1 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,480 Good morning Forward Church in Cambridge and in Kitchener. 2 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:19,440 So glad to be with you this morning. 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:20,760 I'm going to ask you to open your Bibles. 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:27,280 To John chapter 15 verse. 16 here in Cambridge, if you have 5 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,520 one of the Pew Bibles under you and you don't have your own 6 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,320 Bible, you're you're welcome to take that, make that yours. 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:33,840 That's our gift to you. If you don't have your own 8 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,440 Bible. Page number there is 950. 8 It's 9 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,200 been a joy for me the last. Couple of weeks, 2 weeks ago. 10 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,640 I was at our brand site preaching there and last week I 11 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,920 got to be. With our Kitchener location. 12 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,880 And worship with them. In just talking with Pastor 13 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,600 Khalil over the past couple weeks, I'm so encouraged. 14 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,640 But what God is doing at all of our sites, At all of our 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,520 locations? How? 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,920 God is on the move and God is working, and I just ask you to. 17 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,320 To continue to pray for our church. 18 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,560 Continue to pray. For all of us, that we would be 19 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,280 the church that this moment in this country, these cities that 20 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,520 were in need, Pray especially for Pastor Khalil. 21 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,400 And for our Arabic site, you know. 22 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,720 We are in a spiritual battle, but when you are going up. 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,840 Against Islam, you're like white. 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,560 Knuckle, you're like, it's bare knuckles. 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,440 Fighting and so they're they're in combat with the lives of 26 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,480 Islam as they go out and try and reach Arabic people for Jesus 27 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,920 and so. Just be praying especially. 28 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,120 For them we've. Kicked off this fall with this 29 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,080 series that is called Devoted. We're in our last week of this 30 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,960 together and week 1 I just. Want to kind of remind? 31 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:47,000 Us where we've been Week one, we were in acts. 32 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,040 Chapter 2 and I was up here and I talked about the fact that. 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:57,320 It's not about what we do. It's about what Jesus has done. 34 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,880 That that is the foundation of our faith. 35 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:07,000 That is the foundation of our church, that it's all about what 36 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,960 Jesus did. But if we believe in what Jesus 37 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,960 has done, it will begin to change what we do. 38 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:20,640 And so Peter preaches about all that Christ did on the cross on 39 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,680 that Acts 2, on that start of the church, he gives a gospel. 40 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,160 Message and then the. People say, OK, what should we 41 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,000 do in light of what Christ has done? 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,320 He says repent and be baptized. Just believe it. 43 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,600 Receive what Christ? Has done for you. 44 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,920 And then it says, and they devoted themselves, and it 45 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:43,320 starts to give some practices that the early church entered 46 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,480 into on a regular. Basis and so. 47 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,480 For the last couple weeks, we've entered into this conversation 48 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,800 here at Forward Church. What are the core practices that 49 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,480 we would ask you to participate in and step into in order that 50 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:04,040 you could grow as disciples of Jesus who first, love God and 51 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,360 second, love others? And there's been a progression. 52 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:12,360 We've walked through John 15, one through 15 at this point. 53 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,480 We're going to be 16 and 17 today. 54 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:19,560 And Jesus starts with this call to his followers, to everyone 55 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,400 who is a disciple. He says, here's what I want you 56 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:23,800 to do. I want you to remain. 57 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:32,760 I want you to abide or dwell in, sink your roots down deeply into 58 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,240 me. That he's the vine and we're the 59 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,080 branches. And he says apart from me you 60 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,520 can do nothing. Back to that. 61 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,160 Do word right. It's about what Christ has done. 62 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:51,040 And if we're not rooted in what Christ has done, we can't do 63 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,000 anything. That's why we need to abide. 64 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,600 And then he says particularly here's what you need to abide 65 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,120 in. He says abide, dwell, sink down, 66 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:10,240 make space for the fact that I love you remain in my love and I 67 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:14,600 love the CSB and and remain is a fine word to use here, but I get 68 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,959 so worried when I I see that word that will read that word 69 00:04:18,959 --> 00:04:23,680 and we'll think through all of the things that we need to do in 70 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,040 order for God to love us. But that's not what he's saying. 71 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,400 He's saying I love you. Just dwell in that thought, 72 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,520 remain in that thought, be present in that thought. 73 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,400 It does not mean don't mess up my love. 74 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,680 It does not mean don't get on my bad side. 75 00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:44,160 It says every it's it means every day. 76 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,800 Would you just be so rooted in the reality that you are so 77 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:54,480 loved by God that he sent his one and only Son to save you? 78 00:04:54,480 --> 00:05:00,440 And when that truth that we claim to believe as Christians, 79 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,280 when it moves from here to here, that's what begins to change 80 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:06,880 everything. The Gospel is not just how we 81 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,760 start in our salvation, it's how we move forward in our 82 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,600 salvation. And then he says this. 83 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:22,360 Obedience, what you do is directly related to your 84 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,520 understanding of that love, he says. 85 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,840 If you keep my commands, you'll remain in my love. 86 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:33,360 That there's this connection between obedience and love. 87 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:38,560 At the heart of every obedience issue that we struggle with is 88 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,680 this it's a love issue. Do you recognize that the reason 89 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,880 you struggle to obey is the is because you struggle to 90 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,920 understand God's deep love for you? 91 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:56,360 Love is what allows us to obey the the the knowledge, the the 92 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:01,760 deep trust and the fact that the Father loves us and only wants 93 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,120 what is best for us and would only do what is best for us. 94 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,040 That's what allows us then to say yes to Him. 95 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,520 It's always a love issue. At the heart of an obedience 96 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,600 issue. It can also be a love issue in 97 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:20,640 that our love for something else out shines and outweighs the 98 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,040 love that we have for our Father. 