WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:28.800 We did before we start that video. Can I introduce it real quick. They were right on top of it, man. That was the next thing. Joseph Adams. I'm the pastor here at First Baptist. There you go. Perfect. We'll start that in just a moment, but I appreciate that. We have a guest speaker with us this morning. Dr. Julio Guarneri. He is the executive director of Texas Baptist. He's a native of Mexico City and holds degrees from Texas A&M Kingsville Southwestern Seminary and Dallas Baptist University. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:42.020 More than 39 years of ministry experience as a senior pastor, minister of education, and youth minister. Most recently, he served for 13 years as the senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas. 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:57.980 He was elected as the 21st executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Texas Baptist, in 2023, and he served as the convention president before that and first vice president from 2020 through 2022. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:15.039 He is passionate about sharing the gospel with the nations, about cross-cultural missions and ministry, and his wife Monica is here with them. They have four children and two grandchildren, and he is the first Hispanic executive director in the history of Texas Baptist. 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:28.100 So we are so grateful that he is with us here this morning. He's going to share a little bit with us about Texas Baptist, about the work that they do, how we are involved in it, and he's going to give us the message that God has laid on his heart. 00:01:28.099 --> 00:01:34.619 Before we start that, before he comes to speak, I wanted to show this video for you today. 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:44.799 Joseph Adams is pastor of First Baptist Church, Hughes Springs, Texas, out in East Texas. Anybody know where Hughes Springs is? There's actually a couple of you. I'm not surprised. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:02:07.340 Not really anywhere near our corner of Texas, but a small town, kind of like ours, and Joseph has been there, I believe, nine years, maybe coming up on 10 now, but God has done a powerful work through his ministry in that church, truly revitalized that church, and God is taking them to places they've never seen before. 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:13.259 And a lot of that can be laid at the feet of the cooperative program that we have a part of. 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:24.280 If you come to business meeting tonight, you'll see that 10% of our giving is allotted to missions and the cooperative program, and the vast majority of that goes to Texas Baptists and the work that they do. 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:31.560 So you're going to hear a little bit about that in that video from my friend Joseph Adams, who actually currently is the second vice president of our Texas Baptists. 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:40.120 If you'd like to learn more about that and how those elections happen and how those offices are chosen, then you can come talk to me, and I can even invite you to be a part of it. 00:02:40.360 --> 00:02:43.159 All right? You have a voice in Texas Baptists. 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:46.800 So let's go ahead and show that video, and when that's done, Dr. Guarneri, the pulpit is yours. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.800 My name is Joseph Adams. I'm the pastor here at First Baptist Church, Hughes Springs. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:04.340 One of the things that the Lord laid on my heart was that this town, this church, had purpose. It had relevance. 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:07.700 It had lost its mark. It had kind of been wandering in the wilderness. 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:19.280 And to see the growth, to see the salvations, the baptisms, the change on the inside out, seven years later, I'm just now beginning to understand what that purpose was that the Lord has come to Hughes Springs for. 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:22.820 When I came here, our church was already a Texas Baptist church, and I inherited that. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:30.780 And slowly, just getting to know and meeting people, I'm realizing my church can do way more with Texas Baptists than we can ever do on our own. 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:34.199 Here in Hughes Springs, we're 30 minutes to the closest doctor. 00:03:34.680 --> 00:03:36.439 People live here on isolation on purpose. 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:38.039 We can't reach the world. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:41.579 But through Texas Baptists, we have a much better shot of going to all the world. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:42.799 How can I reach China? 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:44.000 How can I reach Alabama? 00:03:44.299 --> 00:03:45.879 How can I reach El Paso? 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.560 Through the cooperative program. 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:56.879 And so this is an avenue of where we get together and collectively give of our time and our prayers and our money to reach for Jesus Christ. 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.680 This is how we fulfill the Great Commission. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.819 This is how we evangelize the lost. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:02.479 This is how we equip the saints. 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:04.719 And this is how we enlarge the kingdom of God. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:08.960 And arguably, the best proven process is the cooperative program. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:17.600 The resources that they have are top-notch, especially in a small church where you're the only staff member, maybe you, yourself, are bivocational. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:20.519 What you need is literally a phone call or an email away. 00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:27.379 There are people there that are experts in this area that want to help you, whether it's revitalization, whether it's children's department, whether it's music. 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:29.139 Texas Baptist has these people. 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:29.680 They're trained. 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:30.340 They're knowledgeable. 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:35.519 And not only do they have the capability, they want to come and invest in your church. 00:04:35.619 --> 00:04:39.459 They want your church to succeed probably just as much as you want your church to succeed. 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:57.240 Well, we are so grateful for Pastor Joseph Adams and that great word. 00:04:57.599 --> 00:05:01.959 And Pastor Sam, thank you for your invitation to come and share. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:08.139 What a privilege it is for my wife, Monica, and I to be with you as you worship on this Palm Sunday. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:15.300 We think of the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem and how he was welcomed as king. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:20.539 Later on, the same crowd would turn around and say, crucify him. 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:28.560 But I hope that we welcome Jesus today and then we celebrate next Sunday that he rose from the dead. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:37.959 And it's just a privilege to be with you today and to share with you what God is doing. 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:39.860 I forgot my little clicker. 