1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,480 Good afternoon. It's great to be back once again 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,920 for another worship service, another opportunity to learn 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,040 from God's word together. I just want to say thank you to 4 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:13,240 the congregation for the invitation here and thank you to 5 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,280 all the brothers and sisters who helped with our potluck. 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,760 This is my first potluck here and I've just enjoyed spending 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,400 the day and sharing the day together. 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,720 With that being said, I want us to make a deal. 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,160 You and I know something crazy happens after a potluck. 10 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,360 We were blessed with really good food and right now we're all 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,280 battling the food baby. We're all battling the food 12 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,200 coma. My deal with you is this. 13 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,800 We're going to get through this quick, but not too quick and I 14 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:51,160 need your help as listeners. This is going to be a Co-op and 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:52,800 just know we're all in this together. 16 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,760 So I'm excited for our study for just a little bit. 17 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,520 We're going to talk about the man Jesus couldn't save. 18 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,760 I was talking to dude and you guys may know him as Darren, but 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,040 I was talking to him and I asked him, who do you think we're 20 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,760 talking about? And he said you could be talking 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:12,480 about anybody. You could be talking about the 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,360 scribes of the Pharisees, the guy from this morning, Simon. 23 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,440 We're going to be talking about a young man, and we're going to 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,880 be talking about a young man each and every one of us can 25 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,480 learn from today. The thing is, what I want us to 26 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:31,440 learn is what was good from him. We want that. 27 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,120 But where he fell short or fell short, we're going to learn not 28 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,680 to do that. That's our whole goal. 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,880 We want to talk about the rich young ruler. 30 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,640 We're going to jump around from different scriptures and 31 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,280 harmonize each of the accounts. We want to start in Mark chapter 32 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:51,480 10 and verse 17. In Mark chapter 10 and verse 17 33 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,600 the Bible says Now as he was going out on the road, one came 34 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:02,360 running, knelt before him and asked him good teacher, what 35 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,600 shall I do that I may inherit eternal life. 36 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,720 As I said a second ago, in this verse we are introduced to a 37 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,680 young man that scholars refer to as the rich young ruler. 38 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,440 This man was very young. We're not told exactly how 39 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,360 young, but we're also told that he was rich. 40 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,400 He had a lot of possessions. We're going to talk about that 41 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,400 some more. But he is a ruler, and what 42 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,080 scholars believe this means is that he was a ruler in a local 43 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,640 synagogue. He's a spiritually minded young 44 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:43,200 man, and he sees Jesus, and a lot like the woman of our study 45 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,800 this morning, he runs to Jesus. He falls down before Jesus and 46 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,440 he asks him a very important question. 47 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,840 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,000 This man, we see, he's got some attributes, you and I, you and I 49 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,560 need to possess. He's respectful, He's spiritual 50 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,760 and he's teachable. It's very rare that you find 51 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,920 someone that's got all three. Some people they want to learn, 52 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,960 but they're not really respectful. 53 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,240 I've had studies with people. The man I was talking about this 54 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,240 morning, we would study and we would study at the church 55 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,280 building and be me and him and his wife and this other brother, 56 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,080 and he would throw the Bible on the seat. 57 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,880 He would curse. He'd do all sorts of things when 58 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:37,720 he just didn't like something. At first he was respectful, but 59 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,480 when people find disagreements, they teeter off. 60 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,320 He was This man is respectful, he's spiritual, and he's 61 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:48,440 teachable. We need to possess all three as 62 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,920 children of God, people who seek to please God. 63 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,600 Watch out. Jesus responds to this man's 64 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,160 question in Matthew's account and Matthew chapter 19 and verse 65 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,280 17. The Bible says so. 66 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,680 He said to him, Why do you call me good? 67 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,400 No one is good but one that is God. 68 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:14,240 But if he wants to enter into life, keep the commandments, We 69 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,680 want to focus on this underlying phrase here. 70 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:20,079 Jesus asks this man. This man comes to Jesus. 