99 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,640 And so we love something more. We desire something more. 100 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,120 We chase after something more. Then we chase after him. 101 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,920 But at the heart of. Every obedience issue is a love 102 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:38,280 issue. God loves us, God loves you. 103 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:42,520 There's nothing that you did or that you will do to earn that 104 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,800 love. He but he has proven his 105 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,560 unbelievable love for you and what he has done through Jesus 106 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:55,520 Christ. So we devote ourselves to 107 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,640 creating space, to spending time in the Word and in prayer so 108 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,520 that we can be reminded of that love. 109 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,080 We devote ourselves to being present and coming together for 110 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,800 congregational worship. So we can sing these songs and 111 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,120 we can hear God's Word preached us and we can be reminded of 112 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:17,120 God's love for us. We don't do those things to earn 113 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,960 checkmarks from God. We don't have to earn His love. 114 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:23,920 He loves us. We need to come and be reminded. 115 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:28,280 Of that. And as we do that, our heart 116 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,520 grows in trust and in. Trust we obey and what? 117 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:38,640 Then does obedience look like? What is it that Jesus would have 118 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,320 us say yes to? What is he asking? 119 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:45,200 Us to do, Jesus tells us in verse. 12 This is my command 120 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:49,000 that you would love one another as I have. 121 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,160 Loved you. And that's what Pastor. 122 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:56,040 Kirk talked about last week and I can imagine if I was there in 123 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:01,320 that room as Jesus said that is one of those 11 disciples Judas 124 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,760 is out of the room right now likely going to get the 125 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,160 authorities as. He is there and he is teaching 126 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,800 these men. I would. 127 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:14,800 Say like like all the others it would. 128 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,040 Could it be enough to love one other? 129 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,360 But do I like Jesus? You saying I have to love all of 130 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,800 them? And so Jesus repeats. 131 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,200 Again in verse 17, this is what I command. 132 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:35,480 You love 1. Another the progression is this 133 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:42,320 the more we understand God's love for us, the more we will 134 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:47,440 obey Him out of. Love and obedience to Him. 135 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:49,800 Looks like loving others the way that he's loved us. 136 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,000 That's what the Christian life ought to look like. 137 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:57,560 Do you know there's approximately? 138 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:01,480 59 I think Pastor Kirk said this last week. 59 other one 139 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,400 another's in the new. Testament. 140 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:09,200 You cannot love another without another. 141 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:12,920 Some of you think you can do the Christian life alone. 142 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,720 You cannot. You simply cannot obey God 143 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,360 without being in community. You cannot love one another 144 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,880 without another. And so we're calling you if. 145 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,320 If this is your home church, become a member at Forward 146 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,800 Church. If this is your home church, get 147 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,400 involved in the discipleship group. 148 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Have that intentional community where you can practice the one 149 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,400 and others together and serve on a team like God. 150 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,360 Use the gifts you have to be a blessing and to strengthen and 151 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:44,960 to encourage His church. Devote yourself to doing those 152 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,560 things. Why because of the way Jesus has 153 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:51,920 loved you love one another is I have loved you but there's one 154 00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:58,000 last thing that Jesus says that we will devote ourselves to that 155 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,440 we'll. Participate in that we need to 156 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,360 talk about and it's found here in John 15 verse 16. 157 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:11,040 So we'll continue on in this. Passage Jesus says You did not 158 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,920 choose me. But I chose you. 159 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,200 I appointed you to go and to produce fruit, and that your 160 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:23,080 fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in 161 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:24,440 my name. He will give you. 162 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,840 So if you are a disciple, if you have come to the point where you 163 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:33,760 have believed and received what God has done for you in the 164 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:37,160 person of Jesus Christ, that he has died for your sins to wash 165 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,120 you clean, that he didn't stay buried, but he rose again on the 166 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,480 third day. And if he rose again, you will 167 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:44,520 too. If you believe that to be true, 168 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:49,280 then you will abide, you will dwell, you will remain in the 169 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,080 truth of that incredible love that God has. 170 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,720 That love will work its way out in how you treat and love other 171 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,440 people. And you'll go and produce fruit 172 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:07,680 through the work of Jesus. The work that he has done works 173 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:16,120 itself out, not just in here and not just in here in in this room 174 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,680 in the church, but it's something that is supposed to be 175 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:24,920 taken out there. That's the progression here. 176 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,040 He says, listen, if you're my disciple, here's what you need 177 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:31,080 to know. You're chosen. 