[0:00] So good morning, my name is BK. I have the pleasure of serving as one of the pastors here at SBC. And before I get into this morning's service, I kind of wanted to touch on a few things.
[0:16] Just so you know, we have a baptism after the service. Yay! Or it's actually a part of the service after I'm done talking. So we have that praise.
[0:27] In case you're kind of wondering, if you're new, why there are no youth? We have banned youth from our church. It has made it so much more peaceful for us. No, they're actually on a retreat out in the Abbotsford area.
[0:41] We partner with several other churches in the lower mainland, kind of bring together a couple hundred students, young'uns, and they get to have a really good time together.
[0:54] But they also get to get some really great teaching along with the games and the other festivities of learning how to sleep in cabins with older adults that snore.
[1:05] So they're under that challenge. We also have two applicants for membership. Basically, according to our bylaws, we post who has asked for membership.
[1:18] We have got Cam Cairns and Shane Neufeld. Many of you know them. And the reason we do that is one of the aspects of being a member of the church is we are professing that they are indeed believers in Jesus Christ, that they are a part of our church, that they are one of us, and we testify together to their faith in Jesus Christ.
[1:42] Now, the reason we do that is in case there might be a part of their life that would compromise the testimony of the church. So we ask that if you happen to know these individuals and there's a part of their life that's not equating the life of Jesus Christ, we would ask that you would either approach them, talk to them.
[2:02] I always say investigate because sometimes we get our wires crossed. We think we've heard something that isn't exactly true. We see something, but there's a great explanation for that.
[2:15] I could share the story of one. I'm not going to go into that. But anyway, so please consider that.
[2:26] So that's going to be in about three weeks. And I think I'm going to mention, and thank you, Odette, for even bringing this to mind. I'm going to address a little bit about the Charlie Kirk situation.
[2:39] I don't know if you're familiar with Charlie Kirk. He's been all over the news. Charlie Kirk was a 31-year-old man, father of two, who was assassinated in Utah. Charlie actually did his youth ministry where I did my internship as a pastor.
[2:57] So I'm kind of connected to him through my former pastor and their family. Charlie was a conservative young man who would generally go on university campuses and basically kind of debate some of the issues.
[3:16] But one of the things that really made him stand apart from all others is that he really believed in debating in a reasoned, in a respectful way.
[3:29] And if you ever see some of the clips, people will attack him. And he's just patient and patient and patient. And he really believed in wanting people to see the glory of God in how we as human beings are children of God because we've been created by God.
[3:44] So I don't know if many of you know what happened. I know it kind of hit me hard when I found out that news. And I know some of you who pay attention to what's going on in the world. But some of the most destructive things that I've heard is some people, even our CBC News, have totally mischaracterized Charlie, which is a disgrace to our Canadian news, the media.
[4:10] What's interesting is that some famous people, Stephen King for one, slandered him, made a statement that Charlie believed that homosexuals could be stoned. Now that's a slanderous statement.
[4:22] And Stephen King has been recanting, recanting, recanting. And we kind of need that kind of responsibility when untruths are being spoken in the public forum.
[4:33] I kind of wish we had that for the press, that when something is being said that is wrong, it can be corrected. And one of the issues is it doesn't matter what spectrum of politics you believe in, taking someone else's life is never the answer.
[4:49] Beating people. Creating the ad hominem argument, which is the argument that attacks a person's character rather than the merit of the argument.
[5:00] Let's be honest, there's very weak arguments on both sides of the political aisle. And I believe those should always be contested. Truth should always be fought for.
[5:11] And one pundit just simply said, you know, we're not getting it. We're into a crazy part of life where it's not really so much a battle between ideas on the left and the right.
[5:22] It's battle between good and evil. That there are so many lies that are out there. And they're on both sides of the aisle that truly come from a heart of evil and not from a heart that truly wants and desires the things that God wants.
[5:38] So I thought I would take time to pray for our kids, pray for upcoming baptism, and pray for you and some of the people who've been affected by this news that has happened.
[5:52] So let's pray together. Dear most holy Lord Jesus Christ, the reality is, I believe just in my end times belief that we are ticking down, that people are becoming more desperate as they seek to find answers.
