WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Well good morning Ontario. Hope you guys have, we're warmly greeted this morning and what about this weather? 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:23.000 I gotta admit it. Woke up, it was a nice storm. You know, coming from Hawaii over to here, a cold storm is actually really refreshing compared to, if you can think of the hot humid rainstorms that happen, the tropical storms in Hawaii. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:37.000 It's definitely a big change in there. So today we're going to start a message series over the mission, the vision and the framework here at Ontario Community Church. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:46.000 The idea for this morning is that we are going to see what God, God has some great plans for this place, for this church. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:55.000 And there's just a lot that we turn to the Lord for direction and God will guide us as we go. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:01:08.000 So I have an opening question for you. So imagine for a moment you're lost in the wilderness. You could be lost in the middle of nowhere, you could be lost in the forest. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:20.000 You have no map, you have no clear direction. How would you feel? You feel pretty lost, right? You kind of, for a lot of us, we might go into a panic, right? 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:27.000 And we might be like, I don't know where to go. I might have to look at the position of the sun and I might have to figure out where the wind's flowing. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:34.000 Try to find a way to get out of the wilderness, right? You might feel that sense of panic. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:47.000 And what difference would having a compass make? Or what difference would having a good old fashioned map or maybe a GPS, if it's working, assuming that it's working, right? 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:55.000 That would make you feel very different having that map or that compass and you can get out of the wilderness. 00:01:55.000 --> 00:02:06.000 As we begin our vision journey, I want us to think about how God is like that GPS. God is going to guide us. He is going to lead us. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:12.000 He leads us in our personal lives and He leads us as a community. He leads us as a church. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:19.000 So to start off, I want to show you one of my favorite Bible verses in regards to mission, vision and direction from God. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:27.000 It's going to be on the screen here. It's going to be Proverbs chapter 29 verse 18. Many of you may know it. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:35.000 It says, where there is no vision, the people perish. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:41.000 Now the translation that I'm using is from the King James version, not necessarily our ESV version. 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:56.000 This particular translation, I believe it really conveys this idea here. It's a famous verse that it's talking about divine direction from God, from our Lord our God, when it comes to His people. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:03.000 This verse not only speaks of keeping the law and following God in His direction and if you don't, you will perish. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:13.000 But it also can be used in having vision or having a sense of direction for our own lives, for organizations, for churches, for businesses. 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:21.000 And it's a very encouraging verse that we need to have vision in our life. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:30.000 The word vision in the Hebrew is defined as mental sight. It means revelation or it means a dream. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:39.000 In the modern day context, that can mean it can go over a goal, it can go over direction on where you want to go. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:49.000 And certainly, when we read a passage like this, we should be encouraged to have vision in our life, vision for our personal walk with the Lord. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:57.000 I hope and I pray that every single one of you are on a trajectory going towards the Lord, just like when we went over our study in Jonah. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:04.000 Don't run from God, go towards God. We need to have vision for our families. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:13.000 What is the purpose of our family? Is it to glorify God? Is it to bring forth children into the world that will know who the Lord is? 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:23.000 We need to have visions for our friendships and our relationships, perhaps companies that you may own or even a smart business. 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:29.000 You need to have vision there. And today we will go over the mission, the vision and the process. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:33.000 But before I do, I want us to take a moment to pray and we'll go right into it. 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:43.000 And so, Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time and this opportunity for us to gather together as we are going over the 3E process. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:48.000 The mission, the vision and the framework for our church, Ontario Community Church. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:57.000 We ask that our minds be open to you and your way and that our hearts are open to live and love like you. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:04.000 You God are in control and we wish to submit our intentions. We wish to submit our lives to you. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:15.000 And without you God, we are nothing. But through you we find a new life, we find new identity, we find salvation that exists in Christ alone. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:26.000 We thank you so much once again for this time and being able to come to this place and being shielded away from nature and the storms that's going on. 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:36.000 You protect us. Lead us and guide us as you always have. You're always there for us. You are the constant and an ever-changing world. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:43.000 And we say these things in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. We say this all together. Amen. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:51.000 So years ago, I was working at a church that was located in the middle of a desert. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:58.000 And this church was located in a former, a decommissioned military base. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:04.000 And sadly to say, the town in which this church was in was not thriving. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:11.000 In fact, what was happening was the infrastructure that once existed in the military base was crumbling. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:19.000 So you have this church that was located. It was doing well at the time, but the surrounding area was crumbling. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:25.000 You see, the church was not dead, but it wasn't in a location that it could effectively do ministry anymore. 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:30.000 It was in a location where they had to think, where could we go? 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:36.000 But more importantly, where could God lead us to do effective ministry in this city? 