1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,440 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,060 To get connected or to give online go to connect.hcv.church or give.hcv.church. 3 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:27,360 If at any point during this message you feel called to make a change in your life, text 4 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,640 change me to 970-00. 5 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:58,040 Thank you and enjoy the message. 6 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:08,480 No Rain. 7 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,680 This song that you just heard was the highest charting, most famous song by the band Blind 8 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:13,680 Melon. 9 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:17,200 It was released in 1983. 10 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:24,480 While the song itself has a deep meaning and a pretty catchy opening guitar riff, it was 11 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:34,600 a music video that I felt drawn to while attending Hagerstown Junior College and that I still 12 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,320 relate to now. 13 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,200 The video opens with B-Girl. 14 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,440 She's a tap dancing young lady. 15 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:51,280 She's performing to a less than improving audience. 16 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,920 She is laughed at and booed off stage. 17 00:01:54,920 --> 00:02:03,440 Running off, she meanders through town looking for someone to relate to. 18 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:09,040 As she dances and entertains different people in the street, she continues to be mocked, 19 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:18,760 jeered and generally rejected as an outcast who doesn't fit in. 20 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:25,120 At the end of the video, finds little Miss B-Girl at the gate to an open field. 21 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:32,640 In that field, a group of B-clad dancers. 22 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:41,320 Her countenance changes immediately as she's finally found a group of like-minded individuals. 23 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:47,320 She has found a place to dance, to be who God created her to be. 24 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:53,480 She has finally found her family. 25 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:58,560 I was born and raised a Southern Baptist. 26 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:05,080 I was baptized young because if you want to be a Southern Baptist, you are in the water. 27 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,080 I love my church. 28 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:17,040 I love the people, but I never truly fit in. 29 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:23,880 I would go on to try brothering Episcopalian churches among others. 30 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:29,200 And while I still love all of my Christian brothers and sisters from all tribes in the 31 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:39,080 Christian faith, and I cherish their views and respect them, I hadn't found my tribe. 32 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:45,240 So the first time Carrie and I were invited to the Vineyard, we were disappointed and 33 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:52,360 surprised that we weren't actually coming to a wine tasting vineyard. 34 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,920 So we declined. 35 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:02,800 The second time we did our research, we realized Hub City Vineyard was not a traditional church 36 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:07,520 in any way, so we declined. 37 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:15,320 Which is funny in retrospect because we were looking for something different. 38 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:20,400 The third time we relented because it was summer jams. 39 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:25,520 And the assistant pastor at the time, Matt Walker, walked out in an Elvis costume and 40 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:30,080 invited out Kevin Booth who was a local Elvis impersonator. 41 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:35,320 And then they sang the song Burning Love. 42 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,120 So we came. 43 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:38,120 Why? 44 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:43,640 As many of you know, Carrie and I were married in Las Vegas. 45 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:50,920 Yes, full fledged Elvis wedding. 46 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:59,720 Hopefully we're going back in November for my 50th birthday. 47 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:07,560 So forcing ourselves to have an open mind at a hippie church gathering with people outside 48 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:15,720 smoking cigarettes as we walked in, we were a bit surprised. 49 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,320 The band rocked. 50 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:23,680 The pastor had tattoos. 51 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:28,480 Everyone knew it was our first Sunday because I was the only one in the building wearing 52 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,520 a shirt and tie. 53 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,040 In fact, remember the crazy horse when he used to go in and I thought I was going to 54 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,960 have my tie cut off. 55 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:47,440 But Christmas message was straight from the word. 56 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:52,080 Chris talked about God's burning love for each of us. 57 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:57,880 It was the way I thought God had been talking to me my entire life. 58 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:12,920 No religion, all truth balanced with grace and love. 59 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:18,000 Like the bee girl, I had been searching. 60 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:25,440 Like the bee girl, I was shown the gate to a field full of dancing people who were accepted 61 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:31,440 as the miraculously made children of God that we were made to be. 62 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:39,640 Like the bee girl, I had finally found my family. 63 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:46,240 Good morning, family. 64 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:47,480 Thank you for joining us today. 65 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,720 I am not the lead pastor. 66 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,000 Sometimes they give me the microphone. 67 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:54,080 But I just want to welcome you here. 68 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,420 This is your first time here. 69 00:06:55,420 --> 00:06:57,520 We want you to be a part of our family. 70 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,440 So if this is your first time here at the end of the message, I want you to go out to 71 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:06,160 the welcome hub and fill out a form so we can connect to you. 72 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,280 And Chris, who will be back next week, on stage, I think he's here today, will reach 73 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,660 out to you. 74 00:07:12,660 --> 00:07:15,040 If you're watching us online, thank you. 75 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:21,120 Whether you're on the road to Branson, Missouri or wherever you are on vacation, welcome. 76 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:25,600 But man, I'm happy to be back. 77 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:26,600 Had a little bit of thermal. 78 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:34,000 While I had a relaxing vacation, dang it, I missed my family. 79 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,800 But man, how about these last two Sundays? 80 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:45,200 Did the guest speakers kick it or what? 81 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,200 God's word never changes. 82 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,840 But he does know that sometimes the delivery has to change. 83 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:57,840 And if you've got a thick head like me, you need a different voice sometimes. 84 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:02,040 Sometimes Carrie's voice doesn't penetrate. 85 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,000 So I needed another voice. 86 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,400 And the same thing happens with God. 87 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,360 Sometimes we need to be shaken. 88 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,440 And our lead pastor didn't even have to be here for it. 89 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,480 Other family members took the reins and made it happen. 90 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:22,520 Two weeks ago, Rhett took our normal Sunday morning service, put it in a shaker, and then 91 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:27,080 dumped it out in a completely different format. 92 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:34,960 And out poured Lauren and Carl and a timely message that we needed to hear before we worshiped. 