1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,960 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,520 We hope today's message is encouraging to you. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,760 Welcome to Illuminate Church. We're glad you're here today, 4 00:00:12,120 --> 00:00:14,200 especially if you're new, especially if today's your first 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,720 time or maybe you've been coming for a few weeks. 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,840 I just want to let you know our heart of Illuminate Church is 7 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,440 that you are welcome here. We are glad you're here. 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,120 We want to be an inclusive church and grow because you are 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,240 welcome here and people need to hear God's word. 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,480 We need a church family, and that's why we're here. 11 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:33,720 If we haven't met yet, my name is Kim Taff. 12 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,840 I'm one of the executive pastors at Illuminate Church. 13 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:37,840 And I'm really excited about the message today. 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,320 I'm glad you're here. We're in a series called The 15 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:45,520 Seven Habits of Jesus People, The Seven Habits of Jesus 16 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,120 People. And today we're talking about 17 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,000 habit #5 so we've covered for today's #5 we've got two more 18 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,760 weeks to go. And in this series, we're 19 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,960 talking about what it means to be peculiar people, to kill your 20 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,480 people. And when you hear peculiar 21 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,520 people, you might be thinking, is that a good thing? 22 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,520 Peculiar kind of sounds like it has a negative connotation, like 23 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:14,200 weird, weirdos. But peculiar literally just 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,600 means unusual or different, unusual or different. 25 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,040 And that could be a very good thing, especially when you look 26 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,080 at what normal is in our culture. 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,560 I found there are some peculiar laws in the state of Florida, 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,160 unusual laws that I didn't know about. 29 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,560 And I thought I should share them with you because I would 30 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,840 hate for something to happen, you to violate a law, and then 31 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:44,720 something legal happens and you're like, I didn't know that 32 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:46,560 that was a law. Nobody told me. 33 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,520 So I'm going to tell you these things. 34 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,200 These are laws today in the state of Florida. 35 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,800 Now, most of these are very old and outdated, but they're still 36 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,600 on the books, probably not enforced, but they're but 37 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,240 they're real. I found them be to be peculiar. 38 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:02,160 Do you want to hear what they are? 39 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,800 For example, did you know that in Sarasota, if you ever go 40 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:11,640 there, it is illegal to sing in public while wearing a swimsuit? 41 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,240 It's true. Don't try it in Sarasota. 42 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:21,120 See what happens You. I mean, another unusual law in 43 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:26,760 Florida is it is illegal for an unmarried woman to parachute on 44 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,960 a Sunday. The other six days a week, knock 45 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,360 yourselves out, but not on Sundays if you're not married 46 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:35,920 yet. I have no idea where that came 47 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:40,040 from. Another peculiar law in Florida 48 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:44,880 is it is illegal to tie an elephant to a parking meter. 49 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:51,800 I guess back in the day they had a big problem with that and 50 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:56,680 they've had to pass a law, one more peculiar law in Florida, 51 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:03,080 and this one made more sense, but it is illegal to fish while 52 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:08,800 driving. Now you know why they had to 53 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,920 make that law, right? Some guy was driving. 54 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,120 And I say guy intentional. I'm assuming it was a guy 55 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,240 driving past the lake, driving over a bridge something maybe 56 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,960 saw a fish jump, looked over. He's got his fishing pole there 57 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,680 and he says, I got an idea, picks up the fishing pole 58 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,600 driving with this elbow. You know that happened, right? 59 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,000 Or they wouldn't have passed the law. 60 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,800 Those are some peculiar laws in our state. 61 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:43,080 And I love Florida, I really do. The point is, peculiar people 62 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,600 are different or unusual. We stand out in a good way and 63 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,880 we should stand out. Romans 12/2 says do not be 64 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:53,080 conformed to this world. But I wonder sometimes, are 65 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,680 really Christians that different than the rest of the world? 66 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,080 The people around us who aren't Jesus followers yet should see 67 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:06,360 and hear a difference in US. Jesus said, if you are my 68 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,880 disciples, you are the light of the world, you are a light. 69 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:15,120 But how we live our lives determines if we are a bright 70 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:20,560 light or a dim light for Jesus. Are you a spotlight or a 71 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,880 candlelight for Jesus? And I think the challenge for 72 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,160 the church and for Christians, and I know this because I've 73 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,920 experienced this, is that many Christians are living, or I 74 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,600 should probably say most Christians, especially in 75 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,480 America, are living with one foot in for God and the other 76 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,680 foot in the world. We like what Jesus offers. 77 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:47,800 It's great, it's good news. But the truth is, especially in 78 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:49,600 America, we like what the world offers too. 79 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:57,000 We know following Jesus is best for the long term, but we're not 80 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,320 so sure it's best for us now in the short term, in this life. 81 00:05:02,280 --> 00:05:06,080 I want abundant life, but I want the American dream too. 82 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,840 I want that too. And I believe Jesus is saying, I 83 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:12,520 believe he has said it to me clearly. 84 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:17,360 If you only knew, if you could only get a glimpse from my 85 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,080 perspective, if we could get a glimpse from his perspective, 86 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:24,080 how minor, how little, how unimportant that stuff is 87 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:29,000 compared to what God offers, There's no comparison. 