1 00:00:00,266 --> 00:00:01,101 Good morning, Christ 2 00:00:01,101 --> 00:00:02,002 Community Chapel. 3 00:00:02,002 --> 00:00:03,136 Pastor Zach here. 4 00:00:03,136 --> 00:00:04,170 And if you're new here, 5 00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:04,971 I want you to know 6 00:00:04,971 --> 00:00:05,672 we're doing something 7 00:00:05,672 --> 00:00:06,606 a little different 8 00:00:06,606 --> 00:00:07,607 this weekend. 9 00:00:07,607 --> 00:00:09,109 Usually our teaching team 10 00:00:09,109 --> 00:00:10,510 consists of Pastor 11 00:00:10,510 --> 00:00:12,112 Joe and myself. 12 00:00:12,112 --> 00:00:13,546 We alternate on about. 13 00:00:13,546 --> 00:00:15,181 And every other week basis, 14 00:00:15,181 --> 00:00:16,416 which I love. 15 00:00:16,416 --> 00:00:16,816 We love 16 00:00:16,816 --> 00:00:17,450 not just getting 17 00:00:17,450 --> 00:00:18,251 to preach to you, 18 00:00:18,251 --> 00:00:19,619 but also getting to listen 19 00:00:19,619 --> 00:00:20,520 to the other guys. 20 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:21,454 One of my favorite things 21 00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:22,522 that we do. 22 00:00:22,522 --> 00:00:23,790 But there are actually six 23 00:00:23,790 --> 00:00:25,291 other staff pastors 24 00:00:25,291 --> 00:00:26,493 who serve this church 25 00:00:26,493 --> 00:00:27,694 really well. 26 00:00:27,694 --> 00:00:28,461 They just don't always 27 00:00:28,461 --> 00:00:29,863 do it on stage. 28 00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:31,398 And by preaching. 29 00:00:31,398 --> 00:00:32,232 Except we're going to flip 30 00:00:32,232 --> 00:00:33,133 that this weekend 31 00:00:33,133 --> 00:00:33,900 and actually going to do this 32 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:35,402 four times this year. 33 00:00:35,402 --> 00:00:35,902 We're calling it 34 00:00:35,902 --> 00:00:38,004 Staff Pastor Weekend. 35 00:00:38,004 --> 00:00:38,304 There'll be 36 00:00:38,304 --> 00:00:39,339 a different pastor 37 00:00:39,339 --> 00:00:41,341 preaching in every service. 38 00:00:41,341 --> 00:00:42,375 And in every venue 39 00:00:42,375 --> 00:00:42,942 Thursday night 40 00:00:42,942 --> 00:00:43,643 in the weekend, 41 00:00:43,643 --> 00:00:44,511 East Hall 42 00:00:44,511 --> 00:00:45,578 and West, 43 00:00:45,578 --> 00:00:46,479 giving you a chance 44 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:47,047 to get to know 45 00:00:47,047 --> 00:00:48,248 some of your other pastors 46 00:00:48,248 --> 00:00:48,982 and to hear 47 00:00:48,982 --> 00:00:50,216 a different perspective 48 00:00:50,216 --> 00:00:51,518 on the same passage 49 00:00:51,518 --> 00:00:53,186 with the same outline, 50 00:00:53,186 --> 00:00:54,287 just a different guy 51 00:00:54,287 --> 00:00:55,155 delivering it. 52 00:00:55,155 --> 00:00:56,423 So would you join me in 53 00:00:56,423 --> 00:00:58,892 welcoming your staff pastor 54 00:00:58,892 --> 00:01:01,428 in your venue to the stage? 55 00:01:01,428 --> 00:01:02,829 This guy works really hard 56 00:01:02,829 --> 00:01:03,229 to love 57 00:01:03,229 --> 00:01:04,030 and care for you, and I'm 58 00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:04,831 so glad 59 00:01:04,831 --> 00:01:05,532 you got a chance 60 00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:06,232 to hear from him 61 00:01:06,232 --> 00:01:07,100 as he teaches 62 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:08,401 from God's Word. 63 00:01:08,401 --> 00:01:09,302 Enjoy the service. 64 00:01:13,039 --> 00:01:13,306 Yeah. 65 00:01:13,306 --> 00:01:15,141 Now we're talking. 66 00:01:15,141 --> 00:01:16,476 All right. 67 00:01:16,476 --> 00:01:17,844 Welcome, to the weekly 68 00:01:17,844 --> 00:01:19,412 gathering of Christ Community 69 00:01:19,412 --> 00:01:21,147 Chapel for our very first 70 00:01:21,147 --> 00:01:22,715 service of 2025. 71 00:01:22,715 --> 00:01:24,117 Happy New year. 72 00:01:24,117 --> 00:01:24,651 Yeah. 73 00:01:24,651 --> 00:01:25,819 Even more hoots and hollers. 74 00:01:25,819 --> 00:01:27,687 Good. I like the energy. 75 00:01:27,687 --> 00:01:28,421 Let's be honest. 76 00:01:28,421 --> 00:01:29,889 It's, It's January 2nd. 77 00:01:29,889 --> 00:01:30,590 So it's 78 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:32,192 just after the holidays. 79 00:01:32,192 --> 00:01:33,560 It's cold. 80 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,563 It's dark, and you're here. 81 00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:38,098 We're going to tell you 82 00:01:38,098 --> 00:01:38,731 when we get to heaven. 83 00:01:38,731 --> 00:01:39,032 You're getting 84 00:01:39,032 --> 00:01:40,333 the good rooms, all right? 85 00:01:40,333 --> 00:01:41,401 You're committed. 86 00:01:41,401 --> 00:01:41,901 You're committed. 87 00:01:41,901 --> 00:01:43,002 I'm so glad that you're here. 88 00:01:43,002 --> 00:01:44,104 For those of you 89 00:01:44,104 --> 00:01:44,671 that I haven't had 90 00:01:44,671 --> 00:01:45,872 the privilege of meeting yet. 91 00:01:45,872 --> 00:01:46,473 My name is Ken. 92 00:01:46,473 --> 00:01:47,340 I'm one of the staff 93 00:01:47,340 --> 00:01:48,408 pastors, as Pastor 94 00:01:48,408 --> 00:01:50,043 Zach just alluded to. 95 00:01:50,043 --> 00:01:50,910 I've been on staff here 96 00:01:50,910 --> 00:01:53,012 for about five years. 97 00:01:53,012 --> 00:01:54,681 Prior to that, I was, 98 00:01:54,681 --> 00:01:55,381 practicing attorney. 99 00:01:55,381 --> 00:01:55,715 I practiced 100 00:01:55,715 --> 00:01:57,550 law for a decade before, 101 00:01:57,550 --> 00:01:58,084 God called me 102 00:01:58,084 --> 00:02:00,286 to a full time ministry. 103 00:02:00,286 --> 00:02:01,087 And I've been married 104 00:02:01,087 --> 00:02:01,788 to my wife, Jamie, 105 00:02:01,788 --> 00:02:03,656 for a little over 16 years. 106 00:02:03,656 --> 00:02:04,958 I have three daughters. 107 00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:05,792 They are eight and six. 108 00:02:05,792 --> 00:02:06,192 And two. 109 00:02:06,192 --> 00:02:09,162 Kamiya, Skyler and Lily. 110 00:02:09,162 --> 00:02:10,797 So pray for me. 111 00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:12,365 I got three little girls, 112 00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:13,566 is what I tell people. You. 113 00:02:13,566 --> 00:02:14,000 If you know me, 114 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,802 you've heard me say this. 115 00:02:15,802 --> 00:02:16,970 In this season of life, 116 00:02:16,970 --> 00:02:18,471 I don't sleep. 117 00:02:18,471 --> 00:02:19,772 I'm not funny. 118 00:02:19,772 --> 00:02:21,274 And I'm never right. 119 00:02:21,274 --> 00:02:22,675 That that is me 120 00:02:22,675 --> 00:02:24,477 in a nutshell. 121 00:02:24,477 --> 00:02:24,811 But really, 122 00:02:24,811 --> 00:02:26,279 thank you for being here. 123 00:02:26,279 --> 00:02:27,480 Thanks for making the time. 124 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:28,715 Especially if you're here 125 00:02:28,715 --> 00:02:29,749 and you're visiting here 126 00:02:29,749 --> 00:02:30,617 and you're new. 127 00:02:30,617 --> 00:02:32,185 We're so glad that you're 128 00:02:32,185 --> 00:02:33,319 joining us. 129 00:02:33,319 --> 00:02:33,686 You know, that 130 00:02:33,686 --> 00:02:36,689 being the new year, 2025, 131 00:02:37,056 --> 00:02:38,958 it's time for New Year's. 132 00:02:38,958 --> 00:02:40,693 What new year's 133 00:02:40,693 --> 00:02:42,795 resolutions, right. 