WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.139 All right, this morning I'm going to talk about gospel-worthy life loss. 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:08.140 Gospel-worthy life loss. 00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:09.140 ! Nice face. 00:00:09.140 --> 00:00:17.199 I got to hang out with some church planters here in town this week. 00:00:17.939 --> 00:00:23.879 And it was fun to talk to them and just remember different church plans in the past. 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:29.119 And just in that stage of starting out and just seeing different people and how they do things. 00:00:29.259 --> 00:00:35.719 And I've been thinking a lot about the foundations of Christ Church and what we're building into the culture. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.719 Or in other words, the manner of life that we're building. 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:46.519 And when we started Bellicose Church, mission was built into every facet of the foundation. 00:00:46.520 --> 00:00:49.520 And I believe it must be for Christ Church as well. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:53.240 So I want to look at two main texts of Scripture here. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.280 So the first one is in Philippians 1, 27 to 30. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:00:58.960 If you have your Bibles, you can look at it. 00:00:59.260 --> 00:01:01.040 And the second one is going to be Mark 8. 00:01:02.660 --> 00:01:06.040 But we'll start in Philippians 1, 27 to 30. 00:01:06.600 --> 00:01:07.500 I'll read it first. 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:08.379 It says, 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:12.040 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:16.740 So whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you. 00:01:17.180 --> 00:01:22.580 You are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:01:22.960 --> 00:01:25.340 And not frightened in anything by your opponents. 00:01:26.100 --> 00:01:31.180 This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:39.680 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 00:01:40.160 --> 00:01:45.800 Engage in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:47.920 So he starts this off. 00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:49.660 Let's take a look at the text here. 00:01:49.740 --> 00:01:50.020 It says, 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.160 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:01:54.240 --> 00:01:54.440 Okay? 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:55.460 Your manner of life. 00:01:55.740 --> 00:01:57.120 The way that you live your life. 00:01:57.540 --> 00:01:59.120 The manner in which you live your life. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:01.820 And then you might say, 00:02:01.880 --> 00:02:02.920 Well, what does he mean by that? 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:09.840 Well, he goes into the specifics of what he's talking about when he talks about the manner of life being worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:15.099 And he says that when I come or see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are three things. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:21.180 It's your standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:29.700 And so he's saying a manner of life worthy of the gospel is one that strives side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:36.340 So this already flies in the face of our individualistic culture, of normal church culture, which says, 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:46.199 As long as I do the right things, I attend the services, and I have certain missional aspects of my life that aim towards the gospel, I'm good. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:55.020 But he's saying here that a manner of life worthy of the gospel isn't just someone who preaches the gospel or is intentional with the gospel on their own. 00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:59.780 It's those who strive side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:03:00.380 --> 00:03:09.300 And so there's this effort that is involved that executes itself with the saints, with the church. 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:10.700 It's a side by side. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:13.400 And I'd say, well, what does that mean? 00:03:13.480 --> 00:03:14.820 What does side by side mean? 00:03:14.920 --> 00:03:16.960 Like, how close does that need to be? 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:25.280 How connected or together does a gospel worthy life have to be? 00:03:25.400 --> 00:03:27.520 Well, he said that he goes, he has more details. 00:03:27.640 --> 00:03:32.439 He says, he says with one mind and standing firm in one spirit. 00:03:32.860 --> 00:03:33.280 Okay. 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:40.680 So most of you know that you don't just get to one mind by just hoping that it gets there. 00:03:40.760 --> 00:03:42.900 If you're married, you really know this, right? 00:03:43.480 --> 00:03:44.800 It's not like, oh, we're married now. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.920 Now everything's going to be one mind and one spirit and we're never going to disagree on anything. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:51.700 Thank God we're married so we don't have to disagree anymore. 00:03:52.200 --> 00:03:52.980 No, of course not. 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:53.700 That's ridiculous. 00:03:54.500 --> 00:04:01.000 If anything, it sometimes forces the issue of disagreeing more so because you're forced to make decisions together. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:02.560 You're forced to live life together. 00:04:03.220 --> 00:04:03.380 Okay. 00:04:03.860 --> 00:04:12.880 And so when he talks about being of one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel or standing firm in one spirit, 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:15.639 this involves effort. 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:27.600 No one's going to be of one mind in striving side by side for the faith of the gospel without intentionality, without effort, without planning. 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:29.980 That's never going to just happen. 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:32.219 It's like, hey, how's your missional community? 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:33.120 It's great. 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:37.620 We haven't been executing any effort towards unity and it just happens. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:40.959 It's like, there's no, that's just not how people work. 00:04:41.280 --> 00:04:41.459 Right. 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:46.680 That'd be like just saying, I haven't involved any effort in the disciplining my kids and they're just angels. 00:04:47.180 --> 00:04:50.100 You know, like, no, it involves effort. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:57.560 In the same way, if we want to be striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, which we should want, 00:04:57.560 --> 00:05:05.120 because this is the manner of life that he's speaking of, it's going to involve effort to be of one mind in how we do it. 00:05:05.780 --> 00:05:05.980 Okay. 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:14.199 And all the more so as a church point, we have to say, okay, how can we, and specifically our church in the context of these missional communities, 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:18.180 how can we be of one mind, not just in a general sense. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:19.759 We're not talking about generic sense here. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:23.620 We're talking about striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:29.459 How can we be of one mind in how we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel? 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:30.840 How are we going to do that? 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:34.939 We have to have the specific vision of how that's going to happen. 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:36.660 We have to have specific plans. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:38.100 We have to talk about it. 00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:39.319 We have to pray about it. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:40.560 We have to discuss it. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:42.040 We have to get in the word about it. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:43.980 The question is, are we doing that? 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:46.579 Are we doing that when it comes to mission? 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:49.560 Are we doing that with one mind? 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:51.360 Are we kind of all doing our own things? 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:57.379 Like so-and-so has this person at work that they are reaching out to, or so-and-so has this neighbor that they're reaching out to. 00:05:57.900 --> 00:06:00.879 And maybe we know about it, but maybe we don't know about it. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:06.600 Maybe we're even that disjointed where we don't even know who's on mission to who or how that's even going. 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:08.360 Or, oh, you got together to the neighbor? 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:09.400 That would have been cool to know. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:10.860 I would have loved to pray for you. 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:18.340 Are we striving side by side for the faith of the gospel together? 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:19.639 Are we doing that? 00:06:19.639 --> 00:06:22.060 Are we doing it with one mind? 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:26.539 This is a manner of life worthy of the gospel. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:31.800 The gospel is worth putting the effort in to do it together. 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:38.019 The gospel is worth not having it be a side hustle, but be the main hustle. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:50.379 The gospel is worth us reorienting our life, planning around things, planning our life around the gospel going to unbelievers. 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:51.459 It's worth doing that. 00:06:51.539 --> 00:06:53.519 It's worth sacrificing for that. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:59.839 It's worth taking the effort to do that, not just on our own, in our own individual busy lives, but to do that together. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.060 Are we doing it? 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:03.859 Are we doing it? 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:07.500 And maybe we do it for a little while or we get excited for a little while. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:14.179 But he also says that the way that this manner of life looks is that you're standing firm in one spirit. 00:07:14.180 --> 00:07:17.720 There's a standing firm, which means we got to keep at it. 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:19.560 We can't waver. 00:07:20.199 --> 00:07:23.079 We can't start off strong and then let up. 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:30.560 A gospel worthy life is one that says, hey, it's worth standing firm. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:32.300 It's worth holding the line. 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:38.300 It's worth continuing to do the things faithfully, side by side, for the sake of the gospel. 00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:40.400 I'm going to keep at it. 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:42.480 And one of those things is praying. 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:46.939 How is our faithfulness together in praying for the lost? 00:07:48.340 --> 00:07:52.960 If I would introduce you to one of the people I was meeting this week, 00:07:53.220 --> 00:07:58.319 who's planting churches in this town or in other towns of the earth, 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:04.159 and they were in the beginning stages, and you asked them how it was going, 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:06.019 and then you asked them what they were doing, 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:10.300 and you found out that they weren't praying together for the lost regularly, 00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:12.659 what would you think about that church plant? 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.339 What would you think about its effectiveness? 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:22.420 What would you think about whether it's an actual gospel worthy church? 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:27.759 There has to be intentional prayer together for the lost. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:29.339 And we have to stand firm in it. 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:33.919 And it's easy sometimes to look with our natural eyes and think, 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:36.879 because maybe I didn't see someone get saved that I've been praying for, 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:38.980 that why keep praying for that? 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:44.139 Or I'm not seeing certain people coming or lost people coming to faith. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:47.500 It's easy to look with our natural eye, to look at what we see, 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:48.939 to not walk by faith. 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:51.399 And what we end up doing is we let up in prayer. 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:57.199 And so the prayer becomes, well, when we have the you-ra-ra corporate moment, 00:08:57.299 --> 00:08:58.019 yeah, then we'll pray. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.500 If we do a fast together, well, of course, then we'll pray. 00:09:02.179 --> 00:09:05.159 But we need a whole church. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:07.819 Notice I didn't say some who will lead. 00:09:08.079 --> 00:09:08.939 A whole church. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:12.579 If we're trying to build a culture that is gospel worthy, 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:16.620 a manner of life into the DNA and the foundation of a church, 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:22.100 for the sake of the gospel, we will need a group of people 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:26.580 that are intentional to keep praying and keep praying and keep praying, 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:31.000 saying, Lord, Lord of the harvest, send out workers into the harvest field. 