1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,400 What up Crossing Nation, it is so good to be with you. 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,360 I want to welcome all of our different locations, those of 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,600 you watching online and inside, but I want to wish a very 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,120 special welcome to those of you who are here for the first time 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,760 or the first time in a long time. 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:24,040 I believe that today could be a significant moment in your 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,960 spiritual journey. And before we jump into all 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,960 that, I want to make you aware of a couple big things that I 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,240 know matter to God and matter to you. 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,200 Camp registration is open and available today. 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,960 If you open up the app, you'll find that in the For You 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,440 section. And I just want to tell you, 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,080 sign up early and safe. Our church is growing. 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,880 We want as many kids to go to camp as we possibly can, but we 15 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:48,920 only have a camp that's so big. So get your kid in early so that 16 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,680 way the neighbor kid, you know well, try and get the neighbor 17 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,240 kid to come too. Now, while you're doing that, 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,080 for those of you who like to support what we're doing through 19 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,520 the camp, there's going to be all kinds of opportunities. 20 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,600 One is the in your corner golf outing, and that's also going to 21 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,160 be in the for you section in the app. 22 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:05,920 And if you haven't downloaded the app, download the app. 23 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,080 These 4G outings across our region will provide funding for 24 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,560 kids who want to attend camp but not or might not be able to 25 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,400 afford it. And your participation will make 26 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,520 a difference. And so for those of you who are 27 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,880 interested in doing that, another way you can help with 28 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,720 scholarships is you can just give a scholarship to help kids 29 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,880 go to camp. And everything you give helps. 30 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,000 One of the things that Jennifer and I are trying to do this year 31 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,840 is where we put a stretch goal in front of us is we're going to 32 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,680 have nine different summer camps and to send one kid to every 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,200 single one of those camps is $18190.00. 34 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,800 And if you're in the mood to try and stretch yourself and do 35 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,800 that, you can join. But if you can't do that, do 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,560 whatever you can. Our goal is that every kid who 37 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,360 wants to go to camp will be able to go to camp regardless of 38 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,000 their financial position. And we would love your help in 39 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,200 doing that. So all that information is 40 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,360 directly in the app. Pay attention to that and jump 41 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,360 in now about this weekend. In my years of ministry, what 42 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,600 I've experienced sitting across the table from hundreds of you 43 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:08,039 is I've noticed a pattern. And maybe you have experienced 44 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:11,440 this pattern, that there is almost always a question of 45 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,920 faith before a step of obedience. 46 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,600 That there is a question that needs asked and answered before 47 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,480 you can take your next step. And that is why I'm so glad that 48 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,120 you are here today because I believe that God is not afraid 49 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,400 of your questions. And just so you know, neither 50 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,880 are we. In fact, I believe that God and 51 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:34,240 His Word welcome every question. In fact, I think they have the 52 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,640 best answers to every major question about life and about 53 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:40,560 faith. You hear me say it this way. 54 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:46,120 I believe that God's way is the best way in every area of your 55 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:48,080 life. Now, just so you know, each of 56 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,320 our services are going to be unique. 57 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:53,320 So if you want to hear some of the other answers to some of the 58 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,880 other questions that we're going to be navigating, make sure you 59 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,920 take full advantage of watching our online service or watch on 60 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:02,320 playback. Now to help you take your next 61 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,040 step, we have invited Doctor Sean McDowell to partner with us 62 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,200 this weekend. A little bit about him. 63 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,040 He has devoted his career to help bring the truth to the next 64 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,760 generation, which our church loves. 65 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:17,360 As a college professor, as a high school teacher, as a 66 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,080 prolific author. He has exceptional insights into 67 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,440 prevailing culture and imparts his observations to fellow 68 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:28,240 educators, pastors, parents and to students. 69 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,200 He is currently the Associate Professor of Christian 70 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,480 Apologetics at Biola University, the largest and top ranked 71 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,920 graduate program of its kind in the world. 72 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,760 As a part time high school teacher, Sean was awarded 73 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:46,040 Educator of the Year in his hometown in San Juan Capistrano. 