WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:24.320 Father, when we sing a simple chorus like that, we are acknowledging the way you created the world to be. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:30.079 And what we're really saying, God, is we we want you to be like the sun at the center of our solar system. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:36.479 Exertation gravitational influence and authority over everything that's orbiting our life. 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:43.840 Otherwise, the planets of our life are going to begin to collide into each other and we're going to have global cosmic chaos. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:47.600 That's when we say something simple like Jesus be the center. 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:54.320 We're saying that the weighty mass at the center of everything is God and the nature thereof. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:03.679 Not religion, not a man, not a woman, not money, not stuff, not a vacation, as good as all those things are, and they're all gifts from you. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:05.280 We don't disparage those. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.120 We don't want to be famous for what we don't have or what we're against. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:10.319 We want to be famous. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:15.120 We want to be known for the God and gospel that's included in the Bible. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:23.760 And so, Holy Spirit, as we open up your word today, illuminate the scripture, and cause it to spark our intellect and stir our emotions. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.359 So we just say, Jesus, be at the center. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:28.959 Take your rightful place. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.560 Colossians says that in you all things are held together. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:35.120 That's why we say you're at the center. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:40.879 Exert, increase your gravity, gravitational authority and influence over us this morning. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:42.400 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:44.239 And everyone said, Amen. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:44.640 Amen. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:45.280 You can have a seat. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.000 If you got a Bible, I invite you to take and open up to Romans chapter 1. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:49.760 If you don't have a Bible, don't sweat it. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:52.159 Everything I say will come up on the screen up here. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.079 Now let me pause and introduce myself. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.480 My name is Neil, and I am your pastor. 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:05.920 If you I haven't been here, I haven't been here since May because I've been on what's called the sabbatical, which is a religious word for vacation. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:11.039 Anyway, uh it's part of our church policy, our full-time pastoral staff every seven years. 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:15.599 In the Old Testament, they let the ground lie fallow, they wouldn't plant anything. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:18.560 We don't want to burn our pastors up, and so we give them a little bit of a break. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:19.520 And so that's what it was. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:22.000 So I haven't been here since May the 9th. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.280 And you say, What did you do? 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:24.240 Nothing. 00:02:24.479 --> 00:02:25.759 That's what I did. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.599 Absolutely nothing. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.840 And I felt great about it. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.479 Uh somebody said, one of the God's workshops said, I think it's gonna be hard for you to disconnect from this place. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:36.240 And I was like, Watch me. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:39.680 Uh I walked in Monday and he's like, I ain't seen you all summer. 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:40.800 I said, Told you. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.639 Uh so anyway, I am back. 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:43.680 I'm glad to be back. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:49.360 And we're today we're gonna start a four-part series uh that I'll be I'll be teaching on on our core values. 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:53.759 Uh we have four core values, and they are sequential, they're in order, and they are simply this. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:05.120 When I say core values, these are the things, this is kind of the lens through which we look at things here at Grand Park Way, and we make decisions based on these things: gospel, community, mission, and blessing. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:09.840 Let me say them again: gospel, community, mission, and blessing. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:12.560 And we what do you mean they're sequential? 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:19.680 We believe that the gospel produces this community of people that are on the shared mission, and central to that mission is to be a blessing. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.159 Okay? 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.599 And so I want to talk today. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:26.319 I'm gonna take the core value of gospel, and I want to talk to you today about gospel eagerness. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:27.439 Gospel eagerness. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.280 You say, what do I mean by gospel eagerness? 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.039 I'm gonna read in Romans chapter one. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.080 I'll start reading verse eight, I'll read down to verse 17. 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.240 Uh, and Paul is in a city called Rome. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:44.879 Now, by the way, Rome at the time of the first century, politically corrupt, morally bankrupt, full of wickedness, no regard for human life. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:48.719 And it was known for its political, diabolical nature. 00:03:48.879 --> 00:03:51.439 Does it sound like any country you're familiar with? 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.159 And Paul's gonna say, look at me, okay? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:00.240 Paul's going to say to his friends, he said, Hey, I am eager to preach the gospel to those of you who are in Rome. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:02.879 And then he's gonna explain, give three reasons why, okay? 