WEBVTT 136 00:17:58.125 --> 00:18:02.565 A truth in nature is a ministry dedicated to mentoring 137 00:18:02.935 --> 00:18:03.965 fatherless boys. 138 00:18:04.315 --> 00:18:09.205 What we do is we come alongside these young men 139 00:18:09.585 --> 00:18:13.244 and step in as, as a role model or a father figure in their life. 140 00:18:13.465 --> 00:18:17.445 And I think the most important thing is helping them find their purpose 141 00:18:18.305 --> 00:18:20.285 as a Christian man in society. 142 00:18:20.744 --> 00:18:25.685 We were camping in Umstead Park and they came and 143 00:18:25.686 --> 00:18:28.165 just introduced themselves, told them what, uh, 144 00:18:28.675 --> 00:18:32.725 they were gonna be doing with the program if any of our kids were interested, 145 00:18:32.895 --> 00:18:35.885 especially all the boys. Then, um, 146 00:18:36.645 --> 00:18:37.925 I signed Tyson up right there. 147 00:18:38.705 --> 00:18:43.445 So the typical gathering, um, at least here in North Carolina, 148 00:18:43.984 --> 00:18:48.085 we usually go to this pretty nice farm like area. 149 00:18:49.115 --> 00:18:53.405 It's pretty nice. A lot of people in the group here gather there, 150 00:18:53.915 --> 00:18:58.484 usually just hang out for a bit, maybe do some like archery or something. 151 00:18:59.115 --> 00:18:59.948 Just have fun. 152 00:19:00.744 --> 00:19:02.965 We meet monthly. We have one program a month. 153 00:19:03.115 --> 00:19:07.125 It's always typically on Saturdays. Sometimes they're overnight programs. 154 00:19:07.225 --> 00:19:11.725 And those, those programs can be anything from hunting, uh, fishing, 155 00:19:13.185 --> 00:19:14.018 hiking. 156 00:19:14.145 --> 00:19:18.365 In the beginning we always felt like that our 157 00:19:18.605 --> 00:19:23.244 programs had to be fun or really exciting. 158 00:19:23.785 --> 00:19:28.645 But what we've learned over the years is that the kids enjoy being around 159 00:19:28.646 --> 00:19:29.225 each other. 160 00:19:29.225 --> 00:19:33.805 And I think what keeps 'em coming back is that they get to hang out with a bunch 161 00:19:33.806 --> 00:19:36.765 of other boys that have similar backgrounds. 162 00:19:37.345 --> 00:19:41.125 The most important part of the program is that there is always a devotion. 163 00:19:41.705 --> 00:19:46.405 And what happens in that devotion is myself or another mentor will 164 00:19:46.835 --> 00:19:51.765 open up God's work and then that mentor will lead a discussion on what does 165 00:19:51.766 --> 00:19:54.845 that piece, that verse or that scripture mean to us, 166 00:19:55.105 --> 00:19:57.685 and how can we apply it to our lives as men, 167 00:19:58.744 --> 00:20:01.925 the kids are seeking that part of the program. You know, 168 00:20:02.035 --> 00:20:04.965 they want to know what it is. We have to say. 169 00:20:05.475 --> 00:20:09.845 I've gotten a lot closer to God just since I've joined a long time ago over the 170 00:20:09.846 --> 00:20:13.765 years and since recently when I got baptized, I've gotten really, 171 00:20:13.766 --> 00:20:16.125 really close and a lot of things have changed. 172 00:20:16.835 --> 00:20:21.645 Tyson's been in this group for seven years and I 173 00:20:21.705 --> 00:20:26.045 prayed since he was little, for him to take that step. 174 00:20:27.145 --> 00:20:31.965 And when I woke up to a picture when Tyson 175 00:20:32.025 --> 00:20:37.005 was at camp this past summer of Tyson standing up in front 176 00:20:37.006 --> 00:20:41.845 of a lot of people, I started crying because my prayer was answered. 177 00:20:42.675 --> 00:20:45.085 That he does get closer to God. 178 00:20:45.425 --> 00:20:50.205 If you ask Jamie his mother what the impact has been on his 179 00:20:50.206 --> 00:20:52.365 life, she'll tell you it's been tremendous. 180 00:20:53.065 --> 00:20:55.484 And so I would encourage moms out there to, 181 00:20:55.945 --> 00:21:00.085 to give it a shot that we have so many boys that come in and they say, 182 00:21:00.115 --> 00:21:01.605 he's probably not gonna make it through the program. 183 00:21:01.795 --> 00:21:04.244 He's probably gonna call me, but let's just try it. 184 00:21:04.835 --> 00:21:08.125 I've never had a boy labor program on their first award. 185 00:21:08.705 --> 00:21:12.685 So it is a place where they're safe, 186 00:21:12.955 --> 00:21:17.484 they're surrounded by men who love the Lord and just want to 187 00:21:18.345 --> 00:21:22.525 extend that love to young men and teach 'em what that's about. 188 00:21:22.994 --> 00:21:26.725 This ministry is impacting young men across the nation, 189 00:21:27.465 --> 00:21:30.205 and I just hope that that will encourage people to get involved. 190 00:21:32.635 --> 00:21:36.365 Yeah, man, it's a great story. You know what? Those, 191 00:21:36.545 --> 00:21:41.005 you know what those guys are doing. They're changing the world. Man, 192 00:21:41.006 --> 00:21:45.244 I'm so proud of Bart Hardison and his rowdy group of friends over there at the 193 00:21:45.315 --> 00:21:49.045 Apex campus that are involved in this ministry. Uh, listen, if, if you, uh, 194 00:21:49.385 --> 00:21:50.484 are a single mom, if, 195 00:21:50.505 --> 00:21:53.725 if you know of a single mom who's got a young boy who would benefit from this, 196 00:21:54.145 --> 00:21:56.365 or if you see that thing, man, I would love to be a mentor. 197 00:21:56.835 --> 00:22:01.085 Just drop us an email info@gethope.net. We'd be more than happy to connect you. 198 00:22:01.885 --> 00:22:04.085 Uh, but man, they're doing great things. Uh, 199 00:22:04.325 --> 00:22:08.415 I wanna start outta the gate though, and say this, you too can change the world. 200 00:22:10.215 --> 00:22:11.635 And you might hear that and think, wait a minute. 201 00:22:11.636 --> 00:22:15.875 That's kind of a big statement right outta the gate. Um, but you can, and, 202 00:22:15.876 --> 00:22:16.875 and I want you to hear this quote, 203 00:22:17.255 --> 00:22:22.195 all that's required for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by 204 00:22:22.935 --> 00:22:26.845 and do nothing. Uh, I love this church. 205 00:22:27.125 --> 00:22:30.125 Like it is one of the greatest honors of my life to be a part of Hope Community 206 00:22:30.126 --> 00:22:32.365 Church. Um, I know some phenomenal men, 207 00:22:32.595 --> 00:22:36.484 some incredible women that call like home to all of our campuses that here at 208 00:22:36.485 --> 00:22:40.005 hope. But I want you to, so I want you to listen to this quote again. 209 00:22:40.345 --> 00:22:45.005 All that's required for evil to triumph is for good men and good women 210 00:22:45.984 --> 00:22:49.165 to stand by and do nothing. Uh, 211 00:22:49.915 --> 00:22:54.205 what that's saying is, is that if good people don't actively oppose evil, 212 00:22:54.234 --> 00:22:57.785 then an evil will inevitably prevail. 213 00:22:58.045 --> 00:23:02.705 So it's essentially saying our intentions don't really matter all that much. 214 00:23:03.525 --> 00:23:07.705 Our hope filled dreams for the world around us don't really matter all that much 215 00:23:07.706 --> 00:23:12.505 because inaction by those with good intentions still will allow evil to 216 00:23:12.705 --> 00:23:17.395 flourish. And so if we look around the world right now and we see what we see, 217 00:23:17.415 --> 00:23:21.755 we see a lot of people that don't know how to love really well. Uh, 218 00:23:21.975 --> 00:23:24.275 we see suicide rates higher than they've ever been. 219 00:23:24.734 --> 00:23:28.755 We see families struggling in ways that families have never really struggled 220 00:23:28.756 --> 00:23:31.994 before. Uh, we see numbers of those following Jesus on the decline, 221 00:23:31.995 --> 00:23:33.515 and I just can't help but wonder is, 222 00:23:34.175 --> 00:23:38.795 is it because good men and good women are standing by and being 223 00:23:38.815 --> 00:23:41.795 lulled to sleep in a way that we don't even realize? 