WEBVTT 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:08.119 So we've probably all heard stories of missionaries, 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:14.199 people in different countries, where their ability 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:19.039 to talk about Jesus is often hindered and hampered. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:22.079 I remember a book I read several years ago called 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:24.679 The Man Who Couldn't Be Killed, about someone 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:27.820 in China. Mr. Wang was his name, at least in 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:31.129 the book. And he was placed in the... to prison 00:00:31.129 --> 00:00:33.609 because he had happened to come across some pages 00:00:33.609 --> 00:00:36.429 of scripture, and he got arrested because he 00:00:36.429 --> 00:00:39.509 had these pages of scripture in China where that 00:00:39.509 --> 00:00:41.450 was illegal, and they placed him into prison. 00:00:41.609 --> 00:00:44.909 And even when he was in prison, everybody he 00:00:44.909 --> 00:00:47.429 met, everybody he could talk to, everybody he 00:00:47.429 --> 00:00:50.409 had the opportunity, he would tell them about 00:00:50.409 --> 00:00:53.070 Jesus. And he might share some verses, he might 00:00:53.070 --> 00:00:56.070 share something about what God had done for him. 00:00:56.189 --> 00:01:00.289 Even though he was in prison, that very thing. 00:01:01.229 --> 00:01:04.030 Another story I remember reading was about Ivan. 00:01:04.469 --> 00:01:08.650 Ivan was not in China. He was in the Soviet Union. 00:01:08.829 --> 00:01:13.329 He was in the USSR. And he was the same thing. 00:01:13.390 --> 00:01:16.409 He was trying to share his faith and tell people 00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:19.629 about Jesus in a country where it was illegal 00:01:19.629 --> 00:01:21.969 to believe in Jesus and believe in the Bible. 00:01:22.129 --> 00:01:26.310 And he was placed into a gulag or a prison and 00:01:26.310 --> 00:01:30.739 was mocked and treated poorly because all he 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:34.079 wanted to do was tell other people about Jesus, 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:37.879 even in prison. And the commandant, the leader 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:41.200 of the prison said, why do you keep talking about 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.900 this? There is no God. God doesn't exist. And 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:47.159 when he bowed his head to pray for his food, 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:50.540 he would open his eyes and his food would be 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:52.680 gone because the other prisoners would snatch 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:55.969 it while his eyes were closed. The commandant 00:01:55.969 --> 00:01:58.730 would say, why do you thank God for your food? 00:01:59.010 --> 00:02:01.790 It's not God who gives you this food. It's the 00:02:01.790 --> 00:02:04.349 government. It's the state that gives you this 00:02:04.349 --> 00:02:06.890 food. Don't thank God for it. You should be thanking 00:02:06.890 --> 00:02:11.449 me, the leader of this prison. But Ivan continued 00:02:11.449 --> 00:02:13.909 to pray. He continued to thank God. He continued 00:02:13.909 --> 00:02:17.169 to talk about God. And eventually, the commandant 00:02:17.169 --> 00:02:19.469 was kind of fed up with him. And he said, we're 00:02:19.469 --> 00:02:21.490 going to teach you a lesson that you're not going 00:02:21.490 --> 00:02:24.860 to... pray to this god anymore and they placed 00:02:24.860 --> 00:02:27.699 them in solitary confinement in the prison cell 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:30.300 and they said you are not going to get any food 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:33.620 until you acknowledge that it's not god that 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:35.580 gives you the food but it's it's the government 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:38.919 that gives you food and so one day he's thrown 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:42.280 in the door is clanged shut no one comes to give 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:46.900 him breakfast or lunch or supper but at the end 00:02:46.900 --> 00:02:49.379 of the day he hears a rustling up by the window 00:02:50.409 --> 00:02:55.469 And he looks up and it's a cat. And the cat has 00:02:55.469 --> 00:02:58.509 a piece of bread in his mouth. And he leaves 00:02:58.509 --> 00:03:01.750 it there on the windowsill. And Ivan is so grateful 00:03:01.750 --> 00:03:04.990 and thankful. There's food here. Thank you, God, 00:03:05.009 --> 00:03:07.930 for this food. But then he thought, wait a second. 00:03:08.650 --> 00:03:12.810 If I eat this food, there'll be no evidence of 00:03:12.810 --> 00:03:15.810 God's blessing for me. So I'm not going to eat 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:17.449 this food. I'm just going to set it in the corner 00:03:17.449 --> 00:03:21.030 of my cell. That was day one. Day two, no one 00:03:21.030 --> 00:03:23.349 brings him breakfast, lunch, or supper. Towards 00:03:23.349 --> 00:03:26.050 the evening time, he hears a rustling up by the 00:03:26.050 --> 00:03:29.930 window. He looks up. It's a cat with a piece 00:03:29.930 --> 00:03:33.229 of bread. And he's so grateful and thankful. 00:03:33.349 --> 00:03:36.789 Thank you, Jesus, for feeding me. But he had 00:03:36.789 --> 00:03:39.650 the same thought. If I eat this bread, there'll 00:03:39.650 --> 00:03:42.729 be no evidence of the miracle that God is working 00:03:42.729 --> 00:03:46.069 for me. So he set a second piece of bread in 00:03:46.069 --> 00:03:47.990 the corner of his cell so that he would have 00:03:47.990 --> 00:03:51.530 something. To show. The third day, the same thing 00:03:51.530 --> 00:03:55.509 happened. No food until rustling. A cat, a piece 00:03:55.509 --> 00:03:57.909 of bread. Nope, I'm not going to eat it. Now 00:03:57.909 --> 00:04:02.870 there's three pieces of dead bread. Day three, 00:04:02.969 --> 00:04:06.129 three pieces of bread. Day four, same thing. 00:04:06.270 --> 00:04:09.990 Four, five, six, seven days. Seven appearances 00:04:09.990 --> 00:04:13.710 by the cat. Seven pieces of bread. And it's all 00:04:13.710 --> 00:04:16.910 he can do. He's starving, he's so hungry he wants 00:04:16.910 --> 00:04:20.670 to eat this bread, but he's got to show the evidence 00:04:20.670 --> 00:04:25.329 and the wonders of this miracle. Finally, at 00:04:25.329 --> 00:04:28.649 the end of the seventh day, there's a clanking, 00:04:28.829 --> 00:04:34.930 the lock opens, the door squeaks open. That's 00:04:34.930 --> 00:04:38.149 not a good squeak, I apologize. And here's the 00:04:38.149 --> 00:04:41.810 commandant. Ha ha, are you ready to acknowledge? 