178 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,000 If you're my disciple, you're chosen. 179 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:38,000 Now that is true of the direct audience that Jesus is speaking 180 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,480 to. That's obviously true, right? 181 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,440 These guys are literally, we were in Luke back in the spring. 182 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,080 You'll remember this. If you were here with us, we saw 183 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:50,680 him call these guys out and invite them to be the ones who 184 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:51,760 would. Follow him. 185 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,960 He chose them. But it's also true for every 186 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,600 single person who is watching in Kitchener, here in Cambridge, 187 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:07,080 listening online, watching at some other point, that you, if 188 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:11,880 you're a disciple, you have been chosen first. 189 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:16,560 Peter 29 says that we, if we're disciples of Jesus, are a chosen 190 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:21,440 race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation of people for his 191 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,760 possession. Ephesians 14, Paul says, For he 192 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:30,400 chose us in him before the foundation of the world, to be 193 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,840 holy and blameless in love before him. 194 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,000 In First Thessalonians 14, Paul writes to the church in 195 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,600 Thessalonica. He says, for we know brothers 196 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:45,320 and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you. 197 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,720 Christian, if you are a disciple, here's the truth for 198 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,640 you, you are chosen. He picked you, He chose you. 199 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,160 There's a theological term for this that theologians called 200 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,240 election. It's a much better election than 201 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:02,520 the type. Of elections we have. 202 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,520 And there's lots of discussion that we could have. 203 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,520 On all that this entails. And this is going to come up 204 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,040 again. We'll talk about this. 205 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,440 I know when. We get back into Luke, we're 206 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,680 going to have some conversation about election. 207 00:13:15,680 --> 00:13:17,160 It will come. Up again, we'll teach. 208 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,320 About an equipped class. But for today, without getting 209 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,960 bogged down and into the weeds, God's Word is clear. 210 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:27,720 If you're a follower of Jesus, he's. 211 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:33,760 Chosen you, now we. Need to make a choice to follow 212 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,720 Jesus, to repent of our sins and to place our faith in him. 213 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:41,560 God's words also clear on that. But but two things can be true 214 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:44,000 at the same time. That we have to choose Jesus and 215 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:48,200 that Jesus chose us because the Bible says both of those things 216 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:53,040 in that reality. That God chose you and that He 217 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,600 chose me, you. Know what that should do? 218 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:00,960 That should put us in awe. You want to have your heart 219 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:02,960 stirred and move towards worship. 220 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,280 Think about the fact that God chose you. 221 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:11,720 Like, think about the men that he's saying this to in the room. 222 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:14,720 This is not the cream of the crop. 223 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,640 He he didn't choose these guys because they were the best of 224 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,440 the best. So we go through the gospel of 225 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:24,840 Luke. We're going to continue to see 226 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,160 these are not guys who had it all together. 227 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,120 They did not get it right all. Of the time. 228 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,000 He chose them in spite of who they were. 229 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,440 He chose them in spite of the fact that they weren't the 230 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:39,680 obvious choices. And that's why he chose you and 231 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:44,880 me too. He didn't choose you because he 232 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,360 needed you. He didn't have a job. 233 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,120 And he's like, I can't get this job done without them. 234 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:53,400 I need them now. He chose you because he loves 235 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:59,440 you. He didn't choose you because he 236 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:00,840 couldn't get it done without you. 237 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,880 He chose you because he didn't want to do it without you. 238 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:08,480 He didn't choose you because you're awesome and amazing. 239 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,760 I'm sure you are. You know, I'm, I'm sure your 240 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:15,360 mother's have told you that it's great, but that's not why he 241 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,120 chose you. He chose you because he's 242 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:24,040 awesome and amazing. Let those truths when you sing 243 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:29,000 and when you pray, inform your worship and inform your songs 244 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:34,320 and inform your praises. I'm sure my own reality is this. 245 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,120 There is absolutely no reason that I should be up. 246 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,280 Here this morning some of. You who know me well, you'll, 247 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,120 you'll know. This like I'm an introvert. 248 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,320 I I don't. Need a lot of. 249 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:52,160 People in my life. And I don't need to be the 250 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,120 center of attention of anything like this. 251 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,360 What I'm doing right now, and you can ask my wife, she will 252 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,400 tell you 100% full truth. This has never been an ambition 253 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:08,200 of my life. It is not my worldly passion and 254 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:13,120 ambition. I I was a terrible public 255 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:14,640 speaker. When I was a kid. 256 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,480 That's so nervous in front of people. 257 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:22,080 There was nothing in me that you would look and if you had seen 258 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:23,840 12 or 13 year old Derek, you'd say. 259 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,880 That's the guy he'll choose to someday preach to people. 