1 00:00:02,089 --> 00:00:04,554 Thanks for tuning in to the Sandals Church podcast. 2 00:00:04,682 --> 00:00:08,541 Our vision as a church is to be real with ourselves, God, and others. 3 00:00:08,676 --> 00:00:11,359 We're glad you're here, and we hope you enjoy this message. 4 00:00:13,890 --> 00:00:14,493 Hi, guys. 5 00:00:14,532 --> 00:00:15,497 Welcome to essentials. 6 00:00:15,513 --> 00:00:19,594 Man, I'm just so glad to be back here with you guys just this weekend. 7 00:00:19,641 --> 00:00:24,265 And I want to talk to you about one of the most important essentials to your Christian 8 00:00:19,641 --> 00:00:24,265 faith. 9 00:00:24,378 --> 00:00:27,602 It's about sharing your faith. 10 00:00:27,745 --> 00:00:34,310 So many Christians matter of fact statistics, and I don't know if they're true or not 11 00:00:27,745 --> 00:00:34,310 because I don't take them, but here's what all the research says. 12 00:00:34,460 --> 00:00:49,820 99% of Christians 99% of Christians never share their faith, the exact opposite of a Jesus 13 00:00:34,460 --> 00:00:49,820 who left the 99 for the one, and we have 99 that will go nowhere for not even one person. 14 00:00:50,429 --> 00:00:56,357 And last week, Melody did an amazing job challenging you to serve. 15 00:00:56,454 --> 00:00:58,746 But there was a portion in her message where I got a little triggered. 16 00:00:58,777 --> 00:00:59,469 I got to be honest. 17 00:00:59,539 --> 00:01:01,113 Does anybody remember, like, failure? 18 00:01:01,161 --> 00:01:02,969 Anybody ever have, like, a real failure? 19 00:01:03,130 --> 00:01:05,662 Well, she talked about the fact that she wasn't a track star. 20 00:01:05,715 --> 00:01:07,709 She's not a runner, but I was okay. 21 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:13,379 And I know it's hard to believe this because I'm 52 years old, kind of like Taylor Swift, 22 00:01:07,780 --> 00:01:13,379 but not 22, 52. 23 00:01:14,549 --> 00:01:16,930 Just the same, but a little more wrinkly amen. 24 00:01:19,750 --> 00:01:23,394 But I was a track athlete for most of my youth. 25 00:01:23,441 --> 00:01:32,593 Matter of fact, I ran all the way into college, and I had the privilege of going to one of 26 00:01:23,441 --> 00:01:32,593 the powerhouse track schools in the state of California. 27 00:01:32,641 --> 00:01:35,049 It was called Hiram Johnson High School. 28 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:43,802 Matter of fact, if someone's from the Sacramento area and they hear me say, I went to 29 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:43,802 Hiram Johnson, they just kind of look at me because they think I'm the wrong color. 30 00:01:43,936 --> 00:01:46,221 That's why they're like, you do know you're white? 31 00:01:46,275 --> 00:01:48,605 And I'm like, yeah, I do know I'm white. 32 00:01:48,707 --> 00:01:50,000 But I was fast. 33 00:01:50,530 --> 00:01:55,213 I was fast, and I made it onto our four by one track team. 34 00:01:55,331 --> 00:01:59,298 And so I got to run with some of the fastest students in our state. 35 00:01:59,384 --> 00:02:01,614 Some of these students went on to run in the Olympics. 36 00:02:01,662 --> 00:02:03,346 That's how fast they were. 37 00:02:03,528 --> 00:02:09,846 But Melody talked about last week in her message about this thing and how important it is. 38 00:02:10,027 --> 00:02:16,598 And I want you to know that in CIF Finals, our team was predicted to be number one. 39 00:02:16,764 --> 00:02:18,677 We were faster than everybody. 40 00:02:18,843 --> 00:02:20,277 We were stronger than everybody. 41 00:02:20,364 --> 00:02:24,310 We had beat everybody in our heat multiple times. 42 00:02:24,460 --> 00:02:30,060 We had matching sweatsuits, man, we looked like Ll Cool J, and we were there to play, you 43 00:02:24,460 --> 00:02:30,060 know what I'm saying? 44 00:02:30,750 --> 00:02:33,225 All the young people are like, who, he's an actor now. 45 00:02:33,247 --> 00:02:35,199 But he was super cool in the 80s. 46 00:02:37,409 --> 00:02:39,198 But I ran the third leg. 47 00:02:39,364 --> 00:02:40,253 I ran the turn. 48 00:02:40,292 --> 00:02:43,741 I don't know why, but God made me to run the turn. 49 00:02:43,876 --> 00:02:45,533 Not everybody can run the turn. 50 00:02:45,651 --> 00:02:46,425 It's crowded. 51 00:02:46,457 --> 00:02:53,122 It's impacted you got the fastest person giving it to you, and you got to hand it off to 52 00:02:46,457 --> 00:02:53,122 the second fastest person. 53 00:02:53,175 --> 00:03:00,520 Some people don't know that the longest leg of the four by one is the second, and then the 54 00:02:53,175 --> 00:03:00,520 next longest is the last. 55 00:03:01,689 --> 00:03:08,280 That's why in the Olympics, sometimes Usain Bolt will run number two because you want 56 00:03:01,689 --> 00:03:08,280 those legs going as far as they can. 57 00:03:08,650 --> 00:03:11,419 But the third leg is where everything gets messed up. 58 00:03:12,270 --> 00:03:18,539 And unfortunately, in CIF finals, this was handed to me and I dropped it. 59 00:03:19,629 --> 00:03:25,360 The sound you just made is why I've been in counseling for 20 years. 60 00:03:29,889 --> 00:03:32,719 I still remember this sound. 61 00:03:36,069 --> 00:03:43,794 I still remember the audience who had all gathered to see Hiram Johnson to watch the white 62 00:03:36,069 --> 00:03:43,794 kid who stood out. 63 00:03:43,831 --> 00:03:50,419 I was the only white kid on the track, and we failed that day. 64 00:03:51,750 --> 00:03:54,165 The apostle Paul says, run the race in such a way to win. 65 00:03:54,187 --> 00:03:54,566 Listen to me. 66 00:03:54,587 --> 00:03:56,629 You can't win if you drop the baton. 67 00:03:56,969 --> 00:03:58,725 It doesn't matter how fast you are. 68 00:03:58,828 --> 00:04:00,150 It doesn't matter how much you try. 69 00:04:00,219 --> 00:04:01,590 It doesn't matter how much you pray. 70 00:04:01,669 --> 00:04:05,289 If you don't hand the baton from one to another, you lose. 71 00:04:06,270 --> 00:04:11,574 99% of you are dropping that baton, and I know you're fired up America. 72 00:04:11,622 --> 00:04:12,490 America. 73 00:04:13,150 --> 00:04:14,614 Let me tell you what's wrong with America. 74 00:04:14,662 --> 00:04:16,089 We're losing Christians. 75 00:04:17,009 --> 00:04:19,274 And you're not going to change America through votes. 76 00:04:19,322 --> 00:04:21,370 You're not going to change America through a politician. 77 00:04:21,449 --> 00:04:27,329 You're going to change America by handing the baton from one Christian to the next and 78 00:04:21,449 --> 00:04:27,329 sharing the gospel. 79 00:04:29,750 --> 00:04:31,379 That's how we do this. 80 00:04:33,110 --> 00:04:35,139 And I just want to challenge you today. 81 00:04:35,910 --> 00:04:38,766 Are you ever going to share your faith? 82 00:04:38,958 --> 00:04:40,550 Are you ever going to do it? 83 00:04:40,699 --> 00:04:47,189 So let's just pray and let's ask God to challenge us, because I know there are pastors 84 00:04:40,699 --> 00:04:47,189 that don't share their faith. 85 00:04:48,569 --> 00:04:52,410 I know that there are lifelong Christians that never share their faith. 86 00:04:53,069 --> 00:04:58,089 And sharing your faith, listen to me, is an essential of the Christian faith. 87 00:04:59,389 --> 00:05:06,110 Because, like Melody said last week, we are only one generation from extinction as 88 00:04:59,389 --> 00:05:06,110 Christians. 89 00:05:07,170 --> 00:05:08,605 Jesus is the savior of the world. 90 00:05:08,627 --> 00:05:11,822 But listen to me, he made the church the hope of the world. 91 00:05:11,956 --> 00:05:16,350 And if we don't do our job, there will be no church in the next generation. 92 00:05:16,509 --> 00:05:25,517 So let's pray together and ask the holy Spirit to convict us and to empower us today, not 93 00:05:16,509 --> 00:05:25,517 just to worship Jesus, but to share Jesus. 94 00:05:25,694 --> 00:05:26,382 Let's pray. 95 00:05:26,446 --> 00:05:32,199 Heavenly Father, I just pray that your holy spirit would speak to us, that you would 96 00:05:26,446 --> 00:05:32,199 convict us, that you would move in our lives. 97 00:05:32,730 --> 00:05:41,473 And, God, I know today I'm going to ask Christians to do the one thing they would rather 98 00:05:32,730 --> 00:05:41,473 never do, and that's tell somebody about Jesus. 99 00:05:41,601 --> 00:05:47,434 God, I pray that you would empower them to be obedient today and to share their faith with 100 00:05:41,601 --> 00:05:47,434 somebody this week. 101 00:05:47,471 --> 00:05:49,129 We pray this in Jesus name. 102 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:50,170 Amen. 103 00:05:51,149 --> 00:05:53,113 Thank you so much for joining us for service today. 