00:09:31.419 --> 00:09:35.759 Lord of the harvest, we ask it in Jesus' name that you would save souls. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.600 And we keep praying and we don't let up. 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:42.899 And when we have bouts of discontentment 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:46.419 or we have moments of where we're losing faith, 00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:48.519 we confess that to our brothers and sisters. 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:51.120 We come to those in our missional community and we say, 00:09:51.199 --> 00:09:55.279 hey, I'm having a hard time believing for the salvation of souls. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:57.720 Well, thank you for sharing that. 00:09:57.980 --> 00:09:58.879 Let's pray for you. 00:09:59.459 --> 00:10:01.100 And then let's come together again, 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.740 steadfast and firm in saying, we're going to keep praying. 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:08.379 1 Corinthians 15, 58 says, 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:14.060 stand firm, let nothing move in, 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.759 and always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.639 There's a standing firm that has to happen. 00:10:20.180 --> 00:10:21.360 Standing firm in one spirit. 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:23.820 This is a manner worthy of the gospel. 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:25.000 Are we doing that? 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:26.560 And again, I'm not asking, 00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:29.000 are you doing that alone in your own individual life? 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.120 If you are, that's great. 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:31.180 That's a good thing. 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.600 That would be encouraging, all right? 00:10:34.940 --> 00:10:36.759 But that's not church. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.680 That's just being a Christian. 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:41.299 Church is when we do that, 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.080 when we stand firm together for the sake of the gospel. 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:47.840 Standing firm together for the sake of the gospel. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:49.259 All right? 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:52.240 Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.019 so that whether I come and see you or am absent, 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.480 I may hear of you. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:57.860 That you're standing firm in one spirit, 00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:58.840 with one mind, 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.919 striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:02.879 I'm not here all the time with you guys. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.519 I'm not in a missional community with you. 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:06.759 But I want to hear the same thing that Paul is saying. 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.600 Whether I see you or I'm absent, 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:10.779 I want to hear that you're standing firm, 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:12.240 in one spirit, 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:13.259 with one mind, 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.899 striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.200 That's what I want to hear. 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.340 And that's what we should be doing 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:20.759 in every missional community. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:24.139 And not frightened in anything by your opponents. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:27.320 Sometimes what keeps us from doing that is fear man. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.879 We're too fearful to preach the gospel. 00:11:30.120 --> 00:11:31.840 We have a fear of being rejected. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.660 We have a fear of saying the wrong thing. 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:34.840 Okay? 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.000 You always got to remember, 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:37.340 they're already lost. 00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:38.600 They already hate God. 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.200 You're not going to make them hate God 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:41.320 any more than they hate God. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.700 If a lost person, 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:44.100 everything within them hates God, 00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:45.800 even if they look like really nice people. 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.740 You understand that? 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.960 The sinful mind is hostile to God. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:52.660 It cannot please God. 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.580 This is Romans 8. 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:56.060 So you don't have to worry about, 00:11:56.160 --> 00:11:57.759 oh, I'm going to make them hate God more. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.759 No, they already hate God with everything within them. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.799 It might be dressed up and look nice, 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:03.399 but that's what unbelievers do. 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:04.899 They need to hear the gospel. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:06.259 Okay? 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:07.840 And sometimes we get afraid. 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:09.700 I don't know if I shared this with you the other day, 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.179 but this was really encouraging to me. 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.679 I was listening to someone, 00:12:13.779 --> 00:12:15.039 they were saying that a lot of times 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:16.299 we think that preaching the gospel 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.539 is like going into a hospital 00:12:17.539 --> 00:12:20.639 and trying to talk someone into how sick they are 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:22.179 and that they need to take this medicine 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:23.200 so they can get well. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.100 When really that's not what the preaching of the gospel is. 00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:27.360 It's going into a cemetery 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.100 and preaching to a bunch of dead people 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:31.019 who can't do anything. 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:33.320 And then God, through the gospel, 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:34.860 opens up their eyes, 00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:37.100 resurrects them, and saves them. 00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:40.899 Do we believe that that gospel is that powerful 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:42.980 that we're not frightened by our opponents? 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:44.139 We're saying, no, 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:45.820 the gospel is the power of God 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:47.100 for the salvation of those who believe, 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:48.080 Romans 1.16. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:52.639 That great verse that moved Martin Luther, 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.660 you know, how many years ago, 00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:56.600 just like this last weekend. 00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:57.379 Okay? 00:12:58.280 --> 00:12:58.480 He said, 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.660 the gospel is the power of God 00:12:59.660 --> 00:13:01.000 for the salvation of those who believe. 00:13:01.040 --> 00:13:01.800 When you believe that, 00:13:02.020 --> 00:13:03.680 you're not frightened anything by your opponents. 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:05.440 And if you are frightened 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.120 and you're thinking, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.920 I have this tendency to not share the gospel, 00:13:09.060 --> 00:13:10.080 to not preach the gospel, 00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:11.540 I'm afraid to do it. 00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.360 I don't, 00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:14.580 I shy away from us planning to do it 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.580 in our missional communities. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.580 If that's you, 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:18.320 again, that's something you need to confess 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.420 to your brothers and sisters. 00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:21.100 To say, hey, 00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:23.560 I get afraid a lot when it comes to the gospel. 00:13:24.100 --> 00:13:25.259 There is a remedy for that. 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:27.100 It's the filling of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:29.280 It's the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.720 When you are filled with the Spirit, 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:31.759 much like Peter, 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.540 you go from being afraid 00:13:33.540 --> 00:13:35.160 to being bold as a lion. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.560 And this is available for us. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:39.660 He says that when we're not frightened 00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:40.820 in anything by our opponents, 00:13:40.920 --> 00:13:42.140 this is a clear sign to them 00:13:42.140 --> 00:13:42.980 of their destruction, 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:45.240 but of your salvation. 00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.580 And that from God. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:48.879 For it has been granted to you 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.440 that for the sake of Christ, 00:13:50.900 --> 00:13:52.320 you should not only believe in him, 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.220 but also suffer for his sake, 00:13:54.660 --> 00:13:56.060 engaged in the same conflict 00:13:56.060 --> 00:13:57.160 that you saw I had, 00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.860 and now hear that I still have. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.520 Now he's talking about 00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:02.020 when he was in Philippi, 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:04.700 which is documented in Acts chapter 16. 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:07.060 He cast out a demon 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:08.840 of a woman who was fortune telling, 00:14:09.040 --> 00:14:10.780 and it was bringing quite a good income 00:14:10.780 --> 00:14:12.100 for those in the city, 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.519 and they didn't like that. 00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.560 And so they ended up beating Paul 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:16.920 and throwing him in jail, 00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:21.080 which he refers to later 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:22.100 as saying very shamefully 00:14:22.100 --> 00:14:23.320 because he was a Roman citizen. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.180 Okay? 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.779 So again, 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:27.100 a lot of times 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.080 we think, 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:28.440 oh, 00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:30.759 I don't want to preach the gospel 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.480 or I don't want to get on mission 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.800 because it's costly. 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:34.639 It takes time. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.379 It takes effort. 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:36.759 People might reject me. 00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.980 People might be mad at me. 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.420 Who knows nowadays 00:14:39.420 --> 00:14:41.100 with the amount of violence 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.800 that is around 00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:44.000 that people might even be violent 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.259 if they disagree with you. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:46.259 There's that fear. 00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.500 There's that thought in the back. 00:14:48.420 --> 00:14:48.720 He says, 00:14:48.800 --> 00:14:49.620 it's been granted to you 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.879 for the sake of Christ. 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:52.440 You should not only believe in him 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.220 but also suffer for his sake. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.320 For us to think that 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.820 the preaching of the gospel 00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:59.000 isn't going to involve 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.399 some level of discomfort 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.240 or suffering 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:03.139 is a fool's errand. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:04.980 It is going to. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.440 It is going to. 00:15:06.440 --> 00:15:08.560 And we have to embrace that. 00:15:08.920 --> 00:15:09.940 And we have to be careful 00:15:09.940 --> 00:15:11.600 that we don't hide behind 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:12.880 a fear of loss 00:15:12.880 --> 00:15:13.700 or discomfort 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:14.920 with the gospel 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.300 and mask it 00:15:16.300 --> 00:15:18.520 with a sense of community 00:15:18.520 --> 00:15:19.600 in a local church. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.260 And if that can be a replacement 00:15:22.260 --> 00:15:24.180 for the church 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:26.180 having as one of their main 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.280 distinguishing markers 00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:28.540 that they live in 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.780 a manner worthy of the gospel, 00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:31.180 striving side by side 00:15:31.180 --> 00:15:32.240 for the faith of the gospel. 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:34.740 And we can mask that sometimes 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:36.279 by just being a small group 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:36.700 of people 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:37.740 in a small little church 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.159 that says, 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:39.180 wow, I really like 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.139 this small little church 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:41.519 where we get to know each other 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.419 and be with each other. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.539 And it's just, 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:44.799 it's nice. 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.220 When there's a much larger 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.960 group of people 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.419 that the Bible calls 00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:51.740 wide is the gate to destruction. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.220 We're headed to hell. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.600 And we should let 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:55.960 that discomfort hit us, 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:57.360 that reality hit us, 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.620 even if it doesn't hit us 00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.820 in the natural realm 00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.100 with someone rejecting us 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.740 or beating us 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:04.440 because of what Paul did, right? 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.740 We should let the reality of hell 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:08.360 and the reality of the wide gate 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.100 to destruction 00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.159 shake us out of our discomfort, 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:14.360 get us out of our communal lethargy 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:15.159 that says, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.680 oh, let's just enjoy 00:16:16.680 --> 00:16:17.740 our small little church 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.940 and the friendship we have. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.460 No, we must always, always, always 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:24.600 strive for the faith of the gospel 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.039 and say, 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.440 no, people need to hear. 00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.019 People need to hear. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:31.179 And he exhorts them 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.639 to be engaged in the same conflict 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.679 that you saw I had 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:35.419 and now hear that I still have. 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:37.579 Paul never counted his life 00:16:37.579 --> 00:16:40.059 as something worthy to be fought for. 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:42.199 He was constantly subjecting himself 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:43.000 to discomfort 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.559 for the sake of the gospel 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:47.740 over and over and over and over again. 00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:49.019 Are we doing the same? 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:52.159 A great picture of this is Mark chapter eight. 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.899 If you have your Bibles, 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.779 you can turn to Mark chapter eight, 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.879 starting verse 31. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:17:01.779 Mark chapter eight, 31 to 38. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:04.259 See, this is documented in Matthew 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.740 and Mark and in Luke. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:08.599 It's this same section of scripture 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:11.839 where Jesus is talking about discipleship 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.680 and what it looks like 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.839 to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:15.799 And Mark, 00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.839 one of the reasons I love the book of Mark 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.599 is even though it's the shortest 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:21.779 of the synoptic gospels, 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.660 it always has these little details 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:25.359 that some of the other ones don't have. 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.439 which is ironic 00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.659 because it's the shortest one. 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.919 You'd think if it has more details, 00:17:28.979 --> 00:17:29.819 it'd be the longest one. 00:17:30.219 --> 00:17:31.500 No, it just has less info, 00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:33.459 but then includes these little snippets 00:17:33.459 --> 00:17:33.839 that you're like, 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:34.619 oh, that's awesome. 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.939 So Mark eight here is no different. 00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:38.899 I'll show you in a second. 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.379 But Mark chapter eight, 00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.639 starting verse 31. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:43.519 It says, 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.779 He began to teach them, 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.440 says Jesus, 00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:47.359 that the Son of Man 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:49.240 must suffer many things 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.200 and be rejected by the elders 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.480 and the chief priests 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.299 and the scribes 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.379 and be killed 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:56.680 and after three days rise again. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:58.379 And he said this plainly. 00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.319 Okay? 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:01.639 And so you have him saying three things. 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.299 He's going to suffer, 00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:03.299 he's going to be rejected, 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.759 he's going to be killed, 00:18:04.859 --> 00:18:06.400 and then he's going to rise again. 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.400 So suffer, 00:18:07.579 --> 00:18:08.200 be rejected, 00:18:08.379 --> 00:18:09.079 and be killed. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.119 And it says, 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:11.559 and then he said this plainly. 00:18:12.699 --> 00:18:12.899 Okay? 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.699 Peter takes him aside, 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:16.679 and what did he do? 00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.460 He begins to rebuke him. 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:19.720 Right? 00:18:20.919 --> 00:18:21.480 Jesus says, 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.079 I'm going to suffer, 00:18:22.199 --> 00:18:22.819 I'm going to be rejected, 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.460 I'm going to be killed, 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.000 I'm going to rise from the dead. 00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:26.399 Peter takes him aside, 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.179 rebukes him. 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:32.879 And we know from the other accounts of this 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:34.319 that he's basically saying, 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.819 no, Lord. 00:18:35.419 --> 00:18:35.599 You know, 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.339 this isn't, 00:18:36.439 --> 00:18:37.359 we won't let this happen 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.619 or this shouldn't happen. 00:18:39.079 --> 00:18:41.759 And turning and seeing his disciples, 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:44.419 Jesus rebukes Peter. 00:18:45.419 --> 00:18:45.619 Okay? 00:18:45.699 --> 00:18:47.000 So Peter rebukes Jesus. 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:49.559 Jesus comes back with his own rebuke. 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.919 And what does he say? 00:18:52.220 --> 00:18:52.519 You know, 00:18:52.639 --> 00:18:53.579 you know the phrase, 00:18:53.699 --> 00:18:54.679 that escalated quickly? 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.480 I'd say that it applies here. 00:18:56.919 --> 00:18:56.919 00:18:57.879 --> 00:18:58.259 It says, 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.379 Peter rebukes Jesus, 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:02.059 and then Jesus rebukes Peter and says, 00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.539 get behind me, 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.379 Satan. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.480 Like, 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:05.799 whoa, 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.379 okay. 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.279 Get behind me, 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:08.619 Satan. 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:11.619 For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:19:11.939 --> 00:19:12.980 but on the things of man. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.480 Now, 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.099 wait a second. 00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:16.179 What in the world just happened there? 00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:18.199 How did it just go from, 00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:20.019 Peter comes up to Jesus. 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:20.779 Hey, 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:21.119 Jesus. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:21.740 No, 00:19:21.899 --> 00:19:22.879 this shouldn't happen. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.639 And then all of a sudden, 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:25.839 you know, 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.819 Jesus says, 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.039 get behind me, 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.359 Satan. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.399 It's like, 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.139 Satan? 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.679 Where'd he come in here? 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.879 I thought he was talking to Peter. 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:35.360 He's calling Peter, 00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:35.780 Satan, 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.440 all of a sudden. 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:40.540 To say that things escalated quickly is an understatement. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:40.880 That, 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:41.360 you know, 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.440 that's a pretty, 00:19:43.540 --> 00:19:46.180 he just changed the temperature of the conversation there. 00:19:46.260 --> 00:19:46.940 Real quick, 00:19:47.040 --> 00:19:47.720 Peter had to be like, 00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:48.360 what? 00:19:48.900 --> 00:19:49.340 Satan? 00:19:50.020 --> 00:19:50.380 You know, 00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:52.380 but thankfully, 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:54.380 we don't have to wonder why he's saying that. 00:19:54.540 --> 00:19:57.020 He describes right after that in the next phrase, 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:58.420 why he's saying, 00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.320 get behind me, 00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.600 Satan. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.900 For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:05.660 but on the things of man. 00:20:06.580 --> 00:20:06.660 Okay? 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:07.440 So, 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:09.000 right away, 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:13.140 he detected in Peter a satanic thing. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.320 Okay? 