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:41.860 So can you? 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:50.300 Clay Jacobson, our cooperative program director, also runs clickers for me. 00:05:50.300 --> 00:06:20.300 Clay Jacobson, our cooperative program director, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, voy forbade, 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:31.920 I want to bring you greetings from our Texas Baptist family, 5,300 churches, 24 institutions that do good work, including 10 of our Baptist universities. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:35.100 And yeah, okay. 00:06:36.960 --> 00:06:37.860 There we go. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:38.920 Excellent. 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:39.639 All right. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:52.759 So as we do that, we want to strengthen a movement of multiplying churches that live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. 00:06:53.019 --> 00:07:00.159 And so we are very excited about what God is doing in our midst. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:12.660 This last year, we were able to, because of your contributions to the cooperative program and Mary Hill Davis offering, we're able to start 26 new churches and restart six of them. 00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:16.980 So 32 congregations that are starting to reach new people. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:18.700 And we're excited about that. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.040 But this year, we want to double that. 00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:24.240 And so we're looking forward to what God is doing. 00:07:24.440 --> 00:07:26.980 We're catching up at this first quarter already. 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:38.600 And then you may not know this, but we have about 69 missionaries that Texas Baptist support through a program called the Missionary Adoption Program. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:47.360 So we're in 17 countries where we partner with the National Baptist Convention to support a missionary that they have chosen. 00:07:47.720 --> 00:07:52.259 And we connect them to a church here in Texas that will adopt that missionary. 00:07:52.259 --> 00:07:57.639 My wife and I were in Brazil in February for their National Baptist Convention meeting. 00:07:58.199 --> 00:08:07.279 And they assigned to us a young lady that would show us around, that would translate for us from English to Portuguese and back. 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:10.339 And just a sweet young lady. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:16.120 We learned that she is one of the missionary adoption program missionaries. 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:25.699 She's from Brazil, but she's serving in Greece with women refugees from Syria and ministering to them. 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:30.160 And so the National Baptist Convention of Brazil supports her. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:37.100 And then her income is matched by First Baptist Church Floyd data here in Texas. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:43.200 So Brazil and Syria and Greece connected with First Floyd data. 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:44.120 That's how we work. 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:47.460 And we're just excited about what God is doing there. 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:54.419 You also may know, as you think about colleges and universities and what is happening in our time and our world, 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:58.759 you also may know that we have something called Baptist Student Ministries or BSM. 00:08:59.299 --> 00:09:03.440 Do you know that we're on 137 campuses here in Texas? 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:07.240 That on 137 campuses we get to have a presence. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:11.980 Your church gets to have a presence so that students can hear the gospel. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.500 They can be invited to follow Jesus. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:18.639 And then they can be encouraged to be on mission with him. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:25.820 We involve in our BSM ministry in Texas over 17,000 students, college students. 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:29.840 My wife and I were just at South Piter Island on spring break. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:31.580 We weren't there to go to the beach. 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:34.720 We were there to see something that we call Beach Reach. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:40.100 Our BSM offers rides to spring breakers. 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:47.000 And the city of South Padre loves us because we keep the streets safe from drunk drivers. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:55.620 And Texas Baptist men or Texas on mission make pancakes for them so that students can come and have conversations, 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.480 whether they're riding in a van or whether they're eating pancakes. 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:02.500 And my wife and I got to be there with the students that were getting ready to go out. 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:05.740 We saw them worship the Lord and pray. 00:10:06.259 --> 00:10:09.259 We were able to be at the prayer room. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.659 It's about not quite this size, a little smaller than this. 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:18.339 But students were there praying for those spring breakers who don't know Jesus yet. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.379 And they had screens all over the place. 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:28.399 And they had real-time transmission from social media with the hashtag BeachReachSPI2025. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:33.759 And what that means is that people that were riding in the vans were posting with that hashtag, 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:37.959 we have Jerry here in our van and we're talking to him about Jesus. 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:41.899 Or we have three young ladies that we're picking up from such and such university. 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:44.480 And we're having a spiritual conversation with them. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:49.759 And so while that's going on in the vans, the students in the prayer room are praying for them. 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:55.360 And then all of a sudden you hear this roar of excitement and applause 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:59.740 because one of the announcements said, Henry just gave his life to Jesus. 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:04.879 And he rejoiced at the very moment that that student prayed to receive Christ. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:09.200 So we gave 13,832 van rides. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:14.159 Our students had 10,014 spiritual conversations. 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:21.000 And that resulted in 246 spring breakers praying to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:24.399 They came to South Padre to party. 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.200 And they went back following Jesus. 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:33.100 You know, Texas Baptist is meaningful because as a young person, 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:35.920 I grew up in the context of Texas Baptist. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:41.980 And when I was 16 years old, I went to a youth event called Congreso in Houston. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.780 My parents were in the ministry. 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:47.900 And I had decided early on because of some things that I had experienced as a kid, 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:48.700 I didn't know much. 00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:51.680 But I decided that I did not want to be a pastor. 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:54.140 I was going to grow up to be an architect. 00:11:54.540 --> 00:11:55.960 And I would love the Lord. 00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:58.460 And I would serve the church with my profession. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.180 And that's what I would do. 00:12:00.520 --> 00:12:02.660 But when I was 16 years old, I went to this event. 00:12:02.900 --> 00:12:05.420 And it was at Houston Baptist University. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:07.280 The gym was full of young people. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:09.320 There was worship and a preacher. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.360 And I was just there checking things out. 00:12:11.400 --> 00:12:13.660 In fact, I was kind of in the very, very back. 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:15.080 That's how you know I was Baptist. 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:20.800 And the preacher said something that caught my attention. 00:12:20.900 --> 00:12:23.000 The preacher said, maybe I was 16 years old. 00:12:23.280 --> 00:12:27.900 He said, maybe your generation will be the generation that finishes the Great Commission. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:34.940 In other words, maybe your generation will make sure that every nation gets to hear the gospel 00:12:34.940 --> 00:12:37.500 and has an opportunity to follow Jesus. 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:43.320 And that really caught my attention because I thought that would be really meaningful for my generation. 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:48.280 And there's a lot of things that our young people get blamed for and criticized for. 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:52.360 But to think that my generation could be a part of finishing the Great Commission. 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:53.840 So he caught my attention. 00:12:54.280 --> 00:12:55.980 And then he said something very interesting. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:13:03.560 He said, maybe God is calling some of you to be pastors, to be missionaries, to be college ministers 00:13:03.560 --> 00:13:06.400 in order for the Great Commission to advance. 00:13:06.520 --> 00:13:07.680 And I said, well, that's not me. 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.379 I've already informed God that I'm not going to be a pastor. 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:15.099 And so I was just like, let's move on, preacher. 00:13:15.419 --> 00:13:16.799 Let's get to the next point. 00:13:16.979 --> 00:13:20.379 And as he kept speaking, the Holy Spirit was working in my heart. 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:25.819 And I understood that God was calling me to full-time ministry. 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:32.400 And as much as that was not my plan, I knew that if God was calling me, I needed to say yes. 00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:36.520 So I got up from the very back bleachers in that gym. 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:40.000 And I walked down that aisle up to the front. 00:13:40.160 --> 00:13:41.480 And I got on my knees. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:46.540 And I said, Lord, if you are calling me to full-time vocational ministry, 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:49.060 that I'm saying yes today. 00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:51.260 Just don't let it be a pastor. 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:53.440 I mean, I could do youth. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.480 I could do something else. 00:13:54.660 --> 00:13:56.820 But you know what the wonderful thing is? 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:02.040 Is that God in his sovereignty and in his goodness and his grace, 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:05.480 he takes our imperfect surrender and he does something with that. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:07.120 That was over 40 years ago. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:10.720 And I'm so glad I walked up that aisle and said yes. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.620 Because God has been good to me. 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:17.800 And I have been happy to be a part of what he has called me to do. 00:14:18.180 --> 00:14:19.500 And I want you to know today, 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:23.519 I came here to tell you that we all have a calling on our lives. 00:14:24.259 --> 00:14:26.440 That everyone here has been called. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:29.000 Not everyone is called to vocational ministry. 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.960 Not everyone is called to be a pastor. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:34.799 But we are all called by God. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:38.460 Jesus calls you to follow him. 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.960 He came to call followers. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:43.899 He didn't come to call church attendees. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:47.639 He didn't come to call church members. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:51.679 He came to call followers, disciples. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:15:00.319 There are those who maybe think of church as if they were consumers or customers of spiritual goods. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:06.779 And then there are those who are genuine disciples of Jesus who have denied themselves, 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:08.860 taken up their cross to follow him. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:14.159 We hear statistics that there are those who are nuns. 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:16.399 Not N-U-N, but N-O-N-E-S. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:17.759 Nuns. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:19.480 And there are duns. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.879 And there are comes. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:22.019 And there are sums. 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.940 Those are real categories, y'all. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:28.720 There are those who are deconstructing their faith, we hear. 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:33.820 Yet there are those who remain committed through thick and thin. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:36.660 They know in whom they have believed. 00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:42.400 And they are persuaded that he is able to keep until that day that which they have entrusted to him. 00:15:43.140 --> 00:15:49.200 The Gospel of Luke records a story where Jesus called three persons to follow him. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:55.400 And as we think of this story, it informs our call to him as well. 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:58.319 The Bible says in Luke chapter 5 verse 1, 00:15:58.419 --> 00:16:01.759 One day as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:05.699 the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:11.879 He saw at the water's edge two boats left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets. 