WEBVTT 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:05.360 Hi everyone, thanks so much for tuning in to the Downtown Community Church podcast. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:12.800 My name is Delaney, and I have the honor and the privilege of serving here at DCC as the Director of Operations. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:20.960 Thank you so much for listening in on this sermon from Nate Shait to close out our Disciples at Work series. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:25.839 We have some exciting things going on in the life of our church that we'd love for you to know about. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:31.600 We just this Sunday, when this podcast was recorded, launched our summer community groups. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:41.039 So if you are in Talhasse, if you are a part of our church family or you are listening and looking to get involved in community, we would love to have you. 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:44.880 Visit our website at downtowncommunitychurch.com. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:52.799 Head over to the Make Disciples tab and click on groups to view all of the groups that we have got meeting throughout the week this summer. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:01:02.960 We believe that inspiration happens in rows on Sunday mornings, but sustained life change happens when you are sitting in circles with your community group. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.040 We love to get you involved in those. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:21.920 And it is if you're listening to this podcast and that means it's officially June, which means that it is vacation Bible school month, we are so excited to offer this weeklong program for all of the kids at DCC and in Tallahassee to come and join us. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:33.200 So if you have got a child or you know a child that is rising kindergarten through rising sixth grade, we would love to have them June 14th through the 18th from 5.30 p.m. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:43.439 to 8 p.m., joining us for vacation Bible school as we go on a kingdom quest to discover all of the wonderful things about God's kingdom. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:50.239 We would love to have you and you can again visit our website at downtowncommunitychurch.com for more information. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:02:09.360 And if you call DCC home, if you want to support the ministry that we do here at DCC financially to help us to love God, make disciples, and be great neighbors, then you can do that online or you can do that through our Venmo at DCCTallahassee. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:18.800 This is something that we love getting to do together as an act of worship as a church family to give back to God what He has so generously given to us. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:21.599 So thank you for tuning in for these announcements. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:25.840 And now please enjoy the sermon from Pastor Nate Chait. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:29.120 Good morning, church. 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:33.199 Please remain standing for today's reading. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:36.319 Hebrews 5.11 through 6.12. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:43.439 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:51.039 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:54.000 You need milk, not solid food. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:59.919 For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:08.560 But solid food is for the mature, and those who have their powers of discernment, trained by the constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:26.960 Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.439 And this we will do if God permits. 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:52.960 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:04:02.080 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:09.120 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:17.759 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things, things that belong to salvation. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:25.519 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown in his name in serving the saints as you still do. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:37.839 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.800 You baby seated kids, you've dismissed the kids' hallway. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.199 Good morning, good morning. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:51.920 Hello. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:53.600 Hey kids. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:55.439 Hey, baby girl. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.600 That's my kid, Adelie, always carrying someone. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:03.439 There she is. 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.279 Good morning. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:11.839 I'm Nate Shade, one of the pastors here on staff. 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.319 We are finishing up Disciples at Work. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:20.160 And this is kind of one of those sermons, gonna be a little interesting, I think. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:25.439 So I'm gonna ask you all to kind of be with me as we try to wrap this up. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:30.000 We're gonna go back and try to recap some, and then we're gonna have a little bit of a challenge here at the end. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:34.240 Obviously, Hebrews 5 and 6, they're the end of 5, the beginning of 6. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:37.920 If you want your Bibles open, you can have that uh ready for you. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:06:05.920 Um But Ben has been trying to help us walk through and examine what this looks like to be uh to be a disciple to at work, to have the same passion and desire as the missionary overseas, right, that is spending all their time seeking to save the lost and also to build up and equip the saints, but to be doing that while you have a 40-hour work week with full benefits here in America, right? 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:09.920 And so that's what we've been diving into of what this kind of looks like. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:17.279 Um, Colossians 3.23, I believe uh the Bible gives us instruction on what that looks like and how we do these things. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.800 Um we see here, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:32.560 Uh 1 Corinthians 10.31 also says, so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:44.959 And so today, as we go through uh what this looks like, this is how you are a disciple, this is why you are a disciple, and it's not just at work, it's through everything, through your entire life. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:54.800 Um, but what we're looking at today as we're going through the a little bit of the how, um, I want to ask you all to be brutally honest with yourselves. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:58.000 This is, again, this is gonna be one of those sermons, I'm sorry. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:00.959 Um, but I want you to be brutally honest with yourselves. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:07.600 I want you to be brutally honest before God and your own heart and just kind of asking yourself through some questions. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:15.439 And the reason why I want this to happen now is as I go through this sermon, I'm already very offensive. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:21.120 Um, for those anybody that knows me, uh, this will offend you if you do not put yourself in the right place in the sermon. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.319 I'm just gonna let you know. 00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:23.519 Yeah, good luck. 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:24.800 Buckle up, everybody. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:25.360 Here we go. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:26.800 Um, but there's just this moment. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:34.399 Like, if you do not believe in God, if if you're not, if you walk in here, you're skeptical, you don't understand what this whole Jesus thing is, that's okay. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.079 Just know that as I'm reading, and as we go through the sermon. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.759 Understand that and accept where you are in that journey. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:55.120 If you are a believer who has accepted Jesus as Savior, anytime, let's say three years and less, you are what the scriptures would define as an infant, like a child, a toddler in Christ. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.680 It's not a bad thing, it's just a reality, right? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.240 You wouldn't look at a little baby that came out and be like, oh, I can't believe you're calling that an infant, right? 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:05.600 No, it's just and and the infancy thing, it's not just this. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:10.480 I mean, you can we have kids in our youth group that are discipling people. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:15.600 I was an infant when I was a senior in high school, right? 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:20.160 It just comes with when you find Christ to be Lord. 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:27.600 If you are, if you've been walking with Jesus for some time now, right, but you've never made a disciple. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:32.720 That's where the scriptures are kind of talking about this one where maybe you should be a teacher by now, but you're not. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.759 And maybe milk is needed again instead of solid food. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.600 I just need you to own it. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:39.759 Walk into it, right? 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:41.279 Just know that that's where you are. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:56.320 And if you're the person who is making disciples that has been light in dark places, that has made disciples where you live, work, and play, I just want you to be able to accept where you're at and understand what is being required of you in the sermon. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:10.639 And so uh with that, I want us to pray and allow God to just kind of speak to us as we get into this section of scripture. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.080 Lord, we do come before you. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:19.279 Um I ask God that my friends here will open their hearts. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:28.720 And I pray with that uh surrender, with that posture before you, that your Holy Spirit would fill this room. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:33.919 I pray, God, that you as the comforter, that you would be the one that speaks. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:39.360 Nobody cares to hear just Nate talking, but they do want to hear from you. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:50.240 So, God, allow your scriptures, allow the word of God, allow your sword of the spirit to be what pierces our hearts today. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:10:02.799 I pray that my friends in this room would recognize where they are in this journey with you, and that you call them, you love them, and you want them to be mature. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:08.799 You never leave anyone where you found them, and we are grateful for that. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:20.399 So, God, comfort us today and allow us to take the steps towards maturity that will honor your kingdom and will proclaim your message, we pray, in Jesus' name. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.519 Amen. 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:22.799 Amen. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:24.240 All right, it's a good way to start. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.039 Here we go. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:38.960 So uh so if you're here today and you are without work, uh maybe you're a student uh also that's on summer break, um, you still are called to make disciples. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:45.519 It is something that is called upon everybody, whether you live, work, or play, wherever you are, make disciples. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:56.320 Jesus gave us that command, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them what I have commanded you, and I will be with you to the end of the age. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:59.679 And in Acts 1.8, we see the Holy Spirit show up. 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:12.480 Uh or Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit show up, but in Acts 1.8, Jesus is telling the people that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and will give you power to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:18.639 And so no matter what you do, as we saw in those first two scripture verses, do it to the glory of God. 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:23.759 But right now we are discussing work and being a disciple at work. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:29.840 Ben mentioned that the first step of being a disciple at work is to be a disciple. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:36.080 Sounds kind of duh, but um there's a little bit of a trick to this. 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:44.720 So here at DCC, we are slowly trying to move into this point of where we no longer use the word volunteer. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.519 There's a reason for that. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:54.080 Um Jesus, you learn to read the scriptures. 00:11:54.320 --> 00:12:03.440 You fast, you pray, you sabbath, you give generously, you visit the sick, you visit those in prison. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:08.879 There's a lot of things that Jesus just did and calls us to do as we walk with him. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.399 And those are disciples. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:17.679 And here at DCC, we are called to love God, make disciples, and be great neighbors. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:20.399 But we say nothing about volunteers. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:27.120 Now, if you're a volunteer, you could show up at Doat Campbell Stadium and help park cars. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:32.960 They might give you a cool t-shirt, and uh, but you don't have to read the Bible to do that. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:34.720 You don't have to pray. 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.840 Fasting is not required. 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:44.399 The things that a disciple of Jesus would have to do are not required for you to volunteer. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.399 You simply have to show up. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:13:00.000 But if you've met some of the men that you've seen out here and the women that we've had that have had those little jackets on that are out here helping you find a place to park when you pull up to the church, they're not just volunteers. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:05.519 They are serving, but they also read their scriptures. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.960 They also pray. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:12.000 And if you were to ask any of them on your way out or on your way in to pray for you, they would do that. 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:15.519 You might not get that at Doak Campbell Stadium. 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:24.240 And so the people that are here, that are serving, that are with our kids, that are making coffee, that are standing at the doors, these are disciples. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.440 They are followers of Jesus. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:31.840 And yes, generosity is a part of that, or sorry, serving is a part of that, but that's not all they do. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:36.879 And so we seek to make disciples. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:53.840 You will see in all these different things that disciples do, there are people in this world that will take some of those characteristics and just see them as good quality, smart things to do. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.000 Which is why disciples have to look different. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:01.519 Walking with Jesus has to look different. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.840 Because a person could have a generous heart. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.200 They give to St. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:12.159 Jude's, they give to goodwill, they have a generosity about them. 