1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,160 Good morning everyone. 2 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:22,640 You know, I started the first Carolina, so it's getting harder and harder to share and 3 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,280 to open up after announcements like that. 4 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,760 So welcome to HCV. 5 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,560 If this is your first time here, thanks for hanging out with us. 6 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,160 And spending your Sunday morning with us, we're thankful you're here. 7 00:00:32,160 --> 00:00:35,600 If you're joining us online, thanks for welcoming us into your space. 8 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,800 A shout out to our friends at HHC. 9 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,320 We're looking forward to the Christmas party this Wednesday with all of you. 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,640 And we're excited to come and join you. 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:52,560 Also, to all of our online friends, last Sunday we had over one, excuse me, 430 unique views 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,120 on our live stream. 13 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:58,960 So that means there's a lot of people watching from home or all around the world, whatever 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:00:59,960 it may be. 15 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:01,120 Do me a favor this week. 16 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:06,840 If you're watching from home, shoot me an email, chris at hcv.church with one prayer 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,440 request that you have for you or your family. 18 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,800 I want to know who you are and who is watching from all around the world. 19 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,760 So be sure to send that email to me this week. 20 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:24,480 Now last week I challenged all of you, right, to commit and I received this testimony and 21 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,560 I wanted to share it with all of you because I don't believe we receive or share enough 22 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,960 testimonies of what God is doing within our community of faith. 23 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:34,640 I got a message, said I got some good news for you, Chris. 24 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,860 My boss informed me that I'll be getting a raise and offered a promotion. 25 00:01:39,860 --> 00:01:41,840 Good news, right? 26 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:48,600 This came at the same time that we as a family upped our giving to HCV just a few weeks ago. 27 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:49,960 Coincidence? 28 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:51,400 I think not. 29 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,640 Thanks for helping my family get closer to Jesus. 30 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,140 So if you have a testimony about what God's doing in your life, be sure to let us know, 31 00:01:59,140 --> 00:02:03,920 share it, email it, whatever it may be, because we want to share all the things that God is 32 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,240 doing today. 33 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:10,100 Of course we continue our series Ghosts of Christmas and for the last few weeks we've 34 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:16,880 been discussing how unique the Christmas season is, how it just invades and permeates every 35 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:18,600 single part of our life. 36 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:24,600 Like last night, Nolan and I are out in the freezing cold along with Jess and Lily, putting 37 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:31,000 outside Christmas decorations up to make our house ready for the Christmas holiday season. 38 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:32,000 Right? 39 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,280 We're all doing things differently than we normally do. 40 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:41,480 The Christmas season is unique and that causes all of us to contemplate and reflect on where 41 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,600 we are in life. 42 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:50,340 We have said that the Christmas season functions as a magnifying glass into our lives, a time 43 00:02:50,340 --> 00:02:54,840 we reflect on our relationships, right, the people that are a part of our lives, how we 44 00:02:54,840 --> 00:03:00,900 feel about our finances or our careers, how we feel about our emotional health, our physical 45 00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:05,840 health and ultimately how we receive and apply Jesus to our lives. 46 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,800 After all, he is the reason for the season. 47 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,680 And if that is true, what's that mean for me? 48 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,400 We said our lives are broken down into three categories, the past, the present and the 49 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:18,400 future. 50 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:23,160 The past, where we've been, what we did and what happened to us, the present, where we 51 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,640 are right now and what is happening in our life. 52 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:33,160 And then of course, the future, what is going to it do for us, bring into our lives and 53 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,240 what direction are we headed? 54 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:40,240 Now depending on how we are wired and where we currently are in our lives, we have different 55 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:45,200 feelings associated with those three different categories. 56 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,720 It's almost we have said that those three aspects of our lives act like ghosts, right? 57 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:53,560 Ghosts that can haunt us and paralyze us. 58 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,560 Fear that we hear whispered into our ears, maybe about who we once were. 59 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,340 And it keeps us stuck there. 60 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:05,320 Last week we looked at how we get overwhelmed with this season and it almost feels like 61 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,120 we won't make it through. 62 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:14,040 Or there could be thoughts about what's happening next in life and how everything could change. 63 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,920 So we said, if you're in a relationship with Jesus, we have to deal with these ghosts. 64 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,800 Self-reflection is a good thing. 65 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:27,280 So in honor of Charles Dickens and the ghosts that he wrote about in the Christmas Carol, 66 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:33,200 this season we've been challenging our community of faith to reflect on and change the different 67 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:39,220 aspects of our lives that God highlights through the past, present and future, just like Ebenezer 68 00:04:39,220 --> 00:04:40,920 Scrooge. 