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:17.519 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. 00:16:18.199 --> 00:16:20.659 Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:23.319 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:26.899 Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. 00:16:28.079 --> 00:16:28.779 Simon answered, 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:31.919 Master, we work hard all night and haven't caught anything. 00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:34.959 But because you say so, I will let down the nets. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:40.899 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:44.579 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:48.360 And they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.120 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:54.919 Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:59.419 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken. 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:03.379 So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. 00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:05.120 Then Jesus said to Simon, 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:08.759 Don't be afraid. From now on, you will fish for people. 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:15.059 So they pulled their boats on shore, left everything, and followed him. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:17.180 It's a familiar story. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:21.539 But I want you to, for a moment, think from Simon's perspective. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.440 What an unforgettable day this must have been for him. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:26.140 For James and John as well. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:31.160 It's the day when Jesus invites them to follow him. 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:35.779 Simon and his friends were just living out their normal lives. 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.180 They were fishing not as a leisure activity. 00:17:40.160 --> 00:17:41.200 It wasn't a hobby. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.840 This was their livelihood. 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:47.439 Simon, James, and John grew up as Jewish boys. 00:17:47.439 --> 00:17:53.099 They probably went to the synagogue with their families and grew up learning the Torah 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:59.519 and memorizing scriptures, the Shema, and other Hebrew prayers and sayings. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:06.859 And then there came to be a point when young men had to choose what they were going to do. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:12.980 There were some of those Jewish boys who would be really smart in the scriptures, 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:17.299 who would be very insightful in terms of God's word. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:21.500 And there would be rabbis instead of colleges and universities. 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:26.639 There would be rabbis who would pay attention to those really smart Jewish boys 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.100 and would call them to follow him. 00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:31.180 You didn't apply to a rabbi. 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.680 A rabbi called you. 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:37.800 And then there were those who were the common guys who didn't measure up. 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:39.180 They were not rabbi material. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:43.259 They needed to go back and do the trade that the family did, 00:18:43.340 --> 00:18:45.460 whether it was carpentry or fishing. 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.420 And that was the case for Simon, James, and John. 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:55.820 It never occurred to them that one day a rabbi would call them to follow him. 00:18:55.880 --> 00:19:02.620 But this day, a very well-known rabbi, a rabbi that had grown in popularity, 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:09.900 showed up to where they were working and invited them to follow him, 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:13.660 to enter his university, if you would. 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:21.540 And we pick up a few things from this passage about the call to follow Jesus. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.019 And the first thing I want to point out to you is that the call to follow Jesus 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:27.820 is the call to be with Jesus. 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:34.440 Notice here that Jesus didn't ask Simon and his friends to sign a commitment card. 00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:39.360 He didn't ask them to agree to a faith statement. 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:43.679 Here is a doctrinal statement that you guys need to read and study 00:19:43.679 --> 00:19:45.339 and make sure that you agree to. 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:50.139 He didn't require them to take a course of Christianity. 00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:55.619 Those are good, but that's not what Jesus did on this particular occasion. 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:59.500 There's nothing wrong with commitment cards. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:02.059 There's nothing wrong with discipleship classes. 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:07.059 But here, Jesus' initial call didn't include these things. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:10.159 It was simply a call to be with him. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:16.339 And it's a reminder to us that the Christian life is more about knowing Jesus 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:18.839 than knowing about Jesus. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:25.359 The Christian life is more about knowing Jesus than knowing about Jesus. 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:29.539 You heard Pastor Sam talk about my children. 00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:32.700 This is my youngest, Stephen, and his wife, Brooke. 00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:39.319 I had the opportunity of officiating their wedding last March in McAllen. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:42.380 But they were high school sweethearts. 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:47.340 And then she went to Baylor and he went to UT Austin. 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.240 Don't ask me why. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:49.259 That's just how it happened. 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:53.759 And we figured, let's see if their relationship lasts. 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.700 And they kept... 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:58.000 You know, it seems like that this is between Waco and Austin. 00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:59.259 It's so short for them. 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:03.640 So they kept dating and they finished college and graduated. 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.200 And she went on to graduate school. 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:08.579 And he went on to get a job and to graduate school. 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:12.839 And after about eight years of dating, my wife and I said, 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:14.220 Hey, guys, we love you guys. 