71 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:23,040 He asks a question. Jesus asks a question back. 72 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:24,800 He says, why do you call me good? 73 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,600 Only God is good. And this verse right here has 74 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:34,360 been misused and misapplied time and time again. 75 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:39,080 This is a favorite verse of skeptics and atheists, people of 76 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,080 all different backgrounds 'cause you know what they say, silly 77 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:46,800 Christians, Jesus never even claimed to be God. 78 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:52,320 What you guys are doing is attributing Jesus as the as 79 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,920 being God. He never even claimed to be God 80 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,480 himself. We're all here believing and 81 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,000 worshipping based off a lie, based off based off of something 82 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,920 that Jesus never even intended. We ask is that true? 83 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:11,400 Of course we know the answer. Jesus claimed to be God. 84 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,080 The Bible says he's God. Here are just some verses that 85 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:20,280 teach against this idea. We want to start with in John 86 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,760 chapter 20, verses 30 and 31. Brother Frank and I, we were 87 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,720 talking during Pollock. I wouldn't say I have a favorite 88 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:32,160 gospel, but the gospel that reaches out to me the most, or 89 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,360 I'm the most susceptible or it's just the easiest to follow, is 90 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:40,040 the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John, we learned 91 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,400 the whole goal is to preach Jesus's deity and John 20 and 92 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:45,360 verse 30. It says. 93 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,000 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his 94 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,160 disciples which are not written in this book. 95 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:57,640 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the 96 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:02,680 Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in 97 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:07,640 his name. #2 Within the first few verses of John's Gospel, 98 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,680 Jesus is said to be God. In the beginning was the Word, 99 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,560 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 100 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:19,560 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld 101 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,240 his glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father, 102 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,040 full of grace and truth. So the beginning of John says 103 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,400 Jesus is God. The end of John says Jesus is 104 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:35,160 God, but watch what it says in the middle and watch who says 105 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:41,720 what in John chapter 5 and verse 17 Jesus answered them. 106 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:48,000 My Father has been working until now and I have been working. 107 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:53,200 Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill him because he 108 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,560 not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his 109 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,200 Father, making himself equal with God. 110 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:05,720 So throughout John's Gospel, Jesus says I am the Son of God, 111 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:09,120 God is my Father, and the Jews knew what that meant. 112 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,440 He's not saying we're all from God, we're all born of God, 113 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,920 God's all our Father, and I'm his kid too. 114 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,520 No. Jesus was claiming a 115 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,480 relationship that you and I do not have with God. 116 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,400 He was claiming divinity. He was claiming deity. 117 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,880 All you and I have is humanity and the Jews. 118 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:34,160 They sought to kill him for that. 119 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,920 Another verse proving this point comes from John 103333. 120 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,840 I and my father are one. Then the Jews took up stones 121 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,760 again to stone him. Jesus answered them. 122 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,280 Many good works I have shown you from my Father. 123 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,000 For which of those works do you stone me? 124 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:58,560 There's sarcasm in the Bible, he goes on to say the Jews answered 125 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,320 him, saying for a good work we do not stone you, but for 126 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:03,880 blasphemy. Watch this. 127 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,760 And because you, being a man, make yourself God. 128 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,960 So the Jews of the 1st century understood. 129 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,440 Jesus calls God his father. He's making a claim that he's 130 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,040 gone. We got to kill him because they 131 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,120 thought he was lying. They thought he was blaspheming, 132 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,320 but he was telling the truth. So here's a question, or here's 133 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,720 a thought I have for skeptics and atheists today. 134 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:35,280 At best, they're ignorant. At worst they're stubborn 135 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,080 because the scriptures teach repeatedly, Jesus is God. 136 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,120 He claimed to be God. To say or teach otherwise is 137 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,960 just not true. It is false. 138 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,080 So we ask ourselves this question. 