93 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:41,860 And let me tell you, our car was rocking the whole way across Indiana as we watched online. 94 00:08:41,860 --> 00:08:44,680 Thank you God for YouTube. 95 00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:47,080 Sometimes. 96 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,720 Then last week, Kelsey reshuffled the deck again. 97 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,400 And what a message she brought. 98 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:59,960 I was fired up to serve as I drove home back across to Ohio. 99 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:03,480 I couldn't wait to get back in the building. 100 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:04,480 Then she brought fuzz up. 101 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:05,480 I don't know about you. 102 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:10,600 I don't want to be a taker anymore. 103 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,880 I want to be a giver. 104 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,120 At the end of Vineyard, everyone gets to play. 105 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,760 Now, you might not get to steal the microphone like Scott Kretzer did, but God is calling 106 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:24,920 you to serve. 107 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,520 Here's the best part about last week's message. 108 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:28,920 Carrie's driving. 109 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:35,320 I get an email notification within 10 minutes of closing out YouTube. 110 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:40,880 Somebody was requesting, hey, I want to serve at Hagerstown Health Care Center. 111 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:47,760 But that was one person, and we need more people to do this on Sunday morning. 112 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,760 All you're doing is going over there instead of here. 113 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:51,760 They got coffee. 114 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,280 They all do communion today. 115 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,080 There's no excuse. 116 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:59,080 Is that you? 117 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,360 We don't want to send one person. 118 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,040 We're not doing a ministry to them. 119 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,960 We're worshiping with God's children. 120 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:14,320 That said, we want to get these guys baptized next Saturday at the pool party. 121 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:15,560 So we need two things. 122 00:10:15,560 --> 00:10:21,480 We need to rent an ADA equipped van, hopefully three, for like $200. 123 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,360 So we need help with that. 124 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:33,200 But more importantly, we need some strong, big bodied men or women or anyone to help 125 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:40,600 get us those guys from the health care center to Potterfield Pool and into the pool so they 126 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:45,320 can be baptized. 127 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,160 Are you willing to help us? 128 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:53,360 Also after last week's message, I received a couple emails about growth groups. 129 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,720 Chad Collins wants to start a mentoring group. 130 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,880 He was inspired by Scott's testimony, and he was like, Rudy, this is what I've been 131 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:01,960 telling you I want to do. 132 00:11:01,960 --> 00:11:09,160 I want to take young men and old men and have the old men speak life into the younger next 133 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,800 generation. 134 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,560 Katie Williams wants to start a knitting, crocheting group. 135 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:22,040 Gentlemen, this is for you. 136 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,240 She already has a couple curriculums that they're going to follow while knitting and 137 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,920 crocheting, maybe even knitting things for, I don't know, little babies that need beanies 138 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:37,320 on their head and donating them or a ridiculously hot outfit for the lead pastor. 139 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:42,640 Listen, if you're interested in one of those two groups, see me. 140 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:48,200 If neither one of those things is your thing, figure out what your thing is and then start 141 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:53,280 a growth group designed around that thing. 142 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,080 Everyone here has something that they can do, and there are other people here that want 143 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,720 to do the same thing you want to do just to get together and have a growth group. 144 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,200 All groups kick off in September. 145 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:10,000 Maybe now is your time to step up and lead a group or host a group in your house. 146 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:16,120 So again, the great, powerful couple of Sundays we had, and while Chris is still out today, 147 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,440 you're stuck with me. 148 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:23,000 Since you're stuck with me, the knucklehead that I am, instead of my words, let's just 149 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:28,640 pause for a moment and pray that the Holy Spirit have his way with us this morning. 150 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,520 Come Holy Spirit. 151 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:34,400 God, we thank you for rest. 152 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,720 We thank you for respite, for vacation. 153 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:42,280 I thank you personally, God, for the safe travels and the rest that you gave me. 154 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:46,800 I ask God that you just continue to speak life over Chris and Jess as they transition 155 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,120 back into the building. 156 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:53,960 God, I ask that you watch over each and every one of these folks who still intends to take 157 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,440 a vacation later this summer and in the fall. 158 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,400 Please continue to give us safe travels. 159 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:04,560 God, I ask that you speak through me today. 160 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:09,680 Let my words be your words and open the ears and the hearts of everyone here that needs 161 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:14,480 to hear just how much you love them. 162 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,480 In Jesus' name, amen. 163 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,520 Now, I do a little quiz here. 164 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,880 Show of hands, how many people get Chris's email every Thursday? 165 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,520 If you do not have your hand up, get signed up. 166 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,840 It's good stuff. 167 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:36,560 Show of hands, how many people read Chris's email on Thursdays? 168 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:39,640 I don't read them. 169 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:48,320 I read about two sentences and then... Now, the number of hands that went up for first 170 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,580 service was huge. 171 00:13:52,580 --> 00:13:59,640 The number of people that answered my next couple of questions, it was like crickets. 172 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,720 We're going to do a quiz, so all of you that put your hand up better be able to answer 173 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:04,720 these questions. 174 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,720 Are you ready? 175 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,880 Riddle me this. 176 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:16,880 How many questions recorded in the New Testament was Jesus asked? 177 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:27,040 No. 178 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:28,120 Hang on to that number. 179 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:32,400 How many questions was, did the people around Jesus ask him? 180 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,640 Okay, let me ask this question. 181 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:40,800 How many people read Chris's email when it comes into their mailbox? 182 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:46,440 No, but it was Rudy this week, so we didn't read it. 183 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,480 The correct number is 183. 184 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,840 Of course, did he ask more questions? 185 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:53,840 Was he asked more? 186 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,520 Probably, but that's what was recorded. 187 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:02,680 Now, how many of those questions did Jesus directly answer? 