WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.679 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:37.899 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:39.299 --> 00:00:42.000 Secondly, we see the voice personified. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:43.759 The voice personified. 00:00:43.879 --> 00:00:45.140 Let's go back to Mark chapter 1. 00:00:46.340 --> 00:00:47.780 I won't make you turn anymore now. 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:49.379 Mark chapter 1. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:51.640 Let's look at verses 4 through 8. 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:58.520 John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:06.180 And there went out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:07.719 confessing their sins. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:12.319 And John was clothed with camel's hair and with a girdle of skin about his loins. 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:16.659 And he did eat locust and wild honey and preach, saying, 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:23.079 There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:29.840 I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:33.979 Now it's here that we learn exactly who this voice is. 00:01:35.179 --> 00:01:38.439 Mark's purpose in verses 2 and 3 is just to say that there is a voice. 00:01:38.539 --> 00:01:40.299 It has been prophesied and he would come. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:43.379 And now we get to verse 3 and Mark says, 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:45.939 Here's who the voice was in the flesh. 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:54.239 Now a more literal translation of this first phrase in verse 4 is given in the New American Standard Bible. 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:57.199 I think this says it in a probably most appropriate way. 00:01:57.319 --> 00:01:58.119 Here's how it reads. 00:01:58.619 --> 00:02:02.159 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching. 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:05.739 Now John is a common name in Israel. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:07.560 It means God is gracious. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:11.759 Baptist literally means the baptizer. 00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:17.259 And was probably used to distinguish him from others that had the same name. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:21.620 Mark doesn't tell us a lot about John's background. 00:02:22.139 --> 00:02:27.199 But Luke actually speaks to it in a lot of depth and in great length. 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.560 He tells us about John's parents. 00:02:30.299 --> 00:02:34.759 He tells us that similar to Jesus, he had a miraculous conception. 00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:41.859 That he had a unique experience of the moving of the Holy Spirit as he was a baby in the womb of his mother. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:46.159 And that there were other prophecies about who this boy would be. 00:02:46.419 --> 00:02:48.599 You can go to Luke chapter 1 and read that on your own. 00:02:48.739 --> 00:02:52.479 But let me just read an excerpt at the very end of Luke chapter 1. 00:02:53.459 --> 00:02:57.359 This is what John's dad said through the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:27.340 He said, 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:44.060 What do we know about John? 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:48.020 Well, the very next phrase in verse number 3 really tells us a lot about it. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:49.220 Or excuse me, verse number 4. 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:53.319 John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness. 00:03:54.099 --> 00:03:55.099 Who was John? 00:03:55.719 --> 00:03:57.259 He was a wilderness man. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.479 There was nothing spectacular about John. 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:05.259 There was no accolade that any of us would give John. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:07.860 But this is who he was. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:18.019 And everything after this statement in verse 4 is Mark's support that John is indeed this voice. 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:19.959 So follow with me in the text. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:23.319 What's Mark's primary purpose for the whole book? 00:04:23.799 --> 00:04:27.459 We're identifying Jesus, proving that he's the Messiah, the Son of God. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.839 And then he says, John is a part of this evidence that gives proof to who Jesus is. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:36.539 Now he says, now let me prove to you that John really is this guy. 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:48.180 So these next verses here are Mark's evidence that John is the voice in order that he may prove that John is actually the forerunner of Christ who is the Messiah and the Son of God. 00:04:48.460 --> 00:04:51.400 Let's look at three things in these verses. 00:04:51.540 --> 00:04:55.080 We'll look at John's ministry, John's manner, and then John's message. 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:56.560 We'll do that quickly and move on, okay? 00:04:56.560 --> 00:05:04.920 Mark communicates John's ministry in terms of its distinctive features and its distinctive audience. 00:05:05.459 --> 00:05:06.980 Let's look at his distinctive features. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:07.620 Verse 4. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:15.180 John did baptize in the wilderness and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:22.019 There were two distinctive features to John's ministry, preaching and baptism. 00:05:22.860 --> 00:05:23.840 Let's look at his preaching. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:31.179 I think it would be safe to say that John is probably one of the greatest preachers to have ever lived. 00:05:32.359 --> 00:05:34.599 John didn't have to ask anybody to come to him. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:40.859 He didn't have to build his own synagogue and invite people to come and put signs out on the street like I have to do. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:42.620 That's not what John had to do. 00:05:43.979 --> 00:05:46.500 John went to the place that nobody wanted to go. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:49.979 And what was it that drew the people there? 00:05:50.099 --> 00:05:52.939 Well, we understand it was the Holy Spirit that drew the people there. 00:05:52.939 --> 00:05:54.319 But it was his preaching. 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:56.540 It was distinctive. 00:05:57.160 --> 00:05:59.980 That's not to say that other people in his day didn't preach. 