WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.500
 Well, good morning, Christ the King Church. How are you guys doing this morning?

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 Oh, good. You guys are a little awake. That's good to know. Good response.

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 Well, just in case you haven't heard my name already, my name is Pastor Dan Nelson.

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 We are planting the Grove Church in Union Grove, Wisconsin later this year.

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 And I'm just so thankful to be here again with you,

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 worshiping with you this morning, and being able to bring God's Word.

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 I'm here with my lovely wife, Heather, and my daughter, Abby, and son, Levi.

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 And we are just so thankful again to be here.

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 We know that, or I know, that it's really an important thing

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 that I'm getting to share Pastor Mike Silvati's pulpit,

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 and he's sharing the congregation with me.

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 And so I take that, I don't take that lightly,

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 but I am very thankful to be here this morning.

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 Today's sermon is going to be anchored in Revelation 7, 9 through 12.

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 I've been asked to cover church planting, and I am so thankful to do that.

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 You'll notice I did say the word anchored,

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 so we're also going to be preaching from a couple other texts,

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 which is not my normal mode of apparatus,

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 but I'm excited to talk to you about church planting this morning.

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 One of the most frequent questions I receive is,

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 why are you planting a church?

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 And so that's one of those questions that we'll answer today.

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 But before we do that, let's read God's word,

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 coming from Revelation 7, 9 through 12.

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 After this I looked, and behold,

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 a great multitude that no one can number,

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 from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages,

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 standing before the throne and before the Lamb,

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 clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands,

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 and crying out with a loud voice,

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 salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.

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 And all the angels were standing around the throne

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 and around the elders and the four living creatures.

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 And they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,

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 saying,

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 Amen!

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 Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power

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 and might be to our God forever and ever.

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 Amen.

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 Why?

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 Parents, isn't that your favorite question to receive from kids?

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 Why?

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 Anytime your kid asks why,

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 you have two possible responses.

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 Either the Lord in that moment has given you enough grace

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 to say,

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 Yes, son or daughter,

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 let me answer that question for you.

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 Let me give you a little extra piece of knowledge.

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 Or maybe, just maybe,

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 you're lacking that grace and you respond,

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 Because I said so.

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 Right?

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 So many of the best questions,

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 the root of almost all questions,

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 is why?

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 And we are often,

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 even as Christians,

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 asked,

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 Why?

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 Why do you believe in Jesus?

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 Maybe even a step beyond that.

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 Why do you go to church?

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 If a friend asks you that question,

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 how might you answer that?

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 You might say,

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 I love Jesus.

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 And Jesus loves me.

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 Maybe you say something like,

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 I don't know,

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 they're just really good at throwing these parties called potlucks.

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 Right?

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 I hope those aren't your only answers,

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 but I'll let Pastor Mike work that out in the future.

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 Another question we receive is,

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 Why is the church dying?

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 Oh man.

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 Have you guys seen the headlines over the last four or five years?

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 I've got five or so of them here.

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 The American church is dying.

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 Decline of Christianity continues at a rapid pace.

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 Is the American church dying?

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 The great de-churching.

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 Oh, and my favorite one that I actually came across this week,

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 is thousands of churches will likely close down.

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 What happens to all the real estate?

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 Now, that probably reveals people's hunger for the church to maybe die,

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 so they can use these spaces for something different.

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 One could argue that if the church were dying,

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 it would be because we have not adhered to preaching the gospel,

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 making disciples of the gospel,

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 and multiplying the gospel.

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 Over the last few years, my favorite question,

00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:55.759
 my favorite why question has been,

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 Dan, why plant a church?

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 My favorite response is, why not?

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 We've been reminded for years that the American church is in decline.

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 Our culture is becoming increasingly hostile towards Christianity.

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 Churches are closing down all around us.

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 40 million Americans have left the church over the last 25 years.

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 That's a real stat.

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 Like no other time in American history,

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 we are at a point of crisis in the church.

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 This seems like the perfect time to plant more churches.

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 Not to mention, church planting is a mandate of the Great Commission

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 and a foretaste of heaven.

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 To be clearer,

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 I am saying that we must plant churches to fulfill the Great Commission

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 and expand God's kingdom.

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 Let me say that again.

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 We must plant churches to fulfill the Great Commission

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 and expand God's kingdom.

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 This morning, our sermon is titled,

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 Church Planting,

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 A Foretaste of Heaven.

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 We're going to look at three points

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 to show the importance of planting churches.

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 First, we're going to look at the Great Commission.

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 We're going to look at Paul's example

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 of bringing out the Great Commission.

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 And then, of course,

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 the passage in Revelation 7

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 that I told Mike that I would originally preach.

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 So turn with me to Matthew 28, 18 through 20.

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 I know I am cheating here.

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 I'm supposed to be in Revelation 7.

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 I get it.

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 However, to understand the end result,

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 we must understand the mission and mode

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 that gets us to Revelation 7.

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 Our first point this morning is that

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 the Great Commission is a mandate to plant churches.

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 Let me repeat that for our note takers in the room.

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 The Great Commission is a mandate to plant churches.

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 Let me read Matthew 28, 18 through 20 for us.

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 And Jesus came and said to them,

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 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

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 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

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 baptizing them in the name of the Father

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 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

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 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

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 And behold, I am with you always

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 to the end of the age.

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 Now Jesus Christ, resurrected after his death,

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 did ministry and showed himself to many witnesses.

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 But he had one last thing to say directly to the disciples.

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 Brothers and sisters,

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 these words are not just historical instruction to the apostles.

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 They are a living and breathing mandate for us today.

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 The Great Commission is our marching order,

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 our divine directive,

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 and it drives the essence of what it means to be the church.

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 Go is an active, intentional movement.

