1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:08,000 So every time I preach a sermon, at the very top of the document 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,560 where I am writing the message, there are three questions that I 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,400 have to answer. And if I have done a good job 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:20,120 preaching at the end of the sermon, if I were to ask you 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,960 those three questions, your answers that you give should, If 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:27,400 I've done a good job, this is not about you. 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:32,439 If I've done a good job, should be very close to what I wrote at 8 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:34,320 the top of the page. I'm going to tell you what the 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,840 questions are. The first question is, what do I 10 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,920 want them to know? What do I want you to know? 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,800 It might be I want you to know that God's way is the best way 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,560 in every area of your life. It could be I want you to know 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:55,920 that a sin or a behavior is damaging your life and damaging 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,760 your future. It might be how to overcome a 15 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,040 temptation. Or I want you to know how God 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,280 views a marriage or how God sees you. 17 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:09,520 I want you to know what do I want you to know? 18 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:15,440 The second question is, what do I want you to feel? 19 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,880 What do I want you to feel? This is all about the emotions 20 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,000 that you experience during a message. 21 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,600 Is Clayton just some angry prophet who's screaming at us 22 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,600 about how bad we are? I try not to do that all too 23 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,520 often. Is Clayton just coming alongside 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,160 of us saying, hey guys, we can do this together? 25 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,120 What do I want you to feel? Do I want you to feel encouraged 26 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,600 or maybe a little remorseful? Do I want you to feel empowered? 27 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:46,400 I want to do this. Do I want you to feel inspired? 28 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,080 I can do this. Or do I want you to feel 29 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,280 equipped, like, let's go, let's get it done. 30 00:01:54,720 --> 00:02:00,600 So much of this comes down to the tone of how I speak to you. 31 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:06,240 And what I try to do is I try to match my tone with the tone of 32 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,960 the text. I want to do my very best to try 33 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,600 to speak to you the way God is speaking in the text. 34 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,520 So there are times when you are reading a text and it's very 35 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,440 comforting. And I try to have a very 36 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,920 comforting tone. And there are times where it is 37 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:27,080 super clear and strong. And I try to have a clear and 38 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,360 strong tone. And I don't always get it right, 39 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,280 but there's at least some intentionality behind it that I 40 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,040 thought you should know. But the third question is the 41 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,920 most important question. What do I want them to do? 42 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,520 This is about revealing what God's Word says and doing what 43 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,720 it says. And this question is the most 44 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,920 important question. Hear me. 45 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,600 It is not what you know that makes the difference. 46 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,360 It is not what you feel that makes the difference. 47 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:07,880 It is what we do that makes the difference and it makes all the 48 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,800 difference. It is in the doing that 49 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:16,920 everything changes. The knowing and the feeling are 50 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:23,400 in service to the doing. If we get that reversed, if it 51 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,400 is all about knowledge, we become spiritually obese and 52 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:32,520 Kingdom useless. If it is all about how you feel, 53 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,920 we have made ourselves out to to be an idol and we are worshiping 54 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,760 ourselves. We are evaluating our church. 55 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,120 We're evaluating the worship. We're evaluating the sermon on 56 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:50,320 how did it make me feel? But when we focus our attention 57 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:56,840 on the doing, the only way for us to be a disciple of Jesus is 58 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:01,480 to do the things that Jesus calls us to do. 59 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,120 The reason I try to put humor in my messages for those of you 60 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,960 like I wish he would just settle down a little bit is because 61 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,160 when I was in Bible college, one of my professors did his 62 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:17,640 doctorate in the use of of humor during the presentation of 63 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,399 information. And here is what was found that 64 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:23,920 when people laugh, their defense mechanisms come down. 65 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:29,080 When we laugh, our mind and our heart re engage in the 66 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,880 information. When we laugh, our retention 67 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,440 goes up. So at the end of a sermon, when 68 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,000 people are talking all about blizzards and ice cream cakes or 69 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,520 how fat I am or whatever, I'm going. 70 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,200 Yeah, but I got you because you remember that I was talking. 71 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,320 Now, I rarely go into the office on Mondays. 72 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,920 I usually stay home and I work on the sermon. 