WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.879 This podcast is a ministry of Grant Parkway Baptist Church. 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.480 Helping people know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:14.160 For more information about Grant Parkway, visit GrantParquay.org. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:24.800 Lord Jesus, those are dangerous uh words that we say when we say, bring your kingdom here, because Isaiah prophesied and said that of the increase of your government there will be no end. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.960 And so we are inviting something that has the capacity to take over. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.280 And maybe that's your design all along. 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:36.079 And maybe we can understand today that that's at the heart of what you're all about. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.359 It's not just coming like a little baby in a manger. 00:00:39.439 --> 00:00:43.920 It's just another option on the buffet of religious nonsense here in America. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:49.840 But you came streaking out of heaven like a meteor man and you burning with divine godness. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:55.280 Jesus was the Son of God, came to this earth fully man and fully God. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:58.880 And so it's a wonder when you hit the manger, you didn't burn that thing down. 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:05.439 Because you came as a threat to everything we know, to our money, to our sex life, to our thought processes. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:08.079 All of that you came to say, mine. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:10.640 Like the seagulls in finding Nemo. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:12.879 Mine, mine, mine. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.159 That's been the refrain of your life all along. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:23.280 And it is the chorus of the Bible that the kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:25.200 Said differently, mine. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:27.519 Mine. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:30.079 All of it's yours. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.959 The Bible tells us that in the 24th Psalm, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:52.719 And so, Lord, rescue us from being passive, safe, fear-bound, neurotic religious people, and make into us winsome, wild, free thinkers and talkers who have more than our opinions on our tongue. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:00.159 Lord, may the bread on our tongue leave a trail of crumbs so the world could come back to this place we're from. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:01.920 That's why we're here today. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:04.480 And that's what we're asking you to do in Jesus' name. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.719 And everyone said, Amen. 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:11.039 If you have a Bible, I invite you to take it and open it up to Luke chapter 2. 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:12.319 Luke chapter 2. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:13.919 And I want to begin with a confession. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:15.919 I woke up this morning at about 4.12. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:17.280 You ever wake up in the middle of the night? 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:18.479 You can't go back to sleep. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:24.159 I woke up at about 4.12 and I looked over, my wife's just sound asleep, just over there. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:26.400 And I was like, well, can't turn on the TV. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:27.360 That'd be kind of rude. 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:32.240 Because the TV in our bedroom, when you turn it on, it goes ding, ding, ding, like the space shuttle is landing. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.000 So I'm just laying there and I said, Lord, what do you want to do? 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:37.280 Because I prayed and stuff. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.400 And here's what I heard at about 4.18 this morning. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:45.280 Clear as a bell, I heard the Holy Spirit say, please hammer, don't hurt them. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:48.080 And so here's what I mean. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:54.319 It's because I'm a little jacked up, and it's not because of the 16 cups of coffee I've had since 5 o'clock this morning. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:56.719 That's got nothing to do with it, I assure you. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:59.280 It's because of this. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:05.120 Because what we're going to read in the Bible this morning, I think that we as Christians are missing out on, okay? 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:07.680 And so I just want to confess that. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:11.759 As a matter of fact, I want to I want to uh talk to you this morning about the greatness of joy. 00:03:11.919 --> 00:03:14.319 And before I well, let me just kind of read. 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:17.199 I'll read in Luke chapter 2, starting in verse 8. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.199 I've tried to read the birth narrative because I want to keep this connected to my soul. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:23.520 I can't get past verse 10. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:24.800 But we'll start in verse 8. 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:29.520 It says that in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:34.960 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:41.199 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:56.639 And I and I and I keep wanting to go past that, but my mind has been arrested by verse 10, where the angel says, Fear not, for I bring you good news of a great joy, a specific reference to a specific reality. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:01.199 I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all people. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:12.000 Now, if I'm all the people, I mean people that don't believe yet, if I'm people that live in your neighborhood and work with you, that are unchristians, that are non-Christians, that just think that's the craziest thing. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.759 You pray to the sky fairy. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.720 Well, I'm looking around, I'm looking at all of us, and I'm thinking, okay, where's the joy? 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:28.639 If this whole thing is supposed to be about good news of a great joy, if I'm a non-believer, I'm one of the reasons I'm not believing is I don't see that much joy. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.439 I think most Christians are about as neurotic and fearful as their neighbors who don't believe. 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.160 And so the neighbors kind of go, hey, why should I believe? 