224 00:23:43.055 --> 00:23:47.085 We opened this series by talking about how the world right now is lacking two 225 00:23:47.086 --> 00:23:49.244 things. Much of the world is lacking two things right now, 226 00:23:49.595 --> 00:23:53.845 belonging and purpose. Uh, we feel disconnected. We feel like, man, 227 00:23:53.846 --> 00:23:55.325 we're going through life alone. There. 228 00:23:55.326 --> 00:23:59.445 There's no real sense of this is why I'm here in most of our lives. 229 00:23:59.465 --> 00:24:04.405 And the truth is, we were not created to experience life that way. The truth is, 230 00:24:04.465 --> 00:24:07.965 we were actually created, we were born to experience connection. 231 00:24:07.965 --> 00:24:09.725 And if you were a follower of Jesus, 232 00:24:10.345 --> 00:24:14.165 you have been called into the greatest rescue mission of all time. 233 00:24:15.695 --> 00:24:18.085 We're wrapping up a series this week that we've been calling who we Are, 234 00:24:18.105 --> 00:24:22.045 and we're gonna be talking specifically about our call, our responsibility, 235 00:24:22.185 --> 00:24:27.045 and ultimately our purpose as a part of the family of God to share hope with the 236 00:24:27.046 --> 00:24:29.645 world around us. And so if you have your Bibles, I want you to open 'em up. 237 00:24:29.646 --> 00:24:33.605 Turn to Matthew chapter 28. Uh, we're gonna start in verse 16. 238 00:24:34.685 --> 00:24:37.005 Uh, and before we jump in, I just wanna recognize, I think it's funny, 239 00:24:37.125 --> 00:24:39.445 a lot of churches have mission statements, and I'm not dogging that, 240 00:24:39.446 --> 00:24:43.165 like that's a good thing. But as the church, we at our core, 241 00:24:43.295 --> 00:24:47.045 we're followers of Jesus, right? And so, um, whether you know it or not, 242 00:24:47.185 --> 00:24:51.365 you are a part of a movement that ultimately started at the beginning of time, 243 00:24:51.385 --> 00:24:55.605 but probably most directly some 2000 years ago when Jesus rose from the grave 244 00:24:55.606 --> 00:24:57.645 and he went to his disciples and he says, I, 245 00:24:57.755 --> 00:25:02.645 your call is to go into the world and to share the hope that you have in 246 00:25:02.665 --> 00:25:05.965 me with all the nations. We talk about that in, in the church world as the, 247 00:25:06.025 --> 00:25:06.925 the great commission. 248 00:25:07.225 --> 00:25:11.405 The commission that all of us are a part of commission because God has a huge 249 00:25:11.406 --> 00:25:12.239 part to play in that. 250 00:25:12.345 --> 00:25:15.725 And then we as followers of Jesus have a part to play as well. 251 00:25:15.744 --> 00:25:19.325 So when we jump in here, uh, and I say that just to help us know, man, like we, 252 00:25:19.585 --> 00:25:22.244 we actually do have a mission. Jesus gave it to us. 253 00:25:22.984 --> 00:25:26.045 And so at this point where we're about to jump in into Matthew chapter 28, 254 00:25:26.046 --> 00:25:28.845 Jesus has already, he's announced the kingdom of God. He's, 255 00:25:28.955 --> 00:25:32.085 he's said that he was the son of God who came to fulfill the prophesies of the 256 00:25:32.086 --> 00:25:35.005 Old Testament. He's taught what it looks like to walk with God. 257 00:25:35.675 --> 00:25:39.565 He's called people into following him. He's talked about caring for the poor. 258 00:25:39.955 --> 00:25:43.885 He's healed the sick. He's rebuked empty religion and tradition. 259 00:25:43.886 --> 00:25:46.325 He's gone to the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins. 260 00:25:46.515 --> 00:25:47.685 He's risen from the grave, 261 00:25:47.705 --> 00:25:51.484 and right now he's on the side of a mountain with his remaining 11 disciples, 262 00:25:52.185 --> 00:25:56.325 really giving them his last words in per person before he ascends to heaven. 263 00:25:56.984 --> 00:25:59.015 And so, again, 264 00:25:59.135 --> 00:26:04.135 I want you to hear this as a man who is leaving behind 11 guys that he 265 00:26:04.136 --> 00:26:07.015 spent three years discipling and walking alongside him. 266 00:26:07.395 --> 00:26:12.255 So we jump in verse 16, it says, now the 11 disciples went to Galilee, 267 00:26:12.955 --> 00:26:17.055 to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him there, 268 00:26:17.056 --> 00:26:20.465 they worshiped him, but some doubted. 269 00:26:22.585 --> 00:26:25.165 So I just wanna highlight that right outta the gate. 270 00:26:25.255 --> 00:26:28.205 Don't be surprised if you doubt sometimes, like when I come out here and say, 271 00:26:28.206 --> 00:26:31.935 Hey, listen, you can change the world. Like I know each and every one of us, 272 00:26:32.135 --> 00:26:33.695 probably in the back of my eyes, like, yeah, I don't know. 273 00:26:33.715 --> 00:26:35.494 I'm supposed to change the world, man, I got a job. 274 00:26:36.675 --> 00:26:38.765 Like I got something I gotta do. Have you seen my kids? 275 00:26:39.155 --> 00:26:41.445 Like that requires a little bit of attention. Uh, 276 00:26:41.565 --> 00:26:44.845 I have heard someone say before, it's quite possible for some of us in life, 277 00:26:44.865 --> 00:26:47.685 one of the greatest things that we accomplish in lives is not necessarily 278 00:26:47.686 --> 00:26:49.685 something that we do, but someone that we raise. 279 00:26:49.705 --> 00:26:51.205 So that's just something to be considered. 280 00:26:51.305 --> 00:26:53.205 But don't be surprised if you doubt your calling. 281 00:26:53.655 --> 00:26:56.205 Don't be surprised if you doubt that God wants to use you. 282 00:26:56.244 --> 00:26:58.325 I think it's worth pointing out that these men, 283 00:26:58.635 --> 00:27:03.244 they walked with Jesus for three years. They saw him perform miracles. 284 00:27:03.875 --> 00:27:06.965 They were told he was gonna die and raise from the dead. 285 00:27:06.966 --> 00:27:11.515 And they're looking at him face to face and they still carried doubt. 286 00:27:13.275 --> 00:27:17.295 And sometimes I think we're so hard on ourselves when it comes to our faith, 287 00:27:17.296 --> 00:27:19.494 like we tell ourselves, unless we understand everything, 288 00:27:19.495 --> 00:27:23.815 unless we intellectually get everything or we're 100% certain of the next step 289 00:27:23.816 --> 00:27:27.335 we're supposed to take, we might not have what it takes to say yes to Jesus. 290 00:27:27.715 --> 00:27:29.375 And I want you to know I'm a pastor 291 00:27:31.035 --> 00:27:35.535 and I struggle with believing at times that God really can use me in the way 292 00:27:35.536 --> 00:27:38.775 that I believe He's calling me to take steps of faith in my life. 293 00:27:38.994 --> 00:27:41.855 And so I want us to understand, man, believing the gospel takes faith. 294 00:27:42.595 --> 00:27:45.895 And so for those of us who find ourselves at times in a place of doubt, 295 00:27:45.896 --> 00:27:49.095 that maybe God can use us, we're in good company. 