1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,040 Hey everybody, this is Pastor John Ewart from Inglewood 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 --> 00:00:15,120 about important issues facing your life that can guide you 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:21,040 according to the Bible. Well, good morning, Inglewood. 7 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,920 Turn to Acts Chapter 11, if you will. 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,040 I'll catch up to you in just a moment. 9 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,480 Appreciate you being here. Appreciate meeting some guests 10 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,120 in the early service and look forward to meeting some of you 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,920 here now. Our early service was pretty 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,120 packed, so look forward to seeing you all. 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,600 I want to also say just a word of thank you as I get started. 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,160 To the folks who led the the work you all did ahead of time 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,480 and those who led Vacation Bible School last week, thank you all 16 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:51,680 so much. Appreciate that. 17 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:56,720 Let's give them. Sure, have a good week. 18 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,720 We look forward to following up with all those families and and 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:01,200 seeing what God's doing in their life. 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:02,920 Also want to invite you Wednesday night. 21 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,960 I'll be starting back in a new series on Wednesday night. 22 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:07,920 It's called Core training. Going to be an interesting 23 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,280 series. You come and join hundreds of us 24 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,280 who gather right in here on Wednesday night and we have a 25 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,320 good time studying God's word. We're going to be talking about 26 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,760 what must we believe in order to be saved? 27 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,520 What can we believe in order to also serve together? 28 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,920 We might have some different interpretations, but we can 29 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,080 still serve together. And then what are some of the 30 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,160 areas that we don't necessarily agree on? 31 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,200 So we're actually going to talk about how do you decide what you 32 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,200 have to believe in? And what do you, what can you 33 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,120 have different opinions about, different interpretations about? 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,120 And then how come we have denominations? 35 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:42,880 We're going to talk about all kinds of things over the next 36 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,040 few weeks, and I'll be hitting some of the important doctrines 37 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,800 over those weeks as well. So look forward to that. 38 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:50,560 It'd be a very important study. You'll like that. 39 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,680 You'll enjoy that. We will put that on podcast just 40 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,960 like we normally do as well for those who are serving in other 41 00:01:55,960 --> 00:02:00,880 areas on Wednesdays. Well, for our best future, for 42 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,280 our best future, everything must focus upon and revolve around 43 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,000 God's mission. That's not just true about the 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,880 church, that's true about your individual life. 45 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,440 You need to understand that God has a predetermined path or 46 00:02:13,640 --> 00:02:15,600 train track, as I often refer to it. 47 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,480 He has a track for us as a a church, but also for each of our 48 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,680 lives. And we need to follow that to 49 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,840 bring him great glory and to be used by him in redeeming the 50 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,160 nation's. And that's why the very first 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,640 sermon series that I've been sharing with you so far has been 52 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:35,640 called Come Join the King's Mission because it's vital. 53 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,920 And the book of Acts revealed models for us to understand what 54 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,920 healthy believers must be in his brand new church as he started 55 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:47,720 the church, why and who we must be as a church. 56 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,040 Then leads me to the second sermon series starting next 57 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,320 Sunday called Come Be the King's Bride. 58 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,000 Because we're going to talk about what it means to the why, 59 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,880 The Who, the what and how of church. 60 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,520 Why is church important? What is church membership about? 61 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,240 What is discipleship about? What are these ordinances like 62 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,040 baptism and the Lord Supper all about? 63 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,200 We're going to talk about some of those important things for 64 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,280 just a few weeks. That and it's going to be a 65 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,720 brief series that then leads us into the fall study, which is 66 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,640 going to be called Come Live, the Churches Vision, the seven 67 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:23,440 essentials of discipleship. I've been kind of hinting about 68 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,080 this and sharing with you about this. 69 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,600 I'm going to explain our new mission and vision statements. 70 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,360 I'm going to talk about our new discipleship goals. 71 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,000 Your leaders, and I mean over 100 of your leaders have have 72 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,600 worked for hours to discern, assess, provide feedback, and 73 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,040 then to write and preserve some defining essentials of personal 74 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,720 transformation. And these are going to define 75 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,720 the identity that we seek to become. 76 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,680 They're also going to provide, frankly, the practical framework 77 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,720 for developing the contextual biblical vision or the mission 78 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,600 plan to unite all of our church ministries to assist you and 79 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,400 your families to become this kind of disciple. 80 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,000 This is how we define a disciple, a follower of Christ. 81 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,800 And this coupled with our REACH strategy through our connect 82 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,680 groups that we're going to be implementing in the next month, 83 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,400 should create for us an incredible opportunity for 84 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,640 growth and transformation. And so it's a, it's an 85 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,680 incredible time to be a part of Inglewood, whether you, you're a 86 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,600 guest today or this your first time you've been visiting for a 87 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,600 while, It's an incredible time to believe here. 88 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,280 I certainly believe with all of my heart and I'm sincerely as I 89 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:32,720 can believe anything. I believe certainly that God's 90 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:37,080 hand is upon us. So first let's complete the 91 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,720 first part of our ACT study for now before we move on. 92 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,120 Several years ago, I was actually leaving some reach 93 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,120 conferences around churches and I was driving down a little 2 94 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,920 lane country highway, some state highway, county highway and, and 95 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,160 it came to a small community and there was a what what was 96 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,960 apparently a furniture store that had shut down. 97 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,280 You can see it was abandoned. Some of the the windows were 98 00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:01,720 broken out. You can see it was empty and and 99 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,240 they had one of those signs out front, you know, the the big 100 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,040 metal sign with a big metal error on arrow. 101 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,720 That's an arrow. I'm from Oklahoma, a big arrow 102 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,760 on the end of it. And you could put the little 103 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,840 letters on there and spell out, you know, your marquee, whatever 104 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:18,560 you wanted to say. And it was supposed to light up. 105 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,880 You know, it has little holes for lights and whatever and be 106 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,600 flashing and, and would point in and tell you to come to the 107 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:25,840 store. Well, how one of those signs out 108 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:27,280 there and one of the legs was broken. 109 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:30,440 So the arrow was pointing kind of straight up in the air, but 110 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,920 the sign was still on it. The letters, the little things, 111 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,680 the letters were still there. Now no light was working, but 112 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,200 the letters were still there. And it simply said, your search 113 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:44,200 for quality ends here. And I thought to myself, you 114 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,920 know, you're right, because the quality did end right there, 115 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,040 didn't it? And So what we're talking about 116 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,880 together is a qualitative growth experience. 