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:05.259 But there was something that was unique that marked John's ministry that was his preaching. 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:09.040 Jesus himself regarded John as the greatest of all the prophets. 00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:15.079 Not because of his particular manner, but because of his connection to the ministry of Christ. 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:24.519 There was a passion and an urgency to John's preaching that was fitting of the herald of the Messiah. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:26.740 He was bold. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:34.839 He was unashamedly insistent on repentance and faith for the forgiveness of sins. 00:06:35.899 --> 00:06:40.099 And Mark doesn't give us a lot about John's boldness, but the other gospel writers do. 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:45.460 John was known and the other gospel writers for not pulling any punches, so to speak. 00:06:46.740 --> 00:06:52.320 Whenever the religious elite of the day would come out to hear John, he called him a brood of vipers. 00:06:53.140 --> 00:06:59.100 And he says, who warned you to come out and to hear this and to escape the wrath to come? 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:00.879 He was bold. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:06.719 We find out later in the gospel of Mark, we'll get there eventually, maybe in a year or two. 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:14.800 We find out that it was actually the boldness of John's preaching that ultimately got him arrested and executed. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:22.219 John not only was unashamed to preach the gospel and the truth of repentance to the religious elite, 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:26.399 but he preached that same truth of repentance and faith to King Herod. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:30.159 And he condemned King Herod for an immoral marriage. 00:07:30.539 --> 00:07:33.159 And so King Herod had him arrested and thrown into prison. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:38.359 And his immoral marriage, his wife, eventually had him beheaded. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.099 He was a passionate preacher. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.899 A far cry from the other preachers of his day. 00:07:45.799 --> 00:07:48.060 A far cry from many of the preachers in our day. 00:07:49.539 --> 00:07:52.339 Didn't matter to him whose feelings might get hurt. 00:07:52.339 --> 00:08:00.719 Or even if his life was endangered, John was going to preach the word faithfully and passionately. 00:08:01.219 --> 00:08:03.119 And it was a distinctive feature of his ministry. 00:08:03.500 --> 00:08:04.259 So we see his preaching. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:08.060 Then we see probably the thing that he's known for most is baptism. 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:12.279 This is the most distinctive feature of John's ministry, 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.479 which gives rise to the designation that was given to him, 00:08:15.799 --> 00:08:19.500 John the Baptizer or John the Baptist as we know him. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:23.879 The baptism of John was not exactly Christian baptism, 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:27.959 as it would come to be understood after the resurrection of Jesus. 00:08:28.060 --> 00:08:28.839 Let me explain that. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:33.379 John's baptism was representative of repentance, 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:38.960 of spiritual cleansing from sin and a turning to God. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:39.940 That's salvation. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:41.700 We repent. 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:43.159 We turn away from self. 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:44.139 We turn away from sin. 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:46.279 We turn to God in faith. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:48.740 That's really what John's baptism represented. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:57.600 Though similar in nature, Christian baptism has the distinct representation of the gospel of Jesus. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:00.600 That is his death, burial, and resurrection. 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:03.679 This is one of the reasons we baptize by immersion. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.919 So that when a person stands perpendicular in the water, 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:12.519 they are representative in that moment of Jesus' crucifixion. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:18.399 As they are put into the water, they are symbolic there of his death and burial. 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:23.039 And as they are risen out of the water, it is symbolic of his resurrection to new life. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.199 And therefore, we receive, we are put to death with Christ, 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:29.059 and then we are risen with Christ to new life. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:35.120 Jesus hadn't died and risen from the grave whenever John was preaching on the banks of the Jordan. 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:37.519 His baptism wasn't exactly Christian baptism. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.779 It was representative of repentance. 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:44.699 As the individual that would come into the water with John, 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.319 acknowledged their sinfulness and need for God's mercy. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:55.539 Now, some people have mistaken John's and Christian baptism as providing salvation. 00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:57.659 But that cannot be so. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:00.000 Mark doesn't say that at all. 00:10:00.199 --> 00:10:01.379 Look with me again at the verse. 00:10:01.379 --> 00:10:09.240 Verse 4, John did baptize in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:13.100 Mark doesn't say that it was the baptism that gave remission of sins. 00:10:13.299 --> 00:10:16.279 He said it was the repentance that gave the remission of sins. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:21.980 The baptism was just the symbol that showed the repentance had taken place. 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:24.080 John MacArthur helps us here. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:54.060 He says, 00:10:54.080 --> 00:11:03.660 What was John's baptism all about? 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:09.500 John's baptism was all about acknowledging that we are all in our sin. 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:12.900 That we are all in need of God's mercy. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:19.840 And his baptism was symbolizing repentance and cleansing and a turning to God. 00:11:21.040 --> 00:11:23.600 Now, he was the voice in the wilderness preparing the way. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.360 The voice was his preaching. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.520 Preparing the way was his baptism. 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:32.320 Now, let's look at his distinctive audience. 00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:33.720 Look with me at verse 5. 00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:39.120 And there went out unto him all the land of Judea and they of Jerusalem, 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:45.000 and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:54.899 Now, further supporting the fact that John was the forerunner of the Jews' Messiah is Mark's description of his distinct audience. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:12:05.259 John's ministry wasn't directed at the world at large, though there were people outside of the Jewish community that came to faith as a result of his preaching. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:11.700 The distinct audience of John's ministry is seen in verse 5 as the nation of Israel. 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:15.720 All is used here in the generic sense. 00:12:16.439 --> 00:12:21.179 Mark doesn't mean that every single individual from Judea and Jerusalem came to the desert. 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:22.599 That's not what he means. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:30.579 He just means that people from all of Judea and all of Jerusalem did go to the desert to hear John. 00:12:31.199 --> 00:12:40.099 It's not an all-inclusive term here, but it's meant to communicate the vast popularity of John the Baptist and the extent of his witness in Israel. 00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:43.179 This was necessary for the herald, right? 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:52.719 John's ministry wasn't conducted in a little pocket or corner of Israel where just a few people came out to see what he was going on about. 00:12:53.599 --> 00:12:57.439 His ministry had a far-reaching impact all across Judea and Jerusalem, 00:12:57.439 --> 00:13:08.319 so much so that people from all over the place, some estimate, some 300,000 people might have come to hear John preach on the riverbanks of the Jordan and be baptized by him. 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:11.199 This is not a specific little location. 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.420 This is spread throughout the nation of Israel. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:15.379 People are hearing of John. 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:20.240 They're hearing of what John is saying, and they're hearing of what John is doing. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:31.000 Now, the fact that John's audience was made up almost exclusively of Jews is why his ministry of baptism was so distinct and important. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.140 Now, hang with me. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:40.340 The Jews would have had no problem at all for Gentiles to be baptized. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.300 That was a part of their process, actually. 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:56.600 For a Gentile person to be a proselyte to Judaism, there was a one-time baptism that would identify them as turning away from their pagan, heathen ways and converting specifically to Judaism. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:59.800 This is the baptism that John is doing in the river. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:02.860 Except John's not preaching to Gentiles. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:12.899 He's not telling Gentile people on the riverbank of the Jordan, come into the water, be baptized in repentance, and turn toward God. 00:14:13.300 --> 00:14:14.220 This is important. 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.159 He's speaking to Jews. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:24.000 Now, the Jews, the prevalent thought of the day was that citizenship within the nation was salvific. 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:33.480 That as long as I was part of Abraham's seed, that I was safe and that all I'm waiting for the Messiah to do is deliver me from Rome. 00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:35.379 But John says a different message. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:38.360 No, we're not waiting for the Messiah to deliver us from Rome. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:41.279 We're waiting for the Messiah to deliver us from sin. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:45.879 And so he doesn't preach to Gentiles to come into the water to identify in baptism. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.659 He preached to Jews to do this. 00:14:48.839 --> 00:14:51.620 People who didn't think that they needed this salvation. 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:53.740 Not in the way that John was preaching it. 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.899 And again, MacArthur helps us. 00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:59.720 For a Gentile proselyte to be baptized was nothing extraordinary. 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:03.699 But John's call for Jews to be baptized was radical. 00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:09.039 In essence, it required them to see themselves as outsiders 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:15.319 who must acknowledge that they were no more fit for the Messiah's kingdom than the Gentiles. 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:19.980 Now, if you've studied the Bible at all, you know there was a great prejudice between Jews and Gentiles. 00:15:21.079 --> 00:15:26.879 For one of those Jews to step into that water meant I'm identifying as a Gentile in God's eyes. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:32.539 And that my only hope is to repent of my sin and turn in faith to God. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.399 This was not just a religious ritual for them to go through. 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:40.360 This was a statement that was being made. 00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:43.860 What made John's baptism so significant? 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:44.840 What was it all about? 00:15:45.620 --> 00:15:47.779 We all need Jesus. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:50.079 That's the point. 00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:52.539 How is he preparing the way? 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.319 He's preparing the hearts of these Jews to recognize, 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:00.100 Hey, citizenship in Abraham's seed isn't enough. 