104 00:05:53,151 --> 00:05:58,009 I want to take a quick second to invite you to support the work that God is doing in and 105 00:05:53,151 --> 00:05:58,009 through Sandals Church. 106 00:05:58,089 --> 00:06:01,262 You can do so by donating at Donate SC. 107 00:06:01,396 --> 00:06:04,350 For now, let's get back into the message with Pastor Matt. 108 00:06:05,649 --> 00:06:14,641 If you ever come to Israel with me, I always choose to preach a sermon at a particular 109 00:06:05,649 --> 00:06:14,641 place. 110 00:06:14,776 --> 00:06:15,954 I like to divide it up. 111 00:06:15,992 --> 00:06:18,550 I like to give all the pastors an opportunity to share. 112 00:06:18,699 --> 00:06:29,720 But I always like to share my faith, my story at the Temple of Dan, you may know it as the 113 00:06:18,699 --> 00:06:29,720 Gates of Hell. 114 00:06:30,089 --> 00:06:33,819 Jesus preached one of his most famous sermons at the gates of hell. 115 00:06:34,350 --> 00:06:41,946 In Luke, chapter nine, verses 18 through 20, jesus left the crowds to pray alone, and only 116 00:06:34,350 --> 00:06:41,946 his disciples were with him. 117 00:06:41,968 --> 00:06:43,045 So here's the thing about Dan. 118 00:06:43,077 --> 00:06:45,470 It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful. 119 00:06:45,540 --> 00:06:47,338 Think like a desert oasis. 120 00:06:47,434 --> 00:06:53,161 There are springs that come up from the bottom of the mountain and they pour into the 121 00:06:47,434 --> 00:06:53,161 valley. 122 00:06:53,305 --> 00:06:55,745 And the temple of Dan becomes listen to this. 123 00:06:55,767 --> 00:06:57,490 The Jordan River. 124 00:06:58,629 --> 00:07:00,817 And it just flows and it's beautiful. 125 00:07:00,903 --> 00:07:04,500 Some of the most pristine farmland in the world. 126 00:07:05,110 --> 00:07:06,593 And so Jesus takes them there. 127 00:07:06,632 --> 00:07:11,377 There's cool water, there's a cool breeze there's, beautiful surroundings. 128 00:07:11,553 --> 00:07:15,430 But he takes his disciples into the heart of paganism. 129 00:07:16,170 --> 00:07:24,086 You see, the reason the pagans believed that the Temple of Dan was the gates of Hell 130 00:07:16,170 --> 00:07:24,086 because the spring was so deep, it could not be measured. 131 00:07:24,278 --> 00:07:26,970 And so they thought it went to the center of the earth. 132 00:07:27,870 --> 00:07:33,439 So Jesus took them to the gates of Hell and he said, who do people say that I am? 133 00:07:35,089 --> 00:07:38,750 Why would Jesus take the disciples into crazy town? 134 00:07:39,569 --> 00:07:40,413 Let me tell you this. 135 00:07:40,451 --> 00:07:44,480 The crazier the world is, the more you need to know who Jesus is. 136 00:07:47,189 --> 00:07:54,610 He takes them right into Crazy Town, to the Gates of Hell, to the Temple of Dan, where the 137 00:07:47,189 --> 00:07:54,610 priests there had sex with goats. 138 00:07:56,069 --> 00:08:01,639 Yeah, I know that's not in your Bible notes, but that's where Jesus took them. 139 00:08:02,009 --> 00:08:04,565 That's how crazy that place was. 140 00:08:04,668 --> 00:08:07,800 Jews, traditional Jews would go nowhere near it. 141 00:08:08,730 --> 00:08:10,379 Who do you say that I am? 142 00:08:10,750 --> 00:08:21,129 Well, they replied, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one 143 00:08:10,750 --> 00:08:21,129 of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead. 144 00:08:21,949 --> 00:08:25,040 And then he asked them, but who do you say that I am? 145 00:08:26,449 --> 00:08:31,199 And Peter replied, you were the messiah sent from God. 146 00:08:31,730 --> 00:08:37,922 This story occurs in Matthew six, Matthew 1613 through 16, and Mark 827 and 29. 147 00:08:37,975 --> 00:08:42,610 It's in three of the four Gospels because it's an essential story to your faith. 148 00:08:44,309 --> 00:08:48,062 You see, this is why you need to know this passage to share about Jesus. 149 00:08:48,125 --> 00:08:50,279 Number one, I must know who Jesus is. 150 00:08:52,409 --> 00:08:55,158 I don't not argue about who he is, but I must know. 151 00:08:55,244 --> 00:08:58,200 Then Jesus said to them, but who do you say that I am? 152 00:08:59,210 --> 00:09:03,019 And Peter answered, listen this the Christ of God. 153 00:09:03,629 --> 00:09:07,625 Some of you are new to Christianity and you don't know jesus'last name isn't Christ. 154 00:09:07,807 --> 00:09:09,340 That's not his last name. 155 00:09:10,269 --> 00:09:14,905 His true name is Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. 156 00:09:15,097 --> 00:09:16,894 He's the Son of God. 157 00:09:17,011 --> 00:09:21,529 Christ is a title like president or governor. 158 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:23,919 It's a statement of who he is. 159 00:09:24,450 --> 00:09:25,789 Do you know Jesus? 160 00:09:26,389 --> 00:09:27,700 Do you know him? 161 00:09:29,190 --> 00:09:41,639 Tammy and I recently started watching the TV show The Chosen, and I like a lot of it, and 162 00:09:29,190 --> 00:09:41,639 I don't like some of it, but thank God, their choice for Jesus, he kind of overcomes the 163 00:09:29,190 --> 00:09:41,639 flaws of the show. 164 00:09:43,049 --> 00:09:47,350 And I love it when he calls the disciple Thomas. 165 00:09:48,250 --> 00:09:53,370 And Thomas says, I've spent my entire life counting and measuring. 166 00:09:53,950 --> 00:09:59,019 And Jesus says, I will teach you a different way to count and measure your life. 167 00:09:59,950 --> 00:10:08,159 And when he said that, I got chills and I got goosebumps on my arms, because that's the 168 00:09:59,950 --> 00:10:08,159 Jesus I know. 169 00:10:09,250 --> 00:10:16,259 The Jesus I know taught Matt Brown how to count and measure his life in a different way. 170 00:10:17,429 --> 00:10:18,850 Do you know Jesus? 171 00:10:19,669 --> 00:10:20,899 Do you know him? 172 00:10:21,590 --> 00:10:23,299 Some of you have studied Him. 173 00:10:24,230 --> 00:10:28,360 Some of you've learned all kinds of things about Him, but do you know him? 174 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:35,879 The other day, I was incognito, had a hat on and some glasses, and some people were 175 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:35,879 talking about me. 176 00:10:37,049 --> 00:10:41,580 Yeah, I thought I'd stick around, maybe I could learn some things about myself. 177 00:10:45,389 --> 00:10:55,225 It's amazing the opinions that people have about me, the things that people do for me and 178 00:10:45,389 --> 00:10:55,225 oftentimes listen to me. 179 00:10:55,248 --> 00:10:58,974 The gifts that people give and the things that people say reveal the knowledge of me. 180 00:10:59,011 --> 00:10:59,919 That's true. 181 00:11:00,370 --> 00:11:03,679 Or it reveals they've seen me a couple of times on screen. 182 00:11:05,190 --> 00:11:08,529 Do you really know Jesus, or do you just know things about Jesus? 183 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:21,750 You see, the Jesus I know, I know he's challenged me to count and measure my life 184 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:21,750 differently in a world that's all about making your life count. 185 00:11:21,899 --> 00:11:23,573 And we don't call it measuring your life. 186 00:11:23,611 --> 00:11:29,909 We call it fame, we call it influencing, we call it likes, we call it shares. 187 00:11:30,409 --> 00:11:33,019 Jesus teaches you how to have a different life. 188 00:11:34,110 --> 00:11:39,100 You see, if you are worshiping the wrong Jesus, you're going to be living the wrong life. 189 00:11:39,870 --> 00:11:41,659 Who do you say that I am? 190 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:54,025 You see, Jesus asked this question because he knows the world is crazy, and it is only 191 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:54,025 your knowledge of Him that will stabilize you in the midst of this nuttiness. 192 00:11:54,217 --> 00:11:59,090 And I keep thinking that we've maxed out on crazy. 193 00:11:59,159 --> 00:12:00,100 Anybody else? 194 00:12:00,950 --> 00:12:02,899 I feel like we're good. 195 00:12:03,350 --> 00:12:04,833 Anybody nervous for 2024? 196 00:12:04,871 --> 00:12:09,350 I'm a little nervous because the 20s just keep rolling in nuttiness. 197 00:12:10,409 --> 00:12:12,210 Like, it just keeps rolling. 