WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:12.960 And we're continuing our study, the way of the cross, and this kind of leads us to the last moment of Jesus' walk on earth. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:20.559 If you look at Matthew chapter 28, in his last moment, this is what he has to say to the disciples. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:31.600 And if you can think of Jesus having all the things that he taught the disciples, and he takes this very last bit of his time to share something very important. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:46.320 Imagine you being a coach, you being a boss, you being someone who's been involved in something for three years of constant ministry, and then you want to give your last piece of information. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:52.320 So Jesus here in Matthew 28, I want to read it, and then we'll pray. 00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.920 It says here Matthew 28, verse, let's start in 16. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:01.359 Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:05.519 When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 00:01:05.760 --> 00:01:10.719 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:12.079 Now listen to this. 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:15.040 Go therefore and make disciples. 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:17.280 I'm talking about connect groups. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:28.400 And he says, Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I'm with you always. 00:01:28.640 --> 00:01:29.599 Father, we love you. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:33.200 I pray that you would bless and use the reading of your word today. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.000 Lord, ready our hearts for what you have to say. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:43.599 And God, um, Lord, I pray that this church would become a church that would be submitted to the Great Commission. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:45.599 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:46.560 Amen. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:48.879 Alright, so this is what I want you to know. 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:54.079 Point number one this morning is this that our charge is commanded. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:01:56.480 What Jesus said here is a command. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:01:59.280 This is not the great suggestion. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:01.519 It's called the Great Commission. 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:04.079 All right, it's not a suggestion for Christians. 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:07.359 What Jesus says here is commanded to us to do. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.840 Uh my dad coached me in baseball. 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.639 How many of you dads out here are coaches? 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:14.240 Got some coaches in the crowd? 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:14.560 Okay. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.400 So my dad one time ever pulled me out of a baseball game. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:19.439 Only once. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:20.639 This is what happened. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.159 We were playing this team. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:29.520 Um, the pitcher that we played against, who I'm going to talk about for a second, uh, ended up going uh into the major leagues for a short time. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:34.240 Anyway, so I'm pitching against this pitcher, right, which is not good. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:40.719 Anyhow, I'm pitching to him, and I throw this guy, he's up to bat, and I throw him, I bear down and I throw him the heat. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:42.240 I throw him the fastball. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:47.199 And as soon as that thing crossed the plate, it went out of the park faster than it crossed. 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:47.599 Right? 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:49.199 And my dad's like looking at me. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:50.240 He's like, okay. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:57.840 And so two innings later, this guy gets up, and this is what my dad mouse to me from the um dugout. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.639 He goes, anything but the heater. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:03.840 Anything but the fastball. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:08.479 And you know what happened in that moment as his son that irritated me. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:09.599 It aggravated me. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:14.560 So I'm like, he doesn't believe in me that I can get one past this guy. 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.879 I'm like, in my mind, this was luck, this was a fluke that it happened the first time. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:25.759 So I disregarded what dad said, I bared down as hard as I could, let her go. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:32.240 And the same exact thing happened out of the park, and my dad was like, Rick, you're out of here. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:33.520 And I'm like, What? 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:34.800 What are we talking about? 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:37.120 This is my dad, you're not just a coach, you're my dad. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:39.199 And he pulled me out of the game. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:46.240 And what I remember back on that is what he was saying as a coach was not a suggestion. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:47.919 This was imperative. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:50.080 This was a command for me. 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:56.719 If you're a Christian, listen, this is not a secret mission for the called. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:59.439 It's not the few, it's not the chosen. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:04.159 This is the great commission for every believer. 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:11.840 And what I believe about this, an omission to the commission questions your submission. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:13.199 Let me say that again. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.680 An omission to the commission questions your submission. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:24.240 And so the scripture says, therefore, to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.160 That's an omission. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.879 I was thinking about the great Bambino, Babe Ruth. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:37.920 From 1914 to 1918, Babe Ruth played on the Boston Red Sox. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:40.000 He was then traded, and we got the curse and all that. 00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:42.879 I don't want to talk about that, but I'm a Red Sox fan. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:52.959 But for those years, Babe Ruth, arguably the greatest power hitter ever, spent most of his time pitching. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:59.839 Which means in those days, Babe Ruth would play one out of every five days. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:08.480 And what they were doing during that time was withholding the greatest power and purpose that this man had. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:16.240 It wasn't until 1980 that he got traded to the New York Yankees that he became a full-time hitter and playing the field. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.839 He was used as a pitcher. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:20.480 This was a great omission. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.759 They were missing all week long. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.839 One time a week, they were missing the most important thing that they had. 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:36.000 And I want to submit to you today, sometimes, church, the average Christian is getting in the game one time a week. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:40.399 And they're missing the most important part of life. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:42.399 The commission. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:44.800 Letter A is this this morning. 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:49.199 The Great Commission charges us to advance the gospel. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:55.920 There in Matthew 28, 19, it says, go there for and make disciples. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:57.759 It says, go, it says, advance. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.399 We are mandated here to go. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:06.240 Matthew jumps past the gospel and he says, go and make disciples. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:07.120 This is interesting. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:08.879 Some people might debate about this. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.240 Why make disciples? 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:11.920 Well, he tells us how. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:13.680 He goes to the formula. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.000 He says, go, teach, and baptize. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:18.160 And you might say, well, something's missing, right? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:19.439 In the Great Commission. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:21.279 Don't miss reading this verse. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:24.879 Some might try to say the gospel's not even present. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.680 But I want you to think about Mark's account. 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:29.759 Mark 16, 15. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.959 He shares the same account, and this is what Mark says about. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:38.160 He says, Jesus said, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.560 So Mark was the evangelist, and Matthew was the connect group leader. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:42.959 Alright? 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.360 One was into discipleship, the other was into evangelism. 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:48.560 But the same thing came out of it, the same commission. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:57.759 Now notice in Matthew, he says, to make disciples, he wasn't not including the gospel. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:00.959 He said they had to be baptized and be taught. 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:04.800 Well, what would you be doing getting baptized if you weren't saved? 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:10.720 If you were not saved first and you were baptized, then you're getting in a great big bathtub in front of a lot of people. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.199 Okay? 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:12.399 And that's weird. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:17.439 I'm just going to tell you, in case you didn't know that, there's going to be some people today that are going to get baptized. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:24.319 If they were not saved, and this is what we tell them, if you were not saved, then there's no reason to just get wet in front of a group of people. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:25.040 Alright? 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.560 And so Mark instead preaches the gospel. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:30.959 He says, Go and bring the gospel to every creature. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.160 Now the gospel is this. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.519 I'm going to give you ten words. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:34.079 Alright. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:40.480 I went to a class, and 5,000 times this was stated in my class. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.920 And I'm not really exaggerating. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:46.720 He said, the gospel is this: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:51.120 That is the good news that we celebrated on Easter, and that's the gospel. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:57.519 And so we're told in Matthew 28 in the commission that it starts with advance, it starts with move. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:59.839 The gospel starts with go. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:05.040 And listen to me, church, you cannot go if you stay. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:16.240 For six years I spent being mentored and trained with Pastor Danny and week after week, and we're still doing the same thing now with Joe and with Dave. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:22.240 Week after week, we go out, and Pastor Danny probably quoted this verse 5,000 times. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.800 He would say, Go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come that my house would be filled. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:28.560 Luke 14, 23. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.000 And so we go. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:33.440 You've probably been visited by me or Pastor Danny. 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:38.080 We go, and the reason for that is because it's in the Great Commission. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.039 By the way, this is interesting. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:46.399 The Great Commission, according to Matthew, does not end at share the gospel. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.000 It ends with make a disciple. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:51.919 So yes, we share. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:59.440 Yes, we invite to church, but it ends with get to a connect group, get to a small group, get deeper. 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:02.879 Make sure that person can stand on their feet as a Christian. 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:06.080 Yes, you share, you invite, you hope that they get saved. 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:08.559 But our job doesn't end as a Christian. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.440 I'm not talking about as a pastor or a missionary. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.759 I'm talking about right where you are. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:18.000 If someone gets saved, it's your job to then help them grow. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.159 And how do they do that? 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.440 So you take them under your wing, and that's what it's saying. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:25.519 It ends with make a disciple. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:26.080 Why? 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:29.519 So then that person can go make a disciple. 00:09:29.679 --> 00:09:33.200 And this thing continues, and so that's the commission. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.360 There's a song that I've listened to. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:47.919 We also, Callie was in a camp with me when she was just starting in kids' camp, and they did a whole theme based on this song, and the theme was Do Something. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:51.120 Have you heard Matthew West's song, Do Something? 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:58.159 He says a line in he says, I just couldn't bear the thought of people living in poverty, children being sold in slavery. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:04.320 So I turned my eyes to heaven and I said, God, why don't you do something? 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.440 And then it says, and he said, I did. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:09.679 I created you. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:12.639 He said, I created you. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:16.000 It says in that song, if not us, then who? 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:20.639 If not me and you, then when will we see an end to all this pain? 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.960 It's time for us to do something. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:28.559 James 1.22 says, be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.240 And so we do something. 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.279 Listen to me. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:36.480 This commission is not just the chosen. 