WEBVTT

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 Well, today I'm going to finish up this three-part series we began two weeks ago,

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 and it's been on what kind of church do we want to be.

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 It's found in 1 Thessalonians 3.

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 If you have your Bibles, turn there, and we'll begin there this morning

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 looking at that last verse, the 13th verse,

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 and then part of chapter 4 and just a verse or 2 in chapter 5.

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 So go ahead and turn there, and if you're just now joining us,

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 let me just bring you up to speed in about one minute or less, okay?

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 Here's what we've seen so far.

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 The Apostle Paul is on his second missionary journey.

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 He's had to flee the city of Philippi.

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 He goes to Thessalonica, the target of this message series

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 and this letter that we're reading today,

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 and he preaches there on three consecutive Sabbaths.

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 A number of people hear the gospel, respond to it favorably,

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 and then after the third service they have, Paul has to leave town.

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 Members of the church come and tell him his life's in danger

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 and he needs to get out of Dodge, so to speak.

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 So he goes to the next town and he keeps wanting to go back

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 because he knows why there are folk there who are showing positive signs of believing in Christ.

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 They're beginning to grow in their faith.

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 These are babies in the Lord.

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 They haven't known the Lord very long.

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 He's taught them everything he can teach them in three weeks,

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 but he knows that's not a finished work,

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 and so he worries about them.

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 Are they going to fall by the wayside?

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 What's going to happen?

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 Are they going to get discouraged?

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 Will persecution cause them to abandon the faith?

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 So he says in chapter 3, verse 1, and then later in verse 5,

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 he says,

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 I've wanted to come back to you any number of times,

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 but when that wouldn't happen,

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 when I could stand it no longer is the actual phrase he uses,

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 I send Timothy back.

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 Timothy goes back, talks to the folk there in Thessalonica,

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 hears about what's going on,

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 comes back and reports to Paul beginning in verse 10.

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 And what he says to him, or verses 6 to 10, I think it is,

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 and what he says to him essentially is this,

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 these people have not fallen by the wayside.

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 They've not gotten discouraged and given up.

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 They're still seeking the Lord Jesus.

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 In fact, they're growing in their love for one another

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 and for people throughout the region.

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 They're beginning to be known as a people

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 with a reputation for loving folk,

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 and these are people who are walking with God.

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 So Paul's encouraged by that, obviously,

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 and he writes back and he gives them a written prayer.

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 He says, I want you to know, here's what I'm praying for you.

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 And that's been the focus of this three-week series.

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 What kind of church do we want to be?

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 I think we can tell by the prayer that Paul prays

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 the kind of church we need to be.

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 This is what he says.

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 He says, I'm praying that you will be filled with love

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 and even overflow.

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 He tells me you're growing in love, keep growing in love,

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 but be filled and actually overflow with love.

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 And then last week we saw he said this,

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 I want you also to walk blameless in holiness.

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 Now, some folk, the Jews, knew about holiness

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 because they heard the Pharisees talk,

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 and the Pharisees wore their religion on their sleeve.

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 They acted holier than they really were.

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 So Paul says, I'm not interested in that kind of holiness.

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 I want you to have the hidden, true holiness,

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 purity of the heart that's seen in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Well, he finishes this out with a single phrase.

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 Look with me to the last portion of this,

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 found in chapter 3 and verse 13.

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 This is what he says.

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 May he make your hearts blameless in holiness

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 before our God and Father.

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 And then this phrase,

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 at the coming of our Lord Jesus,

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 with all of his saints, amen.

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 The third part of this to me seems to be

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 that Paul wants these people in Thessalonica

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 to be ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 Now, I want to tell you, when you read the scriptures,

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 you see some of these letters that Paul writes,

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 and you say, now that's a pastor,

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 that's a church I like to pastor.

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 And some you see and you say,

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 no, that's a church I like to not have to pastor

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 unless God just made me go there,

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 the Church of Corinth being one of those.

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 But this church at Thessalonica,

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 I want to tell you,

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 most every pastor I know would say,

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 I would love to be the pastor of the church of Thessalonica.

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 But it wasn't a church,

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 and there are hardly any churches,

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 if any out there,

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 that don't have occasionally a problem.

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 And this church was no exception.

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 As good a church as they were,

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 as loving as they were,

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 as pure and holy in their walk as they were,

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 this was a church that had a few problems.

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 And it may surprise you,

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 if you're not familiar with this letter,

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 what their problem centered around.

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 Because when I tell you,

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 some of you, if you don't know this already,

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 you're going to say,

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 that's a strange thing to have a problem over.

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 But you know what their problem was over?

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 It was over something Paul said in a sermon,

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 probably several times,

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 that Jesus is going to soon come again.

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 Now, it's amazing,

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 because you've talked to folk a lot of times

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 about a variety of subjects,

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 how one person,

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 when you're talking to them,

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 hears one thing,

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 and somebody else hears another.

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 You ever had that happen?

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 Four or five family members

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 accompany a parent to the doctor,

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 and the doctor gives a report on a health situation,

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 and you get home and you begin rehearsing,

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 what did the doctor say?

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 And one person hears one thing,

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 and another person hears another thing,

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 and one person interprets that thing one way,

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 and another person interprets it yet another way.

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 Any of you ever had that happen?

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 So Paul stands and he preaches,

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 and he says,

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 Jesus is coming again,

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 and he's coming soon.

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 Now, some people heard that,

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 and they thought,

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 well, that means one day,

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 Jesus is going to come again.

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 Again, probably,

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 probably,

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 can't verify this,

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 there's no documentation of this,

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 but in all likelihood,

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 most of those folk thought,

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 when they heard Paul say it,

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 Jesus hadn't been gone all that many years,

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 it's probably going to be in my lifetime.

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 Wouldn't you agree?

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 Probably what they thought.

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 But some of them thought,

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 well, it may be after my lifetime.

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 And some may have thought,

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 well, you know,

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 it may be next year,

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 or the year after that.

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 And some, no doubt,

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 you know what they did?

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 They were literalists.

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 I don't want to ask you

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 how many of you in this room are literalists,

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 but sometimes,

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 some of you might hear something like that,

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 especially if said by the Apostle Paul,

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 and you would go,

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 okay, it's been five minutes,

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 six minutes,

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 two hours.

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 He's not back yet.

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 When's he coming?

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 And some of them in the church at Thessalonica,

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 not nearly all of them,

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 but some of them in the church,

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 enough that it was problemsome,

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 some of them heard that,

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 and they thought,

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 why hadn't he come back?

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 In fact, let me just ask you,

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 how many of you in this room right now

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 have ever heard a preacher say,

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 Jesus is coming,

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 and I believe it could be soon?

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 You ever heard that?

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 Raise your hand.

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 I know Fred said that.

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 I've said it.

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 A lot of folk have said that, right?

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 I'm 69.

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 He's not come back yet.

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 I've been hearing it since I was a little bitty boy.

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 And I've had folk ask me all the time,

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 when do you think it could be?

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 Especially in these times we're living in now,

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 with a lot that's happening,

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 I've had any number of people in the last 12 months

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 come to me and say,

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 do you think all these things point to the fact

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 that Jesus is coming again soon, right?

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 So we've all had questions about that.

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 And these people were no different.

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 They wondered,

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 well, if he's coming,

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 you said he was coming,

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 when's he going to come?

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 Let me share with you three problems

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 that arose from their misunderstanding

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 of what Paul said.

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 First of all,

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 some, when they heard him say that,

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 you know their response?

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 Well, let's just sit down

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 and wait for him to come.

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 I mean, let's just sit down

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 and watch the clouds,

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 maybe move to the mountains,

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 don a white robe,

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 stop what we're doing,

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 and just wait until he comes

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 because surely it's going to be tomorrow,

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 if not today,

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 and if not tomorrow,

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 day after tomorrow.

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 So some of them just said,

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 we're going to sit down

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 and we're going to wait.

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 Do you know that since the Lord left

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 and we've been awaiting his return,

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 there have been certain sects

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 and certain cults

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 and certain even groups of folk

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 within the family of God

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 who have so looked for his coming,

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 they have done exactly that.

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 They have gone off to the mountains.

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 They've donned white robes on occasion.

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 And they've said,

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 we're going to stop our jobs.

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 We're going to just stop living.

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 And we're going to wait

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 because we think he's coming on this day.

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 Some of you can remember

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 just a few years ago

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 when one fellow predicted

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 this particular day,

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 this particular moment,

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 Jesus is going to come again.

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 And so some folk have done that.

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 I want you to listen

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 to what Paul says about that.

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 Go with me if you have your Bibles.

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 Look with me to the fourth chapter

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 and let's begin reading in verse nine.

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 About brotherly love,

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 you don't need me to write you

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 because you yourselves

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 are taught by God to love one another.

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 They're doing well there.

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 In fact, you're doing this

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 toward all the brothers

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 in the entire region of Macedonia.

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 But we encourage you, brothers,

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 to do so even more.

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 Now, I don't know how many of you

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 write in your Bibles,

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 and this is a passage

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 that some people might consider obscure.

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 It doesn't say anything

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 real holy sounding.

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 But can I admonish you to do something?

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 If you write in your Bibles,

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 underscore every word in verse 11

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 and even verse 12.

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 Here's what it says.

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 To seek to lead a quiet life.

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 Paul said,

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 let this be your ambition

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 to seek to lead a quiet life.

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 Here's a real portion

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 I want you to underscore.

