WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.939 Friends, my name is Ash. I'm on staff here as the Next Gen pastor here, and it's so good to bring God's Word to you today, particularly in the book of Mark for the school holidays. 00:00:12.300 --> 00:00:27.980 There's this show on YouTube that I love watching. I could watch it for hours on end. It's called Worth It. I would sit there binging, and essentially, if you've never watched it, there's this team that goes to three different restaurants at three different price points, 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:38.840 and some of the videos are about steak, some about taco or Korean barbecue, delish, and the whole goal is for the team to figure out which meal is worth paying for. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:51.960 So you might have one restaurant that has a really greasy, easy cheeseburger at $1, and it's like, oh, cooked in beef fat, ooh, and then they get to the next meal, and they add something a little unique. 00:00:51.960 --> 00:01:02.600 You know, they might add some beetroot jam, maybe a burger patch, burger glaze, maybe some goat's cheese, and the patty is lamb and filled with blue cheese, and that costs like $25. 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:23.659 But then they go to the mega expensive joint, and you're always astounded at how much it costs because it's a whopping $149, and it's pure wagyu beef, double patty, the burger is dripping and juicy, and then the piste resistance, lobster and caviar and gold leaf because that's what you're tasting. 00:01:23.659 --> 00:01:32.060 And so at the end of the day, the team go, wow, they all tasted good, but which one was actually worth it? 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:38.899 And like the burger that has seafood and wagyu on top of each other, I want to ask, is it really worth it? 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:42.219 I mean, really, is it really worth it? 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:58.640 And for every Christian, even when people have followed Jesus their whole life, people who are starting that journey to follow Jesus, the question in their head arises, is Jesus worth it? 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:09.520 And it's probably a question you're asking or your friends have asked you, is Jesus really worth it? 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:12.219 Is he really worth giving your life for? 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:18.819 Because in this passage, we discover that Jesus is saying there is a cost to discipleship. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:20.199 There is a cost to following him. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:27.900 And the question that this passage answers today, is Jesus worth it? 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:30.319 But before we jump in, let's just chat to God. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:37.840 And Father God, we pray that you might help us prepare for our lives being changed here right now today. 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:45.000 I pray that you might give me the words to speak and that you might be glorified as the Bible is open in front of us. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:46.480 In Christ's name, amen. 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.460 Alrighty, keep your Bibles open at Mark 10. 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:51.280 That's the passage that we're diving into. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:54.659 You'll notice with my slides, I won't put the passage up. 00:02:54.659 --> 00:02:58.859 I'm going to encourage you to have your Bibles open because the Bible is our authority. 00:02:58.979 --> 00:03:00.060 I'm not your authority. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.300 No one on staff is the authority of Scripture. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:04.939 The authority comes from God's Word. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.000 He speaks to us through it. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:07.979 So, have your Bibles open. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:12.419 But before we get into that, it's always helpful for us to think about the context. 00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:14.879 What's happening around this passage? 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:16.139 When was it written? 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:17.159 Why was it written? 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:33.560 And I keep telling my leaders and the youth that I'm training when they're reading a passage that whenever they read a passage without context, it's like reading Harry Potter and seeing just one sentence that Harry is weeping and then just deducing that he's a crybaby. 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:36.659 I don't want to be in the Bible in that way. 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:38.560 I don't want you to be in that Bible in that way. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.939 So, a little tip to help you when you read the Bible, when you read it for yourself in your quiet times is always think about the context. 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:45.159 What's going on? 00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:49.360 For this passage, there's one helpful context marker. 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:57.420 And that is that Mark is written to people at a time where Christians were being persecuted. 00:03:58.219 --> 00:04:03.159 Which at the time, the Roman Emperor Nero hated Christians. 00:04:03.159 --> 00:04:10.020 And so Christians at the time of the writing of Mark were being killed for their faith. 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:14.479 I think we need to let that sit for a bit. 00:04:14.859 --> 00:04:16.379 Let's not just move on from that quickly. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:27.439 The very reality for Christians was that you would die an earthly death for just saying, Jesus is Lord. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:33.100 And the reality is Christians at the time were encouraged not to shrink back. 00:04:33.420 --> 00:04:37.699 They were encouraged to share the gospel despite the face of death. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:42.680 And today, friends, by God's grace, there have been centuries of Christians. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:47.339 And today there are 2.38 million people who trust in Jesus. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:49.480 Or at least have heard about Jesus. 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:54.019 Why die for something not real? 00:04:54.779 --> 00:04:56.819 Why die for something not worth it? 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.100 So that's the audience of Mark. 00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:00.839 Let's dive into verse 17. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:07.879 As Jesus was started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.079 Good teacher, he asked. 00:05:11.459 --> 00:05:16.819 What must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:21.579 Now, there have been other times where Jesus is approached by people, 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:25.560 but their questions are to catch Jesus out or test him. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.780 And spoilers, they never do. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:38.699 But here, the heart and the ulterior motive to asking their question is not fake. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:41.500 This guy is pure, genuine. 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:47.159 He's genuine about approaching Jesus as someone who might know teachings, 00:05:47.479 --> 00:05:52.000 who is wise enough to tell him how to be able to live forever. 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:53.839 And in other words, heaven. 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:56.259 God's forever placed with him. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.159 And so what does Jesus say? 00:05:58.599 --> 00:05:59.219 Verse 18. 00:05:59.220 --> 00:06:01.960 Why do you call me good? 00:06:03.280 --> 00:06:06.360 No one is good except God alone. 00:06:07.300 --> 00:06:09.320 And Jesus doesn't answer the question directly. 00:06:09.420 --> 00:06:10.880 He goes back with another question. 00:06:11.200 --> 00:06:12.960 And I wonder if you've ever been in those situations. 00:06:13.380 --> 00:06:16.640 And you ask your parent or a wise person a question. 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:18.240 And they just ask, why? 00:06:18.440 --> 00:06:20.320 Why are you asking that question, my young one? 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:23.740 And the kid's like, just tell me. 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.219 But I reckon here Jesus is onto something. 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.219 Why does this teacher call him good? 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:35.300 Is it because Jesus is someone who does good things? 00:06:36.019 --> 00:06:38.199 Is he someone who teaches good things? 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:39.899 Or is he perhaps someone with good character? 00:06:40.779 --> 00:06:45.039 Because Jesus says only God is good. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:49.680 Because the person has missed the point or not seen it. 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:54.280 He's not talking to a teacher, a rabbi, someone who knows the scripture. 00:06:54.340 --> 00:06:56.540 He's talking to Jesus Christ, the son of God. 00:06:56.660 --> 00:06:59.260 Jesus Christ, son, God. 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:03.820 Colossians 1 proclaims that he is the image of God. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:07.780 That when you see Jesus, you see God himself. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:11.900 And so what Jesus does is he continues listing the law 00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:15.159 and the Ten Commandments to what the rich man says. 00:07:15.239 --> 00:07:19.500 And he responds by saying, I've done all those things since he was a kid. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:23.479 And his claim is not just following the law, 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:26.539 but the length of time that he followed the law. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:27.199 He's kept the law. 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:29.259 And not only that, kept it for ages. 00:07:29.359 --> 00:07:31.019 And I mean, congratulations to him. 00:07:32.179 --> 00:07:34.000 I used to be a part of a beach mission. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:38.060 And often there was this kind of, ooh, who's made it to the two-hand club? 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:42.100 The two-hand club meant that you had not been on one mission, two missions, 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:47.399 but three, four, five, but at least reaching the second hand, six missions. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:50.100 Then you'd look at some people as they count each year when they ask, 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:51.480 oh, you know, how many missions have you gone to? 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.300 And you see them count. 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:55.899 And as they have approached their second hand, 00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:59.040 you look at them and you go, wow, they must be super holy. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:00.319 They're a part of the two-hand club. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:00.980 They're so cool. 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:06.319 See, the way the rich man envisions entering God's kingdom 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:08.780 is by the means of following the law. 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:11.400 And for him, his claim is genuine. 00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:14.000 Remember, he falls to Jesus' knees. 00:08:14.540 --> 00:08:16.300 But it's misguided. 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:19.840 He thinks that Jesus is just a teacher. 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:24.500 And if he's done good things or a spiritual ritual like praying for 24 hours on end 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:28.180 for a long enough time, he can get into heaven. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:33.120 We've already looked at this year twice in Ephesians 2 as a church, 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.139 which verse 8 says, 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:39.279 for by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:41.940 And this is not your own doing. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:44.320 It is the gift of God. 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:46.980 You could have been coming to St. Paul's for years. 00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:49.019 You might call St. Paul's home. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:52.460 I mean, your great-great-grandparents and your grandparents could have been here 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:53.360 for decades. 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:54.399 They're part of the furniture. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.959 Maybe you've thought if you stop swearing, that will save you. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:05.779 Friends, you are saved by trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:07.799 Don't forget that. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.919 So Jesus responds to this guy. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.240 Come look with me in verse 21. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.620 Eyes glued into your Bibles. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:18.620 Jesus looked at him and loved him. 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:21.500 One thing you lack, he said. 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:30.919 Go sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:34.179 Then come follow me. 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:44.000 The call for the Christian is give up everything and then come follow him. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.440 But did you see it? 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:52.379 Jesus here actually answers the question about, is Jesus worth it? 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:57.879 You will have treasure in heaven. 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:02.659 Some of you have heard about heaven. 