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:16.640 And we should take note of this as well, 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:19.040 because we're not any better than Peter. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:21.440 We're not any better than any of the other disciples. 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:22.720 We too, 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:26.279 could be susceptible to a satanic thing. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.899 Much like this one. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.000 And so, 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:30.279 what is that satanic thing? 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.940 Setting your mind on the things of God, 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:36.279 or not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:38.639 but on the things of man. 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:39.819 Okay? 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.659 Not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.539 but on the things of man. 00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:44.879 It's easy, 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.799 sometimes in an even spiritual way. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:50.039 And this is where I think it's most demonic. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:52.940 We can spiritualize our own selfishness, 00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:55.059 our own things of man, 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.460 rather than the things of God. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.440 Okay? 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.859 When we think about the things of God, 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.980 those are the things that God wants to do, 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:01.980 and they don't, 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.139 they're not always comfortable. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.180 In this instance, 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:05.539 they involve suffering, 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.419 rejection, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:07.899 and being killed. 00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:09.339 Okay? 00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.859 That was the things of God. 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.740 Jesus, 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:12.519 it says, 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:14.359 he said these things plainly. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.660 He said them plainly. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.740 This is what God wants. 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.559 This is what's going to happen. 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:21.440 Peter says, 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.240 no, no, no, no, no. 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.799 And he says, 00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:24.019 hey, 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.700 get behind me, 00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:24.920 Satan. 00:21:24.980 --> 00:21:26.819 You're not setting your mind on the things of God, 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.339 we're on the things of man. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.079 He goes into more detail. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:32.980 He then calls the crowd to him with his disciples, 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.139 and he says to them, 00:21:34.140 --> 00:21:36.440 if anyone would come after me, 00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:38.040 let him deny himself, 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.780 and take up his cross, 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.040 and follow me. 00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:43.540 For whoever would save his life will lose it, 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:45.820 whoever loses his life for my sake, 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:48.660 and the Gospels will save it. 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:49.980 That phrase, 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:50.840 and the Gospels, 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.800 is only in Mark. 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:53.780 Loses his life for my sake, 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:55.320 and the Gospels. 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.220 Okay? 00:21:56.520 --> 00:21:58.500 So here he goes into more detail to say, 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:00.100 what is he referring to when he says, 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.620 the things of man and the things of God? 00:22:02.180 --> 00:22:02.900 He's saying, 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.440 hey, 00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.220 if anybody, 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.300 just so you know, 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:05.940 this is, 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:10.280 this is like baseline Jesus following. 00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:13.840 If you're going to come after me, 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.060 you must deny yourself, 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.220 take up your cross, 00:22:17.280 --> 00:22:17.860 and follow me. 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.180 These three things. 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:21.620 The problem with Peter in this moment, 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:23.340 the reason it was satanic, 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:28.140 was that he was avoiding the three prerequisites 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:30.740 for coming after Jesus. 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:33.480 Self-denial, 00:22:33.859 --> 00:22:34.859 taking up your cross, 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.019 and following me. 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:39.700 Jesus plainly described what that was going to look like, 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:42.200 and Peter was telling him to go another way. 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.539 He had in mind the things of man, 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.039 not the things of God. 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.500 It says, 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.420 whoever would save his life will lose it, 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.759 whoever loses his life for my sake, 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.819 and the Gospels will save it. 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.880 Peter was trying to save Jesus' life. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.299 You see that? 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.859 He wanted Jesus to self-preserve. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.599 Oh, no, no, no, Jesus. 00:22:58.699 --> 00:22:59.579 You don't need to die. 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:00.899 You don't need to suffer. 00:23:01.699 --> 00:23:03.339 You don't need to deny yourself. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.699 We're not going to let this happen to you. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:09.219 Peter was coming at Jesus, 00:23:09.899 --> 00:23:14.139 and almost subtly tempting him to save his life. 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.799 This is why he didn't say, 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:17.279 get behind me, Peter. 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:20.019 He knew where that kind of thinking comes from. 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.259 The kind of thinking. 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:22.079 Jesus is like, 00:23:22.159 --> 00:23:22.539 okay, 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:25.619 this isn't Peter here. 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.279 I recognize this subtle, 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:30.619 insidious temptation 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:32.740 to save my life. 00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:35.799 And even though it's coming through my friend Peter, 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:38.639 I know where it's really coming from. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.559 This is, 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:42.420 he's unwittingly channeling Satan himself. 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:44.240 And then he rebukes Satan. 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.379 Says, 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.180 get behind me. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:48.379 You don't have in mind the things of God. 00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:50.000 You have in mind the things of man. 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:52.079 You're trying to save your life. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:56.599 But saving your life is the opposite of what it means to come after Jesus. 00:23:57.420 --> 00:24:00.279 Coming after Jesus involves self-denial, 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.759 taking up your cross, 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.039 and following him. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:08.460 What are you denying yourself for the sake of the gospel? 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:11.180 For the sake of the gospel. 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.659 So if we're saying, 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.039 okay, 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:17.019 we are going to lose our life for the sake of the gospel, 00:24:17.379 --> 00:24:20.099 it's going to look like denying ourselves some things. 00:24:20.420 --> 00:24:22.139 What are those specific things? 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.259 If you can't answer that question, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.340 that's a problem. 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.140 Because Jesus said, 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:30.040 this is what it looks like to come after him. 00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:34.880 You have to deny yourself for my sake and the gospels. 00:24:35.100 --> 00:24:36.560 So when we're thinking of the gospel, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:42.380 we're thinking of being a church and planting this church and seeking lost people to save. 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:44.680 That will, 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.280 that will, 00:24:45.280 --> 00:24:46.680 in fact, 00:24:46.800 --> 00:24:49.240 involve self-denial for the sake of the gospel. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:52.820 What are you denying right now for the sake of the gospel? 00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:58.240 What are you saying no to on a regular basis for the sake of the gospel? 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:59.500 That's what self-denial is. 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:02.200 Your self wants to do something selfish, 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.320 self-preserving, 00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:05.120 more comfortable, 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.720 less denying. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:09.220 Ourselves want to do that. 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.620 And for the sake of the gospel and for Christ, 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.200 we say, 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:12.960 no, 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:14.579 no, 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:16.400 I will give that up. 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.880 I will deny that. 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.860 To deny something is to say no to it. 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:30.819 The danger is to have in mind the things of man and to do church in a way that doesn't involve self-denial for the sake of the gospel. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.119 And we might say, 00:25:32.179 --> 00:25:32.299 well, 00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:32.659 yeah, 00:25:32.719 --> 00:25:33.019 I know. 00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:35.000 I know I'm supposed to deny myself for Christ. 00:25:35.159 --> 00:25:35.639 But again, 00:25:35.719 --> 00:25:38.119 Mark adds this other little detail here. 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.059 It's not just for the sake of Christ. 00:25:40.659 --> 00:25:44.759 Verse 35 says for the sake of Christ and the gospels. 00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:48.659 He's saying that you have to do this not only for Christ, 00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.519 but for the gospel. 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.199 And so some of us will be saying, 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:51.359 well, 00:25:51.439 --> 00:25:51.959 of course, 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:56.099 every day I deny myself for the sake of Christ. 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:59.479 But are you also denying yourself for the sake of the gospel? 00:25:59.579 --> 00:26:02.119 You're also losing your life for the sake of the gospel. 00:26:02.439 --> 00:26:03.679 What are you losing? 00:26:03.919 --> 00:26:05.139 What are you letting go of? 00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:06.019 What are you saying? 00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:10.299 I will let go of what I want for the sake of the gospel. 00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.240 What are those things? 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:13.599 If you can't point to any of those things, 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:15.859 you might be living in some subtle, 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:19.839 super spiritualized version of church that's not really following after Jesus. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.159 Jesus. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.119 And it's dangerous. 