[6:17] And anytime they look for answers outside of your will, oh Lord, they're met with discouragement, let alone lies and deceptions. Father, we praise you for the churches that have gathered these men who've come together, these churches to organize the event that's happening, to do the teaching for our young kids, our youth, so that they may know what is indeed true.
[6:48] First of all, that we have all been created in your image, oh Lord. And because of that, there's a responsibility to live according to the purposes that you have designed for us.
[7:03] Father, we pray for Charlie, his friends, his family, his young kids. I'm thankful for the amount of video that's out there of him because they will certainly have that to remember him by, what he stood for and his character that was so clearly seen publicly.
[7:25] We pray for the saints who grow discouraged in these times. But Father, we also know that you're in a God who's in absolute sovereign control over all these events.
[7:37] I give you thanks because I know through the testimony of my former pastors that Charlie is indeed with you, oh Lord. No more pain, no more sin, no more sorrow.
[7:50] I know just as the songs that we sing this day, he's personally witnessing your holiness, your glory with his own eyes.
[8:05] He's experiencing true and perfect worship. father we pray for our countries there's a ideological battle that's going on i pray that we would be a people who speak truth with love that we would not back down but that we would not be offended either because we know to expect such things we also pray that we would be strong enough to confront the errors and lies within our own positions within our own camps so lord just as we get into this sermon i ask for your blessing i ask for a steady voice i ask that every single point would truly be understood i pray most of all that you'd be glorified by it pray that you'd be glorified by her testimony i pray that vanessa this morning would be her testimony would bring incredible glory to you i pray the same for each and every one of our lives i give you thanks for the friends that we have the co-workers and the families that we have even though at times they feel like more work than they are a blessing we have to believe that you're not the god of accidents there's an absolute purpose why you have us where we are so god heavenly father we ask you for these things in your most holy and prayerful name amen so this morning last week and next week i'm kind of in a short three-part series on the church the dna of the the church so to speak last week we we covered why church why does the church actually matter this morning we're going to calculate we're going to look at the purpose of the church what is the mission of the church and next week i'm going to look at the values that we specifically hold to here at squamish baptist church these are the message that we put on our our website some of the words that you hear us say and i want you to understand why we hold to those values so that is next week last week as i mentioned why the church matters the response was quite simple it's because it's jesus's church jesus himself died for the church that is why it matters it's eternal and it has a purpose which is designed by god himself now the question i want to answer this morning is what are we doing here or more specifically why does church exist or even more specifically what is the point of squamish baptist church what is the point what are we doing here on sundays and why do we do it i believe this is why this series matters last week we looked at who we are this week we're going to look at why we exist so today i want to show you four aspects four characteristics four things about the mission that god has given the church the first is we're going to look at what is the aim of our mission number two we're going to look at the heart of our mission number three we're going to look
[12:11] at the task of our mission and number four i'm going to look at the fruit of our mission or perhaps better said the test of our mission that's where we're going and and by the end of this sermon i want you to see that the mission of the church is not just something we pastors talk about we leaders talk about or something that's just put on on the website my goal for you this morning is to demonstrate that you are also called to live this mission every day everywhere all for the absolute glory of god so that brings me to the first point of our mission the aim of the mission of the church is the glory of god it's quite simply the glory of god ephesians 3 paul writes now to him who is able and he's talking about jesus christ here who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us to him be glory in the church and in christ jesus throughout all generations the fact of the matter is if you do not understand this point of the church you are not going to understand any other point of the church the purpose of the church is to bring glory to god who rules above all amen that's it if you start with that understanding that is going to bring clarity to everything else that happens or why we do church this is why we don't send surveys out into the neighborhood and ask people what they would want for church we don't ask people who do not come here do not belong to god's people and ask them what do you think you would want in a church the reason is god told us god is not silent in this he did not leave us in a church in a state of confusion about his most precious possession paul writes in first corinthians 10 31 he says so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the glory of god now think about that for a second eating drinking some of the most mundane tasks the most ordinary tasks the everyday activities of life if god is calling us to bring him glory in those mundane tasks of life how much more is he calling us to bring glory when we meet together in church which means that when it comes to church the blood bought people of christ the aim of everything we do must be god's glory now let me explain to you what that word glory means in hebrew the word for glory kabod carries the idea of a weight that it is something heavy it is something substantial it is something important the greek word doxa means brightness splendor majesty so when we we bring these terms together we put this all together and you get this the glory of god is the weight of his greatness and the radiance of his worth let me repeat that the glory of god is the weight