00:10:02.899 --> 00:10:04.840 Some of us have cultural ideas of heaven. 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:09.539 Some of us have been sitting in pews and we've just forgotten about what heaven looks like. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:12.120 And so I'm going to read what Scripture says about heaven. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:19.000 And my prayer is that God's spirit moves in you to see the glory of God's kingdom and see that Jesus is worth following. 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:30.080 Number one, heaven is a place, according to Revelation 21, where God will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more. 00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:37.919 Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:48.079 Number two, Jesus says in Matthew 6, that treasures in heaven neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:56.379 And my final one, for we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, 00:10:56.379 --> 00:11:06.799 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:08.740 2 Corinthians 5.1. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.659 Friends, I'm so excited for heaven. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:13.019 I cannot wait. 00:11:13.439 --> 00:11:16.439 Heaven will be the place that we will all be made perfect. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:20.820 There will be no more suffering, no more tears, no more being lonely, no more being rejected. 00:11:20.820 --> 00:11:24.060 We will get to be with our Lord and Saviour forever. 00:11:26.420 --> 00:11:31.720 And I think the fact that we, including me, are those who live in the comforts of the North Shore, 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:37.080 that it begs the question of whether you are ready to give up your possessions for Jesus, 00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:39.540 because he is talking about money here. 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:41.360 But don't miss the point. 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.360 Don't miss the points, friends. 00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:49.340 The man's problem was that he had great wealth, but that's not Jesus' point. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:51.080 Have a look at verse 28. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.800 Peter, one of the disciples, says, 00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:57.440 We have left everything to follow you. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:11:59.620 I tell you the truth. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:00.899 Jesus replied, 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:06.980 No one who has left home, or brothers or sisters or mother or father or fields for me in the gospel. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.480 We'll do a little pause there. 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:12.500 It is money that Jesus is talking about. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:17.160 But it's not just money that he is calling people to give up. 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.980 But earthly things. 00:12:19.819 --> 00:12:20.299 Family. 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:21.379 Children. 00:12:22.199 --> 00:12:22.659 Fields. 00:12:23.199 --> 00:12:23.719 Hobbies. 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:24.519 Phone. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:25.699 Work. 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.480 I don't want to lie to you. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.879 There is a cost to following Jesus. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:35.679 My older brother, Jeremy, was born with a genetic disorder that impacts his nerve systems, 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:42.379 which means at the moment he's legally blind and hard of hearing and struggles to communicate, speaking. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:50.120 And the first that they noticed that one of his eyes wasn't actually reacting to light was when he was three months old. 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:55.600 And so the church came together to pray, which, can I just say, that's just a beautiful thing to hear. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:06.840 And everyone was concerned about his ability to study, being able to ride a bike, play sport, to function like the most of us with full sight. 00:13:07.540 --> 00:13:09.440 And my dad said something astonishing. 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:10.680 He said, 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:14.779 Don't pray that he regains his sight. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.320 I mean, pray what you will. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:25.540 But his primary concern and his prayer request was that Jeremy does not know a day where he does not see Jesus. 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:30.560 Is Jesus worth it to you? 00:13:31.260 --> 00:13:33.220 Is Jesus worth giving up everything? 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:44.340 Jesus says that there will be no one who gives up all things for him who, verse 30, will receive, will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age, 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:55.899 homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, and with them, persecution, and in the age to come, eternal life. 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.160 Jesus is saying there is something better coming. 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:05.919 Jesus is saying that by trusting in Jesus, you do not lose out. 00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:12.980 For the one who has been toiling to keep their family together and appease their kids, Jesus is saying, don't hold back. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:15.559 You will receive a family in Jesus. 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:26.199 For the one who is anxious about financial security, Jesus says, find your security in me and in the place I have for you in heaven. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:33.040 To those who are obsessed about what others think of you rather than what Jesus thinks of you, that's me often. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:39.240 Jesus says, you are loved and affirmed and made in my image. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:48.700 Friend, if you follow Jesus and you leave your home, your brothers, your sisters, your mother, your father, your children, your worldly dreams, you don't lose out. 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:50.940 You do not lose out. 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:52.900 And I want to be clear here. 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:56.500 Jesus is not saying those things are bad. 00:14:56.940 --> 00:15:00.500 I wonder if your children are looking at your parents and going, do you think I'm bad? 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:06.259 But these things are not ultimate. 00:15:08.140 --> 00:15:10.300 You remember those hubba-bubba-gum? 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:14.479 Those were wonderfully delicious. 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:20.879 But why would you want a little bit of extra gum? 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.399 Look how small it is. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:24.559 It's so small. 00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.819 It's so small. 00:15:26.439 --> 00:15:27.439 So small. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:35.259 Why want that when you can get the long strap of hubba-bubba? 00:15:37.139 --> 00:15:38.559 This is going to have to go in the bin now. 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:44.479 Friend, don't you want the hubba-bubba? 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:48.319 Jesus is asking, what are you holding back? 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:50.079 What are you holding back that is stopping you? 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:54.099 Answering Jesus' call of saying, come and follow me. 00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.819 You don't lose out. 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:01.459 Friends, today there is so much half-hearted Christianity where we just want to tick the box and go, 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:06.299 all I need to do is turn up to a church service, not even one specific church service, 00:16:06.839 --> 00:16:09.759 but join the band, maybe pray my nightly prayers. 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:12.719 Tick, tick, tick, tick the box. 00:16:14.859 --> 00:16:17.879 I don't know, maybe for you it could be the surf at the beach, 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:22.159 could be the importance of worldly family, work, studies, 00:16:22.459 --> 00:16:24.879 but that means we're not all in. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.319 And maybe you've realised that's you. 00:16:27.859 --> 00:16:32.899 The thing that you've clung to as being a part of Jesus' family 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:37.199 is the fact that your parents love Jesus or the fact that you go to church weekly. 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:43.980 And people might make the excuses such as, I can be a Christian and be rich, 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:47.720 and I can be a Christian and just do anything that will please my child. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:49.759 I can be a Christian and be a popular kid at school. 00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:54.220 But what's holding you back? 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.240 Because sin, the stuff holding us back from Jesus, is a heart issue. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:01.620 It's not necessarily having those things. 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.559 It's a heart issue. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:06.140 Matthew 6.24 says, 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:32.300 Friend, Jesus is worth it. 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.619 You don't lose out. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.599 Is it a particular activity that you love? 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:38.759 Are you worried that if you go to church or youth, 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:39.700 instead of an opportunity, 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.779 you'll get kicked out of the sport team or debating team 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:44.299 and not be able to compete high level? 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:46.879 Friends, Jesus is worth it. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.500 You don't lose out. 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:50.799 Is there a relationship you want 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:53.220 or you're doing something that no one knows about, 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:55.059 you know it doesn't please God, 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:56.799 but you still want to pursue it? 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.839 You can't serve two masters. 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:01.180 Jesus is worth it. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:03.759 You aren't losing out. 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:07.460 Life with Jesus means reconnected with your creator 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:09.039 and you have life forever. 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:11.060 You don't lose out. 00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:14.200 St. Paul's, are you all in? 00:18:15.320 --> 00:18:17.900 If that's you or you know you've been wrestling with this 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:19.019 in the past like me, 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:22.160 hear the comfort of the words in verse 21 again. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.539 Have a look at it. 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:28.000 Despite the man who Jesus knows will walk away from him 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.000 because he chooses wealth, 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:34.140 Jesus looks at him and loved him. 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.119 Friend, Jesus sees you. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.539 He knows your heart, the deepest of sin, 00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:42.119 your brokenness, the stuff in life that you're chasing 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.039 and he says, 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:45.099 I love you. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:48.680 I love you enough to send my one and only son 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.680 to die on the cross for you. 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.759 Follow me. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.920 You don't lose out. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:57.059 What's at stake here is not the next five years, 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:59.180 10 years, 20 years, 70 years, 1,000 years. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.779 I get it. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:02.519 It's hard enough even to think about what will happen tomorrow, 00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.559 but what's at stake here is eternity. 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.779 Whether you know Jesus or not has an impact 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.980 on whether you are a part of his family forever. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.639 And this is something I wanted to preach about at church 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:16.099 in January when we first looked at in Ephesians 2, 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:18.759 but I got vetoed because it would have been too long 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.180 of a sermon. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:23.039 Remember in Ephesians 2, Paul uses you a lot. 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.259 Like in verse 8, have a look. 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:28.839 For by grace, you have been saved through faith. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:33.339 That you isn't just you as an individual. 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:35.980 It's not just you as Aidan has been saved. 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:37.459 You, Flora, have been saved. 