296 00:27:50.455 --> 00:27:53.605 Verse 18. And Jesus came to them and said, 297 00:27:53.845 --> 00:27:57.005 all authority and heaven and on earth has been given to me. 298 00:27:57.185 --> 00:28:00.925 So he has all the authority. Okay? So, um, and remember, 299 00:28:00.926 --> 00:28:03.965 let's hear this in terms of belonging and in terms of purpose, 300 00:28:04.305 --> 00:28:05.605 but understand if this is true, 301 00:28:06.165 --> 00:28:08.965 which it is all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, 302 00:28:09.115 --> 00:28:14.065 then what he's about to say is incredibly important. Verse 19, 303 00:28:15.665 --> 00:28:19.205 go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 304 00:28:19.795 --> 00:28:23.685 baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 305 00:28:24.984 --> 00:28:28.565 So we talked last week and what it means to follow Jesus about our call, 306 00:28:28.585 --> 00:28:31.365 to repent and then to be baptized. And Jesus is saying, 307 00:28:31.425 --> 00:28:35.045 go and share and call people and responding to the gospel of Jesus. 308 00:28:35.845 --> 00:28:40.645 Like we have to understand the only real hope that we have in life is 309 00:28:40.646 --> 00:28:44.325 Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Scripture tells us in the New Testament, 310 00:28:44.326 --> 00:28:46.885 like without the resurrection, man, we don't have a whole lot. 311 00:28:46.886 --> 00:28:47.925 That's what gives us hope, 312 00:28:48.075 --> 00:28:52.205 that all this brokenness around us in this world is going to be put back 313 00:28:52.365 --> 00:28:54.165 together again. So the first point I wanna make for is, 314 00:28:54.425 --> 00:28:57.885 is we share hope by lifting up the gospel. 315 00:28:58.545 --> 00:29:00.245 That's what Jesus calls us into, man. 316 00:29:00.246 --> 00:29:03.405 That's at the core of everything that we do. He goes on verse 20, 317 00:29:04.565 --> 00:29:08.895 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, 318 00:29:09.395 --> 00:29:11.575 I'm with you always to the end of the age. 319 00:29:11.576 --> 00:29:14.975 That last little part that should be some comfort for us. Um, 320 00:29:15.235 --> 00:29:17.815 God calls us into big things. We go through difficult times. 321 00:29:17.985 --> 00:29:21.175 Jesus reminds us here like I'm always gonna be with you. He leaves, 322 00:29:21.235 --> 00:29:23.935 he ascends to heaven, but he sends us back the Holy Spirit. 323 00:29:26.005 --> 00:29:29.785 But he's, he's saying it's not just calling others to embrace the gospel, 324 00:29:30.685 --> 00:29:34.495 but also teaching others and into following the ways of Jesus. See, 325 00:29:34.496 --> 00:29:38.135 Jesus is both our savior who saves us from our sin. 326 00:29:39.025 --> 00:29:41.485 He saves us from getting what we deserve through his, 327 00:29:41.755 --> 00:29:45.925 what he paid for on the cross. But he's also our Lord, like he's our king. 328 00:29:46.185 --> 00:29:49.365 And so he as a king, he has a kingdom. He has a way, 329 00:29:49.765 --> 00:29:51.885 a better way to live our lives through his kingdom. 330 00:29:51.985 --> 00:29:56.165 And so there is a way that the world will disciple men and women and young 331 00:29:56.166 --> 00:29:59.445 people. But as the family of God, 332 00:30:00.065 --> 00:30:02.525 we live under the reign and under the rule of Jesus. 333 00:30:03.365 --> 00:30:06.185 And then we have a responsibility to go into the world. 334 00:30:06.186 --> 00:30:10.105 We have a purpose as followers of Jesus to call other people into what that 335 00:30:10.265 --> 00:30:14.465 means, into what that means. I do, I want, 336 00:30:14.785 --> 00:30:17.585 and I wanna say this really clearly 'cause I think this gets missed in a lot of 337 00:30:17.745 --> 00:30:19.305 churches, especially churches like hope, 338 00:30:20.175 --> 00:30:23.855 this is not the work of paid professionals. Um, 339 00:30:24.145 --> 00:30:28.895 Jesus is giving this command to his disciples to go into the world and to make 340 00:30:29.055 --> 00:30:31.815 disciples teaching them to obey all the things that we're obeying. 341 00:30:31.816 --> 00:30:34.775 So if we are a follower of Jesus, like if we've been called into, 342 00:30:34.776 --> 00:30:39.375 if we have stepped into the family of God, these are words for us as well. 343 00:30:41.855 --> 00:30:45.195 So what does it mean to share hope? We share hope by lifting up the gospel. 344 00:30:45.975 --> 00:30:49.155 Second point that we see here, that Jesus is talking about calling us into, 345 00:30:49.175 --> 00:30:54.045 we share hope by teaching the ways of Jesus. Now, 346 00:30:54.046 --> 00:30:55.405 I wanna recognize that, um, 347 00:30:56.835 --> 00:31:00.785 for some of us that can probably be intimidating. 348 00:31:01.615 --> 00:31:05.665 There's probably many of us who are not confident in calling people into 349 00:31:05.666 --> 00:31:06.585 responding to the gospel, 350 00:31:06.735 --> 00:31:10.785 much less into teaching people exactly what it is that Jesus taught. 351 00:31:10.786 --> 00:31:14.265 And so I want you to hear me say, if that is you, that is okay 352 00:31:16.005 --> 00:31:19.265 for now. Like that's not okay forever, but it's okay for now. 353 00:31:19.266 --> 00:31:22.345 But we have a responsibility as your pastors and as your teachers, 354 00:31:22.346 --> 00:31:24.425 as your leadership to teach you how to do this. 355 00:31:24.426 --> 00:31:27.745 Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians that it is the responsibility of church 356 00:31:27.746 --> 00:31:32.545 leadership to equip the church for the work of ministry. And so again, 357 00:31:32.546 --> 00:31:35.305 it's easy to get lost in a big church like this and think, no, no, no, 358 00:31:35.385 --> 00:31:37.545 I show up and then there's paid professionals to do this. 359 00:31:37.945 --> 00:31:39.625 I would be holding back if I didn't tell you. 360 00:31:39.626 --> 00:31:42.465 This actually is foundational to our identity, 361 00:31:42.805 --> 00:31:46.625 to the calling that we have as a part of the family of God. 362 00:31:46.685 --> 00:31:48.825 So we all have a responsibility to share the gospel. 363 00:31:49.185 --> 00:31:50.018 It's not just for the evangelists. 364 00:31:50.045 --> 00:31:53.065 We all have a responsibility to call other people and to fall in the ways of 365 00:31:53.066 --> 00:31:54.585 Jesus. Having said that, 366 00:31:55.175 --> 00:31:59.945 sharing the gospel is not the only way that we share hope as followers of Jesus. 367 00:32:00.985 --> 00:32:00.986 Uh, 368 00:32:00.986 --> 00:32:04.545 we've talked about in the last few weeks that God's heart has always been to, 369 00:32:05.005 --> 00:32:05.586 to have a, 370 00:32:05.586 --> 00:32:10.105 people like to have a family that realize they are blessed to be a blessing. 371 00:32:11.415 --> 00:32:13.235 We see in the book of James, it says, 372 00:32:13.236 --> 00:32:17.355 true religion is this to care for orphans and widows. Uh, Jesus, 373 00:32:17.385 --> 00:32:18.275 when he walked on earth, 374 00:32:18.335 --> 00:32:21.395 he continually went to the down and outers to those that were hurting the 375 00:32:21.396 --> 00:32:22.795 outcast. He actually said, 376 00:32:22.796 --> 00:32:26.515 there's gonna be a day where you realize that anytime you fed somebody that was 377 00:32:26.516 --> 00:32:30.595 hungry, anytime that you went to visit somebody in, in prison, 378 00:32:30.945 --> 00:32:34.835 dare I say, anytime that you met the most pressing needs of our community. 379 00:32:35.565 --> 00:32:40.385 Jesus says, it's like you were doing that unto me. And, and then on top of that, 380 00:32:40.405 --> 00:32:41.785 we see in scripture, uh, 381 00:32:41.786 --> 00:32:45.545 that a church that's on mission to meet the practical needs of a city man, 382 00:32:45.546 --> 00:32:48.225 it's a powerful force in pointing people to God. 383 00:32:49.945 --> 00:32:52.405 To see a picture, uh, of what I'm talking about here. Uh, 384 00:32:52.445 --> 00:32:54.645 I want you to turn back to the Old Testament. 