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.799 Well, they're not disciples of Jesus. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:24.159 You have people that um they practice intermittent fasting, not a disciple of Jesus. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:33.440 You have various things that people will take, these small characteristics, these ways of living and the things that's that we saw Jesus do. 00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:41.039 But the individual tasks do not make you a disciple, it is following and walking in the path of Christ that does this. 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:46.480 And so, for here at DCC, we seek to make disciples. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:56.879 And so those are the kind of some of the characteristics, some of the following of Jesus that makes you hopefully answer yes when you ask, Are you a disciple? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:01.600 Step two was to, if you see a need, you meet a need. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.559 Sorry, I skipped all the things that Ben talked about in the first one. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:07.759 Identify the idols. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.240 I think we talked about if you've been with us for a while. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:12.000 If you haven't, I'll just go through this real quick. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:17.759 Identifying the idols at your work, the things that your work pretty much bows down to. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:20.159 Where are the problems that are at your work? 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.720 And then where do I find favor? 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.159 And so as you ask yourself, am I a disciple? 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:28.559 Can you ask answer those three questions? 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:31.120 Step two, meet and see a need, me to need. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.840 See a need, me to need. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:44.960 And there's this element of like, hopefully, throughout this last week, that you have been able to see different places at your work where there are needs that need to be met, and hopefully you've entered into those. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:50.559 Disciples look for opportunities to show how God has changed their lives. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:54.320 And so they don't wait to be asked to do something. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:59.600 They, out of this love for God, they see a need and they start to enter into that. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:12.960 So instead of waiting to be asked or being told to do something, when you do something out of the kindness and the love of your heart, you're showing the love of Christ and you can point towards Him. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:19.440 It means that you have love and not just a desire for projects. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:27.679 Step three, which we are getting into today, a disciple at work is to sow righteousness. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.399 In order to reap a harvest, you first have to sow seeds. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:40.000 So it went when you're at work, you have to sow what you will produce as a crop. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:43.279 And the question you have to ask is, what am I sowing? 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:49.840 Galatians 5 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit, everybody know the song, go with it. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:53.919 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.519 Yeah, there we go. 00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:57.840 All of our VBSers out here. 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.399 Um, but here's an interesting thing. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:14.000 So, like I was about three weeks ago, I was going through Galatians, where you'll find those uh scriptures, and as I was praying about those things, I felt like God was telling me, Nate, you're 0 for 9. 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:19.119 Wow, this is your pastor, ladies and gentlemen. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:20.000 This is your pastor. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.519 So I sat in that for a moment and just spending some time with God. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:32.880 What one is how did I get here? 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.440 And two, what do I gotta do to fix this? 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.279 Because this doesn't feel right. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:40.960 And he gave me these answers. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:42.640 He kind of let me know. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:49.279 Nate, as long as you're in charge and you're doing the things uh at your work, the tasks, I don't have to. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:04.880 So it was pretty much, Nate, if you surrender to me and allow me to do these things, then I can produce fruit. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:19.519 And it was wild as I began to once surrender, asking God to show me direction, show me the way that you want me, the way that you want me to act and move and do. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:23.920 Patience started showing up again. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.960 Joy returned. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:33.440 All these different fruits that he had. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:42.559 As I started being more patient with the people that I'm serving, as the joy started to return, all of a sudden I had a real, authentic love for them again. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:47.279 Which led to all the others showing up. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:57.680 The self-control, the faithfulness, like all those different things where times when I just wanted to lay in bed and not go to work started to go away. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:07.519 So this is because of the Spirit guiding us that we're able to sow the seeds of righteousness. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:10.799 There are parts of the scriptures that kind of mention some of this. 00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:20.000 Proverbs 11, 18 mentions this the wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:23.920 Another verse is Hosea 10, 12. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:36.960 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap steadfast love, break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and reign righteousness upon you. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.440 Now you may ask what that looks like. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.759 What does it look like to sow righteousness in my workplace? 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.599 And that is that is a great question that you are going to hate the Nate answer for. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:47.359 I promise you that one, right? 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:50.640 Only you will truly know. 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.799 Thanks, Nate. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:53.920 Love that. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.240 Only you will truly know. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.079 Here's the thing. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.000 I can give you some ideas, and we will. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.799 I will today. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:06.400 I'll give you some ideas, but you're the only one that knows the kids that you take care of or care for. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:10.319 Only you know the other students on your team or in your classroom. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:25.119 Only you know the different people that you, the co-workers, the the crew that you're in charge of, the parents at your house, or the boss that you answer to. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.200 You're the only one that knows. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:37.279 So that first step of identifying the idols, seeing the problems, and understanding where you have favor, you have to have those in line in order to be able to do this. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:45.839 I can give you ideas, but if I give you ideas and that has nothing to do with your workplace, you're just gonna look weird. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:48.000 Don't be offended. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:50.720 I'm just trying to just hear me out. 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:54.960 Well, you've got to figure out what is good to happen at your work. 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:57.599 Where can you sow seeds of righteousness? 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.359 And we're gonna get into some of that. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:09.839 What I want to start off with asking each other, right? 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:17.599 Just kind of going through your heart is are you spending time with Jesus and following him so closely that you're covered in his dust? 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:28.319 The reason why I ask this is because the Apostle Paul mentions in Corinthians, be imitators of me as I follow Christ. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:33.519 Be imitators of me as I follow Christ. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:45.440 So if you see these places in your work, right, you know the situations, you know where there's problems, you know that you can enter into it, you have to be following Jesus first. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:51.440 Paul obviously was following Jesus, otherwise, he would have said, imitate Jesus. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.240 Because I'm not, right? 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:56.000 I mean, that's one of those things. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.920 Like, I need you to be brutally honest with yourself. 00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.880 Are you following him? 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.680 Are you walking? 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.799 So closely with Jesus that you're covered in his dust. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:11.599 Because for a lot of us, and I know this was true for me, there was no one to imitate. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:21.759 You were led, you were told about Jesus, that he was the Christ, you believed, and there was this excitement. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:24.240 And then you were told, now follow Christ. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.640 Here's a bracelet, WWJ D. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:28.480 That should fix it all. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.839 But it doesn't. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:40.480 We hit this point in time in the church where we just stopped creating these mothers and fathers of the faith that would lead the infants. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:48.079 So we created these infants in Christ and we had them grow up on their own with a ton of questions. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:56.000 Questions like, do I have to stop drinking or smoking or sleeping with my girlfriend? 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:59.599 Or I like racing cars. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.279 Or I cuss a little bit. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.119 Do I have to fix that? 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:09.759 So we had a bunch of questions, but very little answers. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:15.359 And unfortunately, most of us know this, just from real life. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:22.000 Infants that walk around without having people lead them, the world and the culture will guide them. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:42.400 And so here, we live in a time where I guess one of the biggest problems is we have failed to be able to tell people what actual sin is, and we've allowed culture to define it. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:50.319 So I want to give you a couple examples because when I became a Christian, I got a list of don'ts. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:54.720 For instance, don't smoke. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.319 Don't smoke. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.480 I got an image. 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:01.759 Gage has got me. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.400 You got me. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.279 You got me. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.079 There he is. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.720 There he is. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.160 Anybody know who this is? 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.079 This is J.R.R. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:13.839 Tolkien, the writer, Christian author of The Lord of the Rings. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.880 Pipe in hand. 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.920 Don't smoke, it's a sin. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.839 Understand my confusion. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.279 I was told, don't drink. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:32.079 Jesus turned water into grape juice, evidently. 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.039 Right? 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:40.480 And for some reason the people were like, oh, you brought out the bad grape juice first, but most people, I mean, come on, man. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.880 So we have a picture. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:45.519 This is again Tolkien. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:47.519 And none other than C.S. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:50.880 Lewis, the Christian author of Mere Christianity. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:57.200 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Narnia series. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:00.640 Screw tape letters. 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:05.440 Sitting in a tavern together, having a beer. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.039 Don't dance. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:10.960 Have you seen Footloose? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.400 Don't dance. 00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:20.240 And then I open up the scriptures and we see David dancing before the Lord. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.079 That might be a little generous to be honest with. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.079 There it is. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:36.480 So the culture, the culture will tell you here are some things that are not okay. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.920 And this is sin. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.119 Don't do them. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.799 Another one that I was told, you can't get tattoos. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:45.039 You're desecrating God's temple. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:46.799 Okay. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:49.279 Tattoos are bad. 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:53.039 And then you read in Revelation, Jesus shows up with a thigh tattoo. 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.240 I didn't write this. 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.160 I'm just reading it. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:17.279 So you get this element where if we start allowing culture to define what sin is instead of the scriptures, we might create this Christianity that is culturally acceptable, but where sinners do not feel safe to enter. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:26.160 The alcoholic and the addict will find more community and more safety at an AA meeting than they will the church. 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:32.240 The person that's tatted up. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:45.039 My sister came here, tattoos all over her body, and was worried about what she was wearing because it wasn't covering enough of it. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:58.000 The people should not walk into here more afraid to be judged by you than the God that will judge them and can redeem them. 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:02.480 So we have to move away from this. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:04.079 We have to move away from this. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:07.839 Now, look, don't take this out of contact. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:13.359 Don't you dare show up at your family reunion, right, with a face tattoo and say, my pastor said it was alright. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:16.480 You know what I'm saying. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.480 You know what I'm saying. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:20.640 Now, can some of these things be harmful? 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.680 Absolutely. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.839 Absolutely they can, but not a single one of them makes you a sinner. 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.920 You are a sinner. 00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:30.319 That's why you sin. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.960 Sin doesn't make you a sinner. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.119 You're a sinner, and that's why you sin. 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:38.319 And that's why we need a savior. 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:42.960 So, instead, we go to God's Word. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:44.720 We have the Ten Commandments. 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:54.720 In Exodus, you see the Ten Commandments show up, and they give you a great list of what it looks like to love God and to love others. 00:27:55.119 --> 00:28:01.519 And it was this mirror, this idea, this is what God expects of us, and we can't live up to it. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.279 We won't. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:07.759 You look at it and you recognize I've already failed. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.720 And I need help. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.799 And that's why it points to the Redeemer. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:25.359 So when you get, if you ever go into Romans 7, you read that, if you're a newer believer in the faith or you're not a believer at all, I would suggest, look at Romans 7. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:31.599 It will talk about what this is the commandments, the law, and what it looks like to walk in that. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:37.599 To follow Christ, to realize that the law is good, but it lets us know that we are not. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:40.880 But it also lets us know that he is good. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:47.680 And because of his sacrifice on the cross for us, we are redeemed. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:53.920 So we ask who is here to guide us, and usually the answer is nobody. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:29:00.240 And so we guess our way through and we stumble and we fall like an infant trying to learn for the first time. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:03.119 Learning how to walk. 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:08.000 This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is unfortunate. 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:15.279 The church has begun to make things about the individual instead of the collective body of believers. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:19.920 And because of this, we stopped making those spiritual mothers and fathers. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:24.000 But the church is slowly repenting, and we're working on that. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:29.440 Now, for those of you that would consider yourselves infants in this room, all right? 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:39.039 There are things, amazing things in this word, in the scriptures, that God has pointed out for you. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:41.440 He wants you to know them, he wants you to learn them. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:46.079 And I don't want, here's the thing, do not feel ashamed to be an infant in Christ. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:50.160 You should feel accepted and loved. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.799 God has redeemed your heart and he wants you to move from where you are into maturity. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.200 There is no need for shame there. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:01.920 But there are things that you can learn. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:04.160 Hebrews 5 and 6. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:08.880 The scriptures that we got into this morning. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:13.920 There are basic principles that you can learn. 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.920 The oracles of God. 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.559 The scriptures. 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.200 You read through Genesis, you'll see the creation. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.160 You'll see the fall. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:24.880 You'll learn what the consequences of the fall were. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:27.759 You get into Exodus, you start to see the law, the Ten Commandments. 00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:29.759 What does it look like to live and work for Him? 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:31.680 You'll recognize your need for redemption. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:38.720 And as you get into the old, the New Testament, you'll start to see how Jesus walked this out and lived it so that we could as well. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.279 Repentance from dead works. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:49.759 This is the opportunity to look at the things that you do and start to ask: Is what I'm doing bringing the kingdom of God here on earth? 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.240 And if the answer is no, repent. 00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.440 Simple. 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.599 Faith towards God. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:58.480 This is stepping out, taking him at his word. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:31:00.240 The things that he says are true. 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:03.359 And if they're true about me, that means I can walk in them. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.599 Instructions about washings. 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.880 This is kind of interesting. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.839 It's kind of fun. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:14.960 This is the idea of either pouring water on your hands before a meal, as you say, a blessing, or it would be baptism. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:17.599 Either way, one, we don't really do too much anymore. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.440 We do it at our house over a Sabbath. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:24.720 But it's something that I think is it's not cultural here, but it would be helpful. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:26.480 Because who doesn't love a good baptism? 00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.480 If you've been here for baptism, let me tell you, brother. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:29.440 That's a thing. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.000 That's a thing. 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:32.400 We have one uh like what a month ago. 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:39.519 And uh beautiful watching these kids up here and the adults just sharing what God has done and relating themselves with Christ. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:45.119 So there's baptism, but there's also this idea that when you know we see we do the prayers, right? 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.160 Hey, do you pray? 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:47.119 I'll pray before every meal. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:48.400 Right? 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:55.119 And so it's just God, you know, God is good, God is nice, let us thank Him for this rice and all those types of things. 00:31:55.279 --> 00:32:09.759 And and so we stand there, but there was this element in the in the in this type of scriptures where they would, before their meal, they're sitting there, and it's not washing to be clean, but it was this element of if God is really providing for my daily meal, right? 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:15.279 If he is giving my daily bread and this is my food, he is also daily cleansing me. 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:19.680 And they would pour water over their hands, and then they would sit and dine. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:24.160 And it was just this part of thanking him for cleansing them and providing for them. 