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 To mind your own business.

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 That's a pretty good one, isn't it?

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 To seek to lead a quiet life,

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 to mind your own business,

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 and to work with your own hands

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 as we commanded you.

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 In other words,

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 don't forget,

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 I told you.

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 I didn't tell you to sit down.

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 I told you to work.

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 I told you to be busy.

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 So that you may walk properly

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 in the presence of outsiders,

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 and this is a big thing,

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 and not be dependent on anyone.

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 You know the problem

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 about just sitting down

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 and saying,

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 you know what?

00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:39.319
 I'm going to be so holy,

00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.419
 I'm just going to sit and wait

00:10:40.419 --> 00:10:42.419
 and watch on Jesus to come.

00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.819
 I'm going to think about nothing

00:10:43.819 --> 00:10:44.819
 but His second coming,

00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:46.600
 and my eyes are going to be focused

00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.559
 on the clouds,

00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:49.460
 and that way I won't get in trouble,

00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:50.680
 and I'll be ready when He comes,

00:10:51.019 --> 00:10:51.920
 and there's nothing better

00:10:51.920 --> 00:10:52.620
 than I can do that.

00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:53.759
 You know the problem with that?

00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:57.220
 When you sit idle very long,

00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:58.940
 what happens?

00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:01.400
 Because you don't have anything

00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:02.379
 to do in your life,

00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.360
 you'll begin to mess

00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:05.500
 with other folks' lives.

00:11:07.060 --> 00:11:07.920
 Have you ever said

00:11:07.920 --> 00:11:09.080
 about somebody you know,

00:11:09.160 --> 00:11:10.139
 and don't look at them right now,

00:11:10.180 --> 00:11:10.940
 don't point at them,

00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:13.519
 have you ever said,

00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:15.320
 they need to get a life?

00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:19.920
 Because they just are constantly

00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:22.420
 meddling in other folks' business

00:11:22.420 --> 00:11:24.500
 and other folks' lives.

00:11:24.820 --> 00:11:26.100
 They got too much time

00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:26.940
 on their hands.

00:11:27.760 --> 00:11:29.480
 They need to be busier.

00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:30.560
 You ever thought that?

00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.140
 I know you have.

00:11:32.160 --> 00:11:33.540
 You don't have to do this right now,

00:11:33.640 --> 00:11:35.920
 but you know what I'm talking about, right?

00:11:36.520 --> 00:11:37.840
 Some folks are just idle,

00:11:37.980 --> 00:11:38.879
 and they're busybodies,

00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.460
 and they meddle in other folks' business,

00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:42.440
 and it always leads to trouble

00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:43.100
 in the church,

00:11:43.180 --> 00:11:43.600
 in the home,

00:11:43.660 --> 00:11:44.320
 in the community.

00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.120
 And Paul says,

00:11:46.260 --> 00:11:47.960
 man, don't do that.

00:11:48.640 --> 00:11:50.100
 And here's another problem with it.

00:11:50.780 --> 00:11:53.420
 If I sit and just wait on Jesus to come,

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.220
 how am I going to feed myself?

00:11:56.300 --> 00:11:57.420
 Because I'm not going to stop eating.

00:11:58.580 --> 00:12:00.240
 And how am I going to keep a roof

00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.060
 over my head

00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:02.280
 and over my family's head

00:12:02.280 --> 00:12:04.660
 and clothes on our backs?

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.480
 You know what's going to happen?

00:12:07.260 --> 00:12:09.860
 In the name of holiness and religion,

00:12:10.020 --> 00:12:11.380
 I'm going to become a burden

00:12:11.380 --> 00:12:13.540
 to folk around me.

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.100
 And Paul says,

00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:16.120
 man, don't do that.

00:12:16.520 --> 00:12:17.320
 Make it your ambition

00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:19.220
 to lead a quiet life,

00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:21.040
 to mind your own business,

00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:22.700
 to work with your hands

00:12:22.700 --> 00:12:25.740
 so that you don't become dependent

00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.400
 on other folk.

00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.860
 I'm going to tell you,

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.420
 work is good for everybody.

00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:30.820
 Amen?

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.020
 Everybody ought to work.

00:12:33.400 --> 00:12:34.560
 And even though you retire,

00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:36.100
 man, you ought to stay busy.

00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:38.340
 If your idea of retirement

00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.399
 is to say,

00:12:39.560 --> 00:12:40.480
 I'm going to just sit down

00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.500
 and let people take care of me

00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:42.220
 from here on out.

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:44.139
 I'm going to let the government

00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:44.860
 take care of me.

00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:45.580
 I'm going to let people

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.200
 take care of me.

00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:47.580
 I just don't have care in the world.

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:49.320
 It's everybody else's responsibility.

00:12:50.180 --> 00:12:50.759
 Man, I'm going to tell you,

00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.879
 you need to get a life.

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.879
 You need to get a life.

00:12:54.540 --> 00:12:55.759
 And that's what Paul says.

00:12:56.560 --> 00:12:57.899
 There was a second problem.

00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:00.039
 And the second problem

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:03.059
 probably was a greater problem

00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:04.100
 than even the first problem.

00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:05.299
 The second problem was

00:13:05.299 --> 00:13:06.519
 some began worrying

00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:07.819
 about their loved ones

00:13:07.819 --> 00:13:09.220
 who had died

00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:11.659
 before Jesus came back.

00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.899
 Now, think with me.

00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.259
 Paul said,

00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.740
 hey, here's what's going to happen.

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:18.179
 Jesus came and he lived

00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:18.840
 and he died

00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.179
 and he rose from the dead.

00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:21.459
 And that's the reason

00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:22.500
 for our hope in the gospel.

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.759
 You trust in him,

00:13:23.799 --> 00:13:24.720
 you have eternal life.

00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:26.879
 And one day he's going to come again

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.720
 and he's going to take us

00:13:27.720 --> 00:13:29.540
 all up to be with him, right?

00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:31.019
 And they all applauded and said,

00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.040
 man, that is great.

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.160
 Can't wait.

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:36.500
 But guess what happened?

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.700
 Same thing happens

00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:38.840
 in Pickens and Greer.

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.139
 Today, as soon as this service is over,

00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:42.860
 I've got a 2.30 funeral

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.680
 I've got to be off too.

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.519
 I'll tell you something.

00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:47.000
 Folk began to die.

00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.220
 And they die here in Pickens.

00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:52.180
 And you don't have to wait

00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.399
 years for them to die.

00:13:55.540 --> 00:13:57.540
 In the 16 weeks or so,

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.759
 I've been the interim pastor

00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.399
 here at Pickens,

00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:01.159
 there have been a number of people

00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:01.919
 in your congregation

00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:02.599
 who passed

00:14:02.599 --> 00:14:04.319
 and loved ones related to people

00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.279
 in your congregation

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:06.459
 who passed, right?

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:09.279
 And Thessalonica was no different.

00:14:10.459 --> 00:14:11.599
 Somebody's wife died.

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.599
 Somebody's husband died.

00:14:14.199 --> 00:14:15.539
 Somebody's best friend died.

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:17.240
 Somebody's partner in business died.

00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:18.879
 And they began saying,

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.839
 no, wait a second.

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.759
 You said if we trusted Jesus,

00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:24.120
 gave my heart,

00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:25.259
 we'd have eternal life.

00:14:25.580 --> 00:14:26.580
 Jesus is going to come again.

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.220
 He's going to take us out of this world

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.120
 and to be with Him.

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.480
 But they've died

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.919
 before He could get back.

00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:34.960
 So, what's up with these folk?

00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:37.519
 Listen to what Paul says about that.

00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.039
 Look with me, if you will,

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:42.779
 to chapter 4 and verse 13.

00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.039
 We do not want you

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.080
 to be uninformed brothers

00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:50.220
 concerning those who are asleep.

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:52.200
 Now, that's a metaphor for dead.

00:14:53.160 --> 00:14:54.040
 He's not talking about

00:14:54.040 --> 00:14:54.680
 they fall asleep.

00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:55.200
 He's talking about

00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:56.320
 they're graveyard dead.

00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:59.899
 So that you will not grieve

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:00.940
 like the rest

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:03.660
 who have no hope.

00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:05.580
 He says, listen,

00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:06.680
 people of Thessalonica,

00:15:06.800 --> 00:15:08.080
 I don't want you to be ignorant

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.259
 about death

00:15:09.259 --> 00:15:10.340
 and about what happens

00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:11.940
 to people after death.

00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:13.960
 Because I don't want you

00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:15.580
 to grieve like those folk

00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.259
 who have no hope.

00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:20.419
 Now, I want to tell you,

00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:21.259
 I've seen believers

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:21.799
 through the years,

00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.159
 I don't encounter this often,

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:24.720
 but I've seen it on occasion

00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:26.759
 where believers think

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.259
 that for me to be

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.259
 a good Christian,

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.939
 I dare not show any emotion

00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:34.319
 if anybody in my family dies.

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:36.799
 Especially if they die tragically.

00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:39.460
 That I'm supposed to suck it up

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.799
 and put on my game face

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.419
 and go out there

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:43.039
 and just be all smiles and cheery

00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:44.620
 and stand before everybody.

00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.080
 And a good testimony is,

00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:46.639
 hey, you know what?

00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:47.279
 They died,

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.259
 they've gone to glory

00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.419
 and I'm okay with it.

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:50.039
 I'm not hurting,

00:15:50.179 --> 00:15:50.579
 I'm alright.