139 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,680 Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 140 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,240 What does this mean? What was Jesus getting at? 141 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,880 Was he trying to get the rich young ruler to doubt? 142 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,400 Was he trying to correct the rich young ruler? 143 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,560 No. What he was saying is this. 144 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,200 You call me good, but only God is good. 145 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,680 Do you understand that? You are calling me God? 146 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:18,480 And do you truly mean it? And do you truly mean it? 147 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,480 You're calling me God right now, and unless you truly mean it or 148 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,200 understand what you're saying, there's nothing I can tell you. 149 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:30,680 There's no way I can help you. That's what Jesus was getting 150 00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:34,400 at. Do you understand what you're 151 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,440 saying? And the reason why this is 152 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,400 important is because unless the rich young ruler believes and 153 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,080 understands Jesus is God, Jesus can't help him. 154 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:48,400 The same is true of us today. Unless we believe and understand 155 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,240 Jesus is not a man. He's not just a man. 156 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,360 He is God. He is Savior. 157 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,520 He is Lord. There's no reason to expect us 158 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:03,520 to change. There is a difference between 159 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:08,440 calling Jesus good versus God. Many people call Jesus good, but 160 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,200 very few treat him as God. It's kind of like when Jesus 161 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,440 says in Matthew Chapter 7 and verse 21, not everyone who says 162 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:21,400 to me Lord Lord shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who 163 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,040 does the will of my Father in heaven. 164 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,880 So there's calling Jesus Lord saying and recognizing he's the 165 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,360 master of our life and it's a whole nother thing to treat him 166 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,920 as such. A lot of people want Jesus as 167 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,560 their Savior. Very few people want Jesus as 168 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:44,040 their Lord. Jesus is exposing this idea or 169 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,200 this thought with this rich young ruler. 170 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,680 You call me good, but are you going to treat me like God? 171 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,000 That's what your statement. That's the implication from your 172 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,960 statement right there. So Jesus tells this man, if you 173 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,320 want to enter into life, keep the commandments. 174 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,400 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that 175 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,240 proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew, chapter 4 and verse 4. 176 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,000 This is not a new command. This is nothing new. 177 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:19,240 The way to eternal life is obeying God's word, keeping 178 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,880 God's word. I love this question. 179 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,560 This is such an interesting question. 180 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:29,040 The rich and ruler, he comes up, he goes, which ones? 181 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,160 I want eternal life. But which commands do I got to 182 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,840 keep? You know why this is such an 183 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:41,480 interesting question to me is because there are Christians who 184 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:46,120 have the same attitude today. Which commands do I have to 185 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,040 keep? Well, that would imply there are 186 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,600 commands you don't have to keep, right? 187 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,840 There are Christians today that believe you don't have to keep 188 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,520 all of God's Word. Now they'll never tell you that. 189 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,080 They won't ever just say that outright. 190 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,640 They'll say it like this. You know how many times in my 191 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,720 short year and a half as a preacher, someone tells me this, 192 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:14,080 Isaac, do you really think if someone doesn't do XY or Z, 193 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:19,560 they're going to go to hell? What that thought or statement 194 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:25,080 expresses or exposes is an inner belief that there is a hierarchy 195 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,800 of commands and there are lesser commands and there are greater 196 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,760 commands. This is kind of similar to the 197 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,320 point we talked about this morning. 198 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,480 Are there greater sins? Are there lesser sins? 199 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:39,760 Some people believe there are more important commands and 200 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,880 there are less important commands, commands. 201 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,080 We're going to find out if that's true or not. 202 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:50,160 But before we go further, Jesus replies in Mark chapter 10 and 203 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,760 verse 19, he says, you know the commandments. 204 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,280 I'm not going to teach you or tell you something you don't 205 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,400 already know. You actually already know the 206 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,520 answer. Rich young ruler, Do not commit 207 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,800 adultery. Do not murder, do not steal, Do 208 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,480 not bear false witness. Do not defraud. 