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.000 You might say, 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.199 no, 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.959 not us. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.539 We're on the cutting edge. 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.539 We're a new church plant. 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:30.099 We left a larger, 00:26:30.479 --> 00:26:32.279 healthy church to do this. 00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.699 What are you talking about? 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:37.279 Don't think that we can't get comfortable too in our, 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.519 our, 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:37.759 our, 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.120 our, 00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:40.380 our comfortable little church with our friends. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.620 Don't think that that can't happen. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.740 It most definitely can happen. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.180 Most definitely can happen. 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:47.920 You think, 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.960 how could it happen to us? 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.500 Well, 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:52.140 you can ask the same question about Peter. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.840 How could it happen to Peter? 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:55.799 He was with Jesus himself. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:27:02.240 If this could happen to someone who is spending every day with Jesus himself, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:05.599 you don't think it could happen with a small little church plan. 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.119 Oh, 00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:07.519 you better believe it could happen. 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.379 It can happen. 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.519 It for sure can happen. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:13.920 And you know who wants it to happen? 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.819 Satan. 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.639 He wants it to happen. 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.019 He wants to tempt us. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.599 Oh no, 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.799 don't deny yourself. 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.019 Don't deny yourself. 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:24.279 Don't pick up your cross. 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:26.139 Don't take up your cross. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:26.920 Again, 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:29.579 the cross isn't a cute little necklace you wear. 00:27:29.879 --> 00:27:33.740 The cross was an execution tool that the Romans, 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:36.759 that basically said they perfected. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:40.379 One of the most excruciating deaths you could possibly have. 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:41.660 When he says, 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:42.720 take up your cross, 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.800 he's not saying, 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.000 oh, 00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.460 do something that's convenient. 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.660 He's saying, 00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:52.640 brutally execute yourself and your desires for the sake of Jesus and for, 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:53.800 for the sake of, 00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.580 of the gospel. 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.980 The gospel, 00:27:56.260 --> 00:27:56.420 again, 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:58.120 this goes back to Philippians 127. 00:27:58.780 --> 00:28:02.420 The gospel is worthy of our self-denial. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:08.140 The gospel is worthy of us taking up our cross because he took up his cross 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:11.040 because he endured the pain of his cross. 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.380 I'll pick up the cross in my life. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.960 What is the cross in your life? 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.759 What does it look like? 00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.820 What is the inconvenience, 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.580 the discomfort, 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:21.100 the things you don't want to give up? 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:23.380 That is your cross that you have to take up daily. 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:25.140 We all have to do that every day. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.020 Paul says, 00:28:26.100 --> 00:28:26.780 I die daily. 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:29.440 I pick up my cross daily and follow him. 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:31.139 And I follow you, 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:31.440 Jesus, 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.680 into discomfort. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.019 In this case, 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.899 it was suffering, 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:35.440 rejection, 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.839 and even being killed. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.240 This was the cross Jesus picked up. 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.339 He picked it up. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.460 And he says then to us, 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.399 if anyone come after me, 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:44.319 let him deny himself, 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:46.339 take up his cross and follow me. 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:48.599 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:52.940 But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:55.720 Beware of the insidious, 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:57.120 subtle voice of Satan 00:28:57.120 --> 00:29:02.039 that tempts us to not give up our life for the sake of the gospel. 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:07.799 There are many people who live outwardly looking Christian lives 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:10.720 that never inconvenience themselves for the sake of the gospel. 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:14.960 That have schedules that are full of activity, 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.160 full of fellowship, 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.460 even with church people, 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:20.460 but don't inconvenience themselves for the sake of the gospel. 00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.720 That don't plan around, 00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:23.519 mission, 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:26.160 and engagement for the sake of the lost, 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:28.019 for the gospel. 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.820 But that's a life that's lost. 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.820 That's a life that you will lose. 00:29:33.580 --> 00:29:34.840 The life that you keep, 00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:36.259 the life that you save, 00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:39.080 is one that you give up for his sake and for the gospels. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:43.039 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:45.380 What can a man give in return for his soul? 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:47.980 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, 00:29:48.340 --> 00:29:50.259 in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:52.820 of him will the son of man also be ashamed, 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:56.559 when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels. 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:01.900 What causes people to be ashamed of something? 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.019 Well, 00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:05.519 you're ashamed of something when it's a little lackluster. 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.740 Right? 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:14.279 If you ever brought your friend to church and something really cheesy happens, 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.640 or the preacher's really bad, 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:21.140 or the worship's really off key, 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.059 and you're just kind of like, 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.460 oh, 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:25.259 why did I bring him this Sunday? 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:26.740 You're kind of ashamed, 00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:27.119 right? 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.899 You're embarrassed. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:28.500 You're ashamed. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.659 Typically, 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:33.460 we get ashamed of things when they're not excellent, 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.279 when they're not good. 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:34.599 Right? 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.079 Maybe it's sometimes you even have, 00:30:36.419 --> 00:30:38.440 you brought a friend over to the family, 00:30:38.679 --> 00:30:41.000 and mom and dad do something really embarrassing. 00:30:41.319 --> 00:30:41.740 You just say, 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.059 uh, 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.299 you know, 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.980 it's like, 00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:46.440 I am ashamed of my family. 00:30:46.639 --> 00:30:47.839 I'm ashamed of my church. 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.099 Right? 00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:49.180 This happens. 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.659 I know you guys are smiling, 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.519 because it's happened to us all at one point in time. 00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.220 Okay? 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:55.279 That's why we get ashamed. 00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:57.659 When something we hope would be really good, 00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:58.960 is not really good, 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.119 and then we're just kind of like, 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.579 oh, 00:31:00.879 --> 00:31:01.279 man. 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:05.139 It's no different with Christ. 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.940 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.740 in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:10.880 okay, 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:13.559 we can end up being ashamed of Jesus, 00:31:13.559 --> 00:31:15.240 because we're not proud of who he is, 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:15.859 and what he's done. 00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:18.059 We're not boasting in the cross, 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.680 boasting in who he is, 00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.140 boasting in his grandeur, 00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.779 his greatness, 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.200 his love for us, 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:25.059 the fact that while we were still sinners, 00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.000 he died for us, 00:31:26.420 --> 00:31:28.339 the excruciating nature of the cross, 00:31:28.359 --> 00:31:30.059 and what he endured for our sake, 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.620 that the creator became, 00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.880 the creator became, 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:36.059 he was in the womb of a created woman, 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:38.579 and it was a baby dependent on a mother, 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:42.879 and then lived a life where he was treated as if he was just any old person, 00:31:43.179 --> 00:31:45.579 that he was beat and suffered and died, 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:51.019 and was excruciatingly crucified on a cross in a shameful way, 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:52.779 all for us, 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.960 and when we forget about that, 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.319 when we take to the Lord's table, 00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:58.079 we forget what that really means, 00:31:58.439 --> 00:32:00.279 when we wear gold crosses around our neck, 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.819 and just think, 00:32:00.919 --> 00:32:01.019 wow, 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.919 look at that shiny, 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.139 beautiful cross, 00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:05.199 we don't think of what a cross really is, 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.980 but it was a torture device, 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:09.539 used to execute criminals, 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.759 and we forget who Jesus is, 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.559 and what he's done, 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:16.180 we can start to get embarrassed by him and his words, 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.039 and we don't get, 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:19.480 we're not