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:46.019 God is not providing you with anything. Are you 00:04:46.019 --> 00:04:51.120 ready to curse this God, to denounce him? And 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:53.720 Ivan said, just a second, sir, let me show you 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.680 something. And he looks over to the corner and 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:01.120 he shows him. Here is one, two, three, four, 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:05.360 five, six pieces of bread from six prior days. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:09.839 No, sir, God has provided me with this food. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:15.399 Which guard gave you this food? And about that 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:18.379 time, there's a rustling up at the windowsill. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.399 And they look up, and it's a cat. And he's got 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:25.860 a piece of bread. And the commandant says, wait 00:05:25.860 --> 00:05:31.060 a second. That's my cat. And that's my bread. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:36.199 So God was using this animal, this little creature, 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.079 to provide witness, to provide something to share. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.259 And it didn't matter if Ivan... or Mr. Wong was 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:47.540 in prison, they had a desire to tell someone 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:51.079 else about Jesus. And we know that even today 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:54.000 there are places in our world where it is illegal 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.920 to talk about Jesus. Whether it's the Middle 00:05:56.920 --> 00:06:00.740 East, Muslim countries, even in Russia or other 00:06:00.740 --> 00:06:03.800 places, it is still oftentimes against the law 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.620 to share your faith. Maybe you can believe something 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:10.360 yourself, but if you want to tell somebody else, 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.079 suddenly... it becomes illegal. And we could 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:18.339 ask ourselves, what would happen if it suddenly, 00:06:18.420 --> 00:06:22.160 next week, a law was passed and it became illegal 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:25.959 against the law to tell someone else about Jesus, 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.939 to share your faith with someone else? Suddenly, 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.879 next week, the law is declared. We'd have to 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:39.519 consider. We'd have to wonder. Would your daily 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:46.430 routine Would your weekly activities, would it 00:06:46.430 --> 00:06:49.870 have to change at all if suddenly you weren't 00:06:49.870 --> 00:06:53.910 able to tell somebody about Jesus? In other words, 00:06:53.930 --> 00:06:57.709 are you telling people about Jesus now? Are you 00:06:57.709 --> 00:07:00.670 telling people about what God has done in your 00:07:00.670 --> 00:07:04.269 life now when it is totally legal? Would your 00:07:04.269 --> 00:07:08.519 life have to change if suddenly... That became 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:10.920 an illegal activity. In other words, are you 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:14.860 living your life as a fully devoted disciple 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:19.459 of Jesus? So just what is a disciple? We talk 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:21.959 about that often. We read about it in Scripture. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:25.980 What is a disciple? If you were to look it up 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:29.300 in a dictionary such as dictionary .com, it's 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:32.379 not the very first reference, but the third or 00:07:32.379 --> 00:07:34.750 fourth reference. If you looked up disciple, 00:07:34.949 --> 00:07:39.509 it says any follower of Jesus. A disciple is 00:07:39.509 --> 00:07:43.730 any follower of Jesus. And sometimes we think 00:07:43.730 --> 00:07:46.850 of, well, there's 12 disciples that Jesus chose, 00:07:47.009 --> 00:07:50.930 but truly a disciple is any follower of Jesus. 00:07:51.009 --> 00:07:55.310 Someone who follows Jesus, who wants to live 00:07:55.310 --> 00:07:57.990 their life according to the teachings of Jesus, 00:07:58.230 --> 00:08:01.730 who learned from Jesus, who wanted to imitate 00:08:01.730 --> 00:08:06.009 Jesus. And from the beginning of his ministry, 00:08:06.110 --> 00:08:10.850 Jesus looked beyond what others could see, what 00:08:10.850 --> 00:08:14.810 could be seen, and he wanted to make a difference 00:08:14.810 --> 00:08:18.689 in people's life. And so we're going to start 00:08:18.689 --> 00:08:21.930 off today looking at two great statements. Jesus 00:08:21.930 --> 00:08:25.290 made many, but two great statements that bookended 00:08:25.290 --> 00:08:28.810 his ministry, one at the beginning and one at 00:08:28.810 --> 00:08:32.240 the end, and they talk about discipleship. The 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.720 first is our scripture reading, which Riley did 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:38.720 such a great job for us today. Matthew 4, verse 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:43.000 19. Now this is Jesus, and it says he's walking 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.500 by the sea. And he's going to where people are 00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:51.340 engaged in their normal act of business. They're 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:53.899 going about their day. They're fishermen. They're 00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:56.759 fishing. They're throwing the nets into the sea. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:01.350 They're doing their normal activity. They're 00:09:01.350 --> 00:09:04.629 doing what they get paid for. And it says in 00:09:04.629 --> 00:09:10.450 verse 19, then Jesus said to them, follow me 00:09:10.450 --> 00:09:15.149 and I will make you fishers of men. We could 00:09:15.149 --> 00:09:17.090 sing that song, you know, I will make you fishers 00:09:17.090 --> 00:09:21.149 of men if you follow me. And then in verse 20, 00:09:21.190 --> 00:09:24.509 it says immediately they left their nets and 00:09:24.509 --> 00:09:27.549 what'd they do? They followed him. They did. 00:09:27.929 --> 00:09:30.750 What Jesus said, what Jesus asked them, follow 00:09:30.750 --> 00:09:34.269 me and I will make you fishers of men. That was 00:09:34.269 --> 00:09:36.590 it towards the beginning of Jesus's ministry. 