73 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,280 And I work on the sermon until it's done. 74 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,320 And I don't feel it's like a woodpecker because Thursday's 75 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,680 coming. So it's like just get the sermon 76 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,360 done, get the sermon done. Jennifer's talking to me. 77 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,400 I'm like, get the sermon done, get the sermon done, phone call, 78 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:04,680 get the sermon done, get the sermon done. 79 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,120 All I can think is I got to get the sermon done. 80 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:14,080 And I don't have a sermon. I might have a speech, I might 81 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:18,480 have some points, I might have a little devo, but it is not a 82 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,360 sermon until I have answered those three questions and they 83 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:28,640 are crystal clear in my mind. I am building every message that 84 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:34,480 I've ever preached to you with the end goal of you doing what 85 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:41,320 God's Word says because a core belief that I have is God's way 86 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,600 is the best way. How serious are we at the 87 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,800 crossing? Well, every single week we have 88 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,920 a moment in the sermon. You all know what it is where we 89 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:57,360 say we are moving to a time of decision. 90 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:01,600 You guys pay attention. Implied in this statement is 91 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:08,720 that there is something for us to do and we must decide whether 92 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:12,960 or not we're going to do it. I want to welcome all of you 93 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,680 joining at all of our different locations, whether you're here 94 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:20,240 at our 48th Street campus or Macomb, Kirksville, 929 Pike 95 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,600 County, Hannibal, Lima, Mount Sterling, Keokuk, Monmouth, 96 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,400 Jacksonville, Weaver inside watching online. 97 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,480 We are so glad that you guys are here. 98 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:35,280 And today we are concluding a sermon series called Some 99 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:40,120 Assembly Required. Not all assembly required like a 100 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,040 grill or a smoker. If you've ever put one of those 101 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:46,880 things together, good grief, it is not no assembly required like 102 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,560 a printer or a trailer, but some turn to your neighbor and say 103 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:56,160 some, some assembly required. We have something that we are 104 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,560 supposed to do. This is not all on God. 105 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:03,120 There is a part for us to play, and this series has been part 106 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:08,200 what we believe is a church, part why we do what we do as a 107 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,600 church, but most importantly, it has been designed to help you 108 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,440 build a meaningful encounter with God. 109 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,480 That's why we've talked about baptism. 110 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:19,920 That's why we've talked about gathering. 111 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,440 That's why we've talked about communion. 112 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,520 That's why we've talked about worship. 113 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,720 And if you are new to the crossing, I would encourage you 114 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,800 to check out this entire series if you haven't watched it yet. 115 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,680 It will help you get a better understanding of who we are and 116 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,280 what we're inviting you to be a part of. 117 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,920 And you can grab that at all the different places. 118 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:38,760 I know where the crossing church. 119 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,680 I know where the crossing, but those were all taken. 120 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,720 So you just got to be smart to go here if you want to find 121 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,160 whatever we're whatever we're doing. 122 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:47,800 It's one crossing. Yeah. 123 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,280 There you go. All right, today we are going to 124 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,440 answer the question that is at the very heart of our church. 125 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,320 It is the thing that we do that when other pastors come and 126 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,640 visit, go. I wish my church did this. 127 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:07,760 If I had a magic wand, it would be that every church would do 128 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:12,000 what we do when we do this. Now, there might be some of you 129 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,440 and you might be going, I see you guys do this thing, but I 130 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,680 don't know why we do it. You picked a perfect week to 131 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,000 come to church. You like, man, some of you, 132 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,200 you've been coming here for a little while and you're like, 133 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,880 this is really stinking strange. Some of you have done it and you 134 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:28,960 don't know why you did it. You just did it. 135 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,800 Some of you have been here forever and you've never done 136 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,960 it, but you've always thought about it. 137 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:37,840 You might have been here a long time and you've wanted to do it. 138 00:08:38,039 --> 00:08:40,520 You haven't done it, but maybe today will be the day that you 139 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,840 do do it. What are we talking about? 140 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,520 We're talking about coming to the steps to pray now. 141 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,880 So let's just answer the question, why do we have people 142 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,720 come to the steps to pray? It's a great question. 143 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,640 Like why out of all the things that we do, do we have a little 144 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,560 moment where we have people come up here and come to the steps 145 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,600 and pray? Well, I'll tell you in Second 146 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,280 Hesitations, chapter 4, verse 13, we find these words upon the 147 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,000 completion of the sermon. Have the heathens come forward 148 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,800 and bow at the steps. The steps are to be made of wood 149 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:12,160 and shall be covered in cheap carpet. 