WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:03.439 You have to be a disciple in order to make disciples. 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:06.620 You can't make disciples if you aren't a disciple. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.980 And the president just got all over that and I thought, 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:15.599 man, this might make a good sermon, so I got a sermon about it. 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:20.219 Being is more important than doing. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:26.580 A lot of times we do things as Christians 00:00:26.579 --> 00:00:32.379 and yet we're not really Christian in our doing of the things we do. 00:00:33.379 --> 00:00:35.000 Being has to precede doing. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:38.579 And a person has to be a disciple before we can make disciples. 00:00:38.579 --> 00:00:42.579 And at the core of our mission of this church, 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:45.640 of all Southern Baptist Church, of all evangelical churches, 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.000 the core of our mission is the Great Commission. 00:00:48.739 --> 00:00:51.619 But the Great Commission is more than just evangelism. 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:56.420 In fact, the theme of the Great Commission is discipleship. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:01:01.899 And a disciple is someone who follows a teacher 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:04.480 and learns from that teacher. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:09.420 Jesus gave us the mission to go and make disciples, 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:13.099 which means we've got to be disciples. 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:19.340 The word disciple, depending on what translation you use, 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:25.060 disciple or disciples occurs 261 times in the New Testament. 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:29.980 The word Christian occurs three times. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:33.200 And the first time it occurs in the book of Acts, 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:35.320 it is a term of derision. 00:01:36.020 --> 00:01:40.280 It says they were first called Christians at Antioch. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:42.540 Little Christ. 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:46.460 It was a term to embarrass them. 00:01:47.460 --> 00:01:49.420 A term of derision. 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:53.939 Well, Western civilization, this civilization we've grown up in, 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:58.840 was shaped and influenced by discipleship. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:00.879 Well, not Christian discipleship, 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.879 but the teaching of the Greek philosophers. 00:02:05.879 --> 00:02:09.060 Socrates had a disciple named Plato. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:12.300 Plato had a disciple named Aristotle. 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:14.620 And through their disciples, 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:17.140 that Socratic method of teaching, 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:19.439 where you ask questions in the teaching, 00:02:20.160 --> 00:02:24.219 that method of teaching invaded Western thinking. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.540 But because of the Greek philosophers 00:02:29.540 --> 00:02:33.100 who had disciples that disseminated their message, 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:35.080 then it influenced the whole world. 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:38.120 So when Rome became the power, 00:02:39.260 --> 00:02:42.540 then Rome, even though they had conquered the Greeks, 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:46.220 Rome became Hellenized because of the influence 00:02:46.220 --> 00:02:48.060 of the Greek philosophers. 00:02:49.260 --> 00:02:51.800 Discipleship is a powerful force, 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:55.120 but it doesn't just sprout up automatically. 00:02:56.140 --> 00:02:57.160 It takes time. 00:02:57.760 --> 00:02:58.560 It takes moments. 00:02:58.700 --> 00:02:59.560 It takes days. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:01.160 And it takes years. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:06.659 It's following the course and sticking with it. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.960 There are different kinds of discipleship in the world. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:10.939 Some good, some bad. 00:03:11.019 --> 00:03:12.599 Some Christian, some not. 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:15.579 But the only discipleship that will change the world for the good 00:03:15.579 --> 00:03:20.819 is Christian discipleship or following Jesus. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:23.240 Dr. Albert Mohler and Dr. Ed Stetzer 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:27.819 has given us three words that describe church today. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:29.900 What kind of people are in church today? 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:34.180 And they say one group is called the cultural Christians. 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:35.099 They're lost. 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:38.379 Another group is called congregational Christians. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:39.360 They're lost. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.379 And another group are what they call convictional Christians. 00:03:43.920 --> 00:03:45.040 Those are the disciples. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:48.540 Those are the ones that are truly born again. 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:53.259 Mark in chapter 4 describes four types of soils. 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:55.819 Three of them were false. 00:03:55.819 --> 00:03:59.420 One of them was good soil that produced many fold. 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:02.240 Then you come to Luke chapter 9 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:04.659 and Luke has four responses too. 00:04:04.760 --> 00:04:07.219 And three of those are false. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.219 I want you to look in Luke chapter 9 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:12.939 and beginning in verse 57. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:17.120 As they were going along the road, 00:04:17.259 --> 00:04:18.240 someone said to him, 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:20.899 I will follow you wherever you go. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.620 And Jesus said to him, 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:24.000 The foxes have holes, 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:26.040 the birds of the air have nests, 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.560 but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:30.000 And he said to another, 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:30.519 Follow me. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:31.000 But he said, 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:34.500 Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father. 00:04:35.560 --> 00:04:36.420 But he said to him, 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:38.079 Allow the dead to bury their own dead. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:39.300 But as for you, 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:41.579 go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God. 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:43.519 Another also said, 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:44.599 I will follow you, Lord, 00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:48.639 but first permit me to say goodbye to those at home. 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:50.560 But Jesus said to him, 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.519 No one after putting his hand to the plow 00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:55.839 and looking back is fit for the kingdom. 00:04:57.299 --> 00:05:00.459 The picture that's before us in these scriptures 00:05:00.459 --> 00:05:05.359 are Jesus on his way back to Jerusalem. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:08.739 And as he's making his way back to Jerusalem, 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:10.459 understand he's in transit. 00:05:10.599 --> 00:05:11.479 He's on the move. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.000 And as he goes along the way, 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:16.120 there are crowds of people that gather. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.339 They'd heard about his teaching. 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:18.699 They'd heard about his miracles. 00:05:19.060 --> 00:05:19.839 They were curious. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:22.479 So they gather along the roadside. 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:24.979 And as he's journeying along the way, 00:05:24.979 --> 00:05:27.560 he encounters these three people. 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:31.420 And there are three responses to the gospel. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:33.339 The fourth one coming in verse 62. 00:05:34.220 --> 00:05:36.259 Three responses to the gospel 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:39.420 that's false discipleship. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:40.840 I want you to look at the first one. 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:42.540 An impulsive promise, 00:05:43.319 --> 00:05:44.939 but personal comfort 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:48.139 was more important than Christ. 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:51.699 This is like the seed that fell beside the road 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.800 in Mark 4, 15, 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.279 where it says when they hear, 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:56.019 immediately Satan comes 00:05:56.019 --> 00:05:57.259 and takes away the word 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:59.680 which has been sown in them. 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:01.939 So here's a person. 00:06:02.779 --> 00:06:04.079 They hear, they see 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:06.399 the word of Jesus. 00:06:07.060 --> 00:06:08.259 They immediately respond, 00:06:08.539 --> 00:06:09.240 but nothing else. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.099 So I want you to look at it. 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:12.500 Emotional and impulsive. 