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:41.000 Efforts had been made to maybe let's get the military base opened again. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:48.000 Let's purchase some of these apartment buildings. Let's see if the city will come in and restore it, but to no avail. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:55.000 Unfortunately, there was a lot with lead poisoning and there was a lot of just weird things going on in that military base. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:07:01.000 And although the situation looked, it was not an ideal situation to be. 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:09.000 The pastor and the staff, the board, the church, they all got together. They prayed and they asked God for divine direction. 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:21.000 They asked God, where are we to go? It's going to be stepping out into daring faith, if you will, putting full trust in God for where we're going to go. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:29.000 This church was going to God for direction, but they were planning for such a mood, much like how we as people should do. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.000 We can make plans and with our plans we offer it to God. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:43.000 How often do we have a five-year plan and we submit it to God and God makes some major or even minor adjustments to our plans? 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:49.000 There's a funny joke that I like to think of, and may not be funny when you're in the situation, 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:56.000 but if you want to make God laugh, show him your plans, because God will alter plans as things are going on. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:03.000 But certainly we still should be encouraged to make plans, submit them to the Lord, and God will work with us. 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:10.000 It is critical for any church, for this specific church, they came to God. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:16.000 And it's critical for us as a church to come to the Lord and ask for that direction. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:20.000 Where should we go and how should we be as a church? 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:29.000 I'm reminded of Proverbs chapter 15 verse 22 which says, without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:34.000 This comes with the sense of having people coming together and planning together. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.000 There's also a sense of trusting in God in all seasons of life. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:47.000 We should trust our Lord, our God, no matter what season you're in, whether you are in a new relationship, 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:54.000 whether you're entering retirement season, whether you have the birth of your first child, whatever season you're in, 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:59.000 maybe you're entering college, whatever it is, trust in the Lord. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:05.000 I'm reminded of the famous passage in Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 through 6, many of you know it, 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:10.000 trust in the Lord with all of your hearts, and do not lean on your own understanding. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:17.000 And in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight or make your paths straight. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.000 He will adjust. 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:28.000 The church that I worked for made a commitment to work for God, to submit to Him and allow God to guide them. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:38.000 Proverbs 16 3 says, commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established and these plans are established by God. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:44.000 This church, although it was established, they needed a mission, vision and framework, much like any church does. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:47.000 So where do we turn to for direction? 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:54.000 My friends, we can look at the pages of Scripture for where, how we should conduct our lives. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.000 Look, the Bible has the story of salvation. 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:04.000 It has the story of how we can come to Christ, the miracles that Jesus Christ performed. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 Turning water into wine would be an amazing thing to see. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.000 The parting of the Red Sea would be an amazing thing to see. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:20.000 Jesus walking on water, there's many miracles, but there's also wisdom in Scripture that we can use. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:27.000 We turn to the pages of the Word of God to be able for God to guide us wherever we go. 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:29.000 The church is a beacon of hope. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:33.000 It is a place where we love God and we love people. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.000 The church is a place where we come to learn about the Word of God. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:40.000 We learn what it means to be a Christian. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.000 We certainly should be encouraged to make a decision for Christ. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:47.000 We certainly should be encouraged to be baptized. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:54.000 We certainly should be encouraged to become members of a church, particularly this church as well. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:57.000 We should have that sense of encouragement. 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:03.000 You should be equipped with the Word of God knowing what the Word of God has to say. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:10.000 Let me tell you, studying the Word of God and reading the Word of God, it's something that takes a lifetime to do. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:19.000 I can't tell you how many times I have read certain passages in Scripture and how God spoke to me in those verses 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:29.000 when I was a teenager or even when I was a child is very different than how God will speak to you as an adult or whatever season you're at in your life. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:32.000 You could be going through the biggest crisis in your life. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:37.000 You could be going through the biggest triumph in your life, the greatest celebration in your life. 00:11:37.000 --> 00:11:40.000 And the Word of God will speak to you. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.000 That's something that's powerful about our God. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:48.000 We are made to love God and to love people. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:53.000 We are made to learn about who God is and the Word of God. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:12:02.000 And we are encouraged to lead others to Christ through service and through the sharing of our favor. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:07.000 And all of these things that I'm mentioning, my friends, are all based in the Word of God. 