74 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,360 Now he is a highly sought after speaker. 75 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,840 We were very, very lucky to be able to have him come and spend 76 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,360 time with us this weekend. He spoken at various camps, 77 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,880 churches, universities worldwide and is a frequent guest on radio 78 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,920 and television shows. He is the best selling author 79 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:03,120 and has written and or Co written over 20 books. 80 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,040 So if you're a reader, pay attention. 81 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,800 He has a master's degree in both theology and philosophy and APHD 82 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,720 in apologetics and worldview studies. 83 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,040 And on top of that, when he's does this guy sleep? 84 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,279 He is the Co host of the Think Biblically podcast. 85 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:21,839 But most noteworthy, he is a dedicated husband and father. 86 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,600 He's been married to his high school sweetheart Stephanie 87 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:27,560 since 2000. He lives in beautiful Southern 88 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,880 California, which is where we need to put our next campus so 89 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,560 we can get out of this weather. He has three children. 90 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,160 He is here with us this weekend to help you grow in your faith 91 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,720 and help you jump start your faith. 92 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,800 If you don't have a faith, would you please give a warm crossing 93 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:48,320 Welcome to Doctor Sean McDowell. Thanks money. 94 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,040 So before we get into the deep stuff, I I told him a story. 95 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:55,000 I might as well share it with you. 96 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,080 I went off to Bible college believing in God. 97 00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:01,960 Believing that God had called me into full time ministry, but 98 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:05,440 there were a lot of questions that were still bumping around 99 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:08,840 in my soul. And so I signed up for the 100 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:11,720 apologetics classes at Bible college because I was going. 101 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,880 There are some questions about faith that I need to get figured 102 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,960 out. And if I'm going to bet not just 103 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,840 my salvation on it, but my entire life here on earth on it, 104 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,120 I better know the answers to those questions. 105 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,760 And one of the very first books that I read was a book called 106 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,960 More than a Carpenter, and it was written by his father. 107 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,640 And they have actually updated that book you, I mean, he was 108 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,040 written 20 books, so you can buy all of them. 109 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:39,760 But I tell you that story because they're, I, I know I'm 110 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,520 not going to be able to get through all the questions this 111 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,360 weekend. And between all five of the 112 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:44,920 services, we're just not going to get through them all. 113 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,360 But I know that you have questions and I want you to know 114 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,160 there are really stinking good answers. 115 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,880 And so I want you to chase those out, learn, grow, put yourself 116 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,080 on a growth track. But what we want to do right now 117 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,400 is we want to stop hearing from me. 118 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,880 We want to start hearing from somebody who is way, way, way 119 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,600 smarter than me. And I watch his YouTube channel 120 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,600 and he's just been a gift for me as I'm always trying to make 121 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,360 sure that I'm building and bolstering my faith. 122 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,040 So you guys ready for some big, heavy questions? 123 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,720 If you're ready, turn your neighbor and say I'm ready. 124 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,800 You ready for this one? All right, let's go. 125 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:23,480 The Bible Is it a product of God, humans, or both? 126 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,040 Great question. What's unique about the Bible is 127 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:31,600 it's a divine book that is written by humans. 128 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,240 So God has chosen to communicate in a lot of different ways. 129 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,640 So he communicates through prophets, God communicates 130 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,560 through creation. He communicates at times in 131 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:47,880 dreams, but when he wanted to make his plan for the world most 132 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:53,680 clearly known, he chose to communicate that through human 133 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,360 beings. So it says in second Peter 134 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:00,120 chapter one. It says that no prophecy has its 135 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:05,360 source in human will, rather it comes from God. 136 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:07,960 And then you use this really interesting metaphor that it's 137 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:13,600 like God carries along the riders as they report it, almost 138 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:19,200 like wind carrying along the the the sails on a ship, so to 139 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,160 speak. So what's unique about the Bible 140 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,840 is it's actually both. And this matters for a few ways. 141 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,800 So if you look at like the Greek of Matthew, it's going to read a 142 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:31,480 little bit differently than Luke. 143 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:34,560 Why? Because they're both God's Word. 144 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:38,640 But God uses the personality of Matthew differently than uses 145 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,600 the personality of Luke or Mark or Paul. 146 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,480 Why is this important? It matters that the Bible's a 147 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:50,360 divine book because the source is God himself. 