209 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,440 Honor your father and your mother, Jesus. 210 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,320 Then just pick these commands out of a hat and just try the 211 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,720 fortune cookie style. Let's just try these ones. 212 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,960 No, he got these from the 10 commandments. 213 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,400 He got these. He's quoting the second-half of 214 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:27,640 the 10 commandments found in Exodus chapter 20, verses 3 215 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,520 through 17. But he also adds Love your 216 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,320 neighbor as yourself in Matthew's account. 217 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:38,040 And he quotes from Leviticus 19 and verse 18. 218 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:43,280 Now here is a list of the 10 commandments in their totality. 219 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,520 The reason why I have the left side in black and the right side 220 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:52,560 in red is because the first four of the 10 commandments deals 221 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:54,920 with man's relationship with God. 222 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,240 Jesus doesn't quote these commands to the man. 223 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,120 He quotes the right side, the right side with you, with man's 224 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,680 relationship with other men, Man's relationship with other 225 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:12,040 men. Now the question is why didn't 226 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:14,480 Jesus command the man to love God? 227 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:19,200 Why didn't he tell him? Do not do not follow or worship 228 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,320 false idols or graven images? Why do you skip the first four? 229 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,960 Number one? It's implied in his question. 230 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,960 I don't know about you. People who don't love God don't 231 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,880 ask questions about how to please God, right? 232 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,400 This man is running to Jesus. He falls down before Jesus. 233 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,280 He's got a spiritual question. It's already a given. 234 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,800 He loves God to some degree. We're about to find out how much 235 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,400 he loves God though. And #2, he tells this man or 236 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,960 this is going to be revealed in his response. 237 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:01,720 He tells him to love fellow man, but he will only do so if he 238 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,760 already loves God. Here's what first John chapter 4 239 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:11,320 verses 20 and 21 say. If someone says I love God and 240 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,720 hates his brother, he is a liar for he who does not love his 241 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,960 brother whom he has seen. How can he love God whom he has 242 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,480 not seen? And this commandment we have 243 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:25,320 from him that he who loves God must love his brother also. 244 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:30,240 Now why did Jesus command the man to keep these six commands? 245 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:33,440 Are these the six most important in the 10 commandments? 246 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:38,680 And what people don't realize is there's actually 613 commands in 247 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:41,720 the Law of Moses, much more than the 10 commandments. 248 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,640 We got the same question Are these six commands greater than 249 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,520 the others? It would, it would seem so, 250 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,440 appear so. But this is not true. 251 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,440 This is not true at all. When we compare the list Jesus 252 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,560 gives in Mark chapter 10 and with a list that Paul gives in 253 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,240 Romans 13, they're eerily similar. 254 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,840 They both say you shall not commit adultery. 255 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,160 They both say you don't, you cannot murder. 256 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,880 They both say do not steal. They both say do not bear false 257 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,400 witness. One says do not fraud, honor 258 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,000 your father and your mother. The other one ends with you 259 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,960 shall not covet. Watch what Paul says at the end 260 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:30,560 or Romans 13 and verse 9, if there is any other commandment, 261 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:35,040 are all summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love 262 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:40,720 your neighbor as yourself. Now Paul helps us understand 263 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,600 that the commands Jesus gives are not the most important 264 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:47,720 commands. The commands that both Jesus and 265 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:53,360 Paul cite are specific ways to fulfill the general command of 266 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,360 loving your neighbor as yourself. 267 00:16:56,560 --> 00:17:00,760 So the question remains, what's the most important command? 268 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,720 In Matthew chapter 22 and verse 36 Teacher, which is the great 269 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,280 commandment in the law, Jesus said to him you shall love the 270 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,480 Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with 271 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,160 all your mind and with all your strength. 272 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,760 Another account says this is the first and great commandment and 273 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,920 the 2nd is like it. You shall love your neighbor as 274 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,920 yourself. On these two commandments hang 275 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:32,400 all the law and the prophets. Christians today they say this. 276 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:34,800 I think there are more important commands. 