117 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,960 We want to become true disciples. 118 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,680 We want to qualitatively grow. And then I believe just because 119 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,760 we've experienced this, we're going to then see quantitative 120 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,000 growth that follows that, right? And so we want the quality of 121 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,040 discipleship to guide us. And our study in the book of 122 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,680 Acts has really been the tale of two churches that help us with 123 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,040 this. So the first church in Jerusalem 124 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:17,840 was led by the apostles, and the majority of the people there 125 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:20,560 were Aramaic speaking Jewish Christians. 126 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:21,880 Just got to think of that context. 127 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:26,960 And then what we see is that the gospel spread. 128 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,880 I'm there. So the gospel spread and it 129 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,240 could not be stopped. It's just too powerful. 130 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,120 And as the gospel spread, it led to new churches just like we're 131 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,680 we're going to celebrate tonight. 132 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,800 We're going to see a new church starting in Tarboro. 133 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,960 We're helping a new church in in Kensington by Pittsburgh. 134 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,640 We're seeing as this gospel spreads, new churches spring up. 135 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:51,400 And So what we're going to see today is we're going to meet 136 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,520 another one of those churches and we're going to continue to 137 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,840 grow and our understood value for what a healthy biblical 138 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:00,360 church ought to be. That's what we're going to do 139 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,080 this morning. By comparing these two God 140 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:07,400 blessed growing churches, we ought to be able to discern some 141 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,240 traits and characteristics that help us to say here's who we 142 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,600 should be. So they are known, preserved 143 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:19,080 examples and models for us. As we examine them this morning, 144 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,120 we need to ask ourselves the question, how will we be known? 145 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:28,480 How will Inglewood be known? Will we be a recognized, known 146 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:33,920 example of a church who passionately pursues the King's 147 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,760 mission? Are we going to be an influencer 148 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,680 in the region and an example for churches to follow and to learn 149 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,120 from? Or will we be just another 150 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:46,720 normal church? I can tell you about normal 151 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,480 churches. I was sharing this last night 152 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,760 with a group of men that out of the 400,000 so, so or so odd 153 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,640 churches in the United States of America, 360,000 of them would 154 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,960 be considered unhealthy. And so we can be normal or we 155 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:05,360 can create a truly new normal, which is what I pray we're 156 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,160 after. So throughout Scripture, God 157 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:12,240 revealed to us the why, The Who, the what, and the how of about 158 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,920 how His people ought to be. If you recognize this, the 159 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,880 earliest stories in the Old Testament, and then the law and 160 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,800 the Tabernacle and the temple and the prophets and the leaders 161 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:28,080 are all revealing to us what it would should look like, what it 162 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:32,520 ought to look like for man to walk with Yahweh. 163 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,880 So even in their failures, because at times they didn't do 164 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:40,240 a good job of that, but even in their failures we are shown what 165 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,520 should be. There are lessons that we learn. 166 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,440 So then in the Gospels we see the very Incarnate or 167 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,680 incarnation of God in human flesh, and we learn from the 168 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:53,360 life and the character of Jesus in the in the Gospels. 169 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,040 Then, then, in the Epistles we see principles and 170 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,320 characteristics of what true discipleship ought to be. 171 00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:05,800 So the Bible is the story. The whole Bible is the story of 172 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:11,200 God's redemptive mission, all pointing to Jesus Christ, but 173 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:16,320 also giving to us a parallel teaching along the same way of 174 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:21,440 what the people of God should be, what they should know, and 175 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:25,000 what they ought to do. So these first two sermon series 176 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:29,080 are these, excuse me, these next two sermon series are very, very 177 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,400 important because they're going to define us as a church as we 178 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,720 move forward. They're also going to help us 179 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:39,320 concentrate descriptions of true discipleship that are being 180 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,560 lived out and blessed in Scripture and thus showing us 181 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:46,560 what we need to do today. So I want to introduce to you a 182 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:50,480 second church where we can observe these biblical 183 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,200 practices. This church ought to remind you 184 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,040 of Jerusalem, the church at Jerusalem. 185 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:56,840 I don't know if you remember Jerusalem. 186 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:58,720 Maybe you haven't been here for the whole study. 187 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,520 So let me just remind you very quickly. 188 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,560 In one passage in Acts chapter 2, verses 42 through 47, it'll 189 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:08,760 be on the screen. And they devoted themselves to 190 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:11,760 the apostles, teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of 191 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,160 bread and the prayers, and all came upon every soul. 192 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,320 And many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles, 193 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,160 and all who believed were together and had all things in 194 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,040 common. And they were selling their 195 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,800 possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all 196 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,560 as any had need. And day by day, attending the 197 00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:33,320 temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they 198 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,320 received their food with gladness, with glad and generous 199 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,960 hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. 200 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:43,440 And the Lord added to their number day by day, those who 201 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,480 were being saved. So we see these these actions, 202 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,680 we see these attitudes, we see these spiritual disciplines. 203 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,160 So remember their devotion. They were devoted to this, that 204 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:56,680 A1 mindedness to this. And then you see these 205 00:10:56,680 --> 00:10:59,760 disciplines and practices. And now we're going to learn 206 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:04,160 from the church at Antioch beginning in Acts Chapter 11. 207 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,680 Let's go to verse 19. Now those who were scattered 208 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:12,880 because of the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as 209 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,360 far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no 210 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,680 one except Jews. But there were some of them, men 211 00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:24,760 of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the 212 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,640 Hellenist also preaching the Lord Jesus. 213 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,200 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number 214 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:36,440 who believed turned to the Lord. Now, this outline is just a 215 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,080 simple, I'm just going to list some of these characteristics 216 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,240 and actions that we observe. And the very first thing we see 217 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:44,640 is evangelism. That's what we see. 218 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:46,840 So the Antioch Church was established. 219 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,440 It was started, it was planted by Greek speaking Jewish 220 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:55,880 Christians who fled Jerusalem after the martyrdom of Stephen. 221 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:59,840 Remember Stephen stoned to death because of his faith, the 222 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:03,200 religious leaders kill him. And the Bible says back in Acts 223 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,600 chapter 8, verse four, that now there were those scattered who 224 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,440 went about preaching the word. So after that, because of the 225 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,360 persecution, people are leaving Jerusalem, but they're taking 226 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:18,560 the gospel with them and they end up in this place called 227 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,280 Antioch. Now, Antioch is interesting 228 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,040 because it's the third largest city in the Roman Empire at this 229 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,000 time. So don't dismiss that this is a 230 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,680 large city. It's a very diverse city. 231 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,880 It was near a major worship Center for old Greek gods and 232 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:36,080 even an old ancient Assyrian female deity that they worship. 