00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:51.620
 God's taking care of me

00:15:51.620 --> 00:15:52.319
 and I'm alright.

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.959
 But that's not what

00:15:54.959 --> 00:15:55.819
 he's saying at all.

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.279
 He's not saying

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.279
 that we shouldn't grieve,

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.179
 we just shouldn't grieve

00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.339
 like people who have no hope.

00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.919
 There's a difference

00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.860
 in how you grieve.

00:16:01.939 --> 00:16:02.699
 Do you understand that?

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.519
 I can grieve,

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.399
 but still have hope.

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.480
 And that grief looks different

00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:09.279
 than when I grieve

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.679
 and I don't have any hope.

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.399
 When I don't have any hope,

00:16:12.459 --> 00:16:13.919
 I'm ready to jump out a window

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:15.199
 because I'm desperate.

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.240
 I mean,

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.700
 there is no tomorrow

00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:18.720
 when I don't have any hope.

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:19.940
 But if I have hope,

00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:20.400
 it's different.

00:16:20.520 --> 00:16:20.960
 Let me show you

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.580
 what I'm talking about.

00:16:22.900 --> 00:16:24.379
 Our son, Matthew,

00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:26.680
 he marries a girl

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.800
 named Carla Smith

00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.000
 five or six,

00:16:29.140 --> 00:16:30.040
 seven years down the way.

00:16:30.640 --> 00:16:31.340
 She gets pregnant,

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.640
 they have a baby, right?

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.520
 Right before they have the baby,

00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:36.820
 they move off to St. Louis.

00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:38.200
 He's managing the store

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.879
 for Chick-fil-A.

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.660
 They send him out there

00:16:39.660 --> 00:16:40.400
 to shut one down.

00:16:41.020 --> 00:16:42.060
 He stays a few months.

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.800
 He moves back to Greenville

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.039
 just before the baby's born.

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.359
 We were so delighted, right?

00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:47.919
 The baby's born,

00:16:48.099 --> 00:16:49.159
 Scout, my firstborn,

00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.679
 I want you to meet her sometime.

00:16:50.979 --> 00:16:52.299
 Great, beautiful gal,

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.779
 15 years old now,

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.620
 little baby then.

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:57.079
 I'd go out on Wednesday nights

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:58.379
 after I do prayer meeting

00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.479
 and I'd go to their apartment

00:17:00.479 --> 00:17:01.419
 and I'd say,

00:17:01.479 --> 00:17:02.179
 can I hold Scout?

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.779
 And he was working,

00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:05.339
 his wife was there

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.159
 and she'd say, sure.

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.340
 And so I'd sit in the living room

00:17:08.340 --> 00:17:08.980
 all by myself,

00:17:09.100 --> 00:17:10.360
 hold that baby in the rocking chair

00:17:10.360 --> 00:17:10.900
 and rock her

00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:12.519
 and just talk to her

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.080
 and sing to her

00:17:13.080 --> 00:17:14.060
 and tell her how much I loved her

00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:14.940
 and keep looking for her

00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.340
 to tell me,

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.400
 I love you too, Papa.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.080
 We've all done that, right?

00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.519
 So a few months down the way,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.440
 he comes to me,

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:22.700
 he says,

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.019
 Dad,

00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.500
 they're reassigned me

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.100
 to a store in Williamsburg,

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.560
 Virginia.

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.519
 It's a great opportunity,

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.380
 brand new store,

00:17:29.540 --> 00:17:30.259
 good community

00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:32.600
 and I'm going to manage that store

00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:34.400
 and it's just a great opportunity.

00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.680
 I said, well, I understand that.

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.480
 He said,

00:17:36.560 --> 00:17:38.200
 I've got to go do that.

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.960
 I know you'll be heartbroken

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.280
 but I just,

00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.220
 I need to tell you,

00:17:43.340 --> 00:17:44.400
 I've got to go do that.

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.420
 I understand perfectly.

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:46.460
 I said, now,

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.300
 let me just ask you,

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.960
 how often will you get to come home

00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:50.740
 and see Scout

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:52.140
 because she's staying with us?

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:54.940
 Now, you know,

00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.300
 he can't do that, right?

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:59.680
 So I remember just like it was yesterday,

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.380
 it was about 15 years ago,

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.259
 we step outside,

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.059
 we walked out,

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.079
 we've hugged them,

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.240
 we put them in the car,

00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:09.220
 they're only going to be seven hours away.

00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:10.900
 We put them in the car

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:13.299
 and I've put on my game face

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.420
 and I've hugged them all

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:15.660
 and I'm smiling,

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:16.660
 wishing them well,

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.259
 they back out

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.359
 and they don't hit the curb

00:18:19.359 --> 00:18:20.519
 going out of my driveway

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:23.079
 until tears are just pouring down my face.

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.359
 I mean, I'm just crying

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.900
 and I'm just sobbing,

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:28.299
 I'm broken hearted.

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.920
 She's just seven hours away

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:33.519
 but I'm broken hearted.

00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.099
 You know what?

00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.879
 Not because I thought,

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.779
 well, that's so far,

00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.940
 I'll never get to see her again

00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:39.220
 because I'm going to tell you something,

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.039
 within about three weeks,

00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:41.279
 I jumped in my car one Friday,

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.079
 drove all the way up there

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.420
 and saw her

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.480
 and came all the way back.

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:48.779
 But the tears were because I love her

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:51.000
 and momentarily we're separated

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.240
 and that's why I'm going to cry

00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.380
 if something happens to my wife

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:56.500
 or my dad or my sister or brother

00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.920
 or my children or my friends.

00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.259
 I'm going to be sad

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:03.160
 but it's a different kind of sadness.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.680
 It's a sadness that's tempered by the fact

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:07.220
 this is not the end.

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.200
 I'm just saying goodbye moment

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.640
 but it still hurts.

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.000
 You understand that?

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:13.480
 So,

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:16.880
 when someone passes you a life,

00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.680
 grieve for them.

00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:20.160
 Just don't grieve like people

00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:21.240
 who have no hope.

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.180
 Listen to what he says,

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:24.140
 Since we believe that Jesus died

00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:24.820
 and rose again,

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.620
 in the same way God will bring with him

00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:28.920
 those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

00:19:29.380 --> 00:19:30.480
 For we say this to you

00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.840
 by revelation from the Lord,

00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:34.080
 we who are still alive at the Lord's coming

00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:36.140
 will certainly have no advantage,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.500
 no advantage,

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.600
 over those who have fallen asleep.

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.720
 For the Lord himself

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.400
 will descend from heaven with a shout,

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.779
 with the archangel's voice,

00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:46.580
 and with the trumpet of God

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:48.880
 and the dead in Christ will rise first.

00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:51.580
 Then we who are still alive

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.539
 will be caught up together

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.419
 with him in the clouds

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.599
 to meet the Lord in the air.

00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.819
 And so will we always be with the Lord.

00:19:56.939 --> 00:19:57.159
 Therefore,

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.179
 encourage one another

00:19:58.179 --> 00:19:59.339
 with these words.

00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:00.859
 And those are encouraging words,

00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:01.220
 aren't they?

00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:02.819
 Paul says,

00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:03.179
 Listen,

00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:05.199
 you don't need to worry about it.

00:20:05.199 --> 00:20:06.119
 Here's what's going to happen.

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:08.579
 The archangel's going to sound the voice.

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.879
 The trumpet will blow.

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:11.379
 Jesus will come.

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.399
 Those who have died,

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:15.240
 they're going to be raised first.

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:17.059
 And they're going to meet all of us

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.179
 who are living at the time

00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:19.220
 when the Lord comes

00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:21.039
 and he's going to take us

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.140
 to heaven to be with him.

00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:24.299
 And that's where we'll be forever.

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.079
 That's an encouraging word,

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:26.460
 isn't it?

00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:26.779
 Amen?

00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:27.940
 Boy,

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:30.420
 I love that word from Paul.

00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:31.160
 Well,

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.200
 there's a third problem.

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.279
 Some became obsessed

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.259
 with knowing

00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:37.039
 when he was coming.

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:39.180
 I pastored

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:41.079
 a number of churches now,

00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.160
 been interim

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.380
 at a number of places.

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.880
 Can I tell you something?

00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:46.440
 In every church

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.160
 I've ever been

00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:48.120
 very long at all,

00:20:48.300 --> 00:20:49.740
 I've met some folk

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:52.360
 who almost are obsessed

00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:53.940
 with when he's coming.

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.500
 You've known some folk

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.180
 like that, right?

00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:58.640
 I mean,

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.980
 all they can think about

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.400
 is

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:01.940
 when is it going to be?

00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.760
 These signs

00:21:03.760 --> 00:21:05.260
 we're looking at today

00:21:05.260 --> 00:21:06.220
 point to the

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.420
 time of the coming

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.260
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:21:09.300 --> 00:21:10.520
 Our country's in trouble.

00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.380
 You know that, right?

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:12.740
 I know that.

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:14.539
 And a lot of folk

00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:14.960
 have come

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.920
 in these troubled times

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.339
 and said,

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.880
 do you think

00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.539
 this means

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.240
 this is

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.099
 the beginning

00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:20.680
 of the end?

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.700
 I'll tell you something.

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.779
 Everything seems to me

00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:23.759
 to be pointing to it,

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.759
 but I want to warn you

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.319
 about something.

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.220
 Keep perspective.