198 00:12:12,370 --> 00:12:19,750 It just keeps getting crazier and crazier and crazier, and the crazier the world is, the 199 00:12:12,370 --> 00:12:19,750 clearer you need to be about Jesus. 200 00:12:22,190 --> 00:12:25,100 So in order to share Jesus, I got to know Him. 201 00:12:25,629 --> 00:12:28,970 Number two, I got to know why he came to Earth. 202 00:12:30,429 --> 00:12:31,740 Why did he come? 203 00:12:32,909 --> 00:12:40,265 In the Gospel of John, there's this crazy guy, a crazy guy for a crazy time, wearing camel 204 00:12:32,909 --> 00:12:40,265 hair, eating insects and bugs. 205 00:12:40,298 --> 00:12:42,110 And you lost me at that, dude. 206 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:44,302 And you think that's crazy? 207 00:12:44,355 --> 00:12:45,966 They're trying to make us all eat bugs, by the way. 208 00:12:45,988 --> 00:12:46,846 They're trying to get rid of beef. 209 00:12:46,878 --> 00:12:51,889 You're all going to be like John the Baptist eating your burger, not knowing that that was 210 00:12:46,878 --> 00:12:51,889 a cricket. 211 00:12:53,669 --> 00:13:02,933 But in John 129, the next day, this crazy camel hair wearing freak saw Jesus coming toward 212 00:12:53,669 --> 00:13:02,933 him. 213 00:13:03,052 --> 00:13:04,261 Listen to what he said. 214 00:13:04,395 --> 00:13:08,600 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 215 00:13:10,269 --> 00:13:12,073 Do you want to know what's wrong with our world? 216 00:13:12,192 --> 00:13:13,529 It's not politics. 217 00:13:13,950 --> 00:13:15,429 It's not wokeness. 218 00:13:15,590 --> 00:13:17,046 It's not fascism. 219 00:13:17,158 --> 00:13:18,649 It's not racism. 220 00:13:19,549 --> 00:13:20,649 It's sin. 221 00:13:22,029 --> 00:13:23,062 It's sin. 222 00:13:23,206 --> 00:13:28,557 And our world loves to talk all around it, but never identify what's wrong. 223 00:13:28,724 --> 00:13:32,442 The world and everything in it is broken because of sin. 224 00:13:32,505 --> 00:13:35,241 And if you want to see this, firsthand, go have a baby. 225 00:13:35,306 --> 00:13:36,909 It comes out beautiful and perfect. 226 00:13:36,980 --> 00:13:40,580 And you think, there's nothing that you could ever do to make me not love you. 227 00:13:43,269 --> 00:13:48,509 And then three in the morning with diarrhea on your hands and vomit on your shoulder, 228 00:13:43,269 --> 00:13:48,509 you're like, yeah, we've arrived. 229 00:13:48,669 --> 00:13:49,522 We've arrived. 230 00:13:49,586 --> 00:13:52,981 As the kid is yelling at you, right? 231 00:13:53,115 --> 00:13:54,440 Yelling at you. 232 00:13:55,610 --> 00:13:56,981 And then you love that kid. 233 00:13:57,035 --> 00:13:58,070 You pray for that kid. 234 00:13:58,139 --> 00:14:00,870 And then that kid says the most loving things a parent ever hears. 235 00:14:00,950 --> 00:14:02,620 You have ruined my life. 236 00:14:05,230 --> 00:14:08,457 Oh, I was under the assumption I was trying to give you a life. 237 00:14:08,543 --> 00:14:11,049 I didn't realize it was the killer of all joy. 238 00:14:14,110 --> 00:14:20,413 And what you see firsthand is, even though you love your child more than anything, how 239 00:14:14,110 --> 00:14:20,413 broken the world is. 240 00:14:20,451 --> 00:14:24,879 And you see sin in them, and then you see it in yourself. 241 00:14:26,309 --> 00:14:27,620 You see it in yourself. 242 00:14:29,029 --> 00:14:32,659 What's worse parents is sometimes you see your sin in your kids. 243 00:14:33,269 --> 00:14:34,580 Oh, that's fun. 244 00:14:35,669 --> 00:14:37,018 You ever seen your child sin? 245 00:14:37,053 --> 00:14:38,225 And the Lord's like, that'll preach. 246 00:14:38,258 --> 00:14:38,566 You're like. 247 00:14:38,587 --> 00:14:39,121 Okay, lord. 248 00:14:39,186 --> 00:14:40,789 Careful, careful. 249 00:14:43,450 --> 00:14:50,149 The Apostle Paul writes a letter to the most powerful city the world had ever known. 250 00:14:50,590 --> 00:14:54,059 No one had ever conquered the world the way the Romans did. 251 00:14:55,070 --> 00:14:57,337 They thought they were better than everybody else. 252 00:14:57,423 --> 00:15:00,860 They believed everyone else was beneath them. 253 00:15:02,610 --> 00:15:04,909 I found this out when we were in Greece. 254 00:15:05,490 --> 00:15:10,429 The Greeks don't call themselves Greek because it's a Roman slur. 255 00:15:11,409 --> 00:15:12,573 You know what it means? 256 00:15:12,692 --> 00:15:13,629 Not Roman. 257 00:15:14,710 --> 00:15:15,313 You're good. 258 00:15:15,351 --> 00:15:16,926 You had Plato, but you ain't roman. 259 00:15:17,038 --> 00:15:18,690 So back off, buddy. 260 00:15:19,269 --> 00:15:28,549 The Apostle Paul writes this inspired letter to the arrogant believers in Rome, and he 261 00:15:19,269 --> 00:15:28,549 says, for everyone has sinned. 262 00:15:29,929 --> 00:15:33,960 We all fall short of God's glorious standard. 263 00:15:34,730 --> 00:15:41,754 You see, the Romans, when they marched into army, they carried a standard that intimidated 264 00:15:34,730 --> 00:15:41,754 that. 265 00:15:41,792 --> 00:15:47,450 It caused their enemies to run in fear when the Roman standard was raised. 266 00:15:48,190 --> 00:15:52,621 And Paul says that's the wrong standard, that there's a higher standard. 267 00:15:52,676 --> 00:15:53,501 There's a better standard. 268 00:15:53,556 --> 00:15:54,957 There's a more glorious standard. 269 00:15:55,043 --> 00:15:57,279 And none of us meet it. 270 00:15:58,850 --> 00:16:00,240 None of us meet it. 271 00:16:01,090 --> 00:16:03,673 Why did Jesus come to Earth? 272 00:16:03,802 --> 00:16:10,419 Because even the great Rome, even the great America, has fallen short of God's glorious 273 00:16:03,802 --> 00:16:10,419 standard. 274 00:16:11,509 --> 00:16:13,139 God's glorious standard. 275 00:16:14,230 --> 00:16:15,779 And we all know this. 276 00:16:16,470 --> 00:16:17,960 We all know this. 277 00:16:18,970 --> 00:16:24,470 In our Declaration of Independence, we wrote, for all men are created equal. 278 00:16:24,970 --> 00:16:29,639 And then we violated that sacred statement by enslaving some men. 279 00:16:30,330 --> 00:16:33,820 You see, even when we get the slogan right, we fall short. 280 00:16:34,509 --> 00:16:35,820 We fall short. 281 00:16:37,789 --> 00:16:42,720 You can get it right on paper and miss the fact that you've got it wrong in your heart. 282 00:16:45,090 --> 00:16:48,190 For we all fall short of his glorious standard. 283 00:16:48,259 --> 00:16:52,250 Yet God why was John so excited to see Jesus? 284 00:16:52,330 --> 00:16:58,190 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. 285 00:16:58,629 --> 00:16:59,937 How does he do this? 286 00:17:00,024 --> 00:17:05,006 He did it through Christ Jesus, when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. 287 00:17:05,198 --> 00:17:10,099 You see, one day you're going to stand before God and you're going to face the penalty for 288 00:17:05,198 --> 00:17:10,099 everything you did. 289 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:12,278 For everything you did. 290 00:17:12,443 --> 00:17:15,781 You're going to be accountable for what you did and what you thought of. 291 00:17:15,915 --> 00:17:20,890 Oh, man, can you imagine, guys, if your wife could hold you accountable for your thoughts? 292 00:17:21,309 --> 00:17:23,819 Like, just set me on fire right now. 293 00:17:26,910 --> 00:17:29,660 The scariest thing ever is when my wife says, what are you thinking? 294 00:17:31,470 --> 00:17:32,960 You don't want to know. 295 00:17:33,730 --> 00:17:35,200 I don't want to know. 296 00:17:38,690 --> 00:17:40,799 And we're all going to stand before God. 297 00:17:41,170 --> 00:17:42,430 Who knows us? 298 00:17:42,579 --> 00:17:43,806 Who knows what we did? 299 00:17:43,907 --> 00:17:45,182 Who knows what we didn't do? 300 00:17:45,236 --> 00:17:47,140 Who knows what we should have done? 301 00:17:47,509 --> 00:17:48,259 Wow. 302 00:17:49,670 --> 00:17:54,450 And let me just say this for everybody who has a problem with this man, I don't meet my 303 00:17:49,670 --> 00:17:54,450 own standards. 304 00:17:55,430 --> 00:17:57,614 Anybody ever feel like you should be a better husband? 305 00:17:57,662 --> 00:18:01,442 You should be a better mom, you should be a better son, a better daughter? 306 00:18:01,506 --> 00:18:04,817 That's your standard, and you fall short of yours. 307 00:18:04,993 --> 00:18:06,869 Now, let's talk about God's. 308 00:18:08,170 --> 00:18:13,289 For God presented Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. 