233 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,680 And, and, and there are historical records about Antioch 234 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,800 that talk about how immoral it was. 235 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,280 This was this place was known for its wickedness. 236 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,600 It was known for its immorality. So what happened in Antioch did 237 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:54,680 not stay in Antioch, right? But there was a Jewish community 238 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:56,760 there also. So the gospel flourishes first 239 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,880 with these Jewish people and then it spreads out into the 240 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,520 Gentiles, the Bible tells us. So this, this church is made-up 241 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,360 of both hands. They're both Jewish background 242 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,200 and Gentile background believers, right? 243 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,280 So you got to think about these early persecuted Christians who 244 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,160 fled there. Never mind that we've been 245 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,360 driven from our homes. Never mind our friends and 246 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,280 family members have been imprisoned or killed. 247 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:22,800 Never mind God LED us to the most wicked city in the Roman 248 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,480 Empire. Never mind there are Gentiles 249 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,920 here and I'm a Jewish Christian. Never mind all the chaos and all 250 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:33,160 the uncertainty. God, we have a message to 251 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,640 deliver and we have come preaching the Lord Jesus. 252 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,680 And so despite their circumstances, they aggressively 253 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,840 took the gospel to those who lived in their city. 254 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,640 Now I pray you get that. I pray that we can recognize 255 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,200 what could happen here. I pray that we can aggressively 256 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,840 take the gospel to a place much, much less immoral, but still 257 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,640 perhaps lost and dark as Antioch. 258 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:06,320 Maybe we need to repeat that at times and to remind ourselves of 259 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:09,520 of how much we need to do that and and it says in the hand of 260 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:15,160 the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned 261 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:17,640 to the Lord. Now that's my king on mission. 262 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:24,000 See, that's what he does when his people obey, he blesses and 263 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,720 sometimes in a great way. God had a predetermined plan for 264 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,280 Antioch through through the scattering, through the 265 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,000 persecution, through the barriers, through the chaos, 266 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,640 through the uncertainty. A great number of people were 267 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,480 saved as God used an obedient people. 268 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,120 And he has the same kind of predetermined plan for every 269 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,840 single one of your lives as well as us as a church. 270 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,640 Because all we are as a church is US put together. 271 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:52,320 It's all we are. And he has a plan here and he 272 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:56,000 wants it to spread. I remember years ago, Teresa and 273 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,200 I, when I was pastoring in a small town, we, we lived in a 274 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,160 trailer out in the country and on a cow pasture for some time. 275 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,480 And we literally had to go. And every time we went home or 276 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:08,760 left, we had to, we had to undo the padlock and the chain on the 277 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,560 gate so the cows wouldn't get out and open it up so we can get 278 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:13,080 the car out real fast and shut the gate. 279 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,320 And then we had to avoid the cows as we made our way to the 280 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,160 trailer. And it was, it was a kind of a 281 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:19,720 fun place to live out the middle of the country. 282 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,120 And our oldest son was pretty young in those days. 283 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,320 And it was 4th of July. And in Oklahoma, you can have 284 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:26,760 real fireworks. I don't know what y'all's 285 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:32,080 problem here is. So we thought it was a smart 286 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:35,160 plan to go out and really tall dry grass in the middle of July 287 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,000 out in the middle of the country and shoot off fireworks. 288 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:42,240 Well, you know what happened. So there's a blaze taking place. 289 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:44,200 And I mean, and the wind's blowing. 290 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,760 I don't know that I've ever seen a fire spread that quickly. 291 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,280 And I go run back to the trailer and I have a hose that's about 292 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:56,360 10 feet long and the fire's 100 feet away or something. 293 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:59,160 And that thing spread. I mean, it's going, I mean, it's 294 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:01,240 blowing through that field. It's growing through that 295 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:02,400 pasture. He's getting ready to head to 296 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,480 the woods. It's going to get the trailer. 297 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,120 It's going to get everybody going to get the cows. 298 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,800 It's going to get, you know. And if it wasn't for my neighbor 299 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,000 who thought quickly, who had some fire extinguishers and a 300 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,920 really long hose, there have been a lot of trouble. 301 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,400 But that's the way the gospel is. 302 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:18,360 The fire of the gospel can spread rapidly, and my friends, 303 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,720 it will be impossible to stomp out if we submit to His mission. 304 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:28,360 I've seen it, I've lived this, and I invite you to join me for 305 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,800 an extensive personal evangelism training this fall because I 306 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,920 want to guide you to become evangelistic, not to just do 307 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,280 evangelism, but to become evangelistic in a very natural, 308 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,920 relational way. It's going to be perfect. 309 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,920 If you've ever said I've always wanted to share my faith, but I 310 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:46,760 don't know how, or I've been too scared to do this or I've been 311 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,600 too nervous about this or I need somebody to show me how. 312 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:52,320 I don't know how to lead that conversation from weather and 313 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,240 sports to Christ. I don't know how to do those 314 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:55,480 things. We're going to talk through all 315 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,800 that step by step. It's going to be a great study. 316 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,560 You're, you're going to enjoy it because God will want to save 317 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,440 people. Now I'm going to throw off our 318 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:08,920 tick folks and this is on me. Sorry guys, because in the early 319 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:14,319 service we had a baptism and, and it was a wonderful testimony 320 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,560 and I wanted to read it right here. 321 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,480 I just wanted you to hear what God does when the gospel spreads 322 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:24,240 and God's people share and to see what happens. 323 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,760 But I also want you to hear in this testimony what happens when 324 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:29,600 we don't do what we're supposed to do. 325 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,840 It's a beautiful testimony. Just listen to this. 326 00:17:32,120 --> 00:17:34,520 This is the testimony of chastened Flora, who was 327 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,840 baptized in the first service. The things I remember about my 328 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,120 life before accepted Jesus into my heart. 329 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,880 I knew about God, but I didn't really know Him. 330 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:45,920 I never, I never took going to church, reading the Bible, my 331 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:48,920 family devotion seriously. I tried to be a good person, but 332 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,280 deep down I knew I was lost. My 6th grade year, I remember 333 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,240 sitting through one of the chapels as I listened to the 334 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,120 speaker, I felt God talking to me. 335 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,760 It was a feeling that I'd never had before and as tears ran down 336 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,600 my face, I started to pray, asking God to help me turn away 337 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,880 from my sins and asking God to come into my heart and be my 338 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:09,040 Lord and Savior. At that time I didn't have a 339 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,960 church home and we were visiting different churches, so my 340 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,760 parents and I reached out to multiple church leaders that we 341 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,440 felt could talk with me and help guide me to the next steps. 