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 We are not called to sit back and wait for people to come to us.

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 We are commanded to go out into the world,

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 to step into the lives and communities of those who do not know Jesus.

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 Going is the very foundation of church planting.

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 It requires us to leave our comfort zones,

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 to reach out to new places, new cultures, new generations,

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 with a gospel message.

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 Next, we see that we are to make disciples of all nations.

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 The scope of the Great Commission is global.

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 It knows no boundaries, no barriers of race, ethnicity, or nationality.

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 Church planting embodies this global vision.

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 By establishing new churches in diverse locations,

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 we extend the reach of the gospel,

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 bringing the light of Christ to every corner of the earth.

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 Every new church plant is a beacon of hope.

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 A city on the hill, in the words of Jesus.

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 A place where disciples are made,

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 nurtured, and sent out to continue the mission.

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 We're also called in the Great Commission

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 to baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

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 Baptism is the outward sign of an inward transformation.

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 A public declaration of faith,

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 an entry into the community of believers.

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 Through church planting,

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 we create spaces where new believers can be baptized,

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 publicly declaring their faith,

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 and welcoming them into the family of God.

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 These new churches become the birthplace of a faith,

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 the starting point of a lifelong journey of discipleship.

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 Finally, Jesus commands us to teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.

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 Church planting is not just about gathering converts.

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 It is about making disciples who live out Jesus' teachings in their daily lives.

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 New churches provide an environment where believers are taught,

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 nurtured, and equipped to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

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 They become centers of teaching,

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 where the gospel is proclaimed and practiced.

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 The Great Commission is our divine mandate to plant churches.

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 It calls us to go,

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 make disciples,

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 baptize,

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 and teach.

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 It is a call to action,

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 a call to transformation,

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 a call to bring the light of Christ

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 to every nation,

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 every community,

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 and every heart.

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 Whether you live in downtown Kenosha,

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 Ghana, Africa,

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 London,

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 or the small rural village of Union Grove, Wisconsin,

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 we are called to make disciples

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 of every nation and people group.

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 There are people locally,

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 regionally,

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 nationally,

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 and internationally

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 who do not know Jesus Christ.

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 It is our mission

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 to bring the gospel to them

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 and plant churches

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 that make disciples

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 who are rooted in the gospel

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 and that continue to grow in it.

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 Then, just as Jesus did,

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 we send them out

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 to participate

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 in the mission

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 of multiplying disciples

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 through evangelism

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 and planting churches.

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 Planting churches

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 is not just one way

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 that we bring the gospel to the lost.

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 It isn't just one strategy.

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 It is the way.

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 It is the strategy.

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 Let me give you

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 a practical example of this.

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 Now, you don't all know me well yet,

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 and I hope to get to know you more

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 as we plant the Grove Church together.

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 But, spoiler alert,

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 I am a sinner,

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 and I once was a very lost man.

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 My faith was shaken

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 at the age of 20,

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 and quite honestly,

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 it really was just revealing

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 a lack of faith.

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 I was lost,

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 and I went to the world

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 to seek answers.

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 I found my answers

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 on the internet

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 and the meaning of my career.

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 The internet told me

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 that God wasn't real,

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 and the world told me

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 that my career

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 would give me purpose

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 and identity.

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 During this time,

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 I got married to Heather.

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 We were high school sweethearts.

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 She watched this good man

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 who was supposedly a Christian

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 when we met,

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 when we started dating,

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 this man transform

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 into something,

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 anything but that.

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 Became angry.

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 I had an insatiable appetite

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 for power

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 and money.

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 She knew I was lost,

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 and she begged me

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 to go to church

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 with her

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 for years.

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 My excuse was that

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 the church is filled

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 with pretenders

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 and phonies.

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 there's no way

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 we would be able

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 to find a good one.

00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.360
 My wife,

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 early on in my slide

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 into being even more lost,

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 got me to attend

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 one church, actually.

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 And after we left

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 that church service,

00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:01.580
 she looked at me

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 so excitedly,

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 and she said,

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.279
 Dan,

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 what do you think?

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 I shrugged.

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 I said,

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 the people seemed fake,

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 and I'm not going

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 to go to church

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 where all of your

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 Trinity friends

00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.000
 are attending.

00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:17.580
 Now, that last line

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.100
 is actually much closer

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 to the truth.

00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.440
 What I was calling

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:24.340
 fake was actually

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:26.139
 a genuine Christian.

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.899
 They were genuine Christians

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.120
 who knew and loved Jesus,

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:29.740
 and they were being

00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:31.680
 sanctified and being made

00:14:31.680 --> 00:14:32.480
 more righteous.

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.340
 I know this to be true

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.720
 because now I know

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.279
 that church to be faithful

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.720
 with a genuinely loving

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.240
 community of Christ followers,

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.440
 and quite honestly,

00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:42.220
 they are one of the major

00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.039
 pillars of the community

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.659
 they serve.

00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:46.740
 this church

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:48.139
 was Crossway

00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:49.659
 of Bristol, Wisconsin,

00:14:50.459 --> 00:14:51.179
 your mother church.

00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:54.000
 But in my blindness,

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:56.259
 all I saw were clicks,

00:14:56.839 --> 00:14:57.299
 phoniness,

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.259
 and weirdos.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.059
 Crossway would have been

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:01.120
 about 10 years old

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.699
 at this point.

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.699
 It wasn't an institutional

00:15:04.699 --> 00:15:05.360
 church yet.

00:15:05.659 --> 00:15:06.399
 I know they just celebrated

00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.159
 25 years.