88 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,000 Many Christians are in for following Jesus when it comes to 89 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,920 salvation. We're in for following Jesus 90 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,160 when it comes to needing healing or the hope that only comes from 91 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,920 God. But we're hesitant to go all in 92 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,640 because the truth is, we're afraid we might miss out on 93 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,120 something this world's offering us. 94 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,560 And we can end up not being different from everyone else, 95 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,360 not being peculiar people. We can end up being lukewarm 96 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:02,920 Christians, not hot or cold. And sadly, we might never 97 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:08,200 experience the abundant life, the purposeful and satisfying 98 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,000 life that Jesus makes possible for us now in this life. 99 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,800 And today's message is one of the habits, one of the seven 100 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,160 habits of Jesus people is serving, serving others. 101 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,240 And I know that this is where people probably are tempted to 102 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,720 check out. I've heard this before. 103 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,920 I know that already. I believe God has something new 104 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,920 for all of us today, even if you're already serving, even if 105 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,760 you've heard a message on serving before. 106 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,920 I honestly believe that. So I ask you to not tune out. 107 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,360 What we're going to talk about today is there are three parts 108 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,440 to serving others that makes us peculiar. 109 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:52,680 And it takes all three parts to be a peculiar person #1 Jesus 110 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:56,240 people know to serve others, Jesus people want to serve 111 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,280 others, and Jesus people serve others. 112 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,120 Those are three separate things and we'll talk about those 113 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,760 things today. What we're talking about is our 114 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,320 head, our heart and, and our hands. 115 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,960 So number one, I encourage you to take notes. 116 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,560 I always do. I take notes usually twice a 117 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,720 Sunday because I just, I just pay attention better. 118 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,280 I retain things better. And here's what happens if you 119 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:27,480 come to, say, 50 Sunday services per year and just get one 120 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,800 principle that applies to your life that you can apply to your 121 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,720 life at the end of that year. That's going to be some big 122 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,920 changes. But it's only if we choose to 123 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,080 listen and apply those things to our life. 124 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:43,560 If we, if we're what the Bible calls hearers only and go out 125 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,160 and don't apply anything to our lives, it really doesn't make a 126 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,040 difference. So I encourage you always to 127 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,320 take notes. But #1 Jesus people know to 128 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,280 serve others. That's why I say we already know 129 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,360 that. We know we should. 130 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,840 We know it's the Jesus thing to do, right? 131 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,040 Serve others. When we look at Jesus, he is 132 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,040 God, he is the King of kings, he is the Lord of Lords. 133 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:14,280 And he said in Matthew 2028 about himself, he said the Son 134 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,480 of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. 135 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:23,040 And I think to myself, if anyone deserves to be served, it's 136 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,640 Jesus. And he said that's not why I'm 137 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,280 here. I came to serve. 138 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,159 And it's like it just blows our brain. 139 00:08:32,159 --> 00:08:37,520 Like how did why is that becoming more and more like 140 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,559 Jesus? Being peculiar people means 141 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:44,440 changing to think more of others and serving others and less 142 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,400 about ourselves. That's a big statement because 143 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,920 let me ask you a question, is that easy? 144 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,680 It's probably the hardest change that I'm still working on in 145 00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:57,600 myself. It is for me. 146 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,360 It's not easy. I believe it's one of the 147 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,880 hardest changes to our nature that we can ever make. 148 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,400 Our flesh nature is selfish, self-centered. 149 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,960 Our natural desire is all about what we want. 150 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:17,320 But peculiar people do what it says in Philippians 2, which I'm 151 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,040 going to read to you, and it's not natural or easy. 152 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,920 It takes the Holy Spirit in us to change like this, but this is 153 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:29,160 what it says. These are Paul's instructions to 154 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,640 the church from Philippians 2, three through 5. 155 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:36,760 He told the church do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain 156 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,760 conceit. Rather in humility, value others 157 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:45,680 above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of 158 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:49,960 you to the interests of others and your relationship with one 159 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,240 another. Have the same mindset as Christ 160 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,240 Jesus. He's saying think of others 161 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,480 higher than yourself, above yourself, above what you want 162 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:04,240 because that's what Jesus did. At Illuminate Church, our 163 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,200 mission and our purpose is to make disciples of Jesus. 164 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,600 And I think one of the challenges we face is most 165 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,480 people, myself probably included, if you go back a 166 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,640 while, but most people don't really know or understand what 167 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:25,040 the word disciple means. Jesus's last instructions to us 168 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:30,920 in Matthew 28 isn't to go tell the world about me, go make 169 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,200 believers in Jesus. His instructions were to go and 170 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:39,120 make disciples. So your purpose, your purpose, 171 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:44,240 your ultimate purpose in life isn't only to be a believer in 172 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,200 Jesus. Now, yes, that's the way to 173 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,920 salvation. That's how our sins are 174 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,240 forgiven. Salvation is a gift based on 175 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,320 nothing we do, based on what he did. 176 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,880 It's a gift that we just receive. 177 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:04,320 But the purpose of the rest of our lives after salvation, our 178 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,880 number one purpose. We have many purposes from 179 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,320 parenting and providing and all those things, but our number one 180 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:15,760 purpose is to be a disciple of Jesus and make other disciples 181 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,000 of Jesus. That's the purpose of all of us. 182 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,320 Now, maybe we haven't discovered that yet and that's kind of why 183 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:24,840 we're feeling or thinking God, what is my purpose? 