309 00:18:14,349 --> 00:18:16,710 You see, here's what every religion misses. 310 00:18:16,789 --> 00:18:19,660 How are you ever going to be good enough for God? 311 00:18:21,470 --> 00:18:24,940 You see, if you're a Muslim, you just got to try. 312 00:18:26,190 --> 00:18:27,519 You just got to try. 313 00:18:28,049 --> 00:18:29,440 You got to work hard. 314 00:18:31,250 --> 00:18:33,839 If you're a Hindu, you just got to hope. 315 00:18:35,009 --> 00:18:39,326 Maybe if you're a Buddhist, you pray really, really regularly. 316 00:18:39,518 --> 00:18:43,089 You detach yourself hoping you can experience nirvana in some way. 317 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,299 But for us, as Christians, we don't have to be perfect, because we know who was. 318 00:18:47,829 --> 00:18:49,220 We know who was. 319 00:18:49,829 --> 00:18:55,238 People are made right with God not because of what you've done, because of what you think, 320 00:18:49,829 --> 00:18:55,238 because of what you believe. 321 00:18:55,324 --> 00:19:03,660 People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for what 322 00:18:55,324 --> 00:19:03,660 you for you. 323 00:19:06,589 --> 00:19:09,740 And why are we so afraid to tell the world about this? 324 00:19:10,109 --> 00:19:16,473 Why Jesus set us free by shedding his blood? 325 00:19:16,521 --> 00:19:17,998 I want you to listen to me. 326 00:19:18,163 --> 00:19:23,230 Jesus, in his best moment, died to save you from your worst moments. 327 00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:28,183 If you're honest with yourself at all. 328 00:19:28,221 --> 00:19:29,450 Let that sink in. 329 00:19:32,980 --> 00:19:35,935 In his best moment on the cross, he died for you. 330 00:19:35,958 --> 00:19:44,279 In your worst moment, your private life, the life that no one sees. 331 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,124 Tammy and I were out to dinner, and can I just say this? 332 00:19:48,162 --> 00:19:53,019 If you know me, can you just acknowledge that so you're not just watching me in secret? 333 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,824 And I was looking at our waitress, and I was like, Man, I feel like babe, I feel like I 334 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:59,824 know her. 335 00:19:59,862 --> 00:20:01,089 I feel like I know her. 336 00:20:01,859 --> 00:20:03,135 And I said, Do I know you? 337 00:20:03,157 --> 00:20:04,289 And she goes, no. 338 00:20:05,460 --> 00:20:06,895 So the waitress said no. 339 00:20:06,998 --> 00:20:09,839 She goes, But I do go to your church, and we work out at the same gym. 340 00:20:13,079 --> 00:20:13,971 But she was right. 341 00:20:14,026 --> 00:20:15,476 I don't know her, and she doesn't know me. 342 00:20:15,498 --> 00:20:17,715 She watches me, but she knows me. 343 00:20:17,738 --> 00:20:19,990 And I was like, You've been watching the whole time? 344 00:20:21,339 --> 00:20:22,791 Thank God I got a soda water. 345 00:20:22,846 --> 00:20:23,203 Amen. 346 00:20:23,251 --> 00:20:23,960 God is good. 347 00:20:24,029 --> 00:20:25,130 God is good. 348 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:31,443 But, you know, so many people today, they believe a false gospel. 349 00:20:31,491 --> 00:20:33,867 Here's the falsest a gospel can be. 350 00:20:33,953 --> 00:20:35,869 Well, I just believe in being a good person. 351 00:20:40,029 --> 00:20:42,940 Don't you think Jesus wishes we could have just been good people? 352 00:20:44,029 --> 00:20:45,900 Lord, they're trying. 353 00:20:47,069 --> 00:20:47,529 Wait. 354 00:20:47,599 --> 00:20:49,740 What if we just help them be better? 355 00:20:50,190 --> 00:20:53,230 Here's what the prophet Jeremiah said about trying to be a good person. 356 00:20:53,299 --> 00:20:54,880 This is what the Lord says. 357 00:20:55,329 --> 00:21:00,589 Cursed are those who put their trust in humans, who rely on human strength. 358 00:21:01,410 --> 00:21:03,634 What happens when you try to be a good person? 359 00:21:03,751 --> 00:21:05,074 Listen to what Jeremiah says. 360 00:21:05,192 --> 00:21:07,329 They turn their hearts away from the Lord. 361 00:21:07,829 --> 00:21:11,890 When you say I'm good enough, you're saying Jesus wasn't. 362 00:21:12,470 --> 00:21:14,289 You're saying Jesus wasn't. 363 00:21:14,789 --> 00:21:16,913 You see, this is a false gospel everywhere. 364 00:21:16,961 --> 00:21:17,778 Everybody just believes. 365 00:21:17,794 --> 00:21:21,400 Well, if I'm just a good person, you'll what, earn eternal life? 366 00:21:22,890 --> 00:21:26,250 What makes you so special that God's like, yeah, you get eternity. 367 00:21:27,150 --> 00:21:28,569 You get eternity. 368 00:21:30,029 --> 00:21:31,594 Most of you are blessed to have the years. 369 00:21:31,632 --> 00:21:34,329 You have, much less forever. 370 00:21:36,509 --> 00:21:38,286 You see, we all fall short. 371 00:21:38,468 --> 00:21:40,670 We all need Jesus. 372 00:21:42,930 --> 00:21:44,493 So I got to know who Jesus is. 373 00:21:44,531 --> 00:21:45,920 I got to know why he came. 374 00:21:47,250 --> 00:21:49,230 Does anybody feel like the world's broken? 375 00:21:49,650 --> 00:21:51,569 Does anybody feel like it's getting worse? 376 00:21:52,390 --> 00:21:54,306 Man, fast. 377 00:21:54,488 --> 00:21:55,965 I mean, I thought the 80s were wild. 378 00:21:55,998 --> 00:22:01,140 I wish my kids could live in the 80s because it was way better than now. 379 00:22:01,849 --> 00:22:07,153 Way better, way less crazy to share about Jesus. 380 00:22:07,201 --> 00:22:08,054 Listen to this. 381 00:22:08,172 --> 00:22:12,039 I must be able to share what Jesus has done for me. 382 00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:17,900 Maybe the reason you don't share Jesus is you forgot what he did for you. 383 00:22:22,230 --> 00:22:27,390 This is all the testimony, is it's not a bunch of memorized scriptures. 384 00:22:27,549 --> 00:22:29,981 You don't have to have a degree in theology. 385 00:22:30,125 --> 00:22:33,480 You just need to be able to say what Jesus did for you. 386 00:22:34,650 --> 00:22:36,082 There's this guy in the Bible. 387 00:22:36,145 --> 00:22:37,826 He didn't even see Jesus when he got saved. 388 00:22:37,857 --> 00:22:38,817 He's blind. 389 00:22:38,993 --> 00:22:39,665 He's blind. 390 00:22:39,698 --> 00:22:40,773 He never met him. 391 00:22:40,892 --> 00:22:49,577 And he's getting literally interrogated put down, going to be kicked out of his community 392 00:22:40,892 --> 00:22:49,577 because they want to know, who was this that allowed you to see? 393 00:22:49,663 --> 00:22:51,114 And so they called him a second time. 394 00:22:51,152 --> 00:23:03,789 In John, chapter nine, verses 24 and 25, they called in the man who had been blind and 395 00:22:51,152 --> 00:23:03,789 told him, told him, God should get glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a 396 00:22:51,152 --> 00:23:03,789 sinner. 397 00:23:04,609 --> 00:23:06,317 This is what the blind man says. 398 00:23:06,483 --> 00:23:10,660 I don't know whether he's a sinner or not, but I know this. 399 00:23:11,109 --> 00:23:14,753 I was blind, but now I see. 400 00:23:14,951 --> 00:23:16,369 That's a testimony. 401 00:23:17,430 --> 00:23:18,769 That's a testimony. 402 00:23:19,910 --> 00:23:22,246 How has Jesus changed you? 403 00:23:22,428 --> 00:23:24,599 What did he save you from? 404 00:23:26,250 --> 00:23:29,905 To build a testimony, you have to answer this question why are you a Christian? 405 00:23:30,097 --> 00:23:31,653 And because my parents were. 406 00:23:31,692 --> 00:23:32,839 It's not an answer. 407 00:23:34,009 --> 00:23:35,420 It's not an answer. 408 00:23:35,869 --> 00:23:37,526 Why are you a Christian? 409 00:23:37,718 --> 00:23:38,394 How about this? 410 00:23:38,432 --> 00:23:39,493 Why do you go to church? 411 00:23:39,541 --> 00:23:41,173 You're just bored on Sundays. 412 00:23:41,301 --> 00:23:42,713 You're like, there's nothing going on. 413 00:23:42,751 --> 00:23:44,089 I hate the NFL. 414 00:23:49,170 --> 00:23:50,670 Why do you go to church? 415 00:23:52,049 --> 00:23:58,210 You see, maybe the reason your friends don't come to Sandals is you haven't articulated 416 00:23:52,049 --> 00:23:58,210 why you need Sandals. 417 00:24:02,630 --> 00:24:04,500 What has Jesus done for you? 418 00:24:05,910 --> 00:24:07,539 What has he done for you? 419 00:24:08,869 --> 00:24:10,114 That's all it is. 420 00:24:10,231 --> 00:24:11,650 It's a testimony. 