Urgent Call to Missions and Evangelism

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we concluded our series "Upon This Rock," focusing on the essential elements of the church, with a deep dive into missions and evangelism. The analogy of skydiving and the phenomenon of "ground rush" served as a poignant reminder of the urgency in our mission as Christians. Just as skydivers must be aware of the ground rushing towards them, we must recognize the urgency of sharing the gospel, as time is fleeting and lives hang in the balance. The church is not merely a place for meeting our spiritual needs but a launching pad for missions, both locally and globally.

We revisited the foundational elements of the church, from worship and the authority of God's Word to spiritual growth and prayer. These elements culminate in the mission of sharing the gospel. Missions and evangelism are not optional; they are at the heart of our faith and the very essence of Jesus' mission on earth. We are called to be witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to share the message of reconciliation with the world.

The Great Commission is not a suggestion but a command. We are the tools God uses to reach the lost, and our mission field begins right outside our church doors. We are called to be witnesses, not salespeople, sharing our personal testimonies and the truth of the gospel with love and compassion. Our mission is to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of the world, fulfilling God's purpose and plan for our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Urgency in Mission: Just as skydivers must be aware of the ground rushing towards them, we must recognize the urgency of sharing the gospel. Time is fleeting, and lives hang in the balance. We must work as if time is running out because we do not know if tomorrow will come. [40:14]

- Empowered by the Holy Spirit: We are not called to be perfect Christians or to witness perfectly. We are called to go, empowered by the Holy Spirit, the greatest power source in the universe. This power enables us to share Jesus without fear, knowing that we are never alone in our mission. [45:18]

- Witnessing with Love: We are called to be witnesses, not salespeople. Our role is to share our personal testimonies and the truth of the gospel with love and compassion. The most loving thing we can do is lead someone to Jesus, confronting their sin and their need for a Savior. [48:06]

- Local and Global Mission: Our mission field begins in our own neighborhoods, but it extends to our country and the ends of the earth. We are called to be missionaries wherever we are, using our unique gifts and opportunities to share the gospel. [50:57]

- Cultivating a Heart for the Lost: Our priorities determine our passions. We must cultivate a heart for the lost, making them a priority in our lives. If we fail to fulfill God's mission, we waste our lives. We need the compassion of Christ to see the lost as He does and to share the gospel with urgency and love. [01:05:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Series Conclusion
- [02:15] - Personal Confession and Skydiving Analogy
- [05:45] - The Urgency of Missions
- [08:30] - Review of Church Foundations
- [12:00] - The Heart of Missions and Evangelism
- [15:20] - The Great Commission
- [18:45] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
- [22:10] - The Role of a Witness
- [25:30] - Local Mission Opportunities
- [30:00] - National and Global Missions
- [35:00] - Types of Evangelism
- [40:00] - Cultivating a Heart for the Lost
- [45:00] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Upon This Rock: Missions and Evangelism"

Bible Reading:
- Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the analogy of skydiving and "ground rush" in relation to the urgency of missions? [40:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers for missions? [45:18]
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between being a witness and being a salesperson for the gospel? [48:06]
4. What are some local and global mission opportunities mentioned in the sermon that the church is involved in? [50:57]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Acts 1:8 define the geographical scope of the mission for the early church, and how does this apply to believers today? [45:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church's mission field begins right outside its doors? [48:06]
3. How does the sermon interpret the Great Commission as a command rather than a suggestion, and what implications does this have for believers? [49:33]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between personal testimony and effective evangelism? [50:57]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the urgency of missions as described in the sermon. How can you cultivate a sense of urgency in your own life to share the gospel with those around you? [40:14]
2. The sermon emphasizes the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit's power in your daily interactions and evangelism efforts? [45:18]
3. Consider your personal testimony. How can you share your story of faith with love and compassion in a way that resonates with others? [48:06]
4. Identify a local mission opportunity that you can get involved in. What steps can you take this week to participate in that mission? [50:57]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of cultivating a heart for the lost. What practical steps can you take to make the unsaved a priority in your life? [01:05:19]
6. How can you overcome the fear of rejection when sharing your faith, as discussed in the sermon? What specific strategies can you implement to address this fear? [01:05:19]
7. Reflect on the idea that every Christian is either a missionary or a mission field. How does this perspective challenge you to engage more actively in God's mission? [58:00]

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency in Sharing the Gospel
The urgency of sharing the gospel is likened to the experience of skydivers who must be aware of the ground rushing towards them. This analogy serves as a reminder that time is fleeting, and lives hang in the balance. As Christians, we are called to recognize the urgency of our mission to share the gospel. The church is not just a place to meet our spiritual needs but a launching pad for missions, both locally and globally. We must work as if time is running out because we do not know if tomorrow will come. [40:14]

"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel today, and what steps can you take to share it with them before the day ends?


Day 2: Empowered by the Holy Spirit
We are not called to be perfect Christians or to witness perfectly. Instead, we are called to go, empowered by the Holy Spirit, the greatest power source in the universe. This power enables us to share Jesus without fear, knowing that we are never alone in our mission. The Holy Spirit equips us with the courage and wisdom needed to fulfill the Great Commission, reminding us that our strength comes from God, not ourselves. [45:18]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's power rather than your own strength?