148 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,040 The Bible's unlike any other book that's ever been written. 149 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,040 In one sense, that's true for its impact. 150 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,600 It's been read more, it's been studied more, it's been 151 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,560 translated more. It's had more influence on the 152 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:10,080 world lives than any other book. But if God is the source of it, 153 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,080 that means there's an authority in this book that there's not in 154 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,680 any other book. God is the source of this. 155 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,560 If I can give just one quick example, why why I think the 156 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,680 Bible's divine, you say, OK, well then how do we know it has 157 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,240 a divine source? Well, one way you could say is 158 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,760 there fulfilled prophecy within this book? 159 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,679 I think there's dozens. But one of my favorite ones from 160 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:40,320 the Old Testament, Isaiah chapter 13 and Jeremiah chapter 161 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:45,080 50, describes that Babylon, the ancient city, one of the most 162 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:50,160 influential largest cities in the world, would be destroyed, 163 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:56,320 never rebuilt, and things like jackals and owls and hyenas 164 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,240 would live there. Well, a friend of mine is an 165 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,920 archaeologist in the Middle East, and he actually had a 166 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,880 chance to go into ancient Babylon, which is modern day 167 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,480 Iraq. And he went into the old city of 168 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,320 Babylon, which is right next to where the walls of Saddam 169 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,040 Hussein's palace was. And Clayton, it's like a 170 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:23,000 graveyard to this day. And this is now at least 2000, 171 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,600 you know, few, 100 years later, it's never been rebuilt. 172 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:32,560 And you see owls, jackals and hyenas there exactly as 173 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:36,520 predicted a long time ago. That's just one example. 174 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:39,480 We could give many more. That gives me pause and says, 175 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,520 wait a minute, There's something about this book that is 176 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,680 different. And if it is divine, that's why 177 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:48,920 we would see it changing so many people's lives. 178 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,120 So I got to warn you. You said it again. 179 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,080 You said I've been, you know, for those of you who are at 180 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,280 church and those of you who are back church haven't been here 181 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,840 for a while, I warn you, if you're going to read the Bible 182 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:04,400 with an open heart and an open mind, it can change your life. 183 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:10,000 Hebrews 4 says it is like a sword piercing the soul. 184 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:11,840 A lot of books can change your life. 185 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,520 I'm thrilled to hear about More Than a Carpenter. 186 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,360 That's amazing that my dad's book did that. 187 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,120 But that pales in comparison to the change that the Bible can 188 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,640 make and does make and will make in your life and mine, because 189 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,320 God is the ultimate author. That's an incredible answer. 190 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:26,880 Would you guys give a big round of applause for that? 191 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,280 OK, that one, you know, that was an easy one. 192 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:38,160 Let's let's ratchet it up right? Lots of people say they believe 193 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,040 in God, but is there any physical proof of God's 194 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,560 existence? There's actually a lot of 195 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:47,640 different kinds of proofs. So there's some historical 196 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:51,040 proof, like fulfill prophecy that we gave, or historical 197 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,920 proof that Jesus did miracles or rose from the grave. 198 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:59,760 There's philosophical proof or evidences such as the moral 199 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,040 arguments. If there's really a moral law, 200 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,080 the best explanation is a moral law giver. 201 00:11:05,680 --> 00:11:09,760 But there's also what we might call physical or scientific 202 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:11,880 proof. Now, there's a bunch of 203 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,960 different kinds I won't go into like really quickly. 204 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,200 For example, like when we look inside the DNA, inside the cell, 205 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:23,920 we see more information, more sophisticated than anything 206 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,880 humans can create. We see information. 207 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:31,200 The best explanation is an information giver, a mind. 208 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,880 Another kind of argument would be what's called the fine tuning 209 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,440 of the laws of physics and cosmology. 210 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,720 There's a number of different laws of physics that have one 211 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,160 strange thing in common. They're set exactly on the 212 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,520 parameter they need to be set at to have a universe capable 213 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,800 supporting life. Well this could happen by 214 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,440 chance, like the fine tuning of an old radio points towards a 215 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:58,800 fine tuner. Those are two kinds of arguments 216 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,720 from something we physically see within the universe to a God. 217 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,960 But one I want to spend a little bit more time on is called the 218 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,560 Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. 