WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:20.879 Many of you, like me, enjoy reading biographies. We enjoy meeting in the pages of a book someone 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:26.800 perhaps we've never met before, maybe someone we've met but have not known in that way, 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:32.280 and we get to encounter them right there. Sometimes that's the purpose of a biography, 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:41.039 right, to inform you about a person. Often the book's written to encourage you to admire the one 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:47.179 whose story it tells. Perhaps there's something particular about that person that you're 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:53.280 really able to relate to or that you want to emulate in your own life and so you love reading it. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:01:04.780 For the past two years, we have been reading John's biography of Jesus of Nazareth so that we can 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:13.000 encounter this most influential person in the history of the world. But the purpose that this 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:21.960 biography was written is unique. I mean, yes, there are certainly things to learn. There's character to 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:29.959 admire. There are actions of Jesus to emulate. But John has even loftier visions for us when he writes. 00:01:30.919 --> 00:01:36.459 There are three stories left. They have a particular focus in the final chapter. We'll get to those the 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:43.919 next three weeks. But we have already reached the pinnacle of Jesus' story with his resurrection, 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:51.659 right, on Easter, his encounter with Thomas, and his fears and his doubts. And Pastor Derek last week 00:01:51.659 --> 00:01:59.780 so helpfully showed us how Jesus loves to show up in just those places in our lives. That those 00:01:59.780 --> 00:02:12.900 struggles are places where our faith grows and in fact finds a place to rest in Jesus. See, Jesus calls 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:23.099 Thomas to believe, right? John is going to remind us this morning that the purpose of all that he has 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:33.659 told us about Jesus is that not just Thomas, that we may believe. In case you haven't noticed in two years, 00:02:33.659 --> 00:02:44.879 this slide, there's a unique purpose for John's gospel. Thomas responds to the risen Jesus, doesn't he? What does he say? 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:55.900 My Lord and my God. He bows. He believes in a way that changes everything for him. This is belief that 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:03.280 that re-centers, that re-shapes all of our lives. And I don't want any of us to miss the purpose of a book 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:08.420 that we've read for two years or maybe that you'll get your first taste of today. 00:03:09.540 --> 00:03:17.640 Having encountered Jesus, he calls every single one of us to respond. I want to give each of us an 00:03:17.639 --> 00:03:26.759 opportunity to do exactly that this morning, to respond to God. So first let's listen to God's word 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:37.219 together. John chapter 20 at verse 30, God's word for you. Now Jesus did many other signs in the 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:44.879 presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:54.039 believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:03:54.439 --> 00:03:55.299 Will you pray with me? 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:04.139 Holy Spirit, would you help us? Would you help us to see Jesus? 00:04:06.859 --> 00:04:10.460 Would you speak his truth through our hearts? Would you show us our Savior? 00:04:10.460 --> 00:04:19.680 Savior, help us, Spirit, through this word. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:30.860 There's no new story here this morning in these two verses. Rather, we get what's unusual in this 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:36.100 biographical account of Jesus. We get an appeal from God to those of us reading, 00:04:36.100 --> 00:04:47.640 to believe, to believe, to have faith. Not just generic faith, but faith in someone specific, 00:04:48.460 --> 00:04:57.660 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is to be the focus of our faith. 00:04:59.080 --> 00:05:06.080 So who is Jesus? What is it that we're to believe as we believe in him? Who is he? He's the 00:05:06.079 --> 00:05:14.839 Son of God. Why would we believe that Jesus is divine? I mean, that's pretty unusual, right? You 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:19.159 don't walk around seeing people and thinking, there's God and there's God. That's not what we 00:05:19.159 --> 00:05:27.740 normally think of people we run into. But John has recounted so many miracles, signs that show us 00:05:27.740 --> 00:05:35.079 who Jesus is. That is literally their point. All of these signs point to his identity, to his 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:43.099 authority over creation, right? Changing water to wine, feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, 00:05:43.439 --> 00:05:52.479 walking on water. His power over disease. We've seen him heal the official son, heal the paralytic 00:05:52.479 --> 00:06:00.019 while forgiving his sins, heal the man born blind. And then, of course, his rule over death itself, 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:09.219 as he brings Lazarus back to life. And ultimately, of course, his own death and resurrection. If this is 00:06:09.219 --> 00:06:18.799 indeed the risen Jesus as eyewitness after eyewitness confirms for us, then everything that he says is 00:06:18.799 --> 00:06:27.159 true, right? When he says, I am the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, 00:06:27.160 --> 00:06:35.439 the way, the truth, and the life. In fact, the resurrection and the life. Then if this is this Jesus 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:48.320 alive, we have to believe him. He can't merely be a decent teacher. Kind of a good moral guy. He claims to 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:57.300 forgive sins, to give life to people, to be worthy of worship. He's demonstrated through his actions, 00:06:57.399 --> 00:07:04.779 not merely to have power, but truly to be the Son, one with God the Father, as he claims. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:14.699 Well, what does Jesus come to do? To be the Christ. That means the Messiah, 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:23.420 the promised king who will rescue his people. And maybe, to be fair, not the kind of Messiah many of 00:07:23.420 --> 00:07:31.680 them were expecting, but he has come, we learn, to take away the sins of the world, to bring God's 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:40.360 enemies into his family, to rule with power, certainly as a king, but from the cross and over the grave, 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:49.699 these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God himself. God in flesh 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:58.420 come to rescue you, come to bring you home to him, to have relationship with you, so that you may believe 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:05.160 that nothing can keep God from rescuing you. That's why these are written. That's why we've been 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:13.760 studying them. He's saying to you this morning, stop kicking, stop fighting against the riptide and rest 00:08:13.760 --> 00:08:21.320 in the arms of the one who came to give you life, to bring you safely home. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:29.600 Well, actually, let me read the fine print. That's really important on something this big. It's not just 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:37.000 believe, is it? I mean, it can't be that easy for something this significant. Follow the footnote in 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:44.220 your Bible. If you'll look with me there at verse 31, look closely that you may believe, you see the 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:52.659 asterisk there? And live the way he tells you to for a good long while and then get life. Is that in 00:08:52.659 --> 00:09:00.379 your footnote? No. And you know what? Believe and understand correctly the age of the earth, 00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:07.120 the divine and human natures of Jesus, and the problem of evil, and then you get life. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:18.000 No. Believe and send three easy payments of $19.99 or 10% of your income for the rest of your life, 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:30.059 and then you get life. No. There's no footnote in your Bible. There's no asterisk. There is no 00:09:30.059 --> 00:09:40.600 disclaimer. This is free, undiluted grace. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it, but you receive this. 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:47.820 Nothing else is needed but trusting Jesus. He does the work. That's why Jesus said earlier 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:57.480 in John that the work of God is to believe in the one that he has sent. Now listen, there's always 00:09:57.480 --> 00:10:08.900 more to learn. There's always room to grow, but there is beauty in this simplicity. Whoever believes in him 00:10:08.900 --> 00:10:17.720 has eternal life. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved because you know him. 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:27.060 You know the Savior, he is that great. See, that's what faith is all about. Faith is about trusting 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:35.820 the right object. That's the focus of our faith, the object of Jesus. Every one of us here in this room 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:43.480 this morning exercised faith as we came in. Did you know that? Every one of us sat down in one of these 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:55.080 pews and we trusted that they would hold us up. It appears all of them did. So glad for that. For all 00:10:55.080 --> 00:11:02.200 of us, not just those who showed up on time. We haven't yet perfected the collapsible pew for those 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:09.840 who come in five minutes late. It's not the way it works. See, these pews hold you up not because of the 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:16.840 certainty that you have that they will do that. It's not because each of us understood the finer points 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:25.560 of architecture and load-bearing and sat in just the right spot. It's not because we all felt comfortable 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:34.500 in these pews all the time. That's not what does it. It wasn't anything in us, but something in the 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:47.439 object of our faith that held us. That's the way it works with Jesus. He, after all, is the Christ, 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:54.560 the Son of God. You bring Him your doubts. You bring Him your fears. You bring Him your questions 00:11:54.560 --> 00:12:02.980 and your confusion and you say, but I believe that you are who you say you are. I can trust you to hold 00:12:02.980 --> 00:12:11.240 me up today. On the day when my life is really messy and I can't seem to fix it, even on the day that I 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:21.139 die, I believe you will hold me up. And so every day forever you will hold me. Jesus wants you to know 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:32.399 that you can trust Him. That's why these were written. He wants you to know that you can trust Him and 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:42.519 understand that when you do, you'll have life. It's like a lifeguard running to, you know, grabbing you 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:50.759 to bring you in and saying, I've got you. I've got you. That's the fruit of faith. We've hinted at it 00:12:50.759 --> 00:13:02.299 already, right? By believing, that's all, you may have life in His name. Life through Jesus, with Jesus, 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:12.839 how is that possible? Is that just church talk? Well, John told us in the beginning that in Him, in Jesus, 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:22.359 was life. And over and over, as people believe through Jesus' story, all sorts of people, all the way up to 00:13:22.359 --> 00:13:31.319 Thomas in this chapter, when people believe, everything changes. Real life, abundant life, free life, 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:37.020 fulfilling life, fulfilling life, eternal life, the life you were made for, it starts happening when you 00:13:37.020 --> 00:13:47.300 believe. John 1, those who believe become children of God. Not children born naturally, but reborn from God 00:13:47.300 --> 00:14:01.020 to a new life. John 3, those who believe receive eternal life. Not condemnation, ever. John 6, those who 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:09.840 believe never thirst, fully satisfied life forever. John 7, those who believe actually have rivers of 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:18.879 living water flowing from them, Holy Spirit-empowered life. John 11, those who believe in Jesus have lasting 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:28.740 life, even when they die. John 12, those who believe don't walk in darkness, but have light of true life. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:38.820 See, this is not just some pie in the sky believing. Belief is always connected to life. 00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:49.379 It's this faith, this believing in Jesus is believing that changes your life. I mean, either Mary standing 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:58.620 outside that tomb in the garden has a dead rabbi, a failed Messiah, demons who will now overpower her, 00:14:58.620 --> 00:15:13.259 and no one to help, or Jesus is alive and gives her true life, joy in their relationship, security, purpose, hope, 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:24.279 life. Either Thomas has wasted three years of his life. He should now be fearing for his life. He has no future. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:36.399 Or Jesus is alive and gives him true life. A savior to forgive his doubts and his sins. A lord to follow. A god to worship. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:42.179 There is no halfway Jesus. You see, he shows up and he changes everything. 00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:47.279 I mean, just think about this promise of life for a minute in the Gospel of John. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:50.980 We're told that in him is life. 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:58.559 Jesus himself then promises that life is found in knowing him, in relationship with him. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.819 And imagine that you're one of his followers and you're hearing that. 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:05.059 And I bet as you follow him around, you start to think, 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:09.860 you know, this whole finding life in Jesus thing, it's going to cost me something. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:13.879 There's other places where I might find life. 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:17.700 The good life might seem to be that I can't choose if I'm with him. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.899 Like the personal comfort thing. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.139 The self-promotion. 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:26.879 The social influence and connection. 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.840 Self-indulgence, doing whatever I want. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.460 This might cost me. 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:38.680 And then that night he's hanging on the cross and you're looking and you're thinking, 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:40.200 yeah. 00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:42.480 Yeah, I was right. 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:45.740 That would really cost me. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:50.320 In fact, that doesn't look much like life to me at all. 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:55.600 I think I'm all out on life in you, Jesus. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:06.559 Or, on the other hand, if he rises from the dead, then resurrection life is real life. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:13.180 It's life I can count on with unparalleled purpose of living with him, sharing of his life. 00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:15.339 Now, Jesus, I'm all in for that. 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:21.480 The promise of John and of Jesus is that the result of believing in Jesus, 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:24.819 the fruit of your faith in him is life. 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:29.900 True, abundant, eternal life you were made for in relationship with Jesus. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.000 And it's fruit that keeps growing. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.860 Life you get to keep living in every situation. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.299 This is what I mean by it keeps growing. 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:43.660 I'm not merely talking about a one-time choice to believe 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:47.940 and a one-time ticket to heaven one day, someday. 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:55.080 I'm talking about a Jesus you believe in and a life that you live with him now in every situation. 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:57.740 That's the fruit of believing in Jesus. 00:17:58.860 --> 00:18:00.820 See, if you track through the whole gospel, 00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:06.259 John lays out for us believing in Jesus as a progressive and ongoing faith. 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:10.920 It's all the way back in chapter 2 that the disciples believe in Jesus for the first time. 00:18:11.320 --> 00:18:13.720 He turns water into wine and they're like, 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:16.180 the disciples believed in Jesus. 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.720 But you know what? 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.940 Chapter 2 wasn't the end. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.980 They go through a lot of stuff after that. 00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:27.920 There are a lot more situations where they again believe in Jesus. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:31.320 It happens in all sorts of situations. 00:18:31.580 --> 00:18:33.860 Maybe you can relate to some of these. 00:18:35.060 --> 00:18:36.500 When facing doubts. 00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:39.580 When grieving a loved one. 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:41.420 When threatened. 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:43.480 When battling illness. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:46.079 When troubled in heart. 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.019 When alone and afraid. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.279 When enduring job change. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.480 When well provided for. 00:18:54.339 --> 00:18:56.799 When hungry and food is in short supply. 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.960 In each of these situations, 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:03.599 we are to believe that Jesus is God and Christ. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.099 He is in control. 00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:07.160 He has come to rescue me. 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:08.339 He's with me. 00:19:08.339 --> 00:19:10.599 He's the point of this situation. 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.639 Whatever it is. 00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:13.019 He's got me. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.579 And he'll never let me go. 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.599 And I've got to believe it again. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:22.319 Where do you need to believe in Jesus? 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:22.519 Jesus. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:30.419 The late pastor Tim Keller says he believed in Jesus for many, many years. 