Day 3: Witnessing with Love
We are called to be witnesses, not salespeople. Our role is to share our personal testimonies and the truth of the gospel with love and compassion. The most loving thing we can do is lead someone to Jesus, confronting their sin and their need for a Savior. This approach requires us to be genuine and empathetic, focusing on building relationships rather than merely delivering a message. [48:06]

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)

Reflection: How can you show genuine love and compassion to someone you plan to share the gospel with this week?


Day 4: Local and Global Mission
Our mission field begins in our own neighborhoods, but it extends to our country and the ends of the earth. We are called to be missionaries wherever we are, using our unique gifts and opportunities to share the gospel. This means being attentive to the needs around us and being willing to step out of our comfort zones to reach those who have not yet heard the good news. [50:57]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can engage in local or global missions this month, using your unique gifts and opportunities?


Day 5: Cultivating a Heart for the Lost
Our priorities determine our passions. We must cultivate a heart for the lost, making them a priority in our lives. If we fail to fulfill God's mission, we waste our lives. We need the compassion of Christ to see the lost as He does and to share the gospel with urgency and love. This requires intentionality in our daily lives, seeking opportunities to connect with those who are far from God. [01:05:19]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: What changes can you make in your daily routine to prioritize reaching out to those who are lost and in need of the gospel?