219 00:12:08,560 --> 00:12:12,080 Now, it sounds fancy, but it's 2 premises and a conclusion. 220 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,720 I was sitting on a plane not long ago and a girl next to me 221 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:17,840 goes, do you believe in God? I was like, well, I pulled out a 222 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,520 napkin and I literally dropped this argument and we talked 223 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,800 about it. So here's what's significant 224 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,360 about this is for years up until really the middle of the 20th 225 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,320 century, scientists thought the universe was eternal and had no 226 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,160 beginning. But then with findings of 227 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,960 Einstein and some other scientists, we began to realize 228 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,880 things like the second law of thermodynamics, what's called 229 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:48,440 the redshift, Big Bang cosmology point towards the universe not 230 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,120 being eternal, but having a beginning. 231 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:55,640 Well, you see the problem right? If universe began to exist, then 232 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,600 this seems to point towards the need for a cause outside of the 233 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,560 universe to bring it into existence. 234 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:07,120 In fact, some scientists who argued the universe had a 235 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,400 beginning in places like Communist Russia and Nazi 236 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,680 Germany were persecuted because people understood that the 237 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:16,600 beginning of the universe pointed towards the beginner. 238 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:22,120 So here's the simple argument. Just it's it's so common sense. 239 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,840 Whatever begins to exist has a cause. 240 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:31,160 Whatever begins to exist has a 'cause if something begins to 241 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:36,120 exist, we know it had a cause. We don't see things popping into 242 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:40,640 existence uncost, right? If something begins to exist, it 243 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,320 has to have an adequate cause. Premise #1 Premise 2. 244 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:49,720 The universe began to exist. Now we have philosophical 245 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,760 arguments for that. Now we know the science points 246 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,560 towards the universe beginning to exist. 247 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,240 So track with me here. If whatever begins to exist has 248 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:03,080 a cause, and the universe began to exist, then what's our 249 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,720 conclusion that the universe? Had a cause. 250 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,640 Has a cause? Exactly. 251 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,640 Now if the universe has a 'cause, then what caused it? 252 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,760 Something outside of time, outside of space, something 253 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:21,120 smart, something really incredibly powerful. 254 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:27,880 This is sounding a lot like God. So just as we say, to answer 255 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,320 your question, physically, the DNA points towards an 256 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:35,840 information giver, the fine tune of the universe points towards a 257 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:41,720 fine tuner, the beginning of the universe points towards a 258 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,120 beginner. I think these are three good 259 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,400 arguments from something we physically see in the universe 260 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,440 being best explained by their mind. 261 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,280 Bring it into existence. That is a perfect answer. 262 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:55,800 What am I? Oh yeah, give them a big round 263 00:14:55,800 --> 00:15:00,640 of applause. What you know, you said one of 264 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,320 my favorite lines in there. You said common sense, and I'll 265 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,560 tell you why. A couple of things you need to 266 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,240 remember. I mean, you can correct me where 267 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,840 I'm wrong. Just so you know, the church has 268 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,520 never been the enemy to science and science has never been the 269 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,920 enemy to the church. In fact, the church was 270 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,480 responsible for most of the scientific discoveries because 271 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:20,000 it was a part of their worship to the God that they were trying 272 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,520 to learn and understand. And recently I there was a guy 273 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,600 who was making some waves for his fun, which is different than 274 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,480 my fun. His kind of fun is he goes 275 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,400 places and he stacks rocks. And literally that's what it is. 276 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,760 He gets a pile of rocks and he stacks them in a really cool 277 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,040 way. And then he leaves. 278 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,000 And then people stumble across the stacked rocks and then 279 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,520 they're trying to find out. Watch this. 280 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:47,280 Who stacked the rocks? Stay with me. 281 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:55,000 So if atheists see stacked rocks and go, somebody must have done 282 00:15:55,000 --> 00:16:01,080 that, how on planet Earth do you look at planet Earth and not 283 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,520 come to the conclusion who did that? 284 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:09,200 It's common sense. If you leave here today at all 285 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,880 of our locations and you see ten rocks stacked on top of each 286 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,160 other, you're going to ask yourself who has been stacking 287 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,160 rocks? You're not going to be going, 288 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,320 wow, something shifty's happening around here. 289 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,640 OK, now so you've you, you've proven you've made a great 290 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:30,400 argument that there is a God, but let's get more personal. 