[16:13] of his greatness and the radiance of his worth it's the reality of who he is when he's put on display now don't make this mistake that when i say glorify god that we can somehow add to his glory the truth of the matter is god is already infinite glorious he is perfect he is full of splendor so when i say to glorify god i mean we live in such a way that his greatness is seen in our lives that it's treasured that it's honored that it's magnified the psalmist in psalm 96 3 says declare his glory among the nations his marvelous works among all the peoples if you're familiar with the west minister catechism of faith the chief first rule is the chief end of man is to glorify god and enjoy him forever that's where the christian life begins that's where we as gathered people this is where it begins it's not a pithy line or a statement this indeed is our purpose both as a church gathered and a church scattered notice isaiah 43 7 says everyone who is called by my name whom i created for my glory whom i formed and made let that weigh on you feel that heaviness to ask people who do not believe or understand god to ask them what they would like in a church would be insanity and listen this mission this purpose is not optional it's not reserved for the serious christians the everyday christians who want to do something at the church the pastors the missionaries the elders this message mission sorry means if you belong to jesus christ this mission belongs to you if you call yourself a believer in jesus christ this is your duty this is your chief end to glorify god and enjoy him forever it means if you've been saved by him you're being sent by him if you're part of his church you are a part of his mission so let me share three quick things about god's glory first god's glory is the ultimate goal if i wasn't clear let me nail it down again god's glory is the ultimate goal john 17 4 jesus says i glorified you this is his high priestly prayer this is the night before he is going to be crucified he's pouring out his heart before his father he knows what's coming and he says i glorified you on earth having accomplished the work that you gave me it's the same reason why we read later in revelations
[20:14] 4 verse 11 around the great throne the angels cry out worthy are you our lord and god to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created from creation to redemption to eternity everything is about the glory of god second point is that man-centered mission misses the point men are never going to understand this without god telling them specifically what it's all about because our biggest temptation is to make church about us you know that it's always to make it about us when people ask hey how successful is your church the first question they're going to ask is how big is your church right if it's big it's got it's got to be anointed by god we judge ministries by whether it meets our needs we focus on keeping people happy preserving traditions or building something impressive but here it is if our mission is man-centered we might build a busy church a popular church a growing church yet still fail what god has called us to why because we forgot what we were aiming at great analogy is we've all looked through a telescope right you ever turn that telescope around and look the other way that's what we often do and what happens is when we're looking through it makes things bigger right it instead of making them bigger it makes them smaller so we're looking up at god's glory we turn it around and then we become bigger we start to mess up the mission instead of magnifying god we shrink god instead of exalting god we end up exalting our selves how prone are we to this the psalmist in psalm 115 one says not to us oh lord not to us but to your name give glory he's saying that twice he's repeating it because he knows and these are the people of god how easy it is to get fixated on us and forget about god now there's no shortage of churches that get mixed up about this you see the mission of the church is not first about crowd building it's not about filling seats boosting numbers or building a great big social media platform the mission of the church is not first about running these most incredible successful programs the mission of the church is not first about meeting felt needs it's not our main job to keep people comfortable entertained or happy the mission of the church is not first about preserving traditions as if the goal was to keep things the way we've been always doing them the mission of the church is not first about building community as important as fellowship is it flows out of something greater the mission of the church is not first about serving the city as valuable as compassion is it is not the ultimate purpose and the mission of the church and this is going to shake you a little bit is not about saving people from hell that's not the primary mission of the church as vital as evangelism is even that is a means to the greater end
[24:14] which is what the glory of God the mission of the church is first last and always about his glory now hear me when I say this some of the things that I I just spoke are well and good but they miss the point of what the church is all about if you do not begin with rendering glory unto God of course we know saving people serving others building community is all good and vital but they are the fruit of the mission not the root of the mission you with me on that those are all good but without God's glory being the ultimate goal they ultimately fail and this leads me to the third point under this heading God's glory is the one that fuels our mission you see when God's glory is the aim it gives us power it gives us focus to everything we do worship singing is no longer about singing my preferences it's about magnifying
[25:29] God preaching is not about demonstrating clever ideas or look at how much I studied it's about declaring God's word service serving within the church is not about personal recognition it's about reflecting God's character and evangelism is not about winning arguments it's about showing God's worth Jesus reminds us in John 15 8 by this my father is glorified that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples you see when God's glory is the aim fruit will follow maybe not always the fruit that the world measures maybe it won't be numbers money or influence but the fruit