184 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,240 Have you ever heard anything, someone, anyone ask that 185 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:31,160 question or feel that way? Is it just to make a living and 186 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,160 buy things and pay the bills and die someday? 187 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,800 Is that my purpose? No, our purpose is to be a 188 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,600 disciple in Jesus and to make disciples in Jesus. 189 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:48,360 Jesus told us that, but are we living that being? 190 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:50,360 What is the being a disciple of Jesus mean? 191 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,040 I'm not sure we really understand. 192 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,080 Disciple isn't a word we use much unless you're watching the 193 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,640 chosen right? They used the word disciple a 194 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,160 lot, but it's kind of like a churchy word, a Bible word, a 195 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:03,720 word people used a long time ago. 196 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,000 But that disciple is still a word we need to understand today 197 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,720 and use today. Maybe not in culture outside the 198 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,880 church, but definitely inside the church. 199 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:20,280 Because listen, what Jesus meant by follow me and be my disciple 200 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:26,200 has the same meaning today to us as it did when he asked Peter 201 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,800 and John and Matthew and the 12 to follow him and be his 202 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,240 disciples. When you have the opportunity to 203 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,480 be a disciple of Jesus, it's Jesus offering that invitation. 204 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:42,280 Come follow me, be my disciple. We have the opportunity to say 205 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:46,000 yes to that, that invitation, to that life. 206 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,120 Would God get mad if we don't? No, but he's saying, but this is 207 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:51,880 the most purposeful life you can live. 208 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:55,800 But do we really know what it means? 209 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:00,880 In Jesus's time, disciple was not an uncommon word. 210 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,680 Everyone knew what it meant. Jesus wasn't the only one who 211 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:07,480 had disciples. It wasn't uncommon. 212 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:12,240 Other Jewish rabbis, Rabbi means teacher, also had disciples. 213 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:17,640 But one of the big differences was the other rabbis chose their 214 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:22,280 disciples from the best of the best, the brightest of the 215 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,760 brightest, the smartest of the smartest. 216 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:32,040 They chose their disciples by who was the most qualified. 217 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,240 It would be like, it'd be like you going to an Ivy League 218 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:41,000 school, Yale or Harvard, and only narrowing down your pool of 219 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,880 potential disciples as who has their doctorate degree, who has 220 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,560 a four point O, who has the right pedigree, the right 221 00:13:48,560 --> 00:13:50,840 background, the right family, all of that. 222 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:55,560 I'm picking from them. And I would be like, I don't 223 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,320 qualify. I can't qualify. 224 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,160 I grew up in Parkview trailer court. 225 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:08,320 That's not the right pedigree. I have a PHDA public high school 226 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:13,120 diploma, but I only have a bachelor's degree in college and 227 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,720 I don't have a four point O and I didn't go to an Ivy League 228 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:19,000 school. So I can't, I can't, I don't 229 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,600 qualify. But Jesus came along and didn't 230 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,760 choose the most educated. He chose the average and 231 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,560 ordinary people, at least four, if not potentially six or seven 232 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,040 of the 12 disciples were fishermen, blue collar, 233 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,440 ordinary, purple with no, the ordinary people with no theology 234 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,440 degree weren't highly educated, weren't the best of the best. 235 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,160 And I think he intentionally did that. 236 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,920 So you and I can't say I don't qualify. 237 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,520 I could never do that. It doesn't apply to me. 238 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:56,480 The truth is, we all qualify. But here's the key to being a 239 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:58,160 disciple. The disciples purpose. 240 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,960 If they said yes to the invitation to follow a rabbi, if 241 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:08,160 they said yes, it wasn't Their purpose wasn't just to learn 242 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,440 from a rabbi. It wasn't just to get educated. 243 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,480 It wasn't just for training. It wasn't just to follow the 244 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,640 rabbi. The disciples purpose was to 245 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,160 choose to and intentionally change and become like the 246 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,560 rabbi. That's a disciples purpose. 247 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:28,000 If they said yes, our education system doesn't work that way. 248 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,080 Our education system today is to get educated, knowledge, 249 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:37,120 information, learn. But it's not to become like the 250 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,720 teacher, right? That's why disciple is very, 251 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:44,880 very different. And when Jesus invited Peter and 252 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:48,520 said follow me and I will make you fishers of men, it was a 253 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,640 life altering opportunity for Peter. 254 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:56,040 And Peter knew that if he said yes, he would never be the same 255 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:59,880 again. His purpose would be to change 256 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,160 and become like the teacher, like Jesus. 257 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,600 And listen, it's the same for us today. 258 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,880 If you say, yes, I want to be a disciple of Jesus, you're saying 259 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,360 I'm choosing to change. I will follow him, listen to 260 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:17,400 him, learn from him, study him, and become more and more like 261 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,480 him and less and less like my old self. 262 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:27,400 You can't be a disciple of Jesus and stay the same as you were 263 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,600 before being a disciple of Jesus. 264 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,000 Choosing to be a disciple, not just a believer, not just a 265 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:41,080 church attender, A disciple. Being a disciple is the pathway 266 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,560 is the way that leads to abundant life. 267 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,000 Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it 268 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,600 abundantly and we're like, I love that scripture. 269 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:58,680 Send me the abundance. Do you like the way Jesus made a 270 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:00,920 way? The way is by being his disciple 271 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:06,400 and making other disciples. Being a disciple of Jesus is the 272 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,359 best life we can possibly live, the most satisfying, the most 273 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:13,240 fulfilling life we can live. Now, notice I did not say the 274 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,359 easiest. I did not say the most 275 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,800 comfortable or the most common, but it is the most purposeful 276 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:22,920 life we can choose. And if you're wondering, is that 277 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:24,520 really true? I mean, that sounds good. 278 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,440 I like this church's mission statement. 