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:13.659 Look in verse 57. 00:06:14.219 --> 00:06:15.779 As they were going along the road, 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:18.339 someone said to him, 00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:20.659 I will follow you wherever you go. 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:23.079 Notice something very important about that. 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:26.240 This person that responded to Jesus, 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:28.079 Jesus did not call them. 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:31.300 Jesus didn't say, follow me. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:33.459 Jesus didn't point them out. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:35.500 This person volunteered. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:39.319 And one of the critical issues 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:40.839 in the Christian faith 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:42.379 is that we need people 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:43.919 who are surrendered, 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:45.919 not people who volunteer. 00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:48.000 Because when you volunteer, 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:50.159 you can volunteer for anything, 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:51.320 but when you're surrendered, 00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:53.640 you're surrendered for all 00:06:53.640 --> 00:06:54.939 and all of you 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:56.480 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:58.400 So this person 00:06:58.400 --> 00:06:59.880 sees Jesus going by. 00:07:00.260 --> 00:07:00.980 He just says, 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:01.740 just blurts out, 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:02.920 Lord, I'll follow you 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:04.280 wherever you go. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:05.360 Have you ever noticed 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:07.000 that we have to be real careful 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.760 about saying words like 00:07:08.760 --> 00:07:10.379 never and always? 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:13.640 Lord, I'll follow you 00:07:13.640 --> 00:07:15.260 wherever you go. 00:07:16.260 --> 00:07:17.840 Like the man that told his wife, 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.179 he said, honey, I love you so much 00:07:20.179 --> 00:07:21.500 I'd cross the blazing desert, 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:22.459 I'd swim the sea, 00:07:22.679 --> 00:07:23.759 I'd fight off lines 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:25.319 just to come and see you. 00:07:26.279 --> 00:07:26.959 She said, what time 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:28.439 are you picking me up tonight? 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.419 He said, I'll be there 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:30.819 at 7 o'clock if it doesn't rain. 00:07:33.859 --> 00:07:35.379 We say a lot of things. 00:07:35.459 --> 00:07:36.099 This fellow says, 00:07:36.219 --> 00:07:37.559 Lord, I'll follow you 00:07:37.559 --> 00:07:39.819 wherever you go. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:41.839 Now this guy was likely a scribe. 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:45.799 Important, educated, 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:47.319 probably a wealthy person. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:48.540 A parallel verse 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:50.439 in Matthew 8 and verse 19 says, 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:51.480 and a certain scribe 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:52.259 came and said to him, 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:53.680 teacher, I will follow you 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.480 wherever you go. 00:07:56.219 --> 00:07:57.439 Now for a lot of us 00:07:57.439 --> 00:07:58.800 in the Christian world today 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.019 to get a celebrity, 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:02.259 to get somebody that's rich, 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:03.879 to get somebody that's 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:05.560 powerful intellectually, 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:06.980 then we won a trophy. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:08.279 We say, oh now, 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:09.519 we've got somebody. 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:12.379 But what we have, 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:14.180 what we think we have, 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:17.300 may be worse 00:08:17.300 --> 00:08:18.620 than having nothing. 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:20.620 And this guy comes 00:08:21.139 --> 00:08:22.620 and he has all of this power, 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:24.220 but Jesus is not 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:25.340 impressed with that. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:26.780 This man had not 00:08:26.780 --> 00:08:27.920 counted the cost. 00:08:28.280 --> 00:08:29.019 He just blurted out 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:29.139 something. 00:08:29.220 --> 00:08:29.800 It was impulsive. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:30.439 It was emotional. 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:31.399 It was on the spot. 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:32.519 He hadn't thought it through. 00:08:32.940 --> 00:08:34.060 He hadn't counted the cost. 00:08:34.200 --> 00:08:35.139 What does it cost 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:35.960 to follow Jesus? 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:36.480 Really? 00:08:37.560 --> 00:08:38.500 It cost everything. 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:40.919 In fact, the Bible says, 00:08:41.019 --> 00:08:41.659 Jesus said, 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:44.159 we've got to lose our lives 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.500 in him in order 00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:46.960 to find our lives. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.700 It's a transformative process 00:08:49.700 --> 00:08:51.120 that's conducted 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:52.379 by the Spirit of God 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:53.519 inside a person 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.559 who has surrendered, 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:55.519 who has yielded 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.220 everything to God. 00:08:58.299 --> 00:08:59.379 And that's just being 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:01.379 an ordinary Christian. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:04.720 Well, Jesus gave a strong answer 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:05.500 to this false discipleship. 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.500 If you're looking at verse 58, 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:09.039 Jesus said to him, 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:10.399 the foxes have holes, 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:11.919 the birds of the air 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:12.620 have nests, 00:09:12.820 --> 00:09:13.539 but the Son of Man 00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:14.480 has nowhere to lay 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.919 his head. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:18.700 Even though he looked 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:20.139 like a prized convert, 00:09:20.700 --> 00:09:21.600 Jesus knew him 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.539 like Jesus knows us all. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:25.460 And Jesus was saying 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:26.419 something like this, 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:28.100 have you really 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:29.200 thought this through? 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:31.259 Do you understand 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:32.740 what you're really saying? 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:34.759 That you'll follow me 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:35.720 wherever I go? 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:41.320 our desire 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:41.840 sometimes 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:42.940 to have 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:44.419 more proselytes, 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:46.259 more converts, 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:48.200 more numbers 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:49.460 can lead 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.159 to fewer 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:51.299 real disciples 00:09:51.299 --> 00:09:53.460 and more hypocrites. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:55.720 In Matthew 23 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:56.600 and verse 15, 00:09:56.700 --> 00:09:57.320 the Bible says, 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:58.000 Woe to you, 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:59.460 scribes and Pharisees! 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:00.340 Understand, 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.620 they were the top level. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:03.320 They were the educated, 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:04.019 sophisticated 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:06.059 leaders of the Jews. 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:08.139 Because you travel about 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:08.939 on sea and land 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:10.279 to make one proselyte 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:11.699 and when he becomes one, 00:10:11.839 --> 00:10:13.519 you make him twice as much 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:14.639 a son of hell 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:16.579 as yourselves. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:19.659 Folks, 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:20.319 the issue 00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:22.179 for the Southern Baptist Convention, 00:10:22.579 --> 00:10:23.099 the issue 00:10:23.099 --> 00:10:24.239 for the South Carolina 00:10:24.239 --> 00:10:25.099 Baptist Convention, 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:25.919 the issue 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:27.239 for the church 00:10:27.239 --> 00:10:28.279 of Jesus Christ 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.059 is not numbers, 00:10:30.479 --> 00:10:31.359 it's people 00:10:31.359 --> 00:10:32.259 who are disciples. 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:36.379 One of the things 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:36.960 that's happened 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.439 to us 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:38.360 as Southern Baptists 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.220 over a long 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:40.519 trajectory of time 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:42.159 is that we have 00:10:42.159 --> 00:10:43.960 counted so many noses 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.159 that we've come 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:46.419 to see our importance 00:10:46.419 --> 00:10:47.500 in our numbers. 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.759 And we're coming 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.480 to find out 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:51.259 that our numbers 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.419 are more alive 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:53.080 than we thought 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:53.559 they were. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:56.220 On any given Sunday morning 00:10:56.220 --> 00:10:56.720 in any, 00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:57.659 just about any 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:59.019 Southern Baptist church, 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:00.539 there will be 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:02.039 less than 50% 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:03.340 of the members 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:04.139 that actually 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:05.620 attend that church. 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.079 That doesn't sound 00:11:08.079 --> 00:11:09.460 like New Testament 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.439 Christianity. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.000 Oh, there are reasons 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:12.799 why people may not 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:13.360 be in church, 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:15.240 but what if a person 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.220 doesn't come? 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:17.899 If at all, 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.500 if Jesus calls us 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.460 to be his disciples, 00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:21.799 that means we follow him, 00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:22.620 we learn from him, 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.120 but if we vacate ourselves 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.919 from the gathering 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:25.620 of his saints, 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:26.360 what are we going 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:26.679 to learn? 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.179 How are we going 00:11:27.179 --> 00:11:27.539 to follow? 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:28.600 How are we going 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:29.620 to together 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.700 make an impact 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:31.800 in the world? 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:35.960 A profession, 00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:38.180 a profession of faith 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:39.180 without a connected 00:11:39.180 --> 00:11:39.940 relationship 00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:41.259 with Jesus Christ 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.700 is false discipleship. 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:43.820 A person can be 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:44.820 plugged into a church, 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.019 plugged into a ministry, 00:11:46.300 --> 00:11:47.040 do all these kind 00:11:47.040 --> 00:11:47.860 of things and yet 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:48.820 be lost, 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.580 not be a real disciple. 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:53.240 There was a time 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.600 in the major 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:56.420 metropolitan areas 00:11:56.420 --> 00:11:56.980 of our country, 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:57.660 still is, 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:58.839 people live out 00:11:58.839 --> 00:11:59.480 in the suburbs 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:00.319 on the outskirt, 00:12:00.579 --> 00:12:01.519 would ride a train 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.199 into town. 00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.059 There was these 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:04.579 three gentlemen, 00:12:04.719 --> 00:12:05.199 businessmen, 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.000 that lived in the city 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.399 and they rode a train 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:09.919 into town every day 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:10.699 for their work, 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.799 ride it back late 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.219 in the evening. 00:12:12.699 --> 00:12:13.199 They did that 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:14.199 for about 20 years. 00:12:14.939 --> 00:12:15.639 One day they go 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.500 to get on their car, 00:12:16.819 --> 00:12:17.240 they go in their 00:12:17.240 --> 00:12:17.839 same seat, 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.620 they would sit there, 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:19.259 drink their coffee, 00:12:19.339 --> 00:12:19.939 read their paper, 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.699 chat on the way 00:12:20.699 --> 00:12:21.139 into work. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:22.679 This time they go in, 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:23.279 they sit down, 00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:24.459 nobody else is on the car. 00:12:24.460 --> 00:12:26.460 The porter comes 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:27.160 through and he says, 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:27.440 gentlemen, 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.280 you can't sit in this 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:28.759 car today, 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.480 you can't take this 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:29.759 car. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.040 They said, 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:31.759 yes we can. 00:12:33.220 --> 00:12:34.259 Because some of us 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:35.519 are geared in such a way 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:36.120 when somebody says 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:36.840 you can't do something, 00:12:36.920 --> 00:12:37.440 what do we do? 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:38.379 We say, 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:39.440 I'm going to do it. 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:40.720 So that's what they did. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:42.240 No, we're going, 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:43.240 no I'm sorry sir, 00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:44.220 you can't ride this 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:44.800 car today. 00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:45.560 And one of them 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:46.180 just gave the fellow 00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:46.960 peace of his mind, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.920 which is always a bad 00:12:47.920 --> 00:12:48.800 thing because we 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:49.639 probably need to keep 00:12:49.639 --> 00:12:50.799 as much as we can. 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:56.559 So he said, 00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:56.799 sir, 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:57.840 we've been riding 00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:58.779 this car, 00:12:59.100 --> 00:12:59.699 this seat, 00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:00.519 we've been doing 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.679 this for 20 years 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:02.480 and we're going to 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.179 do it this morning. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:04.179 Now go on your way. 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.179 Porter said, 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:06.620 okay, 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.199 all right. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.699 I just thought you 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:09.399 might want to be 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:10.460 connected to something 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:11.480 that's going somewhere. 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:14.899 The car was in 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.600 for servicing. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.460 That's the thing 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:18.620 about the church, 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:20.500 about Jesus Christ, 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:21.259 about what we say 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:21.899 is the relationship 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.940 with Jesus Christ. 00:13:24.179 --> 00:13:24.779 We've got to be 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:25.580 connected to him. 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:26.259 If we're not 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:26.879 connected to him, 00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:27.940 we're not going anywhere. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.759 We're not making 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:33.019 disciples because we 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:35.399 aren't disciples if 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:36.159 we're not connected 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:36.639 to him. 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:37.899 Well, the second 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:38.440 response, 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:39.560 traveling along the 00:13:39.560 --> 00:13:40.419 same road is a 00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:42.240 casual response that 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.419 was second to the 00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:45.200 desire for personal 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.720 riches. 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:46.580 If you look in 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.879 verse 59, 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.560 and he said to 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:49.820 another, 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:50.340 follow me. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:50.799 Notice the 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.100 difference. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.259 This time Jesus 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:52.759 spoke. 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.919 This time Jesus 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.799 took the initiative 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:55.580 and he said, 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:56.519 follow me. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:58.259 But the man said 00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:58.840 to the Lord, 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.600 permit me first to 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.379 go and bury my 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:02.679 father. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.340 So he made a 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.299 special request. 00:14:04.299 --> 00:14:06.580 And we're always 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.159 doing that, 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:08.340 seems like, 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:08.899 with the Lord. 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:10.740 Lord, 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:11.519 I'll do this, 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:12.360 but. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.399 You ever 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.259 bargained with 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:15.700 God? 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:17.799 Anybody here ever 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.620 bargained with 00:14:18.620 --> 00:14:19.059 God? 00:14:19.819 --> 00:14:20.439 Lord, you get me 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:21.000 out of this spot, 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.600 I'll do anything. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:24.460 I remember when I 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.059 was a kid, 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.679 when I was growing 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:27.899 up, we didn't have 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.460 a lot of money, 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:28.960 so I didn't, 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.519 Brian, I didn't go 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.539 to the dentist very 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.399 often except when I 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.059 had a pain. 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.039 And I had some pain, 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.759 I went to the dentist 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:35.399 and he said, 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:38.639 you've got cavity. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:40.860 I said, oh, 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.379 that doesn't sound 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:42.700 good. 00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:43.519 And we're going to 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:44.240 need to fill it. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:44.860 He said, I'm going to 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.300 drill it, you want 00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:45.740 a shot? 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.620 And I said, I was 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.300 so afraid of needles, 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:48.820 I said, no, I don't 00:14:48.820 --> 00:14:49.159 want a shot. 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.539 He said, what? 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.159 I said, no, I don't 00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:51.500 want a shot. 00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:52.800 You want me to 00:14:52.800 --> 00:14:53.519 drill it without a 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:53.600 shot? 00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:54.019 I said, yeah. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:56.960 So he proceeded 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:57.460 to drill. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.220 And I grabbed, I 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.120 mean, my knuckles 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.279 were white and back 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:01.899 then you didn't even 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.779 have Tylenol, you 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.500 had extra strength 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.180 et cetera. 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:05.360 And every time I'd 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:05.860 leave the dentist, 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.440 and I had about 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:07.279 eight cavities over 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:07.680 a period of a 00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:08.259 couple of years. 00:15:09.399 --> 00:15:11.220 And then I go 00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:13.460 in one day and I 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.000 say, I'm going to 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.580 have a cavity. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.580 He said, okay, you 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:20.820 ready? 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.919 I said, I think I 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:22.480 want a shot. 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.840 And he said, he 00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.480 looked at, he said, 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:25.720 what? 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.500 I said, yeah, I think 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:26.820 I want a shot. 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:27.919 So he gave me a shot 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.860 and then he started 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.320 to drill. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.720 And I'm telling you 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:31.500 the truth, I didn't 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:32.440 feel hardly anything. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.159 It was a great 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:34.980 experience. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:38.080 It wasn't as good as 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.779 when I was in the 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:40.240 recovery room recently 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.960 and I heard somebody 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:43.519 moaning. 00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:45.320 I heard somebody go, 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:48.000 oh, oh. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:49.320 Then I noticed, every 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.139 time I heard somebody 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.940 moaning, I could tell 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.720 my lips were moving. 00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:53.800 It was me. 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:56.480 And this beautiful, 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.960 beautiful, intelligent 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:00.120 Nigerian nurse came 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.399 over and she said, 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.180 Mr. Gray, do you want, 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:04.859 are you having pain? 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:07.120 And I answered, oh. 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:09.299 And she said, on a 00:16:09.299 --> 00:16:10.039 scale of one to ten, 00:16:10.099 --> 00:16:10.679 what did you say your 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.199 pain is? 00:16:11.239 --> 00:16:12.620 And I said, oh. 00:16:13.579 --> 00:16:14.879 And then she gave the 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:17.099 name of the drug. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:18.759 Doug, I know you know 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:19.419 what it is. 00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:22.379 Daladin. 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.419 Daladin, yeah. 00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.599 I can't ever remember 00:16:24.599 --> 00:16:24.819 that. 00:16:25.219 --> 00:16:25.500 She said, I'm going to 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.199 give you some Daladin. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.359 She said, it's five times 00:16:27.359 --> 00:16:28.139 more powerful than 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.639 morphine. 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:29.740 I said, okay. 