188 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:04,080 Close. 189 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,520 Say it like you mean it. 190 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:08,520 Three. 191 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,680 Now, I want to clarify something here. 192 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,000 I'm saying these are the questions he directly answered. 193 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:19,200 Well, call me a heretic or a false prophet saying, no, Rudy, he answered. 194 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:20,960 These are the ones he directly answered. 195 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,760 If you didn't see it, go back and read the email because I told you what the three were. 196 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,080 Now, he did answer. 197 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,280 It's not like he just didn't answer the other 180. 198 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:31,440 He answered them. 199 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:38,640 He just, like the good teacher he was, would answer a question with a question. 200 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:45,200 Like I like to do as a math teacher, I also got answers like the first question I asked 201 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:46,200 you. 202 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:47,760 Or he would answer with a parable. 203 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,520 What we know as a parable is just a story that he told. 204 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:55,320 And then, sadly, not everyone got to understand the parable because you had to be connected 205 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,880 to the spirit to get it. 206 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:05,080 Now, Kirsten, how many questions recorded in the New Testament did Jesus ask? 207 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:11,040 I thought you gave me the answer. 208 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,640 Oh, it was Tony. 209 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,880 How many? 210 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:18,880 Does anyone know? 211 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:23,080 All right. 212 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:34,040 So, I literally feel like I'm grading a math test and I'm back like three years ago in 213 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,280 the building at Springfield. 214 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,280 306. 215 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:41,280 Jesus, 307. 216 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,280 No, wait, wait, wait. 217 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,280 Time out. 218 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,480 It was 307. 219 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,040 So, you were one off. 220 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,280 You're the only one who got it even close. 221 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:57,680 So, Tony wins today. 222 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:05,760 Now, this should be an easy one. 223 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:14,160 If you don't get this, what is the title of the New August series? 224 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:15,640 Questions? 225 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:23,440 I guess I got to start giving you a cheat sheet when I quiz you. 226 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:24,760 Geez. 227 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:29,200 All right, bonus question. 228 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,560 And you got this Thursday in the email, even today in the announcements. 229 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,760 What is happening directly after this service today? 230 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,840 Yay, we got an answer. 231 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:41,840 Start with why. 232 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,040 I will be leading it this time, not Kris. 233 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:48,040 Start with why is just our introductory kind of class. 234 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:54,280 It's just like a 10, 15 minute intro into like why did Christian just start to church? 235 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:55,280 How did that happen? 236 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,120 What did that process look like? 237 00:17:57,120 --> 00:17:59,880 And then also, how can you get involved? 238 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:04,240 Because today's message, I'm going to reiterate what Kelsey talked about last week in the 239 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:05,240 serving. 240 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:13,120 Now, we have one person that kind of passed the test and everyone else failed. 241 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:15,120 Good job, Tony. 242 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:20,120 So, here we are today kicking off questions Jesus asked. 243 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:27,640 The first question that we're going to speak on today comes from Matthew 16. 244 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:31,800 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do you 245 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,120 say the son of man is? 246 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:39,240 They replied, some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah, one 247 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,120 of the prophets. 248 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:44,440 But what about you, he asked? 249 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,360 Who do you say that I am? 250 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:52,640 Simon Peter answered, you are the Messiah, the son of God. 251 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,000 Now that's technically two questions. 252 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:59,560 We're going to cover two questions today and then Chris will handle the other 305 the rest 253 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:00,560 of August. 254 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,680 So, here's how I'm going to break it down. 255 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,720 We're going to first talk about a worldly view of Jesus. 256 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:13,160 We're going to move into a biblical view of Jesus and then at the end, it'll be your job 257 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:18,800 to personally answer the question that Jesus asked, who he is. 258 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,800 So, let's get started. 259 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,920 Who is Jesus to the world? 260 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:29,280 Point number one, the world doesn't understand Jesus. 261 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,760 So, let's take a look at the other major world religions. 262 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,520 Hindus, they consider Jesus to be a holy man. 263 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:44,800 They consider Jesus to be a wise teacher and they include him among their gods. 264 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:49,000 Buddha, Buddha was a fifth century teacher. 265 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,760 He believed that Jesus was enlightened. 266 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:56,560 He believed that Jesus was a wise teacher. 267 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:03,160 Muslims, Muslims based their doctrine on the writings of Muhammad and respect Jesus as 268 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,400 a prophet and a wise teacher. 269 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:10,520 They also think that he worked miracles and heals many, but Muslims reject that Jesus 270 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,480 was God or that he was the son of God. 271 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,640 Finally, Jews. 272 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:22,520 Jews agree that Jesus was born to Mary, but that Joseph was his biological father. 273 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,640 They agree that he was a traveling teacher with many disciples and that he performed 274 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,600 miracles and drove out demons. 275 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:37,080 They also acknowledge that he and his disciples proclaimed him to be the coming Jewish Messiah, 276 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,720 but they deny the truth of that claim. 277 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:47,600 See, these four major religions, as well as many other lesser known religions, they all 278 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:56,880 believe that Jesus is real, but they don't believe that he is 100% God and 100% man and 279 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:05,040 they do not believe, but we as Christians believe, that he came and died for our sins. 280 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:10,840 In John 18, Jesus confirms to Pilate that he is indeed the King of Kings. 281 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:15,040 Then in verse 37, he validates that with this. 282 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,840 You say that I am a king. 283 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,800 In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. 284 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,160 Now listen to this line. 285 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:29,240 Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. 