421 00:24:12,710 --> 00:24:16,390 All I know is I was blind, and now I see. 422 00:24:16,460 --> 00:24:23,960 There's a woman at a well, and she says this, come and meet the man who told me everything 423 00:24:16,460 --> 00:24:23,960 I ever did. 424 00:24:26,269 --> 00:24:28,299 She doesn't even know who he is. 425 00:24:29,069 --> 00:24:32,059 She thinks maybe he's the Christ, but she's not sure. 426 00:24:32,750 --> 00:24:33,978 And what happens? 427 00:24:34,144 --> 00:24:35,849 Her whole town gets saved. 428 00:24:36,430 --> 00:24:38,269 So why are you a Christian? 429 00:24:39,089 --> 00:24:42,160 What has Jesus done for you? 430 00:24:42,849 --> 00:24:44,349 Why do you go to church? 431 00:24:46,210 --> 00:24:48,377 This is how you build a testimony. 432 00:24:48,473 --> 00:24:50,365 This is how you build a story. 433 00:24:50,468 --> 00:24:51,546 Because here's the thing. 434 00:24:51,587 --> 00:24:51,986 Listen to me. 435 00:24:52,008 --> 00:24:53,741 The world no longer believes in the Bible. 436 00:24:53,806 --> 00:24:56,099 But if they know you, they might believe you. 437 00:24:58,150 --> 00:25:01,250 And for hundreds of years, the church had no Bible. 438 00:25:02,490 --> 00:25:04,069 Paper was precious. 439 00:25:05,049 --> 00:25:06,710 Scrolls were limited. 440 00:25:07,849 --> 00:25:10,789 Many pastors and priests were illiterate. 441 00:25:11,690 --> 00:25:13,077 You know what we had? 442 00:25:13,243 --> 00:25:14,781 We had a testimony. 443 00:25:14,945 --> 00:25:17,740 I was blind, but now I see. 444 00:25:19,470 --> 00:25:21,420 I just want you to look at the world. 445 00:25:22,190 --> 00:25:23,819 Do they look like they see? 446 00:25:26,029 --> 00:25:29,200 The world is confused about very, very simple things. 447 00:25:30,930 --> 00:25:34,670 The world doesn't even know what gender is anymore. 448 00:25:36,210 --> 00:25:37,710 That's how lost the world is. 449 00:25:37,779 --> 00:25:40,942 And that's not to put anybody down that's struggling with gender dysphoria. 450 00:25:41,006 --> 00:25:42,339 Jesus loves you. 451 00:25:43,750 --> 00:25:45,362 This church loves you. 452 00:25:45,496 --> 00:26:00,501 But you deserve the truth, because Jesus said, the truth is what sets us free, not 453 00:25:45,496 --> 00:26:00,501 indulging people in lies that buries people to share. 454 00:26:00,556 --> 00:26:02,693 Jesus number four, listen to this. 455 00:26:02,892 --> 00:26:07,740 I must lovingly share what I believe Jesus can do for others. 456 00:26:10,670 --> 00:26:12,140 Can I just say this? 457 00:26:13,309 --> 00:26:22,029 If you're trying to win arguments on Facebook, on social media, around the coffee pot, 458 00:26:13,309 --> 00:26:22,029 then you are not winning souls. 459 00:26:26,839 --> 00:26:32,579 Look, when my wife and I in our marriage and we love each other, when we're trying to win 460 00:26:26,839 --> 00:26:32,579 an argument we both lose. 461 00:26:32,940 --> 00:26:34,200 We both lose. 462 00:26:35,819 --> 00:26:37,763 I want you to remember what's at stake. 463 00:26:37,811 --> 00:26:40,200 You're trying to win a soul. 464 00:26:40,859 --> 00:26:42,440 You're trying to win a soul. 465 00:26:43,579 --> 00:26:45,210 I know many of your friends. 466 00:26:46,619 --> 00:26:49,630 They go to good churches, and there are great churches out there. 467 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:53,723 Fantastic churches, got better facilities than we have. 468 00:26:53,922 --> 00:26:55,948 They've been a church longer than we have. 469 00:26:56,034 --> 00:26:57,771 They're more established than Sandals is. 470 00:26:57,826 --> 00:27:01,230 I want you to understand what Sandals Church is all about. 471 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:09,519 I went and met with a dean of spiritual life last week at a local Christian college, and 472 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:09,519 he said, Tell me about your church. 473 00:27:10,180 --> 00:27:11,660 Tell me about your church. 474 00:27:11,819 --> 00:27:14,587 What kind of students should I send to Sandals? 475 00:27:14,683 --> 00:27:16,549 And I want you to listen to what I said. 476 00:27:17,319 --> 00:27:19,344 I said, you got a lot of Christians on your campus. 477 00:27:19,392 --> 00:27:20,195 He said, yeah, we do. 478 00:27:20,218 --> 00:27:21,750 I said, I don't want any of them. 479 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,769 I know he did the same thing that you just did. 480 00:27:27,019 --> 00:27:30,970 I said, Sandals is not built for Christian kids. 481 00:27:31,740 --> 00:27:33,971 We're a mission oriented church. 482 00:27:34,036 --> 00:27:36,728 I want you to give me the kids that have screwed up. 483 00:27:36,814 --> 00:27:37,943 And here's the thing. 484 00:27:38,061 --> 00:27:40,215 They think there might be a God who can help them. 485 00:27:40,238 --> 00:27:41,630 I said, you send me that kid. 486 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:43,804 You send me that kid. 487 00:27:43,922 --> 00:27:48,509 And let me tell you, this is why your friends, I just don't get Sandals when I try to 488 00:27:43,922 --> 00:27:48,509 reach them. 489 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,660 Jesus did not come to save the church. 490 00:27:51,740 --> 00:27:53,519 He came to save the lost. 491 00:27:54,740 --> 00:28:00,400 And the church has forgotten that some of you are judging the lost rather than trying to 492 00:27:54,740 --> 00:28:00,400 reach the lost. 493 00:28:02,819 --> 00:28:06,788 When I started Sandal's church, this verse haunted me. 494 00:28:06,953 --> 00:28:09,988 Haunted me, would not let me go. 495 00:28:10,074 --> 00:28:15,400 Colossians four, five, and six, live wisely among those who are not believers. 496 00:28:16,220 --> 00:28:17,930 Make the most of every opportunity. 497 00:28:18,619 --> 00:28:25,369 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response 498 00:28:18,619 --> 00:28:25,369 for everyone. 499 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:39,119 A couple of weeks ago, I was preaching in church, and there's a couple, they've attended 500 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:39,119 Sandals for a long time, and they're concerned about me, worried I've gone mini woke. 501 00:28:40,259 --> 00:28:41,355 Look, I'm barely awake. 502 00:28:41,387 --> 00:28:41,855 Amen okay? 503 00:28:41,877 --> 00:28:49,359 I'm barely awake, and they're just sitting there frowning at me while I'm preaching. 504 00:28:50,819 --> 00:28:55,584 And right in front of them is a gay couple, and they've come to church. 505 00:28:55,632 --> 00:28:55,988 Why? 506 00:28:56,074 --> 00:28:56,788 I don't know. 507 00:28:56,874 --> 00:29:00,099 We can't be any more clear about what we believe about sexuality. 508 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:02,579 I've been abundantly clear. 509 00:29:02,730 --> 00:29:04,759 I've been clear for 27 years. 510 00:29:04,910 --> 00:29:08,890 I've lost friends and family members because I'm so clear. 511 00:29:10,779 --> 00:29:12,250 But I want you to understand. 512 00:29:12,940 --> 00:29:24,008 I'm trying to preach a sermon that ministers and feeds to an old grumpy, cult couple and 513 00:29:12,940 --> 00:29:24,008 to a gay couple that's come to church. 514 00:29:24,183 --> 00:29:31,410 And here's what I want you to understand when I'm preaching, I believe that people should 515 00:29:24,183 --> 00:29:31,410 be able to meet Jesus before they reject Him. 516 00:29:32,819 --> 00:29:34,690 I just want that to sink in. 517 00:29:35,140 --> 00:29:41,250 Don't you think the world should have the opportunity to meet the savior of the world 518 00:29:35,140 --> 00:29:41,250 before they reject Him? 519 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:50,549 But sometimes, because of the way we preach and the way we've gathered and how political 520 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:50,549 we are, people say no to us, and they never get to meet him. 521 00:29:53,660 --> 00:29:56,650 I see all these young athletes, man. 522 00:29:57,259 --> 00:29:58,516 Dion Sanders Sons. 523 00:29:58,548 --> 00:29:59,395 He wears a jersey. 524 00:29:59,428 --> 00:30:00,890 It says him on it. 525 00:30:03,099 --> 00:30:04,329 Let me tell you something. 