00:09:36.970 --> 00:09:39.509 But if we go all the way to the other end of 00:09:39.509 --> 00:09:41.830 Jesus's ministry on earth, to Matthew chapter 00:09:41.830 --> 00:09:47.389 28. So the crucifixion has taken place. Jesus 00:09:47.389 --> 00:09:50.110 slept in the grave over Sabbath. The resurrection 00:09:50.110 --> 00:09:54.809 has taken place. Jesus is shortly to ascend back 00:09:54.809 --> 00:09:59.110 to heaven. and go to return to his father. And 00:09:59.110 --> 00:10:02.710 in Matthew 28, we see what is known as the Great 00:10:02.710 --> 00:10:06.009 Commission. Maybe what your little subtitle says, 00:10:06.210 --> 00:10:09.090 the Great Commission. And we're going to back 00:10:09.090 --> 00:10:12.429 up just a verse or two to verse 17. It says, 00:10:12.549 --> 00:10:16.250 or verse 16, the 11 disciples went to Galilee. 00:10:16.909 --> 00:10:21.230 Verse 17, they saw him, they worshiped, but some, 00:10:21.429 --> 00:10:25.519 what's that word? Some doubted. They're there 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:29.360 with the resurrected Savior. Jesus has come back 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:32.259 from the dead, and still there's some that aren't 00:10:32.259 --> 00:10:35.440 entirely sure about his ministry, about their 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.840 ministry. Some doubt it. And Jesus says, all 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:41.879 authority is given to me. And then in verse 19, 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:47.100 Jesus says, go therefore and make disciples of 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:50.139 all nations, baptizing them in the name of the 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:53.460 Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:56.659 teaching them to observe all things that I have 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:59.480 commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 00:10:59.659 --> 00:11:03.960 even to the end of the age. So Jesus, at the 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:05.940 beginning of his ministry, he says, follow me, 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:08.919 I'm going to make fishers of men. At the end 00:11:08.919 --> 00:11:11.740 of his ministry, he says, go, even those that 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:14.799 are doubting, even if you're not sure, even if 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.340 you don't have it all put together, go and make 00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:22.379 disciples. The King James Version says, go and 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:27.019 teach. All nations. The message version says 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:32.240 train everyone you meet. We're supposed to help 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.980 other people to see what Jesus was all about 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:38.779 so that they can have an opportunity to want 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:42.039 to follow him as well. And between these two 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.259 statements, follow me, go and make disciples, 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:50.799 Jesus took a ragtag group. We remember their 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:53.919 names. We remember those disciples didn't always 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:57.700 have it together. They sometimes asked silly 00:11:57.700 --> 00:12:00.820 questions of Jesus. They sometimes didn't get 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:03.639 it when Jesus was telling them things plainly, 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:07.399 and they still seemed to miss it so often. But 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:10.620 Jesus took that ragtag group and developed them 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:15.419 into a force that would change the entire world. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:19.039 It would change the Roman Empire, and those changes 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:24.309 trickled down all the way, to now. He took those 00:12:24.309 --> 00:12:27.070 brothers, James and John. What was their nickname? 00:12:27.289 --> 00:12:32.070 The sons of thunder. They didn't always do the 00:12:32.070 --> 00:12:35.049 right thing. Somebody crossed them. They wanted 00:12:35.049 --> 00:12:37.950 to call fire down from heaven and burn up a whole 00:12:37.950 --> 00:12:41.309 town because they wouldn't feed them lunch. They 00:12:41.309 --> 00:12:44.269 said, with their mama's help, what can we do? 00:12:44.350 --> 00:12:47.210 We want to have these top two positions on either 00:12:47.210 --> 00:12:50.690 side of Jesus. What can we do to make sure that 00:12:50.690 --> 00:12:56.200 we have That place. Jesus took a tax collector. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:00.620 Which disciple was the tax collector? Matthew. 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:04.080 Man, he's working with the enemy. He's working 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:07.980 with the Romans. He's almost cheating us of our 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.679 money so that he can get a little extra and give 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:14.899 some to the Romans. He's one of them. And then 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:19.600 he took a zealot. Who was the zealot? Simon. 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:22.899 Who their whole idea was they wanted to maybe 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:25.639 put a knife in the back of one of those Romans 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:28.580 or those tax collectors. Because some of them 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:31.159 at least were assassins and they wanted to fight 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.779 against this oppressive government. And here's 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:36.620 one who is siding with them. He took people from 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:40.539 opposite extremes and he made a difference. And 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:43.240 he took this group of people and he turned them 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:47.940 into those that would preach in India, in Africa. 00:13:48.889 --> 00:13:53.110 even in the capital city of Rome itself. He started 00:13:53.110 --> 00:13:57.909 a movement that goes way back then, all the way 00:13:57.909 --> 00:14:01.830 down to today in 2025, all the way to this place 00:14:01.830 --> 00:14:06.509 in Ringgold, Georgia, and beyond to the ends 00:14:06.509 --> 00:14:11.330 of the age. He took those, like Peter. Peter, 00:14:11.570 --> 00:14:13.889 he's probably the most famous, one of the most 00:14:13.889 --> 00:14:16.750 famous. He was one who heard that initial call. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:19.299 Follow me and I'll make you a fisher of men. 00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:23.200 Because that's what he did. He was a fisherman. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:28.019 He was a bit of a loud mouth, perhaps. He was 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:31.779 one who maybe acted first before he thought about 00:14:31.779 --> 00:14:35.179 what he should do. He was one who heard that 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:39.659 instruction and yet God was able to change him. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:43.179 This uneducated man, this guy who was probably 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:45.879 a hard worker because he was out there. throwing 00:14:45.879 --> 00:14:49.220 those nets and cleaning those nets, and yet God 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:53.580 could use him to confess Jesus as the Savior. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:57.159 And it was Peter, along with those others, who 00:14:57.159 --> 00:15:01.080 way down in Acts chapter 2, several years later, 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:04.179 on what we refer to as the day of Pentecost, 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:07.960 where they were speaking in different languages, 00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:12.159 different tongues, and all of them were speaking, 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:15.139 but Peter's the one that's named. And it's Peter 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:18.200 that pointed people to Jesus, even though this 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.899 group had just crucified Jesus seven weeks before. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:25.340 And it was Peter who made that appeal, made that 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:29.480 call, when they said, sirs, what can we do? And 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:33.980 he said, repent and be baptized. And remind me, 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:38.500 how many were baptized on that day? 3 ,000 people 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:43.259 were baptized because of the words of these disciples, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:48.500 The words of Peter because of what Peter did 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:52.259 and what Peter said. But these 12, they weren't 00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:56.419 the only ones to be used powerfully by God. There's 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:58.759 other disciples because a disciple is simply 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:02.679 a follower of Jesus. Another couple examples. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:08.779 There was a time in Luke chapter 8 when Jesus 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:11.409 and the disciples, they... They made their way 00:16:11.409 --> 00:16:13.950 in their boat across the Sea of Galilee. They 00:16:13.950 --> 00:16:17.049 made it through a stormy time. And when they 00:16:17.049 --> 00:16:20.350 come onto the other shore, they're greeted not 00:16:20.350 --> 00:16:23.870 by a welcoming party, but by someone who lives 00:16:23.870 --> 00:16:27.570 in the graveyard, who lives in the tombs. And 00:16:27.570 --> 00:16:30.990 he's naked, and he's chained up, and he's cutting 00:16:30.990 --> 00:16:34.590 himself with rocks. And he's crying out, and 00:16:34.590 --> 00:16:38.470 he's possessed with a demon. And by the power 00:16:38.470 --> 00:16:41.500 of God, this guy is able to... approach jesus 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:45.080 and a conversation takes place and jesus talks 00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:48.179 to this this demon inside of him and its name 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:54.299 is legion for we are we are many and before that 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:57.460 conversation is done jesus passed that demon 00:16:57.460 --> 00:17:02.019 out where does the demon go into the herd of 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:04.880 pigs and you can almost see these this you know 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.220 how many 100 i don't know how many pigs there 00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:11.660 were 50 100 squealing running down the side of 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:15.539 the ground, jumping off into the sea, and they 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:21.920 all die. And those pig herders, not shepherds, 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:24.920 piggards, I don't know what those would be called, 00:17:25.079 --> 00:17:28.140 but those pig herders, when their job is done, 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:30.680 they run back into town and say, we got some 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:34.380 bad news. All of our pigs. We're sorry we were 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:36.359 supposed to be watching them, but this guy, Jesus, 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:40.450 the pigs ran down the bank into the water. squealing, 00:17:40.569 --> 00:17:43.710 and here comes the town people. And it says when 00:17:43.710 --> 00:17:46.170 the town people get there, they find the man, 00:17:46.230 --> 00:17:51.109 it says, clothed and in his right mind. Totally 00:17:51.109 --> 00:17:55.130 different than he was that morning when he was 00:17:55.130 --> 00:17:58.670 naked and screaming out. Now he is clothed and 00:17:58.670 --> 00:18:01.069 in his right mind. But the townspeople don't 00:18:01.069 --> 00:18:05.009 notice that change. All they're worried about 00:18:05.009 --> 00:18:07.690 is they're missing pigs. And they say, Jesus, 00:18:07.849 --> 00:18:11.099 we don't want you here. need you here. You need 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:15.640 to go. And Jesus, like he still does, if he's 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.119 not wanted somewhere, he's not going to force 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:22.180 the issue. So Jesus got into the boat and was 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:29.000 ready to go. And I can almost picture it as Jesus 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:34.099 is getting in the boat that this guy who's clothed 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:36.940 and in his right mind, he's only known Jesus 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:40.109 for a couple of hours. And I can almost see him 00:18:40.109 --> 00:18:41.849 wanting to go with Jesus. You know, he's got 00:18:41.849 --> 00:18:44.190 his hand up on the side of the boat. He's throwing 00:18:44.190 --> 00:18:46.529 