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.980
 However, the church

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.240
 my wife finally got me

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.799
 to attend

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:12.059
 a few years after this,

00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:13.679
 the church in which

00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:14.879
 I become saved,

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.359
 the church in which

00:15:16.359 --> 00:15:17.579
 I entered into a real

00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:18.979
 relationship with Jesus Christ,

00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:20.339
 the church in which

00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:22.079
 I recognized my sinfulness,

00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:23.859
 the church in which

00:15:23.859 --> 00:15:24.539
 I proclaimed,

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.679
 Christ is the King

00:15:26.679 --> 00:15:27.539
 and the Lord

00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:28.500
 over my life.

00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:31.099
 This was a church plant

00:15:31.099 --> 00:15:32.500
 that had been recently

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.619
 gifted their first building

00:15:33.619 --> 00:15:35.719
 that maybe had 100 or so

00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:36.859
 people between two services.

00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.479
 Their congregation

00:15:38.479 --> 00:15:39.500
 was just younger

00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.340
 in their faith

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:41.940
 and not as sanctified

00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.039
 or threatening to me.

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:45.179
 This church allowed me

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.159
 to feel comfortable

00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.639
 in my lostness

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:49.820
 until I found Jesus.

00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:52.559
 And then once I found Jesus,

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.159
 they were willing

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:55.220
 to continue to deal with me

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.840
 as I grew in the gospel.

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.539
 This church was less

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:00.480
 than four years old

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.679
 when we went there.

00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:04.419
 I can almost guarantee

00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.879
 that some in this room

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:07.759
 have a similar story

00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.779
 or have felt a similar way

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.659
 about churches.

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:13.939
 You walk into a holy place

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:15.899
 filled with holy people

00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.679
 as a sinner,

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.360
 a broken, wretched man

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.100
 or woman,

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.240
 and you might not even

00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.960
 know it yet.

00:16:25.480 --> 00:16:26.860
 And you just bounce

00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:29.259
 right off of that holiness.

00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:32.399
 And yet,

00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.500
 you can walk into

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.659
 Christ the King

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:38.299
 when it was three,

00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.899
 five,

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:40.960
 eight,

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.500
 or ten years old

00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.600
 and see a church

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.500
 that faithfully

00:16:45.500 --> 00:16:46.379
 preaches God's word

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.039
 and is filled

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.919
 with all sorts of

00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.439
 righteous,

00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.259
 sanctified,

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.259
 intelligent people

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:51.159
 and yet somehow,

00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:52.879
 somehow,

00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.480
 you were able to feel

00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:56.179
 more at home.

00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:58.579
 Some of you

00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.139
 to this day

00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.120
 might still be lost

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.079
 and yet this church,

00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:02.899
 Christ the King,

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.719
 I know it to be true,

00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:05.339
 will continue to love

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.379
 and accept you

00:17:06.379 --> 00:17:07.059
 as you are

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.919
 in hope that one day

00:17:08.919 --> 00:17:09.819
 you too

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:10.839
 will call Christ

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.740
 the King.

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.440
 We must embrace

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.700
 this mandate

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:18.539
 with passion

00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.700
 and purpose.

00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:21.480
 Knowing that

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.259
 planting churches

00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:23.319
 will fulfill

00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.460
 Jesus' mission

00:17:24.460 --> 00:17:25.240
 and advance

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.720
 his kingdom

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.539
 here on earth.

00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:28.660
 Now,

00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.340
 if you're an astute

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:30.660
 reader

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:32.240
 or listener,

00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:36.240
 you might be saying,

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.059
 now Pastor Dan,

00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:39.120
 Jesus didn't say

00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:39.940
 plant a church.

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.420
 You know what?

00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.660
 You're right.

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.319
 You got me.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.000
 That is true.

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.620
 Now,

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.759
 I have made

00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.420
 an argument

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.279
 that church planting

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.400
 is how we complete

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.079
 the Great Commission.

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:55.159
 So let me defend

00:17:55.159 --> 00:17:55.899
 and claim,

00:17:56.399 --> 00:17:57.059
 let me defend

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.559
 that claim

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.720
 with irrefutable evidence.

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.240
 We know

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:00.939
 from the disciples'

00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:02.259
 actions and responses

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.039
 to the Great Commission

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.240
 that the church

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.240
 is how Jesus wants

00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.019
 to build the kingdom

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:06.480
 of God.

00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.179
 Our second point

00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.679
 this morning

00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.559
 is that Paul

00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.079
 understands church planting

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.159
 as the key

00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:13.199
 to fulfilling

00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:14.439
 the Great Commission.

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.279
 Let me repeat that.

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.240
 Paul understands

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.059
 church planting

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.399
 as the key

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.580
 to fulfilling

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:23.100
 the Great Commission.

00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.840
 Paul establishes

00:18:25.840 --> 00:18:26.320
 a pattern

00:18:26.320 --> 00:18:27.460
 in his Great Commission

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.120
 work throughout

00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.080
 the book of Acts.

00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.800
 Paul's first

00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:31.600
 missionary journey

00:18:31.600 --> 00:18:32.240
 as recorded

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.940
 in Acts 13-14

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.280
 began with the

00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:35.800
 commissioning

00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:36.600
 by the Holy Spirit

00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:37.160
 in the church

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.740
 of Antioch.

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.100
 This journey

00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:39.960
 takes Paul

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.560
 and Barnabas

00:18:40.560 --> 00:18:41.400
 to several cities

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:42.580
 including Antioch,

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.140
 Iconium,

00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.000
 Lystra,

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.680
 and Derbe

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.780
 where they preached

00:18:45.780 --> 00:18:46.420
 the gospel

00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.220
 and established

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.800
 new Christian churches.

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.139
 Paul faced

00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:52.279
 significant opposition

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.180
 in each city

00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.480
 and yet he remained

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.240
 steadfast

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.539
 in his mission.