69 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:47,680 And this is so important because life is too short and our calling is too great to allow 70 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,600 ghosts to paralyze us with fear. 71 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,680 Because if you're in a relationship with Jesus, it steals our joy, our hope and our purpose. 72 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:59,240 Now like I said before, over the last two weeks we've discussed the ghosts of Christmas past 73 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:00,800 and present. 74 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,360 We've dealt with the pain of our mistakes and the busyness of life. 75 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,800 If you missed those talks, go to our YouTube channel and be sure to listen. 76 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,820 So obviously this week we'll be discussing the ghosts of Christmas future. 77 00:05:13,820 --> 00:05:18,900 Because reality is it doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are, male or female, 78 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:22,780 we all have future thoughts in our minds. 79 00:05:22,780 --> 00:05:28,860 For example, just this week, Jess, me and Phoenix, we went to Lakeland, Florida to celebrate 80 00:05:28,860 --> 00:05:32,840 my daughter's graduation from Southeastern University. 81 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:34,920 Now of course, we flew to Florida. 82 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,800 We didn't want to drive that far. 83 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,880 We didn't know we were going to take the cold with us, but we did. 84 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:44,600 And on the flight down, Phoenix has now determined that in his future, he's going to become a 85 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:45,760 pilot. 86 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:51,440 He's going to fly for Southwest Airlines and he's specifically going to fly the Southwest 87 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:57,320 Maryland flagship plane that has our flag all over it. 88 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:04,960 Also on the trip, I began to contemplate and think about, wow, I now have three grown children. 89 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,360 And that simply means that for me and Jess, we're moving into a different area of our 90 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:10,700 life. 91 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:15,520 And if you're here this morning, whether you're saving up to purchase a first time home, you're 92 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:20,120 changing or starting a new career, you're planning for another baby or the purchase 93 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:21,800 of a new fishing boat. 94 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,200 Maybe it's the barrage of your son or daughter. 95 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:30,120 We all have thoughts about the future and what that means to us, which leads us to our 96 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:31,440 first thought this morning. 97 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,280 See, much of humanity has a preferred future, right? 98 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:37,600 We have a preferred future. 99 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:42,680 We look at what's down the road, the days, the months, the years to come. 100 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:49,080 And we all say that in the future, this is what I want to be true for my life. 101 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:55,520 And whatever this is, it is helpful because it gives us a target and inspires us to make 102 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,880 goals so we can achieve whatever this is and it becomes real in our lives. 103 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:03,280 This is supported by the Bible. 104 00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:09,720 Look at Proverbs 21, five, good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts 105 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,440 lead to poverty. 106 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,580 See, much of humanity has a preferred future. 107 00:07:15,580 --> 00:07:20,640 They think about their future, their hopes, their dreams, their calling, and they want 108 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,660 to make them a reality. 109 00:07:22,660 --> 00:07:26,840 But I want to go in a little bit different direction for us this morning and I want to 110 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:31,560 look at who we are as far as to Jesus. 111 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:36,720 I want to move beyond how many kids we want to have or where we might want to retire in 112 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,520 the future or what a different job will look like. 113 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,640 And I want to speak to those of you in a relationship with Jesus. 114 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:48,800 And I want you to think and reflect on the preferred future that God has for us. 115 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,800 Because as we think about our future when in a relationship with Jesus, we must take 116 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:58,400 into account that much of our future calling is determined already. 117 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,160 No matter the different context of our future, right? 118 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:09,740 Much of our preferred future is actually determined by God for us to walk out in this life. 119 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:13,920 And we must realize it doesn't matter if it was a person living in the first century, 120 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:19,080 if they were following Jesus and they were looking at their next 30 years of life. 121 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,220 It doesn't matter if it was someone living in the 1500s, someone living right now or 122 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:27,020 someone living 100 years from now. 123 00:08:27,020 --> 00:08:33,480 Truth is, if you are a follower of Jesus, there are aspects of our life and future that 124 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,440 we would say, I want this to be true about me. 125 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:42,440 And I want them to be true because God says they should be true about me. 126 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,480 It doesn't matter if you live in China, it doesn't matter if you live in the United 127 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:52,640 States, the city, the suburbs or the jungle, whether you have a big house or a small house, 128 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,520 it doesn't matter who the president is or isn't. 129 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,240 It has nothing to do with the context of our lives. 130 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:05,280 There are certain realities that God determines for us, regardless of what is going on in 131 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:06,920 the world around us. 132 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,940 And this morning, I want to focus on those realities. 133 00:09:10,940 --> 00:09:15,120 And I want to challenge you, our community of faith, to walk them out because they are 134 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,800 important to God and they are a part of our calling. 135 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:25,020 This is so important and we need to apply Proverbs chapter six, verses six through 11. 