277 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,680 We just read them. The most important command is 278 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:43,320 love God seconds to love man. We all just read that. 279 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,480 We all just heard that. The question is this, what does 280 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,120 that mean? What does that mean when you 281 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:54,000 apply it? Jesus, when he's asked this 282 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,040 question, he's asked by a lawyer. 283 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,280 These weren't lawyers like you and I think of today. 284 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,640 These were experts in the Jewish religion, in the Law of Moses. 285 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,480 So this was an extremely technical question that Jesus is 286 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:12,160 being asked. Now we want to look at two 287 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,800 different ideas. Some Christians view this 288 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,960 command in this way. Right here there is love God and 289 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,560 love your neighbor. They're the most important. 290 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,960 We got this line that differentiates. 291 00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:27,760 These are less important, less important. 292 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:31,440 Air quotes, one loaf and 1 cup. That's whatever. 293 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,920 No instruments, that's whatever. No. 294 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:35,640 Attending the worship of the church. 295 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,280 That's whatever. Lying, stealing the hair, the 296 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:43,040 covering, drinking and modesty. That's not important. 297 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,280 All you got to do is love God and love your neighbor. 298 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,280 That's what they teach and what they preach when you summarize 299 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:55,240 this view. They believe this loving God is 300 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,320 the most important command and the rest are less important. 301 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:03,320 The idea is that the command of love God excludes the others 302 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,040 other commands and excuses us from breaking them. 303 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,880 This promotes A lawless attitude. 304 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:16,320 Some people believe this. Maybe you believe this. 305 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:17,960 We're going to see if this is true or not. 306 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:23,600 Other people believe that when you love God and love your 307 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,360 neighbor, all the commands become equal. 308 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:28,360 They're on an equal playing field. 309 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:34,080 Love God is the most important command in the sense that it is 310 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:38,400 where you start. But it is it is not where we 311 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,800 stop. The rest of the commands are not 312 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,680 less important. In fact, when we love God, the 313 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:50,600 opposite is true. The command to love God does not 314 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,520 exclude the others, it includes them, elevating them to a 315 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,760 position of equality and encourage us to keep them all. 316 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:03,760 It promotes A lawful attitude. So when you actually and truly 317 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,880 love God. You'll do everything God says. 318 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,520 It might not make sense, you might not understand it, but 319 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,240 you'll do it. And when we truly love God and 320 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:18,240 love our neighbor, there's nothing we'll overlook. 321 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,960 Nothing that will overlook. This is the correct command and 322 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:24,680 my understanding of the scriptures. 323 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,480 There we go. All commands are equal. 324 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,560 Here are five points that I think are going to establish 325 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:37,360 this truth that the second view is true. #1. 326 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,880 Jesus says the 1st and 2nd command. 327 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,080 He does not say the first and last. 328 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,120 He does not say all you got to do is love God and love man. 329 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,320 He says first and second, which implies there are more commands. 330 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,160 And there's a sequence. You start with loving God, and 331 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:58,880 then you go to loving man and the rest fill in from there #2 332 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,880 Some believe there are more important commands, but that you 333 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:09,400 should keep them all. The very idea of should implies 334 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,120 optional. There is no such thing as an 335 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:16,800 optional command by definition. That would be a suggestion, not 336 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,440 a command. It's contradiction of terms #3. 337 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,160 If you have to keep all of God's word, namely the New Testament, 338 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:28,000 then how could any command be identified as less important? 339 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,080 We're going to read a verse for that #4. 340 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,920 How would you know which commands are less important 341 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:40,360 unless the Bible said so Specifically #5, Which commands 342 00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:45,520 can you break and not sin in so doing and not risk eternal 343 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:48,480 punishment in hell? Look, I'm so confident in this. 344 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,640 If you can show me a verse that you can break and not sin, I'll 345 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,480 do it with you. We could do it together. 