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:04.019 Just because I'm an Israelite isn't enough. 00:16:04.019 --> 00:16:08.500 He's telling these Jews, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.000 He's preparing their hearts. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:13.899 He's turning their hearts away from their own mindset of salvation. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:15.960 And then he's going to take them once they're prepared. 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.779 He's going to say, now look at Jesus. 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:19.439 Look at the Lamb of God. 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.960 This is the one you need. 00:16:21.199 --> 00:16:22.419 Abraham's not what you need. 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:24.259 This is the one that you need. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:26.519 That's what John's baptism was. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:30.000 That we all need salvation no matter who you are. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.580 Matthew chapter 3. 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:37.240 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:39.779 John said to them, you brood of vipers. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:42.360 Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 00:16:43.159 --> 00:16:45.820 Therefore, bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.840 He's even calling the religious teachers of the day to repent. 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:56.800 And do not suppose, he says, that you can say to yourselves, we have Abraham for our father. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:03.180 For I say to you, John says, of these rocks, God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.039 He said, when it comes to the kingdom, it doesn't matter who your father is. 00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:13.420 It matters what you're going to do with Jesus, is what John says. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:15.039 So we see his ministry. 00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:17.440 Much more quickly than that, we'll see his manner. 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.660 Look at his manner in verse 6. 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:28.120 John was clothed with camel's hair and with a girdle about his loins, a girdle of skin. 00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:31.080 And he did eat locust and wild honey. 00:17:31.300 --> 00:17:35.640 Now this sounds like a lot of what Andy has told me he wants to spend his life doing. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:40.560 Living out in the country on a cattle farm, eating locust and wild honey. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:43.500 Milking cows and riding horses. 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:46.919 This is the kind of man John was. 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:49.039 But isn't this strange? 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:55.359 It's not only strange that this was his manner of life, that he's just kind of a wilderness man, 00:17:55.419 --> 00:17:56.679 but we know people like that, right? 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.519 We live in the South. 00:17:57.619 --> 00:17:59.819 We know enough people that like to live in the wilderness. 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.720 They're a little strange, but they like to do that. 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:09.059 Why is John, or Mark, and all the other gospel writers for that matter, 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.940 why is he writing this? 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:13.179 What does his purpose have? 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:15.139 This is a part of his proof. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:19.039 It's a part of his evidence that John is indeed the voice. 00:18:20.159 --> 00:18:22.839 Not only did John's ministry match the prophecies, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:28.899 but his manner of life was completely on par with all the other Old Testament prophets and what he did. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.759 But part of the prophecy of this voice, and of John in particular, 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:38.720 that he would be a prophet that came in the spirit and strength of Elijah. 00:18:39.379 --> 00:18:43.140 Now listen to how 2 Kings 1 describes Elijah. 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.960 They answered him. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.680 He was a hairy man. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:50.700 That means he was clothed in hairy garments, kind of like camel's hair. 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:56.900 He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins. 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:59.900 And they said it is Elijah the Tishbite. 00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:06.580 Why is it that Mark, and Matthew, and Luke, and John, and Jesus even said this about John, 00:19:06.780 --> 00:19:09.060 that he was the one in the spirit of Elijah? 00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:12.820 Why are they acknowledging this about the way he lived his life? 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:16.720 Because this is proof that he was the voice. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:24.200 The reigning Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes of the day couldn't have fit the description of the voice. 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.539 They didn't match the description of a prophet. 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.860 It's not the way that they dressed. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.960 It's not the way that they acted. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.440 But then there's a second tier to this. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:37.640 Not only strengthens the claim that John was indeed the voice, 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:42.220 but it speaks to his personal integrity as a minister of the gospel. 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:47.059 Standing in contrast to the ministers of the day, 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:51.180 John wasn't the least bit interested in prominence. 00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.839 He wasn't interested in power. 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.660 He wasn't interested in money. 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:59.160 He wasn't interested in fame. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:02.319 He was a wilderness man in every sense of the word. 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.319 People came to him. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.100 He didn't gather his own crowd. 