134 00:02:42,795 --> 00:02:44,764 New year, new you. 135 00:02:44,764 --> 00:02:46,166 Time to pick something up. 136 00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:48,134 Time to drop something. 137 00:02:48,134 --> 00:02:49,402 Maybe drop a few pounds 138 00:02:49,402 --> 00:02:50,403 that you picked up 139 00:02:50,403 --> 00:02:52,038 over the holidays. 140 00:02:52,038 --> 00:02:52,839 But it's an opportunity 141 00:02:52,839 --> 00:02:55,074 as you look ahead to the year 142 00:02:55,074 --> 00:02:55,508 to say, I'm 143 00:02:55,508 --> 00:02:55,842 going to do 144 00:02:55,842 --> 00:02:56,643 something different. 145 00:02:56,643 --> 00:02:57,377 I'm going to 146 00:02:57,377 --> 00:02:58,778 change something. 147 00:03:00,013 --> 00:03:00,413 And New Year's 148 00:03:00,413 --> 00:03:02,015 resolutions are good. 149 00:03:02,015 --> 00:03:04,918 They can be great. 150 00:03:04,918 --> 00:03:05,852 But I'm going to challenge 151 00:03:05,852 --> 00:03:07,120 you tonight to consider 152 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:07,620 something 153 00:03:07,620 --> 00:03:09,055 that is transformative, 154 00:03:09,055 --> 00:03:11,057 not just for you, 155 00:03:11,057 --> 00:03:14,060 not just even for us, but for 156 00:03:14,427 --> 00:03:15,094 the region, 157 00:03:15,094 --> 00:03:16,029 for the communities 158 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:18,131 around us, for the world. 159 00:03:18,131 --> 00:03:19,732 And I hope you say 160 00:03:19,732 --> 00:03:20,767 yes to that. 161 00:03:20,767 --> 00:03:21,668 I hope you'll say 162 00:03:21,668 --> 00:03:22,168 yes to that. 163 00:03:22,168 --> 00:03:23,536 And if you're here 164 00:03:23,536 --> 00:03:24,437 and you're 165 00:03:24,437 --> 00:03:25,672 not yet a Christian, I'm 166 00:03:25,672 --> 00:03:26,406 going to invite you 167 00:03:26,406 --> 00:03:27,440 to consider something too. 168 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,443 So stay tuned. 169 00:03:30,910 --> 00:03:31,878 In our passage tonight, 170 00:03:31,878 --> 00:03:32,478 which I'm going to 171 00:03:32,478 --> 00:03:34,147 read in a moment, 172 00:03:34,147 --> 00:03:35,114 we're going to be looking 173 00:03:35,114 --> 00:03:37,250 at a church 174 00:03:37,250 --> 00:03:38,017 that said yes 175 00:03:38,017 --> 00:03:38,484 to something 176 00:03:38,484 --> 00:03:40,453 transformative and changed 177 00:03:40,453 --> 00:03:42,155 the world. 178 00:03:42,155 --> 00:03:42,689 And so let's 179 00:03:42,689 --> 00:03:43,489 turn to that now. 180 00:03:43,489 --> 00:03:44,490 It's acts chapter 181 00:03:44,490 --> 00:03:48,027 13, verses one through three. 182 00:03:48,995 --> 00:03:50,063 Chapter 13, verses 183 00:03:50,063 --> 00:03:50,697 one through three. 184 00:03:50,697 --> 00:03:51,431 You can find it 185 00:03:51,431 --> 00:03:52,832 in your pew Bibles, or 186 00:03:52,832 --> 00:03:54,300 pull it up on your phone. 187 00:03:56,269 --> 00:03:57,637 But but, 188 00:03:57,637 --> 00:03:58,371 let me let me 189 00:03:58,371 --> 00:03:59,138 read this for you. 190 00:03:59,138 --> 00:03:59,539 And then 191 00:03:59,539 --> 00:04:00,373 and then we'll, 192 00:04:00,373 --> 00:04:01,241 we'll zoom in. 193 00:04:01,241 --> 00:04:01,541 All right. 194 00:04:01,541 --> 00:04:01,841 Here it is, 195 00:04:01,841 --> 00:04:02,909 chapter 13, verses 196 00:04:02,909 --> 00:04:04,611 one through three. 197 00:04:04,611 --> 00:04:05,945 Now, there were in the church 198 00:04:05,945 --> 00:04:07,347 at Antioch, prophets 199 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:08,248 and teachers 200 00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:09,549 Barnabas, Simeon, 201 00:04:09,549 --> 00:04:10,917 who was called Niger, 202 00:04:10,917 --> 00:04:12,452 Lucius of Cyrene. 203 00:04:12,452 --> 00:04:13,086 Monaghan, 204 00:04:13,086 --> 00:04:14,587 a lifelong friend of Herod 205 00:04:14,587 --> 00:04:15,588 the tetrarch. 206 00:04:15,588 --> 00:04:17,090 And Saul, 207 00:04:17,090 --> 00:04:18,224 while they were worshiping 208 00:04:18,224 --> 00:04:19,225 the Lord and fasting, 209 00:04:19,225 --> 00:04:21,094 the Holy Spirit said, set 210 00:04:21,094 --> 00:04:21,995 apart for me 211 00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:23,329 Barnabas and Saul, 212 00:04:23,329 --> 00:04:24,163 for the work 213 00:04:24,163 --> 00:04:26,132 to which I have called them. 214 00:04:26,132 --> 00:04:27,000 Then, after 215 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:27,934 fasting and praying, 216 00:04:27,934 --> 00:04:29,836 they laid their hands on them 217 00:04:29,836 --> 00:04:32,839 and sent them off. 218 00:04:33,373 --> 00:04:34,774 And we're going to spend time 219 00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:36,075 in those verses tonight. 220 00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:37,510 Let me give you the larger 221 00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:39,746 picture, the context briefly, 222 00:04:39,746 --> 00:04:41,114 so you can kind of, 223 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:42,048 understand how 224 00:04:42,048 --> 00:04:43,182 how we found ourselves 225 00:04:43,182 --> 00:04:45,151 here, in the book of acts. 226 00:04:45,151 --> 00:04:45,618 Really. 227 00:04:45,618 --> 00:04:46,419 We're we're really 228 00:04:46,419 --> 00:04:47,553 the story is picking up 229 00:04:47,553 --> 00:04:48,988 post Jesus's life, 230 00:04:48,988 --> 00:04:50,556 death and resurrection 231 00:04:50,556 --> 00:04:51,691 and acts opens with 232 00:04:51,691 --> 00:04:53,426 Jesus before he 233 00:04:53,426 --> 00:04:54,427 ascended into heaven, 234 00:04:54,427 --> 00:04:55,261 giving a charge 235 00:04:55,261 --> 00:04:57,230 to his disciples. 236 00:04:58,231 --> 00:04:58,898 And I'm going to read 237 00:04:58,898 --> 00:04:59,432 that charge 238 00:04:59,432 --> 00:05:00,867 because it's 239 00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:01,234 gives us 240 00:05:01,234 --> 00:05:02,802 some pretty crucial context. 241 00:05:02,802 --> 00:05:04,404 It's acts chapter one 242 00:05:04,404 --> 00:05:06,139 and it's verse eight. 243 00:05:06,139 --> 00:05:09,142 This is what Jesus says. 244 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:12,345 But you will receive power 245 00:05:12,345 --> 00:05:13,246 when the Holy Spirit 246 00:05:13,246 --> 00:05:14,280 has come upon you, 247 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:15,615 and you will be my witnesses 248 00:05:15,615 --> 00:05:16,716 in Jerusalem 249 00:05:16,716 --> 00:05:18,651 and in all Judea and Samaria, 250 00:05:18,651 --> 00:05:21,754 and to the end of the earth. 251 00:05:22,555 --> 00:05:23,589 And then Jesus ascends 252 00:05:23,589 --> 00:05:25,325 and the mission continues 253 00:05:25,325 --> 00:05:25,992 through the power 254 00:05:25,992 --> 00:05:27,193 of the Holy Spirit. 255 00:05:27,193 --> 00:05:30,196 The local church is formed, 256 00:05:30,263 --> 00:05:31,464 and we see the gospel 257 00:05:31,464 --> 00:05:34,067 go forward. 