150 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,680 Thou shalt have Kleenex and boxes covered in cloth so that 151 00:09:15,680 --> 00:09:19,480 the sinners may wipe their eyes over how bad they are, or more 152 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:25,200 often, how bad the sermon was. It's in there every like I OK, 153 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,760 now let's say Full disclosure. All right, one that was all 154 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:30,560 made-up. For those of you who didn't get 155 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:32,720 the joke, keep coming because we're going to teach you the 156 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,400 Bible. Some of you I said second 157 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,760 hesitations and you're like, that's got to be Old Testament 158 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,440 and I have I'm a New Testament Christian. 159 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,040 Like that's you know, you're you're in the back part of Jose. 160 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,800 You're like, it's in there. It's got to be there. 161 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,560 OK, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. 162 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:50,360 This is this is so you got to know this, OK, because I'm 163 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:55,040 exposing a vulnerability. Having people come to the steps 164 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,520 is not in the Bible. I need you to know that I know 165 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:03,880 that it is not nowhere, nowhere in the Bible. 166 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,040 One of the favorite things that we do here at our church is not 167 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,840 in the Bible. So when you're talking to 168 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:11,880 somebody and they say that's not in the Bible, you're going to 169 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:13,400 say you're exactly thinking, right? 170 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,800 It's in Second hesitations, chapter 4, verse 13. 171 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,440 Coming to the steps is something that we do culturally. 172 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,920 So while the action is not in Scripture, the intentionality 173 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:30,240 about what happens at the steps is all over the Bible. 174 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,960 Recently at one of our elders meetings, our chairman gave a 175 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,320 devotion and when he was giving the devotion, I start, I flipped 176 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,240 my page over and I started writing all kinds of notes. 177 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:46,880 Now let me give you unpack this. So our elders are a group of men 178 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:51,000 who they, their job is to govern the crossing. 179 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:55,240 They are not paid. They don't get a check for doing 180 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,680 this. I'm the only person who gets a 181 00:10:56,680 --> 00:10:59,320 check for, for doing this. Like they, they don't don't, 182 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:02,120 they don't get paid. It is a volunteer role. 183 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:06,880 They pick who's in charge and they oversee our church. 184 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,400 And as a staff, we are answerable to them. 185 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,160 And these guys are in charge of an awful lot. 186 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,800 They oversee making sure that our doctrine is in alignment 187 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,920 with the Scripture, that we're not saying things that aren't in 188 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,360 the Bible. They are the ones who dictate 189 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,160 our mission as a church. You don't get to pick the 190 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,960 mission of our church. I don't get to pick the mission 191 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:27,640 of our church. Our elders pick the mission of 192 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,640 our church. They are the ones who establish 193 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,400 our core values. They're the ones who say this is 194 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:32,680 the kind of church we're going to be. 195 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,000 They set and approve our finances. 196 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,480 They're the ones who are in charge of the budget. 197 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,240 They're the ones and what we say yes to and what we say no to. 198 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,000 And they make all of our key decisions. 199 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,920 And we gather once a month and our teams turn in big reports 200 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,720 and they read all 45 pages of all the different stuff that's 201 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,000 happening at our church. And they make the decisions. 202 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,920 And so when we gather before we start making all the decisions 203 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:56,840 as a church, we spend a little bit of time praying and a little 204 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,640 bit time focusing on the Lord, which would be a good thing to 205 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,720 do for people who, you know, are in charge of running a church. 206 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,800 And he opened his devotion with these words. 207 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:08,920 We tend to become the decisions we make. 208 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:17,080 If that statement is true, the more we choose something, the 209 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:23,680 more we become that something because with each decision we 210 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:29,560 make, we pick up momentum in the in the direction of that 211 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:33,440 decision. If we are making decisions to do 212 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,480 the things that move us forward in our relationship with Christ, 213 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:41,280 as opposed to the worldly things that will pull us away, there is 214 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:50,200 no way we won't grow spiritually into the person that God wants 215 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:55,160 us to be. Where we can get ourselves into 216 00:12:55,160 --> 00:13:00,000 trouble. Where we slide backwards is we 217 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:05,240 want what is right and important, and we know that it's 218 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:10,960 a good thing, But at the exact same time, we do not commit to 219 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:17,040 doing the things that we know that will produce in us the type 220 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:22,800 of Christian life that we want to live and enjoy and that God 221 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:30,120 called us to be. Who we really want to become is 222 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,240 the result of daily choices that we make. 223 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:42,520 In other words, the decisions we make end up making us. 224 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,840 Recently I was talking to a guy in our church who had lost a ton 225 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,480 of weight. I was speaking to him from a 226 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:57,360 position of jealousy and I said, So what have you done to lose 227 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,120 this much weight? And this is what he said 228 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:06,920 recently or overall it implied a timeline. 