Quotes

"Amen Thank you Ron Good morning church family It is good to be in the house of the Lord Amen You have your copy of God's word And I pray you do I'd invite you to open up to The actions of the apostles Chapter 1 That's actually what it should be called Book of Acts We're going to be continuing our series today upon this rock Actually we're going to be concluding our series today We've spent seven weeks looking at the essential elements of the church And we're going to continue that today If you are using a Black Pew Bible The page is 909 of your Black Pew Bible And I'll tell you week after week If you don't own a Bible That Black Pew Bible is your Bible It's a free gift from Oak Grove We just ask you to read it and obey it Now I have a confession to make Everybody's on the edge of their seats now I don't like heights I wouldn't say I'm scared of heights I'm not scared of a whole lot of things But I am not a fan of heights When Tina and I went to Gatlinburg a couple years ago I told you all about going zip lining And we were on one of the highest mountains in Tennessee We could see North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky From where we were standing So it was pretty high And when we got there the guy said Listen you need to get everything out of your pockets So that you know nothing falls out And I said what about my wallet He said well you shouldn't take it with you And I said well how are they going to identify the body And he didn't think that was funny And I don't think the people standing around us did either But there's one phenomenon that I just can't understand And that's skydiving I know some of you like to skydive You're probably going to talk to me after the service And it's strange Clint Eastwood said jumping out of a perfectly good airplane Is not a natural act And I believe that But there is a phenomenon in skydiving called ground rush I don't do things but I read a lot about things Now ground rush sounds exhilarating But it's actually fatal Just a few seconds after jumping out of an airplane We reach 120 miles an hour Which is called terminal velocity And you don't really feel like you're falling at all You feel like you're being held up by an updraft of air But as you continue to fall Because of this feeling of ground rush You don't realize that the ground is getting closer to you Each and every second And if you don't come to your senses Realize that Pull your ripcord This little trick can actually be fatal It will be the last time that you ever jump And now see that's The problem is The jumpers think They have life", 'start': '1749.86', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2147.91', 'text': "and lots of time when in actuality they don't and I'm afraid that too many Christians treat missions exactly like that missions and evangelism we feel like we're in an updraft we feel like we have plenty of time and there's no rush but God's time clock is running out the end is gonna come soon Jesus is gonna return we don't know when that time is and we are surrounded by people who are dying and gonna go to hell because they don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ lives literally are hanging in the balance and we need to work as if time is getting ready to run out and there is no time left because we don't know if tomorrow is gonna come now as I said we're in our final week of our sermon series upon this rock we studied the God's model for the church in Acts chapter 2 that was that to me that was the the foundational series of sermon because that that is so foundational to the church it tells us everything that the early church did and why we should follow along and week two we looked at what worship is supposed to be a John chapter 4 week 3 we looked at the the sufficiency and errancy inspiration and infallibility of God's Word God's Word is absolutely foundational to who we are church membership was week 4 we were told that we're supposed to show up week 5 we we found out that not only are we supposed to show up we're supposed to grow up we need to grow spiritually mature and then we found out that we are saved to serve last week we learned about God's hotline to heaven in prayer and today we're going to look at what I think about maybe I saved the the best but I did save the biggest for last and that is missions and evangelism now we have a missions and evangelism team here just like Richard called the folks up for the North Carolina trip I want to ask the members of our missions and evangelism team to stand up and be recognized if you would because this is really one of the teams that that fuel a lot of what this church does well I want to thank you guys for what you do and and because really missions is at the heart of what we are all about see when we combine all the seven elements of the of the church these building blocks of the church the logical outcome according to scripture then is missions I told you two weeks ago that you were saved to serve but you're also saved to share and Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5 18 all this is from God who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation so God wants you to have a ministry in the church but God wants you to have a mission in the world because the world is dying and they need Christ Jesus ministry is serving Christ for believers missions is sharing Christ with unbelievers because missions involves both evangelism and missions evangelism is bringing people to Christ right where you're at for the purpose of assimilating them into the life of the church now missions is bringing people to Christ everywhere else that may not be assimilated into the church and people ask the question why does the church exist a recent survey of a thousand church attenders were asked that question why does the church exist 89 % of them answered as us the church's primary purpose was to take care of my families and my spiritual needs friends that's not why the church exists only 11 % said the church exists to win the world for Jesus Christ now remember this if you don't remember anything else about Oak Grove we are geared primarily a church is primarily for believers amen it is I've never understood the concept of a seeker sensitive church we can't outworld the world we just can't do it", 'start': '1915.93', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2194.93', 'text': "and churches need to stop. We are here. We gather together to worship the living God. And yes, we share the gospel because we want those who don't have a relationship to Jesus to come here. We want them to get saved. We want them in the kingdom of God. But everything that we do is geared toward people outside of the church. If you've noticed over the last few weeks over our doors, the exits of our doors, you are now entering the mission field because that's what this world is. We come here, we recharge our batteries, we fellowship, we meet with the Lord, we worship the Lord, but then we're going to take everything that we have, all those seven other elements, the prayer and the fellowship and the worship, and take it out into the world. It's essential that we do that. In fact, we are given a great commission.", 'start': '2147.97', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2198.17', 'text': 'It is not the great suggestion.', 'start': '2196.85', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2231.03', 'text': 'And too many folks treat it that way. Mission is at the very heart of everything that we do. Did you ever stop to think there is one tool that God has at his disposal to help win those people to Christ that do not know Christ? To get people into the church that do not go to church. You know what that tool is? It is you. It is you. It is me. It is every single one of us. And the reasons why mission and evangelism is at the very heart of Oak Grove is because it is at the heart of Jesus himself.', 'start': '2199.37', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2239.01', 'text': "The last words of Jesus on earth are what we're going to look at today. We're going to be reading chapter, Acts chapter one, and we're going to just read verse eight.", 'start': '2231.87', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2246.91', 'text': "And it's going to be up on your screen. It's on page 909 of your Black Pew Bible. And if you would, I'd invite you to stand if you're able for the reading of the word of God.", 'start': '2239.97', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2261.65', 'text': 'Acts chapter one, verse eight. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.', 'start': '2250.39', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2309.57', 'text': "Heavenly Father, we give you praise and thanks for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We thank you for your son, Jesus, who suffered and died on a cross to set us free from sin, to give us eternal, abundant life and the forgiveness that only he can. We thank you for your grace. We thank you for your mercy. We praise you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. And I pray God that your spirit would flow freely among us today, that we would feel his power and presence here today. And I pray God that your word today would speak to all of your children and just give them the opportunity to develop a hunger and a heart for the lost, Lord, so that they would take the beautiful message of the gospel out into this dying world and take them life and light. We pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated.", 'start': '2262.75', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2314.53', 'text': 'Well, Jesus is a missionary God.', 'start': '2312.25', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2344.75', 'text': "Jesus came on a mission to save us, set us free, to rescue us from sin. And he did just that. Jesus opened up the gates of heaven available to all who would trust in him. The Bible says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. There are so many whosoever's out there. Whosoever. We need to give them the opportunity to say yes or no to Jesus.", 'start': '2315.87', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2364.13', 'text': "Because people are afraid to evangelize because they're afraid of the fear of rejection. Friend, they're not rejecting you, they're rejecting the one who is sending you to tell them about who he is. Now listen, there's three statements I'm going to make, and I want you to see if you believe them and agree with them. The first one, I believe Jesus Christ was who he said he was.", 'start': '2345.61', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2377.97', 'text': 'Number two, I believe that Jesus did what he said he came to do. Amen. I believe heaven and hell are real places, and the only way a person can get to heaven is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.', 'start': '2365.05', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2393.02', 'text': "Now, if you believe those three things, then you're going to want to get on God's mission today. And God's word is going to show us why and how we can do that. First, I must function in God's missionary power. So, let me give you some, I love talking about evangelism.", 'start': '2378.52', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2413.02', 'text': "And I love doing it. But let me tell you something that's going to take a lot of pressure off of you right now. You don't have to be a perfect Christian. And you don't have to witness perfectly to share Jesus with people. If that were true, no one would ever share the gospel. If that were true, none of us would be saved.", 'start': '2393.94', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2417.06', 'text': "There's no such thing as a perfect Christian. There's a perfect Savior.", 'start': '2414.0', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2454.54', 'text': "We're not called to be perfect. We are called to go. See, listen. The first requirement to God's mission is having the power to pull it off. Listen to what Jesus says. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Now, whether you believe this or not, and whether you appropriate it on a daily basis or not, if you're a child of God, you have at your disposal the greatest power source in the entire universe. And that is the power of the Holy Spirit of God. That is the spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you. Now, I want you to stop and think about that.", 'start': '2418.22', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2554.8', 'text': "You have no reason to fear sharing Jesus because you are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. That's a privilege, brothers and sisters. That is a privilege. See, the problem with the average Christian is not that they don't have the power, but the problem is they won't use that power. They absolutely won't. When Niagara Falls' first power plant came online in November of 1896, Nikola Tesla is the one who designed it. He ushered in a new era for the natural wonder as a leading electric producer. Within several years, those falls were able to power the elevated railways and streetlights of New York City. The alternating current that Tesla discovered was in direct competition to Thomas Edison's direct current system. It still powers homes and offices all over New York today. 3 ,160 tons of water flow over the Niagara Falls every second, and it generates millions of kilowatt hours of hydroelectric power both in the United States and in Canada. That is a lot of power. And guess what? It pales in comparison to the power that you have inside of you because you have the Holy Spirit. Amen. You have the Holy Spirit power within you. We have the most amazing power source ever, and we have to tap into it, and we have to share Jesus. Listen, Jesus said that not only am I going to give you the power, He said in Matthew 28, all power and authority have been given to me. Therefore, so He is not only sending us out with the power, He is sending us out with the authority to pull off that message, to share that message, to take part in His mission.", 'start': '2455.34', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2559.0', 'text': 'You see, evangelism is a matter of partnership.', 'start': '2556.32', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2587.96', 'text': "You will never evangelize alone. You never go alone. The Holy Spirit of God will always precede you into every situation that He puts you in. And every situation that you are put in is divinely orchestrated. It doesn't happen by coincidence or happenstance. It happens because God is going to take a willing vessel, you, and He is going to put someone in your path who doesn't know Him as Savior. Amen. What a blessing that is.", 'start': '2560.72', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2599.12', 'text': "And we need to get about God's business. I'm not into the shaming thing. I don't believe in that. I believe if the Holy Spirit convicts you, then God's convicted you. I'm just a mailman.", 'start': '2589.76', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2601.8', 'text': "It's just my job to deliver the message.", 'start': '2600.18', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2607.14', 'text': "And some folks don't want to hear, I don't want to share my faith. Well, friends, if you don't have a faith that you have,", 'start': '2602.76', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2616.88', 'text': "you want to share, you probably don't have a very good faith. Your faith is probably not very good. It's probably not very deep. See, we have a partner in this mission. It's called the great co -mission.", 'start': '2607.16', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2619.74', 'text': 'That partner is the Holy Spirit of God.', 'start': '2618.1', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2653.28', 'text': "Acts chapter 5, verse 32. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. You see, the way that we carry out this mission is when we let the Holy Spirit fill us, control us, use us, speak through us at the right place, the right time, and to the right person. See, too many of us have let the devil lie to us and tell us that evangelism is for someone else. Oh, the pastor can do it. Let the deacon do it. The Sunday school teacher can do it, but I simply can't.", 'start': '2620.8', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2658.94', 'text': 'Friend, God never commands you to do something that he will not empower you to do.', 'start': '2654.44', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2679.38', 'text': "He will not leave us as orphans. He has sent his Holy Spirit. And God can use you and your unique personality and all your giftedness to bring people within your sphere of influence to Jesus Christ. But in order to do that, we have to function in God's missionary power. Second, I must fulfill God's missionary purpose.", 'start': '2659.78', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2688.54', 'text': "So along with this power that God gives us, he goes on to say, and you will be my witnesses. Now, remember who he's talking to.", 'start': '2680.72', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2696.72', 'text': "He's talking to farmers and fishermen and tax collectors and businessmen. In other words, he's talking to people like us.", 'start': '2689.7', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2716.46', 'text': "He's talking to ordinary folks. He's not talking to, you know, the Pharisees. He's not talking to the seminary grads. He's not talking to the folks who write books that they sell at Lifeway. He's talking to ordinary people. You see, incidentally, when it comes to the Great Commission, there is no plan B.", 'start': '2697.9', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2736.96', 'text': "If the world's going to hear about the gospel, it's either going to come through us or it's not going to come at all. Now, think about that. Think about the importance of what we possess. We are jars of clay, and we possess a great treasure, and God wants us to go out and share that treasure with others.", 'start': '2718.32', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2757.9', 'text': "Listen, that's where God wants us to be witnesses. Now, he wants us to take that message into the world. We are his tool. We are his vehicle. We are his mechanism for saving the world. Now, let me explain to you what that means and what it doesn't mean. Not everyone is called to preach, and everyone say amen and thank you, Jesus.", 'start': '2737.78', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2767.4', 'text': 'And not everyone is called to teach, and not everyone is called to be an evangelist or a pastor. Not everyone is equally gifted in the area of evangelism. I understand that.', 'start': '2759.16', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2778.32', 'text': 'But listen, everyone is called to be a witness. All right? Acts 2, verse 32, this Jesus God raised up, and of that we are witnesses.', 'start': '2768.26', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2804.44', 'text': "In the early church, everyone was a witness. Now, that doesn't mean that everybody did it the same way. They didn't follow the same, you know, outline. They didn't follow the same words all the time, but they told the same message, and God allowed them to use their own giftedness. God allowed them to use their own personalities, whatever they needed to bring people to Christ. We are to be witness. We're not supposed to be car salesmen.", 'start': '2779.26', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2809.02', 'text': "We're not supposed to close the deal. It's not our deal to begin with.", 'start': '2805.42', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2811.92', 'text': "We set up, we're brokers.", 'start': '2810.2', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2821.66', 'text': 'We set up the meeting between sinful man and holy God, and we tell them the truth. We speak the truth in love.', 'start': '2813.34', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2837.44', 'text': "And listen, you may have a family member, and you may dread Thanksgivings, and you may dread Christmases because, oh, we're going to go there, and I'm going to have to witness to my little nephew who doesn't know Jesus, and we're going to get in a big argument, a big fight. It's not your fight. It's not your fight.", 'start': '2822.58', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2848.07', 'text': "It's not. It's a fight that they have with the Holy Spirit. You just tell them the truth. Speak the truth in love. The most loving thing that you can do is lead somebody to Jesus.", 'start': '2838.79', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2859.69', 'text': "The most loving thing that you can do is confront their sin and their desperate need that they have for Jesus because they don't even know they have that need. But we possess that.", 'start': '2849.13', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2862.87', 'text': 'But anyway, we are not salesmen.', 'start': '2860.55', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2865.81', 'text': "It's not our job to say turn or burn.", 'start': '2863.87', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2868.99', 'text': "I've heard people say that before.", 'start': '2867.99', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2877.67', 'text': "Or we're going to the sky while you die and fry. That's not particularly helpful.", 'start': '2871.67', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2885.85', 'text': "It may be true, and it is true. There's only two destinations, heaven and hell, and everybody's going to go to one.", 'start': '2879.87', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2900.21', 'text': "The only way to get to the first one is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. There are not many doors to heaven. There's not many ways to heaven. There is one, and his name is Jesus, and the world needs to hear about him.", 'start': '2886.71', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2911.19', 'text': "Listen, here's what Scripture says, Romans 1, 5. Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all of the nations.", 'start': '2901.13', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2922.51', 'text': 'Now, being a witness, God has not called us to be a prosecuting attorney. He has not called us to be his lawyers. He has not called him to be a judge. We are simply a witness.', 'start': '2912.19', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2944.65', 'text': 'A witness is simply somebody that has a testimony. They have a story to tell. All of us have a testimony. 1 John 5, 10. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe, God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.', 'start': '2923.67', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2963.29', 'text': 'Peter tells us that we were chosen by God, 1 Peter 2, 9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into marvelous light. That last song that we sang before Ron got up and shared with us.', 'start': '2945.77', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2966.91', 'text': 'Move from darkness into light.', 'start': '2964.19', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2975.79', 'text': "That's what being a Christian is all about. God, the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the salvation that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.", 'start': '2967.91', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '2981.53', 'text': 'We need to take every opportunity to share our personal experience regarding the Lord.', 'start': '2976.83', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3002.61', 'text': "Who were you before you met Jesus? How did you come to know Jesus? What's your life been like since you met Jesus? That's your testimony. Three to five minutes. Friends, you should be able to go up here to the local Wawa, get a cup of coffee, enter into a conversation with somebody, and within two minutes establish their spiritual condition and then share your testimony.", 'start': '2982.43', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3006.19', 'text': "And you're saying, well, Jim, you're putting a lot of pressure on us. No, I'm not.", 'start': '3003.51', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3010.09', 'text': "I won't put any pressure on you. I love you and I want to shepherd you.", 'start': '3006.99', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3012.93', 'text': "But God's expecting us to do that.", 'start': '3011.21', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3030.41', 'text': "The Lord expects it of us. And friends, we need to get on mission with God. You see, in a courtroom, a witness doesn't argue the case or try to prove the point or press for a verdict. A witness just testifies what they know, what they've seen, and what they've heard.", 'start': '3013.99', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3041.63', 'text': "And one of the commitments that we'll make to you at Oak Grove is to teach you an effective way to use your own experience with the Lord and turn it into a powerful testimony that you can use to help others come to Jesus Christ.", 'start': '3031.29', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3050.83', 'text': 'By the way, a local Barna poll said that 89 % of Americans say, I am intensely interested in spiritual matters.', 'start': '3042.45', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3056.85', 'text': "And that's why Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest.", 'start': '3051.75', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3063.17', 'text': 'There are plenty of sinners out there. Go out and find one and then practice on them.', 'start': '3057.85', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3066.95', 'text': 'Share the gospel with them. See what happens. See what happens. See what happens. See what happens.', 'start': '3064.17', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3238.12', 'text': "what's the miracle that occurs when a sinner realizes that they've been separated from God by their sin and they come to know that Jesus is the only way to be saved and they repent and they confess Christ as Lord and you think to yourself I'm here to bless them brother that's going to bless you to see a dead person come back to life imagine how everybody standing outside of Lazarus's tomb felt when the man came out wrapped in the linen shroud and Jesus said unbound him and let him go you can see that I've seen it God's given me the privilege of seeing that and it wasn't because anything that I did it wasn't because of anything that I was sharing the gospel with did it's just being faithful if we are faithful God is faithful we need everybody involved in mission we must fulfill God's missionary purpose third I must follow God's missionary plan now Jesus not only tells us what we are to do and how we are to do it but he tells us where as well first he tells us that we're to go into Jerusalem we're to minister to our community we're to minister locally Jesus was in Jerusalem when he spoke these words what he's saying to the disciples is the first place I want you to be my witnesses is in your own neighborhoods right where you live but that's not where we stop but it's where we start see you don't have to go overseas to do God's missions work America is the number five mission field in the world people are coming from countries in Africa to evangelize America now does that wake you up a little bit we believe that America is a Christian country nations are dirt they're made of dirt yes I love living here but that soil out there is not saved that soil is cursed because of sin God tells us that back in Genesis chapter 3 the ground is cursed this earth is cursed and Jesus is going to return one day and he's going to make all things new and this earth is going to pass away I've read that in Revelation in fact I've read it to you before we don't have to go overseas to be involved in God's missions work somebody once said that every Christian is either a missionary or a mission field and you can be on mission right where you live in fact that's where Jesus tells us to start D .L. Moody was one time on a train he was a great evangelist and he was sitting across from a young man who was bubbling over with excitement Moody said where you headed son and the boy said well I'm going to be a missionary I'm going to Africa to win the heathen to Jesus Moody said well let me ask you a question how many souls have you brought to Jesus at home and the young man said oh I've never won any souls for Jesus at home Moody said well son let me tell you something you are not a missionary you are a sightseer", 'start': '3066.98', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3298.24', 'text': "there's a lot of ways to get involved in local missions here at Oak Grove there really are you don't have to look far to find one every the eighth of every month we're involved in the welcome one shelter over at over in Riverside Patrick O 'Neill knows all about that he can guide you and direct you I've been a part of that a few times actually spent the night over there once made food for them if you have a heart for homeless that's that's a great place to start just it's a once a month commitment we have jail ministry some people have a heart for folks that are incarcerated I've been a chaplain over at the Harford County Detention Center since 2012 I think for quite a while you can start a ministry in the jail or at a ministry on Tuesday night those who are struggling with chemical addiction alcohol addiction a reboot folks who are struggling with with PTSD believe they meet every Monday we have a closed closet for those who are or you're down down and out I mean we", 'start': '3241.58', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3322.67', 'text': "We live in a pretty bad financial scene right now, and a lot of people can't afford food. They can't afford clothes. We have a food pantry. We have a clothes closet. Operation Christmas Child, even though it's overseas, it starts here. You can be part of that to help bring a gift to a child and the gospel, more importantly, to that child. We have a Billy Graham Call Center. That's what this banner over here is all about.", 'start': '3298.39', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3357.93', 'text': "Twice a month, Saturday nights, when folks sit down and watch the Billy Graham program, and after when it says, if you would like to receive Jesus, please call this 1 -800 number. Well, those calls go directly to the lower level of EB3 over here, our education building, because there's a team of people in there to take these calls, pray with people, help explain to people the gospel, and prayerfully lead them to Christ. I love on Sunday mornings, Richard comes in to my study, and we have time of prayer, him and Adam and Mitchell and I, and he'll say, well, we had 24 calls last night and two salvations. Praise God. Praise the Lord.", 'start': '3323.51', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3363.17', 'text': "That is ministering all over the world, but we're doing it right here locally.", 'start': '3359.07', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3366.93', 'text': 'We have to start where we are in our community. Second, we have to go to our country.', 'start': '3364.19', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3426.59', 'text': "After Jerusalem, Jesus said go to Judea and Samaria. And so one of the things we're going to be doing here at O 'Grove is to be used of the Lord to touch our country for Christ. There are millions upon millions of people in this country who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. And incidentally, our YouTube ministry is one of the ways that we have tried to touch our country for Christ. I received a letter from a person, or actually it was an email. I'm old, so I say letters. It was an electronic letter from someone in Seattle, Washington, who had got on YouTube. I don't know what they were looking for, but O 'Grove Church Service was one of their recommendations that YouTube recommended. Thank you, YouTube. This person was not a believer, watched the entirety of our service, was convicted of their sin, prayed to receive Jesus, and as now their name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, all because nothing that we did, amen, but because of the power of the Holy Spirit working through technology.", 'start': '3367.97', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3436.55', 'text': "You see, we can touch the country. We can touch the world technologically now. You don't have to physically put boots on the ground anymore to share the gospel.", 'start': '3427.65', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3440.13', 'text': "Look at our North Carolina ministry that's leaving next Sunday.", 'start': '3437.67', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3457.85', 'text': "They're going to part of our country that has been ravaged, that has been just destroyed in some areas. So pray for them because they are the hands and feet of Jesus. So we're to go locally in our community, and then we're to go nationally into our country. Finally, we're to go into the continents.", 'start': '3441.11', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3464.89', 'text': 'Jesus ended by saying, to the end of the earth. Now, another technological breakthrough is Zoom.', 'start': '3458.83', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3473.65', 'text': 'We do our Zoom prayer call three times a week. Wonderful. Zoom used to be the bane of my existence. I did not like it.', 'start': '3466.05', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3477.71', 'text': 'Number one, because at 6 a .m., nobody wanted to look at me.', 'start': '3474.57', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3479.83', 'text': "I don't even want to look at myself.", 'start': '3478.63', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3496.75', 'text': "So I put