342 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,840 That is when the people I looked up to the most turned their 343 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:26,520 backs on me. I felt confused as to why no one 344 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,000 wanted to talk with me about becoming a Christian and being 345 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,600 baptized. My heart was broken and I no 346 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,440 longer trusted people that called themselves Christians. 347 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:39,520 I developed a lot of hatred and became very bitter. 348 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:42,480 At this point in my life, I felt like it was falling apart again. 349 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,840 I was overwhelmed with anxiety, disappointment, and emptiness to 350 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:47,640 the point that I was sinning against God. 351 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,320 Now, May 11th, my life changed here at Inglewood Baptist 352 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,840 Church. I felt God speaking to me. 353 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,160 I was tired of carrying all my worries on my own. 354 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,360 I started attending church more, going to Student Connect group, 355 00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:04,200 and spending more time with God by reading His word and doing my 356 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,040 daily devotion. I would like to give a big thank 357 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,240 you to Pastor Jordan and Pastor Dylan for believing in me and 358 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,880 talking with me when I reached my darkest point in my life. 359 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:17,520 I know I'm not alone and I know I've been saved by grace. 360 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,600 Jesus didn't just give me a second chance, He gave me a new 361 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,240 life and I'm excited to see what God has planned for me as a 362 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:25,400 Christian. Isn't that beautiful? 363 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:32,680 Amen. I'm so thankful that God didn't 364 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,720 give up on chasing because sometimes the church did. 365 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,280 Now see, we've got a responsibility, friends. 366 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,960 We we've been entrusted with life in the gospel and we got to 367 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,960 do something with that. And we got, I promise you here 368 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,080 at Inglewood and you, I promise you this, that if you make a 369 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,400 decision at Inglewood, we're going to be visiting with you 370 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,120 and counseling with you and talking with you and helping 371 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:56,080 you. And I want every single one of 372 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,520 you to understand this is my next step in discipleship. 373 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,320 This is my next step in discipleship. 374 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,760 This is for my kid. This is what my student needs to 375 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:03,880 do. And that's what these next 376 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:05,200 sermon series are going to help us do. 377 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,400 That's what's going to happen in our Connect Group ministries. 378 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:09,920 So I need you to understand how important this is. 379 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,560 Look at verse 22. The report of this came to the 380 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,080 ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to 381 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,200 Antioch. And when he came and saw the 382 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,480 grace of God, he was glad and he exhorted them all to remain 383 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,800 faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a 384 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,320 good man, full of the Holy Spirit and the faith, and a 385 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,720 great many people were added to the Lord. 386 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,160 So the mother church in Jerusalem, just like if you've 387 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,560 been in this study with me, you know that this happened more 388 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:38,040 than once. The church in Jerusalem wanted 389 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,040 to check this out. They send Barnabas and that 390 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,080 word, his name means Son of encouragement. 391 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,960 What a wonderful name to go help him. 392 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,600 And here's a man who is a leader. 393 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,680 Now, don't miss this. He had a known, observed 394 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:52,400 character. They knew him. 395 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,280 He was a good man. He was full of the Holy Spirit. 396 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,800 He was full of faith. And he had to display that for 397 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,320 people to know that about him. So how will we be known? 398 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,480 How will you be known? How are you known? 399 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,160 And more and more were saved. But that was just the beginning. 400 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:13,680 See, that's just the beginning. Our goal isn't to just make 401 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,560 converts, is it? Now what do we want to make? 402 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,800 Look at verse 25. S Barnabas went to Tarsus to 403 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,120 look for Saul. There he is again. 404 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,640 Oh Saul. And when he had found him, he 405 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,480 brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with 406 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,360 the church and taught a great many people. 407 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,760 And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 408 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,400 So this is what happens. God, blessed evangelism and a 409 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:44,200 faithful people lead to the need for, secondly, discipleship. 410 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,080 I mean, no surprise, right? With the great evangelistic 411 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:53,160 success, Barnabas needed help. I mean, what a great problem. 412 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:58,080 We have so many new believers. We're being overrun by people 413 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,600 being saved. We need help. 414 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,720 And you might think that's something foreign, something 415 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:07,800 that only happened Teresa. And I've experienced this, 416 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,640 Teresa and I have experienced this in previous past church 417 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,680 where more than once in more than one context, more than one 418 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,640 place, more than one kind of church where we've seen people 419 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,560 being saved and baptized every single week to the point we had 420 00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,320 to baptize on Wednesday nights. Keep up with it. 421 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:24,960 You got to think about what that means. 422 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,840 New Christians needing Bible study, their children needing 423 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,240 teaching and and guidance and an incredible awesome 424 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,880 responsibility for the church if the church is ready to accept 425 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,360 it. And my prayer is Inglewood that 426 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,200 we are because I believe this is what God will do here. 427 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:44,080 Between the sermon series coming up, our understanding of 428 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,120 discipleship, the REACH ministry, and our connect 429 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:49,800 groups, we've seen it time and time and time again. 430 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,000 What happens when we have to baptize 5? 431 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,560 Every Sunday we're going to have a 2 hour worship service. 432 00:22:57,560 --> 00:22:58,680 No, I'm kidding. OK, so here we go. 433 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:04,120 The other thing that's interesting in the book of Acts 434 00:23:04,120 --> 00:23:07,120 is time is often compressed in Acts. 435 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,480 So it gets weird. If you go to Galatians one and 436 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,440 two, you're going to realize it's been 10 years since we saw 437 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,160 Saul. And so a lot of time has passed 438 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,760 and the Bible says that Barnabas has to go down there and look 439 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,760 for him. The way the wording is, he 440 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,240 actually has a hard time finding him. 441 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,000 Saul's out doing ministry in Tarsus. 442 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:24,560 We don't hear about that in the Bible. 443 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,680 Maybe one day we can sit around and and hear that from him and 444 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:29,400 find out what you do during those 10 years. 445 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,600 But they came back and they taught for a whole year and they 446 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,080 made disciples. And for the first time these 447 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,120 equipped disciples were called Christians. 448 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,840 Now it's an interesting word because that terms only only 449 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,000 only occurs two other times in the New Testament, and it's used 450 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,640 by outsiders, not by actual Christians. 451 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,680 And in the beginning, this word was not necessarily positive. 