136 00:09:25,020 --> 00:09:28,600 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy bones. 137 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,080 Learn from their ways and become wise. 138 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,560 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all 139 00:09:35,560 --> 00:09:37,880 summer gathering food for the winter. 140 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,240 For you, lazy bones, how long will you sleep? 141 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,240 When will you wake up? 142 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:47,960 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then 143 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,720 poverty will pounce on you like a bandit. 144 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,280 Scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. 145 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,800 And I don't want that for us. 146 00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:59,040 Jesus calls us into abundance. 147 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,520 And if we get distracted or lazy, we can quickly go into a slumber. 148 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,080 And especially when it comes to our future. 149 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:12,280 Because here's the reality, not all of us that focus on the future have a positive outlook. 150 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:17,960 For many, in fact, there is uneasiness and some may call it fear about the future. 151 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:23,480 What's going to happen in the next two, five or 10 years within the world and within our 152 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,760 culture, which leads to our second thought. 153 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,840 However, for many, there's a fear over the direction or the future of the world. 154 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,260 I mean, let's be honest. 155 00:10:33,260 --> 00:10:37,200 We look at all this technology and how the world is rapidly advancing. 156 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:38,840 All this screen time. 157 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,640 We see what it's doing to our children and people in general. 158 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:48,960 We look out now at all the emotional problems in our society, the anxiety, the depression. 159 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:53,720 And it's just a natural part now that people are constantly on medication. 160 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,800 There's so much gender confusion. 161 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:56,800 What is marriage? 162 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,000 What isn't marriage? 163 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,800 And for many of us, we throw our hands up in the air and say, I don't even know what 164 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,120 to do with it. 165 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,280 We look at the state of our country. 166 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:09,380 We think about how it's changed so much since I personally grew up. 167 00:11:09,380 --> 00:11:17,440 How the economics, the politics and societal policies, they've changed focus and they're 168 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,960 headed in a completely different direction. 169 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,000 We look out at our world. 170 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,400 We see the wars, the gun violence, the mass shootings, the death. 171 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,960 And now we're talking about nuclear war. 172 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,200 And if you're in a relationship with Jesus, you may have heard people say, it's getting 173 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,280 harder to follow Jesus in today's world. 174 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,960 The freedoms we once experienced are being taken away from us. 175 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:41,280 Oh, what's next? 176 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:48,040 I mean, for many people, there's a fear over the direction of our country, our culture, 177 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,080 the world, the pace of the world. 178 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,560 And for honest, it can cause us anxiety, worry and stress. 179 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:58,880 I've heard people say to me time and time again, I wouldn't want to raise kids today. 180 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,280 I can't imagine the world my grandchildren are going to grow up in. 181 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Listen, I get it. 182 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,800 There's a lot of negativity out there, but let me first address this fear and stress 183 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,920 over the future direction of the world by saying this. 184 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,080 Jesus has already won. 185 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:19,520 You have already won if you're in a relationship with Jesus and we will get the most important 186 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,760 prize we could ever want. 187 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:23,560 Jesus has won. 188 00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:29,260 And that's why we read in Proverbs 12, 25, worry weighs a person down and encouraging 189 00:12:29,260 --> 00:12:31,160 word cheers a person up. 190 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,800 And I want to give you an encouraging word this morning. 191 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:40,000 And listen, I am in no way saying these thoughts about the future aren't real. 192 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:47,800 That my head every single day is not worried or even full of anxiety as I read the news. 193 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,540 I read the news every single day and I don't read all the article, but I can read it so 194 00:12:51,540 --> 00:12:53,120 I know what's happening. 195 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:54,500 So I get it. 196 00:12:54,500 --> 00:12:58,860 We can feel overwhelmed, but I also need to remind myself. 197 00:12:58,860 --> 00:13:04,040 This isn't the worst our world has ever seen or it's ever been. 198 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,720 And it's certainly not the worst that Jesus followers have ever lived in. 199 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:13,080 I mean, we can open our Bibles and read about Jesus followers being thrown into arenas and 200 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:14,320 eaten by lions. 201 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,720 Church, we're not there yet. 202 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:21,000 So as we navigate the future of our world, yes, it can cause stress. 203 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:22,000 It can cause worry. 204 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:26,320 It can feel overwhelmed, but we have to deal with it. 205 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:32,380 When fear comes into our lives, it makes us a lesser version of ourselves. 206 00:13:32,380 --> 00:13:33,780 We don't think clearly. 207 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:36,080 We don't act as effectively. 208 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:41,660 And we can get lost in terms of direction and begin to focus on issues we shouldn't. 209 00:13:41,660 --> 00:13:43,720 Fear hinders our focus. 