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.519
 His perseverance

00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.240
 resulted in the formation

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:02.279
 of new churches.

00:19:03.639 --> 00:19:04.960
 Paul's second

00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:06.079
 missionary journey

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.759
 detailed it

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.159
 in Acts 15-18

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:10.899
 expanded his church

00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:11.799
 planting efforts

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.819
 even further.

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.359
 He revisits

00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:14.859
 the churches

00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.619
 he had previously

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.200
 established

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.720
 strengthening the

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.140
 believers

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:19.140
 and addressing

00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:19.779
 any issues

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:20.500
 that had arisen

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:22.220
 and this journey

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.319
 also saw the

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:24.339
 planting of new churches

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:25.620
 in places like

00:19:25.620 --> 00:19:26.400
 Philippi,

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.360
 Thessalonica,

00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.259
 Berea,

00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.039
 Corinth,

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.059
 and Ephesus.

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.160
 Each city

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.380
 has unique

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:33.940
 cultural

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.240
 and religious context

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.500
 and yet

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.839
 Paul's approach

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.799
 to acting out

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.600
 the Great Commission

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:42.500
 remains consistent.

00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.240
 He preaches

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.799
 the gospel,

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:46.500
 he gathers

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:46.980
 believers

00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:48.819
 and he establishes

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:49.480
 local churches

00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:50.380
 to nurture

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.720
 and grow their faith.

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.740
 Paul preaches

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.279
 the gospel,

00:19:56.339 --> 00:19:57.019
 gathers believers,

00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.500
 and establishes

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.160
 local churches

00:19:59.160 --> 00:19:59.920
 to nurture

00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:01.059
 and grow their faith.

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.680
 We see him

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.140
 do this

00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:03.819
 again

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.940
 and again.

00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.160
 We also see

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.799
 that this is not

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.460
 just a method

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.299
 to be used

00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.799
 by Apostle Paul

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.279
 because Paul

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.339
 instructs

00:20:13.339 --> 00:20:14.039
 others to

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.500
 participate

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.359
 in the same work.

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.119
 Titus 1,

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.059
 4-5

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.640
 gives us

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.480
 this instruction.

00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:20.900
 It says,

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.880
 To Titus,

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.279
 my true child

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.500
 in a common faith,

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.240
 grace and peace

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.480
 from God the Father

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.380
 and Christ Jesus

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.059
 our Savior.

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.680
 This is why

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.279
 I left you

00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:31.799
 in Crete

00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:32.940
 so that you might

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.920
 put what remained

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.660
 into order

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.980
 and appoint elders

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.940
 in every town

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.279
 as I directed you.

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.460
 Now I know

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.319
 you all know this,

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.639
 but the role

00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:43.159
 of an elder

00:20:43.159 --> 00:20:43.919
 is to know,

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.439
 lead,

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:44.980
 feed,

00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.779
 and protect

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:47.220
 the local church,

00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.480
 the local flock

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.139
 of Christians.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.839
 An elder's role

00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.799
 is unique

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.619
 to the church

00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:53.960
 and Paul

00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.859
 instructs Titus

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.619
 to raise elders.

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.899
 Paul is essentially

00:20:57.899 --> 00:20:58.839
 telling Titus,

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.319
 Finish planting

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.399
 or establishing

00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.179
 those churches

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:02.919
 in these towns.

00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:04.819
 Plant churches.

00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:07.339
 Not only

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.039
 does Paul

00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.659
 model

00:21:08.659 --> 00:21:09.559
 what it looks like

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.000
 to pursue

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.700
 the Great Commission

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:12.079
 through planting churches,

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:14.019
 but he also shows us

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:15.440
 that planting churches

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.980
 is not just

00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:17.759
 for the apostles.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:19.619
 Church planting

00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.919
 is passed down

00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.799
 through the generations

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.659
 of the church

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.619
 as the strategy

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.619
 for completing

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:25.720
 the Great Commission.

00:21:27.179 --> 00:21:28.119
 Since the time

00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.779
 of Paul,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.720
 church planting

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.679
 has been directly

00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:32.099
 tied to the growth

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:32.859
 of Christianity

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:35.059
 in any given region.

00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.379
 You obviously

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.259
 know that to be true

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.019
 for the establishment

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.879
 of the church

00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.740
 during the life

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.280
 and ministry

00:21:40.280 --> 00:21:40.940
 of Paul.

00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.600
 But it's also true

00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:43.660
 in our own

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:44.760
 Protestant history

00:21:44.760 --> 00:21:45.620
 after the Reformation.

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.740
 For any of our

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.420
 history nerds,

00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:50.800
 you're really going

00:21:50.800 --> 00:21:51.220
 to enjoy

00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.160
 the next little piece

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.320
 here.

00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:55.020
 In 1555,

00:21:55.520 --> 00:21:57.280
 100 church planting

00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:57.680
 pastors

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.600
 were sent

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.380
 from Geneva

00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.700
 to France.

00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:03.080
 These 100

00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:04.080
 pastors

00:22:04.080 --> 00:22:05.100
 planted churches,

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.700
 made disciples

00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.440
 of the gospel

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.500
 that grew

00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.160
 in the gospel

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.220
 and then were

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.900
 sent out

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.140
 to plant churches.

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.799
 Seven years later,

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.500
 these 100 pastors

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.980
 had planted

00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:20.340
 2,000 churches.

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.220
 50% of the nation

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.759
 of France

00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.200
 was thought

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.860
 to be Protestant

00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.299
 Christian

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.200
 by 1562

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.080
 because of this

00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:30.039
 church planting

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.840
 effort.

