WEBVTT

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 Let's open up our Bibles this morning to the book of Mark.

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 The book of Mark.

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 If you're just joining us for the first time or first time in a while,

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 you should know that our normal practice as a church is to walk through books of the Bible.

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 And we've been in a bigger series going through the book of Genesis.

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 And we're actually going to pick back up next week, Lord willing,

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 right where we left off in the book of Genesis.

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 I'm excited to get back into that.

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 But here in the month of January, what we're doing, really,

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 this is a month of kind of sharpening our focus together as a church

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 and reminding ourselves what are we here to be about and what are we here to do.

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 And so we've reminded ourselves this month of our mission and then our ministry priorities.

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 It's our mission at Seaweed Bay that we exist to magnify the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 We want to make a really big deal about the gospel of Jesus Christ

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 because we believe that that's where the glory of God is seen most clearly.

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 God's mission is God's glory.

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 And so God's mission, God's glory is our mission as well.

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 And then the how of how we plan to go about that.

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 We've seen that over the past couple of weeks.

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 We plan to enjoy God together as we worship him and delight in him.

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 We plan to equip the saints for the work of ministry by speaking the truth and love to one another.

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 And then this morning, we see our last kind of ministry emphasis.

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 We plan to evangelize the lost.

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 Every member engaged in the work of personal evangelism.

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 And so Mark chapter 4, our passage this morning is verses 26 through 29.

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 Mark 4 verses 26 through 29.

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 If you don't have a Bible of your own, that's okay.

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 There should be one somewhere nearby and a seat back close to you.

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 But I would encourage you to have your Bibles open this morning as we look at the passage together.

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 So when you found it, Mark 4 verses 26 through 29,

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 let's stand together in honor of the reading of the word of God.

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 And he said,

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 Father, we praise you, God, that you've given us such a clear, such a simple mission.

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 And we simply pray for your strength to do it.

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 That we would each leave here encouraged and equipped to open up our mouths and share the good news of the gospel with others around us.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 You may be seated.

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 One of my favorite pictures is from June of 2024.

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 It was summertime.

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 Our family, our boys were home from school.

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 They were outside playing in the backyard.

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 They were soaking wet.

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 There had been water games of all sorts happening that day.

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 And they posed for a picture standing outside.

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 And right behind them were these tall, towering sunflowers.

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 And we had them stand right in front of them for scale.

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 And you could tell in the picture that the flowers are at least twice their size.

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 They were just these huge, beautiful, towering sunflowers that gave the backdrop for our picture.

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 But, of course, they didn't start off that way.

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 They didn't start off as tall, towering, seven-foot-tall sunflowers.

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 Earlier that year, Amanda wanted a garden for her birthday.

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 And so my role in this, I'm not a gardener at all.

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 My role was to clear out the soil, bring in the mulch, build the beds, and give her a blank canvas

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 that she could turn into this beautiful, flourishing garden.

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 And what she chose to plant that year were a bunch of wildflowers and several sunflowers.

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 And so surely, slowly but surely, time went on.

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 And steadily, not all at once, but over time, the seeds that she had scattered there in the soil grew.

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 And what started off as just a blank patch of dirt out in our backyard

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 became, over time, this beautiful, flourishing garden.

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 In our passage this morning, here in Mark chapter 4,

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 Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is a little bit like this.

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 The kingdom of God is like, he says, a man scattering seed on the ground,

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 and then all over time, watching that seed steadily, slowly but surely,

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 he knows not how, as he sleeps, as he rises.

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 He says, steadily, he watches that seed turn into a harvest.

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 You know, this is important for us to grasp,

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 because as we think about the mission of our church here in the month of January,

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 this task of evangelism, it is all tied up with the growth of the kingdom.

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 We want to see the kingdom of God grow.

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 And we believe that the way that that happens is by each and every one of us

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 scattering the seed of the gospel.

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 And so let's take a look at the text this morning.

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 And what I want to do is I want to ask two questions this morning.

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 We'll spend most of our time on the second question,

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 but two questions this morning.

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 This will be our outline if you're taking notes.

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 Question number one, what is the kingdom of God?

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 We need to understand what that is, what we're trying to grow,

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 what we're aiming to see grow.

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 And then second, I want to ask, well, how does it grow?

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 How does it grow?

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 So what is the kingdom of God, first?

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 And second, how does the kingdom of God grow?

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 So first question, what is the kingdom of God?

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 And we'll, again, spend most of our time on that next question,

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 but we need to be on the same page here with what it is that we're trying to grow.

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 And you should know, surprise, surprise,

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 Christians have a lot of different ideas of what the kingdom of God is.

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 But what's absolutely clear as you read through the gospels

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 is that the kingdom of God is a central part of Jesus' message.

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 In Mark chapter one, you open it up, it says,

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 Jesus, at the very beginning of his ministry,

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 he came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God

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 and saying, the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand.

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 Repent and believe the gospel.

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 It's a major theme.

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 In fact, we see the phrase, the kingdom of God,

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 come up 13 times in Mark's 16 chapters,

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 32 times in Luke's 24 chapters,

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 only five times in Matthew's 28,

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 but that's just because he prefers the title kingdom of heaven,

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 which shows up 32 times in his 28 chapters.

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 It is all over the place.

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 But even still, it's not so simple to define

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 because Jesus tells us what the kingdom is like,

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 but he never just explicitly tells us what it is.

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 So, for example,

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 he says things like,

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 the kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed.

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 It's small, but then it flourishes

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 and it grows to be the biggest tree in the land.

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 Or, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven

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 that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour

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 until it was all leavened.

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 He describes it in this way.

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 Or in our passage this morning,

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 the kingdom of God is like

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 as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.

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 He uses these parables to describe it,

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 but never just to explicitly define it.

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 So, here's my best take, okay?

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 And you have probably heard this before from me.

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 What is the kingdom of God?

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 The kingdom of God

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 is the redemptive reign of God.

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 The kingdom of God

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 is the redemptive reign of God.

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 It is his saving rule.

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 Now, of course, in a general way,

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 if we're talking generally,

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 of course, God reigns and rules over all the earth.

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 He's king over all of his creation.

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 But when we're talking about the kingdom of God,

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 we're talking more specifically

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 about his redemptive reign

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 over his redeemed people.

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 Those who have been redeemed,

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 purchased, and brought into the kingdom

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 by the blood of the king himself,

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 Jesus Christ.

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 In other words, church,

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 if you are a Christian,

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 you are in the kingdom.

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 If you are in Christ,

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 you are in the kingdom of God right now.

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 The kingdom of God is here now.

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 Now, we live in this incredibly unique period of time here

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 in between the two comings of Christ.

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 We live in between the inauguration of the kingdom

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 at his first coming

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 and the consummation of the kingdom

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 at his second coming.

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 Think about what Christ has done.

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 At the first coming of Christ,

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 Christ our king defeated the enemy at the cross

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 and at the empty tomb.

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 And when he comes again,

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 he is coming to finish what he started.

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 So at the first coming of Christ,

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 sin and death were defeated at the cross,

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 at the empty tomb.

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 Satan was decisively,

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 effectively defeated at the cross of Christ.

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 But there remains a time

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 when Christ comes again,

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 when these things will be finally dealt with for good.

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 And where are we?

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 We live here in the in-between.

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 But it's absolutely incredible, isn't it?

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 There is incredible blessing to enjoy

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 right now through faith in Christ

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 if you are in him

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 because you are presently in the kingdom.

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 So all the blessings of the kingdom to come,

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 peace,

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 love,

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 joy,

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 victory over sin,

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 fellowship with God,

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 fellowship with one another,

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 all of this we can experience right now

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 because we are in the kingdom right now.

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 And yet,

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 there is an incredible,

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 certain hope ahead of us

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 that we will experience all these things

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 in full when Christ returns.

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 Free from sin,

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 free from shame,

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 free from the enemies,

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 free from grace,

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 free from suffering,

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 free from guilt,

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 free from the curse.

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 So the kingdom is here

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 and it is coming.

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 We live in the in-between.

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 And what is it doing here in the in-between?

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 What's the kingdom doing

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 in between the two comings of Christ?

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 The kingdom of God is growing.

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 It is expanding.

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 We live in the age of the ever-expanding kingdom of God.