526 00:30:04,940 --> 00:30:06,809 Sanders Yang him. 527 00:30:07,819 --> 00:30:09,324 Jesus is him. 528 00:30:09,521 --> 00:30:11,150 Jesus is that guy. 529 00:30:12,079 --> 00:30:13,723 Jesus is that guy. 530 00:30:13,922 --> 00:30:19,009 And what we got to do as a church is we got to do whatever we can to get people to meet 531 00:30:13,922 --> 00:30:19,009 him. 532 00:30:20,180 --> 00:30:20,736 Him. 533 00:30:20,837 --> 00:30:21,970 He's that guy. 534 00:30:22,339 --> 00:30:25,279 And sometimes what that means is we're a little uncomfortable. 535 00:30:27,539 --> 00:30:32,864 I always think about the church that met at the home where somebody cut a hole in the 536 00:30:27,539 --> 00:30:32,864 roof. 537 00:30:32,981 --> 00:30:34,304 Would that make any of you uncomfortable? 538 00:30:34,352 --> 00:30:38,564 If in small group, somebody just, hey, we want to be a part of this. 539 00:30:38,602 --> 00:30:43,769 We're going to drop a GoPro down from your ceiling so we can broadcast this. 540 00:30:45,420 --> 00:30:48,243 I'm guessing 99% of you would be sure that was the devil. 541 00:30:48,291 --> 00:30:48,596 Amen. 542 00:30:48,627 --> 00:30:49,268 The devil. 543 00:30:49,364 --> 00:30:50,730 He's doing it again. 544 00:30:53,339 --> 00:30:57,980 You see, the church grows when Christians are willing to be uncomfortable. 545 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:05,230 Can I just tell you, if you're a Christian and your soul is saved, I'm not trying to reach 546 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:05,230 you. 547 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:07,470 I'm trying to equip you. 548 00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:10,923 I'm trying to reach the lost. 549 00:31:11,051 --> 00:31:16,160 The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost. 550 00:31:17,940 --> 00:31:18,720 Lost. 551 00:31:20,579 --> 00:31:27,392 Last week, I was in the lobby at Sandals Hunter Park, and a woman came up to me, and I 552 00:31:20,579 --> 00:31:27,392 didn't understand the conversation. 553 00:31:27,455 --> 00:31:34,099 I got all the details wrong, except she knew a 20 year old young woman who's dying of 554 00:31:27,455 --> 00:31:34,099 cancer. 555 00:31:35,799 --> 00:31:37,652 Let me just tell you, I told my wife this. 556 00:31:37,705 --> 00:31:38,680 We've been through a lot of stuff. 557 00:31:38,750 --> 00:31:39,624 Our kids are not easy. 558 00:31:39,662 --> 00:31:41,130 We've never had to deal with that. 559 00:31:42,140 --> 00:31:45,450 And she said, Would you be willing to go and pray with her? 560 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:47,150 Sure. 561 00:31:50,559 --> 00:31:55,230 I drove about an hour away because I committed before I knew how far it was. 562 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:00,859 We got there, knocked on the door. 563 00:32:00,940 --> 00:32:03,730 One of our pastors was already there because he was on time. 564 00:32:05,299 --> 00:32:06,559 I was late. 565 00:32:07,140 --> 00:32:16,069 And here's this mom who's got a daughter that's 20 years old dying of cancer, and this 566 00:32:07,140 --> 00:32:16,069 woman lets two grown men in her house that she does not know. 567 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:19,750 You see, that's what desperate people do. 568 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:31,519 She let two grown men come in, and we sat down and we prayed with a 20 year old girl who 569 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:31,519 has an aggressive form of spinal cancer. 570 00:32:32,339 --> 00:32:34,049 You want to know what her name was? 571 00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:35,359 Grace. 572 00:32:36,740 --> 00:32:38,124 She doesn't go to church. 573 00:32:38,251 --> 00:32:39,700 Hasn't been in church. 574 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:45,619 I said, did you know your name is in almost every letter the Apostle Paul writes in the 575 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:45,619 Christian Bible? 576 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:48,420 She didn't know what her name meant. 577 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:50,736 And I said, here's the thing. 578 00:32:50,778 --> 00:32:53,130 I said, I don't know what God will do. 579 00:32:53,500 --> 00:32:56,250 I said, But I know what Jesus can do. 580 00:32:57,819 --> 00:33:00,170 I said, Would you let me pray over you? 581 00:33:01,019 --> 00:33:02,490 And she said, sure. 582 00:33:02,940 --> 00:33:04,455 And right there in her downstairs. 583 00:33:04,488 --> 00:33:05,336 Bedroom. 584 00:33:05,528 --> 00:33:06,968 Everything about her life has changed. 585 00:33:06,983 --> 00:33:07,976 She used to live in the upstairs. 586 00:33:08,008 --> 00:33:10,044 Now she lives in the downstairs because she can't walk. 587 00:33:10,082 --> 00:33:11,339 She's paralyzed. 588 00:33:13,519 --> 00:33:14,951 I prayed for her. 589 00:33:15,105 --> 00:33:16,203 But you know what I prayed? 590 00:33:16,251 --> 00:33:17,500 I didn't just pray for healing. 591 00:33:17,579 --> 00:33:19,200 I prayed for revealing. 592 00:33:20,019 --> 00:33:29,875 I said, Lord, I want Grace to know who you are I want her to know who you are, because I 593 00:33:20,019 --> 00:33:29,875 know what you can do. 594 00:33:30,057 --> 00:33:33,971 And I know my prayer and my touch and my power can do nothing. 595 00:33:34,026 --> 00:33:37,844 But I know your prayer, your power, and your touch can do everything. 596 00:33:38,041 --> 00:33:38,980 Amen. 597 00:33:44,380 --> 00:33:45,336 And then she told me. 598 00:33:45,357 --> 00:33:46,276 She said, I don't go to church. 599 00:33:46,307 --> 00:33:47,064 I said you can. 600 00:33:47,102 --> 00:33:48,723 She said, I'm paralyzed. 601 00:33:48,771 --> 00:33:51,895 I said, we have church for free online. 602 00:33:52,077 --> 00:33:53,544 I said, Is that a smart TV, right? 603 00:33:53,582 --> 00:33:53,976 She said yes. 604 00:33:53,998 --> 00:33:55,450 I said, you can watch right there. 605 00:33:55,980 --> 00:33:57,390 It's all for free. 606 00:33:58,240 --> 00:33:59,723 It's all for free. 607 00:33:59,922 --> 00:34:01,420 Listen, I know many of your friends. 608 00:34:01,490 --> 00:34:03,451 I don't know why they got to watch it on a screen. 609 00:34:03,506 --> 00:34:04,715 I don't care how people hear. 610 00:34:04,817 --> 00:34:06,107 I don't care how people watch. 611 00:34:06,193 --> 00:34:08,215 I want people to be saved. 612 00:34:08,407 --> 00:34:09,612 That's what I want. 613 00:34:09,746 --> 00:34:10,648 And let me tell you something. 614 00:34:10,673 --> 00:34:15,708 Part of the reason we do what we do is so that we can reach people who are never going to 615 00:34:10,673 --> 00:34:15,708 walk into a church. 616 00:34:15,884 --> 00:34:18,610 And by the way, did I mention she can't walk? 617 00:34:19,780 --> 00:34:20,815 She can't walk. 618 00:34:20,918 --> 00:34:22,150 She can't get here. 619 00:34:23,079 --> 00:34:26,692 But God sent someone here and sent me to her because he cares about her. 620 00:34:26,746 --> 00:34:30,070 He loves her, and he sent His Son to die on the cross for her. 621 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:35,623 Listen, Sandals, I know I'm not as political as many of you want me to be. 622 00:34:35,661 --> 00:34:37,076 I'm not trying to win arguments. 623 00:34:37,108 --> 00:34:38,489 I'm trying to win people. 624 00:34:39,340 --> 00:34:40,809 I'm trying to win people. 625 00:34:43,099 --> 00:34:44,744 One corinthians 922. 626 00:34:44,782 --> 00:34:47,751 This is another just huge verse for us at Sandals Church. 627 00:34:47,896 --> 00:34:50,775 The Apostle Paul says this to the church at Corinth to the weak. 628 00:34:50,807 --> 00:34:53,260 I became weak to win the weak. 629 00:34:53,599 --> 00:35:00,289 He said, I have become all things to all people that by some possible means, I might save 630 00:34:53,599 --> 00:35:00,289 some. 631 00:35:01,380 --> 00:35:02,364 Listen to me, Sandals. 632 00:35:02,411 --> 00:35:04,929 We can't save everybody, but we can save somebody. 633 00:35:06,099 --> 00:35:07,590 We can save somebody. 634 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:23,300 And instead of getting discouraged about how the world's gone crazy, let's start looking 635 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:23,300 for that person that God's calling you to share the Gospel with in order to share Jesus. 636 00:35:23,380 --> 00:35:26,570 And this is the thing that most seminary students miss. 637 00:35:27,579 --> 00:35:29,335 I ask seminary students this all the time. 638 00:35:29,358 --> 00:35:32,280 If you don't know what seminary is, it's cemetery for Christians. 