452 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,280 It was actually used as a negative connotation by 453 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,680 outsiders about these believers in Jesus. 454 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,520 And the word actually is a combination of Greek and Latin. 455 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:05,280 You have Christosianus, which means that second word in Latin 456 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,360 means to be identified with. So I am identified, I belong to 457 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:11,360 Jesus Christ. That's what the word literally 458 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:13,240 means. And it doesn't become something 459 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,880 that the Christians themselves call themselves too much later. 460 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:22,880 But see, here we see people creating a new, separate, unique 461 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,600 identity. They're not, they're no longer 462 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,880 just formerly Jewish people. They're no longer just formerly 463 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,440 Pagan people. They're now a new people called 464 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,600 Christians. They're now a new identity. 465 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,240 And that's what the gospel does. That's what the church is like. 466 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,280 It's amazing that we can come together like that. 467 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,840 And, and we have to ask ourselves, are we producing 468 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,040 true, authentic Christians at Inglewood? 469 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:48,520 And you think, well, it might be a dumb question. 470 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,240 I don't think so because I don't know about you, but I've met a 471 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,520 lot of people in my life. Teresa and her testimony would 472 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,920 share that she would be one of these before she met Christ. 473 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:01,720 I've met a lot of people who think that they're Christians. 474 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:04,560 I met a lot of people. If you ask them, are you a 475 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:05,800 Christian, they're going to say yes. 476 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,560 And they think they are one. They call themselves one, 477 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:11,200 especially in this part of the country. 478 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,960 Have you ever met anybody who says I've been a Christian my 479 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:18,480 whole life? Yeah, this is a cultural 480 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,600 phenomenon here, especially in this part of the country. 481 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,200 Well, let me share a truth with you. 482 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:27,440 No, you have not. You have not been a Christian 483 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,640 your whole life. That's impossible. 484 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:31,800 Now. You might have been raised in a 485 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:34,720 wonderful Christian home. You might have gone to church 486 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,240 your entire life, and so you might have known about Jesus. 487 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,080 You might have known about the gospel. 488 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,400 As long as you can know anything in your life. 489 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:47,640 But until you personally trust in and rely upon Jesus Christ as 490 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,080 your personal Lord and Savior, because of who He is and because 491 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,840 of what He did on the cross and because of what He did in that 492 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,040 empty tomb, and you specifically asked Him to be your Lord and 493 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,360 Savior, you are not a true Christian. 494 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,440 You have to be saved no matter how you were raised. 495 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:09,040 And that's not my opinion. That's just the word of God. 496 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,560 So being saved should lead to a difference in our lives. 497 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:16,160 So we have to ask our questions. Are we really producing 498 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:21,800 disciples who multiply, who belong to, who truly identify 499 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,960 with Christ? So we need to create a 500 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:30,320 comprehensive, understood and valued pathway for for biblical 501 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,080 discipleship for all ages to where you know, this is what we 502 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,040 mean, this is what I need to do next. 503 00:26:35,080 --> 00:26:36,880 This is what my child needs to do next. 504 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,960 So we're going to need biblical definitions, destinations, and 505 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,160 directions of essential discipleship. 506 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,760 And that's what we're sharing in these upcoming sermon series. 507 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,400 We're going to define on it. This is what we mean by a 508 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:49,480 disciple. This is what we mean by a church 509 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,360 member. These are your expectations. 510 00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:53,800 These are your responsibilities. This is how we're going to care 511 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,440 for one another. This is how we're going to hold 512 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:58,240 each other accountable. And you got to understand right 513 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,600 now at this moment as we sit in this service, there's in fact, 514 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:03,480 I've heard it's historic. It may be a record. 515 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,520 I don't know that somebody that may be in recent time. 516 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,760 We have a great group in discover Inglewood in the edge 517 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:12,080 right now at this very moment studying about how to become a 518 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,320 member here. I've heard it's the largest 519 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:16,080 group ever, but I don't know if that's true, maybe just in 520 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,640 recent time. And I just pray that you're next 521 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:25,080 because I want you to be here. Because we need a clearly 522 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:30,280 defined, unified vision for church programs and resources to 523 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,400 move us away from a bumper car mentality to fulfill God's 524 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:38,120 mission so that we can really make disciples. 525 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,400 And that's so exciting to me. It's like building a train. 526 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:43,480 I mean, I can hear the engine revving up. 527 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:44,880 I can hear the steam building up. 528 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,680 I can hear that train coming. All right, so verse 27, I'll 529 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,160 move on. Verse 27. 530 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:55,120 Now in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, 531 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:57,440 and one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the 532 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,880 Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world. 533 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,000 This took place in the days of Claudius. 534 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,880 So the disciples determined everyone according to his 535 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,320 ability to send relief to the brothers living in Judea, and 536 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:12,360 they did so, sending it by to the elders by the hand of 537 00:28:12,360 --> 00:28:16,120 Barnabas and Saul. So evangelism and true 538 00:28:16,120 --> 00:28:19,880 discipleship then leads them to engage in #3 ministry and 539 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,680 stewardship. So we see Agabus, this prophet, 540 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,560 his interesting character, he'll appear again later in chapter 541 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:28,680 21. And he predicts Paul's arrest in 542 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,600 Jerusalem, and he predicts A famine that actually was 543 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,920 historically supported. So during the reign of Claudius, 544 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,840 there was a massive crop failure. 545 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,600 That's actually documented in both Roman and Egyptian 546 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,680 writings. So this is a real thing. 547 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,000 These are real people going through real events, as these 548 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:46,560 aren't fables. This isn't myth. 549 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:51,000 This is true history taking place, and the Church of Antioch 550 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,600 felt called to give and to minister to help. 551 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,560 They saw serving others. They saw giving to us and 552 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,640 meeting needs as Christ, like something a true disciple would 553 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,880 do. So they knew that they were 554 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,600 simply stewards of that which God had entrusted them, and they 555 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:06,920 gave for His glory. So they gave an offering each 556 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,040 according to the individual ability, and they sent it with 557 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:14,200 Barnabas and Saul. Now for a few minutes, tighten 558 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,080 up your seat belt. Curl up your toes. 559 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:19,040 I want to talk to church members. 560 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,920 If you're a guest here. Thank you for being here so 561 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,800 much. This infomercial will be over in 562 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,320 a minute. But Inglewood, we are now 563 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:31,560 working on our 2026 budget. We're doing it months earlier 564 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:34,600 than normal because we're using an entirely different process. 565 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,440 Every single person who's responsible for spending a penny 566 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,960 of Inglewood funds and money is, is is asked to propose. 