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:28.980
 Nations

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.519
 like the United States

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.220
 of America

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:33.339
 have come and gone

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:34.059
 throughout history.

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:36.259
 And if the Lord

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.960
 tarries

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.380
 a thousand years,

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.279
 there'll be a

00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.720
 string of other nations,

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:41.799
 saints,

00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.200
 including this one,

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.779
 who come and go.

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:46.799
 Do the signs

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.620
 point to the coming?

00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.779
 I believe they do,

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.579
 but I want to tell you

00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:49.799
 something.

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.460
 I don't know

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.759
 when that's going to be.

00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.420
 And if you ever

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.180
 meet a preacher,

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.200
 somebody who says,

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.420
 man,

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.259
 I've studied prophecy

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.140
 all my life

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:59.160
 and this is my gig

00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:00.259
 and this is what I know,

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.720
 and he says to you,

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:03.299
 everything here says,

00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.620
 Jesus is coming

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.539
 and it's going to be

00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.000
 absolute.

00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:07.559
 It'll be in the next year.

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.259
 It'll be in the next

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.000
 two years.

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.539
 You know you've met

00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.140
 somebody

00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:13.980
 who has outpunted

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.799
 their coverage.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.619
 You know you've met

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.680
 somebody who thinks

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.539
 they know more

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.160
 than they know.

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.299
 And I want to show you

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:22.500
 why.

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.240
 You don't have to take

00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:24.200
 that on my authority.

00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.279
 Look, if you will,

00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.420
 at chapter 5

00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:27.339
 and verse 1

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:28.660
 about the times

00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.759
 and the seasons,

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.380
 brothers.

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.299
 You do not need

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.160
 anything to be

00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.839
 written to you.

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:35.319
 For you yourselves

00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.240
 know very well

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.199
 that the day of the Lord

00:22:37.199 --> 00:22:38.139
 will come just like

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:39.259
 a thief in the night.

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.019
 You ever been robbed?

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.819
 They send you

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.579
 advance notice.

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.799
 You're going to be robbed?

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:45.459
 No.

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:47.099
 And when they say

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.079
 peace and security,

00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:49.279
 then suddenly a destruction

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.000
 comes on them

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.980
 like labor pains

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.899
 on a pregnant woman

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.459
 and they will not

00:22:53.459 --> 00:22:54.179
 escape.

00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:55.980
 But you,

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:56.399
 brothers,

00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.799
 are not in the dark.

00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.619
 That's what Paul

00:22:59.619 --> 00:23:00.480
 would say to everybody

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.419
 here at First Baptist

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:01.819
 Pickens

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.720
 who's struggling

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.599
 to know

00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.899
 when's he coming.

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.859
 He says,

00:23:05.960 --> 00:23:06.639
 But you, brothers,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.460
 are not in the dark

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.299
 so that this day

00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:09.159
 would overtake you

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.819
 like a thief.

00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:11.179
 For you are all

00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:12.119
 sons of the light

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.279
 and sons of the day.

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.379
 We're not of the night

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.379
 or of the darkness.

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.379
 So then,

00:23:17.579 --> 00:23:18.679
 we must not sleep

00:23:18.679 --> 00:23:19.399
 like the rest,

00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.659
 but we must stay awake

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:22.700
 and be sober.

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.319
 You know what he's saying?

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.599
 This wasn't a word

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.559
 that he would have used.

00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.419
 It wasn't a word

00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.359
 in his vernacular.

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:29.700
 But if he were living

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.779
 today in our culture,

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:31.460
 you know what I think

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.160
 he'd say to folk

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.600
 like that

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.440
 who are just constantly

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:33.640
 saying,

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:34.279
 Is it going to be

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.160
 January the 5th?

00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:35.740
 Is it going to be

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.340
 next April?

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.819
 Will it be in 2025?

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.200
 You know what he'd say?

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.120
 Chill.

00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.400
 Just chill.

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.279
 Just live

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.200
 for the Lord

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.259
 Jesus Christ.

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:48.700
 I mean,

00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.759
 just chill out

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.460
 and look for the Lord

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:51.960
 to come

00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.000
 and be prepared

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:53.640
 for the Lord

00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.160
 to come

00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:55.440
 and live as though

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.279
 he's going to come

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:56.840
 tomorrow,

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:59.140
 but stop worrying

00:23:59.140 --> 00:23:59.779
 about it

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.839
 and stop listening

00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.240
 to folk

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:03.039
 who tell you

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.799
 that they can predict

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:06.359
 whenever that's going

00:24:06.359 --> 00:24:07.519
 to be.

00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:09.839
 So what has Paul

00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.559
 said to us?

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.940
 What has James

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.859
 we saw last week

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.480
 said to us?

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.460
 These three things.

00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:16.119
 First of all,

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.920
 be a church

00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:18.759
 that's known

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:21.160
 for how it loves.

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:23.480
 I want to tell you

00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.519
 about every church

00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:25.220
 I've ever heard

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.500
 or talked to

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.420
 or met.

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.620
 That's what they all

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.480
 say about themselves.

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.400
 But you know

00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:33.000
 a lot of places

00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.680
 that isn't so,

00:24:33.800 --> 00:24:34.019
 is it?

00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:37.279
 I want to tell you

00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:39.640
 more than anything else,

00:24:41.340 --> 00:24:42.140
 you want the badge

00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.000
 of your discipleship

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.320
 to be we love

00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:46.220
 people of every stripe,

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.240
 those who love

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.660
 the church

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.540
 and those who don't,

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.320
 those in the church

00:24:49.320 --> 00:24:50.340
 and those out of the church.

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:51.539
 Secondly,

00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.619
 we want to walk

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:55.179
 the talk.

00:24:56.119 --> 00:24:57.419
 We want to say

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.500
 to people out there

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.539
 in the world,

00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.839
 here's how you should live

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.899
 and then we live

00:25:01.899 --> 00:25:03.039
 differently.

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.879
 We want them

00:25:04.879 --> 00:25:05.579
 to look at us

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.079
 and not think

00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.039
 we're oddballs

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.819
 and nutcases,

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:10.500
 peculiar in that sense.

00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:13.179
 But we want them

00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:13.699
 to look at us

00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:13.899
 and say,

00:25:13.959 --> 00:25:14.419
 you know what?

00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:15.500
 There's something

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.240
 just different

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.099
 about those folks.

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:18.819
 They have a level

00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.519
 of character

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.180
 and a level

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.039
 of integrity

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.160
 and honesty

00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:24.279
 and they just live

00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.160
 by this code

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.319
 that we don't quite get.

00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.119
 It's not in keeping

00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.619
 with the world.

00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:29.259
 They talk about

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.059
 this guy Jesus

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.420
 and they seem

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.440
 to have this kingdom

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.480
 kind of mentality.

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.599
 They're more worried

00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.779
 about the eternal

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.639
 than the temporal.

00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:38.460
 They're more worried

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:39.480
 about the spiritual

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.079
 than they are

00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.759
 the physical.

00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:43.319
 They're not materialistic.

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.139
 They're holy

00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:46.000
 and they're pure

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.900
 but they don't brag

00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:47.480
 about it.

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.339
 They have this

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.519
 hidden holiness

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.460
 and righteousness

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:52.940
 of which when the world

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.460
 sees it,

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.099
 can I tell you something?

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.720
 They'll be envious of it

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.279
 because they'll say,

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.359
 that guy may be

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.220
 a little naive,

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.440
 she may be a little naive

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.160
 but I'm going to tell you something.

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.920
 That's a good person.

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:04.859
 That's a person

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.420
 who walks with God.

00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.279
 And finally,

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.160
 be a church,

00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:10.079
 be a church

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:11.839
 that is looking

00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.539
 for the coming

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.899
 of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:15.359
 Not because your eyes

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:16.539
 are fastened on the clouds

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.559
 and you got your calendar

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.500
 out and you're marking a day

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.019
 but because you believe

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.779
 what he's promised

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.019
 and therefore you're free

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.039
 to live your life

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.720
 with hope

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.960
 and without fear

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.639
 because you know

00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.519
 one of these days

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:28.559
 he's coming again.

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.279
 Now,

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:32.079
 before this series ends,

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.299
 can I throw in

00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.159
 a personal note?

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:36.200
 Give you a little advice

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:36.639
 from somebody

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.799
 who's passed a long time.

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.399
 You take it

00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:39.039
 for what it's worth.

00:26:39.879 --> 00:26:40.440
 But I want to share

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.339
 with you three things

00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:42.240
 as you think about

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.939
 what kind of church

00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.619
 do we want to be?

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:44.959
 Three pieces

00:26:44.959 --> 00:26:45.799
 of personal advice

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.399
 I'd give you

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.299
 as you try to live out

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.119
 these three things.

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.220
 Here's the first.

00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:51.859
 Be driven always

00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:52.779
 by a sense

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.220
 of purpose.

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.299
 Know

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.599
 exactly

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.720
 who you are

00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.059
 and what your mission is

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:02.539
 and what your reason

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.819
 for existence is.

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.019
 Can I ask you this morning,

00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:07.639
 do you know that already

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.359
 individually

00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:09.799
 and collectively

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.779
 as the people

00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.960
 of the First Baptist Church

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.139
 are pickings?