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 God's redemptive reign and rule

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 is expanding within us,

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 in His people,

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 and it is expanding through His people

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 to the ends of the earth.

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 And by God's grace,

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 we get to be a part of it.

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 We get to be a part of seeing

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 God's redemptive reign expand.

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 And that's the mission of the church.

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 That is why we labor,

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 why we're so eager

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 to plant

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 and to strengthen

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 and to revitalize

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 and support

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 other gospel-preaching churches.

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 I wonder,

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 do you see this overlap

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 between the growth of the kingdom

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 and the growth of the church?

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 You see that?

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 The mission of the kingdom

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 on one hand

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 and the mission of the church

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 on the other.

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 Why is that?

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 You ever think about that?

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 It's not because the church

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 is the kingdom,

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 as some people believe,

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 but because,

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 think about it,

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 where do we see

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 the redemptive reign

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 and rule of God

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 most clearly

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 here in the present age?

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 It is in the local church.

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 The local church

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 is where the redemptive reign

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 and rule of God,

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 His authority

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 as Lord and Savior,

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 His blessing

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 to His people

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 as their God and King,

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 is realized

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 and experienced

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 most clearly

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 on this side

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 of eternity.

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 Church,

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 we are a kingdom people

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 who share

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 kingdom values

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 and a kingdom mission

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 to go and to make disciples

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 of all nations,

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 baptizing them

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 in the name of the Father

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 and the Son

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 and the Holy Spirit,

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 teaching them

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 to obey

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 all that Jesus

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 has commanded.

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 You may have heard it

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 said like this,

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 and I hope you have

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 because I've said it

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 like this a few times.

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 The local church

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 is an embassy

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 of the kingdom of God

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 and we are

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 His ambassadors.

00:13:39.300 --> 00:13:40.659
 The local church

00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:42.080
 is an embassy

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 of the kingdom of God

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 and its members

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 are ambassadors.

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 We have a mission.

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 What is it?

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.920
 It is to represent

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 the kingdom of God

00:13:51.340 --> 00:13:52.060
 here on earth.

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 It is to proclaim

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 verbally

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 the glories

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 of the kingdom

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 and in so doing

00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.740
 it is to see

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.799
 the kingdom of God

00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.019
 expand.

00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:02.559
 Church,

00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.679
 we want our neighbors,

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:08.399
 we want our family members,

00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:11.279
 we want our co-workers,

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:13.600
 we want our friends

00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:16.639
 to come into the kingdom,

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.240
 don't we?

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:19.240
 And to come under

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.860
 the glorious redemptive reign

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.340
 of God

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:23.060
 through faith in Christ,

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.960
 how will that happen?

00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:25.139
 They must hear

00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:25.899
 the gospel

00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:26.879
 from our lips.

00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:29.399
 Charles Spurgeon

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.820
 says it like this.

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.259
 He says,

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.259
 we ought to regard

00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:34.360
 the Christian church

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:37.480
 not as a luxurious hostelry

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.500
 where Christians may

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:40.060
 each one dwell at ease

00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:40.899
 in his own inn,

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:42.660
 but as barracks

00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:43.780
 in which soldiers

00:14:43.780 --> 00:14:44.860
 are gathered together

00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:45.720
 to be drilled

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:47.300
 and trained for war.

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:49.659
 We should regard

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.620
 the Christian church

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.000
 not as an association

00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.539
 for mutual admiration

00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.159
 and comfort,

00:14:54.579 --> 00:14:55.679
 but as an army

00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:56.679
 with banners

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:58.799
 marching to the fray

00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.539
 to achieve victories

00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.439
 for Christ,

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.759
 to storm the strongholds

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.439
 of the foe

00:15:04.439 --> 00:15:06.000
 and to add province

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.039
 after province

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:08.559
 to the Redeemer's kingdom.

00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:10.839
 Church,

00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.559
 we are citizens

00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.419
 and saints

00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:14.659
 of the eternal kingdom

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.419
 of God

00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.919
 bought by the blood

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:18.240
 of the king himself

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.839
 and now we are commissioned

00:15:19.839 --> 00:15:21.360
 to join him

00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.699
 in his work

00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:24.039
 of kingdom growth

00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:26.179
 until he comes again.

00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:27.559
 So second question then.

00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:30.419
 How does it grow?

00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:34.759
 How does the kingdom grow?

00:15:35.979 --> 00:15:37.120
 Three ways.

00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.819
 Three ways.

00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:39.379
 And now let's look

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.279
 to our passage here.

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.079
 We'll see all three.

00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.319
 Until it comes in full

00:15:43.319 --> 00:15:44.399
 at the return of Christ,

00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.579
 the kingdom of God

00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:47.279
 now it grows

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.039
 in three ways.

00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.139
 By scattering,

00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:52.299
 by resting,

00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.500
 and by expecting.

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.459
 We'll see all three.

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.799
 First, verse 26.

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:57.659
 Look there with me.

00:15:58.959 --> 00:16:00.360
 Jesus says in this parable,

00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:01.620
 he says the kingdom of God

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.799
 grows first

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:04.399
 through scattering.

00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:06.879
 He says the kingdom of God

00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.919
 is as if a man

00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.759
 should scatter seed

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.799
 on the ground.

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.419
 And if we wonder

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.299
 what in the world

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.620
 is he talking about here,

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.620
 we can just look up

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.580
 a few verses

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:17.539
 in the immediate context

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.060
 to the beginning

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:19.000
 of chapter 4

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.960
 where he tells another parable

00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:22.019
 about, guess what?

00:16:22.419 --> 00:16:23.379
 Scattering seed.

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.080
 You're all familiar

00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:24.759
 with this parable,

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.240
 I'm sure.

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.299
 It's the parable

00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.019
 of the sower.

00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.639
 And what does he say?

00:16:28.740 --> 00:16:29.600
 Look, verse 14.

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.440
 He tells us very clearly

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.060
 that in this parable

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:34.779
 the seed represents

00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:36.320
 the word of God.

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.480
 So, in verse 26 here,

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.700
 we don't have to guess

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.639
 at what he means.

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:44.179
 He says the kingdom of God

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:45.139
 is as if a man

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:47.620
 should scatter the word.

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.639
 He scatters the word

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.059
 and goes to sleep

00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.919
 and rises night and day

00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.100
 and does it again

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.559
 and again

00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:56.059
 and again

00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:56.519
 and again

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.319
 and over time

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:59.059
 that seed of the word

00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.620
 sprouts and grows.

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.399
 Now, I wonder

00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:04.599
 if you were here last week

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.700
 if you are noticing

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.700
 a pattern yet.

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.680
 Are you noticing a theme?

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:13.259
 What is the church's ministry

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:15.400
 internally to one another,

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.440
 to the members of the church?

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.880
 How do we grow up

00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:18.680
 in maturity together?

00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:19.840
 How is it?

00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:22.060
 It is by the ministry

00:17:22.060 --> 00:17:23.320
 of the word.

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.600
 It is by each member

00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:27.259
 speaking the truth

00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:29.120
 in love to one another.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.880
 That's the internal mission

00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.920
 of discipleship.

00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:33.920
 So, when we go out

00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.900
 of these doors

00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:36.400
 and we think about

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.840
 our external mission,

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.519
 what is it?

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:41.140
 Well, our primary mission

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:42.280
 to the outside world

00:17:42.280 --> 00:17:43.300
 is guess what?

00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.820
 Speaking the truth.

00:17:46.780 --> 00:17:47.580
 Only now

00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.080
 as to those

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.580
 who don't yet believe it

00:17:49.580 --> 00:17:50.000
 as to those

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.660
 who are not yet

00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.700
 in the kingdom.

00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.040
 This is what we call

00:17:53.040 --> 00:17:54.480
 evangelism.

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.120
 And just like we saw

00:17:56.120 --> 00:17:56.800
 last week,

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.860
 that's not the ministry

00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:58.680
 of a few.

00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:00.420
 This is the ministry

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:02.019
 of the whole church

00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:02.600
 together.

00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:02.719
 together.

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:04.419
 Every member

00:18:04.419 --> 00:18:05.319
 of the church

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:07.039
 is called to be active

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.599
 in the work

00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.859
 of evangelism.

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.699
 This is how we aim

00:18:09.699 --> 00:18:10.839
 to see the kingdom grow.