229 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,960 Then he began to tell of a decision that he made over a 230 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:17,160 year ago and then the daily decisions that followed. 231 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:23,160 You can right now, by looking at me, tell whether or not I am 232 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,640 making daily decisions in the direction of weight loss. 233 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:34,880 If you have trouble seeing. I ate a Portillo's cake this 234 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,320 week, All right, I wasn't going to eat a piece. 235 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:40,600 I just brought it home for the family. 236 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,560 But then there were six that nobody took and I was like, I'm 237 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:48,040 here. Lord, send me, hear me. 238 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,120 One decision did not make that guy lose weight. 239 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:59,360 That one decision with another decision with another decision 240 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:03,880 with another decision made all the difference. 241 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:09,000 Talk to any person who has experienced financial success 242 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:14,360 and chances are there were a bunch of daily decisions that 243 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,960 led to their financial position. One of our pastors was talking 244 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,000 to one of the staff members we have here at our church, a 245 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,000 really young couple. And for a period of time they 246 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,080 worked a ton of jobs. Like I can't remember if it was 247 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,760 four or seven jobs, but their goal was they wanted to buy a 248 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,600 house debt free. And so there is a couple on 249 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,840 staff at our church in their late 20s, early 30s who have a 250 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:47,960 debt free home. Getting there required daily 251 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,640 decisions in the direction of their goal. 252 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:57,120 And people who have an intimate personal relationship with Jesus 253 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,520 would tell you that the depth of that relationship with Jesus did 254 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:08,720 not occur overnight, but through daily commitments to grow and 255 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:14,120 walk with Jesus. Knowledge is not the difference 256 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,480 maker. Obedience is. 257 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:22,960 If knowledge were enough, I would be looking at a room full 258 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,160 of skinny rich people. Don't look around. 259 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:27,280 Don't. Don't. 260 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:31,000 Don't be judgy. He's talking about you. 261 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:33,440 That's why I brought you this week. 262 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,960 You're fat and poor. OK? 263 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:40,800 I I'm fat and poor, but I'm tall. 264 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,720 OK, that helps. I mean, Can you imagine this 265 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,520 body if it was 5 three? I mean, I'd be around. 266 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:53,640 I'd roll everywhere I go. Jesus actually addressed this at 267 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:57,000 the end of his magnum opus, the Sermon on the Mount. 268 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,920 You've heard me teach this a ton of times. 269 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:03,320 It's one of my favorite verses in all of scripture because it's 270 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,839 also one of the most convicting. Luke chapter 6. 271 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:14,119 This is what Jesus says. Why do you call me Lord, Lord 272 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:22,160 and do not do what I say? Jesus is looking at this crowd 273 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,839 and he is acknowledging the fact that this is a gigantic 274 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,240 oxymoron. Jesus is saying you call me 275 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:36,840 Lord, you call me King, you call me Master, you call me the one 276 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:41,360 in charge, but then you do not do what I say. 277 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:48,520 If I'm your Lord, if I'm your King, if I'm your master, if I'm 278 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:53,200 in charge, then you should be doing what I tell you to do. 279 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,240 So you call me Lord, Lord, and you do not do what I say, which 280 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,560 means you are not doing what I say, which means I am not your 281 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:07,240 Lord, your Master, your King, the one in charge. 282 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,720 Now Jesus, he's such a kind, kind man. 283 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:18,520 Jesus is such a kind, kind God that after he exposes this to 284 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,800 them, he teaches, he gives them a picture to understand what 285 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:25,800 happens. This is not hear me. 286 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,760 This is not just about following God. 287 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,720 This is about four our good because he goes on to talk about 288 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:40,080 two groups of people, those who hear and obey and those who hear 289 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,600 and do not obey. Let's look what happens. 290 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:50,520 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them 291 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:55,640 into practice, I will show you what they are like. 292 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:03,640 They are like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid 293 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,560 the foundation on rock. When a flood came. 294 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:12,960 The torrent struck that house. But could you guys say the next 295 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:17,720 3 words could not shake it? How many of you would like a 296 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:23,440 life that cannot be shaken? If you didn't want that, 297 00:19:24,360 --> 00:19:26,400 California is a great place to live. 298 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:36,160 OK, Because it was well built. Why was this house well built? 