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:15.119
 Because I've got to be honest

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.399
 with you,

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.379
 I go a lot of places

00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:16.819
 and preach

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.740
 when I was doing revivals

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.379
 years and years

00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:18.960
 and years ago

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.839
 and I found people

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.839
 who they were faithful

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.500
 to their church,

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.259
 they were actively

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.279
 involved in their church

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.319
 but I think I could

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.619
 look at many of them

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:27.899
 and say,

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.659
 do you know why

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.480
 your church exists?

00:27:29.579 --> 00:27:29.940
 And they go,

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:33.200
 well we do this

00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:33.799
 and we do that

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.519
 and we do the other.

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.079
 We're involved in this

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.419
 and that

00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.279
 and we have this program

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.039
 and that program.

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.480
 Yeah, but you see

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.779
 all those are tools.

00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:42.059
 They're tools

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.240
 that you use

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.839
 to accomplish

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.539
 your objectives

00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.359
 but you understand

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.700
 what your objective is

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:48.879
 and I believe

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.379
 many of them

00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:49.859
 their eyes

00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:50.899
 would have glazed over.

00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:54.059
 Do you know

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.779
 what the purpose

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.920
 of the First Baptist Church

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.700
 of Pickens is?

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.859
 When I had pastored

00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.720
 Rushy Creek

00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.779
 about 15 years,

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.960
 the deacons came

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.220
 and said,

00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:02.960
 we want to give you

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:04.059
 two months off

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.519
 and we want you

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:04.980
 to just go away

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.819
 and pray and think.

00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:07.099
 Just rest

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:08.179
 and get refreshed

00:28:08.179 --> 00:28:08.859
 and come back.

00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:10.419
 My wife and I

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.359
 went away for two months

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:13.299
 and I thought a whole lot

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.279
 about what is the purpose

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.980
 of the church

00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:17.220
 because we were growing

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:20.039
 and seeing people

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.859
 come to know the Lord

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:22.500
 but I just felt like

00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.119
 our purpose

00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:24.159
 was nebulous.

00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.700
 The written statement

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:27.000
 in our church constitution,

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.639
 it was pretty,

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.399
 it talked about

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.679
 kingdom things

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.559
 and about worship

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.359
 and it just had

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.279
 a whole lot of stuff.

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:32.579
 It was about

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.700
 four or five sentences long.

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.340
 Nobody, nobody

00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.160
 could have quoted

00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:36.779
 it to anybody.

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.440
 So when I came back

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:38.700
 I said,

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.160
 you know what we're

00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:39.420
 going to do?

00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.860
 We're going to

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.799
 scratch all that

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.340
 and we're going to

00:28:42.340 --> 00:28:42.779
 bring it down

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.480
 to three words

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.019
 that everybody

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:44.600
 can get.

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.660
 So that everybody

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.160
 who was a member

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:46.900
 at Rushy Creek,

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.920
 this was required,

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.180
 you had to know

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.200
 those three words.

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:50.880
 Pretty easy

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.400
 when you just got

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.220
 three words, right?

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:53.660
 Here are the three

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.480
 words we chose.

00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:57.160
 Rescue, grow, and serve.

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.279
 We're about rescuing

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.340
 which is evangelism,

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.340
 reaching out after people.

00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.299
 I love that word rescue.

00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.019
 It's used a number

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:05.159
 of times by Paul

00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:06.079
 in his letters.

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.980
 We're rescuing people

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.700
 out of sin

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.759
 and out of destruction

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.519
 and bringing them

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:11.480
 to life in Christ.

00:29:12.139 --> 00:29:13.359
 Secondly, we're growing

00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:15.059
 the idea of discipleship.

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:16.139
 We don't see people

00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:17.519
 become believers

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.839
 and then just stay there

00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.319
 as they do

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.019
 in so many churches.

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.839
 We don't see them

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.539
 grow up strong.

00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:23.440
 We devoted a single night.

00:29:23.639 --> 00:29:24.180
 Wednesday night

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.000
 was for nothing

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.960
 but discipleship.

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:26.859
 That's all you could do.

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:27.919
 Wednesday night

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.159
 is our discipleship night.

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.500
 And then the last

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.139
 was service.

00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.839
 We want to be in missions.

00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:34.000
 We want to be in ministry

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:35.279
 and we want to love people

00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.059
 and serve people

00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.579
 and we believe

00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.379
 that will open the door

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.859
 for us to share the gospel

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.779
 and do that first thing

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.379
 of rescue.

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.039
 So we said that's our mission

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.459
 and if it doesn't pertain

00:29:43.459 --> 00:29:44.619
 to rescue, grow, and serve

00:29:44.619 --> 00:29:46.599
 we're not going to do it.

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.439
 That leads to the second thing

00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:49.799
 I'm going to tell you

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.480
 but I'm going to hold off

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.459
 from that for just a moment.

00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:52.819
 Do you know what

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:54.079
 your mission statement,

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.519
 your printed mission statement

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.779
 is here at First Baptist Picks?

00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.799
 I hope you do.

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:59.240
 What is it?

00:29:59.279 --> 00:29:59.599
 Do you know?

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.539
 There's a single word.

00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:00.959
 What is it?

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.680
 Somebody say it.

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.100
 There you go.

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.860
 Good for you.

00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.559
 You want to be a well church.

00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.900
 You want to be well individuals.

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:09.920
 You want to worship.

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:11.200
 You want to evangelize.

00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.579
 You want to learn

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.799
 which is discipleship

00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.620
 and you want to love

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.860
 which is the idea of service.

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.539
 It doesn't matter

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.440
 how you state it,

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.480
 what your words are.

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.120
 What matters is

00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:21.759
 you understand your purpose

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.279
 and you understand

00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.819
 that's why we're here

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.900
 at First Baptist Church

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.500
 Pickens.

00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:27.420
 That's what we're about.

00:30:28.300 --> 00:30:29.660
 I want to commend you

00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:30.660
 on your purpose statement.

00:30:30.820 --> 00:30:31.880
 I want to ask you

00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:34.140
 are you moving

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:35.060
 in that direction?

00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:36.880
 Is that really

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:37.880
 and truly your purpose

00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.320
 or is that just propaganda?

00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.940
 Is that your real purpose

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.920
 or is that just something

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:44.420
 you say is your purpose

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.140
 but your purpose

00:30:45.140 --> 00:30:46.200
 is something secondary?

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.800
 Only you can answer that.

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:51.279
 Second piece of advice

00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.220
 I'd give you is this.

00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:55.019
 Stay laser focused

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:57.639
 as a church on that purpose.

00:30:58.839 --> 00:31:01.019
 I mean set that as your target

00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:02.299
 and don't let anything else

00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.879
 interfere with it

00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:03.779
 because I want to tell you something.

00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:05.019
 I know from being a pastor

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.220
 for many, many, many years

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:09.359
 your church is going to be asked

00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:11.119
 the pastor is going to be asked

00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:12.359
 to be involved

00:31:12.359 --> 00:31:14.639
 in lots and lots and lots

00:31:14.639 --> 00:31:16.119
 and lots of good stuff.

00:31:16.119 --> 00:31:18.879
 But you need to constantly

00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.859
 be asking yourself

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:21.199
 is this good thing

00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.959
 we're being asked

00:31:21.959 --> 00:31:22.939
 to participate in

00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:25.519
 help us accomplish our mission

00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:28.179
 or is it take us

00:31:28.179 --> 00:31:30.359
 off focus of our mission?

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.459
 Because you know what I found

00:31:32.459 --> 00:31:34.239
 happening in the 90s especially?

00:31:34.779 --> 00:31:35.759
 A lot of churches

00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.239
 especially larger churches

00:31:37.239 --> 00:31:39.239
 they became Walmarts.

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:42.199
 They became Walmarts where

00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:43.439
 you know what I mean by Walmart?

00:31:43.659 --> 00:31:44.419
 They sell a little bit

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.239
 of everything, right?

00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:47.299
 And so churches would say

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:49.259
 man we've got a hundred ministries

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.299
 and we're involved in this

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.160
 and we're involved in this

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.000
 and we're involved in this

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.880
 and we're involved in this

00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.140
 and this and this and this

00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:55.660
 and those ministries

00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:57.519
 became ends in themselves

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.720
 instead of a means

00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:00.259
 to reaching an end

00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:02.319
 because they forgot

00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.539
 what their mission was.

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.940
 And I want to just tell you today

00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:08.660
 I don't mean to sound an alarm

00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:10.880
 but church is different

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.579
 in 2021 than it was

00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.720
 in 1960.

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:15.779
 If we're honest

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.940
 back in 1960

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.740
 many of us

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.559
 looked to the church

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.779
 for not only

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:21.319
 spiritual well-being

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.180
 and help

00:32:22.180 --> 00:32:22.880
 and guidance

00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:24.900
 but for social

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:26.200
 avenues as well.

00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.420
 But in 2021

00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:29.759
 folks aren't doing

00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.480
 that any longer.

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:32.660
 They're looking

00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:33.400
 to the church

00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.339
 and still need

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.860
 the church

00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:36.180
 for spiritual advice

00:32:36.180 --> 00:32:36.660
 and help

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.160
 and guidance

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.559
 and to work together

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.779
 to accomplish a mission.

00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:42.099
 But I'm telling you something

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:43.879
 they're doing things

00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:44.319
 socially

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:46.059
 in a lot of different ways

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.680
 and the church

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.720
 doesn't have to invent

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.740
 every wheel.

00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:50.660
 Do you understand that?

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.740
 There are good things

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.299
 that can happen

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:53.119
 and the church

00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.879
 not be the leader

00:32:53.879 --> 00:32:54.160
 in that.