567 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:44,680 How did they spend that money last year? 568 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,000 How do they think they're going to spend that money next year 569 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:50,080 and what do they believe God seeks for them to do in this 570 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:54,520 next year in a new way of with high assessment and and 571 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,680 massively high accountability? Just ask your finance team and 572 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,320 members. I'm just going to say it out 573 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,760 loud. I need you to support the 574 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,640 regular budget of this church if you do not do so already. 575 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:09,920 Now, let me help you understand this. 576 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,760 You are an extremely generous people. 577 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,200 I mean, more so than most churches, no question about it. 578 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:19,680 I mean that there's no embellishment. 579 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:22,080 I'm not running for office. I'm not looking for a vote. 580 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,480 You are incredibly generous people. 581 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:31,680 You're gracious. You are, but you often give to 582 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:36,440 your favorite heart project and and what happens is with that 583 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:40,160 designated giving is I'm asking you to please embrace the 584 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:44,320 regular budget with your hearts also because that regular budget 585 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,000 supports a myriad of ministry and makes everything possible. 586 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:52,600 And so don't just give to that thing you like that mission trip 587 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,400 or that special partnership or that special project. 588 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,440 And I and I don't want you to stop doing that. 589 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:00,160 It's wonderful. We would call that an offering, 590 00:31:00,680 --> 00:31:03,680 but your tithe, your base level giving, please make sure you're 591 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:05,600 supporting the budget. Does that make sense? 592 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,280 I'm just being honest with you and you are wonderful. 593 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,840 But, but but we want to see our budget continue to grow. 594 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,720 And here's why. Because I believe with all of my 595 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,800 heart, we're getting ready to experience historic growth and 596 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:22,080 we've got to make sure that we have the ministry capacity to 597 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,200 keep up with that, right? And so let's work together on 598 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:26,440 that. I'm there with you. 599 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,400 And then, and then I want you to ask yourself, how healthy is my 600 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,640 stewardship of my time and my focus? 601 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,640 This is for all of us. How well do I, how well do I 602 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:37,680 serve? How well do I volunteer? 603 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:39,440 How well do I lead when I'm asked to? 604 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,280 Because some of you are also designated servers. 605 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:43,960 Now bear with me. Don't throw anything yet. 606 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:50,240 I'm glad we don't have him. Those Charles I once I, I, I was 607 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,040 a valedictorian. I know it's hard to believe it 608 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:53,280 says something about my high school. 609 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,760 I was a valedictorian in my high school senior class, which says 610 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:57,200 something about my high school more than me. 611 00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,440 And, and at the end they let me pray because in those days you 612 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:02,880 could. So I'm praying at graduation and 613 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,160 the Superintendent leans over to you and goes as soon as you say 614 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,320 Amen, dug behind the podium. And as soon as I said Amen, I 615 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,600 dug behind the podium because those hats were coming at me. 616 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,600 They were throwing their mortar hats down there trying to pick 617 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,440 the the Superintendent. I think some of you are also 618 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,240 designated servers. And here's what you do. 619 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:22,320 You serve very well for this special, I mean, vacation of 620 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,200 obstacle. Amazing how many volunteers, 621 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:25,640 right? 252 weekend. 622 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:28,960 Amazing how many volunteers and you serve very well for these 623 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,760 special things. And that's wonderful. 624 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:33,280 It's admirable. Please don't stop. 625 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:37,240 Thank you for doing that. But then some weeks we don't 626 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:38,120 have enough people in the nursery. 627 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:41,080 We don't have enough people working with their children. 628 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:46,760 So also work hard on our week to week ministries that we have as 629 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,160 well, our special needs ministry, all kinds of things 630 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,760 and all kinds of opportunities. So we're going to help you with 631 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:54,720 that. We're going to establish a clear 632 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,680 pathway for leadership development, spiritual gift 633 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,000 discovery and volunteer placement. 634 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,200 So please be ready to give your best time and effort because 635 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:06,000 remember, one of the four areas of 100% participation 636 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:10,920 expectation from the crazy man up here is surface service. 637 00:33:11,880 --> 00:33:14,560 And this ought to be the part of an expectation responsibility of 638 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:17,240 mature discipleship and every single church member. 639 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:19,360 So the folks at Antioch didn't sit back. 640 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:20,760 They didn't expect somebody else to do it. 641 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:22,640 They all piled in, they all got on board. 642 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:24,400 They're all ready to do it. They're all trying to help. 643 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,240 And, and, and, and because our primary focus this morning needs 644 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:32,920 to be on Antioch, just let me summarize Acts chapter 12 verses 645 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:36,920 one through 23 for a moment, because it goes back to 646 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,680 Jerusalem for a while. So the Jerusalem church 647 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:42,920 experiences great persecution by a king, Herod. 648 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:48,880 In fact, he executes James the Apostle, who's the brother of 649 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,840 John. And Peter's imprisoned again, 650 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,640 and he's released from prison by an Angel again. 651 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:58,720 It's like they can't learn. And then King Herod allowed 652 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,440 someone to call him a God and he didn't correct them. 653 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:06,800 So God sends an Angel and strikes him dead and he's eaten 654 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:09,280 up by worms. The Bible tells us so. 655 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:11,800 Better be careful people. God means business. 656 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:16,239 OK, so the Holy Spirit once again defended his people, 657 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:19,000 promotes his mission just like he's been doing, as we've been 658 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,760 seeing in this study. Now let's rejoin the story at 659 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:27,120 Acts chapter 12, verse 24. But the word of God increased 660 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:30,960 and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned 661 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,639 from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, 662 00:34:33,639 --> 00:34:36,560 bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. 663 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,199 So the word of God increased and multiplied. 664 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,800 We've always got to remember whose mission this is. 665 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:45,040 We've always got to remember whose church this is. 666 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:48,040 You've always got to remember who owns life and who's in 667 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,679 complete control. And all we are must be 668 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:54,280 surrendered to that authority. We must turn over all He has 669 00:34:54,280 --> 00:34:56,960 entrusted to us because it belongs to Him and it needs to 670 00:34:56,960 --> 00:34:59,720 be used for His glory. And that includes the gift of 671 00:34:59,720 --> 00:35:03,720 your life, because we've been bought with a price by Jesus. 672 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:07,240 The Bible says. One of my favorite figures in 673 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:09,520 missions history is a missionary CT Stud. 674 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,000 I've mentioned him before. I just like the name CT Stud. 675 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,600 He, he was the Michael Jordan of Britain in his time. 676 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:17,680 He was a cricket player but he was he. 677 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:19,880 He would have been a multi millionaire in our day and he 678 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,240 was a well known celebrity in his day and he gave it all up 679 00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:25,880 for international missions. Listen to what he says. 680 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:27,360 He said. I hadn't. 681 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:31,680 I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I'd never understood 682 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,440 that if he died for me, then I didn't belong to myself. 