,400 Recognize His power to make disciples. 440 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,480 It says in verse 19, Go therefore, and make disciples of 441 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,960 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of 442 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,520 the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 443 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,880 that I have commanded you. So I want you to see, secondly, 444 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:47,080 Christ's plan for making disciples. 445 00:23:48,360 --> 00:23:50,320 I'm always amazed when I visit this text. 446 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,520 And you can imagine a person who teaches missions like I do, I 447 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,960 visit this text often. I mean, how in the world could 448 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:04,360 his plan revolve around us? I mean, I, you got to understand 449 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:10,160 what a master of grace he is to, to allow a plan like this to 450 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:14,720 give us the incredible privilege of joining him on his mission. 451 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:19,040 To be so honored as to be able to tell others about and 452 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:23,840 introduce them to him, to, to be set out and used in his harvest, 453 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:29,200 to be a tool to make disciples. I mean, we must identify our 454 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:34,000 responsibility as a Christian to make disciples among all 455 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,560 nations. It's part of who we must be. 456 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,600 So what's his great plan? Well, it's interesting, and some 457 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,800 of you probably taught this before. 458 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,680 There's really one primary verb in the original language here, 459 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,400 and it's the word disciple. And there's basically 3 words 460 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,560 that modify that word disciple in this passage. 461 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,600 In fact, a literal translation. I, I did this earlier, could 462 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,800 read like this going therefore disciple you all the nations, 463 00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:02,920 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of 464 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,720 the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever 465 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,400 I gave command to you. So in other words, to join God's 466 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,960 mission and live the church's vision, we must make disciples 467 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:17,280 according to a specific plan. The first part of that plan is, 468 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,120 is as you are going make disciples. 469 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:26,760 Now this command emphasizes for us the urgent practice, perhaps 470 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:31,440 there I say sacrificial practice, of making disciples. 471 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,560 As you go through your normal patterns of life, these are the 472 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:41,160 natural relational lifestyles, opportunity that you have to 473 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,040 share about him with everybody you come into contact with. 474 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,920 This needs to characterize your discipleship. 475 00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:50,640 This means that there's an intentionality of preparation. 476 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,440 There's an intentionality of pursuit going on here. 477 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:55,680 I don't just enter my day haphazardly. 478 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,680 I'm entering my day looking for that person, praying for that 479 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,440 person, hoping for that person that I can share the gospel 480 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,360 with. We're going to talk about that 481 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:07,600 on Wednesday nights. If you know me, if you encounter 482 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,840 me, you're going to hear my love for Him and His love for me. 483 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:14,560 That's who you need to be. So join me on Wednesday nights. 484 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,160 Again, we're not just going to teach you how to do evangelism. 485 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:20,080 We're going to teach you how to be missional, how to be 486 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:25,000 evangelistic, a state of being, of who you are, your identity. 487 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,920 But God also commands us to move beyond our normal patterns and 488 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,640 go into the abnormal. And you got to understand how 489 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:36,320 radical this was for these guys. These people would not have 490 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,840 normally gone anywhere else. They would have barely gone to 491 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:42,200 the next village in their normal pattern of life. 492 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:45,400 So to go to all the nations, you got to understand how weird this 493 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:49,000 would be for them to even think about how foreign, how abstract 494 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,320 for them to even conceive, right? 495 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:57,000 So it's not enough to simply go where and when we want, but we 496 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,360 also have to go to other places. In fact, Acts 18 says we got to 497 00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:02,360 go to Samaria. We got to go to people we don't 498 00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:04,880 even like. We got to go to people very 499 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,960 different from us, people we might even have bad history 500 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,840 conflict with. We're to go to everybody. 501 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,000 So our worldview has to be expanded. 502 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,200 You need to learn how to be a global Christian, right? 