[26:35] God measures is faithfulness holiness the fact that disciples followers of Jesus are made and lives are changed so my question to you is what is driving you what is the glory that you seek what is the glory that you are living for when you think of church do you want a church that is comfortable for you or do you want a church that is glorifying to God do you show up on Sundays to get something out of it or to give God the glory he deserves or do you measure success in your life by how much you're noticed or by how much Christ is exalted you see this is where the mission has to start doesn't begin with me it does not begin with you does not begin with our preferences does not begin with our plans everything has to begin with
[27:47] God's glory now the second point I want to make this morning is to understand what it means to understand the mission so the heart of our mission is to love God and love others so ultimately we're pursuing honoring God and how do we do that the aim of our mission is to glory to God that is the heart of our mission to love what that means is love is what gives mission its life it is the breathing pulse behind everything we do without love mission dies our love for God and his glory drives us to love others when Jesus was asked a simple question teacher what is the greatest commandment in the law he answered in Matthew 22 37 to 39 he says you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind this is the great and first commandment and a second like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself you've heard me say that's the vertical love God love others horizontal that is the heart of our mission now let me just share three facts about this love love for
[29:15] God always comes first love for God always comes first Jesus put it first for a reason everything else flows out of a love for God now Jesus wasn't half-hearted in this was he he said it's all your heart all your soul all your mind what he means is this is your affections your heart your devotion your soul the intention is your mind this love for God shows up in our worship when we sing not out of duty but out of delight love shows up in our obedience when we say not my will but yours be done and love for God shows up in devotion when we treasure him above all else
[30:16] Psalm 73 25 says whom have I in heaven but you but there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you my flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever that's called love for God and here's the truth you can't make disciples of Jesus if you don't love Jesus can't make disciples of Jesus when you don't love anyone else it's like someone recommending a restaurant they've never been to you don't trust that review they don't have any experience with this in the same way you cannot call people to follow a savior you don't actually treasure I don't know if many of you watch
[31:18] John MacArthur's funeral but probably one of the greatest testimonies given was that by John Piper John Piper simply said he characterized John MacArthur as being greedy for the things of God he was greedy for the things of God he was greedy to know and understand God's word that's love for God love love the second fact about this love is love for people flows outwards Jesus didn't stop at love for God he said in a second like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself love we truly love God it will overflow in love for people this means compassion and as you all know compassion is an action it is not a feeling that means service generosity sacrifice love for people means we do not see them as problems we see people as those created in his image love for people means we care about their souls!
[32:27] simply about their situation in life the apostle John puts it bluntly in 1 John 4 20 says if anyone says I love God and hates his brother he is a liar now notice that brother I got a question this week can someone love God but not be a part of this church I believe this verse rebukes such an idea if anyone says I love God and hates his brother he is a liar for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen can't claim to love God and be indifferent to people see love for people is what moves us to mission when Paul thought about the lost he says in Romans 9 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart for I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from
[33:28] Christ for the sake of my brothers that is love now the third fact about this love is love guards the mission from legalism or pragmatism without love the mission of the church goes off the rails without love evangelism becomes a sales pitch as a young man probably the most important book I ever read was by J.I.
[33:57] Packer it was called evangelism and the sovereignty of God it's a small book I'd recommend everyone to buy it if you don't have it I'll order 10 15 copies for you but one of the!
[34:08] first and the most incredible piece that he hit my head over with he says that you're never to treat people like a case build the relationship know them understand them some people as we all know takes three minutes some people it takes three years that was a very good warning to me as a young man you see without love discipleship becomes cold legalism without love coming to church and serving here becomes drudgery but when love is at the heart of our mission evangelism is fueled by compassion this is a soul that is destined for hell discipleship is driven by relationship and service is energized by joy wow I get to come here I get to serve and I get to show the glory of
[35:09] God here even by serving coffee welcoming someone in the church or even just going and sitting with someone Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 514 for the love of Christ controls us you see love is what keeps us moving in the right direction so my question to you is do you love God with all your heart soul in mind do you love people enough to reach out to them do you worship with passion or with routine do you obey even when it costs you or only when it's convenient!