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:39.680 You fear all the same things I fear, you love all the same things I love. 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.720 Only difference in me and you is I sleep in on Sundays. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:46.319 My ma, yes. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:48.240 I've been up since early this morning. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:49.519 You're gonna get it. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.319 In love, of course. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:55.839 So if you're visiting today, just let me just say this. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.680 If you're visiting today, look at me. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:06.160 If you're visiting today, or if you're sitting there thinking, I'm not a Christian, I don't believe any of that, you're in a great place because I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions just to think about today. 00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:15.759 We'll get to the end of this, and then we'll just kind of the lights will come down and you can breathe in the point set of ambience and think about what the Bible said, and then you can get out of here, okay? 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.959 Are you bothered that I said point set of ambiance? 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:22.160 Yeah, I can see some of y'all coming. 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:22.800 Point set of. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:24.720 Oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh, oh, okay. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:27.199 Uh, he let me begin with a quote. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:29.120 I re I read this in preparation for today. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:30.319 This is by a guy named J.I. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:30.879 Packer. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:39.680 He says this a joyless Christianity will become will become an obstacle to believing the truth and will render the faith repulsive rather than attractive. 00:05:39.920 --> 00:05:46.879 However, a joyful Christianity is a most arresting advertisement for the transforming power of the gospel. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:55.759 So all who hope to cut ice as witnesses for Christ will do well to study the art of joy as part of their spiritual preparation. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:01.839 The joy that gives Christians credibility also gives them energy. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:08.800 The joy that gives Christians credibility also gives them energy. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.959 So if the angel announces to the shepherds, I bring you good news of a great joy that'll be for all people, then where's the joy? 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:16.959 Let me give you three responses to that question. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:19.360 Number one, the joy is in the obedience. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.279 The joy is in the obedience. 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:28.000 Joy is not the motivation or the incentive to obey, but it is a byproduct of having obeyed. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:28.560 Okay? 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.519 And my fear is that Christianity is kind of eroded to this one question: how do I get to heaven? 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:38.480 And so we kind of run the numbers and do the math, and we go, this is how I get to heaven. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:39.759 And so we we do that. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:49.680 We we we accept Christ, or we pray the prayer or whatever, and then we just try to be happy until we go to heaven, because I'm gonna be miserable and then go to heaven and be happy there. 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:50.959 No, you're not. 00:06:51.519 --> 00:07:01.279 No, no, no, no, no, no, because you got a lot of explaining to do, Lucy, because the Bible is coarse, white hot with joy off. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.399 In John 17, Jesus is getting ready to go back to heaven. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:12.079 He's finished, and he prays for his disciples, and he says, Father, I pray that you're not that you wouldn't take them out of the world, but you'd leave them in the world. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:17.759 And here's what makes being in the world possible and necessary. 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:19.519 Jesus says, Leave them in the world. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.639 And then he says, This, and let my joy be in them. 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.399 Let my joy be in them so they can be in the world. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:35.600 Because what hope do their neighbors have if we retreat from the culture, if we don't engage the culture and kind of go, there's nothing you enjoy more than I enjoy God. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:36.879 So bring it on, my man. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:39.519 You're bringing Kool-Aid to a gin party, okay? 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.360 So just joy it up. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.519 I love this time of year because I get invited to parties. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.079 Invite me to your party. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:51.920 I'm not the guy that comes in and says, hey, y'all shouldn't be drinking that beer. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.560 No, I'm just like, hey, drink all you want. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:57.920 And then I want to have a religious discussion with you. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:02.319 And it always ends like this. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.759 The guy's like, so, so, so, I mean, what are you telling me? 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:11.600 I'm telling you, you were made for this exceeding joy, this inescapable. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:14.480 The Bible talks about it, and we'll boil it down. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.600 Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a man plowing a field. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:23.519 He discovers treasure, covers it back up, and in his joy, you're trying to make me feel guilty? 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:28.720 No, I'm trying to tell you that you do not have sufficient joy for the Christian life yet. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.800 You can try hard, that's religion. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.799 But here's how you know you know Christ. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:36.639 There's a joy in you that is bigger than anything that comes against you. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:41.360 Cancer, death, divorce, wayward children, whatever. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.120 There's a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:48.240 And I might have told one guy, don't make me sing it. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:51.200 And he said, Sing what? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:56.000 You don't want to go there. 00:08:57.519 --> 00:08:59.039 Remember the old hymn? 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:05.360 It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the half has never yet been told. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.919 It's like God going, hey, please have it, don't hurt him. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.279 I got more than you can handle. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:16.480 There's a reason the Bible says, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, or mind is conceived, what God has in store for those who love him. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:17.840 Where's the joy? 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.679 It's in the obedience. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.039 And see, here's the thing. 00:09:21.200 --> 00:09:25.120 If you just think it because a lot of people are like, well, what do I gotta do to become a Christian? 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:31.519 Okay, I gotta accept Christ, I accept Christ, I confess that I'm a sinner, and then the rest of your life is just trying not to sin. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.399 And that's not biblical Christianity. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:43.279 I'm here to tell you today, biblical Christianity is not avoidance, it's engagement, it's not, oh, I don't want to not sin anymore. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:46.559 Leave today and stop trying to not sin. 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.360 Put that on Twitter. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:54.480 My pastor said, He said, What do you want us to do? 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:59.200 Leave today and purpose to enjoy God the way you were created to enjoy God. 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:02.639 And sin won't appeal to you as much as it used to. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:08.080 And so you begin to live the Christian life just as a byproduct, not as the goal. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:11.600 The goal is not being a better Christian, a more moral Christian. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:14.960 The goal is to enjoy God the way you were created to enjoy God. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:22.559 You should lay in bed tonight, and you should be concerned that you're not enjoying God the way you were created to enjoy God. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:35.759 He says, I say, I people say, Well, I know I'm a Christian, and I know God forgives, and so, you know, I hey, and let me just say to you, I that thought process renders obedience optional, situational, and relative. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:38.879 And the issue is not whether God forgives or not, of course he does. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:42.879 The issue is, is this the way a Christian thinks about obedience? 00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:47.919 Because my conversion and your conversion is most evidence in how you think about obedience. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:53.519 And how you think about obedience determines your experience of joy in this life. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:11.519 Joy is found in the nitty, gritty of life, in the outworkings of the gospel, when someone slanders you and sins against you, dates the guy you like or the woman you love, and you respond not out of the smallness of who you are, but out of the bigness of who God is and what the gospel says. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:13.600 Uh allow me to demonstrate. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.039 Let me give you the application for this morning's sermon right now. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.519 Here's what I want you to do this week, and I'm not kidding. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:23.200 I want you to get up every day and read the book of Philippians. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:27.279 Some of you are like, dude, this is my third Sunday. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:28.240 Back off, okay? 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.080 Takes about 10 to 15 minutes. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.440 I'm not a fast reader. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.919 I read stuff in the Bible and I'm like, squirrel! And so I timed myself last night. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:37.919 I read the whole book in 11 minutes. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.000 And so if you focus, you can read it better. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.000 It's only four chapters, but all short. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:46.240 And here's why I want you to read the book of Philippians, because it will increase your understanding of joy. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:49.279 Look and listen for words like joy and rejoice. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:56.559 And one thing you'll realize is that there's two things that made Paul, the guy that wrote it, rejoice and get, I mean, just get giddy with joy more than anything. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:58.799 Number one, was hardship. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:02.159 Hardship, both relational and consequential. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.200 Why am I telling you this? 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:05.200 Because I said, hey, where does the joy come from? 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:05.759 What happened? 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:08.240 If it's good news of great joy, where's the joy? 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.919 Joy is in the obedience. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.919 Not as incentive, but as experience, the byproduct of having to obey. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.639 What do you mean? 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:17.360 I'm gonna read from Philippians chapter 1, verse 12. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:26.000 But Paul's in prison, and these people are preaching the gospel and they're contradicting Paul, making fun of Paul, and they're saying things about Paul that aren't true. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:31.120 Before people wrote things about you on Facebook, they slandered people in the Bible as well. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:37.120 So just want you to know, no strange, this strange temptation is not overtaking you. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.320 And this is what Paul says. 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:45.200 And by the way, to get to this kind of joy, to get to this point that the Bible says we are created for, here's what you gotta do. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.159 Look at me. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.720 You gotta figure out what your only is. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.240 You've got to figure out what your only is. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.919 Let me show it to you in the Bible. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.840 This is Philippians chapter 1, verse 12. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:05.120 Paul says, I want you to know, brothers, that what is what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:10.799 So it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:18.799 And most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:23.039 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:27.279 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:34.159 The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:38.879 Translation, I'm in prison, and they want to make it even harder for me while I'm in prison. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:40.799 And then he says, What then? 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:42.159 What then? 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.960 There we are at the crossroads when it comes to obedience. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:45.840 What then? 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.960 Only. 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:48.639 Only. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.639 See that you got to figure out what your only is if you want to get to this joy. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:53.279 What then? 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.320 What do I do? 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.559 People are saying things about me that aren't true. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.519 I'm in prison. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:14:01.759 They're preaching Christ out of rivalry, not out of love or because they believe the gospel. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.000 They just want to win the following to themselves. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.279 And Paul says, only. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:11.440 That in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.120 And in that I rejoice. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:17.279 For Paul, his only was that Christ be proclaimed. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:21.200 You've got to leave here this morning and ask yourself, what is your only? 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:26.159 What is the one thing that if this happens, it doesn't matter what happens to me. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.200 If this happens, because here's my only. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.960 Is it if my kids get into a certain college, that's all that matters? 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:35.840 Well, that can be realized in just a matter of time. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:40.720 Your only needs to be something that's bigger and beyond this life. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.240 Otherwise, here's what misery feels like. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:47.759 Your only gets realized in this life, and then what do you got to do? 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.600 What is your only? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.799 Where's the joy? 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:54.080 First of all, it's in the obedience. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.600 Secondly, it's from the involvement. 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.559 From the involvement. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:03.200 Being involved in something bigger than us gives us a sense of meaning and purpose, which produces this sense of joy. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:05.919 Marketers and telemarketers have figured this out. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:17.039 That's why they try to attach their agenda with some big grand, uh, a global conscious movement, red, and we're gonna stamp out AIDS, and Bono's gonna sell us overpriced stuff that's colored red. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.240 Okay, that's great. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:26.639 Uh, but but just locally, I walked out of Sam's not long ago, and this little boy walked up to me and said, Excuse me, sir, would you like to help the youth of America? 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:32.960 You can't say crazy stuff to me without getting ready for me to say some crazy stuff back to you. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:44.240 And so I'm pushing my cart, got my five gallons of mayonnaise, my two gallons of pickles, and all my Sam stuff, and the kid just runs up and he's got something in his hand and a piece of paper, and he says, Excuse me, sir, would you like to help the youth of America? 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.120 And I just stopped and said, Yeah, I'd like to help the youth of America. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:57.679 I'd like to whip half of them, and the other half, I'd like to make them quit school for a year, get a job as an apprentice with a man or woman who works for a living, so they can stop posting stuff on Instagram. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.840 That's how I'd like to help America. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:06.879 And his mom, who's behind the table, comes around the table, kind of like, I better get in the middle of this. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:09.440 Uh and I said, So that's my plan for helping America. 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.879 What's your plan for helping America? 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:15.919 And he's like, uh, uh, uh, uh, take a deep breath, some get back on the script, okay? 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.879 What are you selling? 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:20.320 And he goes, three bags of popcorn for$19.99? 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:32.960 Hey, you can't dress your kid's selfishness up in some kind of a helping America kind of thing. 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:36.159 And I said, What do you win if you sell a certain amount? 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.480 And he whipped the paper on goes, Well, if I sell$500 worth, I'll win this right here to a bike or something. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:44.639 And then and I just like, hey man, I'll buy you the bike right now if you'll just stop lying. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:47.200 And his mom's like, I don't appreciate this kind of language. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:53.519 I don't appreciate you asking me to be a part of something so small and you couched it around helping the youth of America. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:55.360 This is not gonna help the youth of America. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.960 This is gonna get your kid a bike. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.559 That's about all this is gonna do. 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:01.200 And pretty soon I got an audience. 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:07.279 And my wife will tell you that's a bad idea. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:18.640 And the little kid's looking at me, and he's just kind of, and he's looking at me like a clown on fire, kind of like, I'm a little bit afraid, but I'm a little bit fascinated. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:23.200 And I just said, hey man, I don't know about this is helping America. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:28.000 The mom's like, well, son, this is I said, hey, now I ain't mad at you, my man, but just helping America, selling popcorn. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:30.640 You think youth of America need popcorn? 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:32.319 Or do you need a bike? 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.720 Let's just get down to the get down because I'll go in Sam's right now and buy you a bike. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.240 Uh uh. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.920 And at that point, he is slow dancing with the tar baby. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.720 He's just stuck. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:43.599 He can't. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.960 Why do I tell you that? 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:50.960 Here's why I tell you that. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:59.599 Because when I talk about from the involvement, I'm not I'm I'm not saying one thing, I'm not kind of putting this thin veneer of purpose over this thing. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:05.359 I'm telling you, when you get involved with the things of God, that thing is cut through to the core with purpose. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:10.160 Uh, after this last service, I went in the kitchen to get some coffee because I'm a little sleepy today. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:14.960 And I was in the kitchen, and Lance Smith is in there opening cabinets and everything. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.960 Most of you don't know who Lance Smith is. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:18.640 He works for a construction company. 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.720 He builds big buildings for a living. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.640 And he's looking around and I said, What are you looking for? 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.400 He goes, I'm looking for paper plates. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:26.079 I need to make frisbees. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.920 And I just thought, man, it's slow at your job, Ednett Smith. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.440 And he looked at me like, no, you moron. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.720 I'm this is my hour to volunteer the children's ministry. 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:41.279 And then I wanted to cry. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:44.400 Because he's the kind of person I'm talking about. 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:54.319 We don't come to you when we say, and by the way, as our church continues to grow, and we open up our new children's building in early January, we're going to need more people to help over there. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:19:01.759 Matter of fact, there's a meeting at 11:30 right after this service for about 15 or 20 minutes just to say, hey, this is kind of what it's going to be about. 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:04.079 And you say, Well, why do you tell us that? 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:07.599 Because some of you have been doing nothing for far too long. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:12.559 You've just been coasting along, coming to church, hearing sermons, and leaving. 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:17.519 And there's this little itch in the back of your brain, kind of saying, Hey, shouldn't you do something? 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:20.880 Hello, he's talking to you. 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.440 And so I'm not mad. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.880 I just, here's the thing. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:34.559 I think with preschool and children and youth, some of you men should corner our youth pastor Aaron and say, I want to come down and frighten some of your young boys. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:37.759 Yes. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.640 Yes. 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.720 Because we ordained Bart Cardi. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:46.559 We met with the elders in his ordination council upstairs this past week on like Wednesday or I think on Thursday night. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.599 And here's why I tell you this: why I say get involved with the things of God. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:52.640 Because we don't come to you and go, hey, you want to help the youth of America? 00:19:52.799 --> 00:20:00.960 No, I come to you and say, hey, you want to rescue teenage boys from all the nonsense that you got tied up in when you were a teenager? 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.400 That's what I would say. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.160 But I'm not the youth pastor. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.319 But that's what I would say. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:13.359 I would say, hey, do you want to shape the minds of young boys and girls so they understand God and the gospel? 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:19.119 I just want to ordain somebody one time and they say, Tell me why you're here, and they look and go, Because Mr. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:22.000 David was my Sunday school teacher when I was in the second grade. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.680 And I don't remember his last name. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:26.079 But we talked about God, my heart beat fast. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.039 Jacked me up, ruined me. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:31.039 That's all I got. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.960 Second grade. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.960 Peace out. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.920 I would love that. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:50.880 I want some of you to stop being so safe and stretch out your schedule and go to Jana or Samantha or Aaron and say, hey, I want to get involved. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:53.119 I want to wreck your kids. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:57.599 Show up with a banjo. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.799 I just got some crazy ideas. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.799 You say, what do you mean? 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.160 Because here's the thing. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:13.920 When you get involved in the things of God, you invite this world to think about things in a way they've never thought about. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.960 Allow me to demonstrate. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.640 If you're in Luke, just turn to the right to the book of Acts, chapter 5. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.319 And I'll just read from the Bible. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.119 Is that okay? 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.319 Yeah. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:24.319 You say, what do you mean? 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:26.960 Not saying, hey, would you like to help the youth of America? 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.240 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:31.920 I'm saying, because because here's the part where the mom said, okay, son, that's enough. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:38.079 I just said to the kid, hey man, what you're inviting me, I'm not buying you popcorn because what you're inviting me to is too small. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.440 I'm not gonna give my life to get you a bike. 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:48.160 I would buy you a bike right now, cash money, write a check, whatever, just to rescue you from this. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:49.519 Why? 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.200 Now you're you maybe think if you're a visitor, you're thinking, dude, you're like rude. 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:56.000 No, somebody's got to rescue that kid from smallness. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:01.200 Or he's gonna go through life and become a salesman and think, oh, I gotta do a Make my quota. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:04.319 All I gotta do is one day be number one in the company. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.000 Okay, well, that's attainable. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:06.960 Now what? 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.240 This is what I mean. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:11.519 This is not small. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:14.319 This is involved in Acts chapter 5, verse 27. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:19.279 And these apostles, uh, they'd been out preaching and they got in trouble. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:24.160 And by the way, in our politically correct world, you can't tell the truth and not get in trouble. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.759 So just get in trouble. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.400 I want you to call me from jail sometime. 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:34.559 Hey, Pastor, we were picketing an abortion clinic, not with signs, you know, saying goofy stuff. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.079 We were saying, give us your babies. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.119 We're infertile. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.559 We will adopt them. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.480 And they locked us up. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:43.200 Yeah, I'll come bail you out. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:45.839 I'll take you to lunch. 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.519 Verse 27. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.240 By the way, did you feel what happened in here just then? 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:54.799 I don't know who you are, but abortion's not the unforgivable sin. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.160 You're forgiven. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.599 You're forgiven. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:01.039 The Bible says the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:03.119 God's not mad at you. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.359 And I know that that doesn't wash off with soap and water. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:09.759 I'm not being flippant, but don't you leave here and kind of go, well, we've got to go find another church. 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:13.200 People might find out you're safe because you're forgiven. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:15.920 The Bible says this in verse 27 of Acts 5. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:29.680 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, saying, We strictly charge you to not teach in this name, yet here you fill Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:33.759 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:38.400 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed, by hanging him on a tree. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:46.240 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.920 And we are witnesses to these things. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.359 And so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:54.720 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:57.599 Don't you want to have that experience once before you die? 00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:03.599 Of just saying something to somebody that so enrages them they want to kill you. 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.559 I mean, somebody besides your wife, okay? 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.680 Let's start there. 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:14.480 They were so enraged they wanted to kill them. 00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:24.079 Verse 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave order to put the men outside for a little while. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:28.400 And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care of what you're about to do with these men. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:35.599 For these days, for before these days, Thaedis rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:39.839 He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:45.440 After him, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:48.960 He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:53.680 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:58.559 For if this plan or undertaking is of man, it will fail. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:02.880 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.000 You might even be found opposing God. 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:07.680 So they took his advice. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:14.079 And when they had called the apostles in, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.839 Do you see how cavalier the Bible is about you getting beat? 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:24.240 Well, they called them in, they beat them, and then they had a ham sandwich, and then they went to lunch. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.240 They beat them, then they let them go. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.039 Verse 41. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:32.880 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:35.440 That's what involvement will do to you. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:37.920 It'll reframe suffering. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.799 Because you're a part of something bigger than you. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.160 So you just take your whip. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:46.640 And by the way, they beat them and they said, Do not teach any more. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:49.680 In this man, do not speak in the name of Jesus. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.880 And they let them go. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:57.599 They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:04.319