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:16.920 You guys have been dating your high school sweethearts. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.859 Have you thought about getting married? 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:21.400 And they said, Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.600 And so we began to plan their wedding. 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:26.160 And we had their wedding. 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:29.420 And one of the joys of my life was to be able to officiate that. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:33.040 But you know what I knew when I was standing there as they exchanged vows? 00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:33.780 You know what I knew? 00:21:34.280 --> 00:21:39.380 I knew as they were making a commitment to each other till death do you part. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:43.440 That before that commitment, they had grown to love each other. 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:47.420 Before that commitment, they had grown to know each other. 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:49.280 They had spent time together. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:52.619 And the commitment on that day was an easy thing. 00:21:53.099 --> 00:22:00.079 It came naturally because they already knew each other and loved each other. 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:06.119 And so when we think about the call to Jesus that Jesus gives us, 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:09.240 is that above all, it's a call to know him. 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:13.460 The right beliefs, the right convictions, the right practices, 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:17.000 the right stances on ethical issues are all important. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.660 But they will come as a result of knowing Jesus. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.599 Commitment is important. 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:29.960 But Jesus invites you to experience him, to love him, and to be loved by him. 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:37.759 If you're not a believer yet, if you haven't taken that step that our friend in the baptistry took, 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.900 then today Jesus invites you, 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:46.099 hey, I want to invite you to know me, to walk with me, to love me. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:50.220 And if you're already a believer, you said, yeah, I made that commitment a long time ago, 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:53.619 then the invitation of Jesus is keep growing in that love. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:56.119 Keep growing in that relationship. 00:22:56.119 --> 00:23:00.979 When I was in seminary, I had a professor by the name of Calvin Miller, 00:23:00.979 --> 00:23:05.319 and he wrote this little paperback book called The Table of Inwardness. 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:07.459 It really impacted my life. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:13.619 And the idea here was he took Psalm 23, where the Scripture says, 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:16.879 and he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.839 He annoys my head with oil. 00:23:18.919 --> 00:23:19.879 My cup runs over. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:26.640 And he was saying that the invitation of God to us is to a table. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.440 You know what happens at a table? 00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:30.040 It's fellowship. 00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:31.020 It's communion. 00:23:32.300 --> 00:23:36.460 We just moved from McAllen to the Dallas area, 00:23:36.780 --> 00:23:40.000 and all of our adult children decided to do the same thing. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.100 They followed us. 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:45.380 And while they're selling their homes in the valley and trying to buy homes in the Dallas area, 00:23:45.800 --> 00:23:47.220 you know how expensive homes are. 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.800 It's crazy. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:51.599 But while they're doing that, they have moved in with us. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:57.419 And so my wife and I, we have this large dinner table. 00:23:57.899 --> 00:24:00.680 And it gets full mostly every night. 00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:03.059 And it's just a happy time. 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:08.700 At the end of the day, to be at a table full of children and grandchildren and break bread together. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:10.180 Okay, tortillas sometimes. 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:12.759 But we eat together. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.460 We rejoice together. 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.940 We laugh together. 00:24:16.940 --> 00:24:20.240 We encourage one another together after a rough day. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.259 The table is a good place. 00:24:22.620 --> 00:24:25.100 And do you know that God calls you to the table? 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:27.600 He says, come and sit with me. 00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.900 Let's have fellowship. 00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:30.240 Let's have communion. 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:33.720 Do you remember that invitation that he makes in Revelation 3.20, 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:36.059 which says, behold, I stand at the door and knock. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:42.500 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we'll have a worship service. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.919 That's not what he says. 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:48.079 He says, and we will dine together. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:53.039 See, what Jesus wants you and invites you to do when he calls you to follow him, 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:57.259 first and foremost is to have communion with him, to have fellowship with him. 00:24:57.259 --> 00:25:03.680 The call to Jesus is a call to be with him, a call to experience his love and to love him back. 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:10.039 And then the call to Jesus is also a call to be with others. 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:14.599 Notice that Jesus directs his invitation to an individual, to Simon. 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:19.179 But his call is a call to community. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:24.819 James and John would join and then there would be others that Jesus would invite. 00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:31.480 And the reminder for us today is that the Christian life is not meant to be lived alone, 00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:33.159 but to be lived in community. 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:38.879 The great commandment calls us to love God with everything we have 00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:42.019 and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:47.579 And then Jesus commands his followers, a new commandment I give to you, love one another. 00:25:48.619 --> 00:25:53.700 And do you know that loving one another can only be experienced when we live in community? 00:25:54.660 --> 00:26:01.759 You know, as you come to worship this morning, we sing songs, we rejoice, and we hear a message. 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:07.220 But it's possible to walk in here and not get to know anybody and no one to know you. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:11.099 It's only in the context of community where people know your name, 00:26:11.099 --> 00:26:15.740 where you spend time together, that you can learn to love each other. 00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:17.139 And sometimes that's a hard thing. 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:22.539 Sometimes living in community makes it challenging, but it helps us to grow in that. 00:26:22.859 --> 00:26:25.779 I've been a pastor for a long time, as has already been said. 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:29.259 One of the things that I learned in my last pastorate in Calvary Macallan, 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:35.039 in all of those Bible studies and groups and things that I did in the teaching and the preaching, 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:40.359 one of the things that I realized, you know, I've never been part of a group where I'm not in charge of it at a church. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.519 I've been pastoring all my life. 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.399 I'm a pastor's kid. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.940 My wife is a pastor's kid. 00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:47.519 We've always been used to being in front. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:53.839 And so my wife and I decided we're going to join a group where I'm not in charge. 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:59.359 And so we had some folks in our church that we had led to Christ, and we baptized them, 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:01.480 and they had leadership potential. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:04.619 And so we said, could you host a group in your home? 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:06.559 And they said, yeah, they love hosting. 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.379 They love cooking. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.700 She's from the U.K. 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:09.700 She's from the Philippines. 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.720 And they started inviting people. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:15.579 And we said, we want to be a part of this group, but we don't want to be in charge. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:17.019 I'm not going to lead the Bible study. 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.799 I'm not going to organize. 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.939 We're just going to come. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.259 We'll bring food. 00:27:20.659 --> 00:27:25.879 And so on Sunday afternoons, we would go, and everybody would bring something to eat, 00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:27.859 and we'd eat together and laugh together. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:32.579 And then we'd sit around the living room, and there were children, and there were youth, 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:37.619 and there were college students, and there were senior adults, people from the U.K., 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:41.599 from Japan, from the Philippines, from Texas even. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:49.099 And we would open the scriptures, and they would just together read and see what God was saying to them. 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:51.859 And that group became a community to us. 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:54.439 And as we moved to Dallas, we missed that. 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.859 We're still on the WhatsApp group. 00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.500 But that's our community. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:28:03.899 And it's a reminder that, you know, Jesus led the very first small group in the history of the church. 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:06.379 And it was about spending time together. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:10.460 It was about getting to know each other and for them to get to know Him. 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:12.540 Are you part of such a group? 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:15.600 Are you living the Christian life in community? 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:21.080 Is God calling you to join this church or a group where you can do that? 00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:27.060 The call to follow Jesus is a call to be with others. 00:28:27.100 --> 00:28:31.800 It's a call to love people, to learn to love one another. 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:36.139 And then the call to follow Jesus is also a call to be on mission. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.259 Jesus caught Simon, James, and John. 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:45.879 He pulled them out of the water of their mundane and ordinary life. 00:28:46.419 --> 00:28:52.119 And He lifted them up to an extraordinary life, to be fishers of people. 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:54.720 That was a promotion, a huge one. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:29:01.360 The Christian life, it's a reminder to us, is about joining Jesus in His mission. 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:07.120 You see, when your life has been transformed, then you can be an agent of transformation. 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:11.400 Following Jesus is a call to discipleship. 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:14.200 It's a call to be a follower of Jesus. 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:19.819 But it's also a call to be about disciple making. 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:24.419 So people say, well, is discipleship about a content that we need to study? 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:26.879 Is it about a course that we complete? 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:29.500 Is it about community only and fellowship? 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:33.579 Is it about accountability for how we live our Christian life? 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:35.619 Is it about spiritual formation? 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:37.879 And I would say, yes, it's about all those things. 00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:40.319 Discipleship includes all those things. 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:47.200 But the one aspect that Jesus included from the very beginning here was the missional aspect. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:56.400 The ultimate objective of His calling Simon, James, and John to follow Him was so that they would become fishers of people. 00:29:57.120 --> 00:30:02.779 The ultimate objective for following Jesus is so that we join Him in His mission. 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:07.519 In other words, discipleship and missions are very closely related. 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:13.080 To follow Jesus is to join Him in His redemptive mission to the world. 00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:18.179 The call to discipleship is a call to make disciples. 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:23.939 Someone said for Christians to be formed spiritually and grow in Christ-likeness, 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:30.039 there are three fundamental acts that must be in tandem. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:33.240 The contemplative act that's life with the triune God. 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:38.019 The collective act that's life with others within the body of Christ. 