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:26.079 And it's something that we could do. 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:28.240 Laying on of hands. 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:32.880 This is where we would dedicate someone in leadership, or we would pray for those in need. 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:36.799 It's something that we should be doing more here, and we will be doing more here. 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.640 We're gonna do some of that today. 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:40.480 Stay tuned to the end. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.319 No spoiler alerts yet. 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.599 No spoiler alerts. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:46.160 Um, but also resurrection of the dead. 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:48.960 Now, we do this really good at Easter. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.640 Resurrection of the dead. 00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:53.200 Ah! It's Easter time, right? 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.000 So good. 00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:58.720 But here's the thing: for the new believer, it happened the moment you believed. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:02.319 You are a new creation in Christ. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:05.039 The old has gone and the new has come. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.119 And then eternal judgment. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:16.960 The eternal judgment has us excited about what's coming at the end, but it also should give us an urgency to tell those that don't know before the end comes. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:27.440 And so, these are things that for the new believer, great stuff to learn, great stuff to know. 00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:31.839 All these things should be in your minds and in your hearts if you're a new follower. 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:38.799 You should learn how to apply these and create this firm foundation as you move towards maturity. 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:46.000 Now, for those that you are no longer infants, or at least you shouldn't be, there are things that are needed from you. 00:33:48.160 --> 00:33:56.079 You should be able to see all those things that we had up, and you should be able to teach and discern those things and sow seeds of righteousness. 00:33:56.319 --> 00:34:01.119 The mature believer sows seeds of righteousness. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:04.640 Now, you may ask yourself, buckle up. 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.759 I'm gonna sound so mean here. 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:11.280 You might ask, what does it mean to be a mature believer? 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.239 Am I a mature believer? 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:17.119 Is there a time that I have to be following Jesus when I'm a mature believer? 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:21.280 I would answer that question with a question. 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:23.679 Do you need fed? 00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.559 Do you show up for an hour on Sunday to get fed? 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:33.199 Because babies need fed. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:39.760 Sorry. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.960 Anyway. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.519 Someone that's mature knows how to find their own food. 00:34:51.760 --> 00:35:02.960 And so all the things that we just talked about earlier, like as you do these things, as you dive into the scriptures, as you pray, as you follow Jesus, you start moving towards this maturity. 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:06.000 It's a beginning, it's a great stage to be in. 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:16.559 But the spiritual mature use the time that they have with Jesus in order to guide them and how to make areas, how to get into areas of influence where they live, work, and play. 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:21.440 They don't sit back and watch people struggle. 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:25.840 They know that they are meant to equip others. 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:30.320 Hebrews 5.14, we were in this scripture earlier. 00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:41.519 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:43.760 It's constant practice. 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.239 It's constant practice. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:49.599 There is this wholeness about them. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:51.119 We're not looking for perfection. 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:52.239 Please hear that. 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:54.239 We are not looking for perfection. 00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:58.320 But we're reaching a place of responsibility and spiritual wholeness. 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:06.159 It's not just intellectual knowledge, there is this spiritual perception of this maturity. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:10.000 It has you ready at all times for imminent action. 00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:18.400 When you see a toddler walking towards a fire, a hot stove, or an open outlet, do you just go, well, they're going to have to learn on their own? 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.519 Of course not. 00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:22.559 Of course not. 00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:28.320 For the mature believer, you should not see someone walking into harm's way and just allow it to happen. 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:30.400 Now, hear me out. 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:34.000 I know a lot of people, I don't want to sound judgmental. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:37.039 I get that. 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:44.239 I think we say that often because we have been told a bunch of lies on what discipleship looks like. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:46.480 This is what I mean. 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:49.119 If you want, you can get into Matthew. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:52.480 Matthew 5 and 6, the Sermon on the Mount. 00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:55.599 Jesus is talking. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:01.039 Matthew 6 starts with this. 00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:08.000 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:11.920 For then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:20.159 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. 00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:24.159 Truly I say to you that they have received their reward. 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:30.559 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:41.039 We use these verses to do in secret all the things that Jesus commands us to do, to make disciples. 00:37:43.199 --> 00:37:48.639 Or we'll use this verse, these sections of scripture to not do anything because I don't want to do it with the wrong motives. 00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:57.760 What's interesting is before this came, we have chapter five, where Jesus is also speaking. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:05.280 Chapter five, verses fourteen through sixteen. 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:16.400 A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand and it gives light to all who are in the house. 00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:28.400 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:32.159 Now, is Jesus contradicting himself? 00:38:34.239 --> 00:38:35.360 Not at all. 00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:37.920 Look, he doesn't want you to be Mr. 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:40.960 Beast out there making content on how much money you give away. 00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:41.440 Alright? 00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:43.440 That's not what he's looking for. 00:38:44.639 --> 00:38:48.639 But how do you make disciples if you never show anybody what you do? 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:51.360 How do you give? 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:53.599 How do you pray? 