503 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:24,480 So come back tonight at six to hear about new places, to hear 504 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,960 about new people, hear about some of my global church friends 505 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:32,200 that we're going to go visit in 2026, places we've never been 506 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,880 before, massive mythological targets that I've spent over a 507 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,080 decade working on with friends around the world. 508 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:40,840 And you're going to learn about them. 509 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:44,440 Now look, we, we need all kinds of opportunities because some of 510 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,160 you all have never been before. I, I'm part of my goal. 511 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,320 In fact, it's a major goal is I want to, I want a larger 512 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:53,720 percentage of participation. So they're going to be some 513 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:55,480 things that are simple entry level. 514 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,160 We got some right here in North Carolina we're going to go to, 515 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,320 we've got some right here in North America we're going to go 516 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:03,160 to and then we're going to go. So some very difficult places 517 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:04,040 too. And you're going to hear all 518 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,360 about those different places. Some of you might not be ready 519 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:08,280 for the difficult place, but I could do that. 520 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:09,920 Well, that's what I want you to do. 521 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,880 I want you to be a part. Now some of you give and some of 522 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,560 you pray and some of you do that and I appreciate all that, but I 523 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,240 also want you to go. So they're going to be some 524 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,160 things everybody can go to, multiple opportunities that you 525 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,920 can go to. So we're going to have some 526 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:27,920 entry level and we're going to have some pretty advanced level. 527 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:29,560 We're going to hear about it all tonight. 528 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,800 What time is it tonight? Mm hmm. 529 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:38,040 Some of you heard that, friends. The greatest problem of the 530 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,240 world, it's very simple. The greatest problem of the 531 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:47,160 world's future is lostness. You've got to hear me. 532 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,960 I've read this book from cover to cover more than once. 533 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:55,760 I've seen the end of the story, and people are going to die and 534 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,800 go to hell. And we've got to embrace. 535 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,080 We've got to understand that there's an urgency to this 536 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:04,400 issue. Charles Spurgeon, one of his 537 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,600 most famous quotes, reads like they make posters out of this. 538 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,960 Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be 539 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,560 damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies, And if 540 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,480 they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their 541 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:22,360 knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy 542 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,280 themselves. If hell must be filled, at least 543 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:29,160 let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let no one go 544 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,520 there unwarned and unpraed. For. 545 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:39,520 And then later he says God saves us from living in comfort while 546 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:45,480 sinners are sinking into hell. God's Great Commission says you, 547 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:52,600 me, we must go and we must go to Pontita Ethne. 548 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,480 That means all the peoples of the world, all the different 549 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:58,840 peoples you see us have people group videos week to week to 550 00:29:58,840 --> 00:29:59,880 week. You got to understand they're 551 00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:04,320 over 7000 UP GS1, you unreached people groups. 552 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,880 That means that less than 2% of the people in that place are 553 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,760 saved and they can't support church planting. 554 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:12,120 They don't have enough to do that. 555 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:16,920 And then there are over 3000, what we would call UUPGS, 556 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,120 unengaged, unreached people groups. 557 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,440 They only have a church. They don't have any gospel 558 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:24,200 engagement at all. You can understand that 559 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,880 represents billions of people around the world. 560 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:33,360 There are at least, in fact, I think it's over 6 million people 561 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,800 in North Carolina who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord 562 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,080 and Savior. In fact, you got to understand 563 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,720 the United States of America is the 4th largest unsaved nation 564 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:48,960 on the planet, China, India, Indonesia, United States and and 565 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:53,120 my prophecy is coming true. I believe in the next, within 10 566 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,600 years, we will surpass Indonesia and become the third largest 567 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:01,920 unsaved nation on the planet. We've got to do something and 568 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:04,880 we've got to recognize that there are thousands of unreached 569 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,680 individual people living right here. 74% of them out there 570 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,560 aren't engaged at all. What are we going to do about 571 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:13,520 it? And they're living here and 572 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,200 billions around the world who've never heard. 