260 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:32,640 Nothing. Nothing except one thing. 261 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:40,360 When God grabbed the hold of my heart, I prayed one prayer to 262 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:45,000 him at the age of 13. God, whatever you want me to do, 263 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,440 wherever you want me to go. I'll do that. 264 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,960 Now, I had a whole bunch of caveats in my mind at that 265 00:16:53,960 --> 00:17:01,920 point, but God took that unsteady promise and he said, 266 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:02,920 OK, here's what I want you to do. 267 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,640 And then he's just led me step by step along the way. 268 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,720 God, God. Used me for my purposes. 269 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,599 That was my prayer. I want, I want to let you know. 270 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:17,480 If you're a disciple. If you're a. 271 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,160 Christian if you're a follower of Jesus. 272 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,040 You have been chosen for a purpose. 273 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:25,680 You have been chosen for a purpose. 274 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,560 That's not what I'm saying. That's what Jesus says. 275 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:32,200 He says I chose you. And I appointed you I. 276 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,720 Chose you for a reason. Some of you today. 277 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,720 You're here today and you're wrestling, trying to figure out, 278 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,080 God, what is your purpose for me? 279 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,600 What? What am I, what am I supposed to 280 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,480 do with my life? Or what am I supposed to do with 281 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:51,000 my retirement? What am I supposed to do with 282 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,680 the days that you have granted me? 283 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,480 How should I invest myself? What should I give myself to? 284 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:04,040 Why does my life even matter? Because if God chose you, he 285 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:08,320 appointed you. If God chose you, He has a 286 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:14,120 purpose for you, and His purpose was more than just being about 287 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:18,360 you. Yeah, the blessings that we 288 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:23,280 receive in Christ through salvation are unbelievable. 289 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,040 There's too many to list. You can just go through 290 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:29,720 Ephesians. 1. And list out all of the things 291 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:34,960 that are ours in Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 1/3, Paul says 292 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:40,960 we're blessed in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing. 293 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,880 Every spiritual blessing belongs to you through Jesus. 294 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,600 And then he goes on. He talks about the fact that 295 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:48,640 we're made holy and we're made blameless. 296 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,480 We're loved, we're adopted, we're forgiven, we have an 297 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,600 inheritance. All of those things are 298 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,240 incredible that the Holy Spirit is in you. 299 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,360 God takes up residence in His people when they come to faith. 300 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:08,840 We are recipients of an unbelievable amount of mercy and 301 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,640 grace, but we're not supposed to be the final destination for 302 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,520 that mercy and grace. One of the blessings He bestows 303 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,720 on you and on me, if you're a follower of Jesus, is this. 304 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,920 It's not all about you. It's not all about you. 305 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:31,480 If God has chosen you, if Jesus has appointed you and saved you, 306 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:36,840 it's for a purpose. And he says this. 307 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,160 If you're a disciple, you've been chosen for the purpose of 308 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:42,440 going. Out. 309 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:49,080 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you 310 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:55,120 to go. Not to sit, not to stay, not to 311 00:19:55,120 --> 00:20:01,560 soak, to go and produce fruit if you're a disciple of Jesus. 312 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,120 You are not called on the team to just warm the bench. 313 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:12,240 You're appointed to get into the game and bear fruit. 314 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,360 Listen, you can't produce fruit on your own. 315 00:20:17,360 --> 00:20:20,640 We talked about that apart for me. 316 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:30,400 Jesus says you can do nothing, but he also says healthy 317 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,200 branches, branches that are abiding produce fruit. 318 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,240 If you're chosen, you've been appointed, you have a purpose. 319 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:44,360 That purpose is to go and produce fruit. 320 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:49,880 What is the fruit, then that is produced in us as we're? 321 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,360 Rooted in Christ Jesus? Well. 322 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:53,120 First, our lives are transformed. 323 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,040 It's the fruit of transformed lives. 324 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,480 In this passage. We've already talked about it. 325 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,960 Verse 12, he says if you're abiding in me, here's what's 326 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,080 going to happen. You're going to love other 327 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,720 people. That's going to grow in you. 328 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,280 It's not going to happen all at once. 329 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,800 It's probably going to be a pretty painful process at times, 330 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,320 but you are going to grow in love for other people. 331 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:19,120 In Galatians 5/22/23 we get to hear about the fruit of the 332 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:21,560 Spirit, Lovejoy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 333 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,800 gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, all these things 334 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:28,000 that God grows up in us. This fruit. 335 00:21:29,120 --> 00:21:33,360 Colossians 110 we bear fruit in every good work. 336 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,640 That there's actually things that God wants you to do in this 337 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:43,720 world that make a difference. Matthew 38, John the Baptist 338 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,520 says that we ought to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, that 339 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:51,800 our lives in big ways and small ways are constantly and always 340 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:55,080 being transformed by Jesus at work in US. 341 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,880 Changed hearts lead to changed actions. 342 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,680 If there's no change, there's no fruit. 343 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,760 And if there's no fruit, you aren't in the vine. 344 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,520 But the here's what else happens when our lives are transformed. 345 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:18,960 Change people, change things. Changed people changed things. 