in touch with the, 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:22.220 what the gospel means to us on an everyday basis, 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:24.740 we're not taking the time to really dwell, 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:27.319 and saturate our life, 00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:29.140 in the goodness of who Jesus is, 00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.880 and what he's done, 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:31.160 and really get to a place, 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:33.920 where we're not just knowing about Jesus, 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:35.500 but we're excited about Jesus, 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.519 you have a far less likely, 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:40.019 you're far less likely to be ashamed of Jesus, 00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.680 if you know exactly who he is, 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.340 and what he's done, 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.560 and you don't think it's some lackluster thing, 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.259 right, 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:47.500 that's what you get ashamed of, 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.360 you get ashamed of things, 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.600 you don't really know very well, 00:32:49.860 --> 00:32:50.779 that kind of seem like, 00:32:50.840 --> 00:32:50.960 ah, 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.900 this isn't that great, 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:53.620 you know, 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:55.800 even people with sports teams, 00:32:55.800 --> 00:32:58.220 will be very proud of their horrible sports team, 00:32:58.820 --> 00:32:59.160 right, 00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:02.540 and that they'll have this sense of loyalty, 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.640 and that sometimes, 00:33:03.840 --> 00:33:05.360 when it comes to sharing the gospel, 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:07.400 we lack this loyalty to Jesus, 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:09.140 have we forgotten who he is, 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.779 and what he's done, 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.880 have we become ashamed, 00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:13.500 says whoever is ashamed of me, 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.140 in my words, 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:15.980 in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:17.640 of him will the son of man, 00:33:17.660 --> 00:33:18.620 also be ashamed, 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:20.600 when he comes in the glory of his father, 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.600 with his holy angels, 00:33:22.340 --> 00:33:23.900 we need to be so excited, 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:25.300 about the words of Jesus, 00:33:25.800 --> 00:33:28.420 and the person of Jesus, 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:30.000 notice how he says both, 00:33:30.120 --> 00:33:31.000 whoever is ashamed of me, 00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:32.100 and my words, 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.279 are you ashamed of the words of Jesus, 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:36.759 are you ashamed of the nature of the cost, 00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:38.120 that he proclaims, 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:39.300 that he says things like, 00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:40.460 unless you deny yourself, 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.820 you cannot be my disciple, 00:33:42.360 --> 00:33:43.259 Luke 14 says, 00:33:43.340 --> 00:33:44.420 unless you give up everything, 00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.800 you cannot be my disciple, 00:33:46.220 --> 00:33:47.039 unless you hate father, 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.360 mother, 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:47.680 wife, 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.220 and kids, 00:33:48.800 --> 00:33:50.120 you cannot be my disciple, 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.500 do we get kind of ashamed, 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.380 by those words, 00:33:52.580 --> 00:33:54.220 we get kind of ashamed, 00:33:54.360 --> 00:33:56.180 when we see the rich young ruler, 00:33:56.300 --> 00:33:57.279 and that he went away sad, 00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:57.720 just think, 00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.019 man, 00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:58.379 Jesus, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.960 kind of hard on that guy, 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:00.339 you know, 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:01.039 it's like, 00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:01.759 do we get ashamed, 00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.799 of that kind of stuff, 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.240 do we get ashamed, 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.960 of the cost that he places, 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.359 on following Jesus, 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.800 do we get ashamed, 00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.199 of not just who he is, 00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.699 but the words that he said, 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:17.500 we have to get a right view, 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.099 of who he is, 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.099 and the words that he said, 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.980 we have to get to that place, 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.679 and if we're ashamed, 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.380 we need to repent, 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.179 and say, 00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.360 God, 00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:23.980 I'm so sorry, 00:34:24.059 --> 00:34:25.199 for being ashamed, 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.000 of your words, 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:30.260 what does your daily cross look like, 00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.699 for the sake of the gospel, 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.980 how is it painful, 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.500 there is no such thing, 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.579 as taking up your cross, 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.840 that doesn't involve pain, 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.139 and inconvenience, 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:40.279 there has to be, 00:34:40.319 --> 00:34:41.400 a losing of our life, 00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:43.159 I was reading the other day, 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:44.440 about, 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.500 many of you guys, 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.219 know this story, 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.539 there's some controversy, 00:34:47.639 --> 00:34:48.819 of the details of this, 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:50.480 but in 1519, 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.799 Cortes famously, 00:34:52.400 --> 00:34:53.799 supposedly ordered his men, 00:34:53.859 --> 00:34:54.719 to burn their ships, 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.980 upon landing in Mexico, 00:34:55.980 --> 00:34:58.379 and the act was a strategic maneuver, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.859 to eliminate any possibility, 00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:00.539 of retreat, 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.339 forcing his 600 men, 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:04.259 to either conquer the Aztec Empire, 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.639 or die trying, 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.239 okay, 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.480 basically saying like, 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:07.639 hey, 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:09.039 we're gonna go in there, 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.619 and we're either gonna take this ground, 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:11.659 or we're gonna die trying, 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.559 and we're gonna get rid of the, 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.460 the escape route, 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:15.480 we're gonna burn the ships, 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.760 we're gonna sink the ships, 00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.780 we're gonna do whatever we can, 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.559 and it made me think, 00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.300 you know, 00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:22.760 when you're doing a church fight like this, 00:35:23.019 --> 00:35:24.320 and sometimes it gets hard, 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.719 there can always be this sense, 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:25.980 well, 00:35:26.280 --> 00:35:27.420 I can always go back, 00:35:27.480 --> 00:35:27.559 well, 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.119 I can always, 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:28.820 you know, 00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.380 I cannot, 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:31.240 we can always do something else, 00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.460 well, 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.360 I can always just, 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:33.740 you know, 00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:34.519 enjoy it, 00:35:34.780 --> 00:35:35.380 to a certain degree, 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:37.280 I don't really need to give myself fully to it, 00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:39.180 have you burned the ships, 00:35:40.100 --> 00:35:40.300 you know, 00:35:40.300 --> 00:35:41.160 even Elisha, 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.840 when he was called by Elijah, 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.720 Elijah comes at him, 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:46.000 throws his cloak over the top of him, 00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.260 and calls him to follow him, 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:48.200 and he says, 00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:48.380 hey, 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:50.440 can I go say goodbye to my mom and dad, 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:50.740 he says, 00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:50.900 yeah, 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.460 go ahead, 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.619 and what does he do, 00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:54.659 he burns the cow and the plow, 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.900 and he goes, 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:57.960 because what was the cow and the plow for him, 00:35:58.240 --> 00:35:59.079 that was his living, 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:01.519 there was no going back after this, 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:02.699 if he's going to follow Elijah, 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:04.480 if he burns the plow, 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:06.440 and he burns the cows, 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:09.280 he eats the cows and burns the plow, 00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.980 there's nothing to go back to, 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:13.219 and I think sometimes, 00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:15.260 we can have this kind of following of Jesus, 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:18.000 that has a little bit of self-preservation in it, 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:18.880 where we think, 00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:19.039 well, 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:20.579 I can always go back to what I did, 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:22.059 or if this doesn't work out that good, 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:23.119 I always have this friendship, 00:36:23.219 --> 00:36:23.860 or this friendship, 00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:25.039 and you know, 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.400 if I'm not enjoying things, 00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:27.720 as much in this church, 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:28.760 I have other friends, 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:30.099 or other activities, 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:33.620 Elijah burned the cow and the plow, 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:34.800 he let it, 00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:37.500 he counted the cost beforehand, 00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.300 and said, 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.980 I'm all in, 00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.780 I'm not going to, 00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:42.599 I'm not going to waver in unbelief, 00:36:43.120 --> 00:36:44.420 in Luke chapter 14, 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.420 28 to 30, 00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:46.860 Jesus says, 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.640 which of you desiring to build the tower, 00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:50.880 does not first sit down and count the cost, 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.820 whether he has enough to complete it, 00:36:52.820 --> 00:36:54.700 otherwise when he has laid a foundation, 00:36:54.840 --> 00:36:55.820 and is not able to finish, 00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:57.880 all who see it begin to mock him, 