291 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:37,040 What kind of God is he? And Christians talk a lot about 292 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,400 God being a loving God. But how can a loving God send 293 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:45,120 people to hell? OK, so hands down, I think this 294 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:50,040 is one of the hardest questions for Christian to make sense of. 295 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,160 Why? Because this isn't just 296 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,280 intellectual. Like, let me lay out the 297 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,840 scientific evidence. This is personal, isn't it? 298 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:03,520 I have loved ones, I have friends who don't believe in 299 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,800 Jesus, and if I'm right about this, they're going to be 300 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:12,680 separated from God for eternity. I don't like that Hell bothers 301 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,319 me. If you haven't been bothered by 302 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:19,680 hell, I'm not sure you've taken the time to really think about 303 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,160 what the Bible says about it. That's good. 304 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,520 But I also know that something's not true or false whether I like 305 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,720 it, something's not true or false whether I'm comfortable 306 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:33,520 with it. So why should I believe that God 307 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,720 sends good people to hell? Well, the first thing is I don't 308 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:41,120 think God sends people to hell. We see from the beginning of 309 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:42,960 God's covenant in the book of Deuteronomy. 310 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:48,120 He tells the people choose life. At the roots of the Christian 311 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:51,880 worldview is God has made us as agents who can choose to follow 312 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:55,200 him, choose to love him or choose not to follow him and 313 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,880 choose to reject him. And God is going to honor that 314 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,680 choice. It's CS Lewis who said he said 315 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:03,280 there's two kinds of people in the end. 316 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:10,680 Those who say to God thy will be done or those to whom God says 317 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:16,160 thy will be done. All who are in hell choose it. 318 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:18,840 I don't think God sends people to hell. 319 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:23,760 I think God honors our choice and lets us choose to repent and 320 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,400 be with Him or not. Now the second part of the 321 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,560 question was how can God send a good person to hell? 322 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,520 Here's the answer. There's no such thing as a good 323 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:36,520 person. Now there was one good person 324 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:43,480 and we crucified him. Jesus said it's out of the heart 325 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:47,800 that comes sloth and comes lust and comes idolatry. 326 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,920 Romans 3, Paul says no one is good. 327 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:57,040 No, not one. Look, if I had like the 328 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:01,040 mechanism to take every one of your thoughts and like, tweet it 329 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,240 out or exit out to the world, would you be like, that's 330 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,280 awesome. Nope, it would not be good. 331 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,920 All of us know in 5 seconds. You know what? 332 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:12,800 I have thoughts I'm not proud of and I'm glad I don't say those 333 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:13,880 things. Where does that come from? 334 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,680 You know where that comes from. That comes from your heart. 335 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,920 That comes from your heart. When I was a kid, I remember I 336 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:25,320 was watching the news and there was a, there was, I can't 337 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,840 remember, some kind of murder story that was going on. 338 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:30,040 And I said, and that's so inhumane. 339 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,760 My dad stopped me. He goes, son, that's not 340 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,160 inhumane. Inhumane means not human. 341 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,800 He said. Humans did that, and you're 342 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,720 human. That means whatever that person 343 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:49,440 is capable of, you have the capability that in your own 344 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,560 heart. And that stopped me in my 345 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,200 tracks. None of us are good. 346 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,480 We know what we've fallen short in some fashion. 347 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:03,560 So why believe in hell? OK, think about it this way. 348 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:09,640 If I told you after the service. That I was going to hold an NFL 349 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,160 clinic. How to be an NFL quarterback. 350 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,440 Let me save you some time. None of you should show up. 351 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,000 I got nothing. I'm a Chargers fan. 352 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,680 And we're, you know, we're happier now with Harbaugh. 353 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,600 We're feeling like our time is coming. 