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:08.539 He preached the gospel. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.660 He didn't try to take their money. 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:12.519 There were no collections. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:16.340 There were no prayer cloths to send in after they watched the commercial. 00:20:17.300 --> 00:20:19.120 There was no prominence or power. 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.080 This was strange. 00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:24.240 Because all the other religious leaders, that's what they wanted. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.360 Power. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:26.940 Prominence. 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.140 Fame. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.279 Money. 00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:31.300 That wasn't John at all. 00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:36.200 To be honest, pastors and ministry leaders today would do well 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.960 to pattern their own ministries after John. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:45.500 Rather than lusting after prominence and power and money. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.620 We must commit to fulfilling our calling with integrity. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:56.740 I don't want you to come to church on Sunday so that I can get something from you. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.460 I want you to come to church on Sunday so that we can worship together. 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:04.000 So we can hear from the word. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:08.259 We need more pastors who will look at John and say, 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:11.299 I'm willing to live in the wilderness if I have to live in the wilderness. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.440 I'm willing to wear the camel's hair if I've got to wear the camel's hair. 00:21:16.840 --> 00:21:18.720 I don't know if Julie is, but I will. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.100 It was his manner. 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:25.259 It was just another proof that this is actually who John was. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.160 Finally, we see his message. 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:28.680 Look at verses 7 and 8. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.620 Here's what John preached. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.660 There comes one mightier than I after me. 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:37.880 The latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:41.019 I indeed have baptized you with water. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:45.480 But he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.680 It's an interesting message. 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:52.980 John's entire purpose was singular. 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:55.700 He had one purpose. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.700 Point people to Jesus. 00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.680 That was his calling. 00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:01.900 That's what he was supposed to do. 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:04.240 And that's what he faithfully did. 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.920 He pointed people to Jesus. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:14.259 Because of his popularity, there were times that we read in the Gospels that there was an infatuation with who he is or who he was. 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:16.420 Some people believed him to be the Messiah. 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:24.720 He had his own set of disciples that wanted to follow him that even were upset at one point when Jesus' ministry became to be more prominent. 00:22:24.820 --> 00:22:25.860 They were confused about that. 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:27.259 They were followers of John. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:31.920 But John, over and over and over, did not point people to himself. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:34.920 He pointed people to Christ. 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.279 He never wavered from that. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:41.000 He uses three statements in these two verses that prove it. 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:45.859 One, there cometh one mightier than I after me. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:49.740 There cometh one mightier than I after me, John says. 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:54.700 Now, John had great power and authority and boldness in his preaching. 00:22:55.140 --> 00:23:00.859 But he readily acknowledged that whatever it was that he had been gifted with by God to preach this message, 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:08.640 it paled in comparison to the authority and the power and the boldness that Jesus would possess. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:15.780 There was nothing about John and his manner, nothing about his gifts, nothing about who he was that could ever compare to Jesus. 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:20.400 He was constantly pointing to people saying, Jesus is greater. 00:23:20.780 --> 00:23:21.740 Jesus is greater. 00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:22.440 Don't look at me. 00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.980 Look at Jesus. 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:27.060 There cometh one mightier than I after me. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:33.180 Two, the latchet of whose shoe I am unworthy to stoop down and unloose. 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:35.060 This is interesting. 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:37.240 This is a reference to washing feet. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:41.599 It was a custom that was set aside specifically for slaves. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:51.019 There were even in the Midrash, there are instructions that Jews are not even to command other Jews to do this because it was so degrading. 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:55.339 This was reserved for the lowliest of lows. 00:23:56.519 --> 00:24:00.319 The people that weren't considered human were the ones to do this. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:09.599 And John says, Jesus is so much greater than me, I am not even worthy to do the most degrading thing that in that culture a person could do. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.480 I am not worthy to do that for him. 00:24:11.639 --> 00:24:12.259 What's he doing? 