WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:02.160 Again, good morning and happy 4th of July. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:03.120 We're glad you're here. 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:07.040 If you do have your Bibles, we're actually not going to be camped out in 1 Thessalonians. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:08.480 We're going to be camped out in Acts. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:12.320 So my sermon on 1 Thessalonians is mostly going to be in the book of Acts. 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:13.439 So y'all just bear with me. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:15.599 We're going to bounce around a little bit, but y'all are going to do great. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:17.199 We're going to be good. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:22.640 We're going to be spending, again, the next few weeks going through this book, 1 Thessalonians. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:27.679 And in this book, there are several themes that I think Paul hits on a lot. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:41.119 But there's one theme that I think is just the engine behind why Paul wrote this book, what the Thessalonian Church finds their hope in, and ultimately what I think we can find our hope in is that, one, the death and resurrection of Jesus. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:44.000 And then number two, that Jesus is coming back one day. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:45.840 That's what our hope is built upon. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:56.159 That's what this church's hope is built upon, is that the ultimate reality behind everything that we see, behind the brokenness of our world and our nation, is that Jesus is on the throne and that Jesus is coming back. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:57.439 Y'all follow me with that? 00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:59.439 And so that's where our hope is. 00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:05.519 Now last week, Brian gave us a very encouraging message that this book opens with, right? 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:07.280 That Paul loves this church. 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:11.200 He just lavishes his love upon them in the first chapter, right? 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:17.519 And his letter is full of grace to this church and encouragement to this church because he loves them. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.159 And he's seen what the gospel has done in the lives of these Christians. 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.319 He's seen how they've endured persecution. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.239 He's heard from Timothy, as we'll see later in the book, that they're killing it. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:31.120 This church is killing it in the midst of persecution. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:39.280 And as Brian reminded us last week, we are called to obedience only because of the grace given to us in Jesus. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:44.480 We can only live in obedience because of the grace given to us in Jesus. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:51.599 Now, again, today we're going to be in 1 Thessalonians 2, but we're going to be mostly camped out in Acts 17. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:56.560 So again, if you have your Bibles, you can go and flip over to those, but maybe keep 1 Thessalonians marked too. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.920 So, I have one goal for us this morning. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.200 One goal. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:02.959 And this is it. 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:09.759 To instill confidence and courage in you, and knowing that God is at work in his church. 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:10.879 That's the goal. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:26.000 That's the one direction we're going this morning is for you to be confident in knowing that the God of the Bible, the God of our fathers, the God of Jesus Christ is over our church and is moving in his church, both here in Marietta and on a global scale. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:28.080 Y'all know who Kirby Smart is? 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:30.400 Coach of Georgia, the superior coach? 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:32.240 But this is Kirby Smart. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.800 I don't know if you've ever watched one of his pep talks before, alright? 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:36.159 Even if you're not a Georgia guy. 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:41.439 If you've ever watched one of his pregame pep talks before, you might hate Georgia, but you're still ready to fight on that field. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:43.599 I mean, it's it's something else. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.719 So he's one of the best tight men I think I've ever seen. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:54.639 And my goal this morning is not to quite be a Kirby Smart, but I want to kind of be a more pastoral version of Kirby Smart, uh, a little bit more PG-rated. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:09.439 Uh but we're gonna be we're gonna be just be diving in this morning, and I want you guys to finish this morning when we leave, just fired up, not only just about the gospel, but about where we are going as a church and what the mission of God is calling us to here in Marietta. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:11.199 So, let's go. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:20.000 In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul opens up by reminding the Thessalonians of the way that the apostles came to them, right? 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:27.360 Saying, we came to you genuinely, it wasn't with words of flattery, but we came to you with the word of God and persecution, and that's that, right? 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:32.240 So I want to jump over to Acts 17 so we can get a glimpse as to what he's talking about. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:40.960 So, Acts 17, 1 through 9, this is basically how the church at Thessalonica was planted, was with these verses, and then it finishes out. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:42.080 But let's jump in. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:50.879 So, now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollon Apollonia. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:55.039 Listen, listen, if you're not a pastor and you can't pronounce these things, y'all see it. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:56.159 It's it's hard, all right? 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:56.879 Here we go. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:14.879 Uh there was a synagogue of the Jews, and Paul went in as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:22.560 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:33.120 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:42.720 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:50.240 And Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:54.639 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:59.439 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.879 Now, let me set the stage for us. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:09.680 Right before this, Paul and Silas were doing missionary journeys all throughout the ancient Roman world. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:15.920 And right before this, they were doing ministry in Philippi, planting the Philippian church. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:17.120 So here's what happened. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:22.639 They begin by walking out of the city and going to this place where a bunch of women were praying. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:25.600 And they start sharing the gospel with them, teaching them from the scriptures. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:33.839 And this woman named Lydia, who is this Asian rich businesswoman, comes to know Jesus, gets converted, and becomes a powerhouse for the Philippian church. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:34.240 Alright? 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:35.360 Next step. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:44.560 Paul and Silas were being followed essentially by this slave girl who was like, she had the spirit of divination, is what the scriptures say. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:53.199 And what she was doing is like screaming at Paul and Silas repeatedly to the point where it says, literally the scripture says, Paul was greatly annoyed. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:56.800 I love the Bible and how honest it is, but he was greatly annoyed, right? 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.879 So Paul, being greatly annoyed, cast the demon out of her, right? 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:01.920 As you do, right? 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.120 Listen, I don't know, I don't know how annoyed you've ever been, all right? 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:06.240 Let's talk for a second. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.920 I don't know how annoyed you've ever been. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:09.199 I'm a student pastor. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.720 I hang out with like 12-year-old boys all week long. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:13.680 I ain't been there yet. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:16.639 Listen, I have not thought about exorcism yet. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.439 But, you know, that that's Paul, right? 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:20.319 That's where he was. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:26.560 So also, I don't think Paul, for this slave girl, I don't think Paul was a dude you want to annoy, right? 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:31.120 Y'all remember in Acts, or Acts chapter 8, verse 3, he says this. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.920 This is this is the same Paul here in uh Acts 16. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.360 But Paul was ravaging the church and entering house after house. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:40.720 He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:42.560 I don't know about y'all. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.600 That's not a dude I'm gonna get on his last nerve, right? 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.920 And in Acts 9, right before his conversion, it says Paul was breathing threats of murder. 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:52.959 So, uh, if there's guys you want to annoy, he's not on the list. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:06:54.480 That's all I'm trying to say. 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:57.519 So, Paul casts the demon out, right? 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:03.360 And then essentially, they're beaten up with rods, sent to jail, and put in chains. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:03.920 Okay. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:10.800 Now, while they're in jail, bloody, nearly dead, they start singing hymns, right? 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.759 As one does when you're in jail, bloodied and beaten, right? 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.680 That's just what you think to do is immediately, let's sing some hymns. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:24.000 So, this is why Paul was so frustrating to deal with in the Roman world, right? 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:25.759 Okay, Paul, we're gonna beat you up. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:26.480 Okay, great. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.240 I don't count my present sufferings as worth comparing to the future glory, right? 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.639 We're gonna put you in chains and throw you in jail. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.360 Okay, great. 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:37.199 I'm gonna start singing hymns, convert your prison garden, cause an earthquake, okay? 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.639 All right, we're gonna kill you. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:40.720 Great, to live as Christ, to die as gain. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.000 Okay, you see why this guy was so frustrating, right? 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:47.040 You could not win with Saul of Tarsus. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:52.480 So, right before the Thessalonian church, Paul had himself a week, right? 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:54.720 He had himself a week. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:59.360 So naturally, when he gets the Thessalonica, he dives just right back in, as Paul does. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:04.399 And for three weeks in a row, as we saw in Acts 17, he just dives in. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:09.519 He teaches to the people at the synagogue that Christ is the one that they're waiting for, right? 