573 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,480 So praise the Lord that globally, Christianity is 574 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:21,320 growing, barely growing faster than population, right? 575 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:24,640 Just, I mean, less than a percentage point, barely growing 576 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:28,000 faster than population, right? But we've got to join our global 577 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,400 brothers and sisters in this effort in the power of the Holy 578 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:32,520 Spirit. And I'm going to introduce you 579 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:35,880 to some of them, people working hard and some of the some of the 580 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:40,360 most important strategically located places to train people 581 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:42,640 around the world. We got to go to far and near. 582 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:46,760 We got to go tell and we got to tell everyone we can. 583 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:49,880 So come tonight, learn about these places. 584 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,880 One missionary was asked about his calling to to another 585 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:58,880 country and he said, well, I had no call to stay home, but I had 586 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,840 the command to go, why are you here? 587 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:05,040 Why aren't you there? It's part of the conversation. 588 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:08,520 So as we are going, we make disciples. 589 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:12,560 Secondly though, as you are baptizing, make disciples. 590 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,560 That's that second modifier. So being saved begins this whole 591 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,480 new life. Converts don't hide, they need 592 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,600 to shine. And So what we see is baptism is 593 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,720 this opportunity to show the world what has happened to you. 594 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,560 It's a testimony. It's a public proclamation and 595 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,800 demonstration that you've trusted in Christ for salvation. 596 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,760 It's a time to confess the Lord before men so he can confess you 597 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:36,960 before the Father. It's a testimony of the death, 598 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:38,360 burial and resurrection of Christ. 599 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,160 And the same thing happened to me. 600 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,840 This is what Christ did to me. The old me is dead. 601 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,160 There's a new me. So it's an incredibly important 602 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,680 act of obedience through which we can testify and bring him 603 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,040 glory. So don't be ashamed of the 604 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,520 gospel, proclaim the gospel. And so there are there are 605 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:56,760 people going to get baptized next Sunday that I know of 606 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:59,080 people going to get baptized 2 weeks from now already there 607 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:01,280 probably somebody I don't know about getting baptized 3 weeks 608 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:05,440 from now, I don't know yet. The pastors are meeting with 609 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:08,400 them and talking with them. If you're here and you need to 610 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:11,280 be baptized, you need to contact the church office or contact one 611 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:15,040 of us and, and we can talk to you about that because we need 612 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,040 to bring new believers into the church fellowship. 613 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:18,760 We need to bring them into discipleship. 614 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:20,640 We need to bring them into accountability. 615 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,800 And it's part of the body. They can be discipled so that 616 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:27,400 we're intentionally discipling others to live out the seven key 617 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,160 essentials. So make disciples as you're 618 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:32,320 going, make disciples as you're baptizing. 619 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:36,320 And thirdly, as you're teaching, make disciples. 620 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:41,040 There was a lady on a very crowded city bus 1 morning and 621 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:42,800 she was talking to her friend and it was very noisy. 622 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,000 So she's kind of shouting at her friends, kind of like the way I 623 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,720 talk all the time. And so she was talking to her 624 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,400 friend and she was telling her about her sister's fight with 625 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,120 viral meningitis. And, and the sister and the 626 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,400 friend said, how did, how did the doctor know that it was more 627 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,560 than just a cold or something? And, and the lady says, well, he 628 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:04,400 told her to bend her neck until her chin could touch her chest. 629 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,160 And she could only manage a slight nod. 630 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:09,960 And then she looked around and she noticed that about half the 631 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,199 bus had their chins down on their chest. 632 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:19,560 People are watching. People are listening. 