[35:58] do you see people as interruptions in life or as opportunities to show Christ's love our leadership our members at SBC believe our mission is rooted in love it flows from a whole hearted love for God a selfless love for people and if that's not the engine driving us then all the ministry we have all the strategies in the world will not make a difference the heart of our mission is love love upward to God and love outward to people without love the mission dies with love the mission thrives I stole that by the way now let me move on to the third point of this mission what is the task of our mission it's really simple it's to make disciples it's to make disciples if the aim of our mission is the glory of
[37:07] God and the heart of our mission is love for God and people then the greatest task our mission is clear it's to make disciples it's to make people know!
[37:18] and love Christ it's not a suggestion it's not one mission among many it is the only mission that Jesus Christ has given us now let's take a look at Matthew 28 18 and I'm going to throw out we're going to dissect this verse a little bit so first thing I want you to notice from this verse in Matthew 28 18 says and Jesus came and said to them all authority in heaven and on earth notice the authority behind the mission it's Jesus Christ he's the one who authorizes us he is the risen king he is the one who conquered sin and death he is the one who rules heaven and earth and on the basis of his authority he sends us out and this is important for us to understand because our mission doesn't rest on our creativity doesn't rest on our ability or our resources it rests on the authority of
[38:28] Jesus Christ when we go and make disciples we are not freelancing we are actually carrying out the orders of the king of kings and the lord of lords this is what brings peace of mind one of my friends teaches it in such a way he says this verse is both a message for all churches it is a mandate for the church but more importantly he says it is a measure of effectiveness you want to know if your past fail are you making disciples or not it's simple because that's the only thing that God has created the church for is bringing him glory and we do this by loving others and making disciples so let's look at this verse what is the core command of the mission the heart of the great commission that is what this is is a single command make disciples a disciple is a follower a learner a an apprentice in
[39:35] Jesus day a disciple was someone who attached themselves to a teacher not just to learn information but to imitate their ways and that's what Jesus calls us to do not just decisions but disciples not just converts but committed followers notice Jesus did not say go and make crowds Jesus did not say go and make events he simply said go and make disciples the reality is church can be full of attenders but empty of disciples and that is a failure our task is discipleship helping people grow into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ now the third thing I want you to look from this command in Matthew 28 I want you to look and observe the steps of this mission many churches get confused because
[40:43] Jesus actually gives us three participles in Matthew 28 that describe the process first it's going a lot of churches means going means to leave Canada leave your natural country to go do what you're doing that's not what it means it means going it means it's not about geography it's about intentionality essentially it means as you are going in your life as you are going in your neighborhood as you are going in your job as you are going in your school you are to be making disciples the mission is not just overseas it's across the street now notice the second part baptizing them we're going to see a wonderful testimony of that this morning baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit baptism is the public mark of discipleship it's the declaration is
[41:44] I serve Jesus I love Jesus my life is about Jesus it's not hidden it's exposed for the world to see it's how new believers are identified with Christ and brought into the fellowship of his church making disciples is not complete until people are folded into the visible community of faith and the third part of teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you notice it's not just teaching them to know but teaching to obey you see discipleship is not simply information transfer it's a transformation of life the goal is not smarter sinners but sanctified saints that's why we are doing this whole growth group breakout on the week of the 23rd next week so we can be discipling inside teaching one another notice the promise that he gives us and behold
[42:59] I'm with you always to the end of the age Jesus is telling disciples they're not doing it in their own strength but the risen Christ goes with us empowering us by his spirit number two you don't stop till I come again you don't stop till I come again think about a hospital mission of a hospital is to heal the sick now imagine a hospital that's state-of-the-art equipment a beautiful building comfortable waiting rooms but no doctors or nurses to actually treat patients might look good they might feel comfortable in the building but would we call that a successful hospital of course not in the same way the church's mission is not to keep us comfortable it is to see people saved baptized and growing as disciples of
[44:05] Christ and if we fail at that nothing else matters so let me ask you are you living as a discipleship maker don't get me wrong you don't always have to be going across the road to do it sometimes you got to do it in your own house you've got young tots they need to know the truth and it's to emulate them but do you see your workplace as a mission field do you see your neighbors as people God has placed in your path to reach do you see discipleship as your responsibility or is it simply BK's responsibility see making disciples disciples it's not just for pastors it's not just for missionaries it's not just for elders it's for you every believer is called to reproduce their faith in others that's why at Squamish