00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:54.779
 In fact

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:56.119
 I think it's a healthier

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:57.059
 approach to say this

00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.399
 this is our mission

00:32:58.399 --> 00:32:59.099
 and this is where

00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.559
 we're going.

00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.799
 We see some good things

00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.160
 out there.

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.920
 What we're going to do

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.740
 is instead of

00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.799
 reinventing that wheel

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.799
 we're going to ask

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:05.940
 our ministers

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:07.339
 and our members

00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:09.200
 to go be partners

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:09.879
 with people

00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:10.700
 in the world

00:33:10.700 --> 00:33:13.139
 doing those good things

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:14.619
 and influence people

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:15.259
 who are lost

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.899
 who are involved

00:33:15.899 --> 00:33:16.940
 in doing those good things

00:33:16.940 --> 00:33:17.799
 instead of saying

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.960
 always you come

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.359
 to the church

00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:19.839
 or we'll do it

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.779
 here at the church house.

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.619
 You understand

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.220
 what I'm saying

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.579
 in that?

00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.079
 For instance

00:33:25.079 --> 00:33:27.599
 and I can say this

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:27.879
 instantly

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:28.399
 because I don't know

00:33:28.399 --> 00:33:28.899
 what you got.

00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:29.339
 Okay?

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.759
 I know I'm up in

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.319
 somebody here

00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.619
 and I'm not meaning

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.379
 to and I don't know

00:33:34.379 --> 00:33:35.179
 anything about your church

00:33:35.179 --> 00:33:35.839
 and ask anything

00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.379
 about this

00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:38.059
 but most churches

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:39.019
 have softball teams

00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.279
 right?

00:33:39.939 --> 00:33:41.119
 And I'm not telling you

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:41.739
 to go disband

00:33:41.739 --> 00:33:42.579
 your softball team

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.799
 don't hear me say that

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:46.879
 but what would be wrong

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.919
 instead of having

00:33:47.919 --> 00:33:50.439
 nine guys on the field

00:33:50.439 --> 00:33:51.339
 who know Jesus

00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:53.339
 and one guy you invited

00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:54.319
 who doesn't know Jesus

00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.500
 to come in

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.479
 to play ball with you

00:33:56.479 --> 00:33:58.500
 for a couple guys

00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.099
 from the church

00:33:59.099 --> 00:33:59.979
 to go play ball

00:33:59.979 --> 00:34:01.419
 with eight or ten

00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:02.779
 other lost guys

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:04.240
 and to influence

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.299
 those lost guys

00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:06.200
 rather than say

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.899
 come here and

00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:08.380
 play with us.

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.000
 You understand

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.619
 what I'm saying?

00:34:10.779 --> 00:34:11.239
 That's yes.

00:34:12.779 --> 00:34:13.820
 Infiltrate the world.

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.719
 Take the gospel

00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.360
 to the world

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:17.400
 where people live

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:20.059
 and be a part

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.619
 of their world

00:34:20.619 --> 00:34:21.320
 instead of always

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:21.800
 saying come

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.500
 and be a part

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.039
 of ours.

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.920
 So I would say

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.360
 to you

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.940
 know what you're

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.279
 about

00:34:27.279 --> 00:34:27.860
 and stay

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.360
 low

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:30.539
 laser focused

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.620
 on doing

00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.140
 that which you're

00:34:32.140 --> 00:34:32.320
 about

00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:33.099
 and not just

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.360
 doing good stuff

00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.200
 and here's the

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.740
 third reason

00:34:35.740 --> 00:34:36.280
 the final piece

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.720
 of advice

00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.120
 I'm going to give

00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:37.720
 you and I close

00:34:37.720 --> 00:34:39.559
 because you need

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.440
 to always remember

00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.539
 the clock

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.440
 is running.

00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:44.680
 Use your time

00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:45.099
 wisely.

00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:45.960
 Paul told the

00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.559
 Ephesians

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:48.180
 to redeem the time.

00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:49.000
 Remember that phrase

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:49.920
 in the book of Ephesians?

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:51.099
 Redeem the time

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.840
 because the days

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.380
 are evil.

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.880
 There was a

00:34:53.880 --> 00:34:54.599
 version of the

00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.120
 scripture called

00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:56.120
 the cotton patch version

00:34:56.120 --> 00:34:56.820
 years and years

00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.460
 and years ago

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:59.080
 and it was written

00:34:59.080 --> 00:34:59.640
 from a southern

00:34:59.640 --> 00:35:00.240
 perspective

00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:01.400
 and you know

00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:02.120
 what the cotton patch

00:35:02.120 --> 00:35:02.740
 version said

00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:03.360
 about that verse

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:03.940
 it said this

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.800
 and I loved it

00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:05.300
 it said

00:35:05.300 --> 00:35:06.800
 use your time

00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.500
 as though you

00:35:07.500 --> 00:35:09.539
 had to buy it.

00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.660
 That's a pretty

00:35:11.660 --> 00:35:12.200
 good idea

00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:12.600
 isn't it?

00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:14.280
 In other words

00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.039
 don't waste your

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.420
 time.

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.620
 Use your time

00:35:17.620 --> 00:35:18.420
 as though you

00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:18.940
 had to buy it

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.600
 because the

00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:20.700
 clock is running

00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:21.539
 out.

00:35:22.860 --> 00:35:23.240
 I'm going to

00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:23.800
 speak to everybody

00:35:23.800 --> 00:35:24.320
 in this room

00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:24.720
 right now

00:35:24.720 --> 00:35:25.880
 at least my age

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:26.500
 and older.

00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:28.200
 You're well

00:35:28.200 --> 00:35:28.820
 aware of that

00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:31.620
 because there's

00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.180
 hardly a day

00:35:32.180 --> 00:35:32.940
 passes in my

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.559
 life that I

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.820
 don't at some

00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:35.280
 point in the

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.940
 time they

00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:37.539
 think the

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:38.039
 clock's running

00:35:38.039 --> 00:35:39.800
 for me and

00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.160
 it's running

00:35:40.160 --> 00:35:40.539
 out.

00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:42.160
 I didn't think

00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:42.500
 that when I

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:42.860
 was 30.

00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:44.059
 I didn't think

00:35:44.059 --> 00:35:44.440
 that when I

00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.820
 was 40.

00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:45.800
 It didn't

00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:46.380
 cross my mind

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:46.800
 even when I

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.220
 was 50.

00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:48.780
 But as my

00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:50.019
 70th birthday

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.700
 is approaching

00:35:50.700 --> 00:35:51.539
 I know this

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.720
 the clock's

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.220
 running and

00:35:54.220 --> 00:35:54.780
 time's running

00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:55.100
 out.

00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.759
 And it's

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.079
 not just

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.480
 running out

00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:56.980
 for us as

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.440
 individuals.

00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:57.739
 I want to

00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:57.920
 tell you

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.159
 something.

00:35:58.819 --> 00:35:59.259
 It's running

00:35:59.259 --> 00:35:59.779
 out for all

00:35:59.779 --> 00:36:00.019
 of us

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.819
 collectively as

00:36:00.819 --> 00:36:01.380
 a church.

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:02.739
 We're on

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.079
 mission.

00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:03.759
 The Lord

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.500
 Jesus Christ

00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.219
 is going to

00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:05.619
 come again

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:05.940
 and when

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.539
 he comes

00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.980
 again the

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:08.440
 clock will

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.199
 have expired.

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:10.679
 Our

00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:11.679
 opportunity to

00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.119
 bring the

00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:12.940
 loss to

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:13.559
 faith in

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.980
 Christ will

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.500
 be over.

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.139
 So I

00:36:17.139 --> 00:36:17.480
 tell you

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:17.679
 this.

00:36:17.759 --> 00:36:18.159
 I close

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.719
 with this.

00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:21.679
 Know your

00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:22.039
 mission.

00:36:23.859 --> 00:36:24.579
 Decide as

00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:24.960
 a church

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:25.420
 here's what

00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:25.799
 we want to

00:36:25.799 --> 00:36:26.219
 be about.

00:36:26.379 --> 00:36:26.699
 Here's what

00:36:26.699 --> 00:36:27.079
 God has

00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.460
 called us

00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:27.839
 to do.

00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:29.059
 Get a

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:29.839
 laser focus

00:36:29.839 --> 00:36:30.359
 on that

00:36:30.359 --> 00:36:30.839
 and don't

00:36:30.839 --> 00:36:31.519
 let anybody

00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.420
 or anything

00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.799
 get you

00:36:33.799 --> 00:36:34.879
 off that

00:36:34.879 --> 00:36:35.279
 mission.

00:36:36.339 --> 00:36:37.159
 Say no

00:36:37.159 --> 00:36:37.719
 to good

00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:38.219
 stuff and

00:36:38.219 --> 00:36:38.679
 just do

00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.159
 the best

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.599
 stuff.

00:36:40.219 --> 00:36:40.920
 Don't try

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:41.279
 to do it

00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:41.739
 all but

00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:42.099
 I'm going

00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.319
 to do

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:43.039
 the best

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.480
 stuff.

00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:44.859
 Not just

00:36:44.859 --> 00:36:45.299
 the good

00:36:45.299 --> 00:36:45.599
 stuff,

00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:46.639
 the best

00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:47.019
 stuff.