286 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,440 Notice the wording. 287 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:40,600 Many people hear the words that Jesus says, but not everyone listens to the message behind 288 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,320 his truth. 289 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:49,840 All those other religions believe that Jesus exists or at least existed, but they don't 290 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:55,600 believe in him as their Lord and Savior. 291 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,600 And then of course, you also have plenty of people that believe Jesus is a fairy tale, 292 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:07,280 just another made of God, but Rudy talks too much, so we're going to skip that and move 293 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:08,280 ahead. 294 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:09,280 Okay. 295 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:16,040 That's a topic for another day, which leaves us the step or action or yeah, point two. 296 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:21,440 Let me take a drink and slow down. 297 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:26,920 The world uses God's word to their own benefit. 298 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:31,800 That's like three words to fill in, so you got an extra minute while I took a drink. 299 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,120 The world uses God's word to their own benefit. 300 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,760 Now understand something here. 301 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:46,720 When I talk about the world in this situation, I'm including ourselves. 302 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:52,200 Even as believers, we tend to fall into worldly habits. 303 00:22:52,200 --> 00:23:01,120 Go all the way back to the Garden of Eden and at the fall, Jesus blamed God for sending 304 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:03,920 him to woman. 305 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:12,600 And then Eve blamed God for allowing a serpent into the Garden of Eden. 306 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:21,520 They took on worldly habits right from the start. 307 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:28,560 Also to us that are Christians, Proverbs 22, verses 22 and 23, don't take advantage of 308 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,520 the poor just because you can. 309 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:35,600 Don't take advantage of those who stand helpless in court. 310 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:40,200 The Lord will argue their cases for them and threaten the life of anyone who threatens 311 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:45,280 theirs. 312 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:53,320 Sometimes we take the words that Jesus told us, love your neighbor, and use those words 313 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,320 as a crutch. 314 00:23:55,320 --> 00:24:03,920 See in the story, Jesus tells us everyone is our neighbor. 315 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:12,280 But oftentimes we walk past our literal neighbors to go help someone else over there. 316 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:14,240 You don't believe me? 317 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:21,120 How many of you can name the neighbors of every single house or apartment that surrounds 318 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:22,120 you? 319 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:23,120 Eight hands. 320 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:30,200 I can't name all of my neighbors' names. 321 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:39,200 Do we walk past the easier, the harder neighbor to take care of and go help the easier one? 322 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,760 If you don't agree, listen to my example. 323 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,160 Adultery. 324 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,240 One spouse commits adultery. 325 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:54,760 For the sake of this illustration, let's say he cheated on her. 326 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,840 What do we do when that happens? 327 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,580 We go to her and we lift her up. 328 00:25:02,580 --> 00:25:03,580 We support her. 329 00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:04,580 We encourage her. 330 00:25:04,580 --> 00:25:05,700 We pray for her. 331 00:25:05,700 --> 00:25:09,020 We invite her to dinner. 332 00:25:09,020 --> 00:25:17,580 We tell her what a scumbag he is for doing such a thing. 333 00:25:17,580 --> 00:25:28,600 But I ask you, in this situation, who is further from God? 334 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:30,520 Some say him. 335 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,760 Some say me. 336 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:40,360 Who actually needs our love and support more in this situation? 337 00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:43,200 I'm not saying she doesn't. 338 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:50,960 Who needs to hear the truth of God more in that situation? 339 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:58,960 So sometimes we walk past the neighbors that need us most to get to the easier ones to 340 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,120 take care of. 341 00:26:02,120 --> 00:26:06,120 Don't ignore the easy ones either. 342 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:08,480 Matthew 6, 5. 343 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:13,640 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues 344 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:15,840 and on the street corners to be seen by others. 345 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:22,480 Truly, I tell you, they have already received the reward in full. 346 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:30,760 That said, we need to refrain Christians from weaponizing Scripture. 347 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:37,120 In dealing with the cheating man, maybe say a prayer before you talk to him that the Spirit 348 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:39,960 softens his heart. 349 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:48,440 Jesus was not sent to condemn the world, but to save us from ourselves. 350 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:54,640 We are called to speak truth with love and grace. 351 00:26:54,640 --> 00:27:02,760 Now sometimes it's tough love and they need a good kick in the rump. 352 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:09,200 Speak truth, but speak truth with love. 353 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:14,400 Now in 1 Corinthians, Paul warns us against judging outsiders to the same standard as 354 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:15,400 fellow believers. 355 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,880 We should be holding each other accountable, lifting each other up, but it is not our job 356 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,640 to condemn the rest of the world. 357 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:30,020 It is our job to tell them of the hope we have found in Jesus. 358 00:27:30,020 --> 00:27:31,680 So who is Jesus? 359 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,480 Who does the Bible say that he is? 360 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:44,400 Plain and simply, our first point here, Jesus is love. 361 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:49,920 John 15, 9 and 10, as the Father has loved me, I also loved you. 362 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:51,320 Remain in my love. 363 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,800 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love. 364 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:59,240 Just as I have kept my Father's commands, they remain in his love. 365 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:05,160 The love Jesus has, he gets from his Father because God is also love. 366 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,080 Remember the family that I talked about in the beginning? 367 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:14,920 I am loved here because we take the love of the Father, the love that he sent down when 368 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,240 he sent Jesus to earth. 369 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:24,280 We take that same love and we show it to every brand new person that walks through that door. 370 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,140 And if you're not helping us, start helping us. 371 00:28:27,140 --> 00:28:29,880 So we don't stop at the people coming through the door. 372 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:34,100 We go out there and show people the love of Jesus. 373 00:28:34,100 --> 00:28:40,940 You don't have to memorize scripture to show people the love of Jesus. 374 00:28:40,940 --> 00:28:45,240 But also memorize some scriptures. 375 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:50,400 Here's one that you probably know and have heard a ton of times, especially if you've 376 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,300 watched people make vows. 377 00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:59,980 First Corinthians 13, love is patient, love is kind. 378 00:28:59,980 --> 00:29:04,320 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 379 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:09,840 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. 380 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,520 It keeps no record of wrongs. 