Embracing Change: The Journey of Faith and Action

I remember how when missionaries would come back they would tell me how insecure they would feel coming back to Cornerstone they say it's weird because we've been away for like a year you know we're going after this thing and trying to meet these people and pursuing this whole new life and the whole time you're wondering when I go home will anyone even remember me. [00:03:12]

Please if you think of people that have left Cornerstone to go and do God's work somewhere else in this world man do everything you can to support them write to them when they come back make them feel like gold um because it's it's pretty crazy you get excited about the mission but it's so nice to come back somewhere where people actually know you. [00:04:19]

I think of that passage in um in first John when I when I think of you guys in 1 John chapter 1 where where John's kind of almost beside himself he's trying to explain Jesus and he's saying this is this is why I'm writing to you guys uh he goes because I saw him I touched him and and then in verse three he says that which we have seen and heard word we Proclaim to you so that you too may have fellowship with us and indeed our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ and we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. [00:07:37]

Satan doesn't mind you hearing the word of God and being convicted by it as long as you don't act he doesn't mind you getting in Bible studies I in fact it's great he he would love for you to get into Bible studies study it over and over again cry together hug together and then do nothing about it because then like James 1 says it's perfect oh good they're hearers of the word deceiving themselves and not doing what it says. [00:10:54]

What did John the Baptist preach what was the one word repent right what does repent mean does it it it's about change turn go you're heading One Direction you actually turn around and head the other direction that's what the message has always been what was the first thing that Jesus preached repent the Kingdom of Heaven change your ways change. [00:11:42]

You got two Rich guys one guy he's looking at his stuff and he walks away convicted sad like oh I got a lot of stuff I don't know man and Jesus just goes oh it's so hard for them to enter the kingom of heaven and then you got another rich guy who jumps out of his tree go hey here's half of everything you know I own give it to the poor and I know I ripped a bunch of people off I'll give you four times whatever I stole from you come and Jesus says look okay salvation came to this house. [00:14:16]

I think so many times we come to church and we get convicted and we walk away sad because we're not repenting it it's not like we're trying to make you feel terrible it's like no would you if you change it would be great it' be great because there's those times and I do it too where you know it's going to cost something and so you go I don't know and you do do I really actually change. [00:15:11]

There comes a time when we must decide to change, breaking free from the cycle of sin and disobedience. This decisive moment leads to peace and alignment with God's will, allowing us to live a life of true joy and fulfillment. [00:16:56]

I love what Paul Paul says in uh Acts 20 ver vers 26 he goes I testify to you this day that I'm innocent of the blood of all for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God Paul Paul had that peace where he goes oh I did it I just did it I just told you everything your blood's off my hands I can testify I didn't get scared I didn't shrink back here I said it. [00:27:53]

You know Jesus says at the end of that you know Go Make Disciples baptize them teach them to obey everything I commanded you in that last phrase and I'll be with you always I'll be with you I I was reading through Mark the other morning and the very last verse of Mark after Jesus again gives his Great Commission and uh you know says Go Make Disciples then in verse 20 of of Mark 16 it says and they went out and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. [00:29:53]

One of the things I've learned being out there I've learned so many things but one of the things has been just how awful sin is like see living here you don't often see the end result of sin you just see a next step and and I remembered when I lived here sin still looked a little glamorous to me and you get tempted by things out there when you see a guy drunk out of his mind diarrhea all over himself laying on the street you don't think oh man that's what I want to be there's nothing attractive to it the end of those addictions it's like oh. [00:45:00]

I feel like man some of us are on that Outer Rim thinking man that's kind of attractive some of you ladies that suddenly someone's paying attention to you on Facebook and you're going man this is kind of fun someone actually thinks I'm attractive someone is paying more attention to me than my husband this this the never cheat on my husband I I'll never leave him I would never leave my kids but just just let me just jump in there and paddle around for a little bit let me just take the next step I'll never let it go further than this. [00:46:16]