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.619 He's saying, come to me, listen. 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.599 Go to him. 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.819 Come over here and listen to what I got to say. 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:17.799 Go to Jesus. 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.779 He's greater. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:21.680 I'm not even worthy to untie his shoe and wash his feet. 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:26.139 Three, I have baptized you with water. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:30.359 He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:34.460 The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a one-time event. 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:37.200 It occurs at the moment of conversion. 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:39.660 A person receives Christ. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:43.119 All believers are baptized by the Holy Spirit. 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:43.859 Everyone. 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:47.759 One, you have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit today. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:52.399 He was not himself the hero of the story, John. 00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:57.979 He wasn't pointing to the power of his own message or of his own practice. 00:24:58.679 --> 00:25:01.039 He was pointing to the power of what Jesus would do. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:05.919 John's baptism merely symbolized the repentance of the heart. 00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:12.359 But Jesus would bring a spiritual baptism that would radically transform their hearts. 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:18.919 It's as if John is saying, all I can do is wash you on the outside with water. 00:25:19.479 --> 00:25:25.359 But he, Jesus, can transform and cleanse you on the inside. 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.159 I can't do that. 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.279 Only he can do that. 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.119 Go to Christ. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:35.579 The humility of John's preaching showed that he, too, was in desperate need of this Savior. 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.759 He wasn't safe just because he was a preacher. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:43.799 He wasn't safe just because of his manner of life. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:47.539 He needed the grace and mercy of Christ as much as anybody else did. 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:50.039 And his humility shows that. 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:55.359 As Jesus' ministry began, John's ministry faded away. 00:25:57.220 --> 00:26:00.440 Some people might would consider that tragic or maybe even depressing. 00:26:01.379 --> 00:26:02.000 Not John. 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.400 John knew his purpose. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:07.140 His purpose wasn't to exalt himself. 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:09.900 His purpose was to exalt Christ. 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:13.400 In fact, his disciples asked him about this one day. 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:18.259 As Jesus rose to prominence and John began to fade, they were bothered, a little jealous. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.780 Here's what John said to them. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:24.460 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:26.180 I am not the Christ. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:28.600 But I have been sent ahead of him. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:31.519 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:37.680 But the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.220 And then John says, 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:42.819 So this joy of mine has been made full. 00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:45.059 He must increase. 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.900 I must decrease. 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:49.039 That was John's heart. 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:55.700 He knew and embraced his calling and purpose to point everyone to Jesus. 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:59.580 And as people started following Jesus, he says, 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:02.200 In this my joy is made full. 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.880 I don't want them following me. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.680 I want them following him. 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.500 Why? 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:09.180 All I can do is sprinkle some water on them. 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.880 I can dunk them in the river. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.519 That's it. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:14.819 What he can do for them is give them eternal life. 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:21.059 He can give them the spirit that will transform their hearts and will transform all of their eternity. 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:23.019 He can do so much more. 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:24.600 He must increase. 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:26.000 I must decrease. 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:30.119 John knew his job was to get out of the way and just point people to Jesus. 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.899 Guess what? 00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:32.919 That's your job. 00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:37.679 Point people to Jesus and get out of the way. 00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.519 That's my job. 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:44.059 To point you to Jesus and get out of the way. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.099 He must increase. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:48.099 I must decrease. 00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:54.019 And as that was literally fulfilled in John's life, he exulted in that fact. 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:55.719 My joy is full. 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.199 Why? 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:57.699 Because everybody left me. 00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.719 Praise the Lord. 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:02.119 Everybody left me, John said. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.459 They're following Christ now. 00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:07.579 Which is exactly what he was called to have them do. 