385 00:32:54.646 --> 00:32:58.405 We're gonna take a look at Jeremiah chapter 29 and, uh, 386 00:32:58.825 --> 00:33:00.605 to know what's going on here in the book of Jeremiah, 387 00:33:00.606 --> 00:33:05.085 you've got the Israelites who are God's chosen people in exile in 388 00:33:05.195 --> 00:33:09.445 Babylon. So around 5 86 bc uh, 389 00:33:09.446 --> 00:33:12.485 the Babylonians led by King Nebuchadnezzar, they conquered Jerusalem, 390 00:33:12.486 --> 00:33:13.525 they had destroyed the temple, 391 00:33:13.705 --> 00:33:17.085 and then they sent a large number of Israelites back to Babylon, 392 00:33:17.875 --> 00:33:21.625 completely devastating to the Israelites like they were forced to, 393 00:33:21.985 --> 00:33:23.345 to leave their homeland. 394 00:33:23.346 --> 00:33:28.305 And then to go live in a different nation under a pagan rule in a place of 395 00:33:28.306 --> 00:33:31.705 hopelessness, struggling to figure out like how do we maintain our identity? 396 00:33:31.965 --> 00:33:36.225 How do we maintain our faith in God while living in a foreign land? 397 00:33:36.285 --> 00:33:40.545 And so I just wanna ask you a question before we jump into the text here. 398 00:33:40.565 --> 00:33:42.185 See what it is that God has to say to them. 399 00:33:43.335 --> 00:33:46.985 What would you be tempted to do if hypothetically 400 00:33:48.305 --> 00:33:52.885 you were forced to live in a land that seemingly was working against everything 401 00:33:52.886 --> 00:33:56.295 that you knew to be good and right? Hypothetically speaking, 402 00:33:57.255 --> 00:34:01.865 what would our posture be? Prophet Jeremiah writes this to God's people, 403 00:34:02.865 --> 00:34:05.825 uh, on behalf of God. It says in verse four, thus says, 404 00:34:05.845 --> 00:34:10.545 the Lord of hosts the God of Israel to all the exiles I 405 00:34:10.775 --> 00:34:15.545 have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 406 00:34:17.265 --> 00:34:20.705 Do you catch that little piece right there? God says, 407 00:34:20.706 --> 00:34:22.305 to all the exiles I have sent, 408 00:34:22.306 --> 00:34:25.225 like God takes ownership right out of the gate of where they are. 409 00:34:26.535 --> 00:34:28.155 And so I think we gotta recognize, 410 00:34:28.156 --> 00:34:31.515 just because you find yourself in a society that doesn't worship God, 411 00:34:32.815 --> 00:34:36.445 it doesn't mean that God's panicked or the god's outta control. 412 00:34:37.535 --> 00:34:42.155 And uh, I want you to remember that on November 6th, , 413 00:34:42.625 --> 00:34:46.715 when the preferred candidate that you vote for either is or isn't elected, okay, 414 00:34:46.805 --> 00:34:49.555 God's on the, is still on the throne. He's not surprised. He's not thrown. 415 00:34:49.935 --> 00:34:54.515 He says, listen, I I am aware I have sent you here. Verse five, 416 00:34:54.815 --> 00:34:59.005 here's the game plan. Build houses, live in them, 417 00:34:59.975 --> 00:35:02.364 plant gardens, eat their produce. 418 00:35:03.415 --> 00:35:05.485 These are things that take a while to do, right? 419 00:35:05.486 --> 00:35:08.205 This doesn't sound like this end. You're gonna be out tomorrow. He says, 420 00:35:08.206 --> 00:35:12.965 stay a while. Build houses. Don't sign the 12 to 24 month lease. Like, like, 421 00:35:12.995 --> 00:35:17.835 know you're gonna be here. Engage in daily life. Verse six, 422 00:35:17.905 --> 00:35:20.675 take wives and have sons and daughters. 423 00:35:21.675 --> 00:35:25.975 Take wives for your sons and give your daughters and marriage that they may bear 424 00:35:26.045 --> 00:35:29.815 sons and daughters. Multiply there and do not decrease. In case you miss that, 425 00:35:29.816 --> 00:35:32.815 that's like three generations. Like get married, have kids, 426 00:35:33.155 --> 00:35:36.255 see that they get married. See that they have kids. Like he's saying, 427 00:35:36.435 --> 00:35:38.205 you're gonna be raising families here. 428 00:35:38.206 --> 00:35:41.885 You're gonna be in this land for a long time while you're there. 429 00:35:42.035 --> 00:35:46.005 Seek the continuation of the identity that it is that I've given you. 430 00:35:48.265 --> 00:35:49.195 Dare I say to us, 431 00:35:49.295 --> 00:35:52.635 the best thing that we can do as followers of Jesus in America today, 432 00:35:52.636 --> 00:35:57.114 or whatever country that you're watching this or listening to this in, 433 00:35:57.375 --> 00:36:02.235 is to live life fully bought into the identity of living life as a family of God 434 00:36:02.495 --> 00:36:05.875 who loves God, follows Jesus and shares hope. 435 00:36:07.855 --> 00:36:10.405 But don't just live there, verse seven. 436 00:36:11.815 --> 00:36:16.675 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and 437 00:36:16.745 --> 00:36:20.175 pray to the Lord on its behalf, or in its welfare, 438 00:36:20.715 --> 00:36:24.205 you will find welfare. He says, 439 00:36:24.206 --> 00:36:28.905 work for the welfare of the city where, where I have sent you, 440 00:36:30.065 --> 00:36:30.995 I've placed you there. 441 00:36:31.225 --> 00:36:35.795 This isn't an accident like we are placed in the time and space and in the 442 00:36:35.796 --> 00:36:39.795 cities, whether it's apex, Raleigh, Kerry, Northwest, Kerry, Fuqua, garner. 443 00:36:39.815 --> 00:36:41.195 God has placed us where we are. 444 00:36:41.355 --> 00:36:44.195 And notice he doesn't say stay at home and hope for the best. 445 00:36:45.935 --> 00:36:48.875 He doesn't say their problems are their problems. He says, 446 00:36:49.015 --> 00:36:53.555 put intentional effort into ensuring that your city and to ensuring your 447 00:36:53.556 --> 00:36:58.245 community is thriving. And he also says, 448 00:36:58.555 --> 00:37:02.355 pray to the Lord on its behalf. Listen, 449 00:37:03.864 --> 00:37:04.975 these were their enemies. 450 00:37:07.255 --> 00:37:10.225 They stood opposed to everything God's people stood for, 451 00:37:11.364 --> 00:37:15.025 but he says it's peace. Remember the word from last week, it's shalom. 452 00:37:16.364 --> 00:37:18.445 Like the overall experience of peace in this life. 453 00:37:19.475 --> 00:37:24.285 It's shalom will affect yours. So pray for it. 454 00:37:25.185 --> 00:37:25.726 He said, you, 455 00:37:25.726 --> 00:37:28.445 you wanna experience more of God's kingdom in your day-to-day life. You, 456 00:37:28.446 --> 00:37:30.525 you wanna experience more hope in your day-to-day life. 457 00:37:30.795 --> 00:37:33.925 Seek the welfare of your city. Seek the welfare of, of your suburb. 458 00:37:34.405 --> 00:37:36.605 might be more appropriate for, for most of us, 459 00:37:36.675 --> 00:37:40.364 seek the welfare of your college campus. Seek the welfare of your dorm room. 460 00:37:40.665 --> 00:37:45.475 But don't miss this, pray for it. Don't just seek it, pray for it. 461 00:37:45.476 --> 00:37:46.635 And I'll ask us this question, 462 00:37:48.955 --> 00:37:52.335 do we pray for our cities and seek the welfare of our cities 463 00:37:53.855 --> 00:37:57.775 as much as we complain about our cities or post about our cities on social 464 00:37:57.776 --> 00:38:02.295 media? Because best I can tell, 465 00:38:03.475 --> 00:38:08.215 God really cares about how we live life within the city that he's planted us. 466 00:38:10.535 --> 00:38:11.368 And uh, 467 00:38:11.855 --> 00:38:16.675 the temptation for so many in the world is to look to the 468 00:38:16.676 --> 00:38:17.509 world, 469 00:38:17.775 --> 00:38:21.995 to go out into the world and to look to the world and expect the world to be 470 00:38:21.996 --> 00:38:26.245 able to fix their brokenness. We can find it in success. 