346 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,520 Here's what Jesus taught. Life is found in keeping the 347 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,440 commandments. All must be obeyed. 348 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:07,360 And Matthew, chapter 28 and verse 19. 349 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:10,480 We got a new sister today. She was baptized. 350 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,240 This is a reminder for all of us, of God's plan. 351 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:17,120 These are Jesus's words before he left for heaven. 352 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:22,560 Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing 353 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,200 them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy 354 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:26,520 Spirit. We did that. 355 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,560 Praise be to God. Here's the next step. 356 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:36,880 Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you 357 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,360 and lo, and with you always, even to the end of the age. 358 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:43,800 Amen. Can you do any less than all? 359 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,640 No. Jesus commands. 360 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,080 He wants disciples who they don't cut corners with the 361 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,600 Bible. They don't cut corners with his 362 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,400 commands. We have to have the Spirit and 363 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:05,880 the disposition to do all, to do all, the young man said to 364 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:07,680 Jesus. All these things I've kept from 365 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,160 my youth. What do I still lack? 366 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,840 Sounds arrogant at first glance. He's not. 367 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:16,040 This is a very sincere man. He's not saying I've never 368 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,400 sinned, I've never broken the commands of God. 369 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,840 He's not saying he's sinless. He's saying he's blameless. 370 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:25,600 When he messed up, he fessed up and he fixed it. 371 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,280 This is exactly what Paul says in Philippians 3. 372 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,840 He talks about his former conduct in Judaism and he's 373 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,560 bragging about how good of a Jew he used to be. 374 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,000 And he says there concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 375 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,680 concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 376 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:45,680 This rich young ruler, he's doing the same thing. 377 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,120 He's not bragging that he's like Jesus. 378 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,080 He's saying when I mess up, I fix it. 379 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:56,960 I already do all these things now. 380 00:23:57,120 --> 00:23:59,680 I love this man. He says this. 381 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,160 What do I still lack? He's got the heart. 382 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,000 Am I missing something? Am I overlooking something? 383 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,360 I don't want to leave one stone unturned spiritually. 384 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,520 And that's how you and I need to be today. 385 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,560 He was zealous. He wanted to. 386 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,640 He could not stop at any point. And pleasing God, he was curious 387 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,040 and he wasn't going to let anybody get in the way. 388 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,960 Look at Jesus's response and Mark's account. 389 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:33,880 Then Jesus looking at him, loved him. 390 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,840 Mark's the only account that puts that detail. 391 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:47,160 He loved him and said to him one thing you lack go your way. 392 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,840 Sell whatever you have and give to the poor and you will have 393 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:55,240 treasure in heaven and come take up the cross and follow me. 394 00:24:55,720 --> 00:25:01,240 Matthew's account says if you want to be perfect, sell all 395 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,800 that you have and give to the poor. 396 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:09,360 Now what we're noticing in this verse is that God Jesus says if 397 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:12,120 you want to be perfect then do this. 398 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,400 Well, not every Christian wants to be perfect. 399 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:21,240 Some are OK with being average or OK or good. 400 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:28,360 But in the Scriptures there is an expectation of perfection. 401 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,120 Watch what I mean in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 48. 402 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:38,200 Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in Heaven is 403 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,920 perfect. And Colossians one and 28 Jesus. 404 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:46,400 We preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom 405 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:52,360 that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 406 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:57,080 The goal for everyone in this building is perfection. 407 00:25:59,360 --> 00:26:04,480 Now we ask, what does it mean to be perfect as a Christian? 408 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:09,920 That's the $1,000,000 question. Being perfect does not mean 409 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,640 flawless. It does not mean sinless. 410 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:19,920 It means mature, fully grown, not lacking anything. 411 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:26,360 Here a few verses to back this up and 1st Thessalonians Chapter 412 00:26:26,360 --> 00:26:28,240 3 and verse 10. Night and Day. 413 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:32,040 Praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect. 414 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,800 What is lacking in your faith. There is that relationship once 415 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,520 again, and James one and four. But let patience have it's 416 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:45,320 perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking 417 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:48,840 nothing. This is the same idea in our 418 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,720 story. Mark's account says one thing 419 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,400 you lack. Matthew says if you want to be 420 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:59,040 perfect, if you want to be perfect. 