381 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:17,340 Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 382 00:29:17,340 --> 00:29:24,280 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 383 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,680 And if you're wondering why I got teary-eyed when I read that, it's because dag one of 384 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:34,240 my God loves me, no matter how I show up or what I look like or what ridiculous costume 385 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,240 I'm wearing. 386 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,280 But see the world is the opposite. 387 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,940 The world is full of envy. 388 00:29:42,940 --> 00:29:48,760 Watch TV, scroll through social media for two minutes, and those of you who still don't 389 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:52,000 skip commercials, watch a commercial. 390 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,720 Nothing but envy. 391 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:56,320 The world is boastful. 392 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:58,640 The world is proud. 393 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,760 Which leads us to our next thought, Jesus. 394 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,680 Jesus is love. 395 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:05,560 Jesus is patient. 396 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,400 Jesus is kind. 397 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:11,320 Jesus is our lifeline. 398 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:20,640 Jesus always protects, he trusts, he hopes, he always perseveres for us. 399 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,800 John 15, 5. 400 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:28,520 For those of you who wonder why the vineyard is called the vineyard, this is why. 401 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:30,240 I am the vine, you are the branches. 402 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:35,400 The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without 403 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,160 me, Jesus. 404 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,520 So I want to kick it back to the Old Testament for a minute. 405 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:46,560 I'm going to go all the way back to Daniel and his three buddies, Shadrach, Meshach, 406 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,200 and Abednego. 407 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:55,360 Fun fact, I have a distant relative whose literal name is Shadrach Meshach Abednego 408 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:56,360 Rudisil. 409 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:00,280 I'm not lying. 410 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,280 I think Nathan Beard knows them. 411 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,040 We'll double check with Nathan. 412 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:05,040 They call him Shad. 413 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:09,760 I've never met him, but I digress. 414 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:14,120 You learn something new about me every day. 415 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:19,840 These three men were faithful to God, and as we will see in this story, God was faithful 416 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:20,840 to them. 417 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:27,180 In those days, King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of himself, and he declared that everyone 418 00:31:27,180 --> 00:31:31,040 must bow down to the statue. 419 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:38,080 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego refused to conform to Old King Nebby's edict. 420 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,040 So what did he do to them? 421 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,800 He threw them into the fiery furnace. 422 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:47,640 You guys remember this story, right? 423 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:51,120 Remember they turned up the flames up so... Do you remember how hot they turned the flames 424 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:52,120 up? 425 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:54,520 Anyone know? 426 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:59,800 So hot that the soldiers that threw them in... What happened to those dudes? 427 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,440 They burned up, consumed by the fire. 428 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,360 That's how hot this fire was, right? 429 00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:12,840 So here they are in the fire, and in Daniel 3, this is what we read down in verse 24. 430 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:17,120 Then King Nebby was astonished and rose up in haste. 431 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:25,560 He declared to his men, did we not cast three men bound into the fire? 432 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:29,840 His counselors answered and said to the king, yes, that's true, O King. 433 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:38,200 He answers and said, but I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire, and they 434 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,720 are not hurt. 435 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:46,480 And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. 436 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:52,440 See centuries before God sent Jesus into the world, we find Jesus in the furnace with these 437 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:53,960 three men. 438 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,000 He was their lifeline. 439 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,920 He unbound them. 440 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:05,200 Now listen, they were still in the furnace. 441 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:08,000 They were still sweating it out. 442 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:18,120 I don't think Jesus gave them the latest under armor, heat gear, robe technology. 443 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:27,480 I'm sure they felt the heat, but Jesus was there with them the whole way through. 444 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,560 Jesus was their lifeline. 445 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:37,280 Hopefully I don't have to go too much deeper into the symbolism there. 446 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,040 But I do want to show you a photo. 447 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:46,060 I had Sean Doward, thank you Sean, paint this photo, or painting, because many of us know 448 00:33:46,060 --> 00:33:53,680 Jesus is our lifeline, but still don't hop on the train that Jesus has to offer. 449 00:33:53,680 --> 00:33:56,680 This is for you, Christians. 450 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:57,680 Here's the story. 451 00:33:57,680 --> 00:33:58,680 You see the guy. 452 00:33:58,680 --> 00:33:59,680 Anyone notice anything about this guy? 453 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:02,680 Ah, yes he is. 454 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:04,160 Okay, now listen. 455 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:05,160 Here's the story. 456 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:06,160 Here's the scenario. 457 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:09,640 Old farmer driving down the road in his pick-em-up truck. 458 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:16,800 He sees this young man walking, carrying a burden of his baggage on his shoulders. 459 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:18,600 So he says, hey, we're going in the same direction. 460 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:19,600 We got the same destination. 461 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:21,600 Why don't you hop in? 462 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:22,600 So he does. 463 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,360 He hops in the back of the truck. 464 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:26,800 And here he is sitting in the back of the truck. 465 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:27,800 The driver's driving. 466 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:33,840 He looks back and he notices, huh, something weird about this guy. 467 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:34,840 Maybe you can see it. 468 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:41,480 Notice anything weird about this guy? 469 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:48,680 So he gets out, steps to the back, and this is the picture you see. 470 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:52,760 Dude, you're in the bed of my truck. 471 00:34:52,760 --> 00:34:53,760 You're wearing the backpack. 472 00:34:53,760 --> 00:34:58,120 Dude, you're in the bed of my truck. 473 00:34:58,120 --> 00:34:59,720 Why are you wearing the backpack? 474 00:34:59,720 --> 00:35:03,200 If I picked up any of you and had you jump in the back of my truck, what's the first 475 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:06,040 thing you would do with your baggage? 476 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,520 You'd take it off and lay it in the back of the truck. 477 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,440 Why are you still... 478 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:14,400 So he says, it's my baggage. 479 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,400 I'm carrying it. 480 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:20,960 Folks, Jesus is the truck. 481 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:27,040 If you're in the bed of the truck, headed to your destination, why are you still carrying 482 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,000 the burden of your own baggage? 