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.840 It is everybody's job. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:41.360 I want you to look at the person next to you, and I want you to say, It's your job. 00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:45.679 Look at the person on the other side and say, It's your job. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:48.399 It's every Christian's job. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:49.679 The gospel goes. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:53.840 It's for your neighbor, it's for your family, it's for your coworker. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:55.519 It is your job. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.960 So how do we do that? 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.279 We advance the gospel, letter B is this. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:01.919 We articulate the gospel. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.720 I want you to look at verse 20. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:10.159 It says, teaching them to observe all things that have I commanded you, and lo, I'm with you always. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.919 So it says, teaching them. 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.879 Mark says, preach, remember to every creature. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:22.000 And that word preach that Mark is using means to herald, one who declares, one who speaks. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:31.679 And so I believe there's sort of a false philosophy, and I've seen this verse or this person's quote posted a lot, and I've thought through it. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.960 This philosophy is from Saint Francis of Assisi. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:36.080 This is what it says. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:41.279 It says, preach the gospel every day, and when necessary, use words. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:46.000 And let me tell you what I would add to that, church, is this why I think it's false. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:49.679 It's always necessary to use words. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.080 The gospel uses words. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.840 And so it is always vital for you to use words. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:57.120 I get what this is saying. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:01.279 It's saying that your lifestyle should align with the advancement of the Great Commission. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:05.200 And Ephesians 2.10 tells us that for we are created for good works. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:10.320 I get that we should be living a lifestyle that presents the gospel. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.120 But articulating has to happen. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:15.759 Now, yes, it starts with your life. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:22.320 If you're mean and you're arrogant and you try to talk to somebody about the gospel, that's not gonna go over real well. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:22.799 Right? 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:29.679 If you're just mean at work and you're cussing at work and you're sort of arrogant and you're like, and you need to be saved. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.639 Alright, that's not gonna work, that's not gonna go over real well. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:39.360 So your life is a part of articulating the gospel, but your walk and your talk have to match. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:42.879 But scripture talks about taking opportunities. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:58.159 Um these guys that work with our media, they've been having me uh do these reels, and some of you have seen them or whatever, and what they want me to do in one minute is to share something of substance. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.600 In one minute's time. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.639 Now, listen to me, I'm kind of like a crock pot preacher. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.879 Like I it takes a little while, okay? 00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:09.519 Pastor Danny, I know he could come out to shoot and you get a bullet everywhere, about anything. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.480 Like, and and they're like, just one minute. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.440 Like the other day I had, look, it was great, I'm telling you. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.000 I came out, but it was a minute and 30 seconds, they were like a snow gum. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:18.799 I'm like, what? 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.759 What do you mean? 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.799 What do you mean? 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.960 I went over my 30 seconds. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:25.120 We can do that, it's still okay. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.279 And so, but this is what they're saying. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:33.039 You need to say something that matters with your opportunity. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:43.360 And I want you to understand, a lot of times we kind of like go through life and we miss doors because we're not thinking about the Great Commission. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:46.639 We're not thinking about something that really matters. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.559 They used to do that with FCA. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:58.960 FCA, I would go in, and Callie and some of the teammates, they're they're in part of FCA now, and what they do, youth group is about 35 minutes to an hour. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:06.639 FCA was 15 minutes, and they wanted you to do a game, have kids eat donuts, and then speak your thing in like five, seven minutes. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.879 And that made me feel like an auctioneer. 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:21.679 I'm like, get in the word, and I'm like, this is hard to say what you need to say, but what I want you to understand is there is a time and place for articulating, and you've got to be ready. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:25.279 And it's gotta be in you for you to be ready, right? 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:27.039 Let me ask you this question. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.679 How many people here are you're you're chatty people? 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:31.039 Raise your hand. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.200 You can be honest. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:36.480 If it's just a person next to you, go ahead and point at them. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.600 Right? 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:39.200 That's okay. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.720 That's okay. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:49.840 I want to share with you, chatty or not, here is a secret to having a voice in someone's life. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.639 Here's a secret. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:52.480 This is worth you coming today. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.559 To having a voice in someone's life first starts with your ears. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:04.080 You have to be a good listener for someone to want to hear your voice. 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:09.840 There's an old quote: someone does not care what you know until they know that you care. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:18.639 And so that you start to care into a life so that for listen, for the purpose that you get an opportunity to share. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:23.039 I want you to turn for a second into Romans chapter 10. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:26.240 And I want you to see what Paul has to say. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.200 Romans chapter 10, verse 13 and 14. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:41.600 I need you to hear me, church, because I'm gonna give you some numbers in a few minutes that are staggering about salvations and the denomination that we're in. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.360 And we lead the way, by the way, in our denomination. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:49.039 So I'm thankful for the great commission Christians that we are. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:56.799 But when you hear these numbers and you think about the opportunities God's put before you, I hope that it does something for us today. 00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:58.960 The gospel needs lips. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:02.240 Romans 10, 13 and 14 says this. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:06.720 For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:13.279 But listen, how then shall they call on him who they have not believed? 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:17.360 And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:20.960 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.360 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:30.799 On down, it says, How beautiful, listen, are the feet of those who preach the gospel of feet, of peace. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:32.559 Why do you think it says feet there? 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.480 Beautiful are the feet, because it's talking about going and sharing. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:41.840 I want to share with you a practical way to share the gospel. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:46.159 We're gonna look just at a picture real quick of the Romans Road, and then I want to share with you the bridge. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:48.960 You got the picture of the Romans Road, okay? 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.200 You can Google this, you can look this up. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.720 I know that it's maybe small to some on the screen, but it has scriptures. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:17:01.679 If you get into a scenario where you can share with somebody, this is the Romans Road of the Gospel. 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.080 Okay? 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:07.519 Again, this is not, you're not gonna get to this point until you're listening and you have a relationship. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:12.400 But I want you, maybe you got someone in your life, a cousin, a family member, a friend. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:14.319 This is important, so you need to take this. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.160 Go ahead to the bridge picture. 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:24.319 I love the illustration of the bridge, and I use this almost every time that I lead someone to Christ. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.920 And so this is simple for people. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:39.599 You can you can draw over here and say, we are people and we are sinners, and sinners have no way to God, and God is over here, and you can put God over here in this picture and say that God is righteous, cannot be touched by sin. 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.359 And so we have a problem. 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:54.640 And in the middle you have Jesus, who was the bridge between man and God, and it was because of that cross, that blood on the cross that wiped away my darkness that I can get to God. 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:57.440 And so you can draw this if you're sitting down with somebody. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.440 When I'm with kids, I draw this out. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:05.759 But this is just a chance for you to know how to get to the gospel with somebody. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.880 I need you to be thinking about these ways to get to the gospel. 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:13.359 At the end, I'm gonna show you this video, the falling plates video. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:19.680 And I want you, if you will, when we're done, I want you to Google that video, Falling Plates, and copy it. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.960 You can send it out. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:22.319 And as simple as this. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:26.880 Maybe you have somebody in your life and you can say, hey, will you watch this video? 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:28.319 Do you believe this? 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.519 Have you believed this? 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:31.920 And it starts a gospel conversation. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:37.920 It's never gonna start without a target, without an idea of how I'm gonna get the gospel to somebody. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:41.519 There's one more means that I've used before that I want you to know of. 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:43.200 It's called the apology call. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:48.720 And so you call your friend, your family member, somebody, this is somebody that you've known. 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:53.359 You call them up and you say, hey, listen, I've never talked to you about this. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:56.160 It's something that's become a big part of my life. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:00.799 And you share how you came to know Christ on the phone, just right there. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:07.200 And then you say to them at the end of that conversation, I'm sorry that I haven't shared this with you before. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:10.240 Would you like to know more on how you can do it? 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.079 And you say, Well, that's awkward, Pastor. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.039 That's weird, Pastor. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.759 Yes. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.359 But the gospel is not meant to be comfortable. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:21.519 You're addressing people who are sinful in need of a savior. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.359 And it's either your comfort or their eternity that we're talking about. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:31.119 And so, aren't you okay with maybe getting a little uncomfortable for the cause of the gospel? 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.319 Well, how do we do this? 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:34.480 We get to point number two this morning. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.599 This is how we do it. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.000 We compel through compassion. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:42.640 We compel others through compassion. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.480 I want you to see. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:53.599 Uh turn over to Mark chapter 12, and we're gonna look at what Jesus had to say about this compassion. 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:56.640 All through Scripture it talks about compassion. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.160 We learned last week he says, If you love me, Peter, feed my sheep. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:04.400 Uh the mark of the disciple, it says it's the love of brothers. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:07.359 It's like the bat symbol to the world. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:09.920 This is what we do when we love other believers. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:13.359 Jude 22 says, Some have compassion, making a difference. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:22.160 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter says, Without love, you can be a great speaker, you can be a martyr, you can give all your money to the poor without love. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.039 It's nothing. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:25.759 And so we compel through compassion. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.839 Look at Mark chapter 12. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:32.400 Verse 28 and 29, this is what it says. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:42.160 Then one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:54.400 And Jesus answered him, The first of all, the commandment is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and all your mind and strength. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:59.920 This is the first commandment, and the second is like it Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:05.200 So letter A this morning is this you have to be ardent in pursuit of Jesus Christ. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:08.160 Ardent in pursuit of Jesus Christ. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:12.480 There's a lawyer here intending to stump Jesus with a question. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.720 He says, which is the greatest? 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:17.519 What is the most important thing that we are to know? 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:20.720 And Jesus quotes something very familiar to them. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.319 It's called the Shema. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.079 The Shema is Deuteronomy chapter 6, 4 and 5. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:31.440 And the Shema would have been recited by Jewish people morning and evening. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.759 It would have been said like a pledge. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:39.039 And they would have quoted this morning and evening prayers like a pledge or sung as a hymn. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:45.599 And this is what he says first of all, love God, heart, soul, mind, and strength. 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:55.920 If you want to be a great commissioned person, if you want to do these things that might feel a little awkward, but it's our purpose, you have to have a real love story with God. 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:58.319 He says, with all of your heart. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.359 Now I was thinking about that. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.799 Of my heart. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:04.319 What can I picture that has all of my heart in my life? 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.440 And I thought about this. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:09.519 I don't have divided attention when it comes to women. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:16.400 I've got one heart, and there's one lady that has all of my heart. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.440 And let me tell you, that's that's top shelf love. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:19.920 Okay? 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:21.519 That's the top. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.119 There's no wavering. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.799 I don't have that kind of love for any other woman. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:28.880 I've got exclusive love. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:33.759 And when you say exclusive, you mean that there's no other. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:40.400 What God is saying about love with all your heart, there's no other small g God. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.920 There's not an idol in your life. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.240 There's not something that gets more of your time. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:48.160 There's not something that the end goal of your life has more pursuit of. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:50.880 You are ardent in pursuit of Jesus. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.559 You love him with all your heart. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:54.079 And it shows. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.519 So we love him with all our heart. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.279 Then it says, love him with all our soul. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.920 And that has to do with our satisfaction. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.559 Our satisfaction is found in him. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.359 Let me ask you, church, what satisfies you? 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:10.319 What makes you feel contented? 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.559 We love God with all our mind. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:17.759 When it says all our mind, that means our decisions revolve around his commands. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:27.359 The things that we're doing and the places we're going and the decisions we're making in our life, our career, our family have to do with what God has set forth for us. 00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:39.920 And then with all our strength, it has to do with when things are even bad, when life gets rough, when things get to a place you don't understand, we still persevere in spite of all those trials. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:47.039 And I gotta tell you, you cannot begin to care about the Great Commission if you don't have this. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:52.400 If you're not in love with Jesus students, you're never gonna tell someone in school. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.559 And that starts with your daily stuff. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:57.039 Parents, it starts with their daily stuff. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:00.480 For you in the workplace, you're never going to do this. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:05.200 And I don't mean to sound judgmental, it just can't come out of you if it's not in you. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.720 So you have to love him. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:09.440 You better get in some worship in your time alone. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:15.200 You better spend time with Jesus, or that lost soul will never hear it from your lips. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:19.680 You have to be a little bit gospel crazy, right? 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:21.599 You have to be that person. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.599 And you say, Well, I don't want to be weird. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:28.000 Listen, a real Christian is fanatical. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:30.400 There's not an in-between, right? 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:37.119 If you go to a doctor, don't you want the fanatical doctor, the one that's crazy about his profession, that loves it, right? 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:39.440 You don't want to go to the one that's sort of so-so. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:44.720 I'm looking for someone a little more apathetic. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:46.480 Maybe a mediocre doctor. 00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:48.559 You have something mid-level, right? 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.039 I need the bronze level. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:53.759 I don't want that gold or platinum, right? 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:58.880 And so we have to love him with all that we are for the gospel. 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:02.319 Let me ask you a hard question. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:09.039 When is the last time that you shared your faith personally to another person? 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:13.279 You said, This is my testimony, this is how I got saved. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.920 And you begin to share with him. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:20.640 When's the last time you invited somebody to church? 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.400 When's the last time you prayed for a lost friend? 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:33.759 And I have to add this question do you really love God? 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:45.440 If you really love God, heart, soul, mind, and strength, then the great commission is all in you, and it will become all a part of you. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.079 That takes us to letter B this morning here. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:51.680 An awareness of people and community. 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.680 See, Jesus takes it a step further. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:58.799 He asked him, What is the greatest command in Mark there? 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:01.039 And Jesus says, This is the greatest command. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:03.519 And then he said, the second is like it. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:06.480