258 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:35,935 Now in acts chapter 13, 259 00:05:35,935 --> 00:05:37,437 verses one through three, 260 00:05:37,437 --> 00:05:39,572 we are right on the brink 261 00:05:39,572 --> 00:05:40,640 of the global church 262 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:41,641 being launched. 263 00:05:41,641 --> 00:05:43,076 It's an amazing, 264 00:05:43,076 --> 00:05:46,079 an amazing moment. 265 00:05:46,412 --> 00:05:47,613 This church is stepping 266 00:05:47,613 --> 00:05:48,981 into the mission 267 00:05:48,981 --> 00:05:50,717 to take the gospel 268 00:05:50,717 --> 00:05:54,053 to all corners of the globe. 269 00:05:54,053 --> 00:05:54,454 And by the way, 270 00:05:54,454 --> 00:05:56,122 that mission is continuing 271 00:05:56,122 --> 00:05:56,989 through the book of acts, 272 00:05:56,989 --> 00:05:57,757 through the balance 273 00:05:57,757 --> 00:05:58,925 of the New Testament, 274 00:05:58,925 --> 00:06:00,860 through to today, 275 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:03,496 to this very moment. 276 00:06:03,496 --> 00:06:04,430 And who is God 277 00:06:04,430 --> 00:06:05,498 using to do this? 278 00:06:05,498 --> 00:06:06,366 He's using the church 279 00:06:06,366 --> 00:06:06,933 at Antioch. 280 00:06:06,933 --> 00:06:07,734 He's using Paul. 281 00:06:07,734 --> 00:06:10,203 He's using Barnabas. 282 00:06:10,203 --> 00:06:12,872 And how it happened, how 283 00:06:12,872 --> 00:06:13,673 this church stepped 284 00:06:13,673 --> 00:06:15,174 into the mission of God, 285 00:06:15,174 --> 00:06:16,075 how God use them. 286 00:06:17,043 --> 00:06:17,744 That's really important. 287 00:06:17,744 --> 00:06:19,178 Understanding the ingredients 288 00:06:19,178 --> 00:06:19,879 that were involved, 289 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:20,947 not just for 290 00:06:20,947 --> 00:06:22,014 the church at Antioch, 291 00:06:22,014 --> 00:06:24,917 but but for us here and now. 292 00:06:24,917 --> 00:06:25,785 And so as we walk 293 00:06:25,785 --> 00:06:26,919 through these verses, I'm 294 00:06:26,919 --> 00:06:28,354 going to walk through them 295 00:06:28,354 --> 00:06:29,555 using the three ingredients 296 00:06:29,555 --> 00:06:30,356 for the mission of God 297 00:06:30,356 --> 00:06:30,823 to move forward. 298 00:06:30,823 --> 00:06:31,624 There are three things there. 299 00:06:31,624 --> 00:06:33,493 My three points for tonight. 300 00:06:33,493 --> 00:06:34,193 Here they are. 301 00:06:34,193 --> 00:06:34,927 How does the mission 302 00:06:34,927 --> 00:06:36,362 move forward? 303 00:06:36,362 --> 00:06:39,332 Number one, open hearts. 304 00:06:39,766 --> 00:06:42,702 Number two, open hands. 305 00:06:42,702 --> 00:06:45,705 Number three, open doors, 306 00:06:45,872 --> 00:06:46,906 open hearts. 307 00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:50,143 Open hands, open doors. 308 00:06:50,143 --> 00:06:53,079 Let's start with open hearts. 309 00:06:53,079 --> 00:06:54,113 If you were to 310 00:06:54,113 --> 00:06:55,281 look at this passage, 311 00:06:55,281 --> 00:06:56,282 something very important 312 00:06:56,282 --> 00:06:57,116 for us to understand 313 00:06:57,116 --> 00:06:58,384 that every single person 314 00:06:58,384 --> 00:06:59,685 mentioned here, and in fact, 315 00:06:59,685 --> 00:07:00,987 every single person 316 00:07:00,987 --> 00:07:02,789 in the church at Antioch, 317 00:07:02,789 --> 00:07:04,891 had said yes to Jesus. 318 00:07:04,891 --> 00:07:05,892 They said yes to Jesus. 319 00:07:05,892 --> 00:07:06,692 It's a church 320 00:07:06,692 --> 00:07:08,995 because it was comprised of 321 00:07:08,995 --> 00:07:09,695 Christians. 322 00:07:09,695 --> 00:07:11,130 They've opened their hearts 323 00:07:11,130 --> 00:07:12,632 to the truth of the gospel, 324 00:07:12,632 --> 00:07:14,534 to the good news of Jesus. 325 00:07:15,802 --> 00:07:17,203 And when I say open hearts, 326 00:07:17,203 --> 00:07:17,670 when we talk 327 00:07:17,670 --> 00:07:18,871 about open hearts, 328 00:07:18,871 --> 00:07:20,173 what I mean is hearts 329 00:07:20,173 --> 00:07:21,407 that have been transformed 330 00:07:21,407 --> 00:07:23,042 by what I'm going to call 331 00:07:23,042 --> 00:07:25,311 supernatural surrender. 332 00:07:25,311 --> 00:07:27,980 Supernatural surrender. 333 00:07:27,980 --> 00:07:29,048 All right. Two things. 334 00:07:29,048 --> 00:07:31,250 You need them both, 335 00:07:31,250 --> 00:07:31,818 for your heart 336 00:07:31,818 --> 00:07:33,619 to be fully open. 337 00:07:33,619 --> 00:07:33,886 All right, 338 00:07:33,886 --> 00:07:34,587 let's talk about that. 339 00:07:34,587 --> 00:07:36,155 Supernatural peace first. 340 00:07:36,155 --> 00:07:37,056 Coming to faith 341 00:07:37,056 --> 00:07:38,558 in Jesus 342 00:07:38,558 --> 00:07:40,026 requires an act of God. 343 00:07:40,026 --> 00:07:41,961 Full stop. 344 00:07:41,961 --> 00:07:43,296 It requires God to act. 345 00:07:43,296 --> 00:07:46,299 He must do something. 346 00:07:46,766 --> 00:07:49,235 That's the supernatural part. 347 00:07:49,235 --> 00:07:52,004 Now, if you look at Paul, 348 00:07:52,004 --> 00:07:53,072 God showed up 349 00:07:53,072 --> 00:07:54,307 in a pretty amazing way. 350 00:07:54,307 --> 00:07:55,508 The conversion story of Paul 351 00:07:55,508 --> 00:07:56,442 is pretty incredible. 352 00:07:56,442 --> 00:07:58,644 He's an enemy of the church. 353 00:07:58,644 --> 00:07:59,512 That's an understatement, 354 00:07:59,512 --> 00:07:59,979 by the way. 355 00:07:59,979 --> 00:08:00,513 At one point, 356 00:08:00,513 --> 00:08:01,414 the author of acts says 357 00:08:01,414 --> 00:08:02,748 Paul is breathing 358 00:08:02,748 --> 00:08:04,450 threats and murder. 359 00:08:06,385 --> 00:08:06,752 I've been married 360 00:08:06,752 --> 00:08:08,521 for 16 years. 361 00:08:08,521 --> 00:08:08,888 If I knew 362 00:08:08,888 --> 00:08:10,156 my wife was breathing 363 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:11,057 threats and murder 364 00:08:11,057 --> 00:08:13,893 against me, I would run 365 00:08:13,893 --> 00:08:14,727 threats and murder. 366 00:08:14,727 --> 00:08:16,562 He he has just tacitly 367 00:08:16,562 --> 00:08:17,563 or explicitly approved 368 00:08:17,563 --> 00:08:18,931 of the execution of someone 369 00:08:18,931 --> 00:08:19,899 just a few chapters 370 00:08:19,899 --> 00:08:20,766 back, he's 371 00:08:20,766 --> 00:08:21,901 going home to home, 372 00:08:21,901 --> 00:08:24,470 dragging Christians 373 00:08:24,470 --> 00:08:26,973 for imprisonment or worse. 374 00:08:26,973 --> 00:08:29,509 And then he is struck down 375 00:08:29,509 --> 00:08:29,942 in what 376 00:08:29,942 --> 00:08:30,943 I can only describe 377 00:08:30,943 --> 00:08:31,878 as the original come 378 00:08:31,878 --> 00:08:33,412 to Jesus moment 379 00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:34,981 comes face to face 380 00:08:34,981 --> 00:08:35,882 with the risen 381 00:08:35,882 --> 00:08:38,885 Christ and is changed, 382 00:08:39,685 --> 00:08:42,688 transformed. 