299 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,480 Why was this house something that could not be shaken? 300 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,320 Two things. They heard the word, they lived 301 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,520 out the word. Let's keep going. 302 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,720 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into 303 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:57,040 practice is like a man who built the house on the ground without 304 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,840 a foundation. The moment. 305 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:06,440 The torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its 306 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:15,320 destruction was complete. In both examples, they hear the 307 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:19,080 word of God. Hearing is good. 308 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,880 Hearing is better than not hearing. 309 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:29,240 Hearing is good. Knowledge is good, but knowledge 310 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,840 without obedience is of little value. 311 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:39,240 It is what happens after the hearing that makes all the 312 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:46,240 difference in both examples. Let's first just a second. 313 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,280 I'm not taking, I'm not taking shots. 314 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,280 No emails for just a second. I'm not taking shots. 315 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:58,120 I just need a way to clarify it. If we were to call the people 316 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:03,080 who hear and obey Christians and the people who do not hear and 317 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:08,920 or who do hear and do not obey non Christians, do both groups 318 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,200 go through storms? Yes. 319 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,840 So for anybody who you listen to when you're scrolling, that is 320 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:19,400 like a health and wealth person that if you fall in love with 321 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:23,520 Jesus, if your whole life will be up and to the right, that is 322 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,280 a false prophet, an evil teacher, and they will be judged 323 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,040 by God for it. And do not listen to it. 324 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,000 Hear me. When you read the New Testament, 325 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,320 you find out there are all kinds of people who loved Jesus and 326 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,040 their life sucked. It's horrible, bad things 327 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:41,880 happened. Being a Christian keeps you out 328 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,320 of some storms. It keeps you out of some storms. 329 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:48,720 If you're a Christian and your spouse is a Christian and you're 330 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,960 both chasing after Jesus, you probably won't have to go 331 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,520 through the storm of divorce. If you are honoring God with 332 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,120 your purity, you probably won't have to go through the storm of 333 00:21:57,120 --> 00:22:00,480 a sexually transmitted disease. There are certain storms that 334 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,920 you will be saved from, but you will not be saved from all 335 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,000 storms. Do Christians get cancer? 336 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,880 Yeah. Do non Christians get cancer? 337 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,600 Yeah. Do Christians have crazy kids? 338 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:14,440 Oh God. Yeah. 339 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,640 I've heard stories and I don't know any personally. 340 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,600 Do non Christians have trouble with their kids? 341 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,560 Do Christian kids get in fights at school? 342 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:28,840 Yeah, yeah. They've been listening to their 343 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:29,960 mom and she said hit them harder. 344 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,080 OK. Do do non Christian kids get in 345 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:35,160 fight at school? Do Christians lose their job? 346 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,280 Do non Christians lose their job? 347 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:40,760 Do Christians have to navigate inflation? 348 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:43,120 Do non Christians have to navigate inflation? 349 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:48,880 Hold on, hold on, hold on. What's the difference? 350 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,920 When the Christian goes through the storms of life, they've 351 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,000 built their life on a different foundation. 352 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:03,800 So blow wind, blow rain, come down, waters rise. 353 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,440 Because eventually it will stop raining. 354 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:09,320 Eventually the wind will stop blowing. 355 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,560 Eventually the waters will recede and I'll still be 356 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:19,960 standing is a promise for those who hear and obey. 357 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:32,520 After the storm, after the rain, after the wind, the destruction 358 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:37,760 is complete. One person hears and obeys and 359 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:40,280 they dig down deep. They do the work. 360 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,280 They lay their foundation on the rock. 361 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,680 One person hears and does not obey and puts their house on the 362 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,240 surface of the sand. And when the storm comes, one is 363 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:56,280 saved, one is destroyed. That is why every week at the 364 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:01,200 Crossing, we make time for people to make a decision. 365 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:08,280 And hear me not making a decision is making a decision. 366 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,480 Next question. So do you have to go to the 367 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:21,400 steps to make a decision? No, no, no. 368 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:29,360 But yeah, let me explain. I believe that there is 369 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:31,840 something special that happens when you come to the steps to 370 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:33,760 pray. This is not in the Bible. 371 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,080 This is me. I believe that something special 372 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:42,040 happens. Sometimes we think about going 373 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:47,240 to the steps and praying, and we're worried that if we come to 374 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,720 the steps, people, you know, are going to see us. 375 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:57,000 And we don't want other people to wonder, why are they going up 376 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,680 there? What are they going through? 