639 00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:35,579 It's where you go to kill your faith. 640 00:35:39,119 --> 00:35:40,670 But here's what I tell them. 641 00:35:41,039 --> 00:35:43,496 What's the most important thing to be an effective pastor? 642 00:35:43,527 --> 00:35:45,949 And they all answer the same thing love God. 643 00:35:46,559 --> 00:35:47,889 Oh, that's good. 644 00:35:48,900 --> 00:35:50,751 What does the great Commandment say? 645 00:35:50,885 --> 00:35:54,523 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and listen to Jesus. 646 00:35:54,572 --> 00:35:57,329 And the second is equally important. 647 00:35:58,500 --> 00:36:00,480 You must love your neighbor. 648 00:36:01,619 --> 00:36:03,103 If I'm going to share about Jesus. 649 00:36:03,152 --> 00:36:03,652 Listen to me. 650 00:36:03,706 --> 00:36:04,949 I got to love people. 651 00:36:06,199 --> 00:36:07,284 I love people. 652 00:36:07,402 --> 00:36:08,704 Many churches, great churches. 653 00:36:08,751 --> 00:36:09,364 You know what they love? 654 00:36:09,402 --> 00:36:10,980 They love God and their tradition. 655 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,530 I will break every tradition we have to reach your neighbor for Christ. 656 00:36:17,340 --> 00:36:18,900 I don't care about your traditions. 657 00:36:18,980 --> 00:36:20,088 Life is too short. 658 00:36:20,173 --> 00:36:26,659 We have one life to win the lost, and we have all eternity to celebrate those salvations 659 00:36:20,173 --> 00:36:26,659 for Christ. 660 00:36:26,750 --> 00:36:30,552 We got one chance, and here's what the world thinks. 661 00:36:30,615 --> 00:36:32,635 The world thinks that the church is here to judge them. 662 00:36:32,657 --> 00:36:33,083 No. 663 00:36:33,202 --> 00:36:34,460 What did Jesus say? 664 00:36:34,530 --> 00:36:36,315 What does the gospel say? 665 00:36:36,498 --> 00:36:40,527 John 316 for God so loved the world, not that he hated the world. 666 00:36:40,614 --> 00:36:42,130 Yeah, this world. 667 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:52,469 This world he loves it that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him 668 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:52,469 shall not perish, but have eternal life. 669 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:54,947 But that's not it. 670 00:36:55,034 --> 00:36:57,139 That's only John 316. 671 00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:59,940 Some of you have never heard 17. 672 00:37:00,539 --> 00:37:06,807 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save the world through 673 00:37:00,539 --> 00:37:06,807 Him. 674 00:37:06,893 --> 00:37:10,423 Come on, man. 675 00:37:10,461 --> 00:37:16,635 This last week, we celebrated my mom's 77th birthday, and she's in here. 676 00:37:16,657 --> 00:37:17,692 I'm not going to look at her right now. 677 00:37:17,746 --> 00:37:18,829 She's in here. 678 00:37:22,320 --> 00:37:29,231 My mom does this, and I don't know that she knows she does this, but she says this to me. 679 00:37:29,365 --> 00:37:31,583 She says, I love you. 680 00:37:31,782 --> 00:37:36,480 And she says it's so cute, and she says it's so sweet. 681 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:47,300 And I'm so thankful that I was blessed to be raised in a home where I knew I was loved. 682 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,769 Most of your neighbors were not raised in that home. 683 00:37:52,539 --> 00:38:01,610 Most of those people at your job, at your work that drive you crazy, they never had a 684 00:37:52,539 --> 00:38:01,610 parent that said, I love you. 685 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:05,260 The world is broken. 686 00:38:06,239 --> 00:38:12,139 It cannot be repaired, but it can be healed by Jesus. 687 00:38:13,679 --> 00:38:20,880 And I just want to say to anybody that's visiting our church today as a guest, we don't 688 00:38:13,679 --> 00:38:20,880 get things right. 689 00:38:20,949 --> 00:38:24,032 Maybe we didn't greet you when you came in. 690 00:38:24,166 --> 00:38:26,623 I'm sorry, man. 691 00:38:26,661 --> 00:38:26,976 I don't know. 692 00:38:26,998 --> 00:38:28,880 Maybe somebody flipped you off when you were trying to park. 693 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:29,791 I mean, sandals? 694 00:38:29,856 --> 00:38:30,739 Who knows? 695 00:38:31,639 --> 00:38:33,264 I just hope it wasn't a pastor. 696 00:38:33,311 --> 00:38:34,019 Amen. 697 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:35,750 That's what I hope. 698 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:41,056 Maybe you didn't know where to sit, and I know it's dark. 699 00:38:41,168 --> 00:38:42,344 We're trying to figure that out. 700 00:38:42,382 --> 00:38:45,480 That's why we're asking for more money, so we can turn the lights on brighter. 701 00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:53,949 But I shared this with the young adults when I spoke to them a couple of weeks ago. 702 00:38:54,639 --> 00:39:04,510 I'm so sorry that Christians do not behave like Jesus loves you, but I want you to hear it 703 00:38:54,639 --> 00:39:04,510 right now. 704 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:10,369 And as I prepared this message, I just believe that there's somebody that needs to hear 705 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:10,369 this. 706 00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:12,610 God loves you. 707 00:39:13,780 --> 00:39:19,489 You may not have had a mom or a dad on earth that said that, but you have a Father in 708 00:39:13,780 --> 00:39:19,489 heaven who's saying that right now. 709 00:39:20,420 --> 00:39:22,260 And he didn't just talk about love. 710 00:39:22,409 --> 00:39:24,550 He actually did something about love. 711 00:39:25,559 --> 00:39:26,835 And I want to say this to you. 712 00:39:26,858 --> 00:39:32,250 No matter who you are or what you've done, you have a Father in heaven who loves you. 713 00:39:33,579 --> 00:39:36,436 And Sandals, we need to live like that's. 714 00:39:36,467 --> 00:39:37,050 True. 715 00:39:38,699 --> 00:39:41,929 So in order to share about Jesus, listen to this. 716 00:39:42,380 --> 00:39:44,090 I must listen to people. 717 00:39:47,039 --> 00:39:49,440 You want to know why our churches aren't growing? 718 00:39:49,780 --> 00:39:52,576 And I don't mean the Sandals churches, because all of our camps are. 719 00:39:52,597 --> 00:39:53,228 I mean the church. 720 00:39:53,244 --> 00:39:53,947 You want to know we're not growing. 721 00:39:53,963 --> 00:39:58,297 We're not listening to people there's. 722 00:39:58,313 --> 00:40:00,813 All these churches say, oh, you should teach the Bible verse from verse. 723 00:40:00,862 --> 00:40:02,739 Show me where Jesus does that. 724 00:40:04,550 --> 00:40:05,405 Show me the sermon. 725 00:40:05,438 --> 00:40:07,054 When Jesus says turn to Leviticus. 726 00:40:07,101 --> 00:40:10,565 Chapter Two no. 727 00:40:10,588 --> 00:40:11,880 He saw hungry people. 728 00:40:12,329 --> 00:40:13,653 He fed them. 729 00:40:13,851 --> 00:40:15,318 He saw confused people. 730 00:40:15,403 --> 00:40:16,710 He gave them clarity. 731 00:40:17,289 --> 00:40:20,920 He preached to the people's needs. 732 00:40:22,969 --> 00:40:28,699 The Pharisees and Sadducees had their noses in the Bible, and they never saw the people. 733 00:40:30,909 --> 00:40:36,829 James, the half brother of Jesus, and I always love quoting him, because can you imagine 734 00:40:30,909 --> 00:40:36,829 what it would have been like to live with Jesus? 735 00:40:37,409 --> 00:40:39,309 You talk about some pressure. 736 00:40:41,250 --> 00:40:43,213 What are you going to be James, when you grow up? 737 00:40:43,331 --> 00:40:44,480 Not like him. 738 00:40:46,449 --> 00:40:47,661 I'm going to do my best. 739 00:40:47,715 --> 00:40:54,641 But can you imagine the one time you think you got him as James because Jesus wandered 740 00:40:47,715 --> 00:40:54,641 off? 741 00:40:54,695 --> 00:40:55,186 Where is he? 742 00:40:55,208 --> 00:41:00,065 In the temple teaching mom. 743 00:41:00,088 --> 00:41:01,922 So I guess he's not getting a no no, James. 744 00:41:01,985 --> 00:41:02,599 No. 745 00:41:03,050 --> 00:41:04,534 He was doing his father's work. 746 00:41:04,572 --> 00:41:08,534 Okay, listen to what he says. 747 00:41:08,572 --> 00:41:09,873 My dear brothers and sisters. 748 00:41:09,922 --> 00:41:12,230 See, he knows what it's like to be a brother. 