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:42.799 And a missional act that's life for the sake of the world. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:48.099 The purpose of discipleship is so that Christ would be formed in us. 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:53.940 In other words, the real test of a growing disciple is not how much they know. 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.539 It is not how much they do. 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:59.539 It is not how often they meet with others. 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:02.319 But how much more they are like Christ. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:07.419 The real test of disciple making, when we're making disciples, 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:13.899 is whether the people that we are discipling are Christ-like in both character and behavior. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:19.679 So when Christ lived among us, He did these three things well. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.879 He had communion with the Father constantly. 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:25.480 He had community with His disciples ongoing. 00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:29.259 And He was touching the broken world, healing the sick, 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:31.399 and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:34.580 These three things were part of His life. 00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:39.920 So to be Christ-like is to live this out well in our lives too. 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:44.600 When Christ gave us a great commission, He left us to continue what He started. 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:46.160 He did it in Galilee. 00:31:46.600 --> 00:31:50.100 And then He calls us to do it to all the nations. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:53.259 Yes, the Christian life is about being forgiven. 00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:55.060 It's about becoming holy. 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:57.000 It's about relating to others in love. 00:31:57.000 --> 00:32:00.800 But the Christian life is also about being on mission. 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:06.720 And that group that I told you about, my wife and I had been a part of, 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:08.519 and we saw people come to Christ. 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:16.720 One of the guys that came to Christ is a manager of several GM car dealerships in the McAllen area, 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:22.039 doing well financially, but really coming from a rough background. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:26.039 You could just look at him, and he knew he had a tough upbringing. 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:29.180 And he had invested quite a bit in the ink industry. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:30.400 I'm not judgmental. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:33.279 I mean, you know, about tattoos and things like that. 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:36.100 But he invested quite a bit in that kind of thing. 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:39.240 And he had very colorful language in our Bible studies. 00:32:39.339 --> 00:32:45.819 He'd ask good questions, but words would come out of his mouth that you don't expect to come out in a Sunday school class. 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.159 But he was sincere. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.899 He was trying to learn. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.639 He was struggling. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:52.959 Sometimes he'd get upset, and he'd disappear for a few weeks. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.279 And then he would come back, and we saw him grow in his faith. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.220 It was really exciting. 00:32:58.779 --> 00:33:05.619 And one day he called me, and he said he had just built this huge mansion of a house, 00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:11.039 and had an incredible backyard with a swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:18.579 It had a gas grill and a smoker and a charcoal grill and all kinds of just impressive stuff. 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:22.700 And he said, Pastor, I've decided something. 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:23.879 And I said, What's that, Jacob? 00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:28.560 Jacob, he said, I'm going to throw a Great Commission barbecue. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:32.380 And I said, Okay, what does that mean, Jacob? 00:33:32.760 --> 00:33:38.160 He said, I'm going to invite all my lost friends to a barbecue, and then I'm going to tell them about Jesus. 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:41.220 And I said, That's a great idea. 00:33:42.120 --> 00:33:43.260 That's what it's all about. 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:45.160 That's what it means to follow Jesus. 00:33:45.280 --> 00:33:48.340 Not that you have it all together, but that you know who does. 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:51.280 That you can point them to the one that does. 00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:53.940 And that's what Jesus calls you and me to do. 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:59.379 He calls us to be fishers of people, to be on a redemptive mission. 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:06.680 This is exciting right here, guys, that you get that, that your pastor gets that, that you're about that. 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.219 Because here's the thing. 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:12.219 You don't have to wait until you're a super Christian to do it. 00:34:12.219 --> 00:34:19.919 You don't have to wait until you know more Bible or more theology or that you're more mature, that you get your act together. 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:24.980 You know, they're loved people and tell them that God loves them. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.619 The Samaritan woman did it immediately. 00:34:27.799 --> 00:34:28.699 Do you remember that story? 00:34:29.359 --> 00:34:33.079 I mean, that lady, man, she had a rough life. 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:41.639 And the moment that she realized that Jesus was the Messiah, she went to her village and told everybody about it. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.579 And they came out. 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:44.460 And that town had revival. 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:47.420 She hadn't even gone to seminary. 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:59.579 The demon-possessed man who Jesus delivered in that graveyard wanted to go with Jesus because he had delivered him. 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:05.299 And Jesus says, no, go back to your family and tell them what God has done for you. 00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:11.199 Simon, James, and John were called to be fishers of people before they even understood what they were doing. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.639 Training is important. 00:35:13.739 --> 00:35:14.980 I'm glad this church does that. 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.779 Preparation is important. 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:23.739 But notice that Jesus invites people to follow him and to be on mission with him before they fully understand. 00:35:24.819 --> 00:35:28.460 God can start using you right now, wherever you are in your journey. 