354 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,440 But if my man Herbert showed up, go. 355 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,160 He's an expert. He has the authority to speak 356 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,120 about this. Let me ask you, compared to 357 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,920 anyone who's ever lived, who has the most authority to speak 358 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,160 about the afterlife, God's judgement, and heaven and hell? 359 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:44,200 And I'm going with the guy who's the sinless, virgin born, 360 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:51,400 prophecy fulfilling, miracle working son of God who rose from 361 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:58,720 the grave on the third day. I don't like hell. 362 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,840 I don't like it at all. But if Jesus said it's real in 363 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,400 Mark Chapter 9, verses 43 through 48, he warned us about 364 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,640 it. I don't feel liberty go yeah, 365 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,120 I'll pick this from the Bible and not that. 366 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,440 That's gold. That is absolute gold. 367 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,640 We're going to have we're going to do this one quick and this is 368 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,920 probably we're going to. I'll be fast. 369 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,800 I'm ready to go. I was going to do, well, do it, 370 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:34,320 do it all right. Lots of people right now are 371 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,240 seeing their news feeds. No, no, no. 372 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:39,360 I'm a shift. Give me a second. 373 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,640 I'll be fast, I got this. Christianity verse Mormonism? 374 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,920 What separates Christianity from Mormonism? 375 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:54,480 And you got 4 minutes. OK, let me answer this. 376 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,240 We're not far from Nauvoo or the Kinderhook plates. 377 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,400 You drove past Kinderhook on your way here, OK? 378 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:00,720 So hold on. This Is Us, OK? 379 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,640 So let me answer this generally and I'll tie it to Mormonism. 380 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:05,400 This is a part of a larger question. 381 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,640 What makes Christianity unique compared to other religions and 382 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,800 other faiths? And I'll say three things. 383 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:20,880 One is salvation by grace alone. It is only within Christianity 384 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:25,240 that salvation is a free gift you cannot earn. 385 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,480 Friends. That is not the case within 386 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:33,320 Mormonism. Second, Nephi 2523 says that it 387 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:38,600 is grace. You are saved by after all that 388 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,120 you can do. Hold on a second, Nephi is in 389 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:42,640 the Book of Mormon. Yes, thank you. 390 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,120 In the Book of Mormon. I don't want them. 391 00:22:44,120 --> 00:22:45,880 Trying to look it up at their by when they get home and not 392 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:47,360 finding. It you know what, that would be 393 00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:50,640 a lesson in itself. It is by grace you've been 394 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,560 saved. After all that you can do. 395 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,880 That's very different then in Ephesians chapter 2 where Paul 396 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,920 says it is by grace you have been saved. 397 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:06,160 It is a gift from God, not by works, so no one can boast. 398 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,600 And Islam is a religion of works. 399 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,000 Every other religion you have to earn it and work for it. 400 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,680 Christianity is by grace. Second, Christianity invites 401 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:21,480 investigation. So Acts 2 verse 22 says this. 402 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:26,560 Jesus of Nazareth was attested to you by God with miracles, 403 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:31,760 wonders, and signs that God did among you through him. 404 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:36,960 As you yourselves know, the apostles right witnesses that 405 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:39,200 Jesus says love God with your heart, your soul and your mind 406 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,720 and Isaiah says come, let us reason together. 407 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:46,200 Whereas in the Book of Mormon, what's the test for the truth. 408 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:50,400 Read the Book of Mormon and you'll have an internal feeling, 409 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:54,120 a subjective experience. The biblical testimonies go look 410 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:58,400 at the external evidence. Mormonism invites a subjective 411 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,920 internal reference and the third one is the person of Jesus. 412 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,240 I think the Book of Mormon in the Mormon church, and I don't 413 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,920 say this lightly, gets the identity of Jesus. 414 00:24:10,120 --> 00:24:14,160 Wrong. Jesus always has been and always 415 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,800 will be God. Period. 416 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:22,680 God is a Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 417 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:29,200 God is triune. Jesus is not one amongst many 418 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:34,160 gods. He is the one and only God who 419 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,080 exists, yet he's one with the Father and he's one with the 420 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:40,920 Spirit in substance and in nature, as we see clearly taught 421 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:46,480 in the Gospel of John. So I think Mormonism teaches 422 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,720 something different about the person of Jesus and his nature, 423 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,000 and he teaches something different about the nature of 424 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,360 salvation. It has a different test for 425 00:24:56,360 --> 00:25:00,320 truth, and they also add a different additional scriptures 426 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,280 that I think actually go against what's taught in the New 427 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,160 Testament as well. Perfect. 428 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:14,920 Thank you so much. Jesus was hanging out with his 429 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,080 disciples ancestry of Philippi, and it kind of sounded like it 430 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,200 was Jesus's version of the Lake of the Ozarks. 431 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,440 It's where you kind of get away to hang out. 432 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,800 And when he was with them, he asked them this question. 433 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:32,480 Who do you say that I am? In Matthew chapter 16, verse 14, 434 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:35,240 we hear the response of Jesus followers. 