633 00:34:21,120 --> 00:34:24,159 I don't know if you understand this or not, but news of what 634 00:34:24,159 --> 00:34:26,440 God is doing at Inglewood Baptist Church in Rocky 635 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,000 Mountain, North Carolina has spread across North Carolina. 636 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:32,400 We get phone calls from people in our denomination. 637 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:35,080 Some of our pastors, they go to a meeting, they go, what's going 638 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:36,920 on at Englewood? We're hearing about things 639 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,679 happening at Englewood. Believers are listening and 640 00:34:40,280 --> 00:34:43,199 they're watching your lives and they're hearing your voices and 641 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:44,600 they're watching for your actions. 642 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:49,159 We must show them. We must teach them because so 643 00:34:49,159 --> 00:34:55,239 many of our churches are not able and ready to do this. 644 00:34:56,800 --> 00:34:59,640 So new lambs and older sheep all need instruction. 645 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,040 So we we, we must not only encourage them to be part of the 646 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:05,960 body, but we got to teach them once they're here and note what 647 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:09,440 we must teach them in verse 20, it says teaching them to observe 648 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:14,280 all that I commanded you. So we need to make certain that 649 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:18,480 brand new, current and long term members, all those categories 650 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,920 are not simply knowledgeable about the commands of Christ. 651 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:28,160 We need to teach them to observe all the commands of Christ. 652 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,920 So you got to understand this is about a way of life. 653 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,760 This is a life full of urgency. This is a life full of 654 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,280 sacrifice. A true disciple is not just a 655 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,400 student. A true disciple is one who 656 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,360 follows the teaching they've received and live it out in 657 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,480 their life. So that that's why our vision of 658 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,080 intentional discipleship essentials, these 7 essentials 659 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:51,280 you have being parts, knowing parts and doing parts that we 660 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:56,680 have to show you and teach you. So a a vision that will lead you 661 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,480 to be outwardly focused, a vision that will help you to 662 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,720 decide, but you must willfully choose. 663 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:09,080 You must choose to live out that vision, to be that disciple, to 664 00:36:09,080 --> 00:36:11,800 recognize his power and his plan. 665 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:15,680 I know a lot of people. I've worked with him a large 666 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,960 part of my adult life. Some really smart people and 667 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,240 many of them are just godly and wonderful believers, Christians 668 00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:25,480 who live out the faith who who you see it in their lives. 669 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:27,840 You have men like Chuck Lawless and Alan Moseley and others who 670 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,840 just they, they live it. They're also incredibly 671 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:32,480 intelligent. And then I've known a lot of 672 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,960 people with big time degrees who aren't doing much anything. 673 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:42,440 Knowledge is not enough. There must be application. 674 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:47,960 We have to show them and we have to share with them why we live 675 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:50,880 the way we do. Verse 20, the second part of it 676 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:56,320 brings us to the Third Point. And behold, I am with you always 677 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:00,720 to the end of the age. See, we have to acknowledge His 678 00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:03,640 owner of His power and His plan. We have to acknowledge Christ's 679 00:37:03,640 --> 00:37:08,400 presence for making disciples. Because Christ dwells in us, 680 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,240 we're empowered to go and disciple others. 681 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:15,360 So apart from Him we can do what? 682 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:21,080 Nothing but Philippians says we can do all things through Christ 683 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,360 who strengthens us. So we're continually empowered 684 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:29,680 by his mission and we're encouraged to press forward by 685 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:31,680 his presence. These are the two essential 686 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:33,160 bookends of the Great Commission. 687 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,280 Nothing works in the middle without these two pieces. 688 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,880 It's only because of His power and only because of His presence 689 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:42,680 that we can go, that we can see anybody saved, that we can see 690 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:45,840 anybody discipled. Nothing works without that. 691 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:49,080 We can't do this on our own. It's not our intelligence. 692 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,600 It's not our clever, clever planning. 693 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:54,040 It's not our our wonderful methodology. 694 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:56,640 We're dependent upon his power and presence. 695 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:00,040 Now, I've seen God do some amazing things through people, 696 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:03,840 simple folk, who were committed to His power and presence. 