WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.640 Well, good morning, Awakening Church. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:23.760 Great to be with you. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:24.480 My name's Ryan. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:28.320 If we haven't met, we're absolutely thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.640 We're in a series called Ecclesia. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:31.679 Say that with me. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:33.119 Absolutely. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:33.679 Thank you. 00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:34.399 Fantastic. 00:00:34.479 --> 00:00:35.520 You're doing amazing. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:40.240 And we're asking this question: how do we return to Jesus' vision for the church? 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:44.240 When Jesus named his new movement, he called it the Ecclesia. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.600 We call it the church, but it wasn't a religious term. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:50.159 It was actually a political or civic term. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:56.079 It means called out ones that were to shape and uh influence culture. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:01:00.240 And so we've this new movement had these distinctive marks. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:07.680 This early group of followers had these distinctive marks that stood out of these are people who have been with Jesus. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:15.040 The three were simply this: that they had a radical generosity, they had a bold faith, and then they had a sacrificial love. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:18.640 And we're spending uh six weeks, two on each of these. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:22.319 We just concluded two weeks on a radical generosity. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:27.200 Uh now we're beginning on a bold faith, and then we'll conclude with a sacrificial love. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:31.200 Now we really want to help us lean in and live this out. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:33.599 And we have some ways to do that as a community. 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:36.000 One is with a radical generosity. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.959 We're launching a course called Freed Up. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.920 Like, how do you experience financial freedom, financial peace, even in Silicon Valley? 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:50.480 If you're wrestling with that, if you're feeling overwhelmed with finances, this is for you. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:52.000 Sign up. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:56.719 It's a free course to you, and it will help you tremendously. 00:01:56.879 --> 00:02:01.439 And then when it comes to a bold faith, you're like, oh, I don't know exactly what that looks like. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.719 We're offering a course just on how do you share your faith? 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.560 How do you live out this winsome life here in Silicon Valley? 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:10.159 We'd love for you to be a part of that. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:17.599 And then on September 1st, we're kicking off uh foundational prayer, 21 days of prayer. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:19.199 We have a book outside. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:31.360 Would love for you to grab one and join us because we believe wherever prayer focuses, the power of God falls, and we want to be a praying church, and this will actually lead us all the way to our birthday. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:33.680 Our birthday is on September 21st. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:36.800 And so we're gonna bathe uh the way in prayer. 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.240 I don't know what bathed the way in prayer. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.960 I've never said that line before, but we're gonna do it. 00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:42.080 We're gonna do it, okay? 00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:42.960 Sound good? 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:45.360 Yeah? 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:46.560 Okay, thank you. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:47.919 Okay, thank you, thank you. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:48.960 All right. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:53.680 Now, yeah, and let's jump to the next slide as I set this up. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:54.560 Thank you. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.080 Question for you. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:01.840 I I want you to picture in your mind uh someone who doesn't know Jesus. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:06.800 It might be a classmate, it might be a coworker, it might be a neighbor, a friend, it might be your roommate. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:08.479 Shoot, it might even be you. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:11.120 You're here and you're like, ah, I don't really know. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:12.879 And uh Jesus yet. 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:16.159 And so you got that person in your mind? 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:26.319 All right, now, what one word would they use to describe when they hear the word Christian? 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:29.280 What word would come to mind when they hear the word Christian? 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:31.199 Go ahead, yell it out at me. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:32.800 Hypocrite. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:34.080 Okay, keep going. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:36.240 Judgmental. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:37.039 Oh, that's quick. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:37.520 That was good. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:39.199 You were like in stereo right there. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:40.000 That was awesome. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:40.960 All right, what else? 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:49.520 Religious, absolutely weird, okay, fantastic, absolutely, exclusive. 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.319 Yeah, so there's this research group called Barna. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:58.879 They're the leaders when it comes to faith and culture, and they ask this question of those who don't follow Jesus. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.479 Here were the top answers. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:06.000 Christian comes to mind judgmental, harsh, angry, hypocrite, political. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:08.560 Now, keep that person in your mind, okay? 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:10.960 That person that just said those things about us. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:12.000 I'm just kidding. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:15.280 Uh, but about Christians, that's kind of the perception. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:20.480 Now, what word comes to mind when they hear the word Jesus? 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.560 Yell it out. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.279 Loving, compassionate. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:26.000 What else? 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:28.079 Teacher, yeah. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:29.519 Gentle. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:34.399 Same group, Barna came back when they heard you guys are fantastic. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:36.800 Like you were an A plus audience so far. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:56.160 This is when they came back with Jesus, it was this loving, compassionate, forgiving, wise teacher, Christian, judgmental, harsh, angry, hypocrite, political, Jesus, loving, compassionate, forgiving, wise. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:59.920 Have you ever wondered why is there such a large gap? 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:08.480 Why do people tend to like Jesus but struggle with his church? 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:17.600 Why is there such a large gap between the way people see Jesus and how they see his church? 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:33.600 And then how do we return to being the irresistible community that Jesus intended us to be? 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:36.160 The sermon title today is Irresistible. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:37.199 Would you say that with me? 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.680 Go ahead and turn to your neighbor, say it again. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:44.319 No, that was fun. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:45.519 That was fun. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.639 If you got your Bibles, would you turn to Luke chapter 5? 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:50.800 If not, it will be in your notes and on the screen. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:06:06.720 We're gonna look at a moment in Jesus' life where he calls one of his 12 disciples, and it's in this moment we get a picture of the very heart of Jesus, and at the same time, what it means for us to be his irresistible community. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:14.079 How do we close the gap for the church where the church looks and responds more like Jesus? 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.959 We pick it up in verse 27. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:21.439 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector. 00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:22.639 Say tax collector. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.680 He saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his what? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.279 Tax booth. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:33.839 Okay, we got a guy doing his job in the middle of the day. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:36.240 Jesus sees him, he says, Follow me. 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:42.959 Jesus, and Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.000 Then Levi held a great banquet. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:50.560 In fact, this is uh like the word here for great means over the top. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.959 Like this is, I mean, he was a tax collector. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:59.279 He ripped off people, he had lots of money, he threw a lavish over-the-top rager. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.680 That's what it's what it said. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.680 For Jesus at his house. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:05.839 For Jesus, he threw this rager for Jesus. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:07.839 And a large crowd of what? 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:10.160 Tax collectors and others. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:10.720 I love that. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.519 And others. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:13.839 Tax collectors and others were eating with them. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:24.800 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, why do you eat with and drink with you're getting you're getting and sinners. 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:31.360 And then Jesus answered them, it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:38.720 I've not come to call the righteous tongue in cheek here with the Pharisees, but sinners to repentance. 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:43.120 How do we return to the irresistible community of Jesus followers? 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:57.439 This community that, by the way, in the middle of like severe persecution and opposition was so irresistible, people were drawn to this community and it revolutionized the world as we know it. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:06.319 A community that they simply called the followers of the way, because they just simply walked in the way of Jesus. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.560 How do we return to that? 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:12.879 I want to just give you a few observations here of what it looks like for us. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:18.480 When you see Jesus, you see God. 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:26.800 When you look at Jesus, when you see him, when we're reading the way that he's responding, you see God. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:30.800 And so when you see Jesus, you see how God responds to people. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:33.120 You see how God feels about people. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.360 Remember in the text it said, after this? 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.879 Well, what happened before this? 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:46.080 If you just read at the beginning of chapter five, Jesus calls his first disciples, it's Peter, James, and John, uh, you know, these blue-collared fishermen. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:58.000 How does Jesus feel and respond to blue-collar grinding it, working through, mundane, just seeking by, trying to get by, just hoping to somehow make it? 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:59.039 How does he respond? 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:05.519 He looks at this group that's been passed by, that's just trying to make it through the day, and he says, Follow me. 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:07.200 I want you. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.720 You may have been the last pick on the playground, but you're my first pick. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:18.320 And then right after that, he comes up to this uh leper. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:29.039 Leper in the ancient day, um, they would wear a bell around their neck, and they would be in colonies of other lepers to because that was the only community, because they're ostracized. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:30.000 Nobody wanted to be around them. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:36.480 They'd have this bell and they would ring it, and as this when they got in proximity to people, they would yell, unclean, unclean. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:42.879 They would spend their life ostracized from community, and no one would touch them. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.320 Now, the way Jesus did this miracle, he says, Jesus, would you heal me? 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:51.440 And Jesus doesn't just say, Be healed, which he could have done. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:55.360 Jesus touched the untouchable. 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:05.360 You know, the way we understand germs to work and dirt and what and all sorts of things, and this was the ancient idea as well, is if you get dirty, you become unclean, right? 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.200 If you get dirt on you, you become unclean. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.879 But Jesus reversed it. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.960 Because whatever he touched, that dirty became clean. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:16.639 How does Jesus respond to the untouchables? 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:18.320 The ostracized. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:29.360 And then you have this paralytic man. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:33.440 His friends are just trying to get him to Jesus and the crowd. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.240 They don't know what to do. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.960 They dig this hole through, they drop him through the mat. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.960 The religious leaders are just Judgy McJudgerson, yeah. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:45.440 And he looks down and he not only heals him, he forgives him. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.000 And pick up your mat and walk. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:51.360 And he walks out forgiven and free and healed. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.720 When you see Jesus, you see God. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:59.279 And when you see how Jesus responds, that's how God responds. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:01.120 That's how God feels. 00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:03.600 That's how God thinks. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:12.000 And here's what's amazing: when Jesus walked this planet, irreligious people found Jesus irresistible. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.559 They were just drawn to him. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:19.360 I like how Andy Stanley says it. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:24.240 He says, People who are nothing like Jesus liked Jesus. 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.440 But then there's this. 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:32.480 We find over and over religious people. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:37.600 Well, they found Jesus repulsive. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:41.679 Over and over, not not everyone, by the way. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.519 Nicodemus eventually got it. 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:57.360 Other Pharisees began to follow Jesus, but overall, religious people, people who thought they knew God, who thought they understood who God was when God in flesh stepped onto the planet, they didn't recognize him. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:01.360 It wasn't even that they didn't even recognize him, they didn't like him. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:12.399 So let me ask does your version of God look like Jesus? 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:21.279 Like the picture that comes to mind when you think about God, does it look like Jesus? 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.000 Friends, oh, we've started this series with a high view of Jesus. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:39.600 We gotta understand and look at the way Jesus responds to people, the way he leans in, the way he treats people, the way he teaches us and calls us and then models it to not just love our neighbors, but to love our enemies. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:43.039 And pray for them. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:50.080 Does your version of God look like Jesus? 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:53.759 If not, you have the wrong version of God. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:05.200 When you see Jesus, you see God clearly, perfectly. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:14.879 You don't have to wonder how he feels about you, how he would respond to you, what God is thinking, because you get to see it clearly in how Jesus responds. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.039 And then get this this is amazing. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:21.600 When Jesus sees you, he calls you. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.320 When he sees you, he doesn't just go like, wow, hey, cool. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.720 He calls you. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:31.200 Notice this, I love this verse, by the way. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.240 This is, I could preach this one the entire morning. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.679 We won't, but I could. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.679 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.919 That word for Saul is so good. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:49.360 Um, it means to perceive something above and beyond what is merely seen with the eye. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:14:06.240 Like he walked past this tax collector booth that everybody had to walk past, and as you walked into Matthew's territory, Levi's territory, not only did you like have to walk past, you had to pay uh, you know, a tax on your goods to enter the territory. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:12.240 Everybody saw him, everybody despised him, everybody hated him. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.600 I mean, tax collectors were despised, right? 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.600 I mean, we can think about the IRS, and I don't think we have anybody that works for the IRS here. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.320 And he can kind of have that, like, eah. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:28.960 And they're doing good work, God bless you, it just hurts us. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.879 Um, yeah. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:36.480 But that's not even close enough to the picture for us when it comes to tax collectors here. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.399 Think of a loan shark. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:52.480 Think of someone that is taking advantage of another, that is using their power to manipulate and to uh cheat and to swindle and to oppress. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:58.000 Now, Jesus saw this tax collector. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.759 By the way, the tax collector was ostracized from Jewish community. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.879 They were considered unclean, they were not allowed to go to synagogue, they were not allowed to enter the temple. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:13.759 Jewish people would not not only not have them in their home, they would never enter a tax collector's home. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.960 Jesus saw this tax collector. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.639 And then the text says, This is amazing. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.399 What's his name, by the way? 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.440 Levi. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:22.159 Yeah, yeah. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.399 Most of you know him by the name Matthew, right? 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:28.159 Matthew is um uh he wrote the gospel of Matthew. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:29.679 Well, Matthew is his Greek name. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:37.519 Matthew is his tax collector name, it's his business name, it's the name that he used, you know, as he was working and he's a corroborator with Rome. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:40.080 He was, you know, a traitor to the Jewish people. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.879 That's what they saw, Matthew, and he calls him Levi. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.960 Levi is his Hebrew name. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.200 Levi was the name he was given at birth. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:51.440 Levi, it means to be attached to. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.080 It means to be joined. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:59.200 Originally, his calling and his identity was to be attached and joined to God. 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:03.360 And yet, what he had done is he was attached and joined to Rome. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.519 He was attached and joined himself to power. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:10.399 He was attached and joined to self-proclamation and his own demise. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:19.200 And Jesus calls him and says, Levi, I long for you to be reattached to me. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.759 Join me. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.480 Follow me. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:28.240 Here's what's beautiful, too. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:31.759 What did Jesus tell Levi to do? 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:32.559 Tell me. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.519 Tell me. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.799 Follow him. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.799 Two words, right? 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.480 Follow me. 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:42.879 What do you need to be a disciple of Jesus? 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.679 Two words. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:44.559 Follow him. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.919 He didn't say fix up your life. 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.159 He didn't say clean up your act. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:57.200 Peter uh Levi, Matthew's sitting in the middle of collecting taxes. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:01.440 And Jesus says, What were you doing? 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.519 What were you thinking? 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.880 Look at what a betrayer and a traitor you are. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:09.440 He didn't say any of that. 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.920 He just said, Follow me. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.599 Jesus saw him. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:22.480 Saw who he was beneath the activity that everybody else saw. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.480 He said, You're Levi. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:30.960 Would you reattach yourself to the one who brings true purpose in life? 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.960 See, the way of Jesus is simply this. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:37.440 The way of Jesus is that you belong first. 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:40.079 You belong. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:44.160 Like follow me, you belong. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:49.039 And as you follow me, and this is how their first disciples did it, they started following Jesus. 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:50.559 They weren't really sure who he was. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.000 They think he might be the Messiah. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:55.599 And as they followed him, they got to know him, they believed in him. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.720 And as they believed in him, they were became more and more like him. 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.599 The result, acceptance, fellowship, transformation. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:10.640 Jesus started with Levi from a place of acceptance. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.680 What did Levi have to do to earn acceptance? 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:14.880 Nothing. 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.079 Zero. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:24.000 In fact, this was the big uh gripe that the religious leaders had in the ancient day in uh Palestine. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.640 To eat with somebody was to accept them. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:32.559 This is one of the big reasons why Pharisees would not sit down and eat with tax collectors and sinners. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.480 It was to accept them. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:37.839 And he Jesus got this all the time. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:40.160 He sat, he had these parties, he's with them. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.240 He's in places like this party. 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:47.759 Honestly, if I was there and it showed up on TikTok or Instagram, you'd be like, what is he doing there? 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.200 What is my pastor doing there? 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.319 He's at this rager. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.440 No way. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:57.440 Jesus was there for Levi. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:19:03.119 And Levi invited all his friends to see Jesus. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:08.880 See, we have to discern, and what we've what we think is acceptance means agree with. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.200 That's not what it means. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.799 I can accept you. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.559 I don't have to agree with everything. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:23.759 Jesus didn't agree with all that Levi was doing, but he says, you start from a place where I accept you, you experience the fellowship and community, and you experience transformation. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:26.160 I like how Philip Yancy said it. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:35.519 He wrote this the issue is not whether I agree with someone, but rather how I treat someone with whom I profoundly disagree. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:40.400 The way of Jesus, you belong, you believe, you become. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:53.359 The way of the Pharisee is you believe, you behave, and if you believe the right things, and you behave the right way, then you finally belong. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:57.119 If you just believe the right things, we got to have this all clear. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.680 And believing the right things is important, so don't get me wrong there. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:06.240 But and then you behave, you gotta believe and you behave, and if you believe and you behave, then finally you will belong. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:10.079 And what it creates is pride, I'm better than you. 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:16.720 There's an in-group, there's an out-group. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.319 Hypocrisy. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:31.759 Could it be that the reason there's this large gap between the way people see Jesus and the church is we got some Pharisee in us in the West? 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:38.160 That we've allowed that to infiltrate the way we are. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.720 Let me ask you. 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:57.839 When Jesus saw Levi, he called him. 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:09.359 Because he didn't see a tax collector, he saw an image bearer, one of his kids that has wandered, that's lost, and he called him home. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:19.839 He saw someone thirsty trying to quench his thirst in any which way, trying to fulfill his purpose and all that he has through power and possessions and prominence. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.400 And he says, Come home, reattach yourself to me. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.519 I like how Henry Nowen says it. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:36.799 He says, God, help me to see others not as my enemies or as ungodly, but rather as thirsty people. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:43.680 And give me the courage and compassion to offer your living water, which alone quenches deep thirst. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:46.480 When you see people, what do you see? 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.799 Oh God, would you give us your eyes? 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:57.359 May we see others the way you see them and welcome them in. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:01.599 When you see Jesus, you see God. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:05.279 When Jesus sees you, he calls you. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:12.240 And when Jesus enters your story, you can't help but share it. 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:19.039 What did Levi do when Jesus called him? 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.160 Help me out. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.279 What do you do? 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.440 Yeah. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.680 When Jesus calls you, what do you do? 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.599 You call your friends. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:28.480 Right? 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.359 That's what he did. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.559 He called all his friends. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.559 He didn't make new friends. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.799 He's like, I gotta get right friends now. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.680 I gotta change my friends. 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:40.559 I gotta somehow get a whole new crew, a whole new posse right here, and I'm gonna start hanging out with them. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:49.759 He said, This is my crew, and I want all of them to know you because when Jesus enters your story, you can't help but share it. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:55.279 You know, um, what do you do when like you you find something great? 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:59.839 Like amazing, like that fantastic restaurant. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.359 If you have one, tell me about it, by the way. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.720 I love food. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:06.960 Like you tell everyone, oh, there was this amazing sushi spot, it's fantastic. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:09.200 This burger joint is incredible, right? 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:12.319 You tell everyone, or that movie. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.480 Think about this. 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.279 Remember this? 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.720 You do you remember, okay? 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.680 Hang hang on. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:21.279 Do you remember the CrossFit phase? 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:23.839 You know how you remember it? 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:27.519 Because everyone who crossfit told you that they crossfit. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:30.720 They wore the shirt, they posted it, it was everywhere. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.039 It was like never mind. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:35.599 But it it was crazy, like everybody told you. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.799 Now, today, what are they? 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:39.440 It's it's it's the uh weighted vest phase. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:41.200 Everybody's wearing their weighted vest. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:47.279 I don't even know what a weighted vest does for you, but I'm thinking about getting one just because I see everybody wearing one, posting it, talking about it. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.319 It's the weighted vest. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:53.920 Because what happens is you find something that's helpful, you find something that's good, you find something that's great. 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:59.039 The most natural response is you want somebody else, and you share it with somebody else. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:14.880 Levi, he was sitting minding his own business, eking through life, feeling like an outcast of his own people, feeling like he could never be good with God, and God shows up in Jesus and says, follow me, and he couldn't help but share it with everyone around him. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:22.079 And yes, he invited all the wrong people, and yes, Jesus showed up. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.160 By the way, this is really good. 00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:27.200 Jesus was okay with being misunderstood. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:33.680 He was misunderstood by the religious leaders constantly. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:41.200 Jesus was okay with being criticized and never let criticism keep him from loving people. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:46.480 Also, just saying, oh, this is for free. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.720 Jesus loves your company. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.519 He just enjoys you. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.920 That's why he keeps calling you home. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.119 He enjoys you. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:05.200 When you see Jesus, you see God. 00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:12.240 When Jesus sees you, he calls you, and when Jesus enters your story, you can't help but share it. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:23.359 You know, one of the greatest evangelists at awakening in our history, and I could talk about several people, but it's one person that came to mind immediately was someone uh you wouldn't probably know. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:27.119 Doesn't look like the church person. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:29.359 What does that even like look like a church person? 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:33.759 You know, I showed up to church as a college kid, and I had people asking me, like, are you a Christian? 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:37.839 I'm like, I grew up, I'm a pastor's kid, I just didn't wear the right clothes, and you think I'm not a Christian. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.279 Like, what is that? 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:52.160 It was in the Midwest too, but um, he didn't have all the right answers, didn't have a lot of theology. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:57.440 I mean, he's still struggling with partying and weed and all the rest. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:03.599 Like his life wasn't all cleaned up and figured out. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:06.720 But here's what happened is he met Jesus. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:12.000 Jesus changed his life and he shared it with everyone he came into contact with. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:24.720 And every Sunday he would introduce me to somebody he met at a bar, at a club, on the bus, somebody he met at a coffee shop, somebody he was walking to school with, somebody that he was, you know, just on the way to church with. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:27.519 He just talked to about people about Jesus. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:34.640 And it wasn't because he had all the right answers, it wasn't because he was like had this grand theology, Bible verses, none of that. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:38.000 Jesus changed his life, and he couldn't help but share it. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:58.160 And so many people's lives have been changed by Jesus because of one person who's like, This is good, he's good, and I can't help but share it with every person I come in contact with. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.279 And here's why. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:06.240 When you trust Jesus, he rescues and he heals. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.279 Why did Jesus come? 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.720 You ever think about that? 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.640 It wasn't to start a religion. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:32.000 It wasn't for us to like be able to have this like really cute, wonderful service on a Sunday where you can go feel good for a little bit, go about your life just to have a nice day. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:40.960 Like, ooh, I got that little, you know, like morality checkbox or that feel-good checkbox, or um, you know, I now have a community. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.680 Ooh. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.720 That's good. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.160 We need all those sort of things. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:46.160 So I'm sorry for putting it down too much. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.880 But but that's not why Jesus came. 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.319 What do you say? 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:53.039 It's not the healthy that need a doctor, but the what? 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.319 Sick. 00:27:54.720 --> 00:28:00.720 Another time the religious leaders are questioning him for doing the same thing, hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:06.960 He said, I came to seek and save that which is lost. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:09.039 That is the heart of God. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:14.880 Like the heart of God breaks for those who are far from him. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:21.200 The heart of God says, I will do whatever it takes to bring you close. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:34.720 My heart breaks that you're struggling, that you're so far, that you're going through life and you just long for purpose and meaning, and that you're searching in all these places and finding emptiness and dryness and your suffering. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:38.079 Like my heart for you is I want to welcome you home. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.400 This is the heart of God. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:46.480 That's why Jesus came for the sick. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:52.000 You know, I was thinking about this: the difference between a hospital and a gym. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.039 I like to work out. 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:58.480 I'm not in like crazy good shape, but I like to work out. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:00.880 Gyms intimidate me. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:03.119 You ever been to like a health club, a gym? 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:04.480 They they intimidate me. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:06.000 Seriously, I really legit. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:12.799 The only time I felt safe in a gym is uh my buddy, he was a former NFL football player, and I walked in with him. 00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.160 I'm like, what's up? 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:17.200 I felt like yeah, I'm with him. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.640 I don't look like him. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:21.200 There's not muscles everywhere, but I'm with him. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:24.880 But with every other time, honestly, I I feel like this. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:28.960 I need to get in shape before I go to the gym. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.319 Anybody else? 00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:33.440 I have to get in shape and I'm gonna work and get in shape. 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.000 So what? 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:39.680 I never go to the gym because I'm constantly not in shape because I'm not going to the gym. 00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:45.680 Because I go there and I'm like, these dudes are got this strong and they're doing this and this, and I'm like, oh, I don't know how to do any of that. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:47.519 I'm overwhelmed by that. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:55.839 You know, nobody says, uh, you know what, I need to get healthy to go to the hospital. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.839 Right? 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:00.880 Nobody's like, oh, I need to get healthy to in order to. 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:04.799 No, when you're sick and you understand, man, I can't fix this. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.160 Where do you go? 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.920 You go to the hospital. 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:12.240 The church was not meant to be a health club, it's meant to be a hospital for the sick. 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:23.759 And what happens, and what suddenly happened, is we got people that are looking at the church and we put it on our smiley, sunny faces, we wear our things, we're not honest, we're not going, we're all broken people. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.519 See, church, hang on, hang on. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:30.799 The thing that we must identify and realize is our deep brokenness and our deep belovedness. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.319 Listen, listen, listen. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:40.799 This will return us to be an irresistible community when we absolutely understand we're deeply broken and deeply beloved. 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.319 There's no hypocrisy there. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:53.519 It's like I'm just a broken, wounded person that is beloved by Jesus, who's welcomed me home. 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.559 Welcome. 00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:01.519 Welcome to the community of misfits and outcasts. 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:07.920 We all were at one point, and then Jesus said, Follow me, and he changed my life, and he can change yours. 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:16.079 May our hearts never grow cold or uh uh like mundane. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.839 So like the most amazing news of the planet. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:31.279 John 3 16, the most famous verse, for God so loved the starting place is love. 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:40.559 That he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:43.039 You know, I get this sometimes. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.880 Ryan, I I I know that. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.920 Tell me something new. 00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:53.119 You know, that's part about the tax collector. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.920 That was kind of cool. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.279 Levi's name, I didn't know that. 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.240 That was fun. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:07.359 May we be a church that's reminded of something true, not like addicted to something new. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:12.799 Where we remind ourselves of the reality, I once was lost, but now I'm found. 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.400 Jesus saved me. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:19.839 He is a rescuer and a healer, and he can do that for me, he can do that for anybody. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:25.119 May that line for God so loved the world, like he loves me and he loves you. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:34.160 It means he loves every single person on the planet, regardless of where they've been, what they've done, what they look like, what they're in, what they're going through, what they believe. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:37.119 He came for them, he came for you. 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:41.119 And may it break our hearts. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:46.240 Same way it broke Jesus' heart. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:54.720 For those who've yet to experience his grace and his healing and his hope. 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:58.799 The church forgets John 3, 17, though. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:02.960 For God did not send his son into the world to what? 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.640 Huh. 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:06.160 Oh, that's weird. 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:10.799 But to save the world through him, why is it that the church is so good at condemning? 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:19.839 Known far more for what we're against than what we're for. 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:25.440 God did not send his son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.880 I like how the message says it. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:32.319 God did not go to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger. 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.359 I like that. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:35.440 Telling the world how bad it was. 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:39.279 He came to help to put the world right again. 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.599 God bless you. 00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:51.279 When you see Jesus, you see God. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:55.440 When Jesus sees you, he calls you. 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:59.039 And when Jesus enters your store, you can't help but share it. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.680 Why? 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:05.440 Because when you trust Jesus, he's a healer and a rescuer. 00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:07.279 And so this is the church, friends. 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.000 Don't miss this. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:08.719 The church. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:12.639 It's not a like a health club, it's a hospital. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.559 The church is rescued ones. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.239 We've all been rescued. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.719 Sharing rescue stories. 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:21.840 I've been just rescued. 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:29.280 My identity is that I was lost, and now I'm found, and somebody found me. 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:30.159 I needed saving. 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:36.000 I was just a one who's been rescued, and I can't help but share the rescue story. 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:40.400 Came across this, I think, parable, if you will. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:46.320 I don't know who wrote it years and years ago, called The Lighthouse that Became a Country Club. 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.400 It goes this way. 00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:58.079 On a dangerous stretch of coastline, there once was a little life-saving station, just a small hut, one boat and a few dedicated volunteers. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:02.400 They watched the seas day and night, ready to risk their lives to rescue anyone in danger. 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:05.199 Many lives were saved through their courageous efforts. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.360 Over time, the station became well known. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:09.360 People wanted to be a part of it to support it. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.639 Money was donated. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.000 New boats were purchased. 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:13.039 Volunteers joined. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.880 The little station grew. 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:18.079 But soon some members said, this place is too rough. 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:20.559 If we're welcoming people, it should be more comfortable. 00:35:20.639 --> 00:35:26.880 So they replaced the cots with real beds, redecorated, and turned the life-saving station into a beautiful clubhouse. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.079 Now fewer members actually went out on rescues. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:32.400 They hired professionals instead. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:37.119 One day a shipwreck brought in dozens of cold, dirty, half-drowned survivors. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:40.960 They trampled the carpet, messed up the furniture, and made the clubhouse chaotic. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:46.559 So the members built a shower outside where the victims could clean up before coming in. 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:51.599 At the next meeting, the majority voted to stop the messy rescue work altogether. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:54.079 They said, let's focus on enjoying the club. 00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:55.440 A few protested. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:57.519 Saving lives is why we exist. 00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:59.360 But they were outvoted. 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:02.480 They were told, if you want to rescue people, start your own station. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.760 So they did. 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:07.840 But over time, the same thing happened again. 00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:16.559 Today, along the coastline are many exclusive clubs, beautiful buildings, great amenities, but shipwrecks still happen. 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:19.840 And people are still lost at sea. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:29.760 Oh that we church would once more realize who we are called to be. 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:34.480 A community of the called-out ones. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:42.000 Of those who Jesus looked at and saw and called out. 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:50.719 And we can't help but share our rescue story with everybody we know. 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:56.320 In fact, if you're here, you're a follower of Jesus. 00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:59.119 First one, I just want to ask you to do this. 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:02.960 Would you remember the moment Jesus rescued you? 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:07.280 Would you just, as we worship, would you just remember that moment? 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:15.679 Would you allow your heart and your mind go back to that day of where you were at, what you needed, and how Jesus met you there? 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:20.000 Where it stirs afresh your soul? 00:37:23.360 --> 00:37:31.519 And then would you say, who are the people in my life he's called me to share my rescue story? 00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:38.880 Who are the people that I'm gonna be praying for, loving on, that my heart breaks for? 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:43.039 Who do I need to see the way Jesus sees? 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:51.199 Who are the people that I've been overlooking, passing by, dismissing, but Jesus stops and sees and calls. 00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:52.639 Who are those people? 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:54.079 Who's the one? 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:59.440 Would you have at least one? 00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:11.599 And simply become the sharer of the greatest story of humanity. 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:18.400 And then for others, you're here, you had no idea you had a God that loved you that much. 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:24.000 And you're like, I need a healer, I need a rescuer. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:30.079 I feel so broken and lost. 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:32.800 I long for purpose and meaning. 00:38:32.960 --> 00:38:40.239 And Jesus says, I love you, I came for you, I died for you, and I'm calling you. 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:44.559 Not clean up your life, not fix up your life, follow me. 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.559 Welcome home. 00:38:49.440 --> 00:39:00.480 If that's where you're at, I just want to give you an opportunity to respond to that, which is called the good news and receive Jesus as your rescuer and healer. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:02.880 Would you all just pray with me? 00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:09.760 And if you want to start a relationship experiencing his grace and love, would you just pray after me? 00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:13.599 Jesus, I believe you came for me. 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:16.719 I believe you love me. 00:39:19.920 --> 00:39:21.599 And I need rescuing. 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:24.880 I feel broken and empty. 00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:35.280 I can't fix the things in my life, and whatever I keep doing, it just doesn't quite make it work. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:42.239 So, Jesus, would you come and be my rescuer? 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:45.360 Would you be the healer of my heart? 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:54.480 I believe you came for me, that you love me, that you died for me, and that you rose again to new life. 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:58.480 And so would you come into my life and make me know? 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:06.639 I trust you to be the leader of my life. 00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:14.639 As we just continue to pray and with your heads bowed, if you prayed that prayer, would you just raise your hand so I could know and pray with you? 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:15.199 Amen. 00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:16.639 Raise it more high. 00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:18.320 Amen. 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.679 Amen. 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:34.800 And Jesus, I pray for those who have stepped towards you today, Jesus, and those who uh have stepped for the very first time into relationship with you. 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:37.599 Would you overwhelm them with your love? 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:46.960 May they experience your rescuing, healing power, and may we be a community that welcomes them and guides them to your heart. 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:50.880 In Jesus' name, and all God's people said, Amen. 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:52.639 Why don't we stand and we'll worship? 00:40:55.199 --> 00:40:57.440 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:02.000 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:04.320 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:10.400 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.