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:13.000 And in the end, the wonderful thing about this story, about this church that I was telling you, 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:15.000 they sold their building. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.000 I'm not telling us to sell our building, mind you. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:23.000 They sold their building and they relocated into a more centralized location. 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:28.000 And the church had some hiccups, like all churches do. 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:31.000 But the church is still existing. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:33.000 They did relocate twice actually. 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:37.000 But they're doing very effective ministry for the glory of God. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:44.000 Because when you follow the Lord, God will take you on a path of just some incredible, incredible things. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.000 You'll see things and experience things that are just remarkable. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:55.000 And for the context of this church that had existed for years, when the military base was thriving, 00:12:55.000 --> 00:13:02.000 when the military base was established, they were doing so well, but the time was to act. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:08.000 And the time was for them to move to another location to do that effective ministry. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:15.000 And it was through working with that church and now working here that we use the Bible as a framework. 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:20.000 So I'd like to introduce to you what's called the 3E pathway. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:27.000 It is the 3E's stand for encourage, equip, and engage. 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:30.000 So here is our vision statement. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:34.000 Ontario Community Church, we are encouraging people. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:40.000 We are equipping people and we are engaging lives for Christ. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:41.000 So what does that mean? 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:46.000 It means we are encouraging people to love God and to love people. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:52.000 My friends, that is probably one of the most important things for any church to have. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:57.000 To learn to love God with all of your heart. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:59.000 There is the equipping. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:04.000 And this is very important where we are equipped to know what it means to be a Christian. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:10.000 To make a decision for Christ is the most important step in your spiritual walk with the Lord. 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:13.000 But it's the beginning. It's not the end. 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:17.000 It's just like the word commencement when you graduate. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.000 It is the beginning. It's not the end. 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:28.000 So when you become a new believer in Christ, that is the beginning for you to grow in the faith. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.000 And as you grow, engage. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.000 You engage the community. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:38.000 You engage people through service and through sharing in your faith. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.000 So I want to go over these three points. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.000 So we encourage people to love God and to love others. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.000 Like I said, this is the first and most important part. 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:54.000 When we worship God, when we're singing songs, when we're praising the Lord, we are loving God. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.000 Look at the lyrics of what you're singing. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.000 What do they mean? What are they saying? 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:06.000 These are songs that are really to get us to think and reflect on our lives. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:15.000 But more importantly, it is for us to intentionally focus on our Lord and our God and saying, thank you Lord. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.000 We praise you Lord. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:21.000 We love you because you loved us first and foremost. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:26.000 Look, we don't have to come to the Lord as perfect people. 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.000 We come in our current state. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:33.000 We can be going through trials and tribulations in our life. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.000 We could just be okay. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:43.000 But no matter what you are going through, you can still come to the Lord and say, thank you God for this life that you've given to me. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:51.000 I thank God for every moment, every second, because look, time is so short here on this earth. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:56.000 And when we come to praise the Lord, we thank God. That's just one part of it. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.000 God's way is higher. God is holy. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:03.000 And God's arms are open for us to come to Him to make that decision. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.000 We don't look, I don't know where you all are on your spiritual journey. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.000 But what matters is that you can come to the Lord. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.000 John 13, 34 through 35, right? 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:22.000 A new commandment I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.000 You are also to love one another. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:30.000 But by this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:37.000 Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment that they love each other just as Christ had loved them. 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:41.000 Now that's a pretty amazing kind of love, right? 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:45.000 I think of that song, Amazing Love. How could it be? 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.000 We are to exhibit that love. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:52.000 It's one of the great encouragement that, like I said, God loved us first and foremost. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.000 And we're to exhibit that love of Christ. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:17:00.000 1 John chapter 4 verse 7 through 8. All of these verses are going to be in your notes. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.000 You don't have to turn there. There's a lot of verses here. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:06.000 So I'm trying to go over as quickly here. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:14.000 Let us love one another, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:18.000 Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:21.000 One of the many love passages here, right? 