683 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,680 Redemption means buying back so that if I belong to Him, either 684 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:42,640 I had to be a thief and keep what wasn't mine, or else I had 685 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:46,360 to give up everything to God. When I came to see that Jesus 686 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:50,040 had died for me, it didn't seem hard to give up all for him. 687 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:55,120 If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be 688 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,720 too great for me to make for Him. 689 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:01,720 OK, so God, wow, what else do we need to learn today? 690 00:36:01,720 --> 00:36:06,200 So go to Acts 13, verse one. Now there were in the church at 691 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,160 Antioch prophets and teachers Barnabas Simeon, who was called 692 00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:12,640 Niger, Lucius of Serene Manny, and a lifelong friend of Herod 693 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:15,720 the tetrarch and Saul. And while they were worshiping 694 00:36:15,720 --> 00:36:19,240 the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, set apart for me 695 00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:21,800 Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 696 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:25,320 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them 697 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:28,600 and sent them off. So when the church evangelizes, 698 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:31,720 when the church disciples, when the church ministers as 699 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:35,040 stewards, we're going to grow an even greater sensitivity to what 700 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:37,440 God wants. And so I want you to witness 701 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:39,920 their number four, prayer and worship first. 702 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:42,800 So the leadership you got to see from all these different 703 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,640 backgrounds, all these different, different 704 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:47,640 relationships, they're from different places, different 705 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,600 backgrounds. And God and his miraculous thing 706 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:53,120 called the church brings them all together in unity and 707 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,320 service. And I love that about the church 708 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,760 with all its weirdness, with all its issues. 709 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:01,360 It's this miracle where God brings us together into a crazy 710 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,480 family to serve him as one. And so the leaders of Antioch 711 00:37:05,480 --> 00:37:08,800 are worshipping, they're praying, they're fasting, they 712 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:14,640 sought God, they sought God as leaders. 713 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,360 You know, the new REACH strategy that we're going to implement in 714 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,120 our Connect groups is going to help us create a very proactive 715 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:24,280 personal and corporate prayer ministry, and it's going to 716 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:27,640 impact both our congregation and our communities. 717 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,880 I hope you'll pray for the leader training that's coming up 718 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,440 in the next few weeks. But we also have recorded some 719 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:34,360 podcasts. And just to let you know, 720 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:36,560 because I get asked about this a lot because of our Wednesday 721 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,960 night podcasting series. And we, we've recorded some 722 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,840 podcast episodes that will help you in your prayer life. 723 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:44,200 You can use them just in your prayer life. 724 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:46,360 They're actually designed for when you're out walking your 725 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:48,160 neighborhood. So if you go walking your dog or 726 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,560 you like to walk around the neighborhood or the mall or the 727 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,440 track and you listen along with this and it's going to give you 728 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:56,840 prayer prompts as you walk and you listen, pray for this and, 729 00:37:57,000 --> 00:37:58,880 and they'll be pauses for the next 4 minutes. 730 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:00,520 Pray for that and then they'll come back on. 731 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:03,840 So you enjoy, there'll be some just in general that Pastor 732 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:05,760 Charles and I've done. There's some on how to pray for 733 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:08,040 lost people, how to pray for inactive Christians. 734 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,600 We're going to do some on worship, how to study the Word, 735 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:14,040 all kinds of things. So listen for those things and 736 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:17,880 then spend time fasting and praying yourself as you seek 737 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:19,960 God. You might fast your time, you 738 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:25,000 might fast your focus to seek the Lord's will for our future, 739 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:29,000 or for your next personal discipleship steps, or about the 740 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,280 one with whom you ought to share the gospel today. 741 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,040 Because true worship, if you really understand what it is, 742 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:39,320 what true worship does is it takes the focus off of you and 743 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:43,160 all the stuff going on in your life and it places it upon the 744 00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:45,640 one on the throne where it belongs now. 745 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:50,320 Often times we tend to equate worship with singing and music, 746 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:52,160 and we call this the worship service. 747 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:55,400 But it's far more than that. See, the the the music and the 748 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:59,640 singing are designed to help us to focus, to help us redirect 749 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:03,560 our attention off of us to bring praise and glory to Him. 750 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:08,760 And so spend quality time, personal time every day in 751 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,120 focused worship. As you seek His Word and you 752 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,320 seek His will for your life, open yourself up to what He 753 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:19,720 desires from and for you and stop and listen for His voice. 754 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:24,000 As you study His word, pay attention to how He moves your 755 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:28,440 heart in prayer and praise Him for who He is and thank Him for 756 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,600 all that He's done, all that He's doing, and all that He's 757 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,360 going to do. Now look at verse 2. 758 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,400 We're coming to the last point. And while they were worshiping 759 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,640 the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, set apart for me, 760 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:44,120 Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I've called them. 761 00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:47,840 Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them 762 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:51,320 and sent them off. See, a church that engaged in 763 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:54,160 evangelism, discipleship, stewardship, ministry, prayer, 764 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:57,480 and worship is going to grow more and more outwardly focused. 765 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:00,280 And they're going to want to do what God wants. 766 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:03,320 And they're going to want to impact not just themselves and 767 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:05,200 their community inside the church. 768 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,360 They're going to impact their world. 769 00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:11,440 So learn finally from Antioch about their missions. 770 00:40:12,520 --> 00:40:15,480 The Holy Spirit led the church right to his mission. 771 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:19,760 And if we focus and listen, He's always going to do that. 772 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:23,720 And they respond in faith as a cosmopolitan city, a large city. 773 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:26,880 Having a burden and vision for the nations was not a difficult 774 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:28,640 thing for them. They were surrounded by them. 775 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,360 And we need to be no different. My friends, the lost world is 776 00:40:31,360 --> 00:40:33,880 right here, It's right around you. 777 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:39,560 But how will we respond to that? The Antioch Church was planted 778 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:43,000 because others went there to share the gospel to the lost in 779 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,000 that city. They knew they needed to go. 780 00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:47,880 They knew that's what they had to do. 781 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:49,920 And we need to feel that same burden. 782 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:52,560 Now, today, this morning, we celebrated people who are going 783 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:54,360 to go help a church plant up in Pittsburgh. 784 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,040 They're going to go take the gospel up there. 785 00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:58,480 We've also mentioned a group that's in Taiwan right now 786 00:40:58,480 --> 00:41:00,480 fighting weather a little bit. They're there to share the 787 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:01,400 gospel. Tonight. 