00:22:32.360 --> 00:22:33.299
 100 pastors

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.759
 went out,

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.599
 they equipped

00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.140
 disciples,

00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.200
 they made

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.019
 disciples of Christ,

00:22:38.119 --> 00:22:38.599
 they equipped

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.480
 disciples to do

00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:39.819
 ministry,

00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.140
 and those disciples

00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.759
 went out and

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.460
 continued to plant

00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:42.920
 churches.

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:45.099
 2,000 churches

00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.000
 in seven years.

00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.619
 How about here

00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.019
 in America?

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.579
 What's our history

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.339
 of church planting

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:53.000
 tied to Christianity?

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.099
 Christianity.

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.000
 In 1820,

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.400
 there was

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.420
 one Christian

00:22:56.420 --> 00:22:56.819
 church

00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.299
 for every

00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.619
 875

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.640
 U.S.

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.059
 residents.

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.740
 From 1860

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.680
 to 1906,

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.420
 the Protestants

00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:04.940
 of America,

00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.319
 that's us,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.700
 planted one church

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.500
 for every

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:09.839
 350 people

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.480
 added to the

00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.359
 nation's population.

00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:12.920
 At the end

00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:13.519
 of this movement

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.279
 to plant churches,

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.779
 there was one church

00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.619
 for every

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:18.319
 430 people

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.400
 in the nation.

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.940
 Church double.

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:23.019
 At this time,

00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:24.140
 40% of all

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.920
 Protestant churches

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.660
 were under

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.980
 the age of 25.

00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:28.840
 To give some

00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.539
 idea of the

00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.100
 growth from this

00:23:30.100 --> 00:23:30.500
 church planting

00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:30.840
 movement,

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.559
 in 1776,

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.299
 just 17%

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.960
 of the U.S.

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.480
 population

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.440
 was considered

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.559
 religiously

00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:38.120
 adherent.

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:40.140
 But in 1916,

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.860
 after this church

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:41.480
 planting movement,

00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:42.720
 this had increased

00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.460
 to 53%.

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:47.000
 How about today?

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:49.080
 Today,

00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.779
 there is one

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.600
 Christian church

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:51.079
 for every

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:52.099
 1,000 people

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.799
 in America.

00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.859
 If our goal

00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:55.539
 was to get back

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:55.899
 to at least

00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:56.599
 one church

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:56.939
 for every

00:23:56.939 --> 00:23:57.839
 500 people

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.219
 in the next

00:23:58.219 --> 00:23:58.859
 20 years,

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.879
 we would need

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.319
 to plant

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:00.899
 a minimum

00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:02.659
 of 15,000

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:04.159
 churches a year.

00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:06.219
 Oh, wait.

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.059
 4,500 churches

00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.799
 or so close

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.219
 every year.

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.539
 So we actually

00:24:10.539 --> 00:24:11.039
 need to plant

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.699
 20,000 churches

00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:13.659
 a year.

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.099
 How many

00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:15.719
 are we actually

00:24:15.719 --> 00:24:16.079
 planting?

00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:18.079
 In 2019,

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.939
 through all

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.319
 the major

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.500
 Protestant denominations

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.119
 and evangelical

00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:23.240
 denominations,

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.619
 3,000

00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.659
 Protestant churches

00:24:25.659 --> 00:24:26.179
 were planted

00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.279
 in 2019.

00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:28.579
 That's it.

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.079
 We're not even

00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.720
 keeping up

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.299
 with the amount

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.659
 of churches

00:24:31.659 --> 00:24:32.299
 that are closing,

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.059
 let alone

00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:34.839
 trying to get back

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.480
 to a meaningful

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.159
 number that can

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:37.119
 serve the community

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.439
 well.

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:39.659
 If the Great

00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.500
 Commission is to be

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.500
 executed through

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.399
 planting of churches,

00:24:42.939 --> 00:24:43.879
 and we see that

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:44.740
 in Paul's model

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.259
 and teaching,

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.620
 then we must

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.700
 take up the mantle

00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.400
 of church planting

00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.660
 and make it our

00:24:49.660 --> 00:24:50.880
 strategy for spreading

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.400
 the gospel.

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.200
 We need to make

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.920
 disciples who are

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:55.140
 rooted in the gospel,

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.779
 who grow in the gospel,

00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.740
 and who multiply

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.000
 the gospel through

00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.480
 evangelism and church

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:00.819
 planting.

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.880
 It is clear that we

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.539
 must plant churches

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.700
 to fulfill the

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.279
 Great Commission

00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:07.720
 and expand God's

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:07.980
 kingdom.

00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.460
 Pastor Dan,

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.440
 all of this is

00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.460
 fine.

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.539
 There's some nice

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.000
 stats.

00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.180
 Yep, I agree.

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.220
 Paul planted churches.

00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.379
 That makes sense.

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.019
 But does this really

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:21.240
 matter for me today?

00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.139
 I mean, I have

00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.980
 Christ the King.

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.779
 It's a great church.

00:25:24.399 --> 00:25:24.680
 You know, there's

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.859
 still room in the pews.

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.019
 I can invite my

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.740
 friends here.

00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.879
 Like, it's still okay.

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:30.940
 Right?

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.119
 Now, I'm sure none

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.019
 of you are actually

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.559
 angsty enough to be

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.399
 asking that question.

00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.079
 But let's go ahead

00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.839
 and dive into

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.680
 Revelation 7.

00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:40.940
 It's been a minute,

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.079
 so I'll reread it

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.539
 for us.

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.819
 We're in Revelation

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.659
 7, 9-12.