421 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,800 Now, I understand when I say our goal is perfection and Jesus 422 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,640 demands perfection. That's intimidating. 423 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,920 I'm not perfect. Let's just make that clear. 424 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:15,560 My my nickname back home with my family is Perfecto. 425 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:17,520 I don't know if he knows Spanish. 426 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,520 That means perfect. And I know what you're thinking. 427 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,880 There's no way you're not perfect. 428 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:27,960 I know, but I have flaws. There are things I'm working on. 429 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:29,480 There are things you're working on. 430 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:34,600 None of us in here are perfect. There's always an area I can 431 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:40,920 improve and you can improve and I understand being 25 years old, 432 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,920 I've been with myself long enough to understand I'm weird, 433 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,480 I'm different. So when I hear you got to be 434 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,480 perfect, that's encouraging to me. 435 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:55,680 That doesn't deter me or cause me to be discouraged. 436 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,400 But I understand there are people, when they hear you got 437 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:01,320 to be perfect, that's very intimidating. 438 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,040 And some people go, well, I'm surely not perfect, so I don't 439 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:06,400 even know why. Don't even try. 440 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:11,920 Have you ever felt that way? Me too at times. 441 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:17,040 Here is a quote from a legendary basketball coach, John Wooden. 442 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:22,040 He says this. I am not as good as I ought to 443 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,520 be. I am not as good as I want to 444 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,880 be. I am not as good as I'm going to 445 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,760 be. But I am thankful that I am 446 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:33,960 better than I used to be. When we understand this 447 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:39,680 commandment to be perfect. Yes, the goal is perfection, but 448 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,160 our mindset needs to be direction. 449 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:48,840 I'm better than I used to be, but I press on. 450 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,520 I press upward. I am not already been perfected. 451 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,880 I am not already attained, the Apostle Paul would say. 452 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,600 I press upward and onward when we view. 453 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,560 I have a Christian growth mindset of direction, upward and 454 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,160 higher, holier than we've ever been. 455 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:11,960 All the discouragement goes away from this command. 456 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,200 You can find joy in being perfect and striving for that. 457 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,520 So don't get bogged up in being flawless. 458 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:22,320 No, it's just being fully grown. And in order to be fully grown, 459 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,920 you got to make mistakes. The goal is to not make 460 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:26,560 mistakes. But we will. 461 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,200 We will and mark chapter 10 and verse 21. 462 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,160 The story quickly ends. Then Jesus looking at him, loved 463 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,760 him and said to him one thing you like go your way, sell 464 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:41,560 whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have 465 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:46,000 treasure in heaven and come take up the cross and follow me. 466 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:53,400 But he was sad at this word and went away sorrowful for he had 467 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:55,800 great possession. He read. 468 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,240 He was joyous. He started. 469 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,480 He had this question. He fell down, He kneeled down. 470 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:03,280 He was all gung ho. Didn't get the answer he wanted. 471 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:09,200 You see, Jesus can read hearts. We learned that this morning. 472 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,000 He didn't say what he said by accident. 473 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,560 Now don't get it twisted. Being rich is not a sin. 474 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:24,640 It's not bad to be taken care of, but what is bad is when we 475 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,880 treasure earthly treasures more than heavenly treasures and we 476 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,280 let that get in the way of God. That's what this man's problem 477 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:38,480 was. And Jesus knew there was one 478 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:43,480 thing keeping him back. That was his earthly treasures. 479 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:47,240 So Jesus, when he said this answer, he gave this answer. 480 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:52,440 He knew he touched a soft spot. This was the real test. 481 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,360 You call me good? Only one is good. 482 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:58,760 That is God. You call me God. 483 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:00,240 Are you going to treat me as God? 484 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:05,320 And He didn't. He runs away. 485 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,560 He leaves. And this story does not have a 486 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:14,240 happy ending. I believe this with all my 487 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:16,880 heart. Each and every one of us in 488 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:23,840 here, you've got one sin or temptation that's worse than the 489 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:27,840 other ones. This is the one you pray for, 490 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,000 and I pray for more than any other one. 491 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,920 This is one. No one may even know this about 492 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:36,680 you, that you struggle with this on a daily basis. 