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:04.080 And so that's what we're gonna do. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:06.159 And at the end, if you're visiting today, relax. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.560 No, we do not believe in guilt and manipulation. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:09.680 I didn't grow up in church. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:12.719 So a few times I went as a kid, I just felt terrible. 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:16.639 And I remember walking out just thinking, hey, I was really depressed about my life. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.879 All you've done was increase my depression. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:20.240 I don't think I want to come back. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:21.279 And so I didn't. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:23.120 And so we won't do that today, okay? 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.120 We don't apologize for what the Bible says. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:27.920 I'm gonna try to explain it to you in a very simple way. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.560 And at the end, some questions come up on the screen, and I'll say, Hey, let's just think about this for a minute. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.079 And then we'll be dismissed, okay? 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:35.040 You down for that? 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:36.079 Say amen. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:37.439 Romans chapter one. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:38.720 I'll start reading verse eight. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:44.879 He says, First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 00:04:45.040 --> 00:04:48.720 For God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:57.600 That without ceasing, I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow, by God's will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 00:04:57.759 --> 00:05:01.920 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.680 That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.879 Let me pause right there. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:07.680 Did you hear that? 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:16.000 The Apostle Paul, the guy that wrote 13 books of the New Testament, says, Hey, I want to come to your house for dinner on Tuesday, and I want to be encouraged by your faith. 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:18.000 No, nothing. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:22.639 You wouldn't feel pressure, you wouldn't like lay out religious books, open a Bible on the coffee table. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:24.480 We read this every night. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:26.959 See, here's why I stop and say that. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:30.639 You should have people in your life who encourage your faith. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:36.319 When they leave, you you close the front door and you look at your wife and say, Man, I'm glad we're friends with them. 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:39.600 My faith is kind of buoyed and bolstered by them. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.040 He says, but he goes on, he said, by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:52.959 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you, but thus far I've been prevented, in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:58.079 I am under obligation to both Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:02.639 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.360 And then in verse 16, he gives three reasons why. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:13.519 He says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:22.480 For in it, the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith, for faith, and it says written, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:28.720 Now he says, I'm ver in verse 15, I'm eager to preach the gospel to you guys who are in Rome. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.319 It is a target-rich environment. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:31.519 I can't wait to get there. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:33.279 And then he gives three reasons why. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:37.360 And this is what I want to point to, because this is where gospel eagerness comes from. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:44.480 When I say gospel eagerness, I am not saying being some rude, obnoxious, religious person that condemns people, makes them feel guilty. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:45.040 No, no. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:47.439 Gospel eagerness is about bringing the gospel. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:49.199 Gospel just means good news. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:54.879 The good news of Christianity to bear on every circumstance and situation in your life. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:55.360 Okay? 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:57.680 So where does Paul get this eagerness? 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.279 The first place is simply this. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:01.360 He associates well with the gospel. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:03.439 He associates well with the gospel. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:06.399 He says in verse 16, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:14.160 Now, I say that he associates well with the gospel, but what we see in America today is that people are disassociating from the gospel. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:16.560 They're kind of backing up and kind of saying, you know what? 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.959 There's things about this I don't think I'm down with. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:26.240 And let me just say this: when you disassociate from the gospel, you also separate yourself from the power and the authority of the gospel. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:32.720 And what you're left with is your intellect or personality or whatever vain hope of deliverance you want to trust in. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:37.680 And so it's very uh sexy these days to say, well, you know, I'm just kind of taking a break. 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:39.920 I don't know about this uh Christianity thing. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.800 And what happens is over time the gospel begins to feel more foreign than familiar. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:48.480 And your soul and psyche can only take so much hypocrisy. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.000 Let me say the last part again. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:51.920 What happens when you disassociate? 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:55.680 Because where do you stop backpedaling and backing up from the gospel? 