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:27.000 That we should love one another. That is what we're commanded to do. 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:33.000 We're reminded that love comes from God and we are, it's for us to love others. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:37.000 It's a demonstration of the love that God has for us. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.000 And this is why we are that first point encouraging. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.000 Because we're encouraging people through loving God. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:50.000 It's that love when you invite your friends or your family or people you interact with. 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:56.000 It's through personal invitation. It's through that communication that you have with people. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:18:05.000 Mark chapter 12 verse 30 through 31. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:11.000 You shall love your neighbor as yourself and there is no other commandment greater than these. 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:16.000 It is Jesus Christ who sums up the love God and love people. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:27.000 It's the summary of the law. It is Christ who made this declaration about love and we as Christians are to follow in the footsteps of Christ. 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:35.000 1 Corinthians is a very, very powerful passage chapter 13 verse 1 through 3. 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:43.000 But it's basically saying if I speak in tongues, if I have prophetic powers, if I understand all mysteries and have all knowledge, but I don't have love. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:47.000 What's it saying? I gain nothing. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:52.000 That can be a week ago and on and on about that passage and many of these passages. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.000 But all of this is for that first point. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:19:05.000 The apostle Paul is saying you may have those gifts and those abilities, but if you don't have love, you gain nothing. Ouch! 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:12.000 That's really hard, but it's to encourage us to love. It's to encourage us to love others. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:19.000 1 John chapter 3 verse 18. Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but indeed and in truth. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:25.000 It's saying that the action is speaking louder than words. Certainly we can have conversations with people. 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:29.000 But what is the action that you do to exhibit love to others? 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.000 It's just like the famous faith without works is dead passage in scripture. 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:42.000 We show love through our action and in truth. We know that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth in the life and we are to go encourage people. 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:46.000 It is the action. It is the doing. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:50.000 And what this looks like is we invite people to church. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:57.000 It may be that family member. It may be a co-worker. It may be your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:05.000 That's a very profound question to think about. Is it literally the person next door or is it the person across the street? 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:10.000 Is your neighbor down the street? Where does it end? At what point is it no longer your neighbor? 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 That's a very good question to think about. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:24.000 It is being present with others. It's offering to pray and be there with someone to show the love of Christ and encourage them to come to Christ. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:32.000 The second point is to equip believers for spiritual growth. We want every person to make a decision for Christ. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:43.000 I want to make that very clear. And as they become Christians, they should grow in knowing the word of God and knowing what it means to be a Christian. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:51.000 It's that yes moment. You receive the free gift of salvation. You begin on your spiritual journey in discipleship. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:57.000 To be a disciple is merely to be a student. It's to be a student of Christ. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:02.000 We always are learning. We're always growing, aren't we? We're always are. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:12.000 The things we learn as a young adult or as a teenager or as a child, it's going to be a different lesson than when you're 30, 45, 65, whatever ages you are. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:29.000 We're always growing. Ephesians chapter 4, 11 through 13, it's talking about, he gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:39.000 And it's this idea of being equipped. Do you realize that this is the one time in scripture where the word equip is mentioned as the act of equipping? 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:49.000 Now, I know the word equip is used many times in scripture, but the act of being equipped, it's the one time that it shows up there. 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:58.000 So it's contextually, the word of God is saying that God gave leaders unique gifting for the process of equipping others. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:06.000 We as the people of God are to constantly be equipped on this process of growth. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:13.000 Second Timothy 3, 16, all scripture is breathed out by God. I love this verse. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:18.000 It's profitable for teaching and reproof for correction, for training in righteousness. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:26.000 It's saying that God divinely inspired the word of God and we are to be equipped, right? 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:32.000 We are to be prepared in this sense so that we can do every good work in the name of God. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:45.000 I cannot emphasize this enough. Look, we are not saved by works. No, we're saved by grace through faith. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:53.000 We are saved so that we can do good in the world. There is a profound difference between the two. 00:22:53.000 --> 00:23:04.000 Many other faiths make the opposite argument. You must do to be saved. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:11.000 It's already been done by Jesus Christ dying on the cross. I want to make that very clear. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:20.000 Jesus died on the cross for us and because he died on the cross for it, that should be encouragement to go out into the world 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.000 and to do good in the name of Christ. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:33.000 Hebrews 5, chapter 5, verse 11 through 14. We can go on and on, but it's about this verse. 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:38.000 It's saying you need milk, not solid food for everyone who lives on milk. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:43.000 He's talking about people in the church who need to go back to milk. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:52.000 But the idea, just like in 1 Peter 2, verse 2, like newborn infants, they long for pure spiritual milk. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:24:00.000 I'm mentioning the milk passages, if you will, right? As babies, do you give a newborn baby a nice juicy steak? 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:09.000 I mean, no, if you do, I think you got to rethink how you're feeding your newborn baby, you know? 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:16.000 You give them a bottle, you give them milk, right? And that milk is nourishing them as they're growing, right? 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:23.000 And then there comes a point where your child is like, I'm done with the bottle. I want to try mac and cheese. 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:31.000 I would know nothing about this, you know? Not that my kids have mac and cheese all the time, not that that's one of their favorite foods. 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:40.000 The idea is that we all start out just as infants who are drinking spiritual milk. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:46.000 Well, eventually there comes a point where we no longer need milk. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:53.000 And we start going into 1 Peter, it's saying you may grow up, right? 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.000 Or in Hebrews here, milk is for unskilled. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:06.000 Solid food is for the mature, who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:13.000 It's a process that we grow. We start learning more about our faith and we become mature adults. 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:24.000 I can't, look, I don't mean to be critical of anyone when I'm saying this, but certainly I feel there's a problem 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:28.000 that a lot of churches, they don't train their people. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:35.000 We need to go in the Word of God. We need to go deep and learn the more intricacies of Jesus Christ, 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:40.000 or to learn about wisdom literature, or we need to learn about the minor prophets. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.000 It's just like why we went over the whole eight week series on Jonah. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:49.000 There are a lot of things that when you first read that, you don't really get. 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:51.000 That's why we go in depth. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:53.000 That's why we have Bible studies. 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:56.000 It's to help us grow on the process. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:01.000 And certainly here, we're not just going to have milk. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:08.000 I really hope that you guys can have an asparagus, or maybe some watermelon, or some steak, some mac and cheese, 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:12.000 or potatoes and gravy, a variety of foods, if you will. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.000 I know that we can think of, well, what is a watermelon, Patrick? 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:18.000 I don't know what the spiritual truth of watermelon is. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:24.000 The point is, though, we are to go deeper in the Word of God, and we are to grow. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:29.000 And finally, we have to understand that to be a disciple, it's to be a student, it's a lifelong process. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:36.000 There is no end, however, there is a trajectory that we see that people are growing in their faith. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 It's just like in Sunday school, right? 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.000 I can't help but think of Jonah as the example, right? 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:48.000 You do the little coloring sheet with Jonah in the whale, right? 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.000 Nice little colors. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:55.000 As you get older, how is that connected with Scripture? 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:57.000 Why is this wording here? 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:59.000 You know, it's those kind of things. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:02.000 So it's finally, just think of this idea. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:05.000 You're a Christian, you made that decision for Christ's sake. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:07.000 Maybe you just stopped baptized as well. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.000 Now what? 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.000 Grow. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.000 Be encouraged to grow. 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:18.000 And then finally, that third point, it's to engage people for service, to share in their faith. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:26.000 And as we are equipped on that path of spiritual growth, we should be encouraged to engage the community for Christ. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:32.000 To make a decision for Christ is to be set free from sin. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:34.000 It doesn't give you that ticket to ride. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:41.000 So as you're learning and growing, be encouraged to be present in the community. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.000 Be encouraged to share in your faith. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:48.000 Look, I know there's a lot of people out there that are like, 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:56.000 well, look, I don't have a crazy testimony story where I was on the streets and I was doing drugs and I turned around for Christ. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:58.000 You don't have to. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:03.000 You know what's the most encouraging thing that you can do if you don't have a crazy testimony story? 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:06.000 It's just being present with someone. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:08.000 It's just being there for people. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:10.000 It's exhibiting that love. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.000 And that's this final point, engaging people for service. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:18.000 We are the hands and the feet of God. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.000 We are to do good things for Christ. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:29.000 There are many opportunities where we can, yes, share in our faith, but also do good in the world. 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:31.000 We're to make a difference. 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:42.000 It's like, think of the times in Scripture where someone's asking for your coat or someone's asking for food. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.000 Doesn't Scripture say something about that? 00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:49.000 Doesn't Scripture say that if someone's hungry, we should feed them? 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:54.000 Doesn't Scripture say if someone's thirsty, you give them a drink? 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.000 How often do we do that? 