377 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:05,040 What did he do this time? I know we have women here, judgy 378 00:25:05,040 --> 00:25:09,000 little women. I know, I know, I know you're 379 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,240 here. I know it. 380 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,600 You guys might remember a long time ago, we did a sermon on 381 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:18,760 porn. Can you imagine trying to get 382 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:20,520 people to go to the steps on porn weekend? 383 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,040 Everybody was like, hey, those steps are saying, you know what? 384 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:29,600 It was one of the most full weekends we had because we asked 385 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,440 people to cover the people that needed it. 386 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:35,720 So for if you're ever wondering, like, do I go to the steps? 387 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,000 People are going to be looking at me. 388 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,320 Can I just tell you two things? One, nobody's watching. 389 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,400 They're focusing on them and what's going on in their own 390 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,800 life. They're not looking at you, 391 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:49,920 They're worried about themselves. 392 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,800 Number one, they are. You come to the steps, you get 393 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,680 down your knees, you do business with God. 394 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,800 They're not looking at you #2 they're looking at you. 395 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,200 They are. Let them watch. 396 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,560 You're going forward means that you care way more about what God 397 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,120 is doing in your heart than what other people are thinking. 398 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,280 You're going. I care more about me getting 399 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,960 right with God than what everybody else is wondering. 400 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:18,880 And if you're not going to cheer me on when I go to the steps, 401 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:23,520 forget you, because all I want is what God has for me. 402 00:26:24,120 --> 00:26:26,560 If there's any place on planet earth that you should be able to 403 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,040 realize that you're not who you're supposed to be yet, it 404 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,800 should be at a church. If there's any party that's 405 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,720 going, my relationship with Jesus isn't where I wanted to be 406 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,320 yet, it should be OK to raise your hand and say, yeah, that's 407 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,240 kind of me. It should at least be out of 408 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:40,880 church. If there's any place where you 409 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:45,000 should be encouraged and cheered on as you try to get right with 410 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:51,000 God, it should be in the church. And when you move, you give 411 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,080 other people permission to move to. 412 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,720 When you chase after God, you give other people the 413 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,400 encouragement to do the exact same thing. 414 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:08,200 This is just me talking. When you walk to the steps, it 415 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:15,600 wages war on your pride. Because pride is what keeps us 416 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,320 from becoming who we are supposed to be in Christ. 417 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,200 Pride is what keeps us from surrendering to Christ. 418 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:27,040 Pride is what keeps us from repenting of our sins. 419 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:31,440 Pride is what keeps us from acknowledging our need for Him. 420 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,240 God can't do anything with a prideful heart. 421 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:38,160 He can't save a prideful person because a prideful person 422 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:43,360 doesn't need saved. God can't turn things around in 423 00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:47,000 the life of a prideful person because a prideful person sees 424 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,920 themselves as having done nothing wrong. 425 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,240 But God can do anything with a humble heart. 426 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,880 He could do anything with a heart that's craving for him. 427 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,480 He can do anything with a heart that's saying I'm yours, do what 428 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,200 you want. And walking to the steps humbles 429 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:11,320 us. We are admitting a heavenly 430 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:16,360 need. We are owning that things are 431 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:19,560 not right. And there's a promise in 432 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:23,960 Scripture, James chapter 4, verse 10. 433 00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:32,880 Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. 434 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:39,640 Sometimes the reason you don't feel lifted at church is because 435 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:44,160 you were never in a position to be humbled. 436 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,320 It's only when you humble yourself that God goes, all 437 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,800 right, I'll lift you up. If you want to stand on your own 438 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:59,640 with unbent knees and a straight back, no way to lift that person 439 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:02,520 up. But when a person gets down and 440 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,080 says, God, I'm chasing after you. 441 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:06,440 I'm sorry for the areas that I've failed you. 442 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:08,640 I'm sorry for the areas where I've let you down. 443 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,920 God, it's me again with the same request from last week, and I 444 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:13,480 still haven't got it all figured out. 445 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,800 You know what God says? I'll take a humble heart and I 446 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:22,960 will lift it up. In Deuteronomy chapter 30, Moses 447 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:28,520 is giving his goodbye speech to the people of Israel, and his 448 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:31,480 final words are found in Deuteronomy chapter 30. 