435 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:40,480 They replied, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, 436 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:45,640 others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 437 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,440 And a lot of people, people you know, they would answer that 438 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,960 question the same way the disciples answered it. 439 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,880 There are people in your life who'd say he's a fictional 440 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:57,280 character. He never existed. 441 00:25:57,920 --> 00:25:59,440 Some will say that he was a prophet. 442 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:01,400 Some will say he was a really good teacher. 443 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:04,240 Others will say he's a charismatic leader. 444 00:26:04,360 --> 00:26:07,840 Some might even say he was a misunderstood 1st century Jew. 445 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,640 All of this that we made out was never his intention. 446 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,360 But Jesus didn't end the conversation there. 447 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,840 In the very next verse, he asked the most important question. 448 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,520 But what about you? Jesus asked. 449 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:27,200 Who do you say that I am? The question in front of you, 450 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:31,920 the question that Jesus puts to all of us, is not what do other 451 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:37,120 people believe about me, but what do you believe about me? 452 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:44,200 What do you believe about Jesus? Who do you think he is? 453 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,720 Well, we have an answer. Peter was there, raises his 454 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,040 hand, talks before he's called on. 455 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,120 This is what he says. Peter answered. 456 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:02,760 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 457 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,680 Peter's answer was the right one. 458 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:10,400 He realized that Jesus was the Christ, the anointed One, the 459 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:14,840 promised Messiah, God in the flesh, who was going to deliver 460 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,320 people not just from the penalty of their sins, but from their 461 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,240 sins themselves so they could be reunited with Him in heaven. 462 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,120 And you might be thinking right now, I just want to say 463 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:26,920 something to the skeptics right now. 464 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,760 It's OK to be a skeptic. She's not OK to stay that way. 465 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:31,640 I know what you might be thinking. 466 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:36,720 You might be going easy for Peter to say he was with Jesus. 467 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:39,080 He saw him do all of those things. 468 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,200 And you are exactly right. He was an eyewitness. 469 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:47,520 And just so you know, he died taking his eyewitness account to 470 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:50,960 the nation's because he believed that Jesus was the Christ. 471 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:54,120 When we talk to you about placing your faith in Jesus, 472 00:27:54,280 --> 00:27:58,760 hear me, it is a step of faith, but it is a reasoned step of 473 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,000 faith. When I say reasoned, here's what 474 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,240 I mean. There were eyewitness accounts 475 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:08,000 not just of the life of Jesus, but also of his death and his 476 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:11,520 resurrection. Jesus appeared to over 500 477 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,000 people after his resurrection, showing him that He is indeed 478 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:18,360 the way, the truth and the life. The biblical text that you and I 479 00:28:18,360 --> 00:28:21,560 read it can stand up to critics and to skeptics. 480 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,560 The evidence for the existence of God not only stands up to 481 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:28,520 scrutiny, but it they deliver the best and most reliable 482 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,800 answers. It is the best answer for the 483 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,480 beginning of the universe, the fine tuning of the universe, the 484 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,520 laws of nature, and the existence of objective moral 485 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:40,400 values. Hear me, that is before you take 486 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:45,160 into account the countless lives that have been changed, 487 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:51,080 transformed, redeemed, repurposed, of which I happen to 488 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,640 be 1. Hear me, you might be saying 489 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:56,040 today, I don't know everything I need to know. 490 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,200 And I want you to know I get it. But I want you to hear me say 491 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:01,040 this. I think you know enough. 492 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:03,320 You've heard me talk about this before. 493 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:05,760 Raise your hand fellas. If you know everything there is 494 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:11,000 to know about women, I see no hands raised. 495 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:15,400 Raise your hand if you knew enough to know you wanted one. 496 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:18,560 If you didn't put your hand up, fellas, and you're with your 497 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,680 wife, this would be the time to put your hand up. 498 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,640 Or your Valentine's Day just got real expensive. 499 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,280 OK, You're going from farm and home to Zales. 500 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,480 OK, That mistake cost. You hear me? 501 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,960 I didn't know everything. I still don't know everything 502 00:29:35,360 --> 00:29:39,120 there is to know about Jennifer, But I don't want to spend a day 503 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,280 without her. I knew enough. 504 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,720 And to be honest with you, it makes sense to me. 505 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:48,520 It makes sense to me that a God who created the world, set the 506 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:50,840 stars in the place, wrote the laws of nature, moved the 507 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:53,520 mountains into their place, and is big enough to hold the waters 508 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,280 of the ocean. And the palm of his hand might 509 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,680 be a little bit too big for me to completely grasp. 