483 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,360 Throw it in the back of the truck. 484 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,120 Jesus is your lifeline. 485 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:42,800 Remain in him and he will remain in you and you will produce much fruit. 486 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:46,620 Before we move into your action steps, I want to take a look at Jacob and a subtle change 487 00:35:46,620 --> 00:35:50,600 that you may or may not have noticed before. 488 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:57,440 Throughout Jacob's life, at home with Isaac and Esau, Mommy, away with his Uncle Laban 489 00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,800 and his two daughters, even on the road home. 490 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,640 This is how Jacob refers to God. 491 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:04,640 And I'm not putting it up there. 492 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:06,120 I want you to hear these words. 493 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:11,440 Genesis 31, 5, but the God of my father has sent me. 494 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:20,480 Later in a chapter, verse 42, if the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear 495 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:23,880 of Isaac had not been with me. 496 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:35,240 32, verse 8, then Jacob said, Oh, God of my father Abraham, God of my father, Isaac. 497 00:36:35,240 --> 00:36:37,200 What do you hear? 498 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,100 Whose God is it? 499 00:36:40,100 --> 00:36:41,600 It's his father's God's. 500 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:43,240 His father's God. 501 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:47,360 Then in Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with an angel of God. 502 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:52,960 Now most scholars believe that this is the same man that was in the furnace, Jesus. 503 00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:57,640 Other people believe that it was truly like one of the archangels. 504 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:03,080 Regardless, Jacob had a heavenly encounter. 505 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:07,980 Heaven touched earth and something changed. 506 00:37:07,980 --> 00:37:10,640 And in Genesis 32, this is what we read. 507 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:13,720 Jacob renames the place Peniel. 508 00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:14,720 And this is why. 509 00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:21,480 It is because I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared. 510 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:26,360 Once Jacob meets God, he is no longer the God of his father. 511 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:29,240 He is his own personal God. 512 00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:36,240 See, all of us have at least a chapter, most of us, many chapters of our life that we didn't 513 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:37,960 know God. 514 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,000 For some of you, that's you sitting here today. 515 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:41,440 You don't know God. 516 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:43,800 He was someone else's God. 517 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:51,240 Today, my prayer for you is that you meet God and that you will start to call him your 518 00:37:51,240 --> 00:37:54,280 own. 519 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:58,000 Jacob walked away from a wrestling match with a broken hip. 520 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,160 He struggled with that broken hip the rest of his life. 521 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:05,080 He was broken, but he still remained connected to the vine. 522 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,200 I just want to show you another photo. 523 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,320 Eli, will you put the other photo? 524 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:12,560 This photo is my backyard. 525 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:14,640 This branch fell a couple years ago in my backyard. 526 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:16,640 I live next to the city park. 527 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:20,320 The trees at the city park have branches that are also trees. 528 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:21,320 Right? 529 00:38:21,320 --> 00:38:23,000 They're huge. 530 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:25,760 So this tree branch fell. 531 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:26,760 It was huge. 532 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:27,760 It was heavy. 533 00:38:27,760 --> 00:38:30,320 I even tried to get like some rope to move it and the rope snapped. 534 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,940 Like it's probably a couple tons. 535 00:38:33,940 --> 00:38:40,560 It stayed connected to the tree, which was part of my issue because I couldn't cut it, 536 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:44,280 while also laying on the ground broken in my yard. 537 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:49,960 It actually took me about two and a half years to mow around it until it was removed. 538 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:53,560 Thank you to Wayne Miller for removing the tree. 539 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:55,560 But I want you to notice something. 540 00:38:55,560 --> 00:38:58,900 At this point, it's probably, it's like two and a half years down. 541 00:38:58,900 --> 00:39:02,520 Like this is what I posted on Facebook to say, hey, can anyone help me remove this? 542 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:06,040 What do you notice about that branch? 543 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:10,520 There's green stuff on it. 544 00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:16,520 Even broken branches produce life. 545 00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:22,360 You may feel like I did when I first came into this family, that I was too far gone. 546 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:26,200 You may feel like you are too broken. 547 00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:35,220 But if you are connected to the vine, even broken trees produce fruit. 548 00:39:35,220 --> 00:39:39,160 So now it's time for you to answer God's question or Jesus question. 549 00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:45,040 Who do you say that I am? 550 00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:50,600 Now back in the 80s, this dude named Robert Fulgram wrote a book. 551 00:39:50,600 --> 00:39:53,400 If you ever took an education class, you might have heard this book. 552 00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:56,760 The book is called All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. 553 00:39:56,760 --> 00:40:00,440 Anyone heard of that book? 554 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:04,560 I'll post the poem from that book later on Facebook. 555 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:05,800 All I need to know I learned in kindergarten. 556 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:09,440 Does that sound like anyone we know? 557 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:13,400 Pretty sure it sounds like one of the commandments Jesus himself told us when he said to view 558 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:15,120 God as a… 559 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:20,120 Thank you, John. 560 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:25,600 Be thankful you don't have any tests at Hub City Vineyard. 561 00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:26,600 But here's what happens. 562 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:32,980 Jesus told us to view him, view God, view himself as a child, but we all grow up. 563 00:40:32,980 --> 00:40:39,040 We all get older and we forget what it means to view Jesus like a child. 564 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:46,360 But today we're going to take our action steps and use them to remind us to view Jesus 565 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:50,640 as a child views Jesus. 566 00:40:50,640 --> 00:40:54,100 Step one, quick and easy, three letters. 567 00:40:54,100 --> 00:41:01,360 To see Jesus as a child, we need to live in awe. 568 00:41:01,360 --> 00:41:03,320 Psalms 4, 4. 569 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:08,680 Tremble at the sight of his majesty and do not sin. 570 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:16,520 Reflect in your heart while on your bed and do it quietly. 571 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:26,600 See all of God's creation through the eyes of a child seeing a rainbow for the first 572 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,280 time. 573 00:41:29,280 --> 00:41:37,160 Take a walk on the beach and admire the vastness of the ocean. 574 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:39,600 We live in the mountains. 575 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:40,600 Take a walk in the mountains. 576 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:42,600 Go to Greenbrier. 577 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:48,920 Plan a trip to the Grand Canyon or just go out your back door. 578 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:54,360 Stand in awe of his creation. 579 00:41:54,360 --> 00:42:01,640 Do that at sunrise or sunset and take in the splendidness of his creation. 580 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:04,120 View God like a child. 