279 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,280 We help people find abundant life in Jesus. 280 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:32,520 I mean, that sounds good, but number one, is that really 281 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,240 happening here? I can tell you, yes, it is. 282 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,400 There are people finding, discovering abundant life in 283 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,200 Jesus. But number 2, is that really 284 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,280 true? Do you have any proof? 285 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,440 Do you have any evidence? Let me tell you my story, and I 286 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:44,760 only tell you this to encourage you. 287 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,600 My testimony is from my mid 20s to about my mid 40s. 288 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,360 I'm 59 today. I know you thought I was in my 289 00:17:53,360 --> 00:18:00,040 mid 40s No I'm 59. I'm proud of it. 290 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,160 But anyway, from my mid From age 27 to my mid 40s, I worked in 291 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,640 financial services, I worked in sales and I'm not both. 292 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,280 Please don't take this as boasting, but by age 35 I had a 293 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,080 higher annual income than I ever could have dreamt or imagined 294 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:14,840 when I married my wife 39 years ago. 295 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:16,920 We got married in college. We were 20 and 19. 296 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:21,880 We dated since high school and by age 35 we were living the 297 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:26,080 dream. I honestly, if you would have 298 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,160 asked me to write my goals graduating college, they 299 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:29,720 wouldn't have been that big. They did. 300 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:31,480 They did. From a from a worldly 301 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,880 standpoint, we were living the American dream. 302 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:40,040 But when I had the opportunity to join a church staff, I 303 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,280 couldn't do both and I had to choose to stay in the path I was 304 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,000 on, which financially was very good. 305 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,640 Or go a new direction and give that up and walk away. 306 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:55,560 Was that an easy decision? But we chose. 307 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,320 I wrote, I chose. But we chose. 308 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:00,600 We prayed. We chose to do what we believe 309 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,440 God was telling us to do. And I stand here proudly to say 310 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,000 that today our household income is less than half what it was 311 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,640 when I left my financial services career. 312 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,160 But I have far more abundant life. 313 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:17,600 I would not trade my life today for any anything else. 314 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,000 I have more peace, more satisfaction, more purpose than 315 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,840 I ever did before. And I'm not saying you have to 316 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:25,960 go into full time ministry. I'm not saying you have to work 317 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,000 for a church. I'm just talking about the 318 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,320 decisions we make. I'm talking about the purpose of 319 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,960 our life. I know the world would judge me 320 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,720 and say financially that was pretty dumb. 321 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,240 That was why would anyone do that? 322 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,760 I know there's people I used to work with that knew me. 323 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:49,080 We won a lot of awards and incentive trips and plaques the 324 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,080 size of me and things like that. And it was, it was fun. 325 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:57,080 And they're like, why would he? I don't get it. 326 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,560 That's OK. I will testify because I've 327 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,320 experienced that money, success and recognition and any other 328 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:09,680 thing, those things aren't bad, but they don't bring abundant 329 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:13,040 life. Those things have nothing with 330 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,640 what it to do with what it means to have abundant life in Jesus 331 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:19,320 and at at Illuminate Church we teach you the pathway that leads 332 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,720 to abundant life. We want everyone in this room 333 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,440 living and experiencing abundant life. 334 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,800 How does that come by being a disciple of Jesus life. 335 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,640 Step one, life. Step 2, meeting God, discovering 336 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,960 our true identity, discovering freedom, getting rid of the 337 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,400 wounds and living in deception from the enemy, becoming more 338 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,240 like Jesus and then leading others to do the same. 339 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,920 That is the pathway we introduce that pathway in life, step one 340 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,280 and two, there is no other way other than being a disciple of 341 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:49,360 Jesus. That leads to a life where we 342 00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:51,760 experience abundant love, abundant peace, and abundant 343 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:53,200 joy. And I think that's what we want 344 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,840 more than anything else. And with Jesus, it's not only 345 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,800 possible, it's His purpose and His plan for you, every one of 346 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,840 us. So knowing what Jesus would do 347 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,360 is the first step, and I would probably say even the easy step. 348 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,120 The second part is harder than the first. 349 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:15,040 Knowing is good, but changing our heart is harder. 350 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,400 Number 2 is Jesus. People want to serve others want 351 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,920 to. That is not normal. 352 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,480 That makes people who want to serve others very peculiar. 353 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:33,920 Jesus didn't just serve people because He should, or because 354 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,240 it's the right thing to do, or because it looked bad if He 355 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,520 didn't. He genuinely cared and had 356 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,200 compassion for people. And how He cared for people 357 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,000 determined what He did for people. 358 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,560 Give you a couple examples. Matthew 1414. 359 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,360 When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd. 360 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:53,920 He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 361 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:59,280 Matthew 1532 when Jesus called his disciples to him and said I 362 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:04,080 have compassion on the crowd. My heart hurts for them because 363 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,240 they've been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. 364 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:08,040 I am unwilling to send them away hungry. 