493 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:41,280 Just like the rich young ruler. We got that one thing and God 494 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:45,480 knows it. When Jesus said you got to give 495 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:48,640 this up, what you don't want to give up, you got to give up. 496 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:54,080 This guy threw in the towel and he teaches us it is possible for 497 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:57,680 an individual to follow instructions without truly 498 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,400 possessing a heart for God. He was going through the 499 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,240 motions. Yeah, he didn't steal. 500 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:08,320 Yeah, he didn't kill people or murder or lie, but he was just 501 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:12,880 checking boxes. He wasn't truly transformed or 502 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,080 changed. Today we met here first day of 503 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,800 the week like God says one loaf 1 cup, no instruments. 504 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,400 The brethren led the services. Were we checking boxes off 505 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:28,880 today? Or do we do this because our 506 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,480 heart is changed and being changed and we're here out of a 507 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:38,000 love for God? We might not be so different 508 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,480 from the rich young ruler. Only you or I can ascertain our 509 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:46,480 own thoughts and hearts in this. Jesus commanded the man to give 510 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,680 up the one thing he was unwilling to surrender his 511 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:51,720 riches. I will leave you with two 512 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,800 questions. What are you willing to give up, 513 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,960 and what are you unwilling to give up? 514 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:02,640 Whatever it is To the second question, whatever the answer, 515 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:04,800 that's what's going to keep us out of heaven. 516 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:09,080 That's what's going to keep us from serving God to our ability, 517 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,880 the best of our ability, as He demands, as he deserves, and as 518 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,120 he desires. Jesus ends this sermon in 519 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:21,640 Matthew 19 and 29 everyone who has left houses or brothers or 520 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:25,280 sisters, or father or mother or wife or children or lands. 521 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:32,240 For my name's sake shall receive a hundredfold and inherit 522 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:38,880 eternal life. I've been homeless because of my 523 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:40,640 beliefs. I've been kicked out at home 524 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:45,040 because of my beliefs. We've all suffered in this 525 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,440 building because of what we believe to some degree. 526 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,560 I'm not the preacher to tell you this is easy. 527 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,080 I'm going to tell you it's worth it. 528 00:33:55,320 --> 00:34:01,080 Jesus has every right to demand everything, and every anything 529 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:05,840 short than everything. Is not good enough. 530 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:11,239 We have to be willing to give up everything in our life. 531 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,000 What is it with you? How is it with you this 532 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:18,600 afternoon? This is the man that Jesus 533 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:22,760 couldn't save because he wouldn't let Jesus save him. 534 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:28,760 Will we let Jesus save us? Maybe you are here and they're 535 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,800 not yet a Christian, as we did with our new sister earlier 536 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,080 today. The steps are simple. 537 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:39,199 All we got to do is hear God's word, believe that Jesus is the 538 00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:42,520 Son of God, repent, confess, and be baptized. 539 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:46,480 And that's not the end. That's just the beginning. 540 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:50,239 That's the start of the race I'm looking forward to. 541 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:54,560 When Jesus comes, I pray I don't get cheated out of 40 years of 542 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:58,200 serving God. Yes, I want Jesus to come back, 543 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:02,160 but I want to be able to be elderly, an older Christian. 544 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:05,720 That's the goal. That's the dream. 545 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:09,920 How is it with us in this earthly walk? 546 00:35:10,720 --> 00:35:13,280 Have you fallen astray? Do you need prayers? 547 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,600 We'd love to help you. Please come forward as we stand 548 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:20,920 and sing the song of imitation we thank you for. 549 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:25,760 Listening to our podcast put on by the Church of Christ at 2215 550 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,800 Plans Rd. in Bakersfield if you would like any additional 551 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,400 information. Or you would like to receive a 552 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:34,840 free Bible correspondence course by mail? 553 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:40,880 Please e-mail us at info@churchofchristbakersfield.com. 554 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:46,840 Our service times are Sundays at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM and 555 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:51,280 Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Please make plans to join us. 556 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,920 We would love for you to be our honored guest.