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.599 How do you fast? 00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.840 How do you sabbath? 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:59.440 How do you serve? 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:04.400 The bigger question is, who sees you when you do those things? 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:09.199 If the answer is nobody, then you don't make disciples. 00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:12.239 And that means you're not a disciple. 00:39:13.679 --> 00:39:17.599 Disciples make disciples that make disciples. 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:31.440 There are many people that are out there stuck living as infants because they lack, because we have adults that lack the confidence to talk and speak into their lives. 00:39:32.719 --> 00:39:35.679 You need to sow seeds of righteousness. 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:38.159 So here's what some of that looks like. 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:47.519 Where you go to work, where you go to school, there are people that are new believers that are scared and alone. 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:49.599 They shouldn't have to find you. 00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:51.039 You should find them. 00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:56.960 You need to be the one to get them, gather them, and encourage them. 00:39:57.119 --> 00:39:59.119 Start a Bible study at work. 00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:03.760 Meet with them at the beginning of the day and pray over the schedule. 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:09.760 Pray before your practice, before the meeting, the task, or the job that you have. 00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:16.639 Another way, you don't have to put out a swear jar so that everybody, you know, if you say a bad word, you gotta put a quarter in the jar. 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:18.079 You don't have to do that. 00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:21.440 But you could start a word of the day. 00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:29.920 Just pick any word, put it out there for people to start learning and watch them change the way that they speak and talk and interact around your workplace. 00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:34.480 As they do that, they might come to you for advice on things, which you can share with them the word of God. 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:40.000 And soon the word of the day becomes also gets filled with the verse of the day. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:48.000 Some of you have issues at work with people going to lunch. 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:52.639 Maybe the cost or the atmosphere is ruining some of their home lives. 00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:56.880 Speak into that from a place of concern and experience. 00:40:57.199 --> 00:41:00.239 Sow seeds of righteousness. 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:03.760 Another one, and this is free. 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:05.039 Be positive. 00:41:05.679 --> 00:41:07.519 Doesn't cost you a thing. 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:10.079 Be positive. 00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:21.280 Positivity can go a long way when you allow yourself to let your light shine before men so that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:33.119 I feel like if most of us would stop long enough to see that person at work who says that they're a Christian, but the things that they do don't look like a Christian at all. 00:41:34.079 --> 00:41:42.800 If we were to see that person as being an infant believer that needs to be led, I think we would approach them with a little more love and care. 00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:46.960 But we have to be following Jesus. 00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:52.320 We have to be able to say, follow me as I follow Christ. 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:56.639 So we walk as Jesus walked. 00:41:57.039 --> 00:42:02.320 We are his disciples, looking for the needs so that we can enter into them. 00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:06.480 And now we sow seeds of righteousness in our workplace. 00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:11.599 We have to distinguish good from evil through constant practice. 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:19.760 In order to do this, we bring to God all the things that we've learned so far, and we exercise our powers of discernment. 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:25.599 We've identified the idols at work, the needs, and where we can have favor. 00:42:27.199 --> 00:42:33.199 And now we've seen areas that are issues, and we've started to provide some light in those places. 00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:37.679 And now what I want to do is I want to say a prayer. 00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:42.559 I'd ask you to bow your heart, your head in this moment. 00:42:42.719 --> 00:42:50.320 Allow this prayer to be yours as we make disciples at work. 00:42:52.800 --> 00:43:00.000 Master, you have put me in this position to glorify your name and to advance your kingdom. 00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:10.000 I want to sow seeds of righteousness and see your fruit spring up in my place of work so that I can give you the glory and honor and praise. 00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:18.079 Holy Spirit, speak to me and guide me toward the places you wish me to sow. 00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:29.679 Also, show me what your righteousness looks like in this specific environment and comfort me as I take steps of faith for you. 00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:32.320 Amen. 00:43:44.800 --> 00:43:46.719 So um I'm up here. 00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:51.679 Uh we are gonna do um one thing uh before we end uh in song. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:57.360 Um, the summertime for us, as you know, our church uh is somewhat of ascending season uh for us. 00:43:57.519 --> 00:44:02.639 Um part of what we know is as we Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. 00:44:02.960 --> 00:44:05.360 That means some people are going therefore. 00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:15.599 And one of the people who has been an amazing blessing to our church, our staff over the last couple years, and the college campuses as a whole is my main man Danny. 00:44:15.840 --> 00:44:18.079 Danny, will you come up and come up here? 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:27.360 So Danny's gonna say a few words. 00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:36.559 But Danny has an incredible opportunity to go and to spread his influence for Jesus across a lot of different places and spaces to go and make disciples. 00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:38.880 And so we're we're thrilled and excited about that. 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:42.800 In a second, we're gonna pray as a church family for and with Danny. 00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:46.159 But first I want to give Danny an opportunity just to say a couple words. 00:44:46.320 --> 00:44:48.239 He was just had had a has a heart to say. 00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:50.880 Um just thank you and whatever you got. 00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:52.400 Thank you, Pastor. 00:44:52.880 --> 00:44:55.760 Um yeah, it might be a surprise to some people. 00:44:55.920 --> 00:45:00.800 Um and I do want to say that I didn't even know that this was gonna happen about two months ago. 00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:08.480 Um, and over the sequence of just a couple events, um the Lord opened up an opportunity for me to go to Nashville. 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.920 And so that's where I'll be. 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:15.199 And if you have any questions as to what that looks like or just that process, I'd love to answer that. 00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:20.639 But before I left, um, I told Pastor Ben that I wanted to talk to the church and talk to the congregation. 00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:30.639 Um because I've been here for a couple years now, and I know that when people leave, there's always this question of why did they leave, or what was the reason, or we never heard why. 00:45:30.719 --> 00:45:33.920 And so I want to tell you that it's not out of frustration. 00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:35.599 You can hear it from my mouth. 