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.460
 After this, I looked

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.359
 and behold,

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.039
 a great multitude

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.200
 that no one could

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.480
 number,

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.940
 from every nation,

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.379
 from all tribes

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:57.960
 and peoples

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.720
 and languages,

00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.579
 standing before the

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.460
 throne and before

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:01.940
 the Lamb,

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.279
 clothed in white

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.180
 robes with palm

00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:04.960
 branches in their

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.339
 hands,

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:06.799
 and crying out

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.599
 with a loud voice,

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.200
 salvation belongs

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.159
 to our God who

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.139
 sits on the throne

00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:12.060
 and to the Lamb.

00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:14.060
 And all the angels

00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:15.020
 were standing around

00:26:15.020 --> 00:26:15.960
 the throne and

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.860
 around the elders

00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.940
 and the four living

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.900
 creatures, and they

00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:20.040
 fell on their faces

00:26:20.040 --> 00:26:21.000
 before the throne

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.460
 and worshipped God,

00:26:23.060 --> 00:26:23.420
 saying,

00:26:23.860 --> 00:26:24.200
 Amen!

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:26.040
 Blessing and glory

00:26:26.040 --> 00:26:26.720
 and wisdom

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.480
 and thanksgiving

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.180
 and honor

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.040
 and power

00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:29.940
 and might be

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.780
 to our God

00:26:30.780 --> 00:26:32.680
 forever and ever.

00:26:33.520 --> 00:26:33.900
 Amen!

00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:36.860
 To answer this

00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:37.680
 question first,

00:26:38.820 --> 00:26:39.620
 the Great Commission

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:41.060
 mandates church

00:26:41.060 --> 00:26:41.400
 planting.

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.200
 Paul modeled it

00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:43.980
 and taught it

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.560
 to be true,

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.280
 and church planting

00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:47.560
 ignites God's

00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:49.080
 kingdom on earth.

00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.980
 Our third point,

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.980
 church planting

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.980
 ignites God's

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:56.800
 kingdom on earth.

00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:59.280
 This passage

00:26:59.280 --> 00:27:00.860
 paints a

00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:02.100
 breathtaking picture

00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:03.179
 of the culmination

00:27:03.179 --> 00:27:04.159
 of God's

00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:05.159
 redemptive plan.

00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.099
 A vision of

00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:07.699
 unity,

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:08.859
 diversity,

00:27:09.399 --> 00:27:09.939
 and worship

00:27:09.939 --> 00:27:10.799
 that inspires

00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.959
 and propels us

00:27:11.959 --> 00:27:13.399
 forward in our

00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:13.659
 mission.

00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:16.259
 What an awe-inspiring

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.699
 scene!

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.459
 This passage

00:27:18.459 --> 00:27:19.559
 gives us a glimpse

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.339
 of heaven,

00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.099
 where the multitude

00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:23.539
 from every corner

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.299
 of the earth

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.559
 stands united

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.279
 in worship

00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.339
 before the throne

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:28.119
 of God.

00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:30.859
 It is a vision

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.740
 of God's kingdom

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.160
 fully realized,

00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.620
 where barriers

00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.319
 of race,

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.059
 ethnicity,

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:36.859
 and language

00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:37.859
 are completely

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.599
 dissolved,

00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.180
 and we are

00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:41.140
 in the presence

00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:42.620
 of the Almighty.

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.640
 But this vision,

00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.480
 brothers and sisters,

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.579
 is not just

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.720
 a future hope.

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:51.120
 Church planting

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.000
 is our means

00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:52.700
 of working

00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.900
 towards this

00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:54.559
 heavenly vision.

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.700
 But each

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.720
 new church plant

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.700
 is also

00:27:58.700 --> 00:28:00.079
 a microcosm

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:01.539
 of Revelation 7.

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.500
 It is a tangible

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.159
 expression

00:28:04.159 --> 00:28:05.240
 of Christ's

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.699
 diverse

00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.259
 and unified

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:06.679
 body.

00:28:08.139 --> 00:28:08.720
 Consider the

00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.579
 diversity that is

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.339
 depicted in this

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.759
 passage.

00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.439
 A multitude

00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:15.119
 from every nation,

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.139
 every tribe,

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.859
 every people,

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.679
 every language,

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:21.259
 every socioeconomic

00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.960
 situation,

00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:22.679
 poor,

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.339
 rich,

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.059
 whatever.

00:28:25.699 --> 00:28:26.419
 Republican,

00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:26.919
 Democrat.

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.039
 Democrat.

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.039
 This is all

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.580
 clear,

00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:30.840
 this is a clear

00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.740
 call to reach

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:33.259
 beyond our own

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.320
 cultural and

00:28:34.320 --> 00:28:35.460
 ethnic boundaries,

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:37.140
 to reach outside

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.060
 of our people.

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.680
 Church planting

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.600
 enables us to

00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.279
 engage with

00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.519
 diverse communities,

00:28:43.320 --> 00:28:44.080
 share the gospel

00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:45.580
 across cultural

00:28:45.580 --> 00:28:46.100
 lines,

00:28:46.660 --> 00:28:47.380
 and to build

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:48.400
 congregations that

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.560
 reflect the

00:28:49.560 --> 00:28:50.600
 beautiful diversity

00:28:50.600 --> 00:28:51.620
 of God's

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.340
 creation.

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.459
 creation.

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:55.799
 We begin to

00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.959
 mirror the

00:28:56.959 --> 00:28:57.859
 heavenly assembly

00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:58.720
 described in

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.919
 Revelation through

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:01.500
 planting churches in

00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:03.259
 various contexts and

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.859
 among different

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.199
 people.

00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.980
 Secondly, the

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:10.179
 image, the unity in

00:29:10.179 --> 00:29:11.339
 this image in

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.299
 worship is striking.

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.819
 Despite their

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.639
 diverse backgrounds,

00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.759
 the multitude is

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:20.159
 united in a single

00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:22.300
 purpose, to

00:29:22.300 --> 00:29:23.980
 worship God

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.940
 and the

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.220
 Lamb.