210 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,760 Getting us to look in a direction that we shouldn't even be looking at, focus on stuff 211 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:49,760 that isn't important. 212 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:56,040 And that's why Jesus said in John 14, 27, I'm leaving you with a gift, peace of mind 213 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:57,360 and heart. 214 00:13:57,360 --> 00:13:59,880 And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. 215 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:02,360 So don't be troubled or afraid. 216 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:08,000 Don't be troubled or afraid because fear hinders our focus. 217 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,000 And how do I know that? 218 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,920 Well, I've coached a lot of baseball in my life. 219 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:17,300 And when kids are particularly younger, there's always a few players that are afraid of being 220 00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:19,200 hit by the baseball. 221 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:22,340 Whether it's the baseball that is thrown that they're trying to catch or the baseball they're 222 00:14:22,340 --> 00:14:24,200 trying to hit. 223 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,200 These players struggle. 224 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,200 And it's not even that they don't have the ability to do it. 225 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,640 I believe they all have the ability to do it. 226 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,200 It's just that their focus is wrong. 227 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,200 They're not focused on catching the ball. 228 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,760 They're not focused on hitting the ball. 229 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:43,880 In their minds, they're only focused on the ball hitting them. 230 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,720 And when they're focused on the ball hitting them and the pain that they're going to feel 231 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:52,120 when the ball hits them and the hurt and the tears that's going to happen when they're 232 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,400 embarrassed, it drives them to failure. 233 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:00,040 It drives them to give up and to quit maybe even during the season. 234 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:04,960 And for some of us, our fear of the future because of what is happening in the world 235 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:11,600 today has shifted our focus away from the people that we should be becoming. 236 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,840 Away from the God that we serve. 237 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:20,300 It causes us to lose focus on what we should be doing, who we should be serving each and 238 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:21,500 every day. 239 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:27,680 That is why we read in 2 Timothy 1, 7, for God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity, 240 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,960 but of power, love, and self-discipline. 241 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:35,160 See, the world may be changing, but God isn't. 242 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:39,720 And God is calling his people closer to him. 243 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:44,920 He wants us to be more like him, which leads us to our next thought. 244 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:50,240 Jesus followers need to filter their fear through faith. 245 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:57,400 Paul writing to his protege, Timothy, a man that he was discipling and speaking life into, 246 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:02,720 tells him how to live his life in a city where people are walking away from God. 247 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:04,920 It was full of paganism. 248 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,880 People who are not open to the kingdom of God. 249 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,320 And we read this in 2 Timothy 4, 3 through 4. 250 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:17,280 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. 251 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:22,400 Now many scholars believe that Paul was saying to Timothy in this letter, hey Timothy, the 252 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,120 time is right now. 253 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,280 The time that you're living in right now, this is going to happen. 254 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,360 And for many of us, we've experienced this personally. 255 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:32,860 We get judged for our beliefs. 256 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:33,860 We get made fun of. 257 00:16:33,860 --> 00:16:38,400 We get our fingers pointed at us saying, oh, the Bible's not relevant for today. 258 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:40,520 And notice what these people will do. 259 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:45,360 They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers. 260 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:51,880 Now you fast forward today, we might say podcasts or sitcoms or Netflix series or documentaries 261 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:57,200 or news agencies who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 262 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,120 I mean, we see this each and every day in our society. 263 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,120 What do they do? 264 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:06,720 They reject the truth and they chase after myths. 265 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,360 Dare I say conspiracy theories? 266 00:17:09,360 --> 00:17:11,960 Paul is writing this to Timothy. 267 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:13,240 And think about this. 268 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,480 This is a long time ago. 269 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,480 And as we read it today, it's more true than ever. 270 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,520 This is how our people are living in our society. 271 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:28,120 And notice what Paul then writes to Timothy, which he writes to us. 272 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:30,000 Second Timothy 4, 5. 273 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,680 But you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances. 274 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,480 Keep control of yourself, church. 275 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,460 God doesn't want us to cower in fear. 276 00:17:41,460 --> 00:17:44,540 He doesn't want us to call people names. 277 00:17:44,540 --> 00:17:51,200 He doesn't want us to be a jerk or a keyboard warrior that has the hashtag God is good. 278 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,160 God wants us to be different, to be set apart. 279 00:17:55,160 --> 00:18:01,120 And Paul begins to paint a picture of the preferred future that God wants for those 280 00:18:01,120 --> 00:18:04,200 in a relationship with him each and every day. 281 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:11,040 See, we have to filter our fear through faith so that we can walk this out every single 282 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:12,040 day. 283 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,560 And what does it look like to walk out our faith? 