365 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:13,120 So he fed the crowd. Jesus didn't just serve people 366 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:15,760 because it was the right thing to do, the Christian thing to 367 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:19,040 do. He had compassion for them and 368 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:20,680 that's what determined what he did. 369 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:26,720 If we just do the right thing because we should, because we're 370 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,320 Christians, but without the heart, without the caring, 371 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:33,560 that's called legalism. It's empty. 372 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,240 It's not fulfilling. Well, I go to this church. 373 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,080 I guess I should serve. I guess I should do something to 374 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:41,680 help people. I don't really want to. 375 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:48,240 I don't really care. That's not the heart of Jesus. 376 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:53,440 That's a spirit of religion. But the Old Testament, the law 377 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,560 and the Old Testament was all about what to do and what not to 378 00:22:56,560 --> 00:23:03,000 do, The laws and rules, obeying the law and following the rules. 379 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,840 That was how people earned God's approval. 380 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:08,800 That's the old covenant God had with the people. 381 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:12,040 But Jesus came and paid the price for our sins, and he made 382 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,680 a new covenant. He is the way we earn God's 383 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,960 approval. But Jesus didn't get rid of 384 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:20,720 God's standards for right or wrong. 385 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,600 Jesus didn't just obey God's word because it was a rule or 386 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,240 law. He obeyed God because he loved 387 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,360 God and he wanted to do what he said. 388 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:33,560 And if we're going to become like Jesus, we have to do the 389 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,680 same thing. Grace doesn't mean we should no 390 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,760 longer obey the Bible or obey God. 391 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,560 Instead, we should do what the Bible says, but not because it's 392 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,280 a rule. We should obey God with the 393 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,200 right heart, a heart like Jesus, a heart of love and a heart of 394 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,320 gratitude. Here's an example, whether you, 395 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,360 I mean this is this is really interesting to me in the Old 396 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:59,320 Testament, in the Old Testament, the old, the old covenant, the 397 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:03,560 rules, the laws, right in the Old Testament, bringing a tithe 398 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:08,480 of your income, bringing 10% to God was not optional. 399 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:15,920 It was a law, it was a rule, it was a requirement. 400 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,840 Jesus comes along and says, yes, bring your tithe, but I don't 401 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,080 want you to bring it because it's a rule or because you have 402 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,120 to. Your heart should have so much 403 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:28,720 love and selflessness that you want to. 404 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,320 This is an example. This is what he said in Matthew 405 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,440 2323. He was talking to Jewish leaders 406 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,200 who were doing it, but not with the right heart. 407 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:44,040 They were following the rules, but not the caring part. 408 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:45,360 And this is what Jesus said to them. 409 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:49,080 He said, what sorrow awaits you, teachers of religious law and 410 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:53,600 you Pharisees, hypocrites, For you are careful to tie these, 411 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,680 even the tiniest income on your herb garden, but you ignore the 412 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,640 more important aspects of the law, justice, mercy and faith. 413 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,320 You should tithe, yes, but don't do not neglect the more 414 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,760 important things. Don't just do it because you 415 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,680 have to. Don't do it because it's a rule. 416 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,600 Yes, bring your tithe, but not because we have to, but because 417 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:20,640 our heart is changed and because of the love and gratitude that's 418 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,000 in us. Being like Jesus, becoming like 419 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:27,440 Jesus is not just about not doing the wrong things. 420 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,600 It's about caring about the right things and wanting to do 421 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,320 the right things. And when we do that, that is a 422 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:40,640 peculiar person. The last one, number three, is 423 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,840 Jesus. People serve others. 424 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:50,280 They know they care and they do because let me ask you a 425 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,560 question, what good is it to know the right thing to do and 426 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,920 care about people? My heart hurts for people. 427 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:59,840 I know there's a need and then do nothing. 428 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:05,360 How does that help anyone? James 214 asked that question. 429 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,800 He said what good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say 430 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:14,600 you have faith but don't show it by your actions to be Jesus. 431 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,960 People, one of our habits is we know what to do and what we care 432 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:23,560 about determines our actions. It's the fruit or the results of 433 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:27,960 what's in our heart and head. In the Bible, you've probably 434 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,680 heard the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10. 435 00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:36,080 It says robbers attacked and robbed a man and left a badly 436 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:38,680 injured on the side of the road. And good news for him, a priest 437 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:43,680 walked by and kept on walking. But that but here, here's 438 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,360 another, a Levite came by. Oh, here he comes helps on the 439 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:50,640 way and he passed by the other side of the street. 440 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:55,160 Now, no doubt these two people probably knew the right thing to 441 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:59,160 do, but they chose to pass by. It says, but a Samaritan man 442 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:01,800 walked by an ordinary person on an ordinary day. 443 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:07,360 And it says in Luke 1032 to 33, it says, but a Samaritan, as he 444 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:11,440 traveled, came to where the man was, and when he saw him, he 445 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,640 took pity on him. He cared, He had compassion, and 446 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:17,720 then he went to him and bandaged his wounds. 447 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,200 He did much more than that. But you can read the rest of 448 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:21,960 Luke 10 if you want the rest of the story. 449 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:25,760 The point is the Samaritan man, the ordinary person on an 450 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:31,520 ordinary day, knew the right thing to do, had compassion and 451 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,720 did something about it. All three head, heart and hands. 452 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:41,400 That's what Jesus did, and that's what made him peculiar to 453 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:43,920 a world that passes by people in need every day. 454 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:47,960 And if you choose to be peculiar, if you choose to be a 455 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,520 disciple of Jesus, knowing what to do is just the start. 