581 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:11,800 Exodus 15, who like you, O Lord, who is like you, O Lord, among the gods, who is like you, 582 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:18,400 majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders. 583 00:42:18,400 --> 00:42:22,720 Consider all the miraculous things that he has done for you, that he has done for your 584 00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:27,640 family, that you have seen him do personally. 585 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:37,440 Stand in his majesty and like Rhett and the team told us two weeks ago, give him praise. 586 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:39,640 Which leads us to step two. 587 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:43,000 Like a child, be curious. 588 00:42:43,000 --> 00:42:44,320 Ask questions. 589 00:42:44,320 --> 00:42:46,360 Jesus asked a lot of questions. 590 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:47,360 How many? 591 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:48,360 307. 592 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:54,080 Maybe we just need to study more for this test. 593 00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:59,680 Listen, some of you in here are parents that have kids. 594 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:05,440 Why, why, why, why, why, why? 595 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:06,600 Guess what? 596 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:09,920 God doesn't get annoyed like we do. 597 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:18,760 God encourages us to ask questions and he cherishes your inquisitiveness. 598 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:24,080 Remember when Thomas doubted and asked questions to Jesus? 599 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:26,040 Did Jesus get mad at Thomas? 600 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:32,920 No, he literally let him feel his wounds. 601 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:40,960 In Proverbs 18, 15, an intelligent heart acquires knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 602 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:45,960 Don't just ask questions, seek answers. 603 00:43:45,960 --> 00:43:54,280 Ephesians 5, 17, don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 604 00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:57,040 There's only one place we can go for that. 605 00:43:57,040 --> 00:44:00,560 Where should we go for knowledge and understanding? 606 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:01,560 Thank you. 607 00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:03,440 Last word, to the Bible. 608 00:44:03,440 --> 00:44:09,920 Listen, your first go-to should not be YouTube or Google. 609 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:16,800 Listen, I know some of you are like, what does the scripture for, what does God say 610 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:19,640 about loving my neighbor? 611 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:25,400 Tell me you haven't Googled a scripture before. 612 00:44:25,400 --> 00:44:30,320 The internet, however, is peppered with lies and misdirection. 613 00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:33,400 I'm not saying you can't find answers. 614 00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:35,200 Some of us do. 615 00:44:35,200 --> 00:44:41,080 I'm not saying you can't find good information on the internet, but the best search engine 616 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:46,160 is the Bible. 617 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:53,080 The Bible is literally the only place where you can always find nothing but truth all 618 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:55,720 of the time. 619 00:44:55,720 --> 00:45:06,880 This leads us to step three in taking and lovingly Jesus like a child, take in His love. 620 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:13,480 Did you know that you are God's favorite? 621 00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:17,400 Say that right now, I am God's favorite. 622 00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:18,920 You're not supposed to have a favorite child. 623 00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:24,160 You personally are God's favorite, and He wants you to feel His full presence. 624 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:27,400 The great thing is you're no more favorite than the person sitting next to you, and that's 625 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:29,320 how powerful His love is. 626 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:35,800 Listen to Isaiah 54 verse 10, for the mountains may depart and the hills may be removed, but 627 00:45:35,800 --> 00:45:40,800 my love, God's steadfast love, shall not depart from you. 628 00:45:40,800 --> 00:45:42,960 He's always there. 629 00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:46,720 And my covenant of peace shall not be removed. 630 00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:49,920 It's always there. 631 00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:51,320 Who said that? 632 00:45:51,320 --> 00:45:56,760 The Lord who has compassion on you. 633 00:45:56,760 --> 00:46:02,280 And then in Zephaniah 3, 17, we read this, the Lord your God is in your midst, the mighty 634 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:04,280 one who will save. 635 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:07,000 He will rejoice over you with gladness. 636 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,700 He will quiet you by His love. 637 00:46:09,700 --> 00:46:25,140 He will exalt you over and over and over and over and over with loud singing. 638 00:46:25,140 --> 00:46:34,680 So while the rain falls, I want to move now into communion. 639 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:39,400 So to take in God's love, I want you to stay seated. 640 00:46:39,400 --> 00:46:40,400 I want us to do this quietly. 641 00:46:40,400 --> 00:46:46,160 If you did not receive your communion element when you came in, please raise a hand. 642 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:53,800 And if you need gluten-free, raise them both in the air like you just don't care. 643 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:59,200 Now for those of you who already have your element, I know that you like to pre-open. 644 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:04,000 I want you to, listen, you got to focus on me, not the people passing out. 645 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:10,640 Open only the bread and take the bread out and hold it in your hand. 646 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:14,800 And then set the juice to the side or hold on to it. 647 00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:18,880 Still have a couple of people up front. 648 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:23,860 You're holding this for a reason, which we'll get to in a second. 649 00:47:23,860 --> 00:47:30,080 The definition of communion, pay attention, the definition of communion is the sharing 650 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:35,720 or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings. 651 00:47:35,720 --> 00:47:39,040 Before we take the elements, that's what we're going to do. 652 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:41,320 We're going to commune with God. 653 00:47:41,320 --> 00:47:44,080 We're going to take in God's love. 654 00:47:44,080 --> 00:47:49,800 We're going to allow His thoughts to be our thoughts. 655 00:47:49,800 --> 00:47:55,880 Now of course, like I always do, I'm going to read 1 Corinthians 11, 27. 656 00:47:55,880 --> 00:48:00,800 Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner 657 00:48:00,800 --> 00:48:04,080 will be guilty concerning the body and the blood of the Lord. 658 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:11,360 Let a person examine himself first, then so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 659 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:15,600 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 660 00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:18,880 So I want you to just sit in silence. 661 00:48:18,880 --> 00:48:32,280 Ask God in this moment, God, what do I need to get rid of before I partake in communion? 662 00:48:32,280 --> 00:48:44,520 I want to do a quick exercise because we're communing with God. 663 00:48:44,520 --> 00:48:48,720 That's the breath of God. 664 00:48:48,720 --> 00:48:54,000 I want you to keep this bread in your hand because this bread represents Jesus' body. 665 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:57,040 This bread is literally the bread of life. 666 00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:00,960 Now I want you to ask God for a picture. 667 00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:04,880 We ask God for a childlike picture. 668 00:49:04,880 --> 00:49:08,840 Maybe it's you playing catch with God, your Father. 669 00:49:08,840 --> 00:49:12,240 Maybe He's pushing you in a swing. 670 00:49:12,240 --> 00:49:15,160 I think of my own Father and the things we used to do. 671 00:49:15,160 --> 00:49:21,520 These are the things God, your Father, wants to do with you. 672 00:49:21,520 --> 00:49:27,440 Now God is also speaking directly to some of you because some of you have had a less 673 00:49:27,440 --> 00:49:33,040 than perfect relationship with your earthly Father and your God, your Father, does not 674 00:49:33,040 --> 00:49:35,040 want that for you. 675 00:49:35,040 --> 00:49:40,000 So if you struggle with your relationship with God because of that, I want you to ask 676 00:49:40,000 --> 00:49:50,320 God now to replace one of those daddy images with a positive image of Him, God, your Father. 677 00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:53,480 Ask God how He wants you to take in His love this morning. 678 00:49:53,480 --> 00:49:59,360 God, give me a picture of how you want to play with me. 679 00:49:59,360 --> 00:50:09,260 Maybe dancing in the rain. 680 00:50:09,260 --> 00:50:13,080 Now for some of you, this may be the first time you've ever experienced something like 681 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:14,080 this. 682 00:50:14,080 --> 00:50:18,920 For some of you, maybe you listen to the message and you think, Rudy, I need to know more about 683 00:50:18,920 --> 00:50:19,920 Jesus. 