284 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:19,280 Well, when fear of the future comes into our lives, we have to filter that fear through 285 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,280 Jesus. 286 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,700 We shouldn't filter our fear through a news agency, through a podcast, or through a book 287 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:27,720 that tells us what to do. 288 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,560 We have to focus on Jesus. 289 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,040 We have to read the Bible. 290 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:35,400 We have to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to us in prayer. 291 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:40,600 And if we live out these simple truths that God wants us to live, then the future will 292 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,160 be bright. 293 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:48,640 Because faith will focus us on God, not on our circumstances or the direction of the 294 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:49,640 world. 295 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:55,800 We have to stop focusing on our circumstances and our surroundings, rather focusing on the 296 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,040 power of God in our lives. 297 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,560 And when we do this, church will live in abundance. 298 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:07,280 So Paul gives us three steps to walking out our faith now and in the future. 299 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,520 And first, we have to stay on mission. 300 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,640 We are called as a church to stay on mission. 301 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,480 Second Timothy chapter four verse two, preach the word of God. 302 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:24,440 Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not, patiently correct rebuke and encourage 303 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,540 your people with good teaching. 304 00:19:26,540 --> 00:19:32,680 We are called to tell people our Jesus story and to connect others to the hope that is 305 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,380 the person of Jesus. 306 00:19:34,380 --> 00:19:38,700 And when we get off mission, when we lose our focus, guess what happens? 307 00:19:38,700 --> 00:19:45,280 We get distracted and we start looking at other things to fill us and make us feel better. 308 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:50,680 I have a daughter that is doing her graduate work at Florida Atlantic University. 309 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,840 And I actually have another daughter that will attend the same school and play softball 310 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,240 there in 2026. 311 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,100 Now there's not a day that goes by that I don't pray for Trinity to finish her master's 312 00:20:02,100 --> 00:20:03,100 degree. 313 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:07,100 And please understand, I don't pray for her in so much as she can't do the work. 314 00:20:07,100 --> 00:20:08,100 She's doing great. 315 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:13,240 She's getting A's, but I pray that she doesn't get distracted. 316 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,040 And this is why. 317 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:19,680 When we talk to Trinity, when she calls Jess and I, she always communicates to us that 318 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:26,960 every morning she wakes up early before going to her internship at the athletic department 319 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,240 and she will go to the beach for sunrise. 320 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:36,060 She will take walks and look at the waves every morning because Boca Raton is a little 321 00:20:36,060 --> 00:20:39,040 different than Hagerstown, Maryland, right? 322 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:40,440 It's always warm. 323 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:41,760 It's always inviting. 324 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:48,680 And in Boca Raton, there's lots of distractions like sunbathing, walks on the beach, sunrise, 325 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:51,120 sunset and surfing. 326 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:55,640 Therefore Trinity has to remain focused on her schooling. 327 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:01,400 She has to remain focused on the education that she wants to earn so she can take the 328 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,200 next step in her life journey. 329 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,360 Paul is challenging Timothy and us church. 330 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:10,160 Stay on mission. 331 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:11,920 Share your story. 332 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:16,120 Talk about the good news of God, 2 Timothy 4-5. 333 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:21,820 Work at telling others the good news and fully carry out the ministry God has on you. 334 00:21:21,820 --> 00:21:26,760 And there's too many Jesus followers that are getting caught up in arguments that simply 335 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,340 don't matter. 336 00:21:28,340 --> 00:21:34,760 We are finding ourselves fighting about things in the church pointing fingers at one another. 337 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,460 No wonder people outside the church don't want to go to church. 338 00:21:38,460 --> 00:21:40,040 We are bad examples. 339 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:45,280 We have allowed our culture to tell us how to think and what to focus on instead of the 340 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:46,680 Bible. 341 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:53,200 Our calling, our mission as followers of Jesus is to connect people to the hope of Jesus. 342 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,640 It's not to win elections. 343 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,520 It's not to make America great again. 344 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,960 It's not to fix businesses or the economy. 345 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,600 Our mission as the church is to connect people to Jesus. 346 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:10,000 That is what we should be doing all the time. 347 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:11,000 How do I know that? 348 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,360 Well Jesus left us with a mandate. 349 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:18,560 Jesus drew near and said to them, as he says to you and I, I have been given all authority 350 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,120 in heaven and earth. 351 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:25,240 Go, go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples. 352 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:28,520 Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. 353 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:30,600 Here's the reality. 354 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:35,880 Two years, five years, ten years from now we should be pointing people to Jesus. 355 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,800 Twenty-five years, fifty years from now if you're still alive you should be pointing 356 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,080 people to Jesus. 