749 00:41:12,829 --> 00:41:15,418 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. 750 00:41:15,583 --> 00:41:22,250 Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. 751 00:41:24,269 --> 00:41:28,190 My worst moments as your pastor have been when I've gotten angry. 752 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:34,139 My worst moments. 753 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:37,179 We're not here to win arguments. 754 00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:39,469 We're here to listen to people. 755 00:41:40,980 --> 00:41:42,210 We're here to listen. 756 00:41:44,579 --> 00:41:47,132 Number seven I must share Jesus. 757 00:41:47,195 --> 00:41:49,387 I must do it despite my fears. 758 00:41:49,483 --> 00:41:50,639 Anybody afraid. 759 00:41:51,539 --> 00:41:53,344 Oh, but they'll reject you. 760 00:41:53,461 --> 00:41:54,530 That's a problem. 761 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:56,550 That's a problem. 762 00:41:57,559 --> 00:42:01,012 The Apostle Paul shared the same concern that you have. 763 00:42:01,146 --> 00:42:02,115 So listen to what he said. 764 00:42:02,137 --> 00:42:11,159 He said, Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, my words may be given to me so that I 765 00:42:02,137 --> 00:42:11,159 will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel. 766 00:42:13,940 --> 00:42:15,360 We all need prayer. 767 00:42:15,940 --> 00:42:19,360 We all need to be convicted to share our faith. 768 00:42:20,679 --> 00:42:22,179 But I know it's scary. 769 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:24,739 I know it's scary. 770 00:42:26,519 --> 00:42:30,179 I know it's frightening to put yourself out there. 771 00:42:30,329 --> 00:42:31,731 You're afraid you're going to say it wrong. 772 00:42:31,786 --> 00:42:33,320 You're going to say you're going to get it wrong. 773 00:42:33,389 --> 00:42:34,311 Here's the thing. 774 00:42:34,445 --> 00:42:36,489 You and I, we don't save anybody. 775 00:42:37,739 --> 00:42:39,079 Jesus saves. 776 00:42:40,059 --> 00:42:42,329 We're only responsible to share. 777 00:42:43,179 --> 00:42:47,320 So we're going to end today with two calls for action. 778 00:42:47,980 --> 00:42:49,384 The first call in just a second. 779 00:42:49,422 --> 00:42:57,003 As I'm wondering, if somebody came into church, wouldn't it be interesting if somebody got 780 00:42:49,422 --> 00:42:57,003 saved on a weekend at Sandals Church, where we're supposed to be? 781 00:42:57,202 --> 00:42:58,840 We're supposed to be sharing the Gospel. 782 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:00,983 Like this message was primarily for believers. 783 00:43:01,032 --> 00:43:10,396 Wouldn't that be amazing if the Holy Spirit was working in somebody's life this weekend 784 00:43:01,032 --> 00:43:10,396 and God was speaking to them and they came to church for the first time and they heard 785 00:43:01,032 --> 00:43:10,396 they're separated from God because of their sin? 786 00:43:10,427 --> 00:43:11,583 But there's a way. 787 00:43:11,782 --> 00:43:13,409 There's a way to make that right. 788 00:43:14,019 --> 00:43:18,159 And there's a way because God loves them, and he sent his only son to die for them on the 789 00:43:14,019 --> 00:43:18,159 cross. 790 00:43:18,239 --> 00:43:23,369 And all they have to do to be saved and be made right with God is confess their faith in 791 00:43:18,239 --> 00:43:23,369 Christ. 792 00:43:23,739 --> 00:43:25,050 It's pretty simple. 793 00:43:26,619 --> 00:43:34,244 So the first call, is there anybody at any of our campuses or even online that wants to be 794 00:43:26,619 --> 00:43:34,244 saved? 795 00:43:34,291 --> 00:43:37,764 You know you're far from God, and you know you need to be saved. 796 00:43:37,811 --> 00:43:44,903 So I'm just going to ask you to stand right now, wherever you are, at whatever campus you 797 00:43:37,811 --> 00:43:44,903 are, if you feel like you're apart from God and you're not right with God, let me tell you 798 00:43:37,811 --> 00:43:44,903 something. 799 00:43:44,942 --> 00:43:46,711 Jesus can fix that right here, right now. 800 00:43:46,766 --> 00:43:48,159 All you have to do is stand. 801 00:43:48,309 --> 00:43:49,730 All you have to do is stand. 802 00:43:50,260 --> 00:43:53,969 Is there anybody that needs to get right with Jesus today? 803 00:43:54,739 --> 00:43:55,295 You know what? 804 00:43:55,318 --> 00:43:55,791 I'm going to guess? 805 00:43:55,846 --> 00:43:58,400 I'm going to guess that at some of your campuses, somebody stood. 806 00:43:59,460 --> 00:44:01,284 And so let's just give those people a hand. 807 00:44:01,322 --> 00:44:01,920 That stood. 808 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:03,012 Praise God for them. 809 00:44:03,065 --> 00:44:03,860 Amen. 810 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:09,876 And here's the thing. 811 00:44:09,898 --> 00:44:12,016 If you're watching online, would you just type in I'm standing? 812 00:44:12,047 --> 00:44:13,268 Because we can't see you. 813 00:44:13,434 --> 00:44:16,728 Just type in I'm standing, and somebody will reach out to you. 814 00:44:16,893 --> 00:44:18,440 Here's the second challenge. 815 00:44:19,420 --> 00:44:30,190 I'm going to challenge every person that's a Christian in here to stand if they need to 816 00:44:19,420 --> 00:44:30,190 confess to God right now that they've not been sharing their faith as they should. 817 00:44:31,039 --> 00:44:40,159 If that's you and you're a Christian and you've not been sharing your faith the way you 818 00:44:31,039 --> 00:44:40,159 should, would you please stand right now in this audience at your campus? 819 00:44:42,260 --> 00:44:44,769 If you're sharing your faith, feel free to sit. 820 00:44:45,460 --> 00:44:49,599 But if you're not and I want you to know what's at stake. 821 00:44:51,559 --> 00:44:53,780 The salvation of the world is at stake. 822 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:56,019 Tammy and I, we go to a gym. 823 00:44:57,079 --> 00:44:58,579 I don't think there are Christians there. 824 00:44:58,650 --> 00:45:01,780 If they are, they're grossly underdressed. 825 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:08,650 But I tell my wife all the time, the reason I want to go to that gym is because I know 826 00:45:03,800 --> 00:45:08,650 there's people that are lost there. 827 00:45:09,500 --> 00:45:13,384 And just this week, somebody came up to me that I had the pleasure of leading to Christ. 828 00:45:13,581 --> 00:45:15,000 His name is Matt. 829 00:45:16,059 --> 00:45:17,192 A lot of matt's need. 830 00:45:17,246 --> 00:45:17,668 Jesus. 831 00:45:17,764 --> 00:45:20,536 So you know what he said to me this week at the gym? 832 00:45:20,568 --> 00:45:22,204 He said, hey, I don't mean to bother you. 833 00:45:22,322 --> 00:45:24,269 He said, but would you baptize me? 834 00:45:25,039 --> 00:45:26,599 He said that in the gym? 835 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:27,869 Said, of course. 836 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:31,264 And this is what he said. 837 00:45:31,302 --> 00:45:35,119 I'm so thankful for the role you've played in helping me get saved. 838 00:45:35,619 --> 00:45:37,344 I want you to hear that. 839 00:45:37,541 --> 00:45:40,795 I want you to help baptize somebody that you helped get saved. 840 00:45:40,827 --> 00:45:41,436 Amen. 841 00:45:41,547 --> 00:45:42,735 So let's pray together. 842 00:45:42,838 --> 00:45:46,047 Heavenly Father, I just pray in the name of Jesus that we'd all be convicted. 843 00:45:46,143 --> 00:45:46,463 Gosh. 844 00:45:46,512 --> 00:45:47,728 Even our staff. 845 00:45:47,903 --> 00:45:49,215 We're professional christians. 846 00:45:49,248 --> 00:45:51,780 We work at a church, and we don't share the gospel. 847 00:45:52,119 --> 00:45:53,764 God help us to share. 848 00:45:53,961 --> 00:46:03,112 God give us that person this week, that person of peace that you're already working in, 849 00:45:53,961 --> 00:46:03,112 that you're already moving in, Lord, that needs you. 850 00:46:03,246 --> 00:46:06,280 Lord, help us to share the gospel with that person. 851 00:46:06,429 --> 00:46:12,324 And for Lord, if there's anybody who stood to receive Christ, let them automatically start 852 00:46:06,429 --> 00:46:12,324 as a share of the gospel. 853 00:46:12,371 --> 00:46:15,271 Let them tell somebody of what Jesus did for them today. 854 00:46:15,326 --> 00:46:17,311 We pray this in Jesus name. 855 00:46:17,485 --> 00:46:18,460 Amen.