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.899
 We have to focus

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:14.579
 in here

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.059
 and make sure

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.219
 that we're on the same page

00:18:16.219 --> 00:18:17.079
 because again,

00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.319
 just like we saw

00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:19.059
 last week,

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:21.559
 we can easily

00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.359
 make the mistake

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.500
 of getting a little bit

00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.179
 preoccupied

00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:25.099
 with other things.

00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:27.099
 Good things,

00:18:27.439 --> 00:18:27.699
 even.

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.659
 But things that are not

00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:31.279
 the ultimate things.

00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.379
 We have to make sure

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.600
 we're on the same page

00:18:33.600 --> 00:18:34.680
 here because

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.800
 our methodology

00:18:36.800 --> 00:18:38.820
 of church growth,

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.680
 it needs to match

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.820
 God's methodology

00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:43.200
 of kingdom growth.

00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.820
 You hear that?

00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:46.820
 Our approach

00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:48.020
 to growing the church

00:18:48.020 --> 00:18:48.720
 needs to be

00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:50.320
 a 100% overlap

00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:52.020
 with God's approach

00:18:52.020 --> 00:18:53.140
 to growing the kingdom.

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:55.280
 Our mission

00:18:55.280 --> 00:18:56.160
 as a church

00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.500
 has to have

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.220
 a 100% overlap

00:18:59.220 --> 00:18:59.500
 overlap

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:01.140
 with God's mission.

00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:03.220
 What do I mean?

00:19:03.380 --> 00:19:03.519
 Well,

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:05.259
 for example,

00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.180
 our mission

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.819
 as a church

00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.819
 is not

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:10.180
 primarily

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.400
 political.

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.640
 If you define

00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:14.720
 the kingdom of God

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.559
 in terms of

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.319
 kingdoms of this world,

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.519
 earthly politics,

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.480
 then inevitably

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.579
 the way that you

00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:21.380
 will try to see

00:19:21.380 --> 00:19:22.519
 the kingdom come

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:23.360
 is through

00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:25.120
 political activism.

00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.480
 And so success

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.380
 looks like

00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:28.720
 political victory

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.900
 or advancing

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.900
 towards your idea

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.700
 of what a Christian

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:33.240
 nation might look like.

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.019
 And while I am

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.279
 thankful that

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.240
 Christians can be

00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.120
 engaged politically,

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.400
 we need to understand

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:41.259
 that's not the kingdom

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.420
 we're trying to advance.

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.700
 That's not the way

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.420
 that we're going

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.519
 to advance it.

00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.539
 If you want to support

00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.440
 a certain party

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.759
 or a certain politician,

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.860
 please go for it.

00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.519
 If you want to post

00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.640
 a political hot take

00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:54.940
 on your social media feed,

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.820
 good luck to you.

00:19:57.820 --> 00:19:58.800
 Use wisdom.

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.860
 But ask yourself,

00:20:01.020 --> 00:20:02.600
 am I at least

00:20:02.600 --> 00:20:03.400
 that passionate

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.520
 about the kingdom of God?

00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.280
 Am I at least

00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:07.940
 that excited

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.540
 to talk about

00:20:08.540 --> 00:20:09.600
 the glories of Christ?

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.520
 Am I willing

00:20:11.520 --> 00:20:12.820
 to risk a negative

00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:13.800
 comment on Facebook

00:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.620
 for posting about

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.140
 the glories

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.980
 of King Jesus?

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.860
 Another example.

00:20:22.280 --> 00:20:22.800
 Our mission

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.000
 is not primarily

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.399
 to do social good

00:20:25.399 --> 00:20:27.539
 in our community

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.619
 or in our nation.

00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.559
 And if you define

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.000
 the kingdom

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.899
 in terms of

00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:34.000
 social progress,

00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.240
 social justice,

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.399
 mercy ministries,

00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:37.299
 then the way

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.779
 that you'll seek

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.859
 to grow the kingdom

00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.819
 will be through

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.740
 social justice

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:42.299
 and mercy ministries.

00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:42.839
 And success

00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:43.599
 will look like

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.159
 a church that's

00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.980
 just very busy

00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.359
 with that sort of thing,

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.240
 helping the poor

00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:49.039
 or feeding the hungry.

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.899
 And again,

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.799
 please hear me,

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.299
 good things.

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:53.759
 The things that

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.299
 Christians ought

00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.500
 to care deeply

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:55.980
 about,

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.539
 but not the way

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.879
 the kingdom of God

00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:00.460
 advances

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:02.440
 and not the primary

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.720
 mission of the church.

00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:05.539
 If we feed

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.639
 a thousand hungry

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.359
 people a day

00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.480
 but never open

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:09.240
 up our mouths

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.220
 to share the good

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:10.980
 news of Christ,

00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:11.980
 we have not

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.839
 advanced the kingdom

00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:13.339
 of God

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.419
 one inch.

00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.240
 Now,

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:16.700
 that doesn't mean

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.259
 that we don't care

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:17.960
 about these things.

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:18.259
 Please,

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:18.940
 let me be clear.

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.759
 That doesn't mean

00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.299
 we don't care

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.000
 about these things.

00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:21.779
 Far from it.

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.259
 You all know

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.819
 our family

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.059
 is fostering.

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:25.500
 Okay?

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.660
 That is a social

00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:28.660
 mercy ministry,

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:29.119
 isn't it?

00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:31.539
 And a big reason

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.240
 why is because

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.160
 we believe

00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:34.240
 this is one way

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.440
 as individuals,

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.220
 as a family,

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.440
 this is one way

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.460
 that we can be

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.539
 engaged with

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.900
 caring for orphans

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:41.920
 as James calls

00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.599
 us to do,

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:45.299
 but simply

00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:46.559
 welcoming children

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.939
 into our home

00:21:47.939 --> 00:21:50.459
 is not by itself

00:21:50.459 --> 00:21:52.619
 expanding the kingdom.

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.480
 Anyone can do that.

00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:57.419
 Atheists

00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.519
 can do that

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.259
 sort of work.

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.000
 But it's as we

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.119
 pray for them

00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:03.599
 and share the gospel

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.279
 with them

00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.019
 and pray that

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.899
 they would hear

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:07.099
 the word of God

00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.719
 and that God

00:22:07.719 --> 00:22:08.899
 would cause that seed

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:10.339
 to grow in them,

00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.980
 that scattering seed

00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.960
 that the Lord

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.660
 would use it

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.720
 as he sees fit

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.980
 to grow the kingdom

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.059
 of God.

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.339
 One more.

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.579
 And this is

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:23.200
 common for a lot

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.180
 of church planters.

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.299
 If your vision

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.660
 for kingdom impact

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.440
 is visible,

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.839
 tangible results,

00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.200
 and then success

00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:33.579
 means simply

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:34.660
 drawing a crowd

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.660
 and filling the room

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.380
 and your mission

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:36.860
 is just,

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.860
 well, get as many people

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.519
 into the room

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.220
 as possible

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.240
 and that's what leads

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.160
 to either pragmatism

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.279
 a whatever works

00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.259
 approach to ministry

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.039
 on one hand

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.819
 or attractionalism

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.960
 where the main concern

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.640
 is, well,

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.099
 what will get people here?

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.299
 What do the people want

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.880
 rather than

00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:53.500
 what has God said?

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.000
 And again,

00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:55.579
 we saw this last week,

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:55.960
 didn't we?

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:57.360
 Just having more people

00:22:57.360 --> 00:22:58.039
 in the room

00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:00.039
 does not necessarily

00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:01.339
 mean

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.779
 that more people

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.120
 are in the kingdom.

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:04.620
 So,

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:06.039
 more people in the room

00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.660
 is not the primary goal.

00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.700
 What's the goal?

00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:11.559
 The goal is that

00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:13.080
 the lost would hear

00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:14.240
 the good news

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.960
 of the gospel of Christ

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.519
 and by God's grace

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.140
 believe.

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.819
 And what's the mechanism

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:21.160
 for achieving that goal?

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.220
 It is each one of you

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:25.200
 leaving this place

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.740
 and opening your mouths

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:27.519
 to proclaim

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.960
 the glories of Christ.

00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:33.059
 Jesus tells us here

00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:33.920
 the kingdom of God

00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.940
 comes not by

00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.240
 political power,

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.160
 not by feeding

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.860
 the hungry,

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.740
 not by drawing

00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.319
 a crowd,

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.480
 not by making church

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.279
 a lot of fun.