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:36.240 Before being diagnosed late in life with thyroid cancer. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:41.460 And then he said, I had to believe in Jesus afresh. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.000 Again. 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.440 It was different. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:49.039 Who was for him when he hurt and struggled? 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:53.759 Who would unfailingly hold him up when his strength failed? 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.920 Who would give him hope in the face of death? 00:19:56.920 --> 00:20:00.759 Is that where you are today? 00:20:01.080 --> 00:20:05.400 Needing to believe again that Jesus is the Christ. 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:07.039 So he's got you. 00:20:07.560 --> 00:20:08.779 And those you love. 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:14.840 I grew up believing in Jesus. 00:20:15.320 --> 00:20:18.800 He would always be there when I, if I needed him. 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:19.180 Right? 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.259 Might happen. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:26.879 But then I got to college and got exposed. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:30.839 I was not as put together as I thought I was. 00:20:31.379 --> 00:20:33.920 I was not as cool as I hoped I was. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.900 Hard to believe, I know. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:38.559 I was not as successful as I wanted to be. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.599 I couldn't please everyone. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.960 I couldn't fix everything. 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:49.740 Was life in me and having the success and having the friends and having the performance that I wanted? 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:52.160 Or was it really in Jesus? 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:57.680 I had to believe again that Jesus was the Son of God. 00:20:57.819 --> 00:21:01.400 And knowing him and his Father was true life. 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.380 Is that where you are today? 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.740 As you head to college? 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:08.579 Or as your son or daughter does? 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:13.720 Needing to believe again that Jesus is life? 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:16.779 Life's not even in college? 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.099 College? 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:27.920 At the beginning of this series a couple years ago, I told you I was living in the midst of a week where nothing seemed to go right. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:34.980 Where if life was about the abundance of my possessions, spending those resources the way I wanted, 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:42.200 or being the husband, father, homeowner that I wanted to be, life was bad. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:51.160 I realized this week, very little had changed in that regard in two years. 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:56.720 One problem beyond my control seems to replace another. 00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:02.380 If you don't know what I mean, it's pictured best for me right now in my backyard shed. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:08.740 For a couple of years, I've not been able to control the squirrels living in this shed. 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:12.820 Every time I open the door, they go crazy like nobody's ever opened the door before. 00:22:13.020 --> 00:22:16.820 They scramble around, they make a new mess because the exit must be in a different place, 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.680 and then they finally find their way out the same hole. 00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:23.040 Nothing that I do controls them. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.279 But now they're gone. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:36.159 Replaced last week by the raccoon who ran them out so that she could give birth to her babies in the wall of my shed. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:39.220 Talk about beyond my control. 00:22:39.399 --> 00:22:41.059 I'm not fighting that battle. 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:46.139 That's really no big deal in my shed. 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:50.000 But isn't that like our lives? 00:22:50.280 --> 00:22:53.920 One problem beyond our control just replaces another. 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:59.320 There are way too many things in my life that I can't fix. 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:07.320 As a parent who needs to believe that Jesus, not me, is the one who rescues my children. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:13.680 As a friend who hurts with friends who lose loved ones, and I can't bring them back from the dead. 00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:15.620 Jesus does that, but I don't. 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:24.040 As a pastor who wants to live for Jesus and lead others to do the same, but often gets distracted himself. 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:30.720 And sometimes hurts so deeply with people that he doesn't know what to say or how to pray. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:38.780 See, if life is about me, if I'm believing in me as our default is, I'm in bad shape. 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.200 There is no hope. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:52.400 But if a man, parent, friend, pastor like me can say, hey, good news, I'm not the Christ. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:54.900 But Jesus is. 00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:57.200 I'm not God. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.560 But Jesus is. 00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.900 And he's alive. 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.960 And he's in control. 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:03.320 And he's rescuing me. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.380 And he's with me. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.540 And he's holding me. 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.960 And he's not going to let me go. 00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:09.060 Because no one can snatch me out of his hand. 00:24:09.300 --> 00:24:10.940 And in him is hope. 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.800 And in him is life. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.100 Then all I've got to do is believe again. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.539 And I've got life. 00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:18.039 Because that's where it is. 00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:19.179 And he hasn't gone anywhere. 00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:26.480 Where's Jesus calling you to believe today? 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:32.980 Have you never really trusted him as God, your savior? 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.179 Is that where you are? 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:43.779 You're really, if you're honest, standing alone before God, on your own, recognizing already that you can't measure up. 00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:48.180 That you have problems beyond your control. 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:54.860 If that's where you are, what a great day to believe in Jesus and have life. 00:24:56.900 --> 00:25:00.140 Maybe you're here and you do believe in Jesus. 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:06.600 Maybe you have for many years, but you are presently struggling to believe that he's got you. 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:09.300 Or that he's the one who will rescue you. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:14.780 Or that he is the one worthy of your trusting with all of the problems beyond your control. 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.900 And there are a lot of them. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:23.120 What a great day to believe in Jesus and to have life in him. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:31.359 I'd like to give you an opportunity to respond to that call to believe right now. 00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.659 To have someone listen to you. 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:39.219 To have someone pray with you as you believe in Jesus. 00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:43.099 Maybe as you consider believing in Jesus. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:48.059 If you're here often, this is like a Presbyterian altar call. 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:51.519 Those were nervous laughs. 00:25:53.119 --> 00:26:00.959 That means if in the next few minutes you feel awkward, you comfort yourself by knowing Pastor Will feels more awkward than I do right now. 00:26:01.219 --> 00:26:02.699 He feels very awkward. 00:26:03.979 --> 00:26:08.099 But God's calling us not to sit and listen and say, hmm. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.119 But to respond. 00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:12.919 He wants us to believe in Jesus. 00:26:14.719 --> 00:26:15.879 Awkward is not the goal. 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:18.900 Trusting God's spirit. 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:21.040 To work through his word. 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.960 To work faith in us. 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.360 Is the goal. 00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:28.940 Our leaders here at Southwood love the chance to pray with you. 00:26:29.760 --> 00:26:32.420 To know what's going on in your heart and in your life. 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:35.060 So this morning we're going to spend a few minutes praying. 00:26:35.580 --> 00:26:36.160 And singing. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.280 And praying. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:42.799 And if you want someone to pray with you about trusting Jesus. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.839 If that's for the first time. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.819 If that's for the hundredth time. 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:54.220 Maybe there's a neighbor that you've been praying for to trust Jesus as we've been studying in the gospel of John. 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.599 We'd love to do that with you. 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:56.599 We're going to do that now. 00:26:57.700 --> 00:27:00.420 In just a minute we're going to stand to sing a hymn. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:02.180 You're comforted that DJ is up here. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.860 Not just me. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:09.019 Some of our leaders will come to the front sides down here by the window. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:10.700 Some down here by the wall. 00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:13.500 Others are going to go across the back. 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:17.100 If that's a more comfortable place for you to go to find one of them. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:22.300 As we stand to sing you can slip out. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:25.940 And find one of them to pray with you. 00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:28.420 They're delighted to listen to some of your story. 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:31.759 If you can't say anything and you just want to say pray for me. 00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:32.460 That's fine. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:35.580 But they'd love to pray specifically. 00:27:35.800 --> 00:27:38.660 If you're able to share some of what you're feeling. 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.320 They would love to be able to do that. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:45.900 Will you pray with me as we ask God to help us believe him and trust Jesus? 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:52.759 Jesus it's by your grace that we're saved through faith. 00:27:53.080 --> 00:27:55.360 Even that's not of ourselves. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.140 It's a gift from you. 00:27:57.140 --> 00:28:00.840 There's nothing that we do so we won't boast. 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:04.800 We boast in nothing but the cross of Jesus. 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.880 Where you paid it all. 00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:09.320 So we could know life with you. 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:13.940 Oh for grace to trust you more Jesus. 00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:14.960 Today. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.440 Come Holy Spirit. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.259 Grow faith in Jesus. 00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.480 In each of us. 00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.860 Wherever we are. 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.960 In Jesus name. 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.740 Amen. 00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:25.880 Amen. 00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:28.960 For more information. 00:28:29.120 --> 00:28:31.280 Visit us online at southwate.org 00:28:31.279 --> 00:29:01.259 Thank you.