456 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:54,920 It's also caring for people like Jesus cared for people. 457 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:00,200 And then what we know and what we care about determines the 458 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,720 actions that we take. So what do we do from here? 459 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:09,520 We know we care, we do got it what do we do from here? 460 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:13,920 I said it earlier, we don't want to hear a message and apply 461 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:18,120 nothing to our lives because what's the purpose? 462 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:19,720 Check a box. We went to church on Sunday. 463 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:26,440 If the point of church is to change and grow and sharpen each 464 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:28,560 other, here are some action steps from today. 465 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,240 Two things. Number one, if Illuminate church 466 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,480 is your home church. So if you're visiting today, if 467 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,240 you're on vacation, if you're new to Illuminate church and 468 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,280 still checking it out, this might not apply to you. 469 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,800 That's OK. But if Illuminate church is your 470 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,400 home church, everyone should serve inside the church. 471 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:51,080 Underline, if you're taking notes, the word everyone first. 472 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:54,840 Peter 410 Now who wrote this guy named Peter? 473 00:28:55,960 --> 00:29:01,280 OK, one of Jesus's best friends said, each of you, say each of 474 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:07,160 you, each of you, each of you should use whatever gift you 475 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:12,640 have received to what? To serve others as faithful 476 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,720 stewards of God's grace in various forms. 477 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:20,040 The Greek translation for each of you is each of you. 478 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,240 Here's why burnout from serving should never happen in the 479 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,200 church. If everyone serves somewhere, if 480 00:29:29,200 --> 00:29:33,040 we all contribute, we reject the 8020. 481 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,920 Maybe you've heard this before. The 8020 rule 80% of the work 482 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:39,080 done by 20% of the people. We're not doing that. 483 00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,880 It's unhealthy, it's unsustainable, and it's not 484 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:47,280 God's design for the church. A healthy church says all the 485 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:49,560 work of the church is done by all the people. 486 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:52,560 So serve somewhere, start somewhere. 487 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:56,880 We all have a role to play. And this message is not about 488 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,600 condemnation or feeling guilty. This is about encouragement. 489 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,680 This is not a message or I am at all trying to convince you that 490 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:06,960 you should serve. That is the Holy Spirit's job, 491 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,720 not mine. But I do want to encourage you 492 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,840 to join the team. Serve somewhere, don't put it 493 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,920 off. Don't think they don't need my 494 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:16,840 help. It looks like they got 495 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:18,880 everything covered. We want everyone. 496 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:23,720 Our goal is 100% of people who call Illuminate Church their 497 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:28,080 church are serving somewhere in the church. 498 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:33,000 Everyone should serve inside the church somewhere #2 if 499 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,440 Illuminate Church is your church, everyone should serve 500 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:41,000 outside the church. And I know some people say, wait 501 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:45,000 a minute, you just said we all should serve inside the church, 502 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:47,240 and now you're saying we all should serve outside the church. 503 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:49,240 And I would say you heard correctly. 504 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,440 It's great and important to serve those who come in our 505 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:55,960 doors. Everyone should serve at our 506 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,840 church. But it's also great and 507 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,960 important to reach people and serve people who might not ever 508 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:06,880 walk through our doors. Jesus didn't just praise God. 509 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,960 He didn't just sit in one place, wait for people to come to him. 510 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,120 He went from place to place to meet people where where they 511 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,080 were at. And if that's what he did, 512 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:23,560 that's what we should do too. We call everyone who serves at 513 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:26,600 Illuminate Church, inside the church and outside the church 514 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,200 the dream team here. That term before the dream team, 515 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,000 it's everyone who serves inside the church or outside the 516 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,600 church. Inside the church and outside 517 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:38,040 the church. We have dream team in the 518 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,680 church, dream team in the region, dream team in the world, 519 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,360 three parts, one team, the dream team. 520 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,800 So I encourage you to join the dream team. 521 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:50,200 Be part of the dream team. You will become more like Jesus 522 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:54,280 by being on the dream team. It's one of the pieces of being 523 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,360 a disciple and we make it very easy. 524 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,800 The easiest way, if you're not serving yet at Illuminate Church 525 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,200 yet, the easiest way to get started is just to go to the 526 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,600 next what's called Dream Team Introduction meeting. 527 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:12,240 We do it once a month. The next one is on Sunday, 528 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,440 August 17th at 9:00 AM over in the living room. 529 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:17,680 Just go. They'll explain the 530 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,680 opportunities. They tour the building, they 531 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:23,040 explain the options and help someone get started to serve it. 532 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,040 It can't get easier than that. It's like, I don't know what to 533 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:26,560 do. I don't know. 534 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:28,040 I don't know what opportunities there are. 535 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,960 Dream Team Intro go to that August 17th. 536 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,840 The best opportunity for serving outside the church Dream Team in 537 00:32:36,840 --> 00:32:39,200 the region is coming up soon. It's called Shine Week. 538 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,840 So I encourage you to do both Dream Team Intro and register 539 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:48,280 for Shine Week Both. I know that's asking a lot, but 540 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:52,840 Jesus gave us a lot. Shine Week Shine Week is our 541 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:57,240 annual once a year outreach event outside the church doors. 