510 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:02,440 But I do know this. I know enough to know that I 511 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,680 need Him. I know enough to know that I 512 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:09,040 want Him. And if you're here today, that 513 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,360 is the question I want to put in front of you. 514 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:15,840 When is your faith going to stop being on you and start being on 515 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:19,040 him? Do you know enough to take your 516 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:23,720 next step of faith? And I think, I think you do. 517 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,800 We're moving to a time of decision and we're getting to do 518 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:28,400 something special that we don't always get to do. 519 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:28,920 Yep. Thank you. 520 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:33,440 We're staying, we're staying live at all of our locations. 521 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,400 So I get a chance to have this intimate moment with all 12 of 522 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,280 you locations. And I'm so thankful you're 523 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:39,360 giving me the privilege to do it. 524 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:42,520 And what I want to do for just a second, I want to talk to those 525 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:45,400 of you who have never started an intimate, personal relationship 526 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:47,640 with Jesus Christ. Hear me. 527 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:51,480 When we talk about God, we are not just saying that He is great 528 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,920 and that He is powerful and that He is majestic and that He is 529 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:56,520 mighty. All of those things are true. 530 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,000 But I need you to know something else about God. 531 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:05,800 He is so good. So good in fact, that He did not 532 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:09,440 make you and I get right and then make our way to Him. 533 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:14,520 Instead, He came down to us to make us right. 534 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,760 If you want to understand something about His love and His 535 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,880 character and His goodness, you turn in your Bible to Romans 536 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:24,040 chapter 5 verse 8, and this is what it says. 537 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:31,080 But God demonstrates His love for us in this, that while we 538 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,400 were still sinners, Christ died for us. 539 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,560 Can I unpack that for just a second? 540 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:41,040 Coming after you was getting right with God was never your 541 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:43,480 idea. It was His idea first. 542 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:48,360 He moved on your behalf, sacrificed on your behalf, 543 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:52,880 before you drew your first breath, before you committed 544 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:57,200 your first sin, before you rejected His Son, abandoned the 545 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:01,080 purpose He laid out for you, and He did it anyway. 546 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,120 And He did not come in and take control of your mind and of your 547 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,920 heart against your free will. He did all of it, knowing that 548 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,680 you would have the freedom to either receive him or reject 549 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:14,120 Him. And to those who would reject 550 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:18,280 him, he still died anyway. How good is He? 551 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:21,440 And if you were here today and you're going, you know what? 552 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:26,120 It's been long enough and you're ready today to start going. 553 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:27,640 You know what? It's time for me to start 554 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:32,760 chasing Jesus, to be found in Christ in just a few moments all 555 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,280 across this region, when the people stand around you and sing 556 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:36,920 and some of them come to the steps and pray. 557 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,200 I want to encourage you to walk to the side of the auditorium 558 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,640 next to where your baptistry is and talk to somebody about how 559 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,440 you can start an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus 560 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,400 Christ. And to the rest of you, to those 561 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,000 of you who already have a relationship with Jesus Christ, 562 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:57,040 my prayer over you is this, that your faith in God will inspire 563 00:32:57,040 --> 00:33:02,520 you to greater devotion, greater obedience, and greater 564 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,160 participation in the mission of His Kingdom. 565 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,560 May it strengthen you in your prayers and guide you in the 566 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:12,600 darkest of valleys. Would you guys stand with me? 567 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:20,480 Heavenly Father, you are the only one who is able to handle 568 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:24,280 and hold all of our needs and all of our worries and all of 569 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:30,160 our requests simultaneously and give each of us perfect 570 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:35,160 attention. And God, you know best what 571 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:38,200 every person that is hearing my voice right now is going 572 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,560 through, And you know best what every person that is listening 573 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:47,400 to my voice needs from you. And you know best what every 574 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:53,160 single one of us needs to do. And so, God, in faith, I am 575 00:33:53,160 --> 00:34:01,360 coming to you, asking you to show us, convict us, reveal to 576 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:06,680 us the step that we need to take, and then, God, would you 577 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,400 give us the courage and the strength to take it. 578 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:11,960 And your name I pray. Amen.