697 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:08,240 So if we submit to this and rely upon it, we will never do this 698 00:38:08,240 --> 00:38:11,560 alone. He's always with us and so He's 699 00:38:11,560 --> 00:38:14,560 with us, guiding us and directing us to remain on track, 700 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:17,200 to abide in Him and to allow Him to abide in US. 701 00:38:17,760 --> 00:38:19,880 And so we have to ask our question, Am I am by am I 702 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,520 abiding in Christ? Does Christ abide in me? 703 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:27,280 Are we walking together? Will I engage in the ministry of 704 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:33,080 his presence in my life? Well, I represent Him and 705 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:38,480 engaged in the intentional pursuit of true missions and 706 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:41,320 discipleship. Paul wrote about this in 2nd 707 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,920 Corinthians 5A passage that Teresa and I would both say is 708 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:48,840 one of the most powerful in our lives, probably beginning in 709 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:50,560 verse 14. He says for the love of Christ 710 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:52,240 controls us. Another translation would say 711 00:38:52,240 --> 00:38:54,440 compels us. I'm compelled by the love of 712 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:56,000 Christ. I'm controlled by the love of 713 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:00,720 Christ because we have concluded this, that one has died for all, 714 00:39:00,720 --> 00:39:04,480 therefore all have died, and he died for all, that those who 715 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:08,240 live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for 716 00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:11,800 their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we 717 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:13,800 regard no one according to the flesh. 718 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,400 Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, 719 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,800 we regard Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in 720 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:24,480 Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. 721 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:28,080 Behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who 722 00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:32,120 through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry 723 00:39:32,120 --> 00:39:34,440 of reconciliation. That is, in Christ. 724 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:37,480 God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their 725 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:41,680 trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of 726 00:39:41,680 --> 00:39:46,400 reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for 727 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,640 Christ, making His appeal through us. 728 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:52,280 We implore you that word means to beg. 729 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:55,640 We are begging you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God 730 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:58,720 for our sake. He made Him to be sin who knew 731 00:39:58,720 --> 00:40:02,800 no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 732 00:40:04,240 --> 00:40:09,200 Will you recognize and rely upon His power and His presence in 733 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:12,240 your life? Will you actually go? 734 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:18,240 He came so we would go. He died so we would go. 735 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:21,760 He sacrificed everything on the cross for this to be possible. 736 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:24,640 So we need to be involved in our cross cultural missions effort 737 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:29,120 by praying, giving and going with a sense of urgency. 738 00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:35,360 And here's that word again. Sacrifice to support His mission 739 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,640 near and far. 100% participation. 740 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:42,800 We love God and we love others by intentionally and 741 00:40:42,800 --> 00:40:45,040 sacrificially engaging our world with the gospel. 742 00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:48,120 So this sermon series is now over. 743 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:50,200 So. So what? 744 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:53,800 Who cares? What does it matter? 745 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:59,000 Well, I believe with all my heart that every single member 746 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,880 is equipped by the Holy Spirit to grow in the seven essentials 747 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,120 of discipleship. I believe that those things have 748 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:08,040 to define who we are, and they also have to set the agenda for 749 00:41:08,040 --> 00:41:11,320 all of our ministries. So I pray that you will learn 750 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:18,200 how to best engage the Bible, unite in fellowship, abide in 751 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:26,400 prayer, commit to service, respond in worship, live out 752 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:30,120 evangelism, and participate in missions. 753 00:41:31,240 --> 00:41:35,320 And I would ask you, which of the seven is the one where you 754 00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:37,360 are experiencing the greatest growth? 755 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:41,120 And then which of the seven is the one where you need to 756 00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:44,560 experience greater growth and why? 757 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:50,360 And I pray that you will press these up against your public 758 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:53,720 life as well as your very, very hidden private life. 759 00:41:54,120 --> 00:41:56,560 I pray you'd press these up against the life of your family, 760 00:41:56,560 --> 00:42:00,640 against your marriage. And I pray that you would be a 761 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:03,520 disciple of Jesus who lives out this church's vision. 762 00:42:04,960 --> 00:42:07,760 Some of you here might even sense a calling, a calling to 763 00:42:07,760 --> 00:42:14,280 vocational missions, a sense that you are to serve full time 764 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:18,960 in this kind of role. Many have said over the years, 765 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:21,040 you're either going to be a missionary or a mission field. 766 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:25,080 We all are called to serve, as some of you may be called 767 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:27,400 vocationally. Charles Spurgeon once again 768 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:29,720 said, my son of God has called you to be a missionary. 