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.819 And she gave it to me. 00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:33.019 And listen, the 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.079 world changed. 00:16:37.079 --> 00:16:38.319 Didn't last long, but 00:16:38.319 --> 00:16:38.879 the world changed. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:39.639 But here's what I'm 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.379 trying to get at. 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.620 I didn't try to bargain 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.519 with God this time 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:42.799 around. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.480 I think I'd grown 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.740 enough. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.659 But when I was a 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.679 kid, I'd pray. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.480 I really would pray 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.340 before I'd go in the 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:47.699 dentist. 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.100 I'd sit there and I'd 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.019 pray, dear Lord, don't 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.120 let me have a cavity. 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.220 If you won't let me 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:53.120 have a cavity this time, 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.059 I'll serve you. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.960 I'll do whatever you 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.360 want to. 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:56.819 And then sometimes I 00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:57.579 wouldn't have a cavity. 00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:58.559 And then I'd, of 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.319 course, renege on my 00:16:59.319 --> 00:16:59.720 promise. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.159 And other times I 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:02.919 would have a cavity. 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.579 And I'd feel like, 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.379 well, you know, God 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.000 let me down. 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:07.839 Childish to bargain 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.500 with God. 00:17:08.879 --> 00:17:11.460 Because God doesn't 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:14.500 make deals with 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:14.819 anybody. 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:17.579 That's why we are to 00:17:17.579 --> 00:17:18.259 call him. 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.279 And that's why he is 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.799 known as the Lord 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:22.519 Jesus Christ. 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.059 He is God. 00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:26.319 We don't make deals 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.420 with God. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:28.639 Well, this fellow had 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.559 this special request. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.680 And it sounds like a 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.059 good one. 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:33.679 Let me bury my father 00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.359 first. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:35.919 Understand, that's a 00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.960 Middle Eastern expression. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.019 They would often say, 00:17:40.779 --> 00:17:41.819 I'll go this and I'll do 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.240 that after I bury my 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.460 father. 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.419 What they meant was, 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.220 especially if they were 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.519 the oldest son, then they 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.579 would make sure that they 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:49.179 took care of the estate, 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.299 they got the inheritance 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.879 and all that stuff, and 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.720 then they'd go on with 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.619 that next phase. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:56.279 See, the issue here, it 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.319 sounds like this man's 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.539 father is dead. 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:59.480 But you have to remember 00:17:59.480 --> 00:17:59.920 something. 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:02.659 Number one is, the Jews 00:18:02.659 --> 00:18:04.960 did not embalm bodies. 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.440 The Egyptians did. 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:10.059 The Jews packed a body, 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.039 wrapped it up with all 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.819 those fragrances. 00:18:12.139 --> 00:18:12.680 You remember the 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.599 resurrection of Jesus 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.700 when the women are going 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.119 to carry fragrances to 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.319 put in the tomb where 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.159 Jesus was. 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.700 So the Jews, after a 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:22.039 death, had a burial 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.859 immediately. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.680 Second thing is, if this 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:27.279 man had just died, he 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.500 wouldn't be out on the 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:31.720 street for Jesus to 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.259 pass by. 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:35.180 And the picture we have 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.639 here is, this man's 00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:38.420 father had not died. 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:39.960 He said, first let me go 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.960 bury my father, meaning 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:42.660 I'll follow you, Jesus, 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.920 when I take care of this 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.519 other stuff. 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:50.000 And sometimes that's what 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:50.960 we do, but disciples 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.759 don't do that. 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:54.359 They say, I'll follow Jesus 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.059 when this happens, when this 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:57.379 happens, when this happens. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.000 When I take care of this, 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.980 then I'll follow Jesus. 00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.960 But there's an urgency 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.079 about his call to our 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:04.500 lives that we follow him 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.779 wholeheartedly now and in 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.339 the present. 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.559 This man had a special 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.179 request. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:16.779 He's like the seed that was 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.679 thrown on the thorns in 00:19:18.679 --> 00:19:20.019 Mark 4, 18 and 19. 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:20.720 He said, these are the 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:22.059 ones who hear the word and 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:23.139 the worries of the world and 00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:24.399 the deceitfulness of riches 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.060 and the desire for other 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:27.259 things enter in and choke 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:29.120 the word and it becomes 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:29.580 fruitful. 00:19:29.960 --> 00:19:31.420 And then Jesus in verse 60 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.340 gave a shocking reply. 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.120 He said to him, allow the 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.300 dead to bury their own dead, 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.259 but as for you, go and 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.040 proclaim the kingdom of God 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:40.440 everywhere. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.060 What was he saying? 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:45.519 Let the spiritually dead 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.980 bury the physically dead. 00:19:47.540 --> 00:19:48.640 He was saying that secular 00:19:48.640 --> 00:19:50.440 people, those without God, 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.060 have different priorities and 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.039 followers of Jesus and a 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.799 follower of Jesus has the 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:58.019 priority to follow and 00:19:58.019 --> 00:20:00.059 obey Jesus Christ because a 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:03.619 disciple follows and learns 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.779 from his teacher. 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:08.599 So this man had a special 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.179 request. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.799 Jesus said, let the dead 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:11.940 bury the dead. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:13.859 The point is, the point 00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:15.299 Jesus made, there's nothing 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:18.480 more important, nothing than 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:20.339 our relationship with Jesus 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:20.859 Christ. 00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.500 I don't know if this is a 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.159 true story. 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.579 Am I allowed to tell it at 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.480 First Baptist Church? 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.099 It's not true. 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.019 It might be true. 00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:31.679 It might be true. 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.819 When I was a boy growing up 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.980 in the country church I grew 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.439 up in, there was an 00:20:36.439 --> 00:20:39.919 evangelist came and Brian 00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:40.539 remembers this. 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.959 We used to have meetings in 00:20:41.959 --> 00:20:43.799 the spring and in the fall. 00:20:44.439 --> 00:20:45.259 So this is one of those 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.399 times that we had meetings. 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:48.279 This evangelist came and, oh, 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.660 he was powerful. 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.859 And he told this story. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.460 And he said, one time there 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.379 was this man that owned a 00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:55.680 farm and he had a really 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.619 good bird dog. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.660 And a forecast was coming 00:20:58.660 --> 00:21:00.619 that there was going to be a 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:02.799 big snow event. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:04.660 And this fellow decided, I 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:05.519 think I'll go out this 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.799 afternoon and I'll let my 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.879 bird dog go and see if I 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:09.460 can kill a quail or two. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.180 He takes this bird dog out 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.839 and while he's out there, 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:12.879 once he got deep in the 00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:14.019 field and all of a sudden 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.899 it started to snow. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:16.599 And it snowed and snowed. 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.599 And he said, I got to get 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:17.899 out of here. 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.539 He called his dog. 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.279 His dog didn't come. 00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:21.419 Called his dog. 00:21:21.459 --> 00:21:22.139 His dog didn't come. 00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:22.839 And he's beginning to 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.059 freeze. 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:24.500 So he goes back and drives 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:25.439 back to his house. 00:21:25.939 --> 00:21:26.899 Comes back out that night 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.539 with his flashlight. 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.339 Calls his dog. 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.179 His dog doesn't come. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.319 So he leaves him. 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.119 Morning comes. 00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:31.959 There's a big blanket of 00:21:31.959 --> 00:21:32.199 snow. 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:34.199 He goes out to look for his 00:21:34.199 --> 00:21:34.740 dog again. 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.879 He starts walking over his 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:37.019 field and finally found his 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.459 dog. 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.699 Pointed. 00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:43.199 Frozen to death. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:47.700 So what's the point? 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:52.160 To Jesus, to the church at 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.660 Smyrna in Revelation 2.10. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:56.880 He said, be faithful unto death 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.500 and I will give you a crown of 00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.860 life. 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.000 And I know it's radical. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.220 I know it's not modern. 00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:04.559 I know it's not even popular. 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.240 But what Jesus has taught us in 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.920 the New Testament is there is 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:10.620 nothing, nothing in this world 00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:13.199 more important than him in our 00:22:13.199 --> 00:22:13.739 lives. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.039 That's why he'll never 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.859 disappoint us. 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.939 Paul said in Romans, whoever 00:22:19.939 --> 00:22:21.159 believes in him will not be 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:21.699 disappointed. 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:24.739 When we give our life away to 00:22:24.739 --> 00:22:26.219 him and we find a new life, we 00:22:26.219 --> 00:22:27.959 will not be disappointed. 00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.259 Well, as we go on down the road, 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:32.299 there's a third response. 00:22:32.979 --> 00:22:34.319 If you look in verse 61. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.359 Another said to him, I will follow 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:39.059 you, Lord, but first permit me to 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.599 say goodbye to those at home. 00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:42.899 Now, this is a conditional 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.859 statement that depended too much 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:46.939 on family relationships. 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:51.819 I have spent over half, much 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:54.479 over half of my ministry just 00:22:54.479 --> 00:22:57.399 doing marriage retreats and family 00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:59.719 life conferences and counseling. 00:23:00.739 --> 00:23:02.019 And I believe in the family. 00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:02.959 It's important. 00:23:03.719 --> 00:23:04.599 It's so important. 00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.819 It's more important than the 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:06.339 church. 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:09.359 And God ordained the family before 00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.359 he did the church. 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:13.959 And the order is God, family, 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.059 church. 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:16.539 Here's the thing. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.899 If you and I have good, strong, 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:21.819 godly families, we will have 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.000 strong churches. 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:28.660 But here you notice what he's saying 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:32.059 is that the greatest relationship 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.440 is with him. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:38.059 Not something that's temporary, 00:23:39.059 --> 00:23:40.619 but something that's eternal. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.339 Now, you'll notice this man said, 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.339 I'll follow you, but first permit me 00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:47.759 to say goodbye to those at home. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:52.440 He's like the seed that fell on the rocky soil, 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:56.140 that layer of limestone that was just 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:57.259 underneath the soil. 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.180 And when they would plant the soil, 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:01.519 it would prop, grow up, 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:04.220 but it couldn't sustain life 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:06.460 because it couldn't develop a good root system. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:09.440 In Mark 4, 16 and 17, 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:13.160 those who hear the word and immediately receive it with joy, 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:17.740 and they who have no firm root in themselves, 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:19.380 but are only temporary. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:22.320 Then when affliction or persecution arises 00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:23.299 because of the word, 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:26.920 immediately they fall away. 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:29.019 This man made a reluctant promise. 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:31.480 I will follow you, but. 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:36.500 Lord, make an exception for me. 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.220 I'll follow you, but. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.480 Jesus knew his heart. 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.080 He knew his mind. 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:45.360 And he knew he was not fully committed. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.519 And he knew if he let him go home, 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:49.620 and by the way, understand the context. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.140 Jesus is on the road. 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.680 He's moving to Jerusalem. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:55.180 He's not going to camp out there for a few days. 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:57.680 And this fellow said, let me go home and say goodbye. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:59.940 And back in the Middle East to do that, 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.539 that might have taken him 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:03.740 anywhere from a month to two months possibly. 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.820 Let me go say goodbye. 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:07.259 Why did he want to go home anyway? 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.720 Well, John MacArthur says, 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:13.060 he thinks he wanted to go home so he could raise money. 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.480 So he could raise money for his mission 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.840 because he knew the disciples didn't have any money. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:21.160 They had a small treasury bag. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.759 You knew who the treasurer was, right? 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:25.080 Who was the treasurer of the disciples? 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.299 Judas. 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:31.060 So he's going home possibly to raise money 00:25:31.060 --> 00:25:36.340 so he can enjoy some kind of amenities 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:37.680 when they're on the road. 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:44.080 Now, Luke chapter 14, verses 26. 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.180 Jesus said, 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:51.880 If anyone comes to me that does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:55.620 yes, and even his own life cannot be my disciple. 00:25:56.840 --> 00:25:59.900 Now, there's no command here that God's telling us to go hate our family. 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.900 That's not what he's saying. 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.539 It's relative. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.480 It's in the context of relativity. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.099 And what he's saying is this. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:14.440 Your love for Jesus Christ has to be so strong, so real, so much a priority in your life 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:20.759 that anything else, even the most important people in your life, would seem like hate. 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:28.680 When the choice is to be made, the choice is made to follow Jesus. 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:35.299 There are many parents that have been grieved and saddened, hurt, even though they were supportive, 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:39.700 that their children said, I'm going halfway around the world to serve Jesus. 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:43.839 And of course, they would want their parents to stay here, but they have a sense of calling. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:50.199 So they listened to the voice of God and not the reason of their parents. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:56.819 I remember when I was in journalism school, and I know this is going to shock some of you, 00:26:57.279 --> 00:27:04.519 at the University of South Carolina, I saw the paw up here the other day, Fred put up. 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:12.399 But my mother used to tell people, I'd say, where's Rudy? 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:14.200 And this is what she said, this is true. 00:27:14.280 --> 00:27:16.480 She said, oh, he's at the university. 00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:19.240 Because in her opinion, there was just one. 00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:24.160 So I go down there, I've been working for the Anderson Independent as a sports writer. 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:27.560 I had won an academic award in journalism at Anderson University. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.940 I've been the editor of the paper at Anderson University. 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.800 It looked like my career was set in journalism. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:37.780 So I go down there, and lo and behold, God calls me to preach. 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:43.119 In Columbia, Davey, of all places, God calls me to preach in Columbia. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:51.539 I found, to this day, I don't know where it came from, I found a catalog from back then, Central Wesleyan College. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:53.339 Southern Wesleyan today. 00:27:54.379 --> 00:28:01.279 I scrounged up, and Brian, it was hard to come up with, I scrounged up $15, which was the application fee back then. 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:04.399 Sent it in, got accepted. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:10.660 I come home, and I announce to my parents, God's called me in the ministry. 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:15.560 I'm transferring to Central Wesleyan College and majoring in Bible. 00:28:18.680 --> 00:28:19.840 My mother cried. 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:24.980 And my daddy said, son, don't you do that. 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:28.380 You go and make something out of yourself. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:31.100 Like be a journalist. 00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:39.059 And today, if you look at Barnum and Pew and some of those things, two people that are at the very lowest in the level of trust by society are preachers and journalists. 00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:41.159 Wouldn't have made much difference, would it? 00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:44.259 I said, no, I'm going to do it. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:47.919 And so finally, he says to me, I'm not going to pay for it. 00:28:48.439 --> 00:28:49.699 They were paying for my college. 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:52.500 He said, I'm not paying another penny if you leave there. 00:28:53.939 --> 00:28:54.879 I said, well, that's okay. 00:28:55.079 --> 00:28:58.399 Because I was still working for the Independent while I was in Columbia covering sports. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:00.560 I said, I'll make it work. 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:08.740 Well, a few weeks later, I came home one weekend, and they were gone somewhere, but there was a plate on the kitchen table, and there was a newspaper clipping. 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:14.400 And that newspaper clipping said, Central Wesleyan receives full accreditation. 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:19.800 See, one of the things with her was, well, that school's not even accredited. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:24.560 And I'm 99.9% sure she didn't have a clue what that meant. 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:32.059 But she had that cut out, and I thought, wow, because that takes a process. 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:33.859 You know, accreditation takes time. 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.379 I didn't know they were working on it. 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:43.899 So then I go back and transfer and get all everything, and then I start in the summer because I had to have four semesters of Greek. 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.799 So I got started in the summer. 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:55.119 Anyway, to make a long story short, I had to make a decision over listening to my parents or listening to God. 00:29:55.659 --> 00:29:59.859 And I thought, by listening to God, it was going to be a tremendous struggle. 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:07.680 But my dad came around, and he paid for a lot of my college the last couple of years. 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:11.119 That's a miracle in itself. 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:14.599 That's another story because this man was so tight, he would squeak when he walked. 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:22.879 But I guess my point in all of this, and the point in this fellow, he's coming and he's saying, 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.180 let me say goodbye to those at home. 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.039 Let me go back. 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:32.200 And Jesus says, there's no relationship more important than your relationship with me. 00:30:32.359 --> 00:30:34.700 And then he gave this absolute truth in verse 62. 00:30:35.159 --> 00:30:40.779 Jesus said to him, no one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.680 No exceptions. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:48.740 And he goes back to a proverb that was very similar to this, Hesiod in 700 B.C. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:50.560 One of those ancient philosophers. 00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:52.320 And the proverb was something like this. 00:30:52.620 --> 00:30:55.440 You cannot plow a furrow looking backwards. 00:30:56.519 --> 00:31:03.279 Has anybody here ever plowed a mule or a horse or an oxen? 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:03.660 Anybody? 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:03.880 Anybody? 00:31:05.800 --> 00:31:06.480 Okay. 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:11.040 What is the thing that a plowman wants to do? 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.500 What's the goal? 00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.220 Straight. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:19.900 How do you plow a straight row? 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.279 You look ahead. 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:29.400 You can't plow a straight row looking backwards. 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:29.600 Proverbs. 