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:02.000 I gotta keep myself in check because sometimes when someone's hungry, I'm like, look, I got somewhere to be. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:06.000 But we should be encouraged though when someone's asking for food. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:08.000 We give them food. 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:13.000 Now, I know that hits home because it's like, well, should we give them money? 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:15.000 What do we do with that? 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:22.000 I know we have love ink that helps us, but also if someone specifically is asking for food, just offer them food. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:25.000 You don't have to offer them money. 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:27.000 That's between you and God. 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:31.000 There's many ways to serve the Lord. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:37.000 We should be engaged in our community by serving with our time, with our talent and treasure. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:45.000 Matthew chapter 28 verse 19 and 20 says to go and make disciples of all nations, 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.000 baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:55.000 and baptizing them to observe all that I have commanded you and behold, I'm going to be with you. 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:57.000 It's the Great Commission. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:30:02.000 We are told to make disciples, to make students, if you will, of all nations. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:09.000 I love how that's the definition of disciple is a student because you're always learning from God. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:12.000 It's a constant thing that's happening. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:18.000 We engage the community by sharing the gospel, by sharing our testimony and by serving the community. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:24.000 Now, how what that looks like from one person to the next, that may look different. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:27.000 You may be better at sharing your testimony. 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:32.000 You may be better at helping, helping feed people. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:34.000 It really depends. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:40.000 I would say that each person is different with that. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:47.000 Scripture says we are to love God and to love people and part of that love is by serving God. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:51.000 By serving God and serving his people. 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:59.000 Acts 1-8, it says you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witness in Jerusalem. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:06.000 Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give us power to witness to others because God is with us. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.000 God gives us the tools. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.000 He gives us the ability, the opportunity, the strength to speak to people. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:15.000 Yeah, we forget nervous when we talk to people, right? 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:18.000 And don't you get nervous when you talk to people about your faith? 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:19.000 There's something about that. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:24.000 I don't know why that is, but I think it's just going up to a stranger, if you will. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:29.000 But God gives us the tools to be able to speak to others. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:34.000 You never know who God will have you speak to. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:42.000 Because perhaps God is going to use you in a certain moment to speak through you to someone. 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:46.000 You might share the gospel with them. You might just have a conversation. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:52.000 You might be going to a concert and just meet somebody who hasn't been to church and you just say, 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:55.000 oh yeah, I go to this church or whatever. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:59.000 You don't know the impact that does. You probably will never see him again. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:04.000 When you're going to the coffee shop or you're going to a restaurant, you're going to the grocery store, 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:11.000 you have no idea the profound impact that we have on others. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:16.000 I have a really great short story to tell you. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:25.000 A long time ago, when I was writing my first book, I was working with someone to help do research with me, right? 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:29.000 This person was not a Christian, but I said there's some biblical themes here. 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:35.000 Help me write the book, help me drop the outline. It was really great. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:41.000 That person, just by sending emails, chats, occasional phone calls, 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:48.000 months after the book was published, I got maybe five copies bought, right? 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:55.000 It wasn't really a success. However, you know the crazy thing, and I don't really tell people this story. 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:00.000 I don't know why. Maybe I haven't found the right opportunity. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:08.000 The person who worked with me came to Christ. Like three months later, got an email. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.000 I really appreciated working with you. It was an honor. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:18.000 And because of your interaction and kind of reading the contents of the book, I went to a church. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:24.000 I made a decision for Christ. I got baptized and now I'm active in the church. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:32.000 And I'm like, interaction, just as I look, I would have never thought this person would have come to Christ. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.000 There's just someone to help me with organizing structure here. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:42.000 But that goes to show you how much of an impact you can have on people. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:46.000 And we are encouraged to just by being yourself and say, yeah, I'm a Christian. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:50.000 This is how God's worked in my life. That's all the conversation was. 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:58.000 I had no idea this person like what do you mean you you went to a church you said you're not you made it clear you're not Christian. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:05.000 Well, yeah, but yeah, that's always a good one, right? Yeah, but I went to a church. 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:09.000 I became a Christian and now I'm not doing that kind of work anymore. 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:14.000 Now I'm going to church and going to Bible study. It's it's remarkable. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:23.000 And I tend to think that although the book flopped God, God's will was done. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:28.000 And in the same way, God's will will be done through you. We should be encouraged by that. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:36.000 First Peter 410 as everyone has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God, very of God's very grace. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:45.000 Whoever speaks it saying serve. It's that final point to engage the community for Christ. 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:52.000 Every single one of us has gifts, talents and abilities, and we are encouraged to serve others based on our own unique gifting. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:59.000 Find out your spiritual gifts. Find that out and use it to serve God. 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:03.000 God will be glorified in this. And I actually love in that first Peter passage. 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:10.000 He says serves by the strength that God supplies in order that everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:15.000 which is basically saying when you're serving God, God will be glorified. 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:24.000 God will be basically proud. He'll be glorified by you serving him by you using your gifts. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:31.000 That's an encouragement. Like when I read that, I'm like, man, I want to serve the Lord and I want to continue to serve the Lord. 00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:38.000 I want God to be glorified in this. This ain't about me. It's about my glory. This is about God's glory. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:48.000 God's given us everything that we are. Our lives, our families. Shouldn't we use that to honor and glorify him? 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:51.000 It's definitely something to think about. 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:59.000 Matthew chapter 5 verse 16, in the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see the good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:04.000 We know that in scripture that God is light and in him there is no darkness. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:11.000 We should exhibit that light that comes from God. Let the light shine through you for others. 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:19.000 That is an encouragement. We are saved so that we can do good in the world. 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:24.000 As a Christian, we are the hands and feet of Christ. 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:36.000 Ephesians 2.10, we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them again. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:42.000 Saved by grace through faith so that we can do good. I've got to make that clear to you guys. 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:50.000 And this final verse is but an encouragement for us that we are created to make that decision for Christ and do good in the world. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:37:02.000 What this looks like is believers serving in the church, serving maybe being a greeter, maybe helping in the tech team, but it's also sharing in your faith, serving in the community. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:10.000 Certainly, I encourage all of you to serve in the church, but also serve in the community, sharing your faith. 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:14.000 Let others know that you're a Christian. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:19.000 Don't be ashamed of the gospel. Don't be ashamed of your faith. 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:33.000 And so this is the 3D pathway to encourage love for God and others, to equip believers for spiritual growth, and to engage people in service and in sharing their faith. 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:41.000 As we close, I want us to imagine this church as a beacon of hope for people, for the lost. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:54.000 I want to remind us that we have the opportunity to reach people for Christ, to give hope to the hopeless, to help those in need, and to make a profound impact on the community. 00:37:54.000 --> 00:38:02.000 I want us to picture. I want you to look at, turn to the empty pew next to you. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:10.000 I want you to imagine a person who is not here, someone who is yet to come here. 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:17.000 Imagine someone who's sitting next to you, coming to Christ. 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:25.000 Imagine their life being transformed. Imagine seeing someone become baptized. 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:33.000 Imagine seeing someone growing in their faith where they're learning, Jesus died for me. 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:41.000 You know, my son, my son Aaron, my firstborn, he's not old enough to fully understand. 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:52.000 But I know one time he went to a good Friday service, right at the end of that. He's in the car. Jesus died. 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:58.000 I said, I'm going to make you tear up a little bit here, but that's right. Jesus died. 00:38:58.000 --> 00:39:06.000 And that made an impression on him. And I think that's, I hope that'll be with him for the rest of his life. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:15.000 Imagine lives being transformed just like it could be a child, could be an older person. 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:24.000 With us being a church that has a clear vision for Christ, we will be an effective church that will grow in a healthy way. 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:32.000 You see, I want this church to grow, not necessarily in numbers. Numbers are good, but health is better. 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:40.000 Have a healthy church that is sold out for Christ, that loves God, that worships and praises the Lord, 00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:51.000 that is growing in that constant state of being equipped and engages, engages in the community for Christ. 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:58.000 So with that, let's pray. Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity to come together to worship you, 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:07.000 to praise you, to pray to you, and to be motivated to act, to be inspired to learn as you call us to serve. 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:13.000 We pray that this church will be a beacon of hope for those who are lost, that they may come to you, 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:19.000 may they be restored in you, may they be on that path to grow in you. 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:24.000 May we be an encouraging church to love you and to love others. 00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:29.000 May we be an equipping church to equip people to grow and mature in you. 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:35.000 May we be an engaging church to engage people and the community in your holy name. 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:43.000 We ask that you are with us as we are preparing for our time of communion before we leave this place. 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:50.000 We ask that you are with us, inspire us and motivate us to be with us now and forever. 00:40:50.000 --> 00:41:16.000 It is in Jesus' name that we pray. We all say together, Amen.