357 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,180 That is how we walk out our faith. 358 00:22:44,180 --> 00:22:50,080 In our culture that is continually moving away from God, and guess what? 359 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,120 It's only going to get worse. 360 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:54,280 It shouldn't get harder to share our faith. 361 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:58,920 We should have more opportunities because people are hurting and hungry to hear about 362 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,480 God and what he can do in their lives. 363 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:04,700 People need to hear the good news. 364 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,360 They need to hear the hope. 365 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:12,000 And we filter our fear, our stress, our anxiety through faith. 366 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:16,100 And when we filter it through faith, church, we do the work of the evangelist. 367 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,680 So when I ask you this morning, who are you praying for? 368 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,880 Who have you invited to join us at our Community Faith at HCV? 369 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,240 Who have you shared your story with just this year? 370 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,120 How about the last six months? 371 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:31,480 Don't get distracted. 372 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,240 Stay on mission. 373 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,280 We have these invite cards to our Christmas Eve gatherings. 374 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:38,640 Grab them today. 375 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:44,000 Invite someone to be a part of the life changing experience with God which leads us to our 376 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,680 next step of faith. 377 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,080 We have to commit to character. 378 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:51,080 Don't get distracted and stay on mission. 379 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,620 And while on mission, commit to character. 380 00:23:54,620 --> 00:23:56,240 Listen to what Paul writes. 381 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,560 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. 382 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,200 Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. 383 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:07,240 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. 384 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:09,480 The time of my death is near. 385 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,040 I have fought a good fight. 386 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:12,600 I have finished a race. 387 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,320 And I have remained faithful. 388 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,360 Yes, we tell people about Jesus. 389 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:18,940 That is what we do. 390 00:24:18,940 --> 00:24:22,680 But not only with our words, but in our lives. 391 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:28,200 Our lives, what we do should be an example of Jesus to the world around us. 392 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,880 We need to keep growing into His image. 393 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:36,120 We need to allow God to mold us, to shape us like a lump of clay into the people we 394 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:37,440 should be. 395 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:43,280 I was thinking as I was writing this this week that one of the coolest high school classes 396 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:45,800 that I ever took was pottery. 397 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:50,080 Like you take this lump of clay, you throw it onto a potter's wheel and you use your 398 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:54,720 hands of water to mold it and form it into a bowl or a cup. 399 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,680 It was one of the most unique things I've ever done. 400 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:03,040 And the Bible says, listen to this, in the book of Isaiah, that God is our Father. 401 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:04,440 We are the clay. 402 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:06,380 You are the potter God. 403 00:25:06,380 --> 00:25:09,160 We are all formed by your hand. 404 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:10,740 Here's the reality. 405 00:25:10,740 --> 00:25:15,840 If we're not being shaped by God, we're being shaped by our culture. 406 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,680 We're being shaped by what we listen to. 407 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,260 We're being shaped by what we read. 408 00:25:20,260 --> 00:25:26,280 And Paul is challenging, Timothy is challenging us to let God shape our hearts. 409 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,720 You heard, we're called to endure hardship. 410 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:30,600 We're called to be more patient. 411 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,680 We're called to be a people of honesty and integrity. 412 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,400 We're called to be generous and kind and to meet others' needs. 413 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:39,720 Our culture, what does our culture promote? 414 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:45,720 Our culture says, wear your binoculars, judge others, point fingers. 415 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:51,520 But God tells us to look in the mirror, become a better person, allow Him to change you. 416 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:57,320 Romans 5, 3 through 4, we can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for 417 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,440 we know that they help us develop endurance. 418 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:05,520 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope 419 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,440 of salvation. 420 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:13,860 We are called to look more and more like Jesus every single day so that people see God in 421 00:26:13,860 --> 00:26:14,860 us. 422 00:26:14,860 --> 00:26:20,800 Remember, this is the Christmas season, and Jesus is known as Emmanuel, God with us. 423 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:26,440 And since Jesus has come and has now risen and is back in heaven, He now fills us with 424 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,400 the Holy Spirit, and we have God inside of us. 425 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,440 What if we took the time? 426 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,320 What if we took the time that we waste on social media, scrolling through other people's 427 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:41,000 drama, and we applied that time to our character development? 428 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:46,280 See, I believe we'd be different people, which leads us to our final step. 429 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,440 We have to focus on the kingdom. 