383 00:08:43,422 --> 00:08:44,257 God acted 384 00:08:44,257 --> 00:08:46,025 in a supernatural 385 00:08:46,025 --> 00:08:47,527 way, and Paul's life 386 00:08:47,527 --> 00:08:49,095 post conversion is marked 387 00:08:49,095 --> 00:08:51,330 by powerful evangelism, 388 00:08:51,330 --> 00:08:53,366 incredible obedience, 389 00:08:53,366 --> 00:08:55,034 remarkable suffering, 390 00:08:55,034 --> 00:08:57,036 all because God worked 391 00:08:57,036 --> 00:08:57,837 in his heart 392 00:08:57,837 --> 00:08:58,938 in a powerful 393 00:08:58,938 --> 00:09:01,440 and personal way. 394 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,476 Open hearts 395 00:09:03,476 --> 00:09:05,444 require an act of God. 396 00:09:05,444 --> 00:09:06,512 That's the supernatural part. 397 00:09:06,512 --> 00:09:07,647 But they also involve 398 00:09:07,647 --> 00:09:09,248 something in our part two. 399 00:09:09,248 --> 00:09:09,782 And that's the 400 00:09:09,782 --> 00:09:11,150 surrender piece. 401 00:09:13,886 --> 00:09:15,421 To be a Christian 402 00:09:15,421 --> 00:09:15,821 means that 403 00:09:15,821 --> 00:09:17,657 we have to acknowledge, 404 00:09:17,657 --> 00:09:19,692 first and foremost, 405 00:09:19,692 --> 00:09:21,928 that we're deeply broken. 406 00:09:21,928 --> 00:09:22,061 There's 407 00:09:22,061 --> 00:09:23,696 something wrong with us, 408 00:09:23,696 --> 00:09:24,196 and we can't 409 00:09:24,196 --> 00:09:27,099 fix it on our own. 410 00:09:27,099 --> 00:09:28,334 And we need someone, 411 00:09:28,334 --> 00:09:31,337 not ourselves, to intervene. 412 00:09:32,638 --> 00:09:33,573 We need a savior. 413 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:34,707 I have three little kids. 414 00:09:34,707 --> 00:09:35,708 We talk about Jesus 415 00:09:35,708 --> 00:09:36,676 as the rescuer. 416 00:09:36,676 --> 00:09:39,679 We need to be rescued 417 00:09:40,112 --> 00:09:41,581 from our broken, 418 00:09:41,581 --> 00:09:44,584 sinful state. 419 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:48,120 By the way, surrender 420 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,522 might sound like it's easy. 421 00:09:49,522 --> 00:09:50,122 It might sound like 422 00:09:50,122 --> 00:09:52,291 it's weak. It's not. 423 00:09:52,291 --> 00:09:53,492 Surrender is hard. 424 00:09:53,492 --> 00:09:56,462 It's active. 425 00:09:56,862 --> 00:09:57,496 How many times 426 00:09:57,496 --> 00:09:59,031 have you surrendered 427 00:09:59,031 --> 00:09:59,732 in an argument 428 00:09:59,732 --> 00:10:01,167 with a spouse or a friend? 429 00:10:01,167 --> 00:10:01,867 Let's speak for myself. 430 00:10:01,867 --> 00:10:03,869 It's not easy to surrender, 431 00:10:03,869 --> 00:10:04,670 to throw up your hands 432 00:10:04,670 --> 00:10:06,205 and say, fine, you win. 433 00:10:06,205 --> 00:10:06,839 How much more? 434 00:10:06,839 --> 00:10:07,940 So when it comes 435 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:09,075 to the God of the universe, 436 00:10:09,075 --> 00:10:10,142 when we have to say 437 00:10:10,142 --> 00:10:10,776 the way I've been 438 00:10:10,776 --> 00:10:11,611 living my life. 439 00:10:14,246 --> 00:10:15,414 I can't do it anymore. 440 00:10:15,414 --> 00:10:18,150 You win, God, you win. 441 00:10:18,150 --> 00:10:19,652 C.S. Lewis has a great quote. 442 00:10:19,652 --> 00:10:21,187 I'm going to paraphrase it. 443 00:10:21,187 --> 00:10:23,155 Basically he says, look, 444 00:10:23,155 --> 00:10:25,191 people aren't just imperfect 445 00:10:25,191 --> 00:10:25,992 human beings 446 00:10:25,992 --> 00:10:27,126 that need to shape up a bit, 447 00:10:27,126 --> 00:10:28,527 dust themselves off. 448 00:10:28,527 --> 00:10:29,629 They are rebels 449 00:10:29,629 --> 00:10:30,663 who need to lay 450 00:10:30,663 --> 00:10:33,666 down their arms. 451 00:10:33,766 --> 00:10:34,667 Strong language. 452 00:10:34,667 --> 00:10:35,735 But I think it's apt. 453 00:10:35,735 --> 00:10:38,704 We need to surrender 454 00:10:38,704 --> 00:10:40,139 supernatural surrender, 455 00:10:40,139 --> 00:10:42,008 open hearts 456 00:10:42,008 --> 00:10:42,875 that come from 457 00:10:42,875 --> 00:10:44,343 that supernatural surrender 458 00:10:44,343 --> 00:10:46,112 and act of God and response 459 00:10:46,112 --> 00:10:49,081 from us. 460 00:10:50,216 --> 00:10:50,916 Now, if you're here 461 00:10:50,916 --> 00:10:51,617 and you're Christian, 462 00:10:51,617 --> 00:10:54,286 you might be thinking, okay, 463 00:10:54,286 --> 00:10:54,820 sure. 464 00:10:54,820 --> 00:10:55,488 For Paul, 465 00:10:55,488 --> 00:10:56,222 I mean, this conversion 466 00:10:56,222 --> 00:10:56,622 story 467 00:10:56,622 --> 00:10:59,625 is really one of a kind. 468 00:11:00,126 --> 00:11:01,761 That's true to an extent. 469 00:11:01,761 --> 00:11:03,029 But, 470 00:11:03,029 --> 00:11:03,462 you know, 471 00:11:03,462 --> 00:11:04,630 while you probably, 472 00:11:04,630 --> 00:11:05,931 I'm guessing, 473 00:11:05,931 --> 00:11:06,632 weren't actively 474 00:11:06,632 --> 00:11:07,633 persecuting Christians, 475 00:11:07,633 --> 00:11:08,167 dragging them 476 00:11:08,167 --> 00:11:09,135 from their homes, 477 00:11:09,135 --> 00:11:10,136 you probably weren't 478 00:11:10,136 --> 00:11:11,237 struck down in route 479 00:11:11,237 --> 00:11:11,971 to Damascus. 480 00:11:11,971 --> 00:11:12,538 You probably weren't 481 00:11:12,538 --> 00:11:15,374 rendered temporarily blind. 482 00:11:15,374 --> 00:11:18,210 Let me ask you, who were you 483 00:11:18,210 --> 00:11:19,345 before Jesus. 484 00:11:23,282 --> 00:11:24,116 How did you think? 485 00:11:24,116 --> 00:11:24,850 How did you speak? 486 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:26,152 How did you act? 487 00:11:26,152 --> 00:11:28,120 Do you remember 488 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,589 what was life like before 489 00:11:30,589 --> 00:11:33,592 Jesus? 490 00:11:35,628 --> 00:11:36,362 You know, elsewhere 491 00:11:36,362 --> 00:11:36,962 in the New Testament, 492 00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:38,464 Paul writes 493 00:11:38,464 --> 00:11:40,833 of us as dead in our sin, 494 00:11:40,833 --> 00:11:43,836 children of wrath. 495 00:11:45,604 --> 00:11:46,238 Rebels 496 00:11:46,238 --> 00:11:46,872 that need to lay 497 00:11:46,872 --> 00:11:47,573 down their arms. 498 00:11:47,573 --> 00:11:48,974 So maybe you weren't at odds 499 00:11:48,974 --> 00:11:49,742 with the church 500 00:11:49,742 --> 00:11:50,443 per se, 501 00:11:50,443 --> 00:11:50,776 in the way 502 00:11:50,776 --> 00:11:51,644 that Paul was, but. 503 00:11:51,644 --> 00:11:52,411 But you were 504 00:11:52,411 --> 00:11:53,479 absolutely at odds 505 00:11:53,479 --> 00:11:56,482 with the God of the universe. 506 00:11:57,950 --> 00:11:58,884 And you know what it took for 507 00:11:58,884 --> 00:12:00,753 you to be made right 508 00:12:00,753 --> 00:12:03,723 with God? 509 00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:05,057 Jesus living the life 510 00:12:05,057 --> 00:12:06,058 that you couldn't, dying 511 00:12:06,058 --> 00:12:06,859 the death you deserve 512 00:12:06,859 --> 00:12:08,360 and raising from the dead. 513 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:09,495 I'd say that's pretty 514 00:12:09,495 --> 00:12:12,498 supernatural, wouldn't you? 515 00:12:13,833 --> 00:12:15,201 It took God in your 516 00:12:15,201 --> 00:12:16,302 moment of surrender 517 00:12:16,302 --> 00:12:17,636 when you finally laid 518 00:12:17,636 --> 00:12:18,771 down your arms and said, 519 00:12:18,771 --> 00:12:19,605 you know what? 520 00:12:19,605 --> 00:12:21,507 Not my way, but yours. 