684 00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:28,000 If you've never considered asking Jesus into your heart, today is your day. 685 00:50:28,000 --> 00:50:33,280 If you're ready to allow Him to be your lifeline, I want you to repeat these words after me. 686 00:50:33,280 --> 00:50:36,160 You're going to ask Jesus in your heart. 687 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:38,480 And because we are the family that we are. 688 00:50:38,480 --> 00:50:41,040 We're going to all do this together in unison. 689 00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:42,840 So repeat after me. 690 00:50:42,840 --> 00:50:48,280 Jesus, I believe you're the Son of God. 691 00:50:48,280 --> 00:50:52,980 I believe you died for my sins. 692 00:50:52,980 --> 00:51:00,280 I'm broken, but even a broken tree produces fruit. 693 00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:07,680 Jesus, this morning I ask you into my heart. 694 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:13,040 I ask Jesus that you be my lifeline. 695 00:51:13,040 --> 00:51:16,240 That you guide me and direct me. 696 00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:21,320 In Jesus' name I pray. 697 00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:23,120 Amen. 698 00:51:23,120 --> 00:51:27,400 Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread. 699 00:51:27,400 --> 00:51:33,760 And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, this is my body, which is for you. 700 00:51:33,760 --> 00:51:37,360 Do this in remembrance of me. 701 00:51:37,360 --> 00:51:43,440 Now when you consume this bread, you consume all of the nourishment that you need from 702 00:51:43,440 --> 00:51:46,680 Jesus, who is the true bread of life. 703 00:51:46,680 --> 00:51:50,840 He is your lifeline. 704 00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:55,000 Let's eat. 705 00:51:55,000 --> 00:52:16,560 This is why everyone prays in the same way He also took the cup after supper saying, 706 00:52:16,560 --> 00:52:19,340 this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 707 00:52:19,340 --> 00:52:24,480 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 708 00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:29,820 When you drink this wine, when you drink this blood, you take in all the healing power Jesus 709 00:52:29,820 --> 00:52:31,800 has to offer. 710 00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:39,140 And that blood washes away all of your sins to which He remembers no more. 711 00:52:39,140 --> 00:52:41,800 This is the new covenant. 712 00:52:41,800 --> 00:52:47,400 Let us drink. 713 00:52:47,400 --> 00:52:52,760 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until 714 00:52:52,760 --> 00:52:55,960 He comes. 715 00:52:55,960 --> 00:53:03,000 I pray and trust that many of you feel better after communion with God. 716 00:53:03,000 --> 00:53:06,640 Can we take a minute just to give God thanks? 717 00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:12,120 Clap. 718 00:53:12,120 --> 00:53:17,240 Which leads us to the last action step of approaching Jesus as a child. 719 00:53:17,240 --> 00:53:19,600 Share His love. 720 00:53:19,600 --> 00:53:25,280 Like a kindergartner was taught to share, I want you to go out and share the love of 721 00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:27,280 Jesus. 722 00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:31,520 Remember guys, I'm not done. 723 00:53:31,520 --> 00:53:38,680 Remember in grade school, in Valentine's Day, rolled around, and you drug your mom to the 724 00:53:38,680 --> 00:53:47,360 dollar general so you could pick out the perfect box of Valentine's cards. 725 00:53:47,360 --> 00:53:55,160 The coolest pack on the shelf that had you stamped all over it. 726 00:53:55,160 --> 00:54:02,560 And then you took out those cards and you wrote your name carefully on each one. 727 00:54:02,560 --> 00:54:07,600 And then you picked out the perfect card for your BFF. 728 00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:17,200 Or you wrote the best message for the cutest little girl on the cutest card. 729 00:54:17,200 --> 00:54:22,800 And then with excitement, you walked down the line and dropped in your cards into each 730 00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:28,640 kid's perfectly decorated Valentine's box. 731 00:54:28,640 --> 00:54:31,260 Remember that excitement? 732 00:54:31,260 --> 00:54:38,900 Remember that feeling of waiting for the other kids to open your card? 733 00:54:38,900 --> 00:54:48,680 That's what it feels like to share the love of Jesus. 734 00:54:48,680 --> 00:54:54,840 And John, sorry, 1 John 3.16, this is how we have come to know love. 735 00:54:54,840 --> 00:54:57,500 He laid down His life for us. 736 00:54:57,500 --> 00:55:02,720 We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 737 00:55:02,720 --> 00:55:10,440 Do whatever it takes to show people, to share with people the love of Jesus. 738 00:55:10,440 --> 00:55:15,040 Anything it takes because they need to know the love of Jesus. 739 00:55:15,040 --> 00:55:20,360 Then in Romans 10, how can anyone preach unless they are sent? 740 00:55:20,360 --> 00:55:25,820 Ladies and gentlemen, Jesus has sent us to preach. 741 00:55:25,820 --> 00:55:29,560 As it is written, how beautiful are the feet who bring those good news. 742 00:55:29,560 --> 00:55:32,760 Their feet are beautiful. 743 00:55:32,760 --> 00:55:37,720 Jesus has sent us on mission to bring the good news. 744 00:55:37,720 --> 00:55:41,160 This Saturday is our annual backpack giveaway. 745 00:55:41,160 --> 00:55:44,400 It is the next way to partner with us. 746 00:55:44,400 --> 00:55:48,800 It is our biggest on-site outreach of the year. 747 00:55:48,800 --> 00:55:55,600 We've had volunteers that have been working around the clock for the past few weeks, but 748 00:55:55,600 --> 00:55:56,600 we still need backpacks. 749 00:55:56,600 --> 00:55:58,800 We still need supplies. 750 00:55:58,800 --> 00:56:04,120 The last count, I don't see Tracy, was about 800. 751 00:56:04,120 --> 00:56:07,520 We need 400 more to get to 1200. 752 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:12,840 Can I challenge you, let's get to 1300? 753 00:56:12,840 --> 00:56:19,480 The quiz is over. 754 00:56:19,480 --> 00:56:22,200 Show up on Saturday. 755 00:56:22,200 --> 00:56:24,280 Handicap a backpack. 756 00:56:24,280 --> 00:56:25,280 Handicap a hot dog. 757 00:56:25,280 --> 00:56:29,320 Watch a kid get their first professionally done haircut they've ever had. 758 00:56:29,320 --> 00:56:31,960 Play a game with them. 759 00:56:31,960 --> 00:56:34,080 We were intended to share the love of Jesus. 760 00:56:34,080 --> 00:56:36,520 We're going to do that on Saturday. 761 00:56:36,520 --> 00:56:42,680 Do it like a child with no inhibition, a true child of God. 762 00:56:42,680 --> 00:56:47,340 Then you won't have to verbally answer the question of who God is. 763 00:56:47,340 --> 00:56:52,280 You will be actively answering it through your own actions. 764 00:56:52,280 --> 00:57:01,640 Family, thank you for allowing me to dress up in this crazy costume and share with you. 765 00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:04,800 Thank you for listening to God's word. 766 00:57:04,800 --> 00:57:10,760 Before we go, if the prayer team wants to go ahead and slide up front, as always, we 767 00:57:10,760 --> 00:57:13,920 had a couple words of knowledge. 768 00:57:13,920 --> 00:57:18,840 Now this week, these words of knowledge are very specific. 769 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:23,960 So if I specifically say something on this list and it pertains to you and you specifically 770 00:57:23,960 --> 00:57:29,360 don't get your butt up here to get prayer for you, I will specifically need prayer for 771 00:57:29,360 --> 00:57:32,160 my pinky toe. 772 00:57:32,160 --> 00:57:33,800 Here they are, there's four of them. 773 00:57:33,800 --> 00:57:36,640 Tennis and elbow. 774 00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:41,960 A painful condition mainly on your left arm, elbow. 775 00:57:41,960 --> 00:57:44,600 That's got to be someone in here. 776 00:57:44,600 --> 00:57:45,600 Someone with a painful left hip. 777 00:57:45,600 --> 00:57:48,400 Maybe it's because I talked about Joseph. 778 00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:50,840 Or in the butt area. 779 00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:58,400 Again, if that's you, get your hip and your butt up here. 780 00:57:58,400 --> 00:58:02,760 I'm joking about this, but this is serious. 781 00:58:02,760 --> 00:58:08,000 Right foot pain, specifically pain in a joint of the toe next to the big toe where the 782 00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:10,720 digit actually meets the foot. 783 00:58:10,720 --> 00:58:12,460 Specific. 784 00:58:12,460 --> 00:58:15,340 But if that's you, dag on it. 785 00:58:15,340 --> 00:58:18,440 Could be the bearing and tendon of the joint and then fourth, the last one, your right 786 00:58:18,440 --> 00:58:23,720 foot pain, a painful heel, specifically when you're walking. 787 00:58:23,720 --> 00:58:29,160 If any of those things describe you, please come up here and get prayer. 788 00:58:29,160 --> 00:58:35,560 Now if you're in the fifth or sixth or seventh category, that does not preclude you from 789 00:58:35,560 --> 00:58:36,560 getting prayer. 790 00:58:36,560 --> 00:58:40,160 If there is anything in your life that you need prayer for, please come talk to a member 791 00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:41,520 of the worship team. 792 00:58:41,520 --> 00:58:44,880 We as a family are in the prayer business. 793 00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:48,680 We pray for you today. 794 00:58:48,680 --> 00:58:52,920 Now in a minute, they're going to play a song. 795 00:58:52,920 --> 00:58:53,960 Okay. 796 00:58:53,960 --> 00:58:57,440 It's just a song we started with. 797 00:58:57,440 --> 00:59:08,040 I want you to get up and dance with your family as I walk back there. 798 00:59:08,040 --> 00:59:16,880 There's no impossible, I believe that you are working now. 799 00:59:16,880 --> 00:59:19,480 Pour it out. 800 00:59:19,480 --> 00:59:39,840 Oh, pour it out.