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.300 That's what the proverb said. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.420 That's what Jesus said. 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.600 I remember growing up, my granddaddy had a farm. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:40.200 And he had a man that ran a farm for him. 00:31:40.420 --> 00:31:41.259 And he had mules. 00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.960 He had a little tractor, but he had mules. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:46.640 And I watched this man year after year behind those mules. 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:48.720 Be plowing up ground, planting something. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:49.100 Planting. 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.980 Doing these furrows or these rows. 00:31:51.360 --> 00:31:56.200 And I noticed as he'd go along, he'd say, gee, gee, ha, ha, gee, gee, ha. 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:58.819 And I thought, that's just something you say to mules to get them to go. 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:06.279 But, you know, it was years later that I come to find out that gee meant turn right. 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.680 And ha meant turn left. 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:11.740 And he was making sure that he was keeping that row straight. 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:14.920 When they'd venture a little bit left, he'd say turn right, gee. 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:17.200 Or when they'd venture right, he'd say turn ha. 00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:19.240 He was keeping the row straight. 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:23.480 The goal of a plowman is to plow a straight furrow. 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:27.019 And Jesus used that illustration, that proverb. 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:29.319 Nobody, nobody, no exceptions. 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.779 After putting his hand to the plow. 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:32.900 Lord Jesus, I give you my life. 00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:43.299 And looking back, Jesus said, no one that does that is fit for the kingdom of God. 00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:48.839 We keep on keeping on. 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:58.559 Hebrews 12, 2 says, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:01.299 Now, these are strong words from Jesus. 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:06.079 To be a disciple means to follow him. 00:33:06.959 --> 00:33:08.099 To learn from him. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.279 To obey him. 00:33:09.939 --> 00:33:13.980 Being a disciple means that he's the most important thing in our lives. 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:20.319 And being a disciple means we will make disciples of other people. 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:29.380 And it's not just a matter of reading a verse, pray this prayer. 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.799 Okay, you're good. 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:34.160 See, we're famous for that in our churches. 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:35.920 We're famous for that. 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:37.980 Pray this prayer. 00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.039 Say this verse. 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:41.279 Okay, now if you were to die, would you go to heaven? 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.460 I think so. 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.200 Okay, you're good. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:47.900 I remember when I first started preaching, I went into this mobile home park. 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.740 And I went to this fellow. 00:33:48.779 --> 00:33:50.660 I was all gung-ho about soul winning. 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:52.339 This fellow was in there. 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:54.920 And I went through the Roman road with him. 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.640 I said, now I want you to pray right now with me. 00:33:56.680 --> 00:33:57.640 You're ready to trust Christ. 00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.180 He said, okay. 00:33:58.660 --> 00:34:00.079 And I asked him to pray. 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.360 And he didn't know how to pray. 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:01.880 So I prayed. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.860 I said, just pray after me. 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:03.740 And he prayed after me. 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.200 And I thanked God for saving me. 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.720 And I looked at him. 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:07.559 I said, now if you were to die, where would you go? 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.559 He said, I don't know. 00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:12.360 So I went through the whole thing again. 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:17.900 And I said, now if you were to die, right now would you go to heaven? 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:19.000 He said, I don't know. 00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:21.719 I said, man, why did you pray to prayer? 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:24.139 He said, I thought that's what you wanted me to do. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:35.059 I think a lot of times we fill our roles of our churches with people making responses because they're under emotional distress. 00:34:36.219 --> 00:34:39.079 Because they want to be accepted by somebody. 00:34:39.819 --> 00:34:44.139 Or because they think that's what we want them to do. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:51.219 I had a disagreement with a pastor not too long ago. 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.879 Good, good friend of mine. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:55.260 He said, you should always give an invitation. 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:58.340 He said, there should always be the sawdust trail. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:00.599 You should always have an altar call. 00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:03.320 I said, I don't think so. 00:35:05.140 --> 00:35:06.240 He said, what are you talking about? 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.519 I said, sure, give an invitation. 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.840 But you don't have to ask. 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:14.360 I always ask people to walk down like there's something magic from walking from that place to this spot. 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.720 He said, no, I disagree. 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.300 I disagree. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.559 I said, well then answer me this question. 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:31.559 How is it that the greatest Baptist preacher in the history of the English language never gave an altar call and won more people to Christ in that era than anybody else? 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:33.880 Charles Haddon Spurgeon. 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:35.860 He said, I don't know. 00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:41.320 I said, did you know that they had a class and a woman led this class and she was strict? 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:43.539 And they had to go through. 00:35:43.640 --> 00:35:47.620 It was almost like a seminary class and they had to give. 00:35:47.720 --> 00:35:51.559 They had to show that they knew the stuff and their life reflected it. 00:35:51.720 --> 00:35:57.120 And if they didn't, she would not say to the pastor, okay, they're good to become members. 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.400 They're good to be baptized. 00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:04.340 Instead, she'd say, nope, they've got some more time. 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:12.920 But then you had a church that was packed out all the time and you had fewer members than you had attenders. 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:19.139 But today in the Southern Baptist Convention, we have a lot more members than we have attenders. 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:21.380 We've just reversed it. 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:30.760 But the answer to the dilemma, the cure for the problem is found in the Word. 00:36:31.640 --> 00:36:33.820 It's watching what Jesus did on this road. 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:41.740 It's recognizing that you can't make disciples unless you are a disciple. 00:36:44.200 --> 00:36:47.340 And the whole thing, and I'm done, the whole thing is this. 00:36:48.140 --> 00:36:50.780 God does not need volunteers. 00:36:51.380 --> 00:36:56.480 This mission, this life, is not about volunteering. 00:36:57.420 --> 00:36:58.599 It's about surrendering. 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:05.440 And once you surrender to Christ, and that's what it means to give your life to Him so that you can lose it to find it. 00:37:05.660 --> 00:37:11.980 When you surrender, when I surrender, when we surrender to Christ, then all those other questions are answered. 00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:18.579 So no church that's full of disciples, people surrendered to Christ, 00:37:18.579 --> 00:37:23.679 ever has to beg anybody to serve on any committee or in any capacity. 00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:25.340 It's always full. 00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.739 It's always a waiting list. 00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:30.360 How many churches do you know like that? 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:44.280 The crying need of the hour for the church in America is to be disciples, to make disciples, 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:53.079 to get back to the seriousness of what it means to follow and learn from Jesus Christ. 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:56.179 Let me ask you in closing this morning. 00:37:56.440 --> 00:38:00.799 Would you say, as you examine your life, would you ask yourself, 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:04.380 am I a volunteer or have I surrendered? 00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:10.500 Am I a volunteer or have I surrendered? 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:12.760 Let's pray together. 00:38:12.760 --> 00:38:12.780 Let's pray together.