542 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,760 Once a year. We all lean in all hands on deck 543 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,720 to take our light to the region. There's lots of opportunities to 544 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,200 to different days of the week that week, August 4th to the 545 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:08,720 9th. All you need to go right now is 546 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:12,160 just register. We do things like painting the 547 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:13,440 schools. There's a lot of different 548 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:14,920 things. One of the things we do is serve 549 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:19,360 lunch to teachers serve lunch. We provide, we provide lunch to 550 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:23,040 the teachers who are, you know, just to appreciate and love on 551 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,440 them. And you're like, does that 552 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:29,560 really make a difference that really showing Jesus's love? 553 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:31,160 Like what? What difference can that make? 554 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,000 Let me tell you a story. This is a true story, an actual 555 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:39,840 story from Shine Week. Two years ago, a teacher was 556 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:43,240 served lunch. I was happened to be there that 557 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:44,160 day. I remember that day was at 558 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:47,240 Island Village School in celebration and the teacher was 559 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,120 served lunch by Illuminate Church Dream Dream Team 2023 560 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:54,600 about two years ago. And that day she saw she came in 561 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:58,040 the room to be served lunch and Illuminate Church was serving 562 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,720 and smiling and for whatever reason that day we were like 563 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:03,600 cheering for the tea. Yay, thank you. 564 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:09,080 Like Tim was there you get it. But we were cheering for the 565 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:12,520 teachers as they were served. And that teacher that day that 566 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,960 she was being served thought these people are peculiar. 567 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:22,159 These people are different and I wonder, can I get what they've 568 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:26,239 got? And that person that day and her 569 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,080 family decided to start attending church, this church, 570 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:32,960 and they started discovering abundant life over the next 571 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:34,480 year. I talked with her last weekend 572 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,880 and she said our marriage has been healed. 573 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:43,199 It was broken, quote, quote, our children, our family and our 574 00:34:43,199 --> 00:34:48,040 lives have been transformed. And it started by being served 575 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:52,639 lunch by a small group of peculiar people. 576 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:57,600 So register for Dream Team Intro and register for Shine Week 577 00:34:57,600 --> 00:34:59,120 both. And you'll be putting into 578 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:01,160 action what we're talking about today. 579 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:05,240 As we close, I want to go back to the second point of the 580 00:35:05,240 --> 00:35:06,920 message. I want to go back to the heart 581 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:08,880 part of the message. And here's what I've discovered 582 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,960 is that the more we grow and mature in Christ by being his 583 00:35:13,960 --> 00:35:18,240 disciple, the more we want to do what he says, the more we want 584 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:21,840 to do what he did. But growing and maturing 585 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:23,840 spiritually doesn't happen by chance. 586 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:25,320 It doesn't happen just with time. 587 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:29,320 It's intentional. Physically, our bodies grow and 588 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:33,240 change with time. Watch a kid, they, they just get 589 00:35:33,240 --> 00:35:36,640 bigger, right? Watch an adult, they just get 590 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,120 older. We change over time. 591 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:42,760 It just happens. But spiritually, it doesn't work 592 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:45,600 this way. So let me explain and I hope 593 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,600 this makes sense to everyone as we close today. 594 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:52,080 We all have a physical body and we have a spirit. 595 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,640 You have everyone here has two parts. 596 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:59,760 You have a body and you have a spirit. 597 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:04,640 Our physical body is what we see, but our spirit is the part 598 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,320 of us that lasts forever. This body does not last forever, 599 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:12,240 but our spirit does. Our spirit is eternal, and the 600 00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:15,680 second we leave this life, this physical life, this body is the 601 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,240 second our new life begins, our eternal life. 602 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,520 And that eternal life will either be with God eternally in 603 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:27,600 heaven, or without God in a place called hell that God never 604 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:31,720 intended for man. So because we all have two 605 00:36:31,720 --> 00:36:36,520 parts, you have two parts, a physical body and a spirit. 606 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:41,600 We all need to have two births, 2 birthdays. 607 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:45,680 Everyone has at least one birth, a physical birth. 608 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:48,920 You, if you are alive, you have a birthday, a physical birthday, 609 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:54,880 happy birthday, early or late. But some people, not everyone, 610 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,640 have a second birth, a spiritual birth. 611 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:02,480 And that happens on the day we choose to receive Jesus as our 612 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:06,680 Savior. It's called being born again. 613 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:09,880 It's the second birth, and it's a spiritual birth. 614 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:12,600 And that's how we are saved. That's how our sins are 615 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,760 forgiven. That's when our name is written 616 00:37:15,040 --> 00:37:17,880 in the book of life. When we stand before God, we 617 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:20,120 don't have to wonder if our names in the book. 618 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:25,680 It's in the book, the second we receive Jesus as our Savior, not 619 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:28,280 because we're so good, but because of what he's done for 620 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:30,040 us. We just have to receive it. 621 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:39,520 Jesus was talking about this to a Jewish religious leader. 622 00:37:39,520 --> 00:37:41,880 His name was Nicodemus is John chapter 3. 623 00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:46,560 And Nicodemus was a smart guy. He was a Jewish leader and 624 00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:47,840 teacher. He knew the Bible. 625 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:50,840 He probably had most of the Bible memorized. 626 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:54,320 He was a very smart man. But when he was talking with 627 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:57,640 Jesus about being born again, he was very confused. 628 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:01,360 He didn't get it. This is Jesus and Nicodemus 629 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:03,400 talking in John chapter 3, three through 6. 630 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:08,040 Jesus said to Nicodemus, He said very truly I tell you now when, 631 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:11,040 when Jesus says very truly, I tell you, do you think we should 632 00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:15,480 listen to what he says next? Jesus said to Nicodemus, out of 633 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:21,600 love, very truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God 634 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:28,240 unless they're born again. Nicodemus was confused. 635 00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:30,560 He said how can someone be born when they're old? 636 00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:37,320 I'm an old man, surely they cannot enter a second time into 637 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,680 their mother's womb to be born. I don't get it. 638 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:46,640 Jesus said very truly, I tell you again, no one can enter the 639 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:51,720 Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the spirit. 