346 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:25,480 When people are being made different, it makes a 347 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,200 difference. Like love is a verb. 348 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,960 It's not just a warm feeling, it's action. 349 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:39,040 If you're going to love people, you're going to go out and do 350 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:43,680 things. When husbands and wives love 351 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:50,400 each other like Christ loves us, then families get different. 352 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:59,120 When we love our neighbors, we love the communities that we're 353 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:03,280 in. Then communities get different. 354 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:11,960 They get transformed. This I don't know. 355 00:23:12,360 --> 00:23:16,840 If you've paid attention at all to the goings on in the States, 356 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:21,120 and in some ways they're different, but in some ways 357 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:23,120 they're not a lot different from Canada. 358 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:29,720 In, in, in the midst of everything that is happening, in 359 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,800 the midst of all of the polarization that has taken 360 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:36,280 place and is taking place and the battles people are fighting. 361 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:44,200 I can't tell you how moved and how struck I was by seeing Eric 362 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:50,600 Kirk step up and talk about the fact that at the heart of the 363 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:56,640 gospel is Jesus forgiveness. And then to look out and say 364 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:03,000 that she would forgive the young man who shot her husband dead. 365 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,280 And what what's been incredible to me is I, I try and listen to 366 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:11,720 voices all over the cultural spectrum. 367 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:20,880 How the Gospel cut through. All of it from left. 368 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:27,960 To right and everywhere in. Between the only thing, the only 369 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,800 thing. The only hope that we have in 370 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:36,760 this world is the gospel. The only thing that is going to 371 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,960 bring people together is the most counter intuitive reality 372 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:42,960 that we could ever imagine was we're going to lay down our 373 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,840 lives for others. We're going to love our enemies. 374 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,680 We're going to do everything the world doesn't want to do. 375 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,240 And when that happens, when Christians get serious, when 376 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:05,280 we're transformed by the gospel man, it changes things, people 377 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:06,960 who are being made different. They'll they'll make a 378 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,640 difference. Because they'll direct people to 379 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,680 the only one who's the actual difference maker. 380 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,520 I I have to say this I. I find especially. 381 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,800 If you're younger. Especially if you're a young man 382 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,160 or maybe a middle-aged man too. I think we struggle with this. 383 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,440 Your purpose is not to change the world. 384 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:33,120 Hear me on this your. Purpose is not to change the 385 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:39,120 world. Your purpose is to point people 386 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:45,240 to the one who made the world and who is changing your world. 387 00:25:46,360 --> 00:25:49,880 And when that happens, the world gets changed. 388 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:53,160 You're, you're not. You don't have to go out there 389 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,680 and do big things for God. God did the big thing. 390 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,640 You point people to the big thing that God has done. 391 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:03,160 You let that change your life. It'll change everything and let 392 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,040 God determine how big your impact is. 393 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:06,840 All you're called to do is be faithful. 394 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,640 That's your job. Be faithful. 395 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,680 The most loving thing that you can do is point someone to the 396 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:20,360 Jesus who loves them, to the God who loved them so much that he 397 00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:25,320 died to redeem them. If you're going to do that, you 398 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:28,800 got to abide in that. You got to be rooted in that. 399 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,240 You got to be so gospel saturated. 400 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,480 And then go out in that. Apart from me, you can do 401 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:40,240 nothing. But I I've appointed you. 402 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:43,880 To go and produce fruit, I've appointed you to go do 403 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:48,040 something. Now, this is not next level 404 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:52,400 Christianity. This is simply Christianity. 405 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,520 This is what it looks like to be a Christian. 406 00:26:57,960 --> 00:26:59,760 If you don't have to take my word for it. 407 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,560 Here's an example. The Samaritan woman at the well. 408 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,040 She didn't know anything. She was not theologically 409 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:14,240 astute. She just met Jesus, didn't know 410 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,560 anything other than this Jesus. He knows everything about me. 411 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,920 And. This is wild and it's changing 412 00:27:22,920 --> 00:27:25,880 my life. So in John 4/29 she just goes 413 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,560 out and says, come see a man who told me everything I ever did. 414 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,120 Could this be the Messiah? And God uses her to bring a 415 00:27:33,120 --> 00:27:35,520 whole village over to learn about Jesus. 416 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,680 That's all she needed to know. I think this guy, he might be 417 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:44,520 the real deal. Some of you the the one thing 418 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,600 maybe that God is asking you to do is to find one person in 419 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:48,240 your. Life. 420 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:53,240 Who you're going to bring to Alpha, You just know Jesus is 421 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,240 changing my life. He's changed my life. 422 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:57,440 I want him, I want other people to know about him. 423 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,560 I love other people, so I'm going to invite somebody to come 424 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:01,600 with me. To alpha that starts tomorrow. 425 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,840 Night, that might be your one thing that you need to. 426 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:08,920 Do as a difference maker this. This week, abiding in Jesus, 427 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,800 loving each other, serving, living different, making a 428 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,080 difference for the world like these are. 429 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,040 This is not three different things. 430 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,920 This is 1 rope. Love God, love others, serve the 431 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:23,080 world. One rope. 432 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,040 That's what it means to be a disciple. 