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.639 You, John, have been saved. 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:40.759 It's a group of people. 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.899 It's plural. 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:47.359 It's more like you all, y'all. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:53.279 For by grace, y'all have been saved through faith. 00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:58.119 You are not saved to be individuals as individuals. 00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:59.959 You have been saved as a community, 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.779 as the household of faith. 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:03.719 You are saved as a family. 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:06.979 St Paul's family, what is more important than salvation? 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:10.359 What can be more important than the fact 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:12.479 that your friends may not be spending life together 00:20:12.479 --> 00:20:13.019 with Jesus? 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.339 Because one of the saddest things that I did this year, 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:19.839 I don't know why, I looked at a photo of 11 of the people 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.519 that I graduated youth with and see that only three of us 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.759 are still actually followers of Jesus. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.640 The rest aren't. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.720 If we are a family, one of your priorities, 00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:35.079 one of my priorities is praying for people 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:37.599 who are sitting next to us, that they stick with Jesus 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:38.519 till the very end. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:41.039 Ask them how they're going in reading the Bible, 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.440 loving Jesus. 00:20:43.160 --> 00:20:44.000 And let's be honest. 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:47.720 It could be an awkward conversation to start and to have 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.720 if we've never had that. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:50.660 But what's more important? 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:55.019 And sometimes I'm not aware of my sins, 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:56.880 so I need someone to call it out and help me, 00:20:56.980 --> 00:21:00.180 speaking truth in love, gently and kind, 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:03.960 and pointing me that Jesus is more worth it. 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.579 I am not losing out. 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:08.460 Whatever I'm chasing, I'm not losing out. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.920 And you need that too. 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:13.500 And that's why we have God's community, the family. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:18.579 So this has been a big passage, a big call, 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.539 but we aren't called to come half-hearted. 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:25.240 We need to really reflect on our life 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:28.440 and pray that God's spirit will change us 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:30.099 so that we can follow full-heartedly. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:33.160 On the screen coming up are some questions 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:35.279 to ask yourself right now, 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:38.160 maybe to even ask the close friends in the room. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.680 I've asked these questions when I wrote them 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.480 for this talk as well. 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:45.720 Write them down, maybe take a photo on your screen. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.660 Where is your hope right now? 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.580 Is the hope that you are holding onto unshakable? 00:21:56.980 --> 00:22:00.779 What's holding you back from giving everything to God? 00:22:02.040 --> 00:22:04.580 What is the idol that you are not willing to give up, 00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.500 the sin in your life? 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:09.720 Are you worried that you are losing out? 00:22:10.579 --> 00:22:13.180 And this might be something you will wrestle with today, 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.859 maybe the next few days or weeks, 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.559 but don't do it alone. 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.779 Do it with your church. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.400 Do it with your church family. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.299 Join a community group. 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:22.799 Chat to one of the staff at the Lanyards. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.460 Don't do it alone. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:29.700 St. Paul's, are you all in? 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.259 Because Jesus is worth it. 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:35.140 Gracious Father, 00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:37.619 when we look at what Christ accomplished on the cross, 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:39.720 help us see that our sin has been removed 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.839 and we have been forgiven. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.640 When we look to Jesus' resurrection, 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:47.700 help us see that we too will be risen to life forever. 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:50.940 When we know we are a child of God, 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.359 help us know that we have a place in heaven. 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:58.039 When we see Jesus for who he is, 00:22:58.179 --> 00:23:00.119 not as a utility or as a good teacher, 00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:02.059 but God made flesh, 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:05.240 help us to fall on our knees in worship and obedience, 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.979 knowing that he is so much more 00:23:06.979 --> 00:23:09.019 than anything this world can offer. 00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:12.059 Help us see that Jesus is so much better 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.299 than what is holding us back 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:15.619 from following Jesus wholeheartedly. 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.399 Christ's precious name. 00:23:17.699 --> 00:23:17.939 Amen. 00:23:17.939 --> 00:23:18.039 Amen. 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:18.079 Amen. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:18.119 Amen.