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.600
 Church planting

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:29.240
 fosters this

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.560
 unity.

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.620
 By establishing

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.820
 new churches

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.680
 of faith, we

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.519
 create spaces

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.440
 where believers

00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:36.240
 from different

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.060
 walks of life

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.860
 can come

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.380
 together,

00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:40.040
 united in their

00:29:40.040 --> 00:29:40.880
 love for Jesus

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.880
 and commitment

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:42.600
 to his mission.

00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.540
 These new

00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:45.240
 churches become

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.200
 beacons of

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:47.120
 unity in a

00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.140
 divided world,

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.019
 showcasing

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:50.680
 the power

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.420
 of the

00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:52.539
 gospel to

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.339
 unite people.

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.599
 Thirdly, the

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.420
 worship of the

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:58.579
 multitude is

00:29:58.579 --> 00:29:58.920
 central.

00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:01.240
 They cry out

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:01.980
 with a loud

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.440
 voice, declaring

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:04.480
 the salvation of

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.180
 God and

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:06.400
 attributing all

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.500
 glory, wisdom

00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.500
 and power to

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.720
 him.

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:11.420
 Church planting

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.940
 is fundamentally

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.500
 about creating

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:16.059
 a worshiping

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:17.099
 community.

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:18.099
 glory.

00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.259
 It is about

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.099
 establishing a

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.579
 place where

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.539
 God is

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.559
 glorified, his

00:30:23.559 --> 00:30:24.599
 salvation is

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:26.159
 proclaimed, and

00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.980
 believers are

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.439
 equipped to live

00:30:28.439 --> 00:30:29.740
 lives of

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.079
 worship.

00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:32.539
 Each new

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:33.559
 church plant is a

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.959
 fresh voice in

00:30:34.959 --> 00:30:35.859
 the chorus of

00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:37.039
 praise that will

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.839
 one day resound in

00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:40.219
 the throne room of

00:30:40.219 --> 00:30:40.459
 heaven.

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:40.559
 God.

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.400
 In light of

00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.600
 Revelation 7, 9

00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:46.299
 through 12, we

00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.960
 see that church

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.660
 planting is not

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.980
 merely a strategic

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:51.120
 initiative, it's

00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:51.900
 not merely a

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.640
 response to

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.620
 declining attendance,

00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:55.779
 it is deeply

00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.620
 theological

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:58.200
 endeavor that

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.059
 aligns with God's

00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.519
 ultimate plan for

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:00.920
 humanity.

00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:02.759
 It is our

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.980
 participation in

00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.799
 the unfolding

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.759
 story of

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.140
 redemption, our

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.480
 contribution to the

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.759
 diverse, unified,

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.160
 worshiping body of

00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:12.680
 Jesus Christ that

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.759
 will one day all be

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.620
 gathered in heaven

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.339
 together.

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:20.799
 We must, and I

00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.220
 know I'm saying

00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.680
 that word a lot

00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:23.460
 today, but we

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:26.059
 must renew our

00:31:26.059 --> 00:31:27.039
 passion and

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.319
 purpose for this

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.240
 mission Christ has

00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:29.740
 given us.

00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.980
 We must commit to

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.700
 proclaiming the

00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.240
 gospel, making

00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.599
 disciples, and

00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.680
 planting churches.

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:36.840
 churches.

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:39.240
 Our motivation is

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.140
 that this is the

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.940
 mission that God

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.039
 has given us.

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:44.539
 And as we engage in

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.240
 church planting, we

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.160
 are not just building

00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:47.019
 institutions.

00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:49.140
 We are building the

00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.920
 kingdom of God here

00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:51.560
 on earth.

00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.060
 We are working

00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:54.080
 towards the day when

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:55.200
 people of every

00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.279
 nation, tribe,

00:31:56.660 --> 00:31:57.360
 people, and

00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:58.980
 languages will stand

00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.360
 together before the

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:02.039
 throne, united in

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.980
 worship and declaring

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.320
 the glory of God.

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.119
 God, and I can't

00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:07.859
 think of a more

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.579
 beautiful purpose to

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:10.960
 our lives here on

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.139
 earth.

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.200
 I just can't.

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:17.919
 We are to live lives

00:32:17.919 --> 00:32:20.619
 of worship and bring

00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:21.259
 others into that

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.899
 worship as well.

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:25.059
 The importance of

00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:26.759
 church planting cannot

00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:29.439
 be overstated, even if

00:32:29.439 --> 00:32:30.879
 I did say we must about

00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.559
 a dozen times.

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:34.159
 It is a direct

00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:35.440
 response to the

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.000
 Great Commission, an

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.500
 essential part of

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:40.299
 living out our faith, and

00:32:40.299 --> 00:32:41.599
 a powerful means of

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.379
 advancing God's

00:32:42.379 --> 00:32:43.619
 kingdom on earth.

00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:46.379
 By planting churches, we

00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:47.740
 follow the example of

00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.119
 Paul who demonstrated

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.879
 through his missionary

00:32:49.879 --> 00:32:52.119
 journeys that planting

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.480
 new churches is vital

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.759
 for the spread of the

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.059
 gospel.

00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:57.399
 moreover, church

00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:58.940
 planting is a foretaste

00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:00.339
 of the heavenly vision

00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.700
 depicted in Revelation

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:03.899
 7, 9 through 12, where

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:05.119
 people from every nation,

00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.440
 tribe, and language

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.879
 worship together before

00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:08.879
 the throne of God.

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:11.240
 Each new church plant we

00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:13.480
 plant is a step towards

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.659
 realizing this divine

00:33:14.659 --> 00:33:16.879
 vision, bringing us

00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:19.240
 closer to the day when

00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:21.099
 all creation will join in

00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.220
 unified worship.