449 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:36,600 Moses is in the plains of Moab. Turn to your neighbor and say 450 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:45,600 Moab, and this is what he says. Now what I'm commanding you 451 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:52,720 today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 452 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,000 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask who will ascend 453 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:04,640 to heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it. 454 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:10,000 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask who will 455 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,160 cross the sea and get it and proclaim it to us so that we may 456 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:22,440 obey it. No, the word is very near you, 457 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:30,560 it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may see. 458 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:37,840 I sat before you today, life and prosperity, death and 459 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:42,520 destruction. For I command you today to love 460 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:49,160 the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep 461 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:56,200 His commands, decrees, and laws. Then you will live and increase, 462 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:02,360 and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering 463 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:07,560 to possess. But if your heart turns away and 464 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:12,960 you are not obedient, if you are drawn away to bow down to other 465 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:18,280 gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will 466 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:22,680 certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the 467 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:28,480 land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess this day. 468 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:34,000 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I 469 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:42,560 have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. 470 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:54,960 Now choose life so that you and your children may live, and that 471 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:59,360 may that you may love the Lord your God. 472 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:08,280 Listen to his voice and hold fast to him, for the Lord is 473 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:15,280 your life. These steps are my Moab where I 474 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:25,160 proclaim to you life and death, blessing and destruction, and 475 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:31,680 with my whole heart I urge you, choose life. 476 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:39,760 Walk in obedience. God's way is the best way in 477 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:46,640 every area of your life. Later Joshua in his farewell 478 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,800 address said this in Shechem. Turn to your neighbor and say, 479 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,760 Shechem, you guys know this. You've all been to Hobby Lobby. 480 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,000 Some of you guys got two of these in your house. 481 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,720 Joshua chapter 24. But if serving the Lord seems 482 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:07,280 undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you 483 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:11,800 will serve, whether the gods your ancestors serve beyond the 484 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:15,640 Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites and whose land you are 485 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:19,760 living. But As for me and my household, 486 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:27,480 we will serve the Lord. These steps, when you come to 487 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:33,360 them, they become your Shechem, your place where you choose on 488 00:33:33,360 --> 00:33:39,360 this day that, As for me and my house, will serve the Lord. 489 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:45,640 Every time we gather together as a church, we get a chance to 490 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:54,160 choose, and the decisions that we make end up making us. 491 00:33:55,480 --> 00:34:05,520 We're moving to a time of decision at all of our other 492 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,199 locations. I'm kind of excited that I get 493 00:34:08,199 --> 00:34:10,520 this moment with you because it doesn't happen all that often. 494 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,400 Your campus pastors do such a great job, and I don't like 495 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:15,080 stepping on their air hose and having this moment. 496 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:16,639 But I really wanted to have this moment with you. 497 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:20,120 So I know it's less personal because you know I'm not there, 498 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,440 but would you please, would you please lean in? 499 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,239 Other people walk into this church and they see these steps, 500 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:33,840 but these steps, they're my Moab, they're my Shechem, 501 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:39,719 they're my Mount Carmel, where Elijah looks out at the people 502 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,840 and he says this in First Kings chapter 18. 503 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:46,560 Elijah went before the people and said, how long will you 504 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:52,360 waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. 505 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:57,040 But if Baal, if false gods are God, follow him. 506 00:34:57,840 --> 00:34:59,440 This is where you and I get a choice. 507 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,520 Are we going to choose God or not? 508 00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:04,840 Other people, they come to the crossing and they see these 509 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,400 junky steps at all of our locations. 510 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:12,320 But I see the plane of Dura. Where Shadrach, Meshach and 511 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:15,320 Abednego said, I'm not bowing to an idol. 512 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:18,640 I'm not worshiping anybody but Jehovah God. 513 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,480 I'm not worshiping anybody but Yahweh. 514 00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:25,240 And they say, hey, if you don't bow down and you don't worship, 515 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:26,760 we're going to put you in the fire. 516 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:29,080 And they said, well, then put us in the fire. 517 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:31,040 And they said, well, we'll turn up the heat. 518 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,560 And they said turn up the heat. And then they put them in the 519 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:36,240 fire. They put Shadrach in, Meshach 520 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:38,720 in, Abednego in. And then they counted. 521 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:43,040 We put Shadrach in, Meshach in, Abedigo in, but there's four. 522 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:46,600 We put Shadrach in and Meshach in and Abednego in. 523 00:35:46,720 --> 00:35:50,200 There's a fourth one in the fire. 524 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:57,720 This is where God meets me in my pain says I will be with you in 525 00:35:57,720 --> 00:36:00,280 what you're going through. You see steps. 