640 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:57,800 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but spirit gives birth to Spirit. 641 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,880 Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can today. 642 00:39:01,640 --> 00:39:05,520 We all need to be born again in the Spirit once in our physical 643 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,920 lives. That is how you can know and not 644 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:11,880 just hope that you will be in heaven with God for eternity. 645 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:15,880 The two most important days of our lives. 646 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:17,360 You think what? What are the most important days 647 00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:19,040 of your lives? Some people say well my wedding 648 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:20,320 day or the birth of my first child. 649 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:24,000 I would say the two most important days of your lives are 650 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,000 the day you were born and the day you were born again. 651 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:32,320 My physical birthday is March 28th, 1966. 652 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:35,840 My spiritual birthday is September 15th, 1998. 653 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:41,080 I was 32 years old physically. I was born spiritually. 654 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:44,480 I grew up in a church believing that I had to be good enough or 655 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,960 or do good for God to allow me into heaven. 656 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,880 But what I didn't understand is no amount of doing good or being 657 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:55,720 good can make us right with God. We can't do it, but God gave us 658 00:39:55,720 --> 00:39:58,280 good news. We needed a way to be made right 659 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:00,960 with God. God made a way and the way is 660 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:06,400 receiving Jesus as Savior. He is the way and when we were 661 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,280 asked him when we receive Him as Savior, that's when we are born 662 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:12,480 again. The work is already done on the 663 00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:14,680 cross. The way has already been made 664 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:18,040 and all we need to do is receive it. 665 00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:20,680 Not just believe in God, not just attend church. 666 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:22,920 I had been in church my whole life when I was 32. 667 00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:26,720 I believed in God, but I had never asked Jesus to be my 668 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:28,960 savior. And that day my life changed. 669 00:40:30,240 --> 00:40:33,440 I'm a different person today than I was the 1st 32 years of 670 00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:36,000 my life. I was born that day. 671 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:38,560 That's how we become a Christian. 672 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:41,960 That's how we are born again. And I honestly don't know how I 673 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:43,720 can explain it any more clearly than that. 674 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,720 And that's the message the world around us needs to know because 675 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:51,760 it's the only way. So what I want to do today is if 676 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,120 you've never done that, if you're not sure you are born 677 00:40:54,120 --> 00:40:57,560 again, if you've never asked Jesus to be your savior, if 678 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:00,160 you're not sure you have a second birth, a spiritual birth, 679 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:05,000 let's do it today. Let's make today the day. 680 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:07,040 Maybe you've been in church a long time. 681 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:09,840 Maybe you're brand new to church, but this might be what's 682 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:12,760 been missing in life that brings new life. 683 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:16,320 So ask as we close everyone in the room, just bow your heads 684 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:19,120 and close your eyes and repeat this prayer with me. 685 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:23,200 I ask you to say it like you mean it in your hearts and with 686 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:25,040 your words. Everyone say this out loud, say 687 00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:32,960 Father God, I know that I am a Sinner and I need a savior. 688 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:39,600 I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 689 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,560 I believe God raised him from the dead. 690 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:51,000 So today I receive what Jesus did for me. 691 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:59,640 I received Jesus as my Savior. I received my spiritual birth, 692 00:42:01,160 --> 00:42:04,640 and I confess that Jesus is Lord. 693 00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:14,520 I asked Jesus right now to come into my heart and help me change 694 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:21,760 to be His disciple. I ask that all eyes are still 695 00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:24,360 closed, all heads still bowed. But if you prayed that prayer 696 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:27,200 with me today, maybe for the first time, maybe you just want 697 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:28,960 to be sure that you have a spiritual birth. 698 00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:32,680 If you prayed that prayer with me, today is your spiritual 699 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:35,440 birthday. You are born again. 700 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:40,000 You can know for a fact that you will spend eternity with God. 701 00:42:41,120 --> 00:42:43,200 So if you prayed that prayer with me today, I'm just going to 702 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:44,600 ask you to be bold. I'm going to count to 3. 703 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:48,160 And I just got asked if you just raise your hand, let me know on 704 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:49,800 the count of three, if you prayed that prayer with me for 705 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:52,280 the first time, or just to be sure, put your hand up high. 706 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:55,920 On the count of 3123, just put your hands up high. 707 00:42:55,920 --> 00:42:58,920 Proud, Be proud, be bold. All over the room. 708 00:42:59,080 --> 00:43:01,520 There's hands, all eyes still closed for privacy. 709 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:03,320 Please leave your hand up for a second. 710 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:07,200 Just keep your hands up. There's hands all over the room. 711 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,080 What's going to happen is an usher's just going to bring you 712 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:11,760 a card. It has some instructions on it. 713 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:14,720 This is very private. We're not going to embarrass 714 00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:17,120 you, but an usher's just going to bring you a card. 715 00:43:17,120 --> 00:43:18,880 Can you keep your hands up, please, just for one more 716 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:28,600 second, if you didn't get a card yet, Ushers here, there any 717 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:31,200 other hands? Any other hands? 718 00:43:31,200 --> 00:43:34,480 If we didn't get to you yet, there. 719 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:41,320 All right, Thank you. You can open your eyes. 720 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:47,240 I just want to thank God for those who are being saved today, 721 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:50,280 who are born today spiritually. And let's pray. 722 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:52,560 Let's close with the prayer. God, we celebrate what you're 723 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:55,920 doing, what you're doing at our church, and what you are going 724 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:58,080 to do in our lives. And we give you all the praise 725 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:00,040 and thanks and glory in Jesus name. 726 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:03,600 Thanks for joining us today. We hope God is speaking to your 727 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:06,160 heart through this message. If you'd like to connect with 728 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:13,360 us, you can text connect to 407-588-0115 or visit Illuminate 729 00:44:13,480 --> 00:44:15,960 dot church. Have a great week.