471 00:38:26.265 --> 00:38:29.125 We can find the business place if we can just get the economy the way that it's 472 00:38:29.165 --> 00:38:31.405 supposed to be. If we can just get the right elected official. 473 00:38:31.406 --> 00:38:34.685 If I can just get the right relationship, not so within the family of God, 474 00:38:34.705 --> 00:38:38.965 within the family of God, we look to Jesus to find healing for our brokenness. 475 00:38:39.625 --> 00:38:41.405 And then as we find that healing, 476 00:38:41.585 --> 00:38:44.685 we take that hope out into a broken world. 477 00:38:46.415 --> 00:38:49.555 That's what we do as followers of Jesus. But this does beg the question, 478 00:38:49.745 --> 00:38:52.235 like if we're talking about what it means to share hope, if that's true, 479 00:38:53.715 --> 00:38:58.515 we gotta ask ourselves, have we been healed by Jesus? 480 00:39:00.925 --> 00:39:04.545 And, and I know I said this last week, but man the gospel, 481 00:39:06.025 --> 00:39:08.465 it's not something that we just need, like this one time thing. 482 00:39:09.195 --> 00:39:13.485 Like we constantly have to go back to who Jesus is and what he's done for us and 483 00:39:13.486 --> 00:39:17.965 figure out, I mean, how does the gospel apply to this brokenness in my life? 484 00:39:20.525 --> 00:39:23.725 But I want us to be careful not to be discipled by a world that wants us to 485 00:39:23.726 --> 00:39:24.126 believe that, 486 00:39:24.126 --> 00:39:28.585 that a political party is gonna save us discipled by a world that tells us it's 487 00:39:28.586 --> 00:39:29.905 our education or success. 488 00:39:30.165 --> 00:39:32.905 Or if we just have a little bit more money in our own personal bank account, 489 00:39:32.925 --> 00:39:35.545 that's going to be what brings us more hope. 490 00:39:37.565 --> 00:39:41.165 We gotta understand the only hope for our world, our nation, 491 00:39:42.185 --> 00:39:42.905 our state. 492 00:39:42.905 --> 00:39:46.685 And I think we saw this when the disaster hit in the western part of our state 493 00:39:46.686 --> 00:39:47.725 through Hurricane Helene, 494 00:39:47.726 --> 00:39:50.605 like it was the church that actually went there and rose up. 495 00:39:50.606 --> 00:39:52.805 The only hope for our schools, our neighborhoods, our homes, 496 00:39:52.985 --> 00:39:57.605 is the family of God stepping up and sharing hope with the world around us and 497 00:39:57.606 --> 00:40:01.245 praying for the shalom and the peace of where God's placed us. 498 00:40:02.094 --> 00:40:05.965 Jesus says this in Matthew five 13 through 16. He says, 499 00:40:05.985 --> 00:40:09.885 you were the salt to the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, 500 00:40:10.265 --> 00:40:11.925 how shall it saltiness be restored? 501 00:40:13.525 --> 00:40:17.525 It's no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under 502 00:40:17.526 --> 00:40:21.165 people's feet. So salt was a preservative, right? 503 00:40:23.355 --> 00:40:27.735 It was used to keep things better for longer. That's what salt did. It says, 504 00:40:27.895 --> 00:40:29.175 man. And so what this is saying, 505 00:40:29.275 --> 00:40:33.415 if we are not stepping into the world and preserving the world by sharing hope, 506 00:40:35.665 --> 00:40:37.795 what good are we being as followers of Christ? 507 00:40:40.145 --> 00:40:43.614 Verse 14, you're the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, 508 00:40:43.955 --> 00:40:46.215 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, 509 00:40:46.955 --> 00:40:50.855 but on a stand and it gives light to all the house. And the same way, 510 00:40:51.275 --> 00:40:55.335 let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give 511 00:40:55.465 --> 00:41:00.215 glory to your father who is in heaven. He says, you are the light of the world. 512 00:41:02.235 --> 00:41:03.795 He says, Manam, if we live this way, 513 00:41:05.364 --> 00:41:07.425 we gotta know it's not just for social justice. 514 00:41:07.614 --> 00:41:10.425 It's not just to check a box to make us feel good about ourselves. 515 00:41:10.705 --> 00:41:11.306 Remember we said, man, 516 00:41:11.306 --> 00:41:13.665 people before they actually have a reason to hear what we say, 517 00:41:13.735 --> 00:41:16.225 when we share the gospel with 'em, they actually have to know, 518 00:41:16.226 --> 00:41:19.344 they need to know that they're loved. Jesus is saying, as you do this, 519 00:41:19.585 --> 00:41:22.185 as the family of God, your world, the neighbors, your friends, 520 00:41:22.415 --> 00:41:26.265 they will see your good works and give glory to your father who's in heaven. 521 00:41:32.755 --> 00:41:33.805 When, when that happens, 522 00:41:34.355 --> 00:41:37.245 when people see the love that we have for the world around us, 523 00:41:37.995 --> 00:41:40.125 when they start to give glory to our Father in heaven, 524 00:41:40.126 --> 00:41:42.645 that's the opportunity that we have to actually share the gospel, 525 00:41:42.785 --> 00:41:43.885 to share the good news with them. 526 00:41:46.665 --> 00:41:51.405 We have a call in our lives, we have a purpose on our lives to share hope. 527 00:41:52.475 --> 00:41:56.815 And God's placed us exactly where he wants us to be as the family of God who 528 00:41:56.816 --> 00:41:57.515 love him, 529 00:41:57.515 --> 00:42:02.015 who followed Jesus to pray and to seek the welfare of our cities and to bring 530 00:42:02.045 --> 00:42:05.255 hope and to share the gospel to the world around us. 531 00:42:05.635 --> 00:42:09.575 So how do we share hope as God's people? We share hope by lifting up the gospel. 532 00:42:10.725 --> 00:42:12.705 We share hope by teaching the ways of Jesus, 533 00:42:14.015 --> 00:42:17.835 and we share hope by investing in our communities and in our church. 534 00:42:20.885 --> 00:42:25.605 I wanna give us like four really simple practical ways that we can actually take 535 00:42:25.645 --> 00:42:28.364 a step as a church to share hope with the world around us in the coming weeks 536 00:42:28.805 --> 00:42:29.638 and the coming months. 537 00:42:31.025 --> 00:42:35.965 The first place that we need to be sharing hope as the family of God is 538 00:42:35.966 --> 00:42:38.405 within our own families. Um, 539 00:42:38.675 --> 00:42:42.965 make no mistake like the makeup of the local church. It is a family of families. 540 00:42:43.265 --> 00:42:46.005 And so if we're looking to share hope with the world around us, man, 541 00:42:46.006 --> 00:42:49.565 we can only do that to the extent of which our own families are strong. 542 00:42:50.775 --> 00:42:54.555 And so, men, women, dads, moms, 543 00:42:54.556 --> 00:42:58.835 like we have a responsibility to set the spiritual climate inside of our 544 00:42:59.035 --> 00:43:00.635 families to be constantly sharing the gospel, 545 00:43:01.435 --> 00:43:04.735 to be constantly teaching the ways of Jesus, to be constantly looking for, Hey, 546 00:43:04.736 --> 00:43:05.775 what are the needs of my family? 