his leg up over to climb in, and Jesus says, 00:18:46.609 --> 00:18:51.789 whoa, whoa, not you. This is one of the few times, 00:18:51.869 --> 00:18:55.730 maybe the only time, where someone wants to go 00:18:55.730 --> 00:19:00.430 with Jesus, and Jesus won't let them. Why not? 00:19:00.690 --> 00:19:05.190 Why won't Jesus let this man come to him? Notice 00:19:05.190 --> 00:19:08.410 Luke chapter 8 and verse 38. It says, now the 00:19:08.410 --> 00:19:11.190 man from whom the demons had departed begged 00:19:11.190 --> 00:19:15.150 him that he might be with him. Jesus, I just 00:19:15.150 --> 00:19:18.009 met you. I need to spend more time with you. 00:19:18.069 --> 00:19:22.650 He begged him, but Jesus sent him away. Whoa. 00:19:23.230 --> 00:19:27.349 Why? Notice the next verse. Return to your own 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:32.250 house and tell what great things God has done 00:19:32.250 --> 00:19:35.930 for you. That was more important for that man 00:19:35.930 --> 00:19:38.900 in that moment. than getting in the boat and 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:42.500 going with Jesus. Go to your home. Go to your 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:45.740 friends and your family and tell them what great 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:48.779 things God has done for you. And it says he went 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:51.500 his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:55.160 what great things Jesus had done. And if you 00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:58.000 scan down through the pages of the Gospels, the 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:00.160 next time Jesus shows up in this part of the 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.339 country, they're ready. And they're glad that 00:20:04.339 --> 00:20:07.299 he's there. And they accept him and they welcome 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:12.000 him. Did this guy have all the answers? Not at 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:15.680 all. Did he still have some doubts? Probably 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.240 so. But did he have a story to tell of what God 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:23.680 had done? Yes, he did. And guess what? Each one 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:27.880 of us have some story to tell of what Jesus has 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:30.440 done for us. Let's look at one more example here. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:35.990 A woman named Mary. Yes, a woman can be a disciple 00:20:35.990 --> 00:20:40.369 as well. She was a sinner, mocked. We're all 00:20:40.369 --> 00:20:45.170 sinners. Mocked, scorned. And she's the one that, 00:20:45.230 --> 00:20:48.809 as Jesus is nearing the days of the cross, she 00:20:48.809 --> 00:20:52.289 washes his feet. She anoints his feet. We're 00:20:52.289 --> 00:20:55.690 going to look at Matthew 26 for this story. She's 00:20:55.690 --> 00:20:58.829 the one that breaks open the expensive perfume. 00:20:59.369 --> 00:21:03.589 And as that fragrance fills the room, She pours 00:21:03.589 --> 00:21:07.890 that oil onto his feet. And the people that see 00:21:07.890 --> 00:21:11.390 that, they're not very thrilled with this situation. 00:21:12.390 --> 00:21:16.690 One, why is this particular person touching Jesus? 00:21:17.069 --> 00:21:20.450 No, I don't like that. Why is this particular 00:21:20.450 --> 00:21:24.529 person pouring out this expensive perfume? We 00:21:24.529 --> 00:21:28.130 could have sold that and used that money to help 00:21:28.130 --> 00:21:31.539 the poor. How dare she waste that? And at least 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:34.079 one of them was saying, and I could have skimmed 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:36.799 a little bit off and put it in my own pocket, 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:39.980 as the Bible clearly says Judas was thinking. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:43.319 But notice how Jesus responded to this in Matthew 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:50.480 26, verse 13. We'll go back to verse 10. Jesus 00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:52.779 says, why do you trouble the woman? She has done 00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:55.759 a good work for me. She has done something good 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.119 for me. And then notice verse 13. Assuredly, 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:02.160 I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:05.119 in the whole world, what this woman has done 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:09.279 will also be told as a memorial to her. Wherever 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:12.720 this gospel is preached, this story is going 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.019 to be told. And did you know that this particular 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:20.079 story of a woman washing Jesus' feet is one of 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:23.819 the few stories that shows up in all four of 00:22:23.819 --> 00:22:28.099 the gospels? Not very many stories show up in 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:30.539 all four of the gospels. The story of Jesus' 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:35.039 birth, no. Shepherds are in one gospel. The wise 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:38.400 men are in another gospel. But this story is 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.960 told in all four gospels. Wherever this gospel 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.900 is preached, what this woman has done for me 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:47.519 will be told. But that's not the end of her story. 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.980 Because when Jesus went just a few days later 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:55.240 to the cross, when Jesus died upon that cross 00:22:55.240 --> 00:23:01.079 for you and for me, As Jesus rested on Sabbath, 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:04.380 on Sunday morning, there's several people that 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:06.420 make their way to the tomb. Two of the disciples 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:09.539 race down there. Some of the women make their 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:14.740 way down there. But one of them lingers. Mary's 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:18.900 lingering there. And she sees someone, and through 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:21.559 her tears or through a miracle, she can't quite 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:24.000 recognize him, and she thinks it's the gardener. 