00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:58.220 saying, 00:36:58.620 --> 00:37:00.000 this man began to build, 00:37:00.080 --> 00:37:01.460 and was not able to finish, 00:37:02.100 --> 00:37:03.539 like that's a person, 00:37:03.620 --> 00:37:04.900 who's worthy to be made fun of, 00:37:05.120 --> 00:37:06.080 what a fool, 00:37:06.700 --> 00:37:07.700 they started building, 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.960 and they weren't able to finish, 00:37:09.220 --> 00:37:10.080 they'd mock him, 00:37:10.120 --> 00:37:10.300 why, 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:10.960 what did he do, 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:12.300 he started to build, 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.700 without counting the cost, 00:37:14.720 --> 00:37:15.920 we as a church, 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.980 we've started to build, 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:19.240 I want to remind us, 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:20.500 have you counted the cost, 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:22.080 we don't want to be the fools, 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:23.380 that people mock and say, 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:24.219 oh, 00:37:25.480 --> 00:37:26.219 let's wait a second, 00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:27.400 you started building this, 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.420 but you never thought about, 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.519 what this would cost you, 00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.779 you never thought about, 00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:31.940 what it would be like, 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.840 to start a church, 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.519 and give up your life, 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.639 for the sake of the gospel, 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:37.440 and that it would be inconvenient, 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.599 and that it would be painful, 00:37:39.019 --> 00:37:39.920 and that it wouldn't be, 00:37:40.119 --> 00:37:40.840 just smooth sailing, 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:42.460 you didn't think about that, 00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:43.340 before you started, 00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:45.779 that's the kind of person, 00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:46.920 that someone mocks, 00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:49.519 this man began to build, 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.840 and was not able to finish, 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.900 may it not be said of us, 00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:56.260 and maybe we didn't do that, 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:56.680 at first, 00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.400 maybe some of us, 00:37:57.400 --> 00:37:58.700 didn't realize the cost, 00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.400 that it would take, 00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:02.000 to be a group of people, 00:38:02.059 --> 00:38:02.400 that says, 00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:03.659 we're not just going to start, 00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:04.400 a church, 00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.619 where we're just going to have, 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:06.900 us four no more, 00:38:07.180 --> 00:38:08.220 hang out with our besties, 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.200 have this little small, 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:10.440 comfortable group of people, 00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:11.260 don't have to have, 00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.320 one of those big churches, 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.360 where everybody gets lost, 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:13.940 in the shuffle, 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:15.280 we're going to be the people, 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:16.340 we get to know each other, 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.519 we're going to have lunches, 00:38:17.540 --> 00:38:18.740 after our Sunday mornings, 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.480 once a month, 00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.860 we're going to just enjoy, 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.340 this small little tight knit, 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.180 group of people, 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.460 we're going to do that, 00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:25.680 that's what we're going to do, 00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:30.100 and yet avoid the cost, 00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:31.700 of the cross, 00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:33.180 yet avoid the cost, 00:38:33.220 --> 00:38:33.860 of the gospel, 00:38:34.560 --> 00:38:35.200 and just say, 00:38:35.600 --> 00:38:35.840 no, 00:38:36.340 --> 00:38:37.000 I don't want to, 00:38:37.240 --> 00:38:38.800 I don't want to think, 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:39.680 that I don't have enough, 00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:40.460 to complete it, 00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:41.960 I'm burning the ships, 00:38:42.100 --> 00:38:42.940 I'm burning the cow, 00:38:43.060 --> 00:38:43.920 I'm burning the plow, 00:38:44.200 --> 00:38:44.940 I'm all in, 00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.220 whatever it takes, 00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:48.599 whatever Jesus requires of me, 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.900 I want to do it, 00:38:50.460 --> 00:38:51.940 commitment to mission, 00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.900 requires a loss, 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.800 of something else, 00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:54.900 what have you lost, 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:55.940 for the sake of the gospel, 00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.220 what are you losing, 00:38:57.340 --> 00:38:58.340 for the sake of the gospel, 00:38:58.599 --> 00:39:00.099 it's always costing, 00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.679 it's always costing, 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:03.000 and if you don't consider, 00:39:03.179 --> 00:39:03.900 on the front end, 00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:05.340 how much it costs, 00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:07.039 what you will end up doing, 00:39:07.159 --> 00:39:08.000 is find yourselves, 00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:09.340 having long conversations, 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.179 with your flesh, 00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:12.599 negotiating with your flesh, 00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:14.440 trying to make it, 00:39:14.759 --> 00:39:16.259 work out to where it's cheaper, 00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:18.059 trying to make it out, 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:18.699 because you realize, 00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:20.500 I don't have enough in the tank, 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.839 to do this long term, 00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:23.559 so I'm going to try to negotiate, 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.759 a version of Christianity, 00:39:24.759 --> 00:39:26.079 that doesn't cost me everything, 00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:28.000 and you end up having, 00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:29.119 these long conversations, 00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:29.920 with the flesh, 00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:31.699 you end up being indecisive, 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.339 you end up being unreliable, 00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:35.319 and it's because, 00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:36.199 maybe that, 00:39:36.199 --> 00:39:36.699 that cow, 00:39:36.759 --> 00:39:37.339 we can still hear, 00:39:37.339 --> 00:39:38.360 the sound of that cow, 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.259 I know that plow, 00:39:39.319 --> 00:39:40.079 is just sitting there, 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.579 I can just go back anytime, 00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.360 you got to put that, 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.599 that cow to death, 00:39:44.799 --> 00:39:45.759 and burn that plow, 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:46.519 just say, 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:47.619 I ain't going back, 00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:49.099 burn the ships, 00:39:49.199 --> 00:39:49.840 so to speak, 00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:52.259 burn the ships, 00:39:52.860 --> 00:39:55.199 I'm going to take up my cross, 00:39:55.239 --> 00:39:56.159 I'm going to follow Jesus, 00:39:56.299 --> 00:39:57.500 I'm going to deny myself, 00:39:58.360 --> 00:39:58.940 it involves, 00:39:59.279 --> 00:40:00.539 a radically reorienting, 00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.519 our life around, 00:40:01.719 --> 00:40:02.319 shared mission, 00:40:02.400 --> 00:40:03.559 together with a group of people, 00:40:04.039 --> 00:40:04.860 side by side, 00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:05.980 for the faith of the gospel, 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.460 each missional community, 00:40:07.460 --> 00:40:08.219 should be this, 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.619 each missional community, 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:10.799 should be building family, 00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:12.219 in the context of mission, 00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:14.920 are we doing that, 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:17.199 or are we building family, 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:18.039 without mission, 00:40:18.819 --> 00:40:19.500 and just saying, 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:20.420 well we got to build family, 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.279 well that was one of the words, 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:21.699 for this year, 00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:22.599 we got to build family, 00:40:23.259 --> 00:40:24.319 well we can't do it, 00:40:24.380 --> 00:40:25.440 at the expense of mission, 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:27.779 there's no such thing, 00:40:27.819 --> 00:40:28.759 as a healthy plant, 00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:29.960 a healthy church plant, 00:40:30.219 --> 00:40:31.359 that doesn't have mission, 00:40:31.639 --> 00:40:31.859 as the, 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:33.059 as a constant, 00:40:33.460 --> 00:40:34.119 pushing forth, 00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:35.000 and you guys are probably saying, 00:40:35.279 --> 00:40:36.299 man he's been talking about this, 00:40:36.359 --> 00:40:37.219 every Sunday morning, 00:40:37.219 --> 00:40:38.399 yes, 00:40:38.399 --> 00:40:38.459 yes, 00:40:39.119 --> 00:40:40.819 that's my job, 00:40:42.079 --> 00:40:43.719 I should be annoyingly so, 00:40:44.399 --> 00:40:45.859 like this is the only way, 00:40:45.939 --> 00:40:47.099 we have a healthy church, 00:40:47.439 --> 00:40:49.000 this is the only way, 00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:50.039 you build real family, 00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:51.339 if you just build family, 00:40:51.339 --> 00:40:52.859 by looking at commonality, 00:40:53.079 --> 00:40:54.619 and a certain level of chemistry, 00:40:54.879 --> 00:40:56.219 you'll always lose, 00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:58.480 we need to, 00:40:58.659 --> 00:41:00.039 be choreographed, 00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:01.459 with our level of commitment, 00:41:01.599 --> 00:41:02.079 to one another, 00:41:02.339 --> 00:41:02.939 where we say, 00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:03.279 hey, 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.539 this is going to involve, 00:41:04.579 --> 00:41:05.359 a death of self, 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:06.660 this is going to involve, 00:41:06.660 --> 00:41:07.420 a certain level, 00:41:07.640 --> 00:41:09.000 of reorienting our life, 00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:10.519 of planning around things, 00:41:10.640 --> 00:41:11.620 of a group of people, 00:41:11.660 --> 00:41:12.620 in each missional community, 00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.980 getting on mission together, 00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:15.280 it happens to happen, 00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:16.599 it's going to cost time, 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:17.260 effort, 00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:17.900 discomfort, 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.519 patience, 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:21.380 patience, 00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:24.660 the Bible says, 00:41:24.800 --> 00:41:25.500 through faith, 00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:27.480 and patience, 00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:29.280 we inherit the promises, 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:32.280 we love those faith preachers, 00:41:32.340 --> 00:41:32.780 it's just like, 00:41:32.860 --> 00:41:33.099 faith, 00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:33.360 faith, 00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:33.740 faith, 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:34.700 but no, 00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:36.019 you never heard of any, 00:41:36.160 --> 00:41:37.960 the patience movement churches, 00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.140 you know, 00:41:39.720 --> 00:41:40.440 what movement are you in, 00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.500 we're in the patience movement, 00:41:42.120 --> 00:41:44.240 we like things taking really long, 00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:46.260 nobody likes that, 00:41:46.660 --> 00:41:48.059 nobody likes things taking long, 