547 00:43:06.005 --> 00:43:09.175 What are the needs in our neighborhood that we can actually go and model with 548 00:43:09.176 --> 00:43:14.175 our kids? What it means to live this out? May, maybe you're single, 549 00:43:14.176 --> 00:43:16.935 maybe it's maybe you're a college student and it's your dorm room. 550 00:43:16.936 --> 00:43:19.215 Maybe it's at work and it's your department of work. But man, 551 00:43:19.216 --> 00:43:23.455 what does it look like to actually share hope within the context of the group of 552 00:43:23.456 --> 00:43:26.575 people where God has uniquely placed us? Second area, 553 00:43:26.594 --> 00:43:29.015 we can share hope coming up. And I'm gonna tell you, 554 00:43:29.645 --> 00:43:31.335 this is gonna surprise you a little bit, 555 00:43:31.935 --> 00:43:33.455 probably talk about this once every four years. 556 00:43:34.685 --> 00:43:37.745 But one place that we need to step up and share hope is in the voters booth. 557 00:43:41.645 --> 00:43:45.165 I believe it's irresponsible as a follower of Jesus 558 00:43:46.545 --> 00:43:50.555 to not show up and to vote. Um, 559 00:43:51.075 --> 00:43:54.355 I assure you that there are people who are opposed to the things of God, 560 00:43:55.165 --> 00:43:57.985 and they will show up and they will vote and they have an agenda, 561 00:43:58.325 --> 00:43:59.385 and it's not God's kingdom. 562 00:44:01.525 --> 00:44:05.344 You have an opportunity to seek the welfare of your community 563 00:44:06.485 --> 00:44:09.025 as you know it to be true through God's word. 564 00:44:09.965 --> 00:44:13.505 And so when Jesus says, you're the salt of the earth, 565 00:44:13.885 --> 00:44:17.785 and salt is like a preservative, what that means is it slows decay. 566 00:44:17.786 --> 00:44:20.785 And so as a follower of Jesus, we're not asking the question, Hey, 567 00:44:20.786 --> 00:44:24.825 who's free from flaws? We know who that is, that's Jesus. As a Christian, 568 00:44:24.955 --> 00:44:29.545 we're saying, whose policies are most likely to slow societal decay? 569 00:44:31.475 --> 00:44:34.235 That's the question that we need to ask. And so you might say, I, I don't know. 570 00:44:34.315 --> 00:44:37.114 I just feel like I'm choosing between the lesser of two evils right now. 571 00:44:39.015 --> 00:44:42.835 You are , you absolutely are. That's good news, man. 572 00:44:43.325 --> 00:44:44.875 There is one savior there. 573 00:44:44.876 --> 00:44:48.435 You're not gonna find it's good news that you recognize that you're not gonna 574 00:44:48.436 --> 00:44:52.075 find the perfect candidate, that one's Jesus. But as a follower of Jesus, 575 00:44:52.215 --> 00:44:56.715 my advice is, is to cha is to challenge you, to take your Jesus formed, 576 00:44:56.875 --> 00:44:59.075 I would say biblically formed values, 577 00:44:59.175 --> 00:45:04.114 and then decide which government system is going to work towards that end. 578 00:45:05.015 --> 00:45:08.435 We have to know that like the election season is bigger than one specific 579 00:45:08.436 --> 00:45:12.995 candidate. When you elect a government, you elect an entire complex of persons, 580 00:45:13.395 --> 00:45:16.715 uh, of appointees, of judges, justices. You go down the list. 581 00:45:17.765 --> 00:45:22.185 Please do your part in seeking the welfare of our nation and jump in the voter's 582 00:45:22.186 --> 00:45:26.665 booth. Um, for the last two, uh, I wanna highlight, uh, 583 00:45:26.685 --> 00:45:30.545 our tangible strategy as a church to share hope with the world around us. 584 00:45:31.205 --> 00:45:33.344 And so you gotta understand this is, um, 585 00:45:34.035 --> 00:45:36.465 everything that we do when we talk about sharing hope, 586 00:45:38.185 --> 00:45:39.985 I think at some point I'm just gonna have to drink some water. 587 00:45:43.065 --> 00:45:46.945 I actually started getting sick last Saturday morning, woke up, 588 00:45:46.946 --> 00:45:47.945 still preaching Sunday, 589 00:45:48.005 --> 00:45:50.585 and the first part of this week has been rough thought I was feeling good. 590 00:45:50.586 --> 00:45:52.185 Looks like we're on the rebound, 591 00:45:52.205 --> 00:45:56.025 but it's definitely still got something going on. Okay, listen, our, 592 00:45:57.594 --> 00:46:02.575 our call as a church is first and foremost to pursue the kingdom of God, 593 00:46:03.614 --> 00:46:06.135 is to look to advance the kingdom of God, is to look to see the, 594 00:46:06.136 --> 00:46:09.415 the kingdom of God lived out. That's the Big C Church, okay? 595 00:46:09.525 --> 00:46:12.375 That is over and above the name of Hope Community Church. 596 00:46:13.275 --> 00:46:17.295 That's what we're a part of. And so when we talk about sharing hope, 597 00:46:17.715 --> 00:46:21.375 we gotta recognize one place that we need to be sharing hope is in our everyday 598 00:46:21.376 --> 00:46:22.209 life 599 00:46:23.055 --> 00:46:27.215 in places and spaces where there's people who may never step foot into a hope 600 00:46:27.216 --> 00:46:30.855 Community Church campus. Uh, we talk a lot around here about sharing hope, 601 00:46:31.094 --> 00:46:33.735 where we live, learn, work, and play. Um, 602 00:46:33.835 --> 00:46:36.455 the video that we saw at the beginning, uh, 603 00:46:36.645 --> 00:46:40.055 Bart Hardison and that crew over at Apex, here's what they did. 604 00:46:40.085 --> 00:46:44.335 They live life and they saw men. There are young boys who don't have dads, 605 00:46:44.405 --> 00:46:46.295 like they need men in their lives. 606 00:46:46.315 --> 00:46:49.775 And then there's this organization that's kinda meeting that need. 607 00:46:49.795 --> 00:46:51.614 We can jump in and, and we can partner. 608 00:46:53.325 --> 00:46:56.895 Like there are so many different opportunities to share the hope of Jesus, 609 00:46:57.035 --> 00:46:58.215 to share the gospel of Jesus, 610 00:46:58.535 --> 00:47:01.575 to to meet the tangible needs of our community that we as a church could never 611 00:47:01.576 --> 00:47:05.735 program to. But God has placed you, 612 00:47:06.235 --> 00:47:10.895 has sent you to those places to do just that. Um, I I want you to know, 613 00:47:10.935 --> 00:47:15.015 I I see a day, and it's not gonna be tomorrow. 614 00:47:15.275 --> 00:47:17.055 It might be a year from now, it might be two years from now, 615 00:47:17.056 --> 00:47:20.455 it might be three years from now, where there's hundreds of small groups, 616 00:47:20.565 --> 00:47:24.094 missional communities from Hope Community Church to just live life this way. 617 00:47:24.285 --> 00:47:26.655 They say, here's what we do. We, we break bread together. We, 618 00:47:26.656 --> 00:47:28.855 we share a meal together each week. We, 619 00:47:28.875 --> 00:47:32.565 we spent time and prayer for one another. We care for one another's families. 620 00:47:32.566 --> 00:47:35.645 We meet the needs inside of each families. We're devoted, uh, 621 00:47:35.665 --> 00:47:38.844 to scripture together, just like what you see in Acts chapter two. Um, 622 00:47:39.145 --> 00:47:40.085 but not only that, 623 00:47:41.045 --> 00:47:45.205 we we're intentionally seeking the welfare of the community where God has placed 624 00:47:45.206 --> 00:47:49.125 us since we've identified a need and we're doing everything that we can do to 625 00:47:49.126 --> 00:47:52.285 seek its welfare, because we know in its welfare we will find welfare. 626 00:47:52.585 --> 00:47:56.364 And it just so happens that the world might just see our good deeds and give 627 00:47:56.365 --> 00:47:57.525 glory to our father in heaven, 628 00:47:57.785 --> 00:48:01.765 and we will have an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 629 00:48:05.045 --> 00:48:09.745 Fourth area, uh, I wanna call us into sharing hope is at your campus. 