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:43.000
 The kingdom of God

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.720
 comes by

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:45.460
 faithfully scattering

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.400
 the seed

00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.240
 of the word

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.120
 of God.

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:49.039
 And what word

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.440
 is that?

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.519
 It's the word

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.799
 of the gospel.

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:56.039
 We are ambassadors

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.940
 for Christ,

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.700
 Paul tells us

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.059
 in 2 Corinthians

00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.840
 chapter 5.

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.120
 God making

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.140
 his appeal

00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:04.279
 through us.

00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:06.000
 So we implore you

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.220
 on behalf of Christ

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.700
 be reconciled

00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.259
 to God.

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.460
 We have to share

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.299
 this message.

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.799
 It starts

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.920
 with bad news.

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.759
 This is not

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.600
 popular news

00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.200
 where we start

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.400
 this gospel message.

00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.580
 But we have

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:21.960
 to share

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.640
 the bad news

00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:23.519
 that we are

00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:24.440
 at odds

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.680
 with a holy God.

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.019
 We are sinners

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:27.920
 in need

00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.900
 of reconciliation.

00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:30.460
 We are dead

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.299
 in the trespasses

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.820
 and sins

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:32.900
 in which we all

00:24:32.900 --> 00:24:33.320
 walk.

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.240
 It's not just you,

00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:34.759
 it's me,

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:35.759
 it's all of us.

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.660
 We are dead

00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.360
 in our sins.

00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:38.680
 But here's the good news

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.720
 for sinners like us.

00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:41.320
 For our sake,

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.680
 he made him

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.860
 who knew no sin

00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:45.160
 to become sin

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:45.660
 for us

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.880
 so that in him

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:48.080
 we might become

00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.680
 the righteousness

00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.380
 of God.

00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.440
 God,

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:53.300
 the gospel

00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:56.320
 is our sin

00:24:56.320 --> 00:24:57.100
 in exchange

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:58.960
 for his righteousness.

00:25:00.060 --> 00:25:01.240
 That he took

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.200
 our place

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.000
 on the cross

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.540
 and that his

00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:05.960
 victory over the grave

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:07.180
 is our victory

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.980
 over the grave

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.320
 if we are united

00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:09.980
 to him

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:11.140
 by faith.

00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:12.280
 That's the gospel.

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:13.880
 Now,

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.020
 this word

00:25:15.020 --> 00:25:16.420
 is the ministry

00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.120
 of the church.

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.580
 We don't have

00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.300
 to complicate it.

00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.779
 This word

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.559
 is how the church

00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.639
 builds itself

00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:22.700
 up in love

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.500
 as we speak

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.000
 this word

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.680
 to one another

00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.460
 and apply it

00:25:25.460 --> 00:25:26.339
 to one another's lives.

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.200
 This word

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.279
 is how the kingdom

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.639
 grows externally

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.639
 as we bring it

00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.480
 to the lost

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.579
 and share the hope

00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.200
 of the gospel

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.159
 with those who have

00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:35.419
 no hope outside of it.

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.359
 It is through this word

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.079
 that the church

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.639
 is built.

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.259
 It is through this word

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.480
 that believers grow

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.539
 in Christlikeness.

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:45.079
 It is through this word

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.680
 that the saints

00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.319
 are equipped

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.919
 for the work

00:25:46.919 --> 00:25:47.579
 of ministry.

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.480
 It is through

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.259
 this word

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:49.819
 alone

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.799
 that the kingdom

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.639
 grows.

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.480
 That's why

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.339
 our mission statement

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:53.799
 again,

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.339
 why our mission

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.980
 as a church,

00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.619
 we exist

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.339
 to magnify

00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.919
 the glory

00:25:58.919 --> 00:25:59.460
 of God

00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.319
 in what?

00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:03.500
 There's nowhere else.

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.500
 It is in the gospel

00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:08.919
 as we enjoy him

00:26:08.919 --> 00:26:09.460
 together,

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.179
 as we equip

00:26:10.179 --> 00:26:10.859
 the saints

00:26:10.859 --> 00:26:11.379
 for the work

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.000
 of ministry

00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.960
 together,

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.059
 as we evangelize

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.759
 the lost

00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.779
 together.

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.740
 That is our

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.819
 big ministry

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.399
 plan.

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.539
 And that is our

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.139
 how.

00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:23.319
 We desire

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.419
 to see every

00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:25.500
 single member

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.700
 of this church

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.240
 to be engaged

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.619
 with faithfully

00:26:29.619 --> 00:26:30.919
 sharing the gospel

00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:32.240
 with others

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.799
 around them.

00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.139
 Why?

00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:35.159
 Because we believe

00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:36.240
 the kingdom of God

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.139
 grows

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.639
 through faithfully

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.419
 scattering

00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:40.379
 the word

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:41.359
 of God.

00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:41.399
 God.

00:26:41.959 --> 00:26:42.539
 Just imagine

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.039
 somebody

00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.719
 has this vision,

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.459
 has this idea,

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.500
 they want to see

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.059
 this town

00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.659
 filled with

00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:48.559
 sunflowers.

00:26:49.979 --> 00:26:51.159
 What does he do?

00:26:52.479 --> 00:26:53.399
 He comes

00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:54.299
 to get some

00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:54.819
 seed,

00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.439
 of course.

00:26:56.199 --> 00:26:56.919
 But then what?

00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.779
 He fills

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.519
 his pockets.

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.500
 He takes

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.879
 them out

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.439
 with him

00:27:01.439 --> 00:27:01.839
 and wherever

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.339
 he goes

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.119
 he drops

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.740
 a little here,

00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:04.599
 he drops

00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.259
 a little there

00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:05.979
 and everywhere

00:27:05.979 --> 00:27:06.539
 he goes

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:06.939
 he's just

00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:07.939
 scattering seed

00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:08.740
 and over time

00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.119
 guess what

00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.500
 happens?

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.399
 The whole

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.100
 town is

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:11.980
 flourishing.

00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:12.759
 That's what

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.200
 we want to

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.740
 see happen

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.300
 here.

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.360
 So come

00:27:16.360 --> 00:27:16.980
 here

00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.740
 and gather

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.560
 your seed

00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:21.300
 fill up

00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:22.000
 your pockets

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.580
 and then

00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.480
 go.

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.060
 Who will

00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:25.400
 you see

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.000
 this week?

00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:27.700
 Think about

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:27.940
 it.

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.060
 Who will

00:27:29.060 --> 00:27:29.640
 you interact

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.220
 with this

00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:30.420
 week?

00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:30.820
 How can

00:27:30.820 --> 00:27:31.460
 you scatter

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.000
 the seed

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.240
 of the

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:32.680
 gospel

00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.340
 in your

00:27:33.340 --> 00:27:33.960
 conversations

00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.580
 this week

00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.080
 over the

00:27:35.080 --> 00:27:35.380
 fence

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.720
 with your

00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.100
 neighbor

00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.000
 at the

00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.240
 pickup

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:37.660
 line

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.380
 at school

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.600
 in your

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.160
 conversations

00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:40.920
 at work?

00:27:41.800 --> 00:27:42.440
 You take

00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.220
 the seed

00:27:43.220 --> 00:27:43.640
 of the

00:27:43.640 --> 00:27:44.100
 gospel

00:27:44.100 --> 00:27:45.019
 with you

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.660
 as you

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.160
 go

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.440
 because the

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:47.980
 kingdom of

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.700
 God comes

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.100
 through

00:27:49.100 --> 00:27:50.259
 scattering.

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:50.779
 Not only

00:27:50.779 --> 00:27:51.100
 this,

00:27:51.300 --> 00:27:51.779
 second way,

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.540
 second way,

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.940
 the kingdom

00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:56.360
 grows through

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.680
 resting.

00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:00.140
 Resting.

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.080
 Now that

00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:02.620
 second step,

00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:04.720
 it might be a

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.380
 little surprising

00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:06.300
 for some

00:28:06.300 --> 00:28:07.880
 because some

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.320
 of us are

00:28:08.320 --> 00:28:08.820
 looking for

00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:09.180
 more,

00:28:09.300 --> 00:28:09.500
 right?