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:26.380 And she says, just tell me, where'd you take 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:29.759 his body? I want to finish the anointing. She 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.779 started it. She wanted to finish it. Where did 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:36.240 you take the body? And finally, he said her name, 00:23:36.339 --> 00:23:39.859 Mary. And she knew that it was Jesus. And Jesus, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:44.960 or she ran to Jesus and tried to clutch his feet, 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:47.920 tried to fall down at his feet and grab hold 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:51.079 of him. But notice how Jesus responds to that. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:55.680 In John 20, verse 17. John chapter 20, verse 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:59.700 17. said to her do not cling to me for I have 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:02.539 not yet ascended to my father I haven't gone 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:05.920 to heaven yet but go to my brethren and say to 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:10.559 them go to my brethren and say to them tell them 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:14.099 I am ascending to my father and your father to 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:17.000 my God and to your God and Mary Magdalene came 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:20.680 and told the disciples that she had seen the 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.000 Lord and that he had spoken these things to her 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.369 she went as a disciple to tell that message that 00:24:28.369 --> 00:24:31.349 Jesus was risen from the tomb, that Jesus was 00:24:31.349 --> 00:24:35.369 alive. Jesus saw more than just the person. He 00:24:35.369 --> 00:24:39.390 could see the potential. And he spent time teaching 00:24:39.390 --> 00:24:43.250 and training, and then he sends them out with 00:24:43.250 --> 00:24:45.869 something to share. He sends them out with some 00:24:45.869 --> 00:24:49.869 sort of ministry. I want you to grab your bulletin 00:24:49.869 --> 00:24:53.730 for a second and turn to the back, not where 00:24:53.730 --> 00:24:56.559 the picture is, but the total opposite side of 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:00.720 that. Because guess what? We are disciples. And 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.539 we talk about this every so often, but we've 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:06.039 got a mission statement. And it says, the mission 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:08.099 of the Ringgold Seventh -day Adventist Church, 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:12.460 that's us, is to reflect the love of Jesus through 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:16.859 a Spirit -filled life, which, and here's the 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:19.420 part that we're focusing on today, which seeks 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:25.430 to serve and seeks to lead others. closer to 00:25:25.430 --> 00:25:28.049 God. And then there's the vision statement. The 00:25:28.049 --> 00:25:30.309 Ringgold Seventh-day Adventist Church will be 00:25:30.309 --> 00:25:34.130 a biblical, spirit -led, faith -filled, family 00:25:34.130 --> 00:25:38.990 -focused, and growing fellowship. Those things 00:25:38.990 --> 00:25:42.470 aren't going to happen unless God is making a 00:25:42.470 --> 00:25:45.829 difference in us, unless God is helping us to 00:25:45.829 --> 00:25:49.069 make a difference in somebody else. You can sum 00:25:49.069 --> 00:25:53.859 up perhaps the Christian journey. In many different 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:56.299 ways, but today I just want to look at three 00:25:56.299 --> 00:26:00.680 different words. The first is know and grow and 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:05.480 then go. We need to know who Jesus is. We need 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:09.019 to know Jesus is our Lord and Savior. And then 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:12.160 as we accept Jesus as our Savior, we'll be growing 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:15.920 in Him as we continue to study His Word, as we 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:20.680 see His mission and His ideals for us. And then 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:24.390 that third one is to go. To go and tell somebody 00:26:24.390 --> 00:26:27.829 else. But sometimes in developing disciples, 00:26:28.349 --> 00:26:31.450 maybe sometimes we get bogged down in one of 00:26:31.450 --> 00:26:39.269 those. And it's not a circle because all of these 00:26:39.269 --> 00:26:41.910 things can be happening at the same time. We 00:26:41.910 --> 00:26:45.309 can be knowing God better each day. No matter 00:26:45.309 --> 00:26:48.690 if you've been a follower of Jesus for 40 years, 00:26:48.789 --> 00:26:52.039 you can still know God better. We can grow. to 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:54.920 be more like him. And oftentimes in our Christian 00:26:54.920 --> 00:26:59.740 walk, those first two are easy, are easier, I 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:02.539 should say. Because we can do that right here. 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:06.779 We can know Jesus as we listen to sermons, as 00:27:06.779 --> 00:27:10.779 we study our Sabbath lesson together, as we teach 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:14.920 our young people. We can grow because we're learning 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:17.579 more and more. We're growing in our walk. And 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:20.000 we can do that right here with people that were... 