00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:49.660 patience is required, 00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:50.720 it's costly, 00:41:51.920 --> 00:41:53.559 it involves steadfastness, 00:41:53.900 --> 00:41:55.099 going along obedience, 00:41:55.300 --> 00:41:56.240 in the same direction, 00:41:56.860 --> 00:41:57.680 doing it together, 00:41:57.780 --> 00:41:58.620 and not falling off, 00:41:58.660 --> 00:41:59.780 so that people are doing things, 00:41:59.780 --> 00:42:00.280 on their own, 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:01.340 never letting people, 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:02.340 do things on their own, 00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:03.120 just saying, 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:04.400 we're going to be, 00:42:04.500 --> 00:42:05.519 on mission together, 00:42:05.600 --> 00:42:06.180 for the gospel, 00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:07.000 in each one of these, 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:08.140 missional communities together, 00:42:08.640 --> 00:42:10.079 specific people in places, 00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:11.680 it's going to be teamwork, 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:13.039 it's going to be togetherness, 00:42:14.680 --> 00:42:16.340 D.A. Carson famously said, 00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:18.400 nobody drifts into holiness, 00:42:19.140 --> 00:42:19.820 well I'd like to say, 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:21.100 nobody drifts into mission, 00:42:22.100 --> 00:42:22.280 okay, 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:23.820 no one drifts into mission, 00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:24.559 it's not like, 00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.200 oh, 00:42:25.199 --> 00:42:26.539 I just kind of naturally, 00:42:26.539 --> 00:42:28.359 drifted into this inconvenience, 00:42:28.359 --> 00:42:29.460 of forgoing, 00:42:29.639 --> 00:42:30.480 some of the time, 00:42:30.759 --> 00:42:31.960 I would take for myself, 00:42:32.279 --> 00:42:33.279 and with my friends, 00:42:33.439 --> 00:42:33.939 instead, 00:42:34.359 --> 00:42:35.299 mobilized together, 00:42:35.419 --> 00:42:36.480 on mission to people, 00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.359 I don't know, 00:42:37.779 --> 00:42:38.779 that aren't believers, 00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:40.679 that I don't know how to reach, 00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:41.739 that aren't, 00:42:41.879 --> 00:42:43.319 that are sometimes hostile, 00:42:43.319 --> 00:42:44.079 towards me, 00:42:45.099 --> 00:42:47.419 that involves continual planned, 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:50.099 that involves the cost of planning, 00:42:50.439 --> 00:42:51.500 the time of planning, 00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:53.440 the inconvenience of planning, 00:42:53.900 --> 00:42:55.320 you don't drift into mission, 00:42:55.800 --> 00:42:57.179 which means we can't be passive, 00:42:57.300 --> 00:42:58.119 or apathetic, 00:42:58.440 --> 00:42:59.300 when it comes to mission, 00:42:59.380 --> 00:43:00.360 or missional communities, 00:43:01.099 --> 00:43:02.039 if someone asks, 00:43:02.360 --> 00:43:04.139 how's it going as far as mission, 00:43:04.199 --> 00:43:05.059 or missional communities, 00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:06.980 if we don't have specific answers, 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:08.880 if we don't have specific plans, 00:43:09.599 --> 00:43:10.739 you think that that's going to, 00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:11.940 build a healthy church, 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:13.880 there's no way, 00:43:14.639 --> 00:43:15.539 there's no way, 00:43:15.780 --> 00:43:17.059 it's not going to happen, 00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:20.360 the devil loved the lulls in the sleep, 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:20.860 and it just, 00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:23.260 just hoping that our church, 00:43:23.340 --> 00:43:24.280 grows with new people, 00:43:24.700 --> 00:43:26.420 just hoping that people might come, 00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:27.640 okay, 00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:28.840 that ain't, 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:30.019 that's not how it works, 00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:31.720 we have to be intentional, 00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:33.160 if you, 00:43:33.340 --> 00:43:34.820 and the people in your missional community, 00:43:35.059 --> 00:43:36.360 don't bind together, 00:43:36.360 --> 00:43:37.599 to go reach lost people, 00:43:37.760 --> 00:43:38.820 who's going to do it, 00:43:40.099 --> 00:43:41.660 there's no cavalry coming, 00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.420 right, 00:43:43.500 --> 00:43:44.260 like no one else, 00:43:44.300 --> 00:43:45.260 is going to come and do it, 00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:47.099 we don't have a whole team of evangelists, 00:43:47.140 --> 00:43:48.240 who are just waiting to come here, 00:43:48.480 --> 00:43:50.039 we're just waiting until then to come, 00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:52.340 we don't have some slick marketing campaign, 00:43:53.219 --> 00:43:53.500 right, 00:43:54.259 --> 00:43:55.599 no one's coming, 00:43:55.719 --> 00:43:56.199 because, 00:43:56.679 --> 00:43:59.099 we have this great marketing idea, 00:43:59.099 --> 00:44:00.079 to get people here, 00:44:00.519 --> 00:44:01.719 we have to get on mission, 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:04.860 you have to ask the question, 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:07.119 if I were a missionary to Raytown, 00:44:07.199 --> 00:44:07.840 or to Grandview, 00:44:07.900 --> 00:44:08.779 or to Kansas City, 00:44:08.780 --> 00:44:09.860 what would I do, 00:44:10.280 --> 00:44:12.060 if I was sent there as a missionary, 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:13.560 I was just there, 00:44:13.660 --> 00:44:13.840 okay, 00:44:14.040 --> 00:44:16.200 I'm dropping you into Grandview, 00:44:16.380 --> 00:44:17.100 or Raytown, 00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.600 or Kansas City, 00:44:18.660 --> 00:44:19.700 I'm dropping you in there, 00:44:19.980 --> 00:44:20.620 and just like, 00:44:20.740 --> 00:44:21.000 okay, 00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:22.880 you're a missionary there, 00:44:23.100 --> 00:44:24.080 how are you going to win people, 00:44:24.180 --> 00:44:24.820 what would you do, 00:44:24.820 --> 00:44:27.180 what would you do, 00:44:27.600 --> 00:44:28.860 every missional community, 00:44:28.860 --> 00:44:31.200 should be able to answer that question, 00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:32.400 because that's exactly, 00:44:32.580 --> 00:44:33.780 what a missional community is, 00:44:34.280 --> 00:44:36.460 it's a group of people on mission, 00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:38.019 to specific people and places, 00:44:38.420 --> 00:44:39.039 it's us saying, 00:44:39.160 --> 00:44:39.320 okay, 00:44:39.600 --> 00:44:39.800 well, 00:44:39.840 --> 00:44:40.860 I'm going to have to, 00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:42.519 really plan my life, 00:44:42.780 --> 00:44:43.980 in accord with the people, 00:44:44.039 --> 00:44:44.820 I'm on mission to, 00:44:45.160 --> 00:44:45.519 see like, 00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:46.620 how can we reach them, 00:44:46.840 --> 00:44:47.840 I'm going to have to talk, 00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.720 with the other people, 00:44:49.080 --> 00:44:50.200 that I'm doing this with, 00:44:50.380 --> 00:44:51.480 on how we're going to do it, 00:44:51.480 --> 00:44:52.539 it's going to involve, 00:44:52.760 --> 00:44:53.559 a lot of prayer, 00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:55.240 it's going to involve, 00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:55.980 waiting on the Lord, 00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.539 it's going to involve, 00:44:56.619 --> 00:44:57.300 hearing the Lord, 00:44:57.699 --> 00:44:58.539 it's going to involve, 00:44:58.920 --> 00:44:59.820 strategize, 00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:00.940 it's going to involve failure, 00:45:01.679 --> 00:45:02.460 trying things, 00:45:02.539 --> 00:45:03.420 and then not working, 00:45:03.840 --> 00:45:05.039 and going back to the drawing board, 00:45:05.159 --> 00:45:05.400 and just, 00:45:05.940 --> 00:45:06.900 how many missionary, 00:45:07.380 --> 00:45:08.980 biographies have there been, 00:45:09.039 --> 00:45:10.119 about people reaching out, 00:45:10.179 --> 00:45:10.719 over and over, 00:45:10.880 --> 00:45:11.099 and it's, 00:45:11.619 --> 00:45:12.820 no one coming to Christ, 00:45:13.099 --> 00:45:13.940 no success, 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:14.960 when they preach the gospel, 00:45:15.320 --> 00:45:16.219 but what was the thing, 00:45:16.599 --> 00:45:17.420 that caused them, 00:45:17.460 --> 00:45:18.719 to have a book read about them, 00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:19.780 they didn't give up, 00:45:19.780 --> 00:45:21.860 they didn't go back, 00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:23.000 they kept going, 00:45:23.400 --> 00:45:24.160 they kept preaching, 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:26.040 they kept strategizing, 00:45:26.140 --> 00:45:27.360 they tried different things, 00:45:27.680 --> 00:45:28.720 they stuck with it, 00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:30.320 and we need to do the same, 00:45:31.280 --> 00:45:32.220 if you were a missionary, 00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:33.460 to any of these areas, 00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:34.100 of the city, 00:45:34.420 --> 00:45:35.100 what would you do, 00:45:35.180 --> 00:45:36.340 how would you spend your time, 00:45:37.080 --> 00:45:37.900 how would you relate, 00:45:37.900 --> 00:45:39.040 relate with the rest, 00:45:39.080 --> 00:45:39.760 of the church, 00:45:40.140 --> 00:45:41.180 who was also dropped, 00:45:41.260 --> 00:45:42.000 into these places, 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:42.560 on mission, 00:45:43.019 --> 00:45:43.800 what would you do, 00:45:45.220 --> 00:45:46.340 those are great questions, 00:45:46.340 --> 00:45:47.160 to ask each other, 00:45:47.420 --> 00:45:48.220 those are great questions, 00:45:48.220 --> 00:45:48.840 to discuss, 00:45:48.840 --> 00:45:50.039 even in your missional community, 00:45:50.440 --> 00:45:51.039 to say okay, 00:45:51.760 --> 00:45:52.980 we have been dropped in here, 00:45:53.039 --> 00:45:53.579 what are we doing, 00:45:54.579 --> 00:45:55.300 how are we going to reach, 00:45:55.380 --> 00:45:55.940 lost people, 00:45:56.840 --> 00:45:58.200 we can't major, 00:45:58.460 --> 00:46:00.019 on being communal, 00:46:00.460 --> 00:46:01.300 and familial, 00:46:01.600 --> 00:46:02.559 and gathering together, 00:46:02.700 --> 00:46:03.360 and laughing together, 00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:03.800 eating together, 00:46:04.079 --> 00:46:05.120 I love how much, 00:46:05.180 --> 00:46:06.019 we laugh together, 00:46:06.220 --> 00:46:06.980 I love how much, 00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.780 we enjoy one another, 00:46:07.860 --> 00:46:08.420 I love how much, 00:46:08.500 --> 00:46:09.500 we enjoy meals together, 00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:10.460 I love how long, 00:46:10.579 --> 00:46:11.519 how we like to linger, 00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:12.220 with one another, 00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:13.460 in each other's homes, 00:46:13.460 --> 00:46:15.400 but if that is the major, 00:46:15.400 --> 00:46:18.679 kind of fruit, 00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:19.679 of our life together, 00:46:20.679 --> 00:46:21.639 and we're not, 00:46:21.740 --> 00:46:22.760 doing that unto, 00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:24.099 for the sake of the gospel, 00:46:24.679 --> 00:46:26.599 it's just going to be something, 00:46:26.659 --> 00:46:27.559 that's good for us, 00:46:28.059 --> 00:46:29.960 and lost people, 00:46:30.139 --> 00:46:31.260 will continue to be lost, 00:46:32.099 --> 00:46:33.500 I close with Galatians 6, 00:46:33.559 --> 00:46:33.800 7, 00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:34.240 and 9, 00:46:35.240 --> 00:46:36.840 this is in the NIV, 00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:38.059 it says do not be deceived, 00:46:38.199 --> 00:46:39.380 God cannot be mocked, 00:46:39.599 --> 00:46:40.900 the man reaps what he sows, 00:46:40.900 --> 00:46:42.880 whoever sows to please their flesh, 00:46:42.880 --> 00:46:43.480 from the flesh, 00:46:43.519 --> 00:46:44.380 will reap destruction, 00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:46.220 whoever sows to please the spirit, 00:46:46.280 --> 00:46:46.760 from the spirit, 00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:47.760 will reap eternal life, 00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:49.519 let us not become weary, 00:46:49.519 --> 00:46:50.400 in doing good, 00:46:50.760 --> 00:46:51.780 for at the proper time, 00:46:51.860 --> 00:46:52.880 we will reap a harvest, 00:46:53.220 --> 00:46:54.500 if we do not give up, 00:46:55.180 --> 00:46:56.180 have you lost your life, 00:46:56.240 --> 00:46:57.320 for the sake of the gospel, 00:46:57.940 --> 00:46:59.039 are you living in a manner, 00:46:59.400 --> 00:47:00.619 worthy of the gospel, 00:47:01.079 --> 00:47:02.200 in our missional communities, 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:02.720 together, 00:47:03.280 --> 00:47:04.039 side by side, 00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:05.079 for the faith of the gospel, 00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:06.260 are we doing that, 00:47:06.760 --> 00:47:07.680 you reap what you sow, 00:47:08.300 --> 00:47:09.160 what are we sowing, 00:47:09.240 --> 00:47:10.119 when it comes to mission, 00:47:10.119 --> 00:47:11.679 are we hoping, 00:47:11.819 --> 00:47:12.400 are we sowing, 00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:13.859 are we wishing, 00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:14.880 or are we sowing, 00:47:15.880 --> 00:47:17.659 are we hoping and wishing, 00:47:17.839 --> 00:47:18.559 or are we praying, 00:47:19.339 --> 00:47:20.500 are we hoping and wishing, 00:47:20.659 --> 00:47:21.400 or are we investing, 00:47:22.019 --> 00:47:23.139 are we doing it on our own, 00:47:23.219 --> 00:47:24.279 or are we doing it with our, 00:47:24.279 --> 00:47:25.480 missional communities, 00:47:25.599 --> 00:47:25.940 together, 00:47:27.219 --> 00:47:27.440 amen, 00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:28.859 amen, 00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:29.420 let's stand,