00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.819
 So we

00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.140
 scatter

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.339
 the

00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:10.900
 word

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.400
 and we

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:11.640
 preach

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:11.799
 the

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.039
 word

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.220
 and we

00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.400
 share

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:12.519
 the

00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:12.779
 gospel.

00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:13.900
 Then what?

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.380
 Right?

00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.900
 What do we

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.119
 do?

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:16.500
 What's the

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.259
 next step?

00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.299
 Well,

00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:19.339
 verse 27

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:19.819
 says,

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.759
 go to

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.180
 sleep.

00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.480
 He

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.039
 sleeps

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.400
 and he

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:26.740
 rises

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.259
 night and

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.740
 day and

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.119
 the seed

00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.779
 sprouts and

00:28:28.779 --> 00:28:29.039
 grows.

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.599
 I love

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:29.859
 this.

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.559
 He doesn't

00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.019
 even know

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.460
 how.

00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.140
 The earth

00:28:33.140 --> 00:28:33.740
 just produces

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.519
 by itself.

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.160
 First the

00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:35.579
 blade,

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:35.940
 then the

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.279
 ear,

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.359
 then the

00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:37.859
 full grain

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.319
 in the

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.559
 ear.

00:28:38.639 --> 00:28:39.199
 It is

00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:40.000
 amazing

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.899
 when you

00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:44.299
 embrace

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:44.939
 God's

00:28:44.939 --> 00:28:45.699
 definition

00:28:45.699 --> 00:28:46.199
 of the

00:28:46.199 --> 00:28:46.500
 kingdom

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:49.000
 and you

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.099
 commit to

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.839
 God's

00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.799
 methodology

00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.659
 for kingdom

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.119
 growth,

00:28:53.219 --> 00:28:53.539
 guess what?

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.699
 You can

00:28:55.699 --> 00:28:56.500
 sleep well.

00:28:58.419 --> 00:28:59.259
 He can

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.919
 sleep well.

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.399
 Whatever the

00:29:01.399 --> 00:29:01.740
 immediate

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.659
 visible result

00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.419
 may be.

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:03.580
 even.

00:29:03.580 --> 00:29:03.940
 Of course,

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.500
 this laborer,

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:04.779
 he's not

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.500
 doing nothing.

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.120
 He's not

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.500
 just sitting

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.759
 on his

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.000
 hands.

00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:07.420
 He's getting

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.100
 up day

00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:08.740
 and night,

00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:10.039
 probably rising

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.880
 up early.

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.200
 He labors

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.140
 hard and

00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:13.860
 he rests

00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:15.100
 well because

00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:15.660
 he's worked

00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.060
 hard.

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.600
 But at the

00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:16.960
 end of the

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.200
 day,

00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:18.200
 how much

00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:18.380
 of that

00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.759
 growth is

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.140
 because of

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.320
 him?

00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:21.480
 How much

00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:21.759
 did he

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.400
 manufacture?

00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.259
 How much

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.700
 was he able

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.560
 to wrangle

00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:26.200
 up by his

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.759
 own effort?

00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:28.840
 The earth

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.680
 produces

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:31.360
 by itself,

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.279
 it says.

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.740
 While he

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.319
 sleeps,

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.160
 he knows

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.119
 not how.

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.759
 This is the

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.240
 sleep of

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.759
 somebody who

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.319
 has worked

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.619
 hard out

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:40.920
 in the

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.180
 garden,

00:29:41.379 --> 00:29:42.000
 scattering the

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.460
 seed,

00:29:43.899 --> 00:29:44.339
 but it's

00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:44.960
 also at the

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.579
 same time,

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:45.940
 it's the

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.019
 sweet rest

00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:47.680
 of someone

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.440
 who knows

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.720
 that the

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.399
 results are

00:29:49.399 --> 00:29:50.299
 out of his

00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.660
 hands.

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.039
 It's not

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.480
 up to him,

00:29:51.579 --> 00:29:51.879
 is it?

00:29:53.879 --> 00:29:54.619
 The point

00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.139
 here,

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.759
 and we have

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.339
 to understand

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.639
 this,

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:56.960
 church,

00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.480
 as we go

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:57.819
 out to

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.200
 share the

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.579
 gospel,

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.059
 we are

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:01.079
 called to

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:02.439
 faithfully

00:30:02.439 --> 00:30:03.179
 scatter that

00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:03.519
 seed,

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.019
 to work

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.819
 hard at

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.460
 scattering the

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.779
 seed of

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.299
 the gospel,

00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.199
 but all

00:30:07.199 --> 00:30:07.819
 the while

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.000
 recognizing

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.720
 that the

00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.339
 coming of

00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.799
 the kingdom

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.500
 of God

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.740
 is not

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.359
 dependent

00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.399
 on us.

00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:17.439
 Do you

00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:17.859
 hear that?

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.039
 It is not

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.919
 dependent

00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:23.000
 on you.

00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.539
 Those who

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.539
 give themselves

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.339
 to God's

00:30:27.339 --> 00:30:28.159
 mission with

00:30:28.159 --> 00:30:28.740
 God's

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.619
 methods can

00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:30.439
 rest well

00:30:30.439 --> 00:30:31.359
 knowing God

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.839
 does not

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.659
 need us

00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:33.779
 and all

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.199
 of our

00:30:34.199 --> 00:30:34.599
 wisdom

00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.599
 and all

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:35.939
 of our

00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:36.500
 methods

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.199
 and all

00:30:37.199 --> 00:30:37.519
 of our

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.119
 labors

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.000
 to expand

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.259
 his

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.619
 kingdom.

00:30:40.979 --> 00:30:41.679
 He is

00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.219
 far more

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:42.639
 committed to

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:42.979
 this work

00:30:42.979 --> 00:30:43.259
 than we

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.559
 are,

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.439
 but he's

00:30:45.439 --> 00:30:46.319
 pleased to

00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:47.599
 use weak

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.239
 vessels like

00:30:48.239 --> 00:30:48.879
 us to do

00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.119
 it.

00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:50.719
 We can

00:30:50.719 --> 00:30:51.779
 work hard

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.559
 and sleep

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:54.039
 well knowing

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:54.419
 that the

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:54.919
 kingdom of

00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.379
 God does

00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.179
 not depend

00:30:56.179 --> 00:30:56.939
 on our

00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:57.599
 efforts.

00:30:57.719 --> 00:30:57.979
 R.T.

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.419
 France.

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.820
 says it

00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:00.160
 like this.

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.400
 He says

00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:00.740
 the kingdom

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.220
 of God

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:01.940
 does not

00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:02.480
 depend on

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:03.160
 human effort

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.980
 to achieve

00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.400
 it and

00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:05.440
 human insight

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:05.960
 will not

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.480
 be able

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.180
 to explain

00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:07.500
 it.

00:31:09.340 --> 00:31:09.660
 Again,

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:09.820
 it's

00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.259
 kindness.

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:10.860
 God is

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.860
 pleased to

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.800
 use us

00:31:12.800 --> 00:31:13.279
 to work

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.200
 through us.

00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.440
 Can you

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:14.960
 believe that?

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.360
 If we

00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:16.940
 would simply

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.940
 open up

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.960
 our mouths

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.019
 and share

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.620
 the good

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.519
 news of

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.160
 the gospel

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.140
 and trust

00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:23.860
 that the

00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:24.580
 word will

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.200
 do the

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.660
 work.

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:28.540
 you

00:31:28.540 --> 00:31:28.840
 all know

00:31:28.840 --> 00:31:29.300
 the

00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:29.620
 Protestant

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.259
 Reformation

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:32.100
 took place

00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.600
 a little

00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:33.100
 over 500

00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:33.800
 years ago

00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:34.180
 and Martin

00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.840
 Luther and

00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.100
 his

00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:36.340
 contemporaries

00:31:36.340 --> 00:31:36.940
 took on

00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:37.519
 the Catholic

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.279
 Church and

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:39.279
 they wrote

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:39.640
 and they

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:40.340
 wrote and

00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:40.920
 they wrote

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.259
 and they

00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.019
 wrote books

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:42.620
 upon books

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.220
 upon books

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.220
 commenting on

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.680
 the Bible

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:46.060
 exposing lies.

00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.440
 I mean these

00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.220
 guys, if

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:47.980
 anybody worked

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.120
 hard, right,

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:49.920
 it was these

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:50.340
 guys.