00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:22.279
 church.

00:33:25.360 --> 00:33:27.700
 We must, I know I've

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.799
 said it a ton, but we

00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.240
 must embrace the call to

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.680
 plant churches with a

00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:34.259
 renewed sense of urgency

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.600
 and commitment.

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:38.360
 There are many challenges

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:40.480
 facing the church today,

00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:42.180
 both here and abroad.

00:33:43.900 --> 00:33:45.620
 As we step out in faith to

00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:47.019
 plant new churches, we

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.279
 address these challenges

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:50.519
 and we participate in God's

00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:52.200
 redemptive work in the

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:52.440
 world.

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.759
 Church planting is not

00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:56.279
 just about numerical

00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.480
 growth, it is about

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.819
 transforming lives,

00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:00.579
 communities, and cultures

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:02.039
 with the power of the

00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.420
 gospel.

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:05.180
 May we be called by the

00:34:05.180 --> 00:34:05.819
 Great Commission,

00:34:06.879 --> 00:34:07.960
 motivated by Paul's

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:09.860
 example, and driven by

00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:11.119
 the vision of Revelation

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.920
 7, dedicating ourselves

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:14.179
 to planting churches and

00:34:14.179 --> 00:34:15.440
 expanding God's kingdom

00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.800
 here and now.

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:19.360
 God, we have a role to

00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.980
 play in this great work.

00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.980
 Some of you may be called

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:26.060
 to plant churches, like

00:34:26.060 --> 00:34:28.420
 myself, planting the Grove

00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.360
 Church at this moment.

00:34:31.060 --> 00:34:32.100
 Some of you may be called

00:34:32.100 --> 00:34:32.420
 to that.

00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:35.300
 If that is you, talk with

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:37.120
 your pastors, talk with

00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:39.320
 your elders, let them work

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.240
 through that call with you.

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:42.680
 Whether that is for you to go

00:34:42.680 --> 00:34:44.880
 and be sent by Christ the

00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.840
 king to plant another

00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.300
 independent church or to

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.740
 join a church plant that is

00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:50.420
 already in process, they can

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:52.019
 help you pray through that

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.039
 and think through that

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.880
 calling.

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:55.039
 They can help guide you with

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.760
 some next steps.

00:34:57.500 --> 00:35:00.820
 Lastly, there are, not

00:35:00.820 --> 00:35:02.640
 lastly, you also might just

00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:03.400
 be called to pray.

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.160
 To pray for church planting.

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:08.220
 To pray for the in-breaking

00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.180
 of the gospel in new

00:35:09.180 --> 00:35:09.539
 communities.

00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:11.539
 To pray for planters such as

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.880
 myself or my church, the

00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.460
 Grove Church.

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:15.480
 And lastly, there are some

00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.480
 of you that might be called

00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:19.059
 to support church planting

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.780
 financially.

00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:22.159
 If you feel called to this,

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:23.740
 I would still recommend that

00:35:23.740 --> 00:35:24.900
 you bring that to your

00:35:24.900 --> 00:35:26.159
 pastors and elders.

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.300
 Christ the king may be

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:29.800
 called to start a church

00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:31.240
 planting fund for your

00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:31.519
 future.

00:35:32.420 --> 00:35:33.840
 Or they can help direct you

00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.039
 to appropriate plants for

00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.519
 your support.

00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:40.119
 As members of Christ the

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.980
 king, I want to make sure

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:42.220
 that I say this very

00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.819
 clearly to you.

00:35:42.919 --> 00:35:43.939
 As members of Christ the

00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:45.579
 king, you are already

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.439
 actively participating in

00:35:47.439 --> 00:35:47.939
 this work.

00:35:48.939 --> 00:35:50.619
 As a local church, you are

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:53.399
 sending the Grove Church to

00:35:53.399 --> 00:35:54.199
 Union Grove, Wisconsin.

00:35:55.419 --> 00:35:57.219
 You are planting the Grove

00:35:57.219 --> 00:35:57.699
 Church.

00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:59.159
 And we couldn't be more

00:35:59.159 --> 00:36:00.000
 thankful for your

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.959
 partnership in this

00:36:00.959 --> 00:36:01.599
 essential work.

00:36:02.139 --> 00:36:03.599
 This is not a weight for

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.919
 you to individually carry the

00:36:04.919 --> 00:36:05.359
 burden of.

00:36:05.879 --> 00:36:07.500
 The church is essential to

00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.519
 God's redemptive plan.

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:10.280
 And local churches should

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:11.320
 do the work of church

00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:13.280
 planting, just as Christ

00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:15.440
 the king is doing with me.

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:18.440
 And again, I say thank you

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:20.639
 for participating in this

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:20.940
 work.

00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:22.300
 Let us pray.

00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:29.539
 Heavenly Father, we thank you

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:31.519
 for the incredible privilege of

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:33.500
 being part of your mission on

00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:33.780
 earth.

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:36.280
 God, we ask that you would

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:38.000
 empower us with your spirit as

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.580
 we commit to planting churches

00:36:39.580 --> 00:36:41.019
 and making disciples.

00:36:42.060 --> 00:36:44.019
 Give us the courage to go where

00:36:44.019 --> 00:36:46.380
 you lead, the wisdom to build

00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:48.220
 strong, Christ-centered churches,

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:51.260
 and the passion to reach those

00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:53.340
 who have yet to hear the good

00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.320
 news of Jesus Christ.

00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:56.920
 May our efforts bring glory to

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:59.080
 your name and draw many into your

00:36:59.080 --> 00:36:59.360
 kingdom.

00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:01.180
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.219
 Amen.