00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.059
 Which means

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.460
 I'm going

00:36:48.460 --> 00:36:48.719
 to say

00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:49.099
 no to

00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.259
 some

00:36:49.259 --> 00:36:49.940
 things that

00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.719
 will upset

00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.259
 some folk

00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:52.059
 because they'll

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.559
 say well this

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:52.800
 is a good

00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.139
 thing and you

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:53.380
 ought to be

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.659
 doing the

00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:53.880
 good thing

00:36:53.880 --> 00:36:54.480
 but it's

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:54.940
 not my

00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.440
 purpose.

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.259
 Individually

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:57.900
 and collectively

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:58.739
 in life it's

00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.139
 not my

00:36:59.139 --> 00:36:59.500
 purpose.

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:01.119
 I close

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.460
 with this

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.119
 illustration,

00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:02.900
 true illustration

00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:04.539
 about a

00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.139
 year before I

00:37:05.139 --> 00:37:05.599
 retired,

00:37:05.820 --> 00:37:06.300
 maybe two,

00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:06.780
 I think it

00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.239
 was just a

00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:07.759
 year before I

00:37:07.759 --> 00:37:08.159
 retired.

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:08.900
 I was

00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.980
 beginning to

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.440
 be more and

00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:10.719
 more and

00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:11.400
 more reflective

00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.679
 and more and

00:37:12.679 --> 00:37:13.820
 more of the

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.619
 mindset we've

00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:15.519
 got to stay

00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.599
 focused because

00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:16.900
 there were

00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.619
 just so many

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.319
 demands to

00:37:18.319 --> 00:37:18.799
 do so many

00:37:18.799 --> 00:37:19.559
 different things.

00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:20.900
 There was a

00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.319
 guy I had

00:37:21.319 --> 00:37:22.559
 discipled when I

00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:23.139
 first came to

00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:23.659
 the church,

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.599
 he was newly

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.940
 wed,

00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:25.900
 he had

00:37:25.900 --> 00:37:26.360
 surrendered to

00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:26.759
 ministry,

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:27.679
 he'd gone off

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.219
 to seminary,

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:28.960
 he'd started

00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:29.420
 a church out

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:29.799
 in Tennessee,

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.480
 it was

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:30.860
 booming,

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.219
 it was

00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:31.599
 rocking.

00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:32.940
 I called

00:37:32.940 --> 00:37:33.299
 him and I

00:37:33.299 --> 00:37:33.500
 said,

00:37:33.699 --> 00:37:34.119
 Todd would

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.679
 you fly here

00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:36.159
 to Greenville,

00:37:36.599 --> 00:37:37.239
 we'd like to

00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:38.360
 buy some of

00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:38.759
 your time,

00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.239
 I want you to

00:37:39.239 --> 00:37:39.659
 talk to our

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.360
 staff about what

00:37:40.360 --> 00:37:40.699
 you've done

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.119
 there at that

00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.420
 church.

00:37:41.819 --> 00:37:43.099
 He came and

00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.719
 he shared with

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:44.539
 our staff,

00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:45.380
 we met in this

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:45.900
 conference room,

00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.740
 and he shared

00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.079
 with our

00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:47.360
 staff,

00:37:47.660 --> 00:37:48.160
 here's something

00:37:48.160 --> 00:37:48.660
 you can do to

00:37:48.660 --> 00:37:49.180
 impact your

00:37:49.180 --> 00:37:49.579
 community.

00:37:50.200 --> 00:37:50.760
 It was a big

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.579
 Easter egg deal,

00:37:51.660 --> 00:37:51.780
 right?

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:52.320
 I won't go into

00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:52.980
 great detail

00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.460
 because it's

00:37:53.460 --> 00:37:54.400
 insignificant to

00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.019
 you and your

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.400
 purposes,

00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:57.099
 but we planned

00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.780
 this big event.

00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:59.619
 I had about

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:00.059
 eight staff

00:38:00.059 --> 00:38:00.420
 members that

00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:00.559
 said,

00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:00.940
 you're going to

00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:01.440
 be in charge

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.079
 of it and

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:02.660
 everybody here

00:38:02.660 --> 00:38:02.980
 is going to

00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.220
 help,

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:03.800
 everybody here

00:38:03.800 --> 00:38:04.019
 is going to

00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:04.700
 have responsibility

00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:06.360
 because a lot

00:38:06.360 --> 00:38:06.740
 of times you

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.200
 can have a

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:08.260
 good plan but

00:38:08.260 --> 00:38:08.539
 you don't

00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:09.099
 execute your

00:38:09.099 --> 00:38:09.440
 plan.

00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:10.340
 Sometimes you

00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:10.900
 execute your

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:11.380
 plan but your

00:38:11.380 --> 00:38:11.820
 plan was a

00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.260
 bad plan.

00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.019
 You don't know

00:38:13.019 --> 00:38:13.460
 unless you

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.320
 evaluate so I

00:38:14.320 --> 00:38:14.620
 was always

00:38:14.620 --> 00:38:14.980
 big on

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.380
 evaluation.

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.280
 So here's

00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:16.680
 what we do.

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.400
 You're going to

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:17.820
 be in charge

00:38:17.820 --> 00:38:18.140
 of this.

00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:18.680
 We're going to

00:38:18.680 --> 00:38:19.340
 work this up

00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:20.019
 over about two

00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:21.200
 months and then

00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:21.420
 we're going to

00:38:21.420 --> 00:38:21.800
 do this on

00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:22.500
 Saturday right

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:23.120
 before Easter.

00:38:23.640 --> 00:38:23.800
 Okay?

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:26.760
 Everybody

00:38:26.760 --> 00:38:28.019
 fulfill their

00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:29.280
 responsibility to

00:38:29.280 --> 00:38:30.160
 the nth degree.

00:38:31.240 --> 00:38:32.519
 2,000 people who

00:38:32.519 --> 00:38:33.320
 weren't members of

00:38:33.320 --> 00:38:34.900
 Brushy Creek came

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.660
 to that event.

00:38:36.160 --> 00:38:36.780
 First year we

00:38:36.780 --> 00:38:37.160
 had it.

00:38:38.160 --> 00:38:39.260
 The next year we

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:39.740
 did it.

00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.320
 2,000 people

00:38:41.320 --> 00:38:42.600
 came to that

00:38:42.600 --> 00:38:42.940
 event.

00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:45.000
 The second

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:46.220
 year evaluation

00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:47.140
 was different than

00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:47.720
 the first year

00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:48.340
 because the first

00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:48.940
 year we've just

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:49.460
 had it.

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.760
 But the second

00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:51.440
 year we've had

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:51.920
 it now we've

00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.380
 had it a second

00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:53.360
 time and we've

00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:54.100
 had a chance to

00:38:54.100 --> 00:38:55.300
 see how did this

00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:56.320
 impact our church.

00:38:56.580 --> 00:38:56.780
 Right?

00:38:57.840 --> 00:38:58.640
 I remember we're in

00:38:58.640 --> 00:38:59.400
 this conference room

00:38:59.400 --> 00:38:59.960
 and they're all

00:38:59.960 --> 00:39:00.500
 sitting here around

00:39:00.500 --> 00:39:00.860
 this conference

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:01.120
 table.

00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:01.680
 I get up from

00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:01.960
 the conference

00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:02.760
 table and for

00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:03.300
 some reason I

00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:03.800
 just went over

00:39:03.800 --> 00:39:04.300
 and I'm looking

00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:04.920
 out this window

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.940
 and I'm looking

00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:06.980
 at the streets

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.580
 there running by

00:39:07.580 --> 00:39:08.640
 the church and

00:39:08.640 --> 00:39:09.100
 I'm listening to

00:39:09.100 --> 00:39:09.880
 all the conversation

00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:10.780
 and they're telling

00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:11.220
 me about how

00:39:11.219 --> 00:39:11.599
 many people

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.199
 came and what

00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:12.799
 it cost and

00:39:12.799 --> 00:39:13.199
 the whole nine

00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:13.439
 yards.

00:39:13.819 --> 00:39:14.399
 So I turned to

00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:14.659
 them and I

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.399
 said I looked

00:39:15.399 --> 00:39:16.059
 at the one I'd

00:39:16.059 --> 00:39:16.599
 made in charge

00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:17.000
 and I said I

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:17.279
 want you to

00:39:17.279 --> 00:39:18.599
 know you executed

00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:19.659
 the plan perfectly.

00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:20.939
 You did a great

00:39:20.939 --> 00:39:21.819
 great great job.

00:39:22.819 --> 00:39:23.739
 And every one of

00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:24.500
 you who participated

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:25.480
 in this everybody

00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:26.599
 you showed up you

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.599
 did a good good

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.480
 job and I'm

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:28.739
 going to give

00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:29.459
 you an A plus

00:39:29.459 --> 00:39:31.719
 an effort and it

00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.219
 couldn't be any

00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:32.480
 better.

00:39:33.959 --> 00:39:34.699
 Last time we're

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.119
 ever going to do

00:39:35.119 --> 00:39:35.279
 it.

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:38.159
 And you could

00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:38.639
 hear the air

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.239
 suck out of the

00:39:39.239 --> 00:39:39.459
 room.

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:41.420
 What do you

00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:41.900
 mean the last

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.280
 time we were here?

00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:43.340
 We had 2,000

00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.099
 people there.

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.280
 You see our

00:39:46.280 --> 00:39:47.360
 goal is not to

00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:47.840
 see how many

00:39:47.840 --> 00:39:48.380
 people we can

00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:48.920
 bring to an

00:39:48.920 --> 00:39:49.220
 event.