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:12.939 The life and ministry of John the baptizer is of incredible importance. 00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:16.879 But only as we understand it to be connected to Jesus. 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:22.879 He's included in each gospel book because he points us to Jesus Christ. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.919 That was his calling. 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.919 And it's ours too. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:28.180 And let me close it this way. 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:35.160 We look at this passage primarily seeing Mark's evidence for pointing to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:41.080 But that doesn't mean that we can't learn and apply John's ministry to our own. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:48.779 Six observations I've made about John's ministry that needs to be observed in ours too. 00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:52.800 One, we need to passionately share the gospel. 00:28:54.560 --> 00:28:55.860 Passionately share the gospel. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.279 We need to care about evangelism. 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:01.620 We need to care. 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:07.620 The picture of John is not this guy that was just kind of take it or leave it. 00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:10.160 You know, here's what I think. 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:12.259 What do you guys, I'm open-minded. 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:13.560 What do you all think? 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:15.300 That's not what John's doing. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.460 He's passionate. 00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:18.140 He knows this truth. 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.320 He knows who he is. 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:20.740 He knows what his calling is. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:24.820 And he's passionately telling these people, these thousands and thousands of people, 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:28.819 many of which hated him probably because he said, you're not worthy of the kingdom. 00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:32.079 But he passionately preached the gospel. 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:34.460 Hey, people are going to hate you for preaching the gospel. 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.939 I can promise. 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:40.019 If you go to David's in today, and all those people are out on the sidewalk, and they're 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:42.799 walking through town, and they're getting their hot dogs, and they're enjoying their day, 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:46.680 and you start preaching the gospel of the kingdom, they are not going to love you for it. 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.799 Passionately preach the gospel anyways. 00:29:50.379 --> 00:29:51.279 That's our call. 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:58.539 If we truly believe that Jesus is who Malachi and Isaiah says that he is, we can preach 00:29:58.539 --> 00:29:59.579 that truth passionately. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:02.399 Two, preach with humility. 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:04.200 Humility. 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.480 Here's what I mean. 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.619 This is not about us. 00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:12.519 What we do in evangelism, we've got this program we talked about a couple weeks ago. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.079 I'm going to talk more about it in a few weeks. 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:19.000 Where over the next three years, we want to hand deliver a copy of God's word to every 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:19.979 house in Cornelius. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.959 We want people to come to our church. 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.679 We've got anniversary Sunday in a couple weeks. 00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:28.379 I hope that you'll bring people that need to hear the gospel that day. 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:31.099 We don't want to build our church just to build our church. 00:30:31.219 --> 00:30:32.299 This is not about us. 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:34.439 This preaching is not about us. 00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.979 Filling these chairs is not about us. 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:41.319 It's not building our constituency in this community. 00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:42.360 That's not what it's about. 00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:46.160 It's not about seeing how big of a church we can have. 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:48.160 It's not about having a nice place where we can meet. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:52.120 If we've got to meet six times on a Sunday at the Acting Out studio just to have services, 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:55.039 we'll meet at the Acting Out studio for six times on a Sunday. 00:30:55.160 --> 00:30:55.680 Whatever we've got. 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.940 This is not about us. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.900 This is about Christ. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.059 This is about Christ. 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:06.000 Whenever we get to a point that the Lord blesses our church enough to have enough people, 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.880 we're going to take some of those people, we're going to send them somewhere else. 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:11.299 We're going to say, why don't you go to Mooresville? 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:12.420 Why don't you go to Davidson? 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.920 Or why don't you go to this part of town? 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.400 And let's do this all over again. 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.799 This is not about us. 00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.420 It's about the gospel. 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:22.380 Three, recognize our calling. 00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:25.400 John knew what his purpose was. 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:27.220 He recognized his calling. 