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.800
 They got up

00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.540
 day and

00:31:52.540 --> 00:31:53.480
 night like

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.599
 faithful farmers

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.480
 scattering the

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.000
 seed of the

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.259
 word.

00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.140
 But how

00:31:57.140 --> 00:31:57.599
 did the

00:31:57.599 --> 00:31:58.000
 Reformation

00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:58.640
 happen?

00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.599
 Luther

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:01.279
 later

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.380
 answered that

00:32:02.380 --> 00:32:02.839
 question.

00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.539
 He said,

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:05.640
 it happened

00:32:05.640 --> 00:32:06.160
 while I

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.620
 slept

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:08.960
 or drank

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.620
 Wittenberg

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.240
 beer with

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:10.880
 my friends

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:11.599
 Philip and

00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:12.160
 Amsdorf.

00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.319
 The word

00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.220
 so greatly

00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.940
 weakened the

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.960
 papacy that

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:18.000
 no prince or

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.240
 emperor ever

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.039
 inflicted such

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.759
 losses upon

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:20.980
 it.

00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.220
 I did

00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.880
 nothing.

00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:24.039
 The word

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.720
 did

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.640
 everything.

00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:28.740
 The kingdom

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.240
 of God

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:29.980
 grows as

00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:30.600
 we scatter

00:32:30.600 --> 00:32:31.220
 the seed

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:31.600
 of the

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:32.259
 word and

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.500
 then rest

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.700
 as laborers

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.360
 who work

00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:35.900
 hard but

00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:36.940
 know ultimately

00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.779
 the results

00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.759
 are out of

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.559
 our hands.

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.160
 God brings

00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.839
 the growth.

00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:44.259
 Lastly,

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.539
 one more.

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.380
 The kingdom

00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:47.839
 of God

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.960
 grows through

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:50.400
 expecting,

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:52.019
 through

00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.840
 expecting.

00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:54.340
 Look there

00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:54.660
 to verse

00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.560
 29.

00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:58.019
 The farmer

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.900
 scatters the

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.220
 seed.

00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:00.120
 He gets

00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:00.940
 up night

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.500
 and day.

00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:01.900
 The earth

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.620
 produces the

00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:02.960
 crop.

00:33:03.040 --> 00:33:03.340
 It comes

00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:04.019
 up slowly,

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:04.519
 sometimes

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.300
 painfully

00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:05.780
 slowly,

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.940
 but he

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.580
 scatters that

00:33:07.580 --> 00:33:08.160
 seed in

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.000
 hope,

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.740
 in confident

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.820
 expectation

00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:13.500
 that when

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.320
 the grain is

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:14.920
 ripe at

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.380
 once,

00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.840
 he puts

00:33:15.840 --> 00:33:16.340
 in the

00:33:16.340 --> 00:33:16.740
 sickle

00:33:16.740 --> 00:33:17.500
 because the

00:33:17.500 --> 00:33:18.640
 harvest has

00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.340
 come.

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.240
 farmers

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:21.859
 plant seed

00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:23.019
 in expectation

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.139
 of a crop.

00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.279
 They scatter

00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:26.980
 seed in

00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.759
 expectation

00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.319
 that through

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.159
 that faithful

00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:30.619
 labor,

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.139
 through his

00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:32.119
 constant day

00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:32.599
 and night

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.319
 sharing of

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.639
 the word

00:33:33.639 --> 00:33:34.099
 of God,

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.859
 in the

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.299
 end,

00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.339
 there will

00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.220
 be a

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.599
 harvest.

00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.339
 I wonder,

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:40.459
 do you

00:33:40.459 --> 00:33:40.899
 approach

00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:41.639
 evangelism in

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:42.000
 that way?

00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.599
 Do you

00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:45.319
 expect there

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.679
 to be a

00:33:45.679 --> 00:33:45.980
 harvest?

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:46.099
 harvest?

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.720
 Or do you

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.519
 expect nothing

00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.200
 but rejection?

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.920
 Do you

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.720
 expect God

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.620
 to take

00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:55.160
 that seed

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.420
 of the

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:56.000
 gospel and

00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.599
 bring the

00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:57.240
 results that

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.079
 he intends

00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:58.620
 to bring?

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.140
 Or do you

00:33:59.140 --> 00:34:00.980
 expect nothing?

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:03.480
 I think the

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:03.940
 enemy would

00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.319
 have us

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.120
 expect nothing.

00:34:07.120 --> 00:34:07.839
 You know,

00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.800
 one day,

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.260
 the Lord

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:11.360
 Jesus will

00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:12.119
 return.

00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:12.740
 That second

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.840
 coming will

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.559
 come.

00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:15.539
 And all

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.019
 who have

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.259
 believed in

00:34:17.259 --> 00:34:18.279
 him will

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:19.320
 be saved

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:19.820
 from the

00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:20.380
 judgment to

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.639
 come.

00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.059
 All who

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.420
 have put

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.039
 their faith

00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:23.860
 in him

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.639
 will be

00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.500
 with him.

00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:25.739
 This

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:27.059
 harvest is

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.500
 the harvest

00:34:27.500 --> 00:34:28.059
 of God's

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.659
 people at

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.039
 the end

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.279
 of the

00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:29.759
 age when

00:34:29.759 --> 00:34:30.079
 the kingdom

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.719
 comes in

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.239
 full.

00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:32.159
 Can you

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:32.719
 just imagine

00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.519
 that harvest?

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.039
 As the

00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:36.079
 Lord comes

00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:36.719
 to gather

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.239
 his people

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.039
 to himself,

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.619
 just imagine

00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:39.380
 the joy of

00:34:39.380 --> 00:34:39.820
 that day

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.159
 for those

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.559
 who believe

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.000
 in Christ.

00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:41.279
 Can you

00:34:41.279 --> 00:34:41.719
 picture it?

00:34:42.539 --> 00:34:43.019
 This

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.900
 coming day

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.119
 is going

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:44.340
 to be a

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:44.640
 day of

00:34:44.640 --> 00:34:45.519
 rejoicing

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:46.559
 for those

00:34:46.559 --> 00:34:46.820
 who are

00:34:46.820 --> 00:34:47.200
 in the

00:34:47.200 --> 00:34:47.480
 kingdom

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.000
 now.

00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.180
 At the

00:34:50.180 --> 00:34:50.760
 same time

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.019
 it's going

00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:51.280
 to be a

00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:51.720
 day of

00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:53.000
 sadness

00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:55.120
 and terror

00:34:55.120 --> 00:34:55.660
 for those

00:34:55.660 --> 00:34:55.920
 who are

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.700
 not in

00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:57.300
 his kingdom

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:58.340
 now.

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.840
 Those who

00:34:58.840 --> 00:34:59.920
 are in

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.640
 Christ now

00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:01.160
 by faith

00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:01.900
 have nothing

00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.500
 to fear

00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:02.920
 and everything

00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.260
 to look

00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:03.880
 forward to

00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:04.220
 on that

00:35:04.220 --> 00:35:04.480
 day.

00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:04.780
 But don't

00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.380
 you understand

00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:07.019
 not everyone

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.820
 knows the

00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.280
 good news

00:35:08.280 --> 00:35:08.579
 of the

00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:08.960
 gospel.

00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:11.220
 Not everyone

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.660
 that you

00:35:11.660 --> 00:35:13.180
 know has

00:35:13.180 --> 00:35:13.600
 the hope

00:35:13.600 --> 00:35:14.220
 of Christ.

00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:14.359
 Christ.

00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:17.079
 Not everybody

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.459
 that you

00:35:17.459 --> 00:35:19.319
 know has

00:35:19.319 --> 00:35:20.079
 confidence in

00:35:20.079 --> 00:35:20.459
 the face

00:35:20.459 --> 00:35:21.039
 of death.

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.559
 Not everybody

00:35:23.559 --> 00:35:23.919
 that you

00:35:23.919 --> 00:35:24.599
 know knows

00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:24.839
 that the

00:35:24.839 --> 00:35:25.199
 blood of

00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:25.899
 Christ is

00:35:25.899 --> 00:35:27.359
 available to

00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:27.759
 them to

00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:28.599
 wash them

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.119
 clean from

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.659
 their sin,

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:30.299
 to atone

00:35:30.299 --> 00:35:30.739
 for their

00:35:30.739 --> 00:35:31.000
 sin,

00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.219
 to reconcile

00:35:32.219 --> 00:35:32.759
 them to

00:35:32.759 --> 00:35:33.259
 God if they

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.559
 would only

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:34.159
 turn from

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:34.539
 their sin

00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:34.799
 and put

00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:35.259
 their faith

00:35:35.259 --> 00:35:35.939
 in Christ.