433 00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:30,760 Collectively we do all of it. Not, not three separate steps 434 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:36,120 all at once, all together. I chose you and I appointed. 435 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:40,400 You to go and produce fruit now. Some tough news for you. 436 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:47,480 The going won't be. Easy, Jesus says in verse 18. 437 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,320 Hey, if the world hates you. Get this. 438 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:56,000 It hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the 439 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,800 world would love you as its own. However, because you're not of 440 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,800 the world, because I've chosen you out of it, the world hates 441 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,960 you. Remember the word I have? 442 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,080 Spoken to you A. Servant is not greater than his 443 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:12,760 master. If they persecuted me, they will 444 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:16,280 also persecute you. If Jesus suffered, guess what? 445 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:20,840 You're probably going to suffer. In fact, here's why I'd say. 446 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:25,120 If nobody ever dislikes you. You got to. 447 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,680 Question whether you're really following Jesus. 448 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:31,840 You think, well, why would anybody? 449 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,760 Push back against the message. Of love and hope that Jesus 450 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:40,800 brings, because there's an enemy who came to steal and kill and 451 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:44,320 destroy. And. 452 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,600 If we're going to go out and win people to Jesus, we need to 453 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:49,640 understand who the enemy is and who it isn't. 454 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,400 The enemy is not flesh and blood. 455 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,840 The enemy is not other Christians. 456 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,160 The enemy is not your political opposition. 457 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:05,720 The enemy is not the people that Jesus died to save. 458 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:13,440 They're the prize. The devil is the enemy, and so 459 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,600 you're going to go out and you're going to be at war and 460 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:18,560 there are going to be times where you take some hits and you 461 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:23,160 take some blows. Sharing the love of Jesus 462 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:27,960 requires sharing the truth of Jesus, that we're sinners who 463 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,960 can't save ourselves, that we're headed to hell and a crisis 464 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:36,080 eternity unless and until we accept what Jesus has done on 465 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:40,280 our behalf. It requires living differently 466 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:44,960 than the world around us, and you should live differently than 467 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,200 the world around you. There shouldn't actually be 468 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:49,880 anybody who ultimately at some point doesn't get annoyed or 469 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,160 offended by you living in the way of Jesus if they're not 470 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,920 Jesus followers. Like I expect in this world 471 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,440 where we kind of polarize everything right and left, if 472 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,240 you're a Jesus follower, you'll offend people on the left and 473 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:03,240 you'll offend people on the right. 474 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:08,000 If you don't, maybe you're not following Jesus. 475 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:11,760 Maybe you're following the left or the right, but you should be 476 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:15,360 offending everybody because Jesus doesn't have a political 477 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:19,600 party. Followers of Jesus follow Jesus, 478 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:24,280 living for Jesus. It looks a little bit like this. 479 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:27,160 It looks like being at a concert. 480 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:32,160 Music is blaring. But you. 481 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:36,440 Have headphones in? You're listening to a totally 482 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,800 different tune and dancing to a totally different drummer. 483 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,120 That's what fallen Jesus. Looks like in the world. 484 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:47,000 You're not dancing to everybody else's tune and people laugh at 485 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,400 you and people point at you and people get annoyed at you and 486 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:51,520 then what's? What do you say? 487 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,480 You say, well, why don't you? Listen to the tune I'm listening 488 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,200 to, and then maybe you understand the way I'm dancing. 489 00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:59,920 That's what fallen Jesus looks like in the world. 490 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,920 But. Yes, it won't be easy. 491 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:11,640 But you also won't be going alone verse 17 when we go. 492 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:14,640 Out to bear fruit like we've been appointed, he says. 493 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,520 So whatever you ask the Father in my name. 494 00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:21,320 He will give to you. God is going to give you 495 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:24,960 everything that you need to accomplish the mission that He 496 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:29,760 calls you into. Whatever you ask in my Father's 497 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,160 name, accord that means according to His will, according 498 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,080 to His character, according to the mission that He has given to 499 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:36,360 you, He'll give you what you need. 500 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,600 So it's not going to be easy, but you're not going alone. 501 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,600 Our enemy, he's tough, there's no doubt about it. 502 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,160 He's he's described as a as a lion on the prowl looking for 503 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:54,520 someone to devour, but he's nothing, nothing, nothing 504 00:32:54,520 --> 00:33:00,560 compared to our God. Ephesians 610 finally be 505 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:05,560 strengthened by the Lord and his vast strength, which is so much 506 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:11,080 more strength than a lion. The going may be tough, but you 507 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:12,360 aren't going into. This alone. 508 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:22,120 You got big backup and the going will be worth it, so I appointed 509 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,720 you to go and produce fruit. And didn't talk about this. 510 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:29,280 Last part it says and your fruit will remain. 511 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:32,760 There are a lot of things you can give. 512 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:40,360 Your life for and your life too. We can, we can bear all sorts of 513 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:41,800 fruit. In this. 514 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:45,040 World your life. Can bear the fruit of. 515 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,720 Fame. Your life can bear the. 516 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,520 Fruit of power. Your life can bear the fruit of 517 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:59,320 money and pleasure, but the fruit of power and money and 518 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,760 fame and pleasure rots the fruit of faith. 