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:17.600 That Christ is to suffer, that he will, that he died at the hands of the Jews and was raised on the third day to be this Messiah that y'all are waiting for. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.000 So what's the point? 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:23.279 For Paul, why was he like this? 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.439 Is essentially what we're getting to. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:33.279 Paul, after his conversion, after he had faced Jesus Christ, the risen Christ, was spiritually alive. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.120 He wasn't just the same Saul anymore. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.159 And it didn't mean that he was perfect all of a sudden. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:46.799 I mean, we see that even through the scriptures, but it did mean that from the inside out he was different. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.159 He was changed. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:52.399 All of his past, present, and future sin was forgiven. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:59.759 And then after this, he saw the gospel move through the ancient world, which we see in Acts and then we see in Thessalonians. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.960 And he saw that happen by a bunch of average people. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:07.840 Average people who were simply just being faithful to what God had called them to. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:13.279 So, when he got to Thessalonica, he was ready to see it happen again. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:22.080 He was ready to see some conversions and some moves of the Spirit of the Living God happen, just like he did with Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:24.480 And that's how this church was planted. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.120 That's the nature in which they were coming. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.240 This church was planted in the midst of persecution. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:32.720 It wasn't a sweet little planting of a church. 00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:37.120 It was through hardship, through getting beaten up with rods, right? 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.159 Okay, let's talk for a second. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:50.159 If we're honest, our country and our world are moving in a direction where persecution of Christianity is going to be increasingly more often. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:55.120 Where Christians will increasingly be considered hateful, bigots, homophobic. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:10:02.000 But from what I see in the scriptures, church, I believe that we were made for moments like this. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:05.360 That we were made to be in the midst of persecution. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:08.080 We were made to be pressed down upon. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:23.600 So if you and myself, if we're worried about where our country is going, where the American church is going, I just want to tell y'all about the fastest growing church in the world and where it is and why it's growing so fast. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.320 So there's this documentary I watched a couple weeks ago. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:27.919 It's called Sheep Among Wolves. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.600 This is like kind of what it looks like if you were to go find it on YouTube. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:34.240 Um there should be a picture at some point. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.720 Here we go. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:37.440 Um yeah, so if you were to go look it up on YouTube, that's what it looks like. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.720 Um, and it's free on YouTube. 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.559 I just commend it to each of you to watch. 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:44.559 Um, it is not PG, as most of the Old Testament is. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:49.200 It is very much something that you might want to guard your uh six-year-old from watching with you. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:54.159 But this is something for you, uh men and women in this church, I would commend it to you to watch. 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:59.759 Um, and in this documentary, they say this this quote from the guys that made it. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:08.080 It says, Muslim background Iranians are leading a quiet but mass exodus out of Islam and bowing their knees to the Jewish Messiah. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:20.799 The Iranian Awakening is a rapidly reproducing discipleship movement that owns no property, no buildings, has no budget, no 501 status, and is predominantly led by women. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:27.519 According to the men who made this documentary, this church, this gospel movement is growing at 20% per year. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.559 So, in other words, in five years, it's gonna double. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:38.799 And there are almost a million Christians in Iran, which I didn't know until I started reading about this. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:48.639 The gospel is moving through this country at rapid speeds, and this is the country, according to Pew Research, this is the hardest country in the world to be a Christian. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:52.000 And it is also the fastest growing gospel movement. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.840 So, what does this mean? 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:55.600 What does this mean for us? 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.440 What does this mean for where we're going? 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:03.919 Like we see in the Thessalonian Church, the gospel is not hindered or stopped by any human powers. 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:04.320 Right? 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:06.159 We see that all throughout the New Testament. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:19.279 And even throughout the history of the church, all the church fathers, all throughout centuries and centuries of men and women preaching the gospel, the more a government or people group presses down on the church, the more it seems to flourish. 00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:22.720 That's a trend we see over millennia of the history of the church. 