00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:38.759
 Not everyone

00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.339
 knows that

00:35:39.339 --> 00:35:39.919
 judgment is

00:35:39.919 --> 00:35:40.759
 coming.

00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:44.320
 not all of

00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:44.780
 your neighbors

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:45.180
 know,

00:35:45.340 --> 00:35:45.820
 not all of

00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:47.220
 your family

00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:48.760
 members know,

00:35:49.020 --> 00:35:49.560
 not all of

00:35:49.560 --> 00:35:50.100
 this town

00:35:50.100 --> 00:35:50.880
 knows.

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.700
 Some have

00:35:51.700 --> 00:35:52.180
 heard and

00:35:52.180 --> 00:35:52.760
 have rejected

00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:52.960
 it.

00:35:53.080 --> 00:35:54.020
 Some have

00:35:54.020 --> 00:35:54.400
 heard and

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:55.120
 don't fully

00:35:55.120 --> 00:35:55.780
 understand.

00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:56.700
 They're blinded.

00:35:56.700 --> 00:35:57.780
 But we know

00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:58.740
 with certainty

00:35:58.740 --> 00:36:00.200
 there will be

00:36:00.200 --> 00:36:01.280
 a harvest.

00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.380
 When Christ

00:36:03.380 --> 00:36:03.940
 returns,

00:36:04.080 --> 00:36:05.300
 there will be

00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:06.000
 a harvest.

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:10.039
 what will

00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.500
 the harvest

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.019
 be like

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.380
 here in

00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:11.960
 this place?

00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:13.920
 In the

00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.260
 town of

00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:15.179
 Allendall and

00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:16.599
 McClellanville

00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.239
 and Hugee

00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:17.599
 and Mount

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.219
 Pleasant and

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:18.820
 Charleston,

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:19.519
 what will the

00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:20.119
 harvest be

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.480
 like?

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:23.179
 I want you

00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.000
 to think for

00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:24.440
 just a minute

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.119
 here with me

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.739
 as we close

00:36:25.739 --> 00:36:26.519
 and would

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:26.900
 you just

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:28.119
 think of a

00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:28.920
 non-believer

00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:29.619
 that you know?

00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.139
 Maybe just

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:31.659
 one or two

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.239
 and I just

00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:32.579
 want you to

00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.199
 get them

00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:33.559
 in your

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:33.920
 mind.

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:34.500
 Okay?

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:36.519
 Now there

00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.519
 is no

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.099
 guarantee

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:40.400
 that God

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:41.320
 will certainly

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.199
 save those

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:42.699
 that we share

00:36:42.699 --> 00:36:43.119
 the gospel

00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.460
 with.

00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.199
 But here's

00:36:45.199 --> 00:36:45.619
 a guarantee.

00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:48.000
 They must

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.360
 hear the

00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.860
 gospel to

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.360
 be saved.

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:52.320
 The only

00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:54.019
 way to

00:36:54.019 --> 00:36:54.820
 be saved

00:36:54.820 --> 00:36:56.099
 is by

00:36:56.099 --> 00:36:56.940
 faith in

00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.460
 Christ.

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.599
 And the

00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.519
 only way

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:00.099
 that they're

00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.420
 going to put

00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.059
 their faith

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.800
 in Him

00:37:01.800 --> 00:37:02.539
 is if they

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.760
 hear about

00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:04.199
 Him.

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.000
 The only

00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:05.279
 way that

00:37:05.279 --> 00:37:05.379
 they're

00:37:05.379 --> 00:37:05.579
 going to

00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:06.419
 hear about

00:37:06.419 --> 00:37:06.939
 Him is

00:37:06.939 --> 00:37:07.879
 if somebody

00:37:07.879 --> 00:37:08.899
 opens their

00:37:08.899 --> 00:37:09.579
 mouth and

00:37:09.579 --> 00:37:10.539
 tells them

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.659
 about Christ

00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.579
 and wouldn't

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.159
 you have it?

00:37:13.379 --> 00:37:13.779
 Look at what

00:37:13.779 --> 00:37:14.419
 God's done.

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.719
 He's put you

00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.539
 right there

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.259
 with them.

00:37:18.359 --> 00:37:19.099
 A Christian

00:37:19.099 --> 00:37:21.139
 who knows

00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:21.759
 the gospel,

00:37:21.919 --> 00:37:22.419
 who hears it

00:37:22.419 --> 00:37:23.000
 week in and

00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.559
 week out at

00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:23.819
 church,

00:37:23.919 --> 00:37:24.719
 who has their

00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:25.819
 pockets full

00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:26.519
 of seed.

00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:29.639
 And God's

00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.159
 providence,

00:37:30.279 --> 00:37:31.139
 He has put you

00:37:31.139 --> 00:37:31.839
 in contact

00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:32.780
 with them.

00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.460
 What would

00:37:33.460 --> 00:37:34.220
 it look like?

00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.059
 Just strategize

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:35.500
 for a minute.

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:37.440
 What would

00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:37.940
 it look like

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.440
 for you just

00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:39.140
 to go scatter

00:37:39.140 --> 00:37:39.680
 some seed

00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.220
 this week?

00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:43.100
 Are you

00:37:43.100 --> 00:37:43.500
 scared to

00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:43.820
 do it?

00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.260
 Maybe you

00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:47.559
 don't feel

00:37:47.559 --> 00:37:47.880
 ready.

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.559
 Maybe you

00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:50.760
 don't feel

00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:51.280
 qualified.

00:37:51.600 --> 00:37:52.000
 Maybe you

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.180
 fear rejection.

00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.640
 Maybe you

00:37:55.640 --> 00:37:56.160
 don't think

00:37:56.160 --> 00:37:56.620
 you have all

00:37:56.620 --> 00:37:57.140
 the answers.

00:37:57.300 --> 00:37:57.620
 Guess what?

00:37:57.619 --> 00:37:58.079
 you don't.

00:37:59.000 --> 00:37:59.460
 Neither do

00:37:59.460 --> 00:37:59.739
 I.

00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:03.679
 It is

00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:04.099
 worth

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:05.679
 risking a

00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:06.079
 little bit

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.819
 of humiliation

00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.679
 for the

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.059
 harvest.

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:15.699
 It is

00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.299
 worth risking

00:38:16.299 --> 00:38:16.799
 a little bit

00:38:16.799 --> 00:38:17.440
 of rejection

00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:19.319
 for the

00:38:19.319 --> 00:38:19.759
 harvest.

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.960
 It is

00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:23.519
 worth risking

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:23.960
 a little bit

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.659
 of discomfort,

00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:27.619
 loss of

00:38:27.619 --> 00:38:28.019
 friends,

00:38:29.359 --> 00:38:30.440
 broken

00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:31.199
 relationships

00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:33.839
 for the

00:38:33.839 --> 00:38:34.239
 harvest,

00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:36.259
 for the

00:38:36.259 --> 00:38:36.679
 sake of

00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:37.099
 God's

00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.599
 glory

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.440
 and the

00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:38.940
 salvation

00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.940
 of the

00:38:39.940 --> 00:38:40.359
 lost.

00:38:40.559 --> 00:38:41.019
 What if I

00:38:41.019 --> 00:38:41.399
 don't have

00:38:41.399 --> 00:38:41.699
 all the

00:38:41.699 --> 00:38:42.079
 answers?

00:38:42.399 --> 00:38:43.119
 So what?

00:38:44.339 --> 00:38:44.980
 What if

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:45.519
 God has

00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.480
 prepared for

00:38:46.480 --> 00:38:46.779
 them to

00:38:46.779 --> 00:38:47.219
 believe?

00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:48.920
 And what

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.239
 if they

00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.279
 do repent

00:38:50.279 --> 00:38:50.699
 of their

00:38:50.699 --> 00:38:51.179
 sins and

00:38:51.179 --> 00:38:51.480
 put their

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:51.920
 faith in

00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.379
 Christ?