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:29.920 If you're a believer today, you have that calling. 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.380 You have it. 00:31:32.620 --> 00:31:33.300 We all do. 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.220 Jesus said, go. 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:39.320 Go, therefore, and teach all nations. 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:42.760 Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. 00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:46.300 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you to do. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:50.000 And I will be with you even to the end, he says. 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.480 That's our calling. 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:53.000 Let's fulfill our calling. 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:57.599 Four, focus on Jesus. 00:31:59.059 --> 00:32:00.779 We need to focus on Jesus. 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:02.960 Here's what I mean by this statement. 00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:09.259 I saw somebody say this or write this a few days ago. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:25.799 I wonder how many of us would be perfectly content with the people in our community and in our nation converting over to our morals but not actually receiving Christ. 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.779 How many of us would actually be okay with that? 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:38.839 I wonder how many of us would be content for Roe v. Wade to be overturned but not one person come to know Christ in that process. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:42.419 I wonder how many of us would actually be, hey, this is a victory for us. 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:43.919 No. 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:46.819 We're not preaching the message of morality. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:51.139 How many of us would just be content? 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:57.220 You know, if we just got all the conservatives in this election, which half the positions doesn't even have a conservative running for it. 00:32:58.039 --> 00:33:02.000 If we just got all the conservatives in each position, we'd be content. 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:03.139 Man, we're on the right path. 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.659 No. 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:06.439 It's not about that. 00:33:06.659 --> 00:33:07.679 Focus on Jesus. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.880 It's not about abortion. 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:10.299 Focus on Jesus. 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.740 And Jesus will take care of that. 00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:15.539 It's not about Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 00:33:15.860 --> 00:33:17.259 Pray for them to be saved. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:20.100 Focus on Jesus. 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.100 Five. 00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.500 Commit to holiness. 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:27.560 John had a ministry of integrity. 00:33:29.320 --> 00:33:35.440 People won't care the least bit about your message of salvation if that message of salvation hasn't affected your life. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:35.920 Six. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:35.920 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.559 Six. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:38.680 Six. 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:42.440 Urgent in presentation. 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:44.799 Urgent in presentation. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:44.820 Urgent in presentation. 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:48.500 That's what we seem to glean from John. 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:51.680 He was urgent in his preaching. 00:33:52.820 --> 00:33:53.640 This is important. 00:33:53.640 --> 00:34:03.280 The point of this is the people we know need Jesus. 00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:07.680 It's not just that Jesus will improve their life. 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:08.340 No. 00:34:09.200 --> 00:34:11.780 They need him to have life. 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:17.640 This is the urgent salesman. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.940 Which we're not selling anything. 00:34:21.660 --> 00:34:22.780 We're giving it away. 00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:26.620 But we all know those salesmen who are urgent. 00:34:26.740 --> 00:34:27.740 They know how to close the deal. 00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:32.279 And when we leave that conversation, what's the thing that we think? 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:33.879 I never realized it. 00:34:34.319 --> 00:34:35.759 But I need what this guy's offering. 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:36.699 I need it. 00:34:37.979 --> 00:34:48.399 We need to preach the gospel in such a way not to blind people or to step over the scriptures in order to persuade them to think something that's apart from the Holy Spirit's work. 00:34:48.459 --> 00:34:49.159 That's not what I mean. 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:57.440 But we need to preach the gospel in an urgent way so that when people talk to us about Jesus, they leave that conversation thinking, I think I need this. 00:34:58.719 --> 00:35:00.920 This isn't just something that will make my life better. 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.579 This is something that will give me life. 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:05.559 If I don't have Jesus, I will have nothing. 00:35:06.299 --> 00:35:08.219 There should be urgency in our message. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:11.519 Urgency in the gospel. 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:15.440 Thank you for listening to this sermon made available by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:35:15.879 --> 00:35:17.519 Feel free to share it wherever you'd like. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:23.820 Please do not charge for it or alter it in any way without express written consent from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:27.500 Don't forget to visit us online at lakesidebible.church 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:32.159 or find us on Facebook and Instagram by searching for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:37.239 If you live in the Charlotte or Lake Norman area, we'd love for you to attend one of our worship services. 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:39.639 We meet every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.980 We'd love to meet you.