521 00:12:21,507 --> 00:12:23,042 Not my own kingship, God. 522 00:12:23,042 --> 00:12:24,777 But but yours. Jesus. 523 00:12:24,777 --> 00:12:26,278 You sit on the throne 524 00:12:26,278 --> 00:12:27,780 in that moment of surrender, 525 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:29,148 God transforming your heart 526 00:12:29,148 --> 00:12:31,317 from unbelief to belief. 527 00:12:32,485 --> 00:12:35,488 Supernatural. 528 00:12:37,056 --> 00:12:38,624 The ongoing work of God 529 00:12:38,624 --> 00:12:40,526 through the Holy Spirit 530 00:12:40,526 --> 00:12:41,327 in your life 531 00:12:41,327 --> 00:12:41,994 even now, 532 00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:43,462 making you more and more 533 00:12:43,462 --> 00:12:45,765 like Jesus and less and less 534 00:12:45,765 --> 00:12:47,333 like the old you. 535 00:12:47,333 --> 00:12:48,000 Tell me what 536 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,268 isn't supernatural 537 00:12:49,268 --> 00:12:52,271 about all of that? 538 00:12:55,341 --> 00:12:56,342 As I was preparing 539 00:12:56,342 --> 00:12:57,276 this sermon, 540 00:12:57,276 --> 00:12:58,177 I had to face 541 00:12:58,177 --> 00:12:59,311 a sobering reality. 542 00:12:59,311 --> 00:13:00,312 I'm going to 543 00:13:00,312 --> 00:13:01,947 ask you this too. 544 00:13:01,947 --> 00:13:03,449 When is the last time 545 00:13:03,449 --> 00:13:04,884 that you just stopped 546 00:13:04,884 --> 00:13:07,086 and marveled 547 00:13:07,086 --> 00:13:09,822 at the work God has done 548 00:13:09,822 --> 00:13:12,825 in Jesus, in you? 549 00:13:15,361 --> 00:13:18,330 It's an incredible thing. 550 00:13:19,165 --> 00:13:22,168 It's an incredible thing. 551 00:13:24,069 --> 00:13:25,271 So the supernatural 552 00:13:25,271 --> 00:13:25,771 surrender. 553 00:13:25,771 --> 00:13:27,072 It's what leads to 554 00:13:27,072 --> 00:13:28,307 open hearts. 555 00:13:28,307 --> 00:13:28,841 It's true 556 00:13:28,841 --> 00:13:30,309 of every single person. 557 00:13:30,309 --> 00:13:30,910 The church 558 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:31,944 at Antioch, here 559 00:13:31,944 --> 00:13:33,312 in this passage, it's true 560 00:13:33,312 --> 00:13:34,680 of every Christian. 561 00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:35,748 It's true of you. 562 00:13:35,748 --> 00:13:37,650 It's true of me. 563 00:13:37,650 --> 00:13:39,785 We are 564 00:13:39,785 --> 00:13:41,921 walking miracles. 565 00:13:43,522 --> 00:13:43,956 Let's not 566 00:13:43,956 --> 00:13:46,959 forget that. 567 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:51,030 And by the way, 568 00:13:51,030 --> 00:13:51,897 if you're here 569 00:13:51,897 --> 00:13:52,631 and you're not yet 570 00:13:52,631 --> 00:13:53,132 a Christian, 571 00:13:53,132 --> 00:13:53,699 I have not 572 00:13:53,699 --> 00:13:55,167 forgotten about you. 573 00:13:55,167 --> 00:13:56,902 Thank you for being here. 574 00:13:56,902 --> 00:13:58,470 What I've just described 575 00:13:58,470 --> 00:14:01,473 isn't you yet. 576 00:14:02,107 --> 00:14:05,110 But it can be. 577 00:14:05,778 --> 00:14:06,512 To acknowledge 578 00:14:06,512 --> 00:14:08,047 the work of Jesus in his life 579 00:14:08,047 --> 00:14:08,614 and his death 580 00:14:08,614 --> 00:14:09,415 and his resurrection. 581 00:14:09,415 --> 00:14:11,016 To surrender to his kingship, 582 00:14:11,016 --> 00:14:12,451 to invite God 583 00:14:12,451 --> 00:14:13,652 to transform you 584 00:14:13,652 --> 00:14:14,553 and to be made more 585 00:14:14,553 --> 00:14:15,654 and more like Jesus. 586 00:14:15,654 --> 00:14:17,223 You can have that. 587 00:14:17,223 --> 00:14:18,624 God has acted. 588 00:14:18,624 --> 00:14:21,627 Will you surrender? 589 00:14:22,494 --> 00:14:25,497 Will you surrender? 590 00:14:26,465 --> 00:14:28,868 The mission of God 591 00:14:28,868 --> 00:14:30,169 moves through open hearts. 592 00:14:30,169 --> 00:14:33,172 That's the first ingredient. 593 00:14:34,506 --> 00:14:36,275 And then open heart. 594 00:14:36,275 --> 00:14:36,842 Open hearts. 595 00:14:36,842 --> 00:14:39,645 They lead to open hands. 596 00:14:39,645 --> 00:14:40,679 That's my second point. 597 00:14:40,679 --> 00:14:41,580 Open hearts 598 00:14:41,580 --> 00:14:43,582 lead to open hands. 599 00:14:43,582 --> 00:14:44,550 I think it follows 600 00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:46,151 that if we really, really do 601 00:14:46,151 --> 00:14:47,353 embrace the magnitude 602 00:14:47,353 --> 00:14:47,720 of what 603 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:50,723 God has done for us in Jesus, 604 00:14:51,190 --> 00:14:51,991 that our response 605 00:14:51,991 --> 00:14:52,825 will be this, 606 00:14:52,825 --> 00:14:53,559 this overflow, 607 00:14:53,559 --> 00:14:54,393 this abundance 608 00:14:54,393 --> 00:14:56,795 of of gratitude, 609 00:14:56,795 --> 00:14:57,997 of joy, of a, of a 610 00:14:57,997 --> 00:15:01,133 desire to obey and to follow. 611 00:15:04,169 --> 00:15:04,370 And to 612 00:15:04,370 --> 00:15:06,005 say, Jesus, what you want, 613 00:15:06,005 --> 00:15:08,173 I want what you love. 614 00:15:08,173 --> 00:15:08,941 I'll love. 615 00:15:08,941 --> 00:15:11,043 I want to follow you. 616 00:15:11,043 --> 00:15:13,412 My hands are open 617 00:15:13,412 --> 00:15:14,613 to whatever you want, 618 00:15:14,613 --> 00:15:15,681 whenever you want, 619 00:15:15,681 --> 00:15:18,684 however you want. 620 00:15:21,287 --> 00:15:21,620 And that's 621 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:22,421 what's happening here 622 00:15:22,421 --> 00:15:24,189 in acts chapter 13, 623 00:15:24,189 --> 00:15:25,391 verse two. 624 00:15:25,391 --> 00:15:25,891 It says, 625 00:15:25,891 --> 00:15:26,959 while they were 626 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:28,193 worshiping the Lord 627 00:15:28,193 --> 00:15:30,362 and fasting, 628 00:15:30,362 --> 00:15:31,163 see what they're doing. 629 00:15:31,163 --> 00:15:31,864 This this church 630 00:15:31,864 --> 00:15:34,767 is abstaining from food 631 00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:35,434 from their physical 632 00:15:35,434 --> 00:15:36,068 needs in order 633 00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:37,503 to more fully commit 634 00:15:37,503 --> 00:15:38,470 to prayer, 635 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:41,273 in order to earnestly seek 636 00:15:41,273 --> 00:15:42,641 God's guidance 637 00:15:42,641 --> 00:15:43,876 because they want 638 00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:45,544 what he wants. 639 00:15:45,544 --> 00:15:46,712 They want to love 640 00:15:46,712 --> 00:15:48,547 what he loves. 641 00:15:48,547 --> 00:15:51,550 Their hands are open. 642 00:15:55,454 --> 00:15:57,389 Now the idea, 643 00:15:57,389 --> 00:15:58,324 the idea of wanting 644 00:15:58,324 --> 00:15:59,291 what someone else wants 645 00:15:59,291 --> 00:16:00,092 and loving 646 00:16:00,092 --> 00:16:01,060 what someone else loves. 647 00:16:01,060 --> 00:16:02,027 It's not just true 648 00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:02,761 in this context. 649 00:16:02,761 --> 00:16:03,996 It's actually true of 650 00:16:03,996 --> 00:16:05,230 of anyone with whom 651 00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:06,532 you're in a relationship, 652 00:16:06,532 --> 00:16:08,100 anyone you care about. 