[45:08] Baptist we exist to glorify God by making more and better followers of Jesus Christ now let me bring up the final point of this morning's sermon the fruit of the mission how do we know that actually that church is working is by multiplying disciples you see when the church lives on mission aiming at God's glory fueled by love committed to making disciples what happens it's not just addition it's multiplication amen others hear the good news we're busy the biblical pattern of multiplication we see in Acts 180 says you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all of Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth there's a progression local regional then global Paul picked up the same vision in 2nd
[46:09] Timothy 2 2 he says what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men and women who will be able to teach others also Paul Timothy faithful people others also what we read there is four generations of discipleship that's why Dave read for us this morning him we proclaim warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ for this I toil struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me that's multiplication that's proclaiming that's teaching that's presenting more and more people as mature disciples in Christ Vanessa let me give you your your key to get ready what is our vision for multiplication at
[47:15] SBC this is why our vision statement says to be a church where people are transformed into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ what does this look like looks like lost people saved through the power of the gospel saved people mature in Christ and mature disciples multiplying living on mission where they live work and serve you're going to see the tagline a little bit is our goal is to see lost people saved saved people mature mature people multiply all to the glory of God that's multiplication that's why Dave told us at the very beginning this morning it's SBC we describe a disciple as one who exalts Jesus through worship is equipped by walking with Christ and growing in fellowship and engages their gifts for the glory of
[48:17] God that is the fruit of our mission so let me ask you are you multiplying are or are you holding the pearl of infinite value to yourself the wisdom that you have been given by God through his word the good news the gospel do you share it or do you hide it who are you pouring into who are you praying for discipling mentoring!
[49:05] Teaching! Is there anybody that you encourage in the faith? Is there anybody that you can say because of their influence I'm following Jesus more closely I've got a long list of people that have built into me and I look back as a young man and I keep the list of all those different people sometimes it was years sometimes it was just even a week at a camp but someone who taught me a truth of life about Jesus Christ so let's just step back a little bit here!
[49:49] Why do we exist as a church? From this morning we know the aim of our mission is to the glory of God the heart of our mission is to love it is a love for God and a love for one another the task of our mission is to make disciples and the fruit of our mission is multiplication disciples who make disciples why does Squamish Baptist exist that's it that is why we gather that is why people serve outside that is why people welcome you here it's why I teach why people lead in singing is because we want you to see the glory of God we want to testify to the good news that changed our life that allows me to sing the song behold my God seated on the throne come let us adore him here's the danger my friends it's easy to nod along and agree with this mission statement but still live as if it belongs to someone else that's the elder's job the pastor's job the missionary's job but it's not mine but I'm here to tell you today if you belong to
[51:25] Jesus Christ the mission belongs to you what's interesting he didn't give it to a select few he gave it to his church which means he gave it to every single one of us and John 20 21 simply says as the father has sent me even so I am sending you that's personal so let me ask you are you living the mission are you living for God's glory or for your own comfort are you fueled by love for him and for people or are you indifferent or are you making disciples or just attending here and are you multiplying or stagnant stale you see here at Squamish Baptist Church God has not called us to be a clubhouse he called us to be a church on mission of glorifying him loving deeply making disciples multiplying because that is what we are called to do and that is why we exist let me pray dear
[52:48] Lord Heavenly Father you know every single story that is in this building that we call a church where we are gathered today you know some are skeptical some are learning some do not know you yet but I pray that they would come to understand the heart of the mission that you God has given us Father we give you thanks for the voices that enable us to sing songs that we have these ears and eyes to see the testimony of baptism this morning Father that we can hear and read your word give you thanks for the preaching that helps us understand the truths that are held within it and Father give us these deep loving hearts hearts that not just want to mine the treasures of your word but to go out and love one another to love to serve to give to sacrifice not so that we might be lifted up but that your name would be lifted up among the nations and first of all let it be lifted up amongst the city
[54:08] Father we give you thanks for all these wonderful things and I pray that you would move in our hearts to make room for discipleship in your most holy and precious name Amen