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:08.319 And if you're not careful, pretty soon you wake up and you're like, oh, you're like a little league parent sitting in the stands at church, clapping for your kids, because you know deep inside you are no longer moved by the reality of the gospel. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:10.240 Because you just disassociated. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:16.160 Somewhere along the line, you step back and you found more pleasure in a glass of Merlot than you do the gospel. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:20.720 We're so I can see your faces. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:24.160 You're like, where's the love, sex, and dating guy that's been here? 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:29.839 Can we go back to talking about palm trees and women and yeah, yeah. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.039 And then now, just to be frank, I ain't I ain't down on a glass of Merlot. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:33.759 Knock yourself out. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.399 Glory to God. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.519 God created that too. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:38.240 I'm just saying, when we disassociate, here's the thing. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.000 I brought you a little three-step process. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:42.720 Here's what's happening in our country, whether you realize it or not. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.720 First, it begins with disassociation. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:47.200 He says, for Paul says, I associate well with the God. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.399 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:56.159 Whether I'm in the boardroom or the bedroom, or I'm in a restaurant, or I'm at a local table out here in Folkshire, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:03.279 There's no circumstance, there's no topic anybody can bring up that I'm gonna go, oh man, I don't know what to say now. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:06.159 You've asked this question and it rattled my worldview. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.200 No, the gospel says, El champion del mundo. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:12.879 The gospel says, bring it on, boys and girls. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:15.360 You're bringing Kool-Aid to a gym party. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:16.480 Just bring it. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:20.080 What happens is we disassociate, we practice disassociation. 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:23.279 And then the second step is deconstruction, deconstruction. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.000 Very popular now, the deconstructionist podcast. 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.240 And everyone's deconstructing their faith. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.919 And what happens is, and by the way, it's exactly what it sounds like. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:38.399 You're basically you're tearing apart Christianity until what you all you have left is what you can agree with. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:40.080 And that's not Christianity. 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.039 That's Tom or Susie or Mary or whatever your name is. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:44.879 And there's no hope in that, okay? 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.919 Because here's why deconstructionism is so popular. 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:49.120 It's like among students. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:52.159 Parents, you should not ask your kids what music are you listening to? 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:53.200 Who you're hanging out with. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.399 Ask your kids what podcast are you binging on these days? 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:04.559 Because they sit in that bedroom upstairs and they just fill their head with stuff that's from a uh uh it's all moral, uh, if not immoral. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:08.799 They pass immorality, it's just amoral, it has no moral bearing. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:12.159 It just teaches that all of life is nothingness, nihilism. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:15.679 So just live for yourself, be all about yourself. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:21.440 And so you did you disassociate, and then you begin this process of deconstructing your faith. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:27.039 And what happens is you have to kill God to give yourself permission to do what you really want to do. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.480 It sounds like this. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:33.440 Well, I mean, I I just want to announce to everybody that I no longer identify as a Christian. 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:34.320 No, no, no. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.759 You're not a hero, okay? 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.200 You're not some moral, spiritual, intellectual giant, okay? 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:40.960 Here's what I want to say to you, okay? 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:44.480 If you're really brave, then just let it be all about you, okay? 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:55.600 What what why do you have to give us some big pseudo-intellectual speech where you rip some podcast take on science and morality and human sexuality to explain your life? 00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:03.600 To all the deconstructionists in the world who may be in this room right now or may be listening via the podcast, just have the courage to say this, okay? 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:09.519 It's not Christianity, it's not God, it's not the church, it's not my parents, it's me. 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.559 My sinful desires have gotten the better of me. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:17.840 And what was once a long time ago, the enemy got a foothold in my life, is now a stronghold. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.360 I'm not blaming anybody else. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:25.279 I'm not here to make a statement on I don't want anybody else at the Olympics talking about intersectionality and all your fans. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:26.399 You don't have any fans. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.759 Put your arms down. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.679 Why does everybody have a cause but no common sense these days? 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:38.159 I mean, I'm just looking around, I'm like, this is lonely. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:41.200 I mean, which one of these things do you speak to first? 