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:39.840 It's not out of any issue, it's not anything negative. 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:44.719 It's a positive thing the Lord is doing in my life, and I'm gonna miss this place a lot. 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:46.400 I'm gonna miss this place very much. 00:45:46.559 --> 00:46:00.559 I came in as a I came in as a freshman, doe dyed and just looking for an opportunity in this place, embrace me like a family. 00:46:00.800 --> 00:46:03.840 These pastors are incredible. 00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:06.559 If you let them pass through you, they will. 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:09.679 If you come to them, they will meet you where you're at. 00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:11.440 And that's a rare thing to find. 00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:16.320 I came to them with an opportunity, and it was very easy for them to say, no, we need you here. 00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:17.599 No, you can't leave. 00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:19.199 No, we don't think it's right. 00:46:19.440 --> 00:46:22.159 And they looked at me and they said, We're team Danny. 00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:26.079 We want you to do what's best for you and for the kingdom of God. 00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:28.480 And that's rare to find men like this. 00:46:28.719 --> 00:46:35.840 And so I encourage you as a church to protect them, to uplift them, to hold them accountable, but to meet them. 00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:37.760 They want to talk to you. 00:46:37.840 --> 00:46:38.639 Please meet them. 00:46:38.800 --> 00:46:40.400 Our staff is incredible. 00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:49.119 I love that guy works so hard and y'all don't understand. 00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:57.760 Grace, Nicole, Delaney, Gage, every person on staff loves you guys so much and give them the opportunity to love you guys. 00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:58.960 Help them. 00:46:59.360 --> 00:47:03.440 Like Pastor Nate said, meet a need, find a need, meet a need, be a disciple. 00:47:03.599 --> 00:47:11.360 Don't come here and let three years, four months, whatever the time you have left here, or ever, if you don't know how much time you have left here, don't let it just pass by. 00:47:11.599 --> 00:47:18.480 But I promise you, if you come in here with open hands, your hands will be filled with things that will glorify God, and it'll be easy. 00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:19.760 It won't be hard. 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:22.239 This place doesn't make it hard to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:47:22.320 --> 00:47:24.079 I know that from my own life. 00:47:24.400 --> 00:47:26.559 And so I care about this church. 00:47:26.719 --> 00:47:28.079 I will be praying for this church. 00:47:28.159 --> 00:47:34.639 I ask that you guys be praying for me, but I want to encourage each and every one of you, please, please help this church move forward. 00:47:34.719 --> 00:47:36.320 I believe in the direction of this church. 00:47:36.480 --> 00:47:37.599 I do hear it from me. 00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:39.119 I believe where this church is going. 00:47:39.280 --> 00:47:47.920 I have not seen a church that loves, takes care, and meets the needs of the homeless and the college student and the parent as much as this church does. 00:47:48.079 --> 00:47:51.760 And if there's something that's missing out here, be the change. 00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:53.280 Because they will let you. 00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:54.559 And so I love you guys. 00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:56.079 I thank you for all your support. 00:47:56.239 --> 00:47:57.840 I thank you for every single one of you. 00:47:57.920 --> 00:48:01.360 If we haven't had the chance to meet, go to the first-time guest. 00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:09.840 But nonetheless, I thank you guys, and I love you guys very much. 00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:11.119 Thank you. 00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:19.920 So I'll be I'll be really brief with this. 00:48:20.079 --> 00:48:26.559 Um, on Wednesday, we went around as a staff and said one thing that we all appreciated kind of about Danny. 00:48:26.639 --> 00:48:28.320 And I actually just drove in. 00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:32.480 I was as I walked in the back, I was telling Josh Spargo, my back is killing me. 00:48:32.639 --> 00:48:37.119 Because for the last two days, I've slept on the pullout couch uh up somewhere in Georgia. 00:48:37.199 --> 00:48:47.199 As we have uh nine dads and about 12 kids uh age 7 to 11 um who are all learning what it means to look like and be a disciple of Jesus. 00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:52.719 And one of the most beautiful things has been uh not just watching Danny, but watching his family. 00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:54.320 There's a a verse. 00:48:59.760 --> 00:49:00.719 I'm trying, man. 00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:01.440 I'm trying. 00:49:01.599 --> 00:49:02.639 Here we are. 00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:04.960 Don't worry, it's not you, it's my kids. 00:49:05.039 --> 00:49:07.440 Um, which is kind of you too, in a way. 00:49:07.679 --> 00:49:23.920 Um, one of the most beautiful things, and I want to say this to your to your parents as well, is Psalm says that children born um to someone in their youth uh are like arrows uh in the hands of a warrior. 00:49:24.159 --> 00:49:27.519 Because they shoot farther beyond where you are. 00:49:27.920 --> 00:49:31.840 Um then they they have the potential for impact in a hundred different ways. 00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:45.760 And watching you and watching your family love Jesus, know Jesus, follow Jesus, your dad who planted a church, your family who has been involved in ministry their entire life, seeing you do this, and now where God is kind of shooting you next, man, it's a beautiful thing. 00:49:45.920 --> 00:49:50.320 So as we as we send you, I would love to have your parents come up here and pray as well. 00:49:53.440 --> 00:49:57.679 I was trying to end that sentence a little stronger than I did, but yeah, it trailed on me. 00:49:58.320 --> 00:49:59.280 Would you guys come up? 00:49:59.360 --> 00:49:59.599 Thank you. 00:49:59.679 --> 00:50:37.360 Can you guys welcome up Danny's okay? 00:50:37.519 --> 00:50:39.039 Alright, so here's what we're gonna do. 00:50:39.519 --> 00:50:42.400 Typically when we do this, we have everybody come forward, but I want to do this a little bit different. 00:50:42.480 --> 00:50:43.840 I want everybody to reach out their hand. 00:50:43.920 --> 00:50:46.400 And I'm gonna, if you if you can't, that's okay. 00:50:46.559 --> 00:50:47.920 Would you pray for Danny? 00:50:49.920 --> 00:50:51.360 If you can't, that's okay. 00:50:51.599 --> 00:50:54.000 I wouldn't be able to, just to be clear. 00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:54.880 Thank you. 00:50:58.000 --> 00:50:59.199 Thank you, Jesus. 00:51:01.039 --> 00:51:04.000 Heavenly Father, we just come before your throne of grace. 00:51:05.679 --> 00:51:17.840 We ask that your mantle, your mercy, your compassion, strength, and your will will be clear in Danny's life. 00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:22.400 And Father, you may strengthen him with the joy of the Lord. 00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:28.960 You anoint him to continue, Lord, to make disciples. 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:33.760 Because all we have is not works, is souls to offer. 00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:44.719 And we ask you, Jesus, bless this church, bless the pastors, raise up leaders, raise up disciples, raise up servants. 00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:48.800 Father, let your river run through this place. 00:51:49.119 --> 00:51:56.079 Let your fire and your Holy Spirit burn in the hearts of these young men and women, family members. 00:51:56.400 --> 00:52:02.159 We want to see, Lord, once again, your fire burning in all of our hearts. 00:52:02.320 --> 00:52:06.400 And we ask you, Jesus, to bless it all in Jesus' name. 00:52:06.639 --> 00:52:07.199 Amen. 00:52:07.519 --> 00:52:08.159 Amen. 00:52:10.320 --> 00:52:14.000 Thank you guys so much for tuning in today to this podcast. 00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:22.960 We cannot wait to have you next week as we start our summer in Rome series, as we start going through the book of Romans. 00:52:23.360 --> 00:52:33.840 We look forward to seeing you either here online through this podcast or in person at DCC on Sunday mornings at 10 15 a.m. 00:52:34.320 --> 00:52:35.519 Have a great day.