430 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,160 Now some of you are sitting there thinking, well, Chris, you said that last week. 431 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:57,160 I sure did, and I'm saying it again this week, because that's the key to life change, 2 Timothy 432 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:58,160 4, 8. 433 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:03,100 And now the prize awaits me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous 434 00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:05,580 judge will give me on the day of His return. 435 00:27:05,580 --> 00:27:12,120 And the prize is not just for me, notice, but for all who eagerly look forward to His 436 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:13,120 appearing. 437 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:16,840 Paul, he's focused on the kingdom of God. 438 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,680 He is prepared for home. 439 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:25,200 And think about it, as people, we get all excited about a vacation or a journey that 440 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:26,200 we're going to take. 441 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:27,200 True or false? 442 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:32,560 Are you guys with me, or are we vibing here today? 443 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:34,880 I don't know about you, but if we're going to take a vacation, if we're going to take 444 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:39,400 time off, if we're going to get away from Hagerstown, and even if it's only for four 445 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,440 days, I know what you guys are like. 446 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:45,280 You Google wherever you're going. 447 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,320 Like when we were going to Lakeland, we Googled Lakeland, what could we do? 448 00:27:48,320 --> 00:27:49,320 Where are we going to go? 449 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:50,680 We plan every detail. 450 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,360 We pack too much. 451 00:27:53,360 --> 00:27:59,100 We had to check three bags for three people because we were taking Phoenix, and my wife 452 00:27:59,100 --> 00:28:02,000 tends to pack a lot. 453 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,920 And if you're going to pack, you know what we do when we go on a four day journey, not 454 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:10,200 only do we pack too much, but we're all excited. 455 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,240 We talk to people that have been to the destination we're going to. 456 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:14,540 We buy some new clothes. 457 00:28:14,540 --> 00:28:19,520 We plan out every single day, and it's for four days. 458 00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:24,960 It's for four days because we want it to be the best four days we could possibly have, 459 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:26,080 friends. 460 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:30,040 We're going to be in heaven forever. 461 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:35,760 We're going to spend our time with God and Jesus for all of eternity. 462 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:42,920 We're going to experience a new earth forever, but there's no one excited about it. 463 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:48,240 We get all excited about a four day journey, but here we have a future that is going to 464 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:53,000 be incredible and people just allow it to just be boring. 465 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:57,440 That's why God desires that we think about and focus on the kingdom. 466 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,320 There's nothing more exciting that's going to happen to us. 467 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,860 Every tribe, tongue, and nation is going to be worshiping God with us, and my challenge 468 00:29:04,860 --> 00:29:08,440 to you is who are you bringing along with you? 469 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:13,240 Because there's people in your sphere of influence that don't know Jesus and are distant from 470 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,720 God and they won't spend time in eternity with you. 471 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,520 This is a place where we'll walk on streets of gold. 472 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:22,640 We'll have new bodies that will never break down. 473 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:26,060 There'll be no more pain or sorrow or crying. 474 00:29:26,060 --> 00:29:28,360 Those things are passed away. 475 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:34,080 No matter how good of life we are living here on this earth, nothing compares to the kingdom 476 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:35,240 of God. 477 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,080 The best is yet to come. 478 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:43,960 And we have to filter our faith through that truth and we have to stop worrying about the 479 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:45,480 world that we're living in. 480 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:50,480 That's why Jesus said in Matthew 6.33, Seek the kingdom of God above all else, live righteously. 481 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,080 He will give you everything you need. 482 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:54,280 God will meet all our needs. 483 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:56,000 Let me ask you a question. 484 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,480 You know that four day journey you're going to go on and you're so excited about? 485 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:07,040 Have you ever met anyone that remodeled their hotel room for those four days? 486 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:08,040 Have you? 487 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:09,840 See, it seems ludicrous. 488 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:15,160 Like, why would, no, Chris, why would they model their hotel room? 489 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:20,360 And yet so many of us, we spend so much time and energy on this life that we're building 490 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:24,660 for ourselves and not for the kingdom of God. 491 00:30:24,660 --> 00:30:27,880 And Jesus is challenging us to change. 492 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,960 Paul says, I've been poured out for the kingdom of God. 493 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,520 Church, we have to be more focused on God's kingdom. 494 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:42,440 We have to be more focused on what we are becoming more than what the world is becoming. 495 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,480 It's not enough just to get it right in this world. 496 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:46,480 Right? 497 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,160 It's not enough. 498 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:54,680 We have to be focused on allowing and bringing others into this kingdom with us. 499 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:55,680 God is challenging us. 500 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:56,960 Stay on mission. 501 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:58,680 Commit to character. 502 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:01,640 Focus on the kingdom and live passionately. 503 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:03,440 And if enough of us get it right, that's right. 