my picture on there instead, so it always looks fresh and awake. But one of the things about Zoom is that I'm able to partner. It's actually Oak Grove is able to partner with the Middle East ministry. I can't say the country.", 'start': '3480.79', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3500.35', 'text': "And our brother Islam, who's been here before.", 'start': '3498.05', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3508.71', 'text': "And I'm able to preach to this part of the country that is very dark, very dark.", 'start': '3501.33', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3521.07', 'text': "They do not know Jesus, but people are coming to know Christ on a weekly basis. I'm able to mentor a young pastor who just planted a church. We just ordained him a month or two ago.", 'start': '3509.67', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3526.63', 'text': "And this ministry, it doesn't just involve me. It involves lots of pastors around the area.", 'start': '3522.01', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3539.48', 'text': "But we're able to minister to that part of the world. We're able to reach them. That is amazing. In fact, this year that ministry has baptized 322 new believers. That is a ministry. Praise God for that.", 'start': '3527.24', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3556.94', 'text': "And it's amazing to be able to share the gospel over the globe, but it's not the same as being there. And one of my desires for Oak Grove is to start seeing our church, for everybody who's healthy and able enough to be able to go on a mission trip outside of the borders of our country. Now, I've been at Oak Grove for 25 years.", 'start': '3542.16', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3574.1', 'text': "I've been a church member. I've been a bivocational minister. I've been a staff minister. And then I've been pastor. Praise God. God is good. But in our history, I have seen Oak Grove do mission trips to Moldova, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and even one that went to Scotland.", 'start': '3558.04', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3619.74', 'text': "Of course, COVID kind of put a damper on all that. But I'd love to see our church get re -involved in international missions. It would be amazing how many of you have a gift that God could use overseas. Maybe you have a medical background. We have a missionary here, a medical missionary that goes on several trips each and every year, a dentist who can fix folks' teeth, or a businessman who could go into a village and teach people good biblical business principles. There are so many ways that we can follow God's missionary plan, and there are as many ways we can get in which we can share the gospel as well. There are three ways that we can share the gospel. Evangelism is available three different ways. First, there is relational evangelism.", 'start': '3575.24', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3621.56', 'text': 'This is where all of us should start.', 'start': '3620.6', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3634.8', 'text': 'That is simply talking to people that you know inside your sphere of influence, building relationships and friendships that will lead to a relationship with Jesus Christ. We see a great example of this in John chapter 1.', 'start': '3622.62', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3663.86', 'text': "We see Andrew first meeting Jesus. What does he do? He immediately goes and finds his brother Peter and leads him to Jesus. And then you see Philip. He meets Jesus. What does he do? He goes and gets his buddy Nathaniel. And immediately Nathaniel comes to Christ. Each and every one of us can build relationships with neighbors, with coworkers, with family members, which will lead ultimately to a relationship with Jesus. But there's a second type of evangelism, and that is situational evangelism.", 'start': '3635.96', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3667.62', 'text': "That's the conversation at the local store.", 'start': '3664.76', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3670.68', 'text': "That's when you need to have Jesus on your heart and in your mouth.", 'start': '3668.42', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3681.94', 'text': 'Because God is going to open up doors for you, and you need to have Jesus locked and loaded, if you will. You need Jesus in the barrel.', 'start': '3671.66', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3692.98', 'text': "Because there's going to be an opportunity, and you're not going to expect it. It's going to be one of those divinely orchestrated things that God's going to bring into your life. What I pray for all the time, I know God's going to do it.", 'start': '3683.02', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3698.3', 'text': "I pray for the wisdom and discernment to realize it when he does it, because sometimes I'm a little thick -headed.", 'start': '3693.78', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3743.2', 'text': "Sometimes I'm caught up in what I'm doing. Sometimes I'm caught up in the item that I'm looking for in the store, and I'm not paying attention to the gospel opportunity that's standing right next to me. And so I pray for discernment. God, give me wisdom so that when you bring this person into my path, I have the obedience and the strength and the boldness to speak Jesus to them. He will put you in a situation where you have an opportunity to share Jesus. We see that in John chapter 4, when Jesus meets the woman at the well. Now, was that divinely orchestrated? It sure was. But by the end of the day, he had led her to faith, and he was ready when the situation presented itself. And we must all be, too. Finally, there's confrontational evangelism. What does that mean?", 'start': '3699.3', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3752.28', 'text': 'It means loving someone enough to share the truth with them, that their sin has separated them from God.', 'start': '3744.34', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3756.3', 'text': 'And unless they come into a saving personal relationship,', 'start': '3753.3', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3784.7', 'text': "with Jesus, that sin will separate them forever and ever and ever for all of eternity in a place called hell. You see, ultimately, all evangelism must be confrontational or it's never really evangelism at all. We have to follow God's missionary plan. Finally, I have to find God's missionary passion. Now, I think this is by far the most important point that I'm going to make to you today.", 'start': '3756.44', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3789.26', 'text': 'Do you know what determines our passions in life? Our priorities.', 'start': '3785.6', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3803.66', 'text': 'Our priorities determine our passions in life. If your passion is making money, I should say if your priority is making money, then your passion is going to be money.', 'start': '3790.88', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3810.08', 'text': 'If your priority is your golf swing, then golf is going to be your passion.', 'start': '3804.54', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3822.72', 'text': 'What God desires for us is to make the unsaved lost person a priority in our lives. We simply have to cultivate a heart for the lost.', 'start': '3811.14', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3862.36', 'text': "That's not something that anybody's going to do for you. It's something that we need to pray and ask God to make the lost a priority in our lives if we're ever to fulfill God's mission in our lives. Because listen, if we fail to fulfill God's mission that he has given to us, we are going to waste our lives. You don't believe me? Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in Acts chapter 20. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself. If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Amen.", 'start': '3823.84', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3867.66', 'text': 'That is a verse that I go back to a lot. A lot.', 'start': '3863.6', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3873.18', 'text': "Paul is saying, if I don't share the gospel of Jesus Christ, my life really is wasted.", 'start': '3868.66', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3884.5', 'text': 'He has given us a mission. He has given us a ministry. And all I want to do before my life ends is to fulfill his mission and ministry and my life.', 'start': '3874.58', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3903.58', 'text': "He has given each of us that ministry of reconciliation. But listen, we don't only need passion for people. We need the compassion of Christ. Matthew 9, 36. And when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.", 'start': '3885.94', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3909.9', 'text': 'We need a heart like Jesus in order to cultivate a heart for the lost.', 'start': '3905.72', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3919.12', 'text': "And listen, I know the number one barrier for evangelism is fear. If you're afraid of being a witness, ask God to fill your heart for people who don't know Christ.", 'start': '3910.72', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3926.64', 'text': 'Ask him to give you a love for them. Look at them and see their destiny.', 'start': '3919.98', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3944.12', 'text': "See the outcome of a life lived outside of Christ Jesus. 2 Peter 3, 9. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises. Some count slowness, but is patient towards you. Not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. That's our job.", 'start': '3927.74', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3956.2', 'text': "It's not our job to save them, but it's our job to tell them the truth. It's our job to give them the option of receiving Jesus or rejecting Jesus.", 'start': '3944.98', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3961.26', 'text': 'Because ultimately, a rejection of Christ is what sends people to hell.', 'start': '3957.26', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3969.24', 'text': "Listen, someone once said, I think it was Charles Spurgeon, that if you're not interested in evangelism, that you're not saved yourself.", 'start': '3962.82', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3973.1', 'text': "And I never question anyone's salvation.", 'start': '3971.18', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3988.88', 'text': "That is not my place, but we're known by the fruit that we bear and by the heart that we display. Now, let me ask you a question. What are you willing to do to be part of God's mission? Because the single most important investment that you can ever make is the souls of people.", 'start': '3974.24', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '3996.34', 'text': 'And the most important achievement that you can ever have is to bring a soul to Christ Jesus. Have you ever thought of your feet as beautiful?', 'start': '3989.64', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4023.92', 'text': "Not me. And my wife's over there smiling and shaking her head. But God tells us how our feet can be beautiful, and it has nothing to do with Jimmy Choo shoes or pedicures or nail polish. Listen to what Isaiah 52, 7 says. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, your God reigns.", 'start': '4000.18', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4030.9', 'text': 'In your lifetime, your feet are going to carry you the equivalent of five times around the globe.', 'start': '4025.56', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4063.16', 'text': "God wants you to take your beautiful feet and share the beautiful message of his son, Jesus Christ. Take God's redemptive plan into the world and tell them, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Let them know the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Well, why didn't God do something about it? He did. Because the scriptures tell us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the godly for the ungodly.", 'start': '4031.86', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4069.98', 'text': 'That he who knew no sin became sin, that in him we might become the righteousness of God.', 'start': '4064.78', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4078.94', 'text': 'That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Amen. That took about a minute.', 'start': '4071.02', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4084.36', 'text': 'That took about a minute. Amen. All praise to God.', 'start': '4080.04', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4128.12', 'text': "But listen, friends, who are you wanting to take to heaven with you? Who are you willing to share the gospel with so that when you get up to heaven, somebody will come up and say to you, I want to thank you for what you did, for what you said, for what you gave, for where I went, because I'm here because of Jesus and because you shared Jesus with me? A .W. Milne was a missionary to cannibals in New Guinea. He was trusting in God for his safety, and he waited in the spiritual darkness of a part of the world to share the story of Jesus Christ. And one by one, these fearful cannibals became humble servants and followers of Jesus. He died in 1822. He finally ended his ministry. He was buried on that island that he ministered to for so many years. Many of his loving converts placed a marker on his grave with this inscription.", 'start': '4085.26', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4136.52', 'text': 'Here lies the remains of A .W. Milne. When he came to us, there was no light. When he died, there was no darkness.', 'start': '4128.98', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4142.74', 'text': 'We need to be carrying the light of Jesus Christ into this dark world.', 'start': '4138.82', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4156.44', 'text': "God has given us a mission. We have to choose to embrace it. We have to do everything that we can to lead other people out of the darkness of sin and death and into the light of life that is found only in Jesus. Let's pray.", 'start': '4143.56', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4160.02', 'text': 'Lord God, we praise you and thank you for who you are.', 'start': '4157.88', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4171.8', 'text': 'We thank you that Jesus is a missionary God, and we thank you, God, for his rescue mission that he came over 2 ,000 years ago to overcome death and to set us free from sin.', 'start': '4160.88', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4188.28', 'text': 'God, I thank you for all my brothers and sisters here today, and I pray that they would realize that they possess within them a power supply that is unlimited, unequaled, and inexhaustible because it comes directly from your spirit.', 'start': '4172.84', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4231.6', 'text': "Help us, Father, to utilize that power source that we have that we would be able to share with others who don't know you the gospel message that they may come to know you, Lord. We know that when we're rejected, when we share our faith, they're not rejecting us. They're rejecting the one who died for us. So, Lord, help us to cultivate a heart for the lost and to be faithful to you in fulfilling your mission for us. Lord, for those here today who don't know you as Savior, I pray that the message of the gospel will permeate into their heart today, God, so that they may turn from their sins and turn to Jesus because he is the only one who can save them. We pray all this in his blessed name. Amen. If the spirit of the Lord is speaking to you and you would like to add to that,", 'start': '4189.6', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4260.56', 'text': "Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins. The scripture says he is faithful and just. He will do just that. Though your sins are made you red like scarlet, he will wash you whiter than snow. Heaven is simply a repentance and prayer away. Our staff's going to be down front. If you'd like to receive Jesus as Savior, we'd love to pray with you and celebrate with you. If you need to be baptized, we're going to be baptizing on Easter Sunday. We'd love to see you take that obedient step of faith and identify publicly with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.", 'start': '4231.64', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}, {'end': '4270.12', 'text': "Maybe you would like to join our church family, or maybe you just need somebody to pray with. Our staff's going to be down front during this time of invitation, so please come as the Spirit moves you.", 'start': '4261.38', 'speaker': 'SPEAKER_00'}]

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