653 00:16:09,501 --> 00:16:09,969 I've been married 654 00:16:09,969 --> 00:16:11,003 for 16 years. 655 00:16:11,003 --> 00:16:12,171 We dated for five years 656 00:16:12,171 --> 00:16:12,871 prior to that, 657 00:16:12,871 --> 00:16:13,472 and I can tell you 658 00:16:13,472 --> 00:16:14,773 there are things that I want 659 00:16:14,773 --> 00:16:15,140 and love 660 00:16:15,140 --> 00:16:16,442 now that I never thought 661 00:16:16,442 --> 00:16:17,643 I would. 662 00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:19,712 Never in a million years 663 00:16:19,712 --> 00:16:21,680 never wanted to travel, 664 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,615 had no desire to do it, 665 00:16:23,615 --> 00:16:25,184 and that Jamie 666 00:16:25,184 --> 00:16:25,617 and she, 667 00:16:25,617 --> 00:16:26,785 she changed my perspective 668 00:16:26,785 --> 00:16:28,287 on that. 669 00:16:28,287 --> 00:16:29,755 I love to travel now. 670 00:16:29,755 --> 00:16:30,889 Of course we have little kids 671 00:16:30,889 --> 00:16:32,191 so we don't travel now, 672 00:16:32,191 --> 00:16:35,160 but maybe again one day. 673 00:16:37,796 --> 00:16:38,430 I'm glad you're 674 00:16:38,430 --> 00:16:40,666 sitting down for this. 675 00:16:40,666 --> 00:16:41,266 I watch 676 00:16:41,266 --> 00:16:43,569 documentaries sometimes. 677 00:16:43,569 --> 00:16:44,903 It's true, it's true. 678 00:16:44,903 --> 00:16:46,572 If you knew me pregame, 679 00:16:46,572 --> 00:16:48,907 you'd be like, no you don't. 680 00:16:48,907 --> 00:16:51,410 Sometimes I do, 681 00:16:51,410 --> 00:16:53,912 and I even enjoy them. 682 00:16:53,912 --> 00:16:55,014 I've come to love them 683 00:16:55,014 --> 00:16:58,017 because Jamie loves them. 684 00:16:58,884 --> 00:17:00,252 NPR podcasts 685 00:17:00,252 --> 00:17:01,186 I don't listen to those. 686 00:17:01,186 --> 00:17:02,588 I'm not Jesus, but. 687 00:17:02,588 --> 00:17:04,456 But I listen to Jamie 688 00:17:04,456 --> 00:17:06,225 when she talks about them, 689 00:17:06,225 --> 00:17:07,159 and that's something. 690 00:17:10,262 --> 00:17:10,596 If you have 691 00:17:10,596 --> 00:17:12,698 kids, if you have kids, 692 00:17:12,698 --> 00:17:13,932 you know this is true. 693 00:17:13,932 --> 00:17:14,833 You know that. 694 00:17:14,833 --> 00:17:16,402 That you want what they want. 695 00:17:16,402 --> 00:17:18,337 You love what they love. 696 00:17:18,337 --> 00:17:18,904 I got an eight year 697 00:17:18,904 --> 00:17:19,738 old, a six year old, 698 00:17:19,738 --> 00:17:20,906 two and a half year old. 699 00:17:20,906 --> 00:17:22,174 Okay? 700 00:17:22,174 --> 00:17:24,209 I find myself on some random 701 00:17:24,209 --> 00:17:25,177 Saturday morning 702 00:17:25,177 --> 00:17:26,612 wearing a tutu 703 00:17:26,612 --> 00:17:27,813 and dancing to Kidz 704 00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:30,783 Bop volume 84. 705 00:17:31,283 --> 00:17:32,251 Sure. 706 00:17:32,251 --> 00:17:33,185 Let's do it. 707 00:17:33,185 --> 00:17:34,053 It's what they want. 708 00:17:34,053 --> 00:17:35,020 It's what they love. 709 00:17:35,020 --> 00:17:35,621 Let's go. 710 00:17:35,621 --> 00:17:37,022 I dressed up in an inflatable 711 00:17:37,022 --> 00:17:38,323 T-Rex costume 712 00:17:38,323 --> 00:17:39,792 and walked the neighborhood 713 00:17:39,792 --> 00:17:41,060 a couple of years ago. 714 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:41,960 People were 715 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:42,828 not a joke, people. 716 00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:43,629 I think I almost caused 717 00:17:43,629 --> 00:17:44,263 an accident. 718 00:17:44,263 --> 00:17:45,664 People were stopping 719 00:17:45,664 --> 00:17:47,466 dead in the street 720 00:17:47,466 --> 00:17:48,033 just so they could 721 00:17:48,033 --> 00:17:51,036 take a picture. 722 00:17:53,672 --> 00:17:54,173 What I'm about 723 00:17:54,173 --> 00:17:54,706 to share with you 724 00:17:54,706 --> 00:17:56,642 next is is really not 725 00:17:56,642 --> 00:17:57,943 Sunday service material. 726 00:17:57,943 --> 00:17:58,577 I'll be honest, it's 727 00:17:58,577 --> 00:18:00,012 more of a Thursday story, 728 00:18:00,012 --> 00:18:00,546 so I'm going to share it. 729 00:18:04,049 --> 00:18:05,951 A couple of weeks ago, 730 00:18:05,951 --> 00:18:07,386 just think, Sunday 731 00:18:07,386 --> 00:18:09,421 evening, Sunday evening, 732 00:18:09,421 --> 00:18:11,457 Jamie's, cooking dinner, 733 00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:12,191 playing with the girls 734 00:18:12,191 --> 00:18:12,691 were being silly. 735 00:18:12,691 --> 00:18:13,892 We got we got music on. 736 00:18:13,892 --> 00:18:14,660 And at some point, 737 00:18:14,660 --> 00:18:15,661 I decided it's a good idea 738 00:18:15,661 --> 00:18:16,795 to play the Baywatch 739 00:18:16,795 --> 00:18:17,463 theme song. 740 00:18:17,463 --> 00:18:20,432 Anyone remember Baywatch? 741 00:18:21,266 --> 00:18:21,533 Yeah. 742 00:18:21,533 --> 00:18:23,969 Don't hassle the Hoff. Right. 743 00:18:23,969 --> 00:18:25,471 Okay. 744 00:18:25,471 --> 00:18:26,038 All right. 745 00:18:26,038 --> 00:18:27,139 If you don't know Baywatch, 746 00:18:27,139 --> 00:18:28,974 just understand that, 747 00:18:28,974 --> 00:18:29,942 everything that follows 748 00:18:29,942 --> 00:18:30,676 is the opposite 749 00:18:30,676 --> 00:18:31,844 of what that show was. 750 00:18:31,844 --> 00:18:33,712 Okay, in so many ways. 751 00:18:33,712 --> 00:18:34,713 So I decided to be funny 752 00:18:34,713 --> 00:18:34,947 to play 753 00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:35,814 the Baywatch theme song. 754 00:18:35,814 --> 00:18:37,216 And I'm slow motion 755 00:18:37,216 --> 00:18:38,317 carrying my children 756 00:18:38,317 --> 00:18:39,451 through the kitchen. 757 00:18:39,451 --> 00:18:39,818 Right. 758 00:18:39,818 --> 00:18:41,720 Just just trying to get there 759 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,288 laughing. Jamie's laughing. 760 00:18:43,288 --> 00:18:44,389 Shaking her head, 761 00:18:44,389 --> 00:18:47,292 she says offhandedly. 762 00:18:47,292 --> 00:18:47,426 Well, 763 00:18:47,426 --> 00:18:47,793 the only thing 764 00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:48,093 that would make 765 00:18:48,093 --> 00:18:48,961 this better is if you 766 00:18:48,961 --> 00:18:49,962 did that in swim trunks. 767 00:18:52,097 --> 00:18:53,599 Or you betcha. 768 00:18:53,599 --> 00:18:55,367 You betcha. 769 00:18:55,367 --> 00:18:57,936 We have a bay window. 770 00:18:57,936 --> 00:18:58,170 Yeah, 771 00:18:58,170 --> 00:18:59,104 you don't have to groan. 772 00:18:59,104 --> 00:19:00,506 I mean, come on, 773 00:19:00,506 --> 00:19:01,740 like I know what I did. 774 00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:04,443 You don't need to. 775 00:19:04,443 --> 00:19:05,177 So if you happen 776 00:19:05,177 --> 00:19:06,178 to be walking by our house 777 00:19:06,178 --> 00:19:06,712 a couple weeks ago 778 00:19:06,712 --> 00:19:08,413 between like 515 and 530, 779 00:19:08,413 --> 00:19:10,682 I am deeply sorry 780 00:19:10,682 --> 00:19:11,984 to send your counseling 781 00:19:11,984 --> 00:19:14,453 bill to me right? 