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.579
 And what

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.559
 if that

00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:55.279
 soil has

00:38:55.279 --> 00:38:56.199
 been primed

00:38:56.199 --> 00:38:56.860
 and prepped

00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.319
 and is

00:38:57.319 --> 00:38:58.019
 ready to

00:38:58.019 --> 00:38:58.819
 receive that

00:38:58.819 --> 00:38:59.420
 planting of

00:38:59.420 --> 00:38:59.920
 the seed of

00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.219
 the word

00:39:00.219 --> 00:39:00.679
 of God?

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.599
 What if

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.099
 the spirit

00:39:02.099 --> 00:39:02.779
 is ready to

00:39:02.779 --> 00:39:03.239
 move and

00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:03.779
 bring that

00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:04.539
 person to

00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.340
 salvation in

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:05.619
 Christ?

00:39:05.860 --> 00:39:06.119
 What if

00:39:06.119 --> 00:39:06.500
 all of a

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:06.900
 sudden they

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.360
 just suddenly

00:39:07.360 --> 00:39:08.119
 desire to

00:39:08.119 --> 00:39:08.619
 know the

00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:09.199
 Lord and

00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:09.980
 to walk

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.420
 with him

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.840
 and we

00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:11.360
 get to

00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:11.779
 be a

00:39:11.779 --> 00:39:12.299
 part of

00:39:12.299 --> 00:39:12.519
 it?

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.380
 What if,

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.960
 just imagine

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:16.159
 it,

00:39:17.259 --> 00:39:18.679
 what would

00:39:18.679 --> 00:39:18.980
 it look

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.360
 like if

00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:20.400
 every member

00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.039
 of this

00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:22.079
 church went

00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:22.619
 out,

00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:23.679
 faithfully

00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.480
 scattering the

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.239
 seed of

00:39:25.239 --> 00:39:25.779
 the gospel?

00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:26.519
 Could you

00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:27.059
 imagine the

00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:27.519
 harvest that

00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:27.840
 would come?

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.779
 Do you

00:39:30.779 --> 00:39:31.559
 expect it?

00:39:34.940 --> 00:39:35.699
 We read

00:39:35.699 --> 00:39:36.139
 earlier from

00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:36.880
 Isaiah 55,

00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:37.940
 God promises,

00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:39.039
 as the rain

00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:39.679
 and snow

00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.319
 come down

00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:40.860
 from heaven

00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.659
 and do not

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.400
 return there

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:42.940
 but water

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:43.460
 the earth,

00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:44.420
 making it

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.259
 bring forth

00:39:45.259 --> 00:39:46.019
 and sprout,

00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:46.960
 giving seed

00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:47.599
 to the sower

00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:48.119
 and bread

00:39:48.119 --> 00:39:48.699
 to the eater,

00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:49.759
 so shall

00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:50.420
 my word

00:39:50.420 --> 00:39:50.940
 be that

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.599
 goes out

00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:52.220
 from my

00:39:52.220 --> 00:39:52.579
 mouth,

00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:53.240
 it shall

00:39:53.240 --> 00:39:54.059
 not return

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.420
 to me

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:54.840
 empty,

00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:55.559
 but it

00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.059
 shall

00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:56.820
 accomplish

00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:57.659
 that which

00:39:57.659 --> 00:39:58.360
 I purpose,

00:39:58.700 --> 00:39:59.579
 it shall

00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.340
 succeed

00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:01.039
 in the

00:40:01.039 --> 00:40:01.460
 thing

00:40:01.460 --> 00:40:02.139
 for which

00:40:02.139 --> 00:40:02.659
 I

00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:03.619
 sent it.

00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:08.780
 As you

00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.159
 go out

00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:09.480
 of here

00:40:09.480 --> 00:40:12.360
 and go

00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:13.059
 scatter the

00:40:13.059 --> 00:40:13.599
 seed of the

00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:13.980
 word of

00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:14.340
 God,

00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:16.400
 we do

00:40:16.400 --> 00:40:17.000
 so in

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:17.860
 confidence,

00:40:18.099 --> 00:40:18.440
 church,

00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:19.300
 in

00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:20.220
 expectation,

00:40:20.420 --> 00:40:22.440
 that God

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.079
 will do

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:24.079
 exactly

00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:25.059
 what He

00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.920
 wants to

00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:26.300
 do.

00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:27.079
 God

00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:27.720
 will bring

00:40:27.720 --> 00:40:28.119
 in

00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:29.159
 exactly

00:40:29.159 --> 00:40:30.039
 the harvest

00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:30.880
 that He

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.599
 intends to

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:31.880
 bring.

00:40:32.260 --> 00:40:32.700
 His

00:40:32.700 --> 00:40:33.500
 word

00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.240
 will

00:40:34.240 --> 00:40:35.099
 accomplish

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.960
 all

00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:36.599
 His

00:40:36.599 --> 00:40:37.400
 purpose.

00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:40.500
 Will we

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:40.780
 go?

00:40:42.360 --> 00:40:43.480
 Will you

00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:43.720
 go?

00:40:46.579 --> 00:40:47.320
 Will you

00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:47.619
 share?

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:50.960
 will you

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:52.179
 think about

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:52.579
 those who

00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:52.960
 don't know

00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:53.859
 Him this

00:40:53.859 --> 00:40:54.159
 week?

00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:56.219
 Will you

00:40:56.219 --> 00:40:56.659
 open your

00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:58.239
 mouths and

00:40:58.239 --> 00:40:58.859
 proclaim the

00:40:58.859 --> 00:40:59.400
 glories of

00:40:59.400 --> 00:40:59.799
 Christ?

00:41:01.799 --> 00:41:02.440
 Will you

00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:02.960
 scatter the

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:05.279
 seed so

00:41:05.279 --> 00:41:05.619
 that through

00:41:05.619 --> 00:41:05.960
 you the

00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:06.480
 kingdom might

00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:06.739
 grow?

00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.460
 Father,

00:41:09.859 --> 00:41:10.579
 we praise

00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.440
 you for

00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.219
 this simple,

00:41:12.779 --> 00:41:14.579
 clear directive

00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:16.659
 from the

00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.019
 mouth of

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:17.480
 the King

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:18.019
 that we

00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.400
 are to

00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:18.860
 go and

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.059
 make

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:19.599
 disciples

00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:20.039
 of all

00:41:20.039 --> 00:41:20.599
 nations.

00:41:21.460 --> 00:41:22.019
 Father,

00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:23.420
 this is

00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:23.779
 our

00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.559
 ministry to

00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.039
 the lost

00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.500
 and dying

00:41:25.500 --> 00:41:25.920
 world.

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.219
 So we

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:28.539
 pray,

00:41:28.739 --> 00:41:28.940
 God,

00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:29.239
 that you

00:41:29.239 --> 00:41:29.880
 would mobilize

00:41:29.880 --> 00:41:30.699
 us.

00:41:31.259 --> 00:41:31.559
 Father,

00:41:31.639 --> 00:41:32.119
 you've placed

00:41:32.119 --> 00:41:32.639
 us in

00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:33.059
 position,

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:33.880
 you've put

00:41:33.880 --> 00:41:34.659
 others around

00:41:34.659 --> 00:41:35.039
 us,

00:41:35.099 --> 00:41:35.400
 you have

00:41:35.400 --> 00:41:35.940
 given us

00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:36.779
 spheres of

00:41:36.779 --> 00:41:37.679
 influence,

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:38.259
 Father,

00:41:38.779 --> 00:41:40.679
 that are

00:41:40.679 --> 00:41:41.279
 unique to

00:41:41.279 --> 00:41:41.639
 us,

00:41:41.719 --> 00:41:41.980
 God.

00:41:42.699 --> 00:41:43.239
 Opportunities

00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:43.599
 to share

00:41:43.599 --> 00:41:44.179
 the gospel.

00:41:44.399 --> 00:41:44.719
 Would you

00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.699
 lead us to

00:41:45.699 --> 00:41:46.279
 be faithful

00:41:46.279 --> 00:41:46.659
 with those

00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.119
 opportunities?

00:41:47.399 --> 00:41:47.759
 And would

00:41:47.759 --> 00:41:48.259
 you bring

00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:48.839
 the harvest,

00:41:48.979 --> 00:41:49.359
 we pray,

00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:50.500
 in Christ's

00:41:50.500 --> 00:41:50.679
 name.

00:41:51.459 --> 00:41:51.699
 Amen.