630 00:48:10.765 --> 00:48:14.425 Now, like I said, we, this whole thing is about God's kingdom. 631 00:48:14.775 --> 00:48:17.465 It's not about hope, but when you read the New Testament, 632 00:48:17.525 --> 00:48:22.505 you see that the primary vehicle that God intends to use to advance his kingdom 633 00:48:23.325 --> 00:48:24.425 is the local church. 634 00:48:26.364 --> 00:48:30.105 And so we have initiatives that we do program as a church. 635 00:48:30.106 --> 00:48:32.825 We have local hope initiatives. You know, we partner, uh, 636 00:48:32.855 --> 00:48:36.785 with Ship of Zion to serve, um, vulnerable women, uh, 637 00:48:36.786 --> 00:48:39.225 who've been pulled out of human trafficking to help them get back up on their 638 00:48:39.226 --> 00:48:43.745 feet. Um, we have a food pantry where we look to serve the under-resourced. 639 00:48:43.755 --> 00:48:48.065 We've obviously raised a ton of cash and sent it to Western 640 00:48:48.075 --> 00:48:49.745 North Carolina. We've got, uh, 641 00:48:49.746 --> 00:48:51.945 teams that are heading to Western North Carolina this weekend. 642 00:48:51.965 --> 00:48:55.665 So we have global initiatives. Uh, we've got a team that is leaving, uh, 643 00:48:55.855 --> 00:48:58.785 this weekend depending on, on when you hear this message, uh, 644 00:48:58.786 --> 00:49:02.625 to go to a country that I can't even name, um, for the sake of safety, 645 00:49:02.864 --> 00:49:06.105 I can say that it's in the Far east and they're going over to share the gospel 646 00:49:06.445 --> 00:49:09.625 and to help build God's kingdom there. We've got ministry partners, uh, 647 00:49:09.685 --> 00:49:13.864 in Haiti, ministry partners in France, uh, um, in Nicaragua, 648 00:49:14.825 --> 00:49:17.905 and I mean all over the planet. We're partnered with different folks. 649 00:49:17.906 --> 00:49:22.344 There's opportunities to jump in, But man, 650 00:49:22.345 --> 00:49:25.625 we've also got opportunities specifically at your campus. And I said, 651 00:49:25.825 --> 00:49:29.225 I wanna talk to you about our tangible strategies. One of the primary ways, 652 00:49:29.226 --> 00:49:31.185 and we put a lot of resources into this, 653 00:49:31.495 --> 00:49:33.225 into sharing hope with the world around us, 654 00:49:34.045 --> 00:49:36.745 is by these worship gatherings that we do every single weekend. 655 00:49:38.895 --> 00:49:43.155 And we have people show up and they need to be welcomed. Uh, 656 00:49:43.156 --> 00:49:46.385 we have young people who show up who, man, 657 00:49:46.485 --> 00:49:48.745 you wanna talk about looking for belonging and purpose. 658 00:49:50.285 --> 00:49:51.825 And we have these environments, man, 659 00:49:51.826 --> 00:49:56.344 and there there are a space where we need people to step up and to jump in. 660 00:49:56.505 --> 00:49:58.545 I I wanna share some stories, um, 661 00:49:58.695 --> 00:50:03.145 that some of our campus pastors shared with me here of some different things 662 00:50:03.146 --> 00:50:04.905 that are going on at campuses, um, 663 00:50:05.255 --> 00:50:08.905 just to celebrate what it is that God's doing. And, uh, and Fuqua Verina. 664 00:50:08.905 --> 00:50:10.465 This says, uh, first impressions. 665 00:50:10.525 --> 00:50:13.864 Ben Snead is a trucker and a striker and Fuqua verina. 666 00:50:14.045 --> 00:50:17.745 He serves alongside his middle school aged kids, Skyler and Jackson. 667 00:50:18.364 --> 00:50:22.065 The three of them show up once a month at 5:30 AM to haul trailers Throughout 668 00:50:22.066 --> 00:50:22.905 the morning, Skyler, 669 00:50:22.906 --> 00:50:26.425 Jackson and Ben are moving cases and setting out signs and creating spaces for 670 00:50:26.426 --> 00:50:28.110 people to connect to the spirit of God. 671 00:50:28.825 --> 00:50:33.005 Ben initiated the idea of creating a prayer space at Herbert Aikens where people 672 00:50:33.006 --> 00:50:36.245 can leave prayer requests or be prayed for. In addition to this, 673 00:50:36.265 --> 00:50:40.485 Ben is very involved and cares deeply as a vet for the mental health of veterans 674 00:50:40.665 --> 00:50:45.445 and is involved in our community and advocating for and combating suicide of 675 00:50:45.765 --> 00:50:50.435 military veterans Northwest Kerry Shang Lee. 676 00:50:50.455 --> 00:50:54.315 She serves as a leader on her next steps team through first impressions and is 677 00:50:54.316 --> 00:50:56.395 in the process also of meeting several has. 678 00:50:56.614 --> 00:51:00.275 And in the process of meeting several families of Asian descent that have been 679 00:51:00.276 --> 00:51:01.109 coming to the campus, 680 00:51:01.375 --> 00:51:04.435 she launched a starting point study that's kinda like introduction to 681 00:51:04.436 --> 00:51:08.594 Christianity to help point these new members to the fa of the family, 682 00:51:08.935 --> 00:51:11.755 to a greater understanding of the story of God, 683 00:51:12.094 --> 00:51:16.155 and is also translating this English resource to their native language 684 00:51:17.935 --> 00:51:18.768 at the Raleigh campus. 685 00:51:20.175 --> 00:51:23.875 I'd like to highlight DJ Voda known DJ for a long time. 686 00:51:24.705 --> 00:51:26.594 DJ's involved with our special needs ministry. 687 00:51:27.805 --> 00:51:29.665 He also serves as a greeter every week. 688 00:51:29.666 --> 00:51:33.905 And people have joined our church because of dj choosing to greet weekend and 689 00:51:33.906 --> 00:51:37.265 week out Garner Campus. 690 00:51:38.985 --> 00:51:42.305 Brooke Hayward serves on the Kid City team at the Garner campus. 691 00:51:42.335 --> 00:51:45.344 Felt God leading her to start a mentoring program at the school where she 692 00:51:45.345 --> 00:51:46.185 teaches in Clayton, 693 00:51:46.505 --> 00:51:50.105 a team of mentor teachers leads high school students who serve as mentors for 694 00:51:50.106 --> 00:51:51.145 elementary school students, 695 00:51:51.295 --> 00:51:56.225 providing supportive relationships for at least 6 56 mentees after one school 696 00:51:56.226 --> 00:51:59.545 year. This program grew and sped to an spread to an additional high school, 697 00:52:00.205 --> 00:52:03.665 and we've had the opportunity as a church to partner with her. 698 00:52:04.765 --> 00:52:07.265 Few more from the Apex campus. Uh, 699 00:52:07.364 --> 00:52:11.864 two first responders at the Apex campus that share hope regularly as a part of 700 00:52:11.865 --> 00:52:16.145 our Kid City team. Scott Benninghoff, who works with the Kerry Fire Department. 701 00:52:16.864 --> 00:52:20.864 Okay, so hear that loud and clear. A Manly fire department worker, 702 00:52:21.145 --> 00:52:24.505 a manly firefighter, is serving in Kid City on Sunday mornings 703 00:52:26.255 --> 00:52:30.425 because he knows that young boys need to have strong men in their lives. 704 00:52:32.355 --> 00:52:34.935 He shares hope with preschool boys on a regular basis. Uh, 705 00:52:34.936 --> 00:52:38.975 Brian Opitz serves regularly as a part of our Kid City welcome team. 706 00:52:39.875 --> 00:52:43.895 He works with the Apex Police Department. I think of people like Tim Fairchild, 707 00:52:44.035 --> 00:52:48.335 who've, who's been, I don't know how Tim is, how old Tim is. Um, I, 708 00:52:48.614 --> 00:52:50.614 I think he's in his sixties, I'll say that, 709 00:52:50.615 --> 00:52:54.375 but I know he's been serving in Kid City for probably close to 20 years because 710 00:52:54.376 --> 00:52:58.175 he knows that young people need an older voice in their life that can help them 711 00:52:58.205 --> 00:53:00.255 find this, this place to belong. 