782 00:19:14,453 --> 00:19:15,220 It's nuts. 783 00:19:15,220 --> 00:19:16,555 I know it's nuts, 784 00:19:16,555 --> 00:19:18,624 but you know what I want? 785 00:19:18,624 --> 00:19:20,692 What they want. 786 00:19:20,692 --> 00:19:21,960 My wife, my kids. 787 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,662 I love what they love. 788 00:19:23,662 --> 00:19:24,062 Some ways 789 00:19:24,062 --> 00:19:25,664 I'm totally unlike myself 790 00:19:25,664 --> 00:19:28,667 now because of them. 791 00:19:30,569 --> 00:19:31,737 Open hands, 792 00:19:31,737 --> 00:19:34,740 open hands. 793 00:19:35,140 --> 00:19:38,010 That's the church at Antioch. 794 00:19:38,010 --> 00:19:38,777 God, what you want? 795 00:19:38,777 --> 00:19:41,013 We want what you love. 796 00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:43,615 We're going to love, too. 797 00:19:43,615 --> 00:19:44,483 And let me say this. 798 00:19:44,483 --> 00:19:46,151 When your hands are open, 799 00:19:46,151 --> 00:19:47,119 when your hands are open, 800 00:19:48,554 --> 00:19:49,354 sometimes it means you're 801 00:19:49,354 --> 00:19:51,590 letting go of stuff too, 802 00:19:51,590 --> 00:19:54,593 right? 803 00:19:55,928 --> 00:19:56,295 You know, 804 00:19:56,295 --> 00:19:57,429 with my family, it's 805 00:19:57,429 --> 00:19:58,830 a certain amount of freedom. 806 00:19:58,830 --> 00:19:59,965 With kids, it's 807 00:19:59,965 --> 00:20:01,700 definitely sleep. 808 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:04,703 Occasionally my self-respect. 809 00:20:05,070 --> 00:20:05,504 But you know what? 810 00:20:05,504 --> 00:20:08,507 My priorities have changed. 811 00:20:09,241 --> 00:20:10,108 Same is true 812 00:20:10,108 --> 00:20:11,543 when you have open hands 813 00:20:11,543 --> 00:20:13,111 with God. 814 00:20:13,111 --> 00:20:14,112 When your heart's been opened 815 00:20:14,112 --> 00:20:17,115 and your hands are open. 816 00:20:17,950 --> 00:20:19,251 It's not just how you think 817 00:20:19,251 --> 00:20:19,651 and act. 818 00:20:19,651 --> 00:20:20,986 It's how you spend your time, 819 00:20:20,986 --> 00:20:22,321 your energy, your money. 820 00:20:22,321 --> 00:20:23,689 It all changes. 821 00:20:23,689 --> 00:20:24,590 Your hands are open. 822 00:20:24,590 --> 00:20:25,524 Whatever you want. 823 00:20:25,524 --> 00:20:27,693 God, I'm in. 824 00:20:27,693 --> 00:20:30,662 I'm in. 825 00:20:33,365 --> 00:20:33,966 By the way, it's 826 00:20:33,966 --> 00:20:35,601 actually not a secret 827 00:20:35,601 --> 00:20:37,035 what God wants here. 828 00:20:37,035 --> 00:20:38,036 We don't have to wonder. 829 00:20:38,036 --> 00:20:38,503 It's why 830 00:20:38,503 --> 00:20:40,305 I read acts 18A 831 00:20:40,305 --> 00:20:42,074 few moments ago. 832 00:20:42,074 --> 00:20:43,675 What does God want? 833 00:20:43,675 --> 00:20:44,276 He wants them 834 00:20:44,276 --> 00:20:45,277 to be his witnesses 835 00:20:45,277 --> 00:20:46,411 in Jerusalem, 836 00:20:46,411 --> 00:20:47,779 all Judea and Samaria, 837 00:20:47,779 --> 00:20:50,582 and to the end of the earth. 838 00:20:54,853 --> 00:20:56,688 Church are 839 00:20:56,688 --> 00:20:57,489 are we a church 840 00:20:57,489 --> 00:21:00,492 of open hands? 841 00:21:02,227 --> 00:21:04,630 Whatever you want, 842 00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:05,597 whenever you want, 843 00:21:05,597 --> 00:21:06,298 however you want. 844 00:21:06,298 --> 00:21:09,301 Jesus, you have it. 845 00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:11,970 I want what you want. 846 00:21:11,970 --> 00:21:14,072 Do we love what God loves? 847 00:21:14,072 --> 00:21:17,643 Do we love who God loves? 848 00:21:19,411 --> 00:21:20,779 Are we an open handed church 849 00:21:20,779 --> 00:21:21,413 key ingredient 850 00:21:21,413 --> 00:21:23,448 in the mission of God 851 00:21:23,448 --> 00:21:26,451 moving forward? 852 00:21:26,451 --> 00:21:29,021 So if our hearts are open 853 00:21:29,021 --> 00:21:31,123 and our hands are open, 854 00:21:31,123 --> 00:21:31,823 what happens? 855 00:21:31,823 --> 00:21:33,258 Well, what happened here 856 00:21:33,258 --> 00:21:34,393 in acts 857 00:21:34,393 --> 00:21:36,662 13, it's my final point. 858 00:21:36,662 --> 00:21:38,497 The third ingredient. 859 00:21:38,497 --> 00:21:40,799 Open doors, open hearts. 860 00:21:40,799 --> 00:21:41,833 Lead open hands, open 861 00:21:41,833 --> 00:21:43,835 hands lead to open doors. 862 00:21:43,835 --> 00:21:46,305 This is what acts 863 00:21:46,305 --> 00:21:47,472 13, two and three says. 864 00:21:47,472 --> 00:21:48,373 While they were worshiping 865 00:21:48,373 --> 00:21:49,308 the Lord and fasting, 866 00:21:49,308 --> 00:21:51,043 the Holy Spirit said, set 867 00:21:51,043 --> 00:21:51,677 apart for me 868 00:21:51,677 --> 00:21:52,911 Barnabas and Saul 869 00:21:52,911 --> 00:21:53,612 for the work 870 00:21:53,612 --> 00:21:55,714 to which I have called them. 871 00:21:55,714 --> 00:21:56,381 Then after 872 00:21:56,381 --> 00:21:57,249 fasting and praying, 873 00:21:57,249 --> 00:21:59,017 they laid their hands on them 874 00:21:59,017 --> 00:22:00,585 and sent them off. 875 00:22:03,221 --> 00:22:03,655 You see, 876 00:22:03,655 --> 00:22:04,423 when our hearts and 877 00:22:04,423 --> 00:22:05,223 our hands are open, 878 00:22:05,223 --> 00:22:06,858 God opens doors. 879 00:22:06,858 --> 00:22:09,461 That's what he did here. 880 00:22:09,461 --> 00:22:10,395 And there are two things 881 00:22:10,395 --> 00:22:11,730 I want to mention about this. 882 00:22:11,730 --> 00:22:13,532 Two things. Number one. 883 00:22:13,532 --> 00:22:13,999 Number one, 884 00:22:13,999 --> 00:22:16,201 when it comes to open doors, 885 00:22:16,201 --> 00:22:18,403 it's a wee thing, 886 00:22:18,403 --> 00:22:19,471 not a meat thing 887 00:22:19,471 --> 00:22:20,405 or a heath thing 888 00:22:20,405 --> 00:22:21,373 or a sheep thing. 889 00:22:21,373 --> 00:22:21,773 I know 890 00:22:21,773 --> 00:22:24,376 that's a lot of pronouns, but 891 00:22:24,376 --> 00:22:25,477 you need to hear me on this. 892 00:22:25,477 --> 00:22:26,611 It's a wee thing 893 00:22:26,611 --> 00:22:27,679 because sure, 894 00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:28,613 sure, God 895 00:22:28,613 --> 00:22:31,616 calls Paul and Barnabas. 896 00:22:32,851 --> 00:22:33,785 To take the gospel 897 00:22:33,785 --> 00:22:36,088 to the ends of the earth. 898 00:22:36,088 --> 00:22:37,322 But it's the church 899 00:22:37,322 --> 00:22:39,091 at Antioch 900 00:22:39,091 --> 00:22:40,359 that he uses to do it. 901 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,161 It's the church. 902 00:22:43,161 --> 00:22:43,929 The praise for them. 903 00:22:43,929 --> 00:22:44,730 It's the church 904 00:22:44,730 --> 00:22:45,864 that lays hands on them, 905 00:22:45,864 --> 00:22:46,832 that commissions 906 00:22:46,832 --> 00:22:49,735 them, that sends them. 907 00:22:49,735 --> 00:22:50,969 So while Paul and Barnabas 908 00:22:50,969 --> 00:22:51,603 are walking through 909 00:22:51,603 --> 00:22:52,170 that open door, 910 00:22:52,170 --> 00:22:52,637 the church, 911 00:22:52,637 --> 00:22:53,405 in a very real way, 912 00:22:53,405 --> 00:22:54,339 is walking through 913 00:22:54,339 --> 00:22:56,475 that open door behind them. 914 00:22:58,143 --> 00:23:01,113 It's a wee thing. 