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:23.339 comfortable with and people that we're friendly 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:27.500 with. And so sometimes I think that third one, 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:31.859 to go, is the challenging one because that means 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:38.640 something different. That means a change. That 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:40.720 means maybe talking to somebody that I don't 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.480 know. That means maybe somebody's going to sit 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:46.680 in my seat. Anybody have a particular seat you 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:48.980 always sit in? You don't have to raise your hand, 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:53.759 but I know that you do, and that's okay. But 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:55.680 as we're knowing, as we're growing together, 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:00.359 we also need to be willing to go and to tell 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:03.000 somebody else. I want to look at two more verses 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:09.880 here. 1 Peter 2. We're thinking about what Jesus 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:15.859 calls us to do. 1 Peter 2 and verse 9. Way back, 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:20.880 Hebrews. james first peter way back in the back 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:24.119 of the new testament i'm just going to read from 00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:27.460 verse five it says you are living stones you're 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:31.460 built up as a spiritual house but then in verse 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:37.279 nine it says you are a chosen generation and 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:42.859 this is a plural you doesn't just mean one person 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:48.779 it means a lot of people I would say that we 00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:53.200 could use the word y 'all because that's what 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:55.599 it's referring to here. It's more than just one 00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:00.220 person. Y 'all are a chosen generation, a royal 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:04.579 priesthood. Wow, that's pretty awesome. You've 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:09.619 been chosen. You're royal. You're a holy nation. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:15.059 You're his own special people. All y 'all are. 00:29:16.170 --> 00:29:19.309 But what does that mean? Notice what it goes 00:29:19.309 --> 00:29:23.309 on. It says that, sorry, that you may proclaim 00:29:23.309 --> 00:29:28.130 the praises of him who called you out of darkness 00:29:28.130 --> 00:29:32.690 into marvelous light. You're chosen. You're special. 00:29:32.930 --> 00:29:36.369 You're chosen by God, but for a reason, for a 00:29:36.369 --> 00:29:40.190 purpose that you may proclaim. The praises that 00:29:40.190 --> 00:29:42.809 you may tell people what God has done for you, 00:29:42.910 --> 00:29:46.569 that you may tell your story of how God has interacted 00:29:46.569 --> 00:29:49.890 in your life and the difference that he has made. 00:29:49.970 --> 00:29:52.529 That is what you are called to do. That is why 00:29:52.529 --> 00:29:55.869 you are special. That is why God has chosen you 00:29:55.869 --> 00:29:59.990 to tell somebody else what God has done. One 00:29:59.990 --> 00:30:02.990 more, 2 Timothy. This is an easy one to remember 00:30:02.990 --> 00:30:09.380 because it's all twos. 2 Timothy 2 verse 2. Paul 00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:13.799 here is writing to a young preacher, a young 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:17.480 mentee, and he's giving him wisdom and advice. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:21.359 And I want you to see a chain that takes place 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:26.059 here. 2 Timothy 2 verse 2, it says, The things 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:30.420 that you have heard from me. So Timothy, you 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.460 have heard it from me. You've heard it from Paul. 00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:36.779 Among many witnesses, commit these things to 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:40.700 faithful men. who will be able to teach others 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:45.500 as well. You see some levels there? There's Paul 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:49.220 telling Timothy, and that Timothy is supposed 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:52.480 to teach others who are going to teach others. 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:55.940 And it doesn't say it, but I think it implies 00:30:55.940 --> 00:31:00.380 that that is supposed to continue. Not supposed 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:03.819 to stop, but it's supposed to continue as we 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:07.259 teach other people that can teach someone else. 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:11.019 I see this saying is that if we are to develop 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:16.900 disciples, then we have to be a disciple. We 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:20.059 have to be a disciple if we want to teach someone 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:25.099 else. There's a book called The Big Four. I'm 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.759 not going to spend much time with this, but there's 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:29.400 a quote in there. It studied churches, Adventist 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:31.680 churches that are growing, and it says the vast 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:35.440 majority of our members are not engaged in any 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:39.430 form of witnessing. And when it says our members, 00:31:39.549 --> 00:31:42.690 I'm sure that doesn't mean the members of the 00:31:42.690 --> 00:31:44.470 Ringgold Seventh -day Adventist Church. That 00:31:44.470 --> 00:31:48.730 must be talking about other members, other people 00:31:48.730 --> 00:31:55.769 in other places. But what if each one of us decided 00:31:55.769 --> 00:31:59.329 that we were going to, in the next four weeks, 00:31:59.509 --> 00:32:02.589 eight weeks, twelve weeks, that we were going 00:32:02.589 --> 00:32:05.690 to find just one person that we could witness 00:32:05.690 --> 00:32:09.180 to? We're so glad our SALT participants are here. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:11.839 We know you guys are being trained in that. But 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:15.799 guess what? In 12 weeks, they're not going to 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:20.000 be here anymore. So how can we partner with them? 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:23.460 How can we come arm in arm with them to find 00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:28.039 one person, one family that we can invite to 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:31.240 church, that we can invite to some upcoming evangelistic 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:34.640 meetings, that we can invite to study the Bible, 00:32:36.589 --> 00:32:39.930 Next Sunday to Let's Move Day, a fitness day 00:32:39.930 --> 00:32:42.789 down at the Ringgold Creekside Park. There's 00:32:42.789 --> 00:32:45.789 some posters out on the table there. Grab some 00:32:45.789 --> 00:32:48.049 of those. If you know anybody with young people, 00:32:48.170 --> 00:32:50.309 invite them to come out. It's going to be a fun 00:32:50.309 --> 00:32:52.549 day. There's going to be free prizes and different 00:32:52.549 --> 00:32:56.930 things. So that's an opportunity to invite someone. 