769 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:33,600 Your father would be grieved to see you shrivel down into a 770 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:37,160 king. Think about what God's calling 771 00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,640 you to do. I'd love to visit with you about 772 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:42,560 that. And in closing, let me quote 773 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:45,960 again. I mentioned him last week, but 774 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:48,480 Doctor Kevin Izel, president of our North American Mission 775 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:53,600 Board, he said this Acts 17 six contains one of my favorite 776 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:57,360 lines in all the New Testament. These men who have turned the 777 00:42:57,360 --> 00:43:00,400 world upside down have come here, too. 778 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:04,400 Doesn't that just say everything about the effect believers 779 00:43:04,400 --> 00:43:06,640 should have when they bring the gospel to a community? 780 00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:09,360 It should turn everything upside down. 781 00:43:10,040 --> 00:43:13,080 It's not just a message that Jesus will make your life better 782 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:16,400 or Jesus can help make things more bearable. 783 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:22,640 The message is Jesus will change everything, and many of us 784 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:25,160 who've been in the church for most of our lives can forget 785 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:28,440 just how revolutionary Jesus is and how desperately people need 786 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:30,240 him. I have great news for you. 787 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,760 Jesus is still in the business of turning the world upside 788 00:43:33,760 --> 00:43:36,640 down. He still makes lives right. 789 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:40,560 He's doing it every day. He can and will use your 790 00:43:40,560 --> 00:43:44,680 circumstances for good. He can radically save you, your 791 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:49,640 friends and family. Don't forget how powerful and 792 00:43:49,640 --> 00:43:55,600 how good God is. Let's be disciples together. 793 00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:01,240 Father, thank you. Thank you for the challenge of 794 00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:07,040 your word. Urgency, sacrifice. 795 00:44:09,720 --> 00:44:11,680 To what would I apply these words? 796 00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:19,680 Do I give them to you, or do I only reserve them for the things 797 00:44:19,680 --> 00:44:24,920 I think are important? Father, maybe there's someone 798 00:44:24,920 --> 00:44:26,680 here this morning and they don't know you. 799 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:30,640 I pray right now, wherever they're seated, that you would 800 00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:34,960 save them, that Your Holy Spirit would move in their hearts and 801 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:36,800 help them to recognize their sin. 802 00:44:37,520 --> 00:44:41,400 We're all sinners. We've all fallen short of You. 803 00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:44,160 I pray that we're sorry for our sin. 804 00:44:45,000 --> 00:44:47,800 I pray, Father, that we would turn from our sin and trust in 805 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:52,520 Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and commit this to serve 806 00:44:52,520 --> 00:44:54,720 and live for him with the help of the Holy Spirit. 807 00:44:54,720 --> 00:44:56,880 And I pray, Father, that if that's the prayer of someone 808 00:44:56,880 --> 00:45:01,000 here for the first time, that in a moment they would come and 809 00:45:01,000 --> 00:45:05,080 share that with one of us. Maybe there's somebody here who 810 00:45:05,080 --> 00:45:06,880 needs to be baptized. They need that public 811 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:10,640 declaration moment. I pray that they would come. 812 00:45:11,720 --> 00:45:14,040 Maybe there's someone looking for a church that wants to take 813 00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:17,160 up the mantle, that wants to accept the Commission and the 814 00:45:17,160 --> 00:45:21,960 challenge to walk in your power and to walk in your presence. 815 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:27,360 Only by doing it that way, Father, and being used to turn 816 00:45:27,360 --> 00:45:33,520 this community upside down. Father, others need to come and 817 00:45:33,520 --> 00:45:35,440 pray for their lost friends and neighbors. 818 00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:37,280 Maybe they need to come and pray for this church. 819 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:39,560 Maybe they need to come and pray for our friends overseas. 820 00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:42,520 So in a moment when we sing, Father, I just pray. 821 00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:45,600 People would come, they would respond, some going to our next 822 00:45:45,600 --> 00:45:47,880 steps counseling room, others coming and just kneeling at the 823 00:45:47,880 --> 00:45:51,120 steps, others coming to talk to a pastor, whatever they need to 824 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:54,360 do. But that, Father, we wouldn't 825 00:45:54,640 --> 00:45:57,720 hold back. We would surrender. 826 00:45:58,200 --> 00:46:01,920 We would submit in Christ's name, Amen. 827 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:05,200 I'm going to ask you to stand, and as we stand, there'll be 828 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:06,920 pastors here. We'd love to visit with you. 829 00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:08,240 You can come and pray at these steps. 830 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:10,600 We also have a room over here. We have people who would just 831 00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,440 love to sit down with you privately around a table to 832 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:17,520 share prayer requests with you and to talk with you, to pray 833 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:20,120 with you, to talk about whatever God is doing in your life. 834 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:21,840 You don't need to come to talk to any one of us. 835 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:24,320 You can go straight there or you can come up here. 836 00:46:24,920 --> 00:46:27,480 Either place, you do what God wants you to do. 837 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:34,920 Thank you so much for listening today, and I also hope that 838 00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:37,440 you'll go to ourwebsite@englewoodbaptist.com 839 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:40,480 as well as our app and find many other resources that will bless 840 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:42,680 you and your families. Thank you once again.