519 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:07,760 Love and pointing people to Jesus remains forever. 520 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:15,679 If you spend your life chasing professional success, you might 521 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:17,239 find it. In fact, it's a good chance 522 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,800 you'll end up finding that success that you're looking. 523 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,679 For but if it's. Success just for your own sake. 524 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:27,520 It doesn't matter at all. It's going to be fruit that. 525 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:31,159 Rots on the vine. But if you. 526 00:34:31,159 --> 00:34:36,520 Use your business to fund the business of the gospel. 527 00:34:37,679 --> 00:34:42,360 If you use your professional success not to get glory for 528 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,520 yourself. But to point people to the glory 529 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:50,080 of Jesus Christ? If you use your influence to 530 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:54,639 bring justice into this world, that's fruit that remains. 531 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,240 Fruit that Remains isn't isn't doing everything that you can do 532 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:04,120 to set your kids up to be high achievers in this world. 533 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,880 Fruit that Remains is doing everything that you can do to. 534 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,240 Connect and point your kids. To Jesus, that's. 535 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:17,520 Fruit that remains as a. Parent, a life that bears fruit, 536 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:22,400 that remains is a life that makes a difference in this world 537 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:26,440 for Jesus because Jesus is making you different in every 538 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:30,640 area of your life. If you're a follower who is 539 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:34,080 abiding, who's growing in your love for God, that looks like 540 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:39,640 loving one another. And when we live as people of 541 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:47,440 love, especially in a world of hatred and division, it makes a 542 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:51,160 difference in everything that we do. 543 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,400 It will, I promise you, I promise you, I promise you, I 544 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:59,160 will make a difference. I've got 2000 years that 545 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:03,760 illustrate the fact that when the love of Jesus so impacts the 546 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:07,600 people of Jesus that they go out and love their world, it changes 547 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,800 things. Billions of lives have been 548 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,840 transformed because of that reality. 549 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:19,440 Charities that the the entire idea that we have in the Western 550 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,640 world of what charity looks like exists because the people of 551 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:29,040 Jesus brought it into existence. There have been people, millions 552 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:33,280 and millions of people, who God's people, have reached into 553 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,480 their poverty and their addiction and love them and care 554 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,840 for them. And seeing those chains broken, 555 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:44,080 hospitals founded, schools founded. 556 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:48,720 The value of human life and dignity that our culture takes 557 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:52,520 for granted is only there because the people of God were 558 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:57,560 transformed by their God to see that every single life, every 559 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:01,000 single person, is made in the. Image of God and has value. 560 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:05,600 We talked. About a men's event do justice, 561 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,680 men, I would just encourage you. We need men to rise up and do 562 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:12,920 justice. We need men who see the 563 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:17,080 brokenness and darkness in this world and say God's made me 564 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:20,440 different to make a difference. And I'm going to. 565 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,440 I'm going to live in such a way that I'm going to help women who 566 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:29,200 have been taken into human trafficking, and I'm going to 567 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:36,000 help see them get out when the followers of Jesus understand 568 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:38,000 that they've been. Chosen and appointed for the 569 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:39,920 purpose of going out and bearing much fruit. 570 00:37:41,240 --> 00:37:43,680 That our lives are meant to. Be lived to bear fruit that 571 00:37:43,680 --> 00:37:47,920 remains. It changes things. 572 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,600 I want to just talk here briefly at the end with a couple people. 573 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,520 If you're in our Kitchener side, I'm going to ask, I'm going to 574 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,320 have you guys go. Pastor Steve's going to come up 575 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,720 and talk about some steps that. You can take. 576 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:04,520 To step into this reality of going and stepping into your 577 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:08,600 purpose and bearing fruit in Cambridge, I'm going to invite. 578 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:12,080 Out Crystal Mora and Tammy Bull. Right now to come and just 579 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,000 share. Some of the ways that we. 580 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:18,040 Want to be able to help support you take next steps or take a 581 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:21,080 step into being a? Church and a people. 582 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:22,880 That serve the world and I'm going to. 583 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,920 Start with Tammy. Tammy overseas, our community. 584 00:38:25,920 --> 00:38:29,000 Engagement here at Forward Church and gets. 585 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:33,440 To really, her job is to help empower all of us to take those 586 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,880 steps to be people who go out and serve. 587 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:37,600 The world so. Tammy, what are some steps that 588 00:38:37,600 --> 00:38:38,680 you'd like to? Share with people. 589 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:43,520 Thank you, Pastor Derek. So there are so many different 590 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:48,200 ways for you to be an ambassador of Jesus in the world around 591 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:50,680 you. I want to highlight a couple. 592 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:57,480 Maybe you're like me. Maybe sometimes you see or hear 593 00:38:57,480 --> 00:38:59,360 about something a little too late. 594 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,840 Oh, if only I had known. I could have made a meal for 595 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:04,840 them. Or I could have, you know, 596 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:08,080 screwed on that doorknob for that single mom. 597 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:13,040 Well, we have a care team here and we're looking for people who 598 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:16,280 love to help others with practical needs. 599 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:19,480 So if you're that kind of a person and you just want to hear 600 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:23,280 about those opportunities maybe once a month, that's the team 601 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:25,440 for you. And I am happy to get you 602 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:29,440 connected on that team. Another way to serve the world 603 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:32,040 is through one of our big catalytic events. 