00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:36.980 Discipleship is not about sitting in a classroom until you have perfect understanding and knowledge before you can be used by God. 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.619 Discipleship is about stepping out in faith. 00:35:40.299 --> 00:35:41.239 Stepping out in obedience. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.500 What's the next thing that God's calling you to do? 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.799 Joining the Jesus movement. 00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:49.480 And trusting that God will guide and equip you. 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:52.079 And grow your knowledge and your understanding. 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:59.079 Are you inviting others to be on mission with God? 00:35:59.079 --> 00:36:03.579 Are you a follower of Jesus who is inviting people to follow him? 00:36:03.860 --> 00:36:05.039 Are you making disciples? 00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:07.739 Are you committed to the Great Commission? 00:36:08.539 --> 00:36:10.819 Here at First Baptist San Rieta. 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:14.679 All believers are called to be with Jesus. 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:17.759 All believers are called to be with others in community. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:21.539 All believers are called to be on mission with God. 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:23.139 It's not just for the few. 00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:24.840 It's for every believer. 00:36:25.559 --> 00:36:30.219 There are some who are called to be pastors and missionaries and chaplains. 00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:34.679 And if God is calling you to do that, then I hope you say yes. 00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:39.000 Whether you're a young person or you're in midlife or you're already retiring. 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.759 God is calling you. 00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:42.400 Say yes to him. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:45.960 Perhaps that's not your call today. 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:49.059 Perhaps God's not calling you to be in vocational ministry. 00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:54.019 But you realize that every single believer is called to be with Jesus. 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.700 Called to be in community. 00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:57.420 And called to be in mission with him. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.139 We all do it differently. 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:01.240 But we're all saved from sin. 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:04.019 So that we can be on mission with God. 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:08.780 Texas Baptist, we talk a lot about the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. 00:37:08.780 --> 00:37:12.480 It's a call to love God. 00:37:13.060 --> 00:37:14.400 A call to love people. 00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:16.980 And a call to make disciples. 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.400 That's what we want to be about. 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:27.840 You know, it's been a long time since God called me at that gym, Houston Christian University. 00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:32.380 To surrender to ministry. 00:37:34.080 --> 00:37:37.180 It's been a long time since I heard the words of that preacher that said, 00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:40.779 Maybe your generation will be the one to finish the Great Commission. 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.679 I just had a birthday this week. 00:37:44.379 --> 00:37:45.599 I turned 60. 00:37:46.819 --> 00:37:48.619 I was 16 back then. 00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.719 I'm 60 now. 00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:51.259 But I want you to know this. 00:37:51.259 --> 00:37:59.879 I haven't given up on that vision of seeing every people group, every nation, 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.460 have the opportunity to follow Jesus. 00:38:04.299 --> 00:38:05.919 That's what I want to be about. 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:09.400 That's why I joined Texas Baptist. 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:13.500 That's what First Baptist Henrietta wants to be about. 00:38:14.039 --> 00:38:15.860 I know that's what Pastor Sam wants to be about. 00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:18.039 What about you? 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.500 Will you join that? 00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:21.960 Will you support? 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:25.639 Are you answering the call? 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:29.900 Are you saying yes to Jesus? 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:30.000 Yes. 00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:32.260 Bow your head with me for a moment. 00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:40.000 How is it that God is calling you today? 00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:43.000 What is that next step? 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:46.280 That you need to take? 00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:49.700 Is it to trust Him as Savior and Lord? 00:38:52.340 --> 00:38:55.320 Is it to spend more time with Him and have fellowship with Him? 00:38:55.320 --> 00:39:04.100 Is it to join a group where you can live in community, love one another? 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.880 Is it to be on mission with Him? 00:39:10.080 --> 00:39:11.840 To identify who is your one? 00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:15.900 To keep praying for opportunities to share? 00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:19.700 Is it to join this church? 00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:20.380 To be baptized? 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.900 What is God calling you to do? 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:24.139 Is He calling you to ministry? 00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:27.000 Is He calling you to serve in the church? 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:30.340 Will you say yes to Him right there where you are? 00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:32.639 God, if you're calling me, 00:39:33.320 --> 00:39:34.780 I want to say yes. 00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:38.280 I want to be part of your great redemptive purpose. 00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:42.640 I want to be a fisher of people. 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:47.960 Father, I thank you for your call on our lives. 00:39:49.040 --> 00:39:52.260 I thank you that you look to us and call us by name. 00:39:53.120 --> 00:39:57.960 And you have a specific role for us to play in your redemptive mission. 00:39:58.860 --> 00:40:00.680 Thank you for First Baptist Henrietta. 00:40:00.780 --> 00:40:02.540 Thank you for every individual here. 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:06.340 I pray that as you speak to our hearts, 00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:08.680 that we would say yes, 00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:10.900 that we would be obedient to your voice, 00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:14.559 that we would step out in faith and watch you be at work. 00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:18.700 I pray these things in Christ's name. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:19.680 Amen. 00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:21.360 Pastor.