00:32:57.210 --> 00:33:00.549 Or we've got our SALT group here. And in October, 00:33:00.730 --> 00:33:02.769 the end of October, we're going to be having 00:33:02.769 --> 00:33:06.690 an evangelistic meeting. Start praying now. Who 00:33:06.690 --> 00:33:10.690 can you invite? What neighbor can you speak to? 00:33:10.829 --> 00:33:14.910 What grocery store clerk can you give a track 00:33:14.910 --> 00:33:18.569 to? What person on your street can you bake a 00:33:18.569 --> 00:33:21.049 loaf of bread for? And if you want a little more 00:33:21.049 --> 00:33:24.349 inspiration, tonight at 6 o 'clock down at the 00:33:24.349 --> 00:33:27.910 Calhoun Church, come on down for our North Georgia 00:33:27.910 --> 00:33:31.650 Evangelism Rally because we're gathered here. 00:33:31.910 --> 00:33:35.490 We're wanting to find people that want to learn. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:39.559 more about jesus you guys may have heard the 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:43.220 story from uh let's see maybe two weeks ago maybe 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:45.539 three weeks ago now but there was you remember 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:48.880 when the flood came through just last this month 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:53.220 i think it was a couple weeks ago and i -24 probably 00:33:53.220 --> 00:33:56.619 saw the pictures was shut down and the the water 00:33:56.619 --> 00:34:00.559 was rising and had to close down a whole interstate 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:03.940 because it rained so hard in one day in just 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:08.599 a few hours And on I -24, there was a gentleman 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:12.239 named Troy Plemons. Troy Plemons is a 22 -year 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:15.440 -old. He works for EPB, the power company. And 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.800 he was driving his company van between jobs, 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:21.300 and he was kind of stuck in that water, and he 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:24.239 saw that water rising. And he saw one particular 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:27.820 car that was, the water was rising higher and 00:34:27.820 --> 00:34:31.239 higher. And inside, there was someone who was 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:33.780 stuck. Couldn't get the window to roll down. 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:36.539 Couldn't get the door open. The water was coming 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:39.360 higher and higher. So Troy finally decided, well, 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:41.699 I've got to do something. And he stepped out 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:44.619 of his car. Oh, that car that he was in, it must 00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:47.880 have been so dry. It must have been so comfortable. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:52.380 It must have been safe in that dry car that he 00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:55.760 was in. But he stepped out into the rain, into 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:58.920 the rising water, and he went to that other car. 00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:02.500 And it was deep. He had to swim. to get there, 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:04.719 and he took a piece of metal with him, and he 00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:07.280 was able to break the window, and he was able 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:10.039 to help pull the lady out of the car, and he 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:12.139 put her on his back, and they made their way 00:35:12.139 --> 00:35:14.840 back towards dry land, and within one or two 00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:18.019 minutes after that, that water rose so high that 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:22.800 that car swept away, and it's very likely that 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:26.519 perhaps he saved her life, because he was willing 00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:30.440 to get out of his place of comfort, and he was 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:33.210 willing. to make a difference in somebody's life? 00:35:33.849 --> 00:35:36.769 Is there somebody that you know? Is there somebody 00:35:36.769 --> 00:35:41.670 that you can be praying for? Maybe it's yourself. 00:35:42.190 --> 00:35:45.650 As you've been struggling in your walk with God 00:35:45.650 --> 00:35:47.710 and you're sensing, you know what? God, I need 00:35:47.710 --> 00:35:49.989 to come back to you. I need to make a difference. 00:35:50.110 --> 00:35:53.489 I need to know you better. I need to grow in 00:35:53.489 --> 00:35:56.150 my walk with you. And I need to be willing to 00:35:56.150 --> 00:35:59.340 go wherever you would have me to go. Let's be 00:35:59.340 --> 00:36:01.420 willing to step out of our place of comfort. 00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:06.159 Why? To find someone that Jesus is sending your 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:09.380 way. Let's bow our heads for prayer. Dear God, 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:12.179 we thank you so much that we can be reminded 00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:15.739 of what you have done for us. You have called 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:19.719 us to be a disciple. You have invited us to participate 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:23.539 with you in letting someone else know about the 00:36:23.539 --> 00:36:26.639 incredible grace that you have poured out. And 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:30.340 Lord, we're thankful for this. this season of 00:36:30.340 --> 00:36:32.840 ministry that's happening. And Lord, we want 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:35.360 to pray for our SALT participants. We want to 00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:37.579 pray for our church members. We want to pray 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:41.099 for our evangelists that's coming in a few months. 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:43.159 And Lord, we want to pray for our community. 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:47.380 Help us to cross paths with those who want to 00:36:47.380 --> 00:36:49.900 know you more. Guide us and bless us in all that 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:51.559 we do. In your name we pray.