00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:50.559
 It's to see how

00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.980
 that event impacts

00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:54.320
 our church and the

00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:54.619
 kingdom.

00:39:56.139 --> 00:39:56.860
 And it had

00:39:56.860 --> 00:39:57.760
 little if any

00:39:57.760 --> 00:39:58.980
 impact, lasting

00:39:58.980 --> 00:39:59.460
 impact.

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.860
 And so we're not

00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.300
 going to do that

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:01.539
 anymore.

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.519
 In the eyes of the

00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.099
 world they'd

00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:03.599
 probably call it

00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.039
 success.

00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.340
 success.

00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:06.059
 We're not doing

00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:06.659
 it anymore.

00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:08.619
 Because that's

00:40:08.619 --> 00:40:09.860
 taken us, our

00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:10.920
 energy, our

00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:12.559
 resources, away

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:13.199
 from what our

00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:13.940
 purpose is.

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:14.759
 And it makes us

00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:15.779
 feel good but it's

00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:16.480
 not accomplishing

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.139
 our purpose so

00:40:17.139 --> 00:40:17.579
 we're not going to

00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:18.159
 do that anymore.

00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:20.360
 I'm going to tell

00:40:20.360 --> 00:40:20.940
 you as somebody

00:40:20.940 --> 00:40:21.719
 who's pastored for

00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:23.500
 a long time, the

00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:24.159
 hardest thing to

00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:24.679
 ever do in a

00:40:24.679 --> 00:40:26.279
 Baptist church is

00:40:26.279 --> 00:40:26.980
 not to start

00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:27.639
 something new.

00:40:27.739 --> 00:40:28.119
 That's probably

00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:28.800
 what you think.

00:40:29.259 --> 00:40:30.079
 To sell people

00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:30.619
 a new idea.

00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:31.139
 If you're a pretty

00:40:31.139 --> 00:40:32.779
 good salesman and

00:40:32.780 --> 00:40:33.100
 you've got a

00:40:33.100 --> 00:40:33.800
 pretty good plan,

00:40:34.680 --> 00:40:35.240
 you can always

00:40:35.240 --> 00:40:35.820
 sell people a

00:40:35.820 --> 00:40:36.260
 new idea.

00:40:36.580 --> 00:40:36.980
 You know what's

00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.460
 hard in a Baptist

00:40:37.460 --> 00:40:37.860
 church?

00:40:39.060 --> 00:40:40.240
 To kill something.

00:40:42.060 --> 00:40:43.140
 To bury it when

00:40:43.140 --> 00:40:44.000
 it's already dead.

00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.840
 We'll walk by a

00:40:46.840 --> 00:40:47.720
 stinking, decaying

00:40:47.720 --> 00:40:48.600
 body of ministry

00:40:48.600 --> 00:40:50.100
 all the time.

00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:51.320
 And you'll go,

00:40:51.380 --> 00:40:52.100
 whew, that stinks.

00:40:53.780 --> 00:40:54.540
 Let's just do it

00:40:54.540 --> 00:40:55.160
 again next week.

00:40:55.260 --> 00:40:55.680
 Maybe it'll be

00:40:55.680 --> 00:40:56.360
 better next week.

00:40:59.720 --> 00:41:00.480
 Isn't that so?

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:00.599
 Huh?

00:41:02.240 --> 00:41:03.139
 Got any corpses

00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:03.699
 around here at

00:41:03.699 --> 00:41:04.000
 Pickens?

00:41:07.159 --> 00:41:07.920
 If you want to be

00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:09.139
 a church that's

00:41:09.139 --> 00:41:09.740
 doing what God

00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:10.340
 wants you to do,

00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:11.039
 you've got to

00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:12.039
 first of all, get

00:41:12.039 --> 00:41:12.579
 in the Word and

00:41:12.579 --> 00:41:13.360
 find out what

00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.380
 He wants us to

00:41:14.380 --> 00:41:14.619
 do.

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.260
 And boy, once we

00:41:16.260 --> 00:41:17.039
 lock in on that,

00:41:17.320 --> 00:41:17.900
 we're not going to

00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:18.760
 do other stuff.

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:19.920
 We're going to

00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:20.380
 leave that for

00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:21.039
 somebody else to

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.179
 do.

00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:23.519
 We'll go join

00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:23.860
 them in doing

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:24.460
 good stuff.

00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:25.740
 Our members,

00:41:26.179 --> 00:41:26.539
 we're not going

00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:26.900
 to be afraid.

00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:27.400
 They don't,

00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:28.699
 everything you do

00:41:28.699 --> 00:41:29.460
 for the kingdom

00:41:29.460 --> 00:41:30.199
 doesn't have to be

00:41:30.199 --> 00:41:30.579
 through First

00:41:30.579 --> 00:41:31.299
 Baptist Pickens.

00:41:31.379 --> 00:41:31.519
 Do you

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.099
 understand that?

00:41:32.919 --> 00:41:33.460
 You can go join

00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.159
 some other things.

00:41:35.179 --> 00:41:35.699
 I'm not talking

00:41:35.699 --> 00:41:36.179
 about churches.

00:41:36.359 --> 00:41:37.079
 I'm talking about

00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:37.699
 joining other

00:41:37.699 --> 00:41:38.179
 ministries.

00:41:38.819 --> 00:41:39.619
 Go sing in the

00:41:39.619 --> 00:41:40.500
 local chorus.

00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:42.519
 Go play ball on

00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:44.299
 the softball teams

00:41:44.299 --> 00:41:45.199
 and baseball teams

00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:45.939
 here in Pickens.

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.779
 Be involved in

00:41:47.779 --> 00:41:48.439
 the PTA.

00:41:49.679 --> 00:41:50.539
 Do a lot of

00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:51.599
 stuff and let

00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:53.619
 your influence

00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.399
 for Christ be

00:41:54.399 --> 00:41:55.039
 known in those

00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.480
 places.

00:41:56.579 --> 00:41:57.179
 Let the church

00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:57.919
 stay on focus

00:41:57.919 --> 00:41:58.819
 with what the

00:41:58.819 --> 00:41:59.279
 mission of the

00:41:59.279 --> 00:41:59.839
 church is.

00:42:00.199 --> 00:42:02.339
 bringing men to

00:42:02.339 --> 00:42:02.699
 Christ.

00:42:02.859 --> 00:42:03.439
 Bringing God

00:42:03.439 --> 00:42:03.859
 glory.

00:42:04.739 --> 00:42:05.219
 Let's bow in

00:42:05.219 --> 00:42:05.419
 prayer.

00:42:05.539 --> 00:42:05.819
 Father,

00:42:08.699 --> 00:42:09.739
 you know it's

00:42:09.739 --> 00:42:10.619
 not my heart

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:12.699
 or my desire

00:42:12.699 --> 00:42:14.000
 to just rock

00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:14.839
 the boat or

00:42:14.839 --> 00:42:15.599
 to offend

00:42:15.599 --> 00:42:16.199
 anyone.

00:42:17.779 --> 00:42:18.159
 But God,

00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:19.059
 I pray you'd

00:42:19.059 --> 00:42:19.519
 help our

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.980
 churches across

00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:21.639
 the land

00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:24.579
 to realize

00:42:24.579 --> 00:42:25.559
 you've saved

00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:26.199
 us for a

00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:26.779
 purpose and

00:42:26.779 --> 00:42:27.359
 you brought us

00:42:27.359 --> 00:42:28.099
 together for a

00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:28.399
 purpose.

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:28.559
 purpose.

00:42:29.340 --> 00:42:29.860
 And if we

00:42:29.860 --> 00:42:30.320
 can stay

00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:31.059
 focused,

00:42:31.280 --> 00:42:32.059
 we can

00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:32.960
 accomplish that

00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.360
 purpose.

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:35.139
 And I pray

00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:35.780
 that we never

00:42:35.780 --> 00:42:36.599
 settle for

00:42:36.599 --> 00:42:37.200
 something that's

00:42:37.200 --> 00:42:37.880
 easy and

00:42:37.880 --> 00:42:39.059
 something that's

00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:39.920
 shiny and

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:40.579
 something that

00:42:40.579 --> 00:42:42.139
 maybe will make

00:42:42.139 --> 00:42:43.579
 folk applaud us.

00:42:44.860 --> 00:42:45.559
 But Lord,

00:42:45.639 --> 00:42:46.260
 we would do that

00:42:46.260 --> 00:42:46.820
 which you've

00:42:46.820 --> 00:42:47.380
 called us to do,

00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:48.300
 which really is

00:42:48.300 --> 00:42:49.260
 important to love

00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:49.660
 people,

00:42:50.079 --> 00:42:50.860
 to live holy,

00:42:51.420 --> 00:42:52.160
 to look for your

00:42:52.160 --> 00:42:52.480
 coming,

00:42:52.599 --> 00:42:53.160
 to bring you

00:42:53.160 --> 00:42:53.639
 glory.

00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:55.799
 have your

00:42:55.799 --> 00:42:56.159
 will and

00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:56.940
 way in this

00:42:56.940 --> 00:42:57.659
 service as I

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.159
 pray in your

00:42:58.159 --> 00:42:58.519
 name.

00:42:59.460 --> 00:42:59.920
 For your

00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:00.699
 sake we pray.

00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:01.420
 Amen.

00:43:01.420 --> 00:43:01.559
 Amen.