526 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:04,360 I see the plain of Dura. Other people come here to the 527 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:08,560 church and they see steps. I see Jericho, where I get down 528 00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:13,120 on my knees and I walk around and around and around the 529 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:16,680 strongholds in my life, believing that one day they will 530 00:36:16,680 --> 00:36:19,160 be victorious. And it's not going to be by my 531 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:22,680 might, it's not going to be by my strength, but by the power of 532 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:25,960 the Lord coming down into an area of my life that I cannot 533 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:29,440 defeat on my own. You see steps, I see Jericho, 534 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:33,920 you see steps. I see the valley of Eli where 535 00:36:33,920 --> 00:36:38,160 David bends down on one knee and he picks up five smooth stones 536 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,200 and he says it's time to slay a giant. 537 00:36:41,240 --> 00:36:43,040 I get down here on my knees and I go. 538 00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:45,240 I'm tired of this sin. I'm tired. 539 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:48,240 I'm tired of this giant having control in my life. 540 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:50,320 I'm tired of him terrorizing my family. 541 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:52,920 I'm tired of him terrorizing the people I care about. 542 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:56,600 I get down on my knees here and I pick up my 5 smooth stones and 543 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:59,480 you and I both know that that's those stones did nothing to 544 00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:02,280 defeat the giant. But boy when you pick up 545 00:37:02,280 --> 00:37:04,920 whatever you got next to you and you give it to God, He could do 546 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,880 a mighty thing through. You see steps, I see the valley 547 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:12,600 of Elah, you see steps and I see Luke chapter 15 where I pray for 548 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,400 all the prodigals in my life to come running home. 549 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:18,840 You see steps, I see the garden of Gethsemane where I get a 550 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:20,720 model. What my Lord and Savior Jesus 551 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:26,440 Christ did, He got down on his knees and he prayed God, not my 552 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:35,480 will, but your will be done. So I get it, steps aren't in the 553 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:39,360 Bible, but making decisions for him is. 554 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:46,040 And what is the point of us being here if we're not going to 555 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:50,200 make decisions in the direction of Jesus? 556 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,200 And so if you're here today and you've never started an intimate 557 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,920 personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if you have not been 558 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:02,640 obedient in the area of baptism, it is time for you to make a 559 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:06,400 decision. But remember, not making a 560 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:11,960 decision is a decision, and the decisions that you make end up 561 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:15,960 making us. So today, would you make a 562 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:18,680 decision in the direction of Jesus? 563 00:38:19,720 --> 00:38:25,080 The world has had enough of you. It's time for them to get Christ 564 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:28,640 in. You give them Jesus. 565 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:32,520 And so just a few moments all across this region, people are 566 00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:35,240 going to stand and pray. Some of them are going to sing. 567 00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:37,800 Hopefully a lot of them this week are going to come to the 568 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:39,880 steps and pray. And while they're making their 569 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:44,080 move, would you make yours? Your campus pastor is going to 570 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,640 be up at some spot in the auditorium, and would you go and 571 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:49,960 talk to them and say it's time for me to get some things right 572 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:55,520 with God? To the rest of you, maybe today 573 00:38:55,520 --> 00:39:01,800 will be your very first day where you make these steps, your 574 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:04,240 steps. Would you stand with me? 575 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:16,020 God? These people are not my people. 576 00:39:16,020 --> 00:39:18,260 They're your people. I'm not the shepherd you are. 577 00:39:19,700 --> 00:39:26,660 They belong to you. And so, God, I pray that you 578 00:39:26,660 --> 00:39:32,360 would create in US a holy desperation for your presence. 579 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:40,200 Instill in us the desire to not just make a decision today, but 580 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:43,520 to make daily decisions in the direction of you. 581 00:39:46,640 --> 00:39:50,680 We are fallen creatures. We're prone to wander. 582 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:56,160 We're accustomed to failure. And so the only way this happens 583 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:02,400 is if we have hearts that are turned in the direction of you 584 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,720 that yearn for you. But we can't change a heart God, 585 00:40:05,720 --> 00:40:15,240 only you can. God, I keep aching for me and 586 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:18,040 this church to become the people that you want us to become. 587 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:24,000 I keep aching. For us to be able to realize 588 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:27,000 that this has become the hardest place on planet Earth to get the 589 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,040 hell from. But we are such a long way from 590 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:33,120 that. But God, with your help and our 591 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,400 obedience, there's no telling what could happen. 592 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:39,480 God, I know that right now there are people who are thinking all 593 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:43,240 kinds of things in their head. There's some who are going. 594 00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:44,800 I can't wait to get to the steps. 595 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:48,080 God, I know there's other people who are going. 596 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:51,000 I feel like if I don't go to the steps, it's going to be really 597 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,560 weird, and I don't want that for them. 598 00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:57,680 God, I just want our people to be desperate for you. 599 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:03,160 I just want them to choose you. In your name I pray. 600 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:03,840 Amen.