604 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,680 We have the next one coming up. Brace yourself. 605 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:37,240 I'm going to say Christmas ready sharing. 606 00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:42,160 Christmas is coming up and it went so well last year. 607 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:43,640 We're going to do it again this year. 608 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:46,760 We're going to open the doors to hopefully twice as many people. 609 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:51,840 And if you have a creative gift and would love to use that to 610 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:56,720 share Jesus and what Christmas is all about with others, I'm 611 00:39:56,720 --> 00:39:59,560 looking for some workshop leaders so we can talk about 612 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,080 that. And the third way that you can 613 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:04,480 get involved, I mean, there are others, but the one I want to 614 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:07,680 highlight today is discipleship groups. 615 00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:12,000 So if you're a discipleship group leader, I'm speaking to 616 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,480 you right now. I want you to think about your 617 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:18,160 group and think about how often you've talked about serving as a 618 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,960 group. How do we grow as a group? 619 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:25,320 Serving as a group is one of the best ways to grow, and if you're 620 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:30,760 not already serving in an area together, come talk to me and I 621 00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:34,000 can get you connected with ways to serve once a month. 622 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:37,520 Ways to serve 3 * a year. There are some agencies who 623 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,440 would love to work with you and your group. 624 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:42,520 Let me tell you, talk about fruit. 625 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,720 You are going to experience the fruit. 626 00:40:44,720 --> 00:40:48,400 I can speak from personal experience where you are serving 627 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:51,680 together, growing together in Jesus name. 628 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,080 So those are my 3:00 today and I know that Crystal has something 629 00:40:55,080 --> 00:40:57,840 special to share about too. Yeah, Crystal's going to talk a 630 00:40:57,840 --> 00:41:00,400 little bit about a new initiative that's direct. 631 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:03,160 If you're a business leader, you have your own business. 632 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:05,200 We've got something that we're starting up. 633 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,000 Crystal, would you just? Share a little bit about that. 634 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,240 Thanks, Derek. And so the Canadian Christian 635 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:13,720 Business Federation has something called Biz groups, and 636 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:17,320 we are launching that for the first time here in our church. 637 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,480 So if you're a business owner or a workplace leader, this is for 638 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:23,360 you. It's a time like discipleship 639 00:41:23,360 --> 00:41:26,000 groups, where you would come together, discuss biblical 640 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:28,720 principles, and then take those into your workplaces. 641 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:31,960 OK. And both of you will be out 642 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:34,400 there afterwards. If people want to connect, we 643 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:35,840 will. You'll be out in the lobby 644 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:37,920 afterwards. Any other? 645 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:41,520 Ways that people connect with you and and learn more about 646 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:43,520 what what we've talked about today. 647 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:46,000 Yeah, you can reach out to the church office. 648 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:48,600 It looks like you can. There are two different texts. 649 00:41:48,600 --> 00:41:54,000 I don't think they're up there. STW for serve the World and biz. 650 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:59,240 So Canadian Biz for texting a biz group and. 651 00:41:59,240 --> 00:42:04,560 What's the number for? Me, 226-212-7117. 652 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:08,760 That's why I put you on the spot, Church. 653 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:13,360 We have been called into the opportunity to go out and make a 654 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:16,080 difference in this world. And whether it's through these 655 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:19,880 opportunities, whether it's just waking up in the morning and 656 00:42:19,880 --> 00:42:23,040 saying, Lord, show me who you want me to be a difference maker 657 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:25,880 to today show. Me how to? 658 00:42:25,880 --> 00:42:28,560 Point people towards you today. We're. 659 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:31,720 All called out onto the mission that Jesus has given us to make 660 00:42:31,720 --> 00:42:33,360 disciples and then go serve the world. 661 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:37,680 Just as I close up, I had the privilege yesterday of talking a 662 00:42:37,680 --> 00:42:41,040 little bit with David Dykema on the passing of his mom. 663 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:44,520 And one of the things that struck me is he talked about the 664 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:48,400 fact that his mom to her very last day. 665 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:52,120 Was just. Living every day at Saint Luke's 666 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:55,480 for Jesus. Every day she was telling people 667 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:57,320 about Jesus. She was pointing people to 668 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,880 Jesus. She was inviting people to 669 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:03,400 church, even though it had been almost 20 years since she'd been 670 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,080 able to be out at church, and some of those people were coming 671 00:43:06,080 --> 00:43:08,080 to forward church. You might be out there today 672 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:11,040 because Loretta Dykima invited you from Saint Luke's and she 673 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:14,240 couldn't even be here with you, but she loved you enough to. 674 00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:17,640 Share that with you. It was just such a reminder of 675 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:22,080 of a woman who has lived her life on mission for Jesus. 676 00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:25,360 And we said goodbye to a couple of those women this week. 677 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:28,920 But we need to all step into that reality. 678 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:30,400 We need to all step into that mission. 679 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:33,200 Let me pray, Father, thank you so much. 680 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:38,520 That you loved us. Help us to abide in that love. 681 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:41,320 We don't want to go out and do these things to earn your 682 00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:43,600 pleasure and favour. No, we want to go out because we 683 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:46,120 know your pleasure and favour. We know how good it is to be 684 00:43:46,120 --> 00:43:47,840 loved by you. We want to share that love with 685 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:49,920 others. We want to be people who are 686 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:54,920 being transformed by your love. And bring the love of Jesus. 687 00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:59,240 To a world that is in desperate need of transformation, God we 688 00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:03,600 pray that we would be a church that would go and produce much 689 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:08,520 fruit and fruit that would remain in Jesus name, Amen.