00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:34.799 So, first thing, with that in mind, I want you to know that this gospel that has power to change governments and countries has the same power for you in your life specifically. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:37.279 It is the same power. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:40.159 And, man, let's be honest. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:50.240 Maybe you've been, man, trying with all your might to hide this one sin issue that you've been fighting for years, but you just can't let anybody know about it. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.080 Maybe you've been wrestling with some doubts about your faith, about this God. 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.600 I mean, is he even there? 00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:58.879 And maybe you you feel shameful about these doubts. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:04.960 And think, man, if any of my good Christian friends knew about these things, they wouldn't, they wouldn't approve of me. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:09.600 Maybe you feel like you're too broken or dirty for God to ever use you. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:16.320 Like if you if you're honest, if if anyone actually ever knew you, you might be unlovable. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.720 Maybe you're believing that this morning. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:43.919 But I just want to tell you today, if if the God of the Bible, if Jesus Christ has the power to seek and save a dude like Saul of Tarsus, who was a terrorist, if he has power to save a brother like that, I just am begging for you to believe that he has power to not only save you, but to actually use you in ways that I don't even think you realize you can be used in. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:49.919 To realize that you have gifts that he's placed in your soul to be used for the mission of the church. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:55.759 Cleaning the toilets for the name of Jesus is just as important as standing up in this pulpit teaching from the Word of God. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:01.759 So, what does this mean for us as a church? 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:19.919 I think one, uh, this means that I think we as a body of believers and soon-to-be believers, hopefully, will be full of people who are one, most aware of their brokenness, but two, most secure in the peace and love that Christ has for them. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.159 Second conclusion from our scripture, I think. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.279 I believe that God is up to something here in Marietta. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:34.240 I believe that he is stirring his spirit not only in the schools, but I think in workplaces and coffee shops, all around here. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.720 I think that he is up to something here. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:41.840 With that said, I think that we can play this part in four ways. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:44.000 So we're just gonna we're just gonna work through these. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:54.960 Number one, and this is the most important out of all four, is resting more securely in who you are as a beloved son or daughter of King Jesus. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.080 Nothing else matters apart from that. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:07.919 If you do not know who you are, what you're made for, who made you, who knows you, who owns you, if you do not know these things, then the next three things won't happen. 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:12.240 And so I'm just begging for you to rest more deeply in this identity. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.159 This is the ultimate reality. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:18.320 Number two, I think we can be a people built on prayer. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:33.759 Um, prayer here corporately as a church, but also I think the calling from this text is to consistently pray for God to work here in our city, for God to stir his spirit among us and among our streets and our neighbors. 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.600 Number three, I think being serious about the word of God. 00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:44.960 Just like in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13, Paul says, Hey, you didn't receive our words as our words, but you took them as the word of God, right? 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.720 You took them as what they really are. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:50.000 Recognizing, man, yeah, that the word of God is alive and active. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.000 It's not condemning, uh, but it's moving like a sword through our world. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.759 Uh and then lastly, number four, living on mission. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.519 Um, that is that's the last uh point for us from this. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:09.279 That man, here in Marietta in our neighborhoods at session stand on the square and our jobs, man, like we have this ultimate mission that we can all play a part in. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.600 And what a joyful thing is that. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:18.480 And man, like if we if we were to go around our days thinking, man, like, okay, how can I reflect the love of Jesus here? 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.080 Even if, you know, home girl at Starbucks messes up my frappuccino, right? 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:30.000 Like, how can I love her and show her that that's not the ultimate reality, but that I can show her what this true love that I have found is. 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.120 But like, let's be human for a second. 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:33.600 Okay? 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.600 Let's let's have permission to be humans at church for a second. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.720 Paul kind of became a superstar, didn't he? 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.399 Like, yeah, he started off rough. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.000 We can agree on that, right? 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:48.480 But he kind of became a five-star recruit by the end of his days. 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:50.879 Like, yeah, you know, he was a terrorist. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:54.799 Like, yeah, he was breathing threats of murder on the church. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.840 But he was Paul, right? 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.519 Like he was Paul. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:04.799 And if y'all, if y'all are anything like me, you probably believe on paper that God can use you. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:11.839 You believe because the word of God says you can, but man, deep in your gut, you got some doubts. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:19.920 Like, God, you obviously can use me, but you might as well use the the guy that knows his Bible really well. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:26.960 You might as well use that woman who volunteers for everything in the church and has lived a way more godly life than me, right? 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:28.319 You might as well use her. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.079 Can we talk about Peter really quick? 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:36.960 If you know your Bible, you know Peter was not the superstar of Acts his whole life. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.559 He's the guy in the beginning of Acts, right? 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:42.319 He's like, he's boys with Jesus. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.160 Like he's he's boys with Jesus. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.359 Can we think about that for one second? 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.200 Like him and Jesus would like hug. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:57.039 He plants the original church, he preaches the sermon at Pentecost, where 3,000 people come to know Jesus. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:04.400 3,000! He sets the church on fire for mission and discipleship through the book of Acts, right? 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.119 He ultimately gets crucified upside down. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.000 But let's talk about what Peter was like. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:15.119 I mean, y'all, days before Acts, weeks before Acts. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:26.160 Not only did Jesus or did Peter deny Jesus three times, but the third time, when that little poor girl was kind of like pushing at him, he kind of like curses at her. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:30.480 Like, I don't know if you've read between the lines in the scriptures there, but he's an unhappy dude at that point. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:35.039 So if you go look in the Greek, uh, it's not some nice language he's using. 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:37.440 So he he kind of cusses this poor little girl out. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.039 Uh and then, man, he wasn't even good at his job. 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.279 Like, he was a bad fisherman. 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:43.839 Right? 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:47.519 Like, I mean, at least at least we, for the most part, got our day jobs down. 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:48.480 At least okay. 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:52.160 Like, he was all night on the boat, not with a fish. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.680 A fish, zero. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.160 Okay? 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:56.000 He was bad at that. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.880 This is the Peter where the church is set on fire through. 00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:07.599 The church we know today is built upon the work, obviously, from Jesus, but that Peter did in Acts. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.440 This is that same Peter. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:17.920 All that being said, you don't have to, in your own eyes, be a Jesus rock star to be used for the mission of the church and of Christ. 00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:19.200 You don't have to be. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:23.599 What you do need to recognize is that you are loved by God. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:28.960 You have an identity that's deeper than you even realize it is, and you have gifts that he's given you. 00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:31.359 You have a personality, you have talents, you have passions. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.759 Those things are there for a reason. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:37.119 And they're there ultimately for the mission of the church. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:41.519 So I just want to invite you to come, to step into this with us, to join us. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.440 We as a church, wherever Jesus is to be found, that's where we're going. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.960 Wherever he's leading us to go, that's where we're gonna head. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:52.640 And so I just want to ask you guys to come, to come with us. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.960 So, here's what's gonna happen. 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.720 This is gonna look a little different than normal. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.839 We're gonna close here in a second, and I'm just gonna pray for us. 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:03.839 Um, and this is gonna be kind of like an extended, guided prayer time. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.200 It can be whatever you want it to be. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:17.039 But I'm just gonna invite you to sit in this moment with us, to get comfortable in your chair, um, and I'm gonna give kind of some bullet points for us to pray through, and I just invite you to pray alongside me. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:20.559 Um, to pray alongside your brothers and sisters sitting next to you. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:28.000 Um, there's gonna be some things for us to pray for personally, and then there's gonna be some things that I want us to pray for for our church and for our neighborhoods. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:28.480 Okay? 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:31.200 Let's pray together. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:35.599 Uh, Father, thank you, uh, Lord, for your word. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:42.240 Thank you for, uh gosh, the gospel uh that, man, it frees us, it redeems us, it heals us. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.079 There are scars that each of us are carrying, uh, Father, that we don't need to carry anymore. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:21:02.400 Uh Lord, there are wounds that we've dealt with that are still there, that still hurt, and Father, I just know that the gospel doesn't just have the power to do spiritual work, Lord, but it has power to transform our whole being and our whole self. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:09.039 So, Lord, I just want to open up this time to each of us in this room. 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:18.559 Man, maybe you have grown up in church, maybe you grew up in the south, grew up not really knowing anything about Jesus, but it was all around you. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:22.160 And man, maybe this morning you encountered Jesus in a new way. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:25.599 And maybe you are finally finding saving faith in your heart. 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:30.880 And I just want to invite you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be poured into your life. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:41.759 And for you to, man, like Paul, have your eyes fully opened to the things of Jesus, to recognize your beloved identity as a son or daughter. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:49.680 Maybe uh you have, man, grown kind of apathetic, kind of bored with church, with the things of Jesus. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:22:13.200 I just want to invite you right now to pray for the Holy Spirit to renew your joy in the gospel, to kindle a fire in your heart for the Word of God in the Mission of Christ to know that you don't have to try harder, but that man, just simply following in the commands of Jesus, you will find greater life. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:19.759 Man, maybe you have been walking through a very hard season of suffering. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.119 Maybe someone knows about it. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.640 Maybe no one knows about it. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:26.000 Maybe that's a divorce, a death, mental health. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.880 Maybe there's financial stress. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:35.200 And I just want to invite you right now to rest in the embrace of your Father in heaven. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:38.000 To feel his closeness right now. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.240 To feel his love. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:43.200 To know that he weeps with you. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:52.079 Man, maybe there's some sin in your life that has been left alone for a while. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.880 That has kind of taken the backseat. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:04.880 Whether that, man, is bitterness or jealousy or alcohol or pornography. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:11.680 And I just want to invite you right now to seek healing and freedom in the gospel of Christ. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:24.400 I just invite you right now to pray for a brother or a sister that is safe to confess these things to and know that there's no shame in confession, but there's actually greater healing and life to be found there. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:33.839 Pray that you would know that you are treasured and loved by God in your darkest parts. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:41.039 Not just the pretty church parts of you, but in your deepest, darkest corners. 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:44.000 That's where Jesus wants to come in and heal. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:50.960 And lastly, I just want to pray for our heart of mission as a church. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:57.680 There are a couple points that I want to invite you each to pray in your hearts with me this morning. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:08.640 Pray for your neighbors, both in your physical neighborhood where you live, people you walk by, people you see at coffee shops. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:15.200 Pray for those people by name right now, that they would come to a saving faith of Jesus. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:21.359 Pray for the Lord to open up opportunities for you to be a missionary right here. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:33.279 Wanna invite you to pray for your coworkers, for the people in your jobs that you know do not know Jesus, don't have the treasure that you've found. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.880 Pray for those people. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:39.519 And then lastly, pray for us as a church. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:42.480 Pray for our staff, for our elders. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:47.759 Pray for each of you to lead in this mission with us. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:53.119 Pray that the gospel would go through our city like a wildfire. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:58.079 Not just because of our work, but with all of the churches here in Marietta. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:03.680 That we would seek to save the lost alongside our Savior. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.960 Father, we we love you. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:15.599 Pray that our church is a safe place for the broken, for the non-believing, for the atheist, for the Hindu, for the Muslim. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:18.559 Pray that it would be a safe place for all of those people. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:36.480 I pray that the gospel would move forth in our hearts and in our city, in our streets, here in Lewis Park, here in Kennesaw Avenue on the Square, Polk Street, all of these places, Lord, that the gospel would go out like a wildfire. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.240 We want to see you move. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:41.519 We believe that you can move just like you are in the country of Iran. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.079 And so, Lord, we ask that you would come do that. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:46.400 Pour out your spirit like Pentecost. 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.519 Father, we love you. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:49.039 Thank you for the cross of Christ. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:51.200 We ask all this in Jesus' name. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:52.160 Amen.