712 00:53:02.094 --> 00:53:04.975 I think of Tom and Cindy Mitchell. Brian and Cindy Smith. 713 00:53:05.055 --> 00:53:08.295 I mean folks that have been serving at the Apex campus in this area for years 714 00:53:08.515 --> 00:53:11.255 and years and years and years. And they do it 715 00:53:13.364 --> 00:53:15.775 because they know it's, they're call to share hope. 716 00:53:19.475 --> 00:53:23.715 I was rereading this book this past week, um, from a, 717 00:53:23.716 --> 00:53:26.405 it's like a discipleship series called First Principles. 718 00:53:26.425 --> 00:53:28.765 And this is specifically from a book, um, 719 00:53:28.766 --> 00:53:32.844 called Belonging to a Family of Families. And it says this, 720 00:53:34.015 --> 00:53:38.005 we've lost the sense of a church being a family of families 721 00:53:38.965 --> 00:53:43.105 and have developed instead an organizational market driven model 722 00:53:44.125 --> 00:53:48.745 and a shopping mall mentality. You know what you do at a shopping mall? 723 00:53:48.746 --> 00:53:51.505 You show up, you walk through, you look at the things that you like, 724 00:53:51.785 --> 00:53:53.905 you buy the things you like, and then you leave 725 00:53:55.875 --> 00:53:59.105 God's designed for the local churches for it to be a family of families with 726 00:53:59.245 --> 00:54:01.505 strong intergenerational roots, 727 00:54:01.825 --> 00:54:05.305 a powerful force in raising children and building strong marriages, 728 00:54:05.405 --> 00:54:09.705 and in cultivating an intergenerational heritage that grows stronger and 729 00:54:09.905 --> 00:54:13.305 stronger generation by generation, by generation, by generation. 730 00:54:13.306 --> 00:54:14.385 That's why Built Man building. 731 00:54:15.185 --> 00:54:18.145 There's this foundation understanding that we are a family of families. 732 00:54:18.146 --> 00:54:21.105 It's why we have ministries here like Reengage. 733 00:54:21.255 --> 00:54:23.985 It's why we have ministries here called Hope for Parents. 734 00:54:24.575 --> 00:54:27.625 Like we've gotta get our families strong. But listen to this, 735 00:54:27.626 --> 00:54:31.864 more than 60% of the children in our Western churches are failing to continue 736 00:54:32.094 --> 00:54:35.465 with the faith as they establish their own households. 737 00:54:39.275 --> 00:54:43.455 Your church family needs you to invest in its own church family. 738 00:54:46.435 --> 00:54:47.095 And I'm telling you, 739 00:54:47.095 --> 00:54:50.614 it's not just something that we want from you that your campus wants from you. 740 00:54:50.935 --> 00:54:52.905 It it's something that I want for you. 741 00:54:53.185 --> 00:54:54.745 That this is one of the most life changing, 742 00:54:55.245 --> 00:55:00.145 future changing purpose filled things that you can ever do to invest in the life 743 00:55:00.364 --> 00:55:01.505 of a young person's life, 744 00:55:01.506 --> 00:55:04.465 to help them understand they are a part of the family of God, 745 00:55:04.466 --> 00:55:06.945 and to be able to share the hope of Jesus with them. And I know you're like, 746 00:55:07.145 --> 00:55:11.995 I don't have any idea how to do that. Um, we will equip you. That's our job. 747 00:55:11.996 --> 00:55:12.516 That's our role, 748 00:55:12.516 --> 00:55:16.435 that's our responsibility to come alongside of you and to help those next steps. 749 00:55:18.915 --> 00:55:20.335 As we wrap up, uh, 750 00:55:20.925 --> 00:55:24.105 this message and really this whole series, 751 00:55:25.905 --> 00:55:28.864 I know that you could hear a message like this and just think, well, 752 00:55:28.865 --> 00:55:32.105 if I don't do it, somebody else will. 753 00:55:34.855 --> 00:55:35.945 What if they don't? 754 00:55:40.045 --> 00:55:44.945 What's required for evil to triumph is for good men and women to stand 755 00:55:45.005 --> 00:55:46.185 by and do nothing. 756 00:55:48.665 --> 00:55:50.405 You can be a part of changing the world. 757 00:55:51.755 --> 00:55:55.775 We have a call in our lives to share the hope that we have in Jesus. 758 00:55:59.135 --> 00:56:03.785 Will we accept the call that God has placed on us to be that church. 759 00:56:06.175 --> 00:56:09.145 Next week we're gonna be kicking off, uh, a brand new series, 760 00:56:09.665 --> 00:56:11.265 and it's called Thus Sayeth the Word of the Lord. 761 00:56:11.266 --> 00:56:14.864 It's really the whole thing is just an introduction to the Bible and how to 762 00:56:14.865 --> 00:56:18.505 engage it, how to read it, how to apply it to our lives. Um, man, 763 00:56:19.025 --> 00:56:20.585 phenomenal series. You wanna talk about sharing hope, 764 00:56:20.586 --> 00:56:24.125 fantastic series for you to reach out and invite somebody who you know needs to 765 00:56:24.126 --> 00:56:27.965 be introduced to this Jesus that we know and love. Uh, 766 00:56:28.725 --> 00:56:30.285 I wanna encourage you, man, take some time. 767 00:56:30.295 --> 00:56:31.844 Think through who is it that God would, 768 00:56:32.195 --> 00:56:36.885 that God would have you bring along and learn about the gospel of Jesus. 769 00:56:38.805 --> 00:56:40.145 But as we wrap up this series, 770 00:56:43.614 --> 00:56:44.935 And I hope you spend time thinking through 771 00:56:46.485 --> 00:56:51.455 what next step do I need to take to recognize my role within the family of 772 00:56:51.515 --> 00:56:56.335 God, to to be able to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, to, 773 00:56:56.336 --> 00:56:59.695 to be able to take my next step and following Jesus and to be able to take my, 774 00:56:59.835 --> 00:57:04.495 my next step and sharing the hope that we have in him. Father, 775 00:57:05.815 --> 00:57:08.535 um, Lord, I thank you for your word. Um, 776 00:57:08.815 --> 00:57:13.575 I thank you for the clarity that it provides for us and what it means to follow 777 00:57:13.625 --> 00:57:18.115 after you. Lord, I thank you for us being able to look to your word and seeing, 778 00:57:18.116 --> 00:57:19.875 okay, this is what it means to belong. 779 00:57:20.075 --> 00:57:23.595 This is what it means to live into the purpose that you have for us. And Father, 780 00:57:23.755 --> 00:57:28.475 I pray for those who call hope community, church home, Lord, 781 00:57:28.476 --> 00:57:30.155 that you would ignite in us a passion, 782 00:57:30.156 --> 00:57:32.555 that you would ignite a flame to go into the world, 783 00:57:33.415 --> 00:57:36.395 to seek the welfare of our cities, of our neighborhoods, of our communities, 784 00:57:36.396 --> 00:57:38.875 Lord, that we would have the passion that if you called us too, 785 00:57:39.025 --> 00:57:41.475 that we would charge the gates of hell with a squirt gun. 786 00:57:44.015 --> 00:57:45.315 Father for what's at stake. 787 00:57:47.345 --> 00:57:50.775 There are men and women and students that short of a saving knowledge of Jesus 788 00:57:50.776 --> 00:57:52.935 Christ will die, will go to hell. 789 00:57:54.495 --> 00:57:57.695 There are hurting men and women and students in this world right now who 790 00:57:57.696 --> 00:58:00.295 desperately need to find their place within the family of God. 791 00:58:00.385 --> 00:58:04.495 Would we be a church that doesn't sit by idol but willingly steps into the call 792 00:58:04.496 --> 00:58:08.015 that you have placed on our lives to share the hope that we have in Jesus? 793 00:58:08.475 --> 00:58:11.215 We love you and we pray and ask all these things in Jesus' name. 794 00:58:11.975 --> 00:58:12.808 And everyone said. 795 00:58:13.365 --> 00:58:14.198 Amen.