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:52.080 Yeah, if you're gonna deconstruct, because here's the thing this is the indestructible gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you're not gonna change it one iota, and neither am I. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.919 You didn't land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on you. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:07.600 And so I don't know why there's all well, uh, yeah, just have the courage, just let this phrase hang in the air for a moment this morning. 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:10.559 I am not ashamed of the gospel. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.440 What does that mean? 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:18.639 It means that I associate freely and with joy with the gospel and all of its ramifications for my life and the life of everyone in this world. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:24.720 I'm not gonna distance myself from it, regardless of what my friends say in the name of finding themselves. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.960 Or, you know, I just, you know, I'm just done with that. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:28.320 That's old and archaic. 00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:32.879 Somebody said to me this summer, because though I didn't preach, so my wife's like, could you go preach to somebody? 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.919 Could you go to the mall and just hijack people and talk to them? 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:40.639 Uh by the way, people in the Apple store at first colony mall, they don't want to have spiritual dialogue. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:45.039 Okay, they're down, they're gonna slap a mask on you and go, I'm like, why do I gotta wear a mask? 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:45.679 I'm vaccinated. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.960 Y'all have faith in science? 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.159 You say, trust the science. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:49.200 Do we trust the science? 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.320 Why do I gotta wear a mask? 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.159 Sir, to come in the store, you have to wear a mask. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.679 I'm just asking, why do I have to wear a mask? 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.679 Because either science works or it doesn't. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.679 Now, I'm not even caring about that. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.759 I just like I'm like Gus from Loneson Dove. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.919 I like to kick a pig every here and again. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.919 And so I'd like to get the conversation going. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:07.039 And so I'm sitting there, and the guy's like, sir, I appreciate your patience. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:08.720 I said, Well, that's running out. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.440 Because there's no chairs in the Apple store anymore. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.440 They make you stand around these tables. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.440 And I said, What's the sense in having an appointment? 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:20.559 I've been here, these people just walked in and they got and I ain't hating on them. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.840 I might be hating on you. 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.840 And the guy said, You're really funny. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.600 I said, I'm not being funny. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.360 I'm fantasizing about harming you in my head. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.639 And he said, Really? 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.840 I said, Yeah, I'm not going to. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:32.720 He said, Why not? 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.639 I said, Because I'm a man of faith. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.639 All of a sudden, you ever burp and you didn't mean to? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:41.840 He's like, Oh, I'm sorry, that just came right out. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.480 He was like, I said, You don't know what to do. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.919 I just made it awkward. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:47.519 He said, Do I make it awkward? 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.320 He goes, kinda. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.919 I said, I'll be right here. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.720 Come back to me when you wait on everybody else in the store. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:56.559 I'll be right here, holding this table up. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.159 I tell you, I got my hip replaced a couple months ago. 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:02.159 He's like, I don't know what to say. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.600 I said, Walk off. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.240 Save yourself now. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.000 No, I just he says, I'm not, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.440 I'm not gonna back it up. 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.799 But somebody chatted me up. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.399 He says, Whoa, you're a man of faith. 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.200 Yeah, yeah, I am. 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:15.840 I'm Christian. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:18.240 Well, I tell you what, my problem with Christianity is you want to know? 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:21.679 Ah man, I came here today to the mall hoping you'd tell me. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:24.159 She said, Yeah, that you guys are so exclusive. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:26.159 You're so narrow-minded and exclusive. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:32.639 Now, by the way, when you're not ashamed of the gospel, people say stuff it doesn't dysregulate you, like, oh my gosh, let me get my manual out. 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:33.759 How to have a conversation. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.360 I went to a Christian bookstore, I wanted to burn the thing down. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.600 It's like, have you noticed Christian bookstores are disappearing? 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:44.080 No one wants those testaments, huh? 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:45.200 Are you kidding me? 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.360 Oh, that Jesus junk you sell? 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:54.000 Because we're just we're just getting a bunch of decorations for Christmas, but we're not getting a God-informed worldview. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:58.159 I think it's a good thing that Christian bookstores go out of business because they don't sell books. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:01.679 Once again, it just happened. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.360 Where's the other guy? 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.399 Where's where's the sex guy? 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.159 I passed someone in the parking lot walking in this morning, he goes, anything but sex. 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.679 I don't want to hear more about it. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.399 I said, I don't know what you're talking about. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.440 Never mind. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:18.399 So the lady says, Hey, you know, I just have a problem with Christians, you're exclusive. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.679 I said, you know what? 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.240 Thank you. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.440 You're half right. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.279 And she said, Excuse me? 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:27.279 You should say things in spiritual conversations people aren't prepared to hear. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:30.799 And I'm not saying be shocking, I'm saying be intentional. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.120 I said, Christianity, wait for this, okay? 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.600 Christianity is simultaneously exclusive and universal. 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.679 People all around my table are like, what'd you say? 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.679 Yes, it's exclusive, okay? 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.120 And it's universal. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.480 Let's take them in reverse order. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:49.200 It's universal in that the gospel is whosoever will. 00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:52.639 Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.559 Universal, whosoever, but the Lord, exclusive. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.759 There's only one way. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.519 So you're half right. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.000 And she said, No one's ever told me that. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:07.279 I said, Well, I think that's why I came here to the Apple store and to wait 41 minutes. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.399 Because I hate injustice. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.519 You roll up on me and steal time for me, I got to take her going. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.399 My wife's like, Is the stopwatch on your phone going? 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.080 Oh, yeah, it is. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:21.759 Just so I can see how much injustice I'm absorbing today. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.840 Not everyone's out to get you, Neil. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.039 Yeah, they are. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.879 Yes, they are. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.480 That's a running joke in our family. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.279 It's kind of a joke. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.080 See, Paul says, I this gospel eager, where does it come from? 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.159 Because he associates well with the gospel. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.960 You got to ask yourself, where are you in relation to the gospel? 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.399 Are you disassociating? 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.000 Are you kind of deconstructing? 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:42.480 Because the third phase is just flat out denial. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:44.799 I just I'm not down with that. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:50.799 The second thing that this gospel eagerness, second place it comes from, is that he understands the capacity of the gospel. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:17:00.000 He says, for in it the power of God is the power, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, but also to the Greek. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.919 Hear it again, in sequential order. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:04.960 He says, For I'm not, I'm eager to preach the gospel to those of you who are in Rome. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.960 Verse 15, verse 16, for it is uh for I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.640 Why are you not ashamed of the gospel? 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:16.400 For it is the power of God unto salvation to anyone, universal appeal who believes. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.960 To the Jew first, the religious person. 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:22.240 You know, you can be religious and never have a relationship with God. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:27.039 Religion will not change your status or your standing before God, one iota. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.400 Somebody said to me in the album saw, so you're saying you're a religious person. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:32.319 I said, absolutely not. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:37.920 That sounds pathetically horrible to me to go through life and be labeled a religious person. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.400 I am a person that has a relationship with God. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.839 Well, we're all God's children. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.880 No, we're all God's creation, but we're not all God's children. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:45.839 I have children. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:47.599 Does that mean all the kids running around this album? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.799 By the way, this is free. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.079 When you take your kids out in public, they're still your responsibility. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.799 I know some of you have forgotten that. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:59.119 But I'm the old guy that shows up and I'm like, I want to whip your kids. 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:04.480 Really, what I want to do is whip you, but that would look awkward, so I'm gonna whip your kids. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.559 I said, Look at these kids running around here. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.519 I said, I got kids. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:09.680 Can I just say, because I have kids, all these kids are mine? 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.759 Yeah, God's the same way. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:17.279 We all of us are God's creation, but we're not necessarily by nature his children. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.720 She said, You are actually fascinating to talk to. 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.559 Hang on a second, let me call my wife. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:24.799 I want you to say that into this phone. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.000 What do I mean it understands the capacity of the gospel? 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.359 He said, Hey, I know what the gospel is capable of. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.839 Do you still realize? 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:38.240 Do you do you live in vital union with the capacity of the gospel? 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.599 He says, It's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:46.960 To the Jew first, that's the religious person, but also to the Greek, the smart person. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:47.759 Okay? 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:53.599 Christianity is not a feeling sport, it is an intellectual engagement, okay? 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.759 He said the capacity to believe comes from our experience with the powerful gospel. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:03.359 And if we believe that this gospel is that powerful, would we talk differently in our conversations? 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:14.240 It's not about being having a big personality or thing, it's about just understanding what is contained in the gospel, the capacity that comes with the gospel. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.720 And this is what Paul says hey, I'm eager. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.319 I talk about gospel eagerly. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.920 I can't wait to get to Rome. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.400 Why? 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.720 Because I understand what the gospel is capable of. 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:33.279 And my concern is that we seem to have come to believe that culture and technology and cultural morality have all superseded the gospel in power. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:38.000 And I just want to say, nothing, beloved, could be further from the truth. 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:46.000 But here's the reality when you lose confidence in the gospel, you no longer have confidence in the capacity of the gospel. 00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:47.759 And so we get quiet. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.119 Let me say that again. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:55.599 When you lose confidence in the gospel, you no longer have confidence in the capacity of the gospel. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.119 And so we just get quiet. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:05.359 And so you're at dinner and your friends say crazy things that are just, you know, my friend of mine, she says, we have a thing called Thirsty Thursdays. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.559 And I was like, okay, what's that? 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:08.480 She's a friend of my wife and I said, Lady. 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:11.440 Uh and she said, Well, I'm kind of embarrassed to tell you. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.640 And I said, Okay, you ain't gotta tell. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.119 Well, me and my friends go to a wine bar every Thursday. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.079 Luscious. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:19.759 Uh, anyway, I said, No, I don't care, just practice moderation. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:23.920 She goes, Okay, well, and and and last week, last Thursday, I just felt bad. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.559 I wish you were there. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:27.359 I wish I could just pull you out of my pocket, let you talk to my friends. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.079 And I was like, that's creepy, but go ahead. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:34.720 Uh she said, Well, I mean, they start talking about religion and they're just dogging it. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.079 And I I didn't do anything. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.079 I said, So do you just sat there and sipped your wine? 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.359 She goes, pretty much. 00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:41.680 And I said, When you walked away, how'd you feel? 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.400 Stupid? 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.079 I said, I'm so sorry you felt that way. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.920 You know, it doesn't have to be that way. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:55.920 But what allows you now to practice gospel eagerness is that we we associate well with the gospel and then we understand the capacity of the gospel. 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:59.519 Ask yourself, what have you seen the gospel change lately? 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:02.720 And I said, it's not about, she goes, you got any books? 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.759 Because she wanted me to give her a bucks. 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:11.680 It's not about, I said, just focus on the gospel, become gospel fluent so you can apply the gospel to all circumstances and situations. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.400 Because when I say gospel, that just means good news. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:18.880 The good news of Christianity, the gospel is not just a ticket to get to heaven. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.680 Look at me. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:25.039 Through constant application to the gospel to your life, you bring heaven to earth. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:31.279 And I said, by the way, Thirsty Thursday, you and your friends at a wine bar is the native environment for the gospel. 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:39.920 You should sit around, sip something you enjoy, and talk about the gospel fluently and with gusto and gravity and gladness. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:43.200 And she goes, Oh my gosh, I wish you could have been there. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:46.799 I'm not gonna go to a wine bar and sit out with a bunch of women, okay? 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.920 That's weird. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:50.960 But you're there, you be God's ambassador there. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:59.119 It's just about I say, it's just not reading books about spiritual conversations, it's about just just plunging on the gospel. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.559