504 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,320 The trust area is going to be turned upside down. 505 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,360 It's going to be turned upside down. 506 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:09,960 But yes, we have to endure hardship. 507 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:12,320 We have to pour ourselves out, putting others first. 508 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:13,440 We have to share the good news. 509 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:15,520 We have to fight the good fight. 510 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:19,560 And when we get to the end, we have to allow God to use us and shape us, which leads us 511 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,240 to our simple action step. 512 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:22,240 Invite. 513 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,280 I want to challenge all of you. 514 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:28,640 Invite someone to our community of faith for next Sunday or for our Christmas Eve gatherings 515 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,880 or for our Christmas morning gathering. 516 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:36,560 Forget telling others the good news and fully carry out the ministry God has for you. 517 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,480 And you say, well, why would you want me to do that, Chris? 518 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:40,480 I'm not an evangelist. 519 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:41,480 Good. 520 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:42,480 You don't have to be an evangelist. 521 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:45,760 Take an invite card and invite them personally to one of these gatherings. 522 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:46,760 Right? 523 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,320 That's all you have to do. 524 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,680 A simple invite could change someone's life because I guarantee you there's someone in 525 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,800 your sphere of influence that you know that's lonely. 526 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:55,800 Right? 527 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:57,860 They have no one to celebrate Christmas with. 528 00:31:57,860 --> 00:32:03,860 And yet we'll be here on Christmas morning at 10 a.m. in our pajamas to celebrate Jesus's 529 00:32:03,860 --> 00:32:04,860 birth. 530 00:32:04,860 --> 00:32:06,640 And you say, Chris, why your pajamas? 531 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:07,640 Why not? 532 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:10,300 It's more comfortable. 533 00:32:10,300 --> 00:32:12,240 Why not go to church in your PJs? 534 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:18,200 See, when we're forced to share the good news, when we're, when we focus on the kingdom, 535 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:19,880 when we invite others, guess what? 536 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:23,620 Our character is going to change because we want to be a good example. 537 00:32:23,620 --> 00:32:25,200 It changes us. 538 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:29,360 And listen, can I tell you what doesn't count? 539 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,720 Don't just blanket invite all your Facebook friends. 540 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:34,280 That don't count. 541 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:35,280 It doesn't count. 542 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:40,960 I want you to personally invite 10 of your friends because an invitation to everybody 543 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:42,920 is an invitation to nobody. 544 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:44,440 Now is it a bad thing to do that? 545 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:45,440 No. 546 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:50,000 Do that and then personally invite 10 of your friends that you know that they will read 547 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:51,000 it. 548 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:55,920 Make a list of people, pray for them, and then go to them and invite them to join you 549 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,240 next Sunday or at a Christmas Eve gatherings. 550 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,760 We have to be invitors and cluters into God's kingdom. 551 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,920 Now before we worship, we're going to close with worship this morning. 552 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,280 I want to show you a short clip from the movie Apollo 13. 553 00:33:08,280 --> 00:33:12,600 If you don't know this movie, it's a story about, a true story actually, about three 554 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:18,480 astronauts that are stuck in a spaceship because the said spaceship that they were flying had 555 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:22,720 several catastrophic errors on board. 556 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:28,840 Back in mission control, everyone is just losing their mind and listen to the conversations 557 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:30,520 that are being said. 558 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:32,520 Let's watch. 559 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:39,540 Hey church, what if this is our finest hour? 560 00:33:39,540 --> 00:33:44,760 What if our outlook as Jesus followers became the exact same as that statement? 561 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,880 It doesn't matter what's happening around us, this is our time. 562 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:50,600 This is our time to shine. 563 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:52,880 This is our time to be our best. 564 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,800 This is our time to share Jesus with others. 565 00:33:55,800 --> 00:34:01,280 What if, what if instead of warning our kids of all the negativity and the bad in the world, 566 00:34:01,280 --> 00:34:05,360 we gave them vision to be world changers? 567 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:11,060 What if instead of simply just watching live streams from home, we go out and make a difference 568 00:34:11,060 --> 00:34:13,080 in the world? 569 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:18,880 What if instead of spending time with close family this holiday season, we actually connect 570 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:22,640 with those that are forgotten in our society? 571 00:34:22,640 --> 00:34:28,480 See there's so many people that believe this is the worst time to be alive. 572 00:34:28,480 --> 00:34:33,360 The world is spinning out of control, but I believe this is the best time to be alive. 573 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:40,160 I believe this is the best time to share our hope and our faith and all that Jesus has 574 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:41,520 for us. 575 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:49,520 We are sons and daughters of God living on mission to see others set free and changed 576 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:50,720 by the power of God. 577 00:34:50,720 --> 00:34:51,720 Amen. 578 00:34:51,720 --> 00:34:55,400 Will you stand with me? 579 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:58,400 I've invited Elijah and Lauren to share us. 580 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:05,420 I wanted to close in worship and declare that we will have no fear, that we will overcome 581 00:35:05,420 --> 00:35:07,880 our fear with faith. 582 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:28,600 Let's sing together.