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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Different - How? (Part 1)

November 12, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Different - How? (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Christianity #Grace #Faith #Truth #TrustGod #Bible #WalkwithGod #NewCovenant #NewBeliever #Redemption #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Different - How? (Part 1) | November 12, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, when i was a child, i thought christmas
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  • Came every four years.
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  • Now i feel like it comes about every four weeks.
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  • Well, christmas is just around the corner.
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  • It's a season of tremendous opportunity for those of us who
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  • Are people of faith to remember what god has done for us and
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  • What we're inviting him into in the midst of this
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  • Holiday season.
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  • Well, we've created a tool, a resource for you to lead with
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  • Your faith at christmas.
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  • It's a 25-day devotional along with some ideas about--from
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  • Recipes to activities for your friends or your family.
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  • It's just a fun way so that you can shape your faith into
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  • The holiday.
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  • I think all of us have a desire to see christmas be--have jesus
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  • In the midst of it a bit more.
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  • There's so many secular voices that speak, and sometimes i
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  • Think we feel powerless to do something other than put up
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  • A tree or hang some lights.
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  • Well, "lead with your faith at christmas" is a tool we created
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  • So you can share your faith with your family, with your friends,
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  • With coworkers.
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  • I think it'll make this christmas season truly a way to
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  • Honor the lord in your life.
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  • In fact, i'm quite confident it'll be a blessing to you.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: it's good to be with you again.
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  • Our topic today is "step out of the crowd."
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  • But be different. just exactly how?
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  • I think that's really the essence of the question.
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  • For too long, we have been invited kind of into group-think
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  • Around our faith.
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  • You join a church or maybe you join a denomination,
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  • And you just imagine you can stand in the crowd,
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  • Then you'll be okay.
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  • I don't believe that idea is complete nor adequate.
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  • I believe the invitation to be a christ follower is an invitation
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  • To step out of the crowd and uniquely commit your life to
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  • The lordship of jesus of nazareth.
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  • Grab your bible and get a notepad.
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  • Together, we're gonna ask the holy spirit for his
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  • Insight on this topic.
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  • Allen: i've been walking through a series and i wanna
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  • Continue it through this weekend under the general theme of
  • 00:02:05.241 --> 00:02:09.045
  • "stepping out of the crowd."
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  • And in this particular session, i wanna talk to you about
  • 00:02:12.582 --> 00:02:14.584
  • The invitation from god to be different in the world.
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  • But i wanna talk to you about how god's asked us to be
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  • Different, because i don't believe it's weird different,
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  • Or goofy different.
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  • I don't believe loving jesus makes you weird or goofy.
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  • I believe it's the logical expression of a human life,
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  • And anything less than that is a diminished experience.
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  • So, we're gonna explore that a little bit together
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  • But i wanna start with an idea.
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  • We've been watching or following the ministry of jesus
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  • Through the gospels in the last few sessions,
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  • If you've been watching with us or listening
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  • Or you've been here.
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  • And jesus's public ministry was almost entirely immersed
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  • In crowds of people.
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  • Great crowds of people.
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  • They came from a broad geographical area.
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  • From the modern-day map of the middle east,
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  • They came from multiple nations.
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  • And the bus routes and the train routes and the flights were
  • 00:03:07.070 --> 00:03:09.539
  • Pretty limited back in the 1st century.
  • 00:03:09.539 --> 00:03:12.075
  • So it was quite a sacrifice for people to walk hundreds
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  • And hundreds of miles to hear an itinerant teacher,
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  • But they did it.
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  • Well, it didn't end when jesus was crucified and resurrected
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  • And ascended back to heaven.
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  • As the church begins, the crowds persist.
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  • I think it's a safe acknowledgment as we look
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  • At the new testament that when god moves, crowds gather.
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  • I'm gonna say it again.
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  • That when god moves, crowds gather.
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  • Now, here's the reality.
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  • We might as well be honest.
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  • We don't really like crowds.
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  • We'd be happy if billy graham would come preach to us in our
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  • Small group of four people, right?