915 00:23:02,581 --> 00:23:04,249 And just like behind Paul 916 00:23:04,249 --> 00:23:06,017 and Barnabas was the church 917 00:23:06,017 --> 00:23:07,386 in Antioch. 918 00:23:07,386 --> 00:23:08,954 Truth is behind 919 00:23:08,954 --> 00:23:10,322 every dynamite. 920 00:23:10,322 --> 00:23:11,289 Senior pastor 921 00:23:11,289 --> 00:23:12,524 and every dynamite 922 00:23:12,524 --> 00:23:14,126 lead pastor. 923 00:23:14,126 --> 00:23:16,228 Behind every Joe, behind 924 00:23:16,228 --> 00:23:19,231 every Zach is a church. 925 00:23:19,865 --> 00:23:20,632 It's a wee thing. 926 00:23:20,632 --> 00:23:20,832 They'd be 927 00:23:20,832 --> 00:23:23,835 the first to tell you that. 928 00:23:24,603 --> 00:23:25,437 When God opens doors, 929 00:23:25,437 --> 00:23:26,805 we walk through them 930 00:23:26,805 --> 00:23:27,639 together. 931 00:23:27,639 --> 00:23:28,440 That's the first thing. 932 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,443 Here's the second thing. 933 00:23:31,510 --> 00:23:34,513 Seemingly small moments 934 00:23:34,546 --> 00:23:36,815 can change the world. 935 00:23:36,815 --> 00:23:38,950 Seemingly small moments 936 00:23:38,950 --> 00:23:41,953 can change the world. 937 00:23:42,888 --> 00:23:43,755 In this passage, 938 00:23:43,755 --> 00:23:45,791 you have one church, 939 00:23:45,791 --> 00:23:47,793 two missionaries, 940 00:23:47,793 --> 00:23:50,362 and kind of a vague directive 941 00:23:50,362 --> 00:23:52,230 to go. 942 00:23:52,230 --> 00:23:53,832 And from that, 943 00:23:53,832 --> 00:23:54,900 the launch of the 944 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:57,903 global church. 945 00:23:58,670 --> 00:23:59,704 I don't believe this 946 00:23:59,704 --> 00:24:00,272 church knew 947 00:24:00,272 --> 00:24:03,275 what God was about to do. 948 00:24:04,943 --> 00:24:05,644 But he's working 949 00:24:05,644 --> 00:24:07,379 through these 950 00:24:07,379 --> 00:24:08,980 seemingly regular people 951 00:24:08,980 --> 00:24:11,049 in a seemingly small moment 952 00:24:11,049 --> 00:24:13,185 to change the world. 953 00:24:15,420 --> 00:24:15,654 And a 954 00:24:15,654 --> 00:24:17,022 step of faith 955 00:24:17,022 --> 00:24:18,790 with open hearts. 956 00:24:18,790 --> 00:24:19,591 With open hands. 957 00:24:19,591 --> 00:24:22,527 They walked through the door. 958 00:24:22,527 --> 00:24:25,530 He opened. 959 00:24:26,765 --> 00:24:28,366 Do you know what I love 960 00:24:28,366 --> 00:24:31,369 maybe most about this passage 961 00:24:31,870 --> 00:24:33,138 in the grand narrative 962 00:24:33,138 --> 00:24:33,505 that God 963 00:24:33,505 --> 00:24:34,873 is writing in the story 964 00:24:34,873 --> 00:24:37,075 of the Bible? 965 00:24:37,075 --> 00:24:39,077 Things like this 966 00:24:39,077 --> 00:24:40,879 aren't the exception. 967 00:24:40,879 --> 00:24:43,081 They're the rule. 968 00:24:43,081 --> 00:24:45,450 Again and again and again. 969 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:46,985 God uses 970 00:24:46,985 --> 00:24:49,020 seemingly regular people 971 00:24:49,020 --> 00:24:51,022 in seemingly small moments 972 00:24:51,022 --> 00:24:53,325 to absolutely change 973 00:24:53,325 --> 00:24:56,328 the world. 974 00:24:57,462 --> 00:24:58,296 With Abraham, 975 00:24:58,296 --> 00:24:59,965 all the families of the earth 976 00:24:59,965 --> 00:25:02,868 would be blessed. 977 00:25:02,868 --> 00:25:04,503 He took David, 978 00:25:04,503 --> 00:25:06,037 the runt of the litter. 979 00:25:06,037 --> 00:25:08,006 A shepherd made him a king, 980 00:25:08,006 --> 00:25:09,708 and from his lineage 981 00:25:09,708 --> 00:25:11,042 came Jesus. 982 00:25:11,042 --> 00:25:11,943 And from this church 983 00:25:11,943 --> 00:25:12,611 at Antioch 984 00:25:12,611 --> 00:25:15,614 we have the global church. 985 00:25:18,216 --> 00:25:19,384 I asked you 986 00:25:19,384 --> 00:25:19,951 at the beginning 987 00:25:19,951 --> 00:25:22,854 of our time together, 988 00:25:22,854 --> 00:25:25,857 if you'd consider saying yes 989 00:25:26,458 --> 00:25:27,492 in 2025 990 00:25:27,492 --> 00:25:27,993 to something 991 00:25:27,993 --> 00:25:29,027 that would be transformative, 992 00:25:29,027 --> 00:25:30,695 not just for you and for me, 993 00:25:32,130 --> 00:25:34,366 but for the region 994 00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:36,201 to have a far larger 995 00:25:36,201 --> 00:25:39,204 impact. 996 00:25:40,238 --> 00:25:40,805 Saying yes 997 00:25:40,805 --> 00:25:43,808 to an open door. 998 00:25:44,776 --> 00:25:46,111 Next week 999 00:25:46,111 --> 00:25:46,978 we're going to start 1000 00:25:46,978 --> 00:25:49,814 a new message series. 1001 00:25:49,814 --> 00:25:50,649 And I don't think 1002 00:25:50,649 --> 00:25:52,751 I'm overstating this. 1003 00:25:52,751 --> 00:25:53,285 When I tell you 1004 00:25:53,285 --> 00:25:54,419 that we believe it's 1005 00:25:54,419 --> 00:25:55,220 one of the most 1006 00:25:55,220 --> 00:25:56,154 important series 1007 00:25:56,154 --> 00:25:56,955 we're ever going 1008 00:25:56,955 --> 00:25:59,190 to preach here, 1009 00:25:59,190 --> 00:26:00,425 because we believe 1010 00:26:00,425 --> 00:26:01,960 that God is up to big things 1011 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,963 right here and right now, 1012 00:26:04,963 --> 00:26:05,430 that he's 1013 00:26:05,430 --> 00:26:07,766 using regular people 1014 00:26:07,766 --> 00:26:09,668 in seemingly small moments 1015 00:26:09,668 --> 00:26:12,671 to change the world. 1016 00:26:13,905 --> 00:26:16,174 Will that be us? 1017 00:26:16,174 --> 00:26:19,177 Will that be us? 1018 00:26:20,412 --> 00:26:23,415 I hope so. 1019 00:26:23,582 --> 00:26:25,784 Open hearts, 1020 00:26:25,784 --> 00:26:27,652 open hands. 1021 00:26:27,652 --> 00:26:30,655 Let's in 2025, let's commit 1022 00:26:31,256 --> 00:26:32,490 to walking through the door 1023 00:26:32,490 --> 00:26:33,258 that God opens 1024 00:26:33,258 --> 00:26:34,192 and inviting him 1025 00:26:34,192 --> 00:26:35,393 to use us 1026 00:26:35,393 --> 00:26:38,396 to change the world. 1027 00:26:39,564 --> 00:26:42,567 Would you pray with me? 1028 00:26:45,270 --> 00:26:46,004 Heavenly father, 1029 00:26:46,004 --> 00:26:49,007 as we sit here on 1030 00:26:50,342 --> 00:26:52,277 January 2nd, we don't 1031 00:26:52,277 --> 00:26:53,912 know what's coming tomorrow, 1032 00:26:53,912 --> 00:26:54,479 let alone 1033 00:26:54,479 --> 00:26:57,482 the balance of the year. 1034 00:26:59,284 --> 00:27:01,453 But I pray 1035 00:27:01,453 --> 00:27:01,920 for me 1036 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:02,520 and for every 1037 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,623 single person here 1038 00:27:04,623 --> 00:27:06,958 that our hands would be open, 1039 00:27:06,958 --> 00:27:07,859 and that when 1040 00:27:07,859 --> 00:27:08,693 you open a door, 1041 00:27:08,693 --> 00:27:11,563 we choose to walk through. 1042 00:27:11,563 --> 00:27:14,566 You have done so much for us, 1043 00:27:14,766 --> 00:27:15,467 shown us 1044 00:27:15,467 --> 00:27:18,470 that we can trust you, 1045 00:27:18,603 --> 00:27:20,238 help us to follow you 1046 00:27:20,238 --> 00:27:23,241 wherever you lead us. 1047 00:27:24,242 --> 00:27:25,043 We love you, Jesus. 1048 00:27:25,043 --> 00:27:25,944 It's in 1049 00:27:25,944 --> 00:27:28,146 your name that we pray. 1050 00:27:28,146 --> 00:27:28,513 Amen.