788 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:04,320 We're going to celebrate sending out people and folks from 789 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:07,520 Tarboro are going to join us. You need to be here tonight to 790 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:09,280 celebrate. Celebrate with our brothers and 791 00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:12,120 sisters from Tarboro who are going to join us here for this 792 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:14,040 incredible celebration. We're going to have a reception 793 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:15,160 following. It's going to be incredible 794 00:41:15,160 --> 00:41:17,520 time. You need to be here as we send 795 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:21,320 out the tailors to share the gospel in Tarboro. 796 00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:25,840 It's the same thing. So Antioch responded to the Holy 797 00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:28,320 Spirit and obedience and they send out these very first global 798 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:31,120 missionaries. And so how must we do this? 799 00:41:31,120 --> 00:41:34,680 What is our obedient response? Maybe he's calling you to 800 00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:38,400 missions this morning. Maybe that's what you're 801 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:42,440 supposed to do with your life. You need to serve on the mission 802 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:44,480 field someplace. You need to serve in ministry 803 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:46,880 someplace. Perhaps he's calling you the 804 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:48,480 word sent that's used in the scripture. 805 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:50,840 There's an interesting word. It means to release somebody 806 00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:53,360 from their duties. And you got to think about who 807 00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:55,360 these two guys were, Barnabas and Saul. 808 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:57,840 I mean, these were the primary teachers. 809 00:41:57,920 --> 00:41:59,800 These were the some of the primary leaders. 810 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:02,680 They're sending out the very cream of the crop to go. 811 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:06,400 You are released from your responsibilities here. 812 00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:10,120 Now go and take the gospel and make disciples and train 813 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:12,440 leaders. So we've got to develop a 814 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:16,760 systemic mission strategy to engage the entire congregation, 815 00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,440 as well as to send new missionaries and church planters 816 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:20,880 out from this church. We're working on that. 817 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:22,720 I'd like to plan a new church every three years. 818 00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:25,240 I'd like to send out missionaries every three years. 819 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:30,000 I want all of you, 100% of us, engaged somehow in the mission 820 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:31,480 projects. We're going to use our connect 821 00:42:31,480 --> 00:42:34,560 groups to help us with that too. So the rest of the book of Acts 822 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:36,760 is that story, the story of their missionary journeys. 823 00:42:36,760 --> 00:42:37,920 We're going to come back in November. 824 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:41,640 We'll talk about those then. But right now we need to move to 825 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:45,280 our next step. What's the proper identity for 826 00:42:45,280 --> 00:42:49,080 Inglewood Baptist Church? What's that specific vision, 827 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:53,200 that contextual plan that God wants us to live out as His 828 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:57,000 church, to join Him on mission? How can I be that true 829 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:01,760 Christian, a real disciple, totally identified with Christ 830 00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:07,840 that he seeks for me to be? How will we be known in our 831 00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:12,040 communities in the world? You may not know this, but but 832 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:18,920 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola. 72% of the world has 833 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:26,320 seen Coca-Cola, 51% of the world has tasted Coca-Cola, and Coke's 834 00:43:26,320 --> 00:43:28,280 only been around since the early 1900s. 835 00:43:28,280 --> 00:43:31,480 I mean, if God had assigned world evangelization to the 836 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:34,720 Coca-Cola Company, the job could have been done by now. 837 00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:41,080 But He gave it to us. And there's not somebody else. 838 00:43:42,120 --> 00:43:44,720 It's not their response, it's not mine, it's theirs. 839 00:43:44,720 --> 00:43:46,160 There's none of that. It's us. 840 00:43:46,240 --> 00:43:51,600 It's us, me and you. We have a Commission task and it 841 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:54,040 doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter who you've 842 00:43:54,040 --> 00:43:56,240 been. This king has a mission for you 843 00:43:56,240 --> 00:43:58,040 if you'll trust him and believe in him. 844 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:01,120 One of my other favorite people from missions is a guy named 845 00:44:01,120 --> 00:44:03,920 George Scott. He was A1 legged school teacher 846 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:06,920 and he goes to Jay Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to 847 00:44:06,920 --> 00:44:08,760 China. And he goes, I want to serve in 848 00:44:08,760 --> 00:44:10,920 China. And Taylor looks at him and he 849 00:44:10,920 --> 00:44:13,560 says with only one leg, why do you think of going as a 850 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:16,080 missionary? And Scott replies with his whole 851 00:44:16,080 --> 00:44:17,400 heart. He says, well, I don't see 852 00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:22,440 people with two legs going. And he went and he served there 853 00:44:22,440 --> 00:44:27,840 in China beautifully. Don't matter who you are, God 854 00:44:27,840 --> 00:44:31,160 has a purpose for you. And these early churches provide 855 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:34,200 us patterns and examples as they engage in evangelism, 856 00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:37,640 discipleship, stewardship, ministry, worship, prayer, 857 00:44:37,640 --> 00:44:41,000 fasting and missions. And to be a biblically healthy 858 00:44:41,000 --> 00:44:44,680 church, so must we. So we're going to begin to learn 859 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:48,800 how to do that next Sunday. But for now, I just encourage 860 00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:53,960 you one last time, Come join the King's mission. 861 00:44:55,080 --> 00:44:59,280 CT Stud also said this once and it was made into a song. 862 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:02,840 He said some wish to live within the sound of a church or a 863 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:06,040 Chapel bell. But I want to run a rescue shop 864 00:45:06,760 --> 00:45:10,200 within a yard of hell. What about us? 865 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,440 What does God want us to do with his gift of life? 866 00:45:15,240 --> 00:45:22,600 How does He want us to be known? Father, thank you so much that 867 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:25,360 you give us these gifts. Father. 868 00:45:25,360 --> 00:45:29,280 You equip us with everything we need, Father, to be obedient to 869 00:45:29,280 --> 00:45:31,480 You, to fulfill Your purpose and plan for us. 870 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:34,280 We lack nothing if we trust in You. 871 00:45:36,240 --> 00:45:38,280 But Father, for some, maybe they never have. 872 00:45:38,680 --> 00:45:40,480 So that's the starting point for them. 873 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:43,920 Father, I pray that if there's someone here who's never trusted 874 00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:46,600 in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, that right now your 875 00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:49,880 Holy Spirit would just run rampant over their hearts and 876 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:51,720 minds. Their Spirit, for them to know 877 00:45:51,720 --> 00:45:55,000 that you are absolutely real, the gospel is the absolute 878 00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:56,920 truth. The only way they can be saved 879 00:45:56,920 --> 00:45:59,800 is by trusting that Christ died on the cross for their sins and 880 00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:03,400 rose again. Others need to come and join. 881 00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:06,040 Or maybe they need to be baptized, like the testimony we 882 00:46:06,040 --> 00:46:08,040 read. Father, like like Jason showed 883 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:11,280 us earlier, Father, that they too need to recognize and 884 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:14,240 identify publicly, proudly with Christ. 885 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:18,000 Maybe some just need to come and pray. 886 00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:22,080 But Father, all of us need to understand what is my next step? 887 00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:25,600 So Father, in a moment, as we sing, I pray that maybe they'll 888 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:28,120 come and talk to a pastor. Maybe they'll come and kneel 889 00:46:28,120 --> 00:46:30,120 here at these steps. Or maybe they'll go to our new 890 00:46:30,120 --> 00:46:33,560 Next Step room and pray with those who've been trained. 891 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:35,960 People are going to love them. People just want to share with 892 00:46:35,960 --> 00:46:37,200 them. People want to encourage them. 893 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:42,200 So Father, whatever we need to do this morning, it's time to do 894 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:46,680 it. It's time to respond in Christ's 895 00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:49,800 name, Amen. Well, stand with me. 896 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:52,200 We're going to sing, but I also want to introduce to you and 897 00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:55,400 encourage you right over here. We have a room and we have 898 00:46:55,400 --> 00:46:57,520 trained people who want to share with you. 899 00:46:58,240 --> 00:47:00,560 They want to love on you. They want to pray with you. 900 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:03,200 They want to talk to you about what God's laying on your heart. 901 00:47:03,800 --> 00:47:05,840 And some of you may want to come and talk to a pastor. 902 00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:07,520 We'll be here. Maybe you want to come and pray 903 00:47:07,520 --> 00:47:09,440 here, but I encourage you to go there. 904 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:11,960 Maybe you're not comfortable praying right here, but these 905 00:47:11,960 --> 00:47:14,880 people would love to pray with you and encourage you. 906 00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:16,760 So I encourage you just make your way to that room. 907 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:19,040 They're going to hang around for a little while even after 908 00:47:19,160 --> 00:47:22,200 they're going to be there. So as we sing, you start moving 909 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:29,720 that way as we join together. Thank you so much for listening 910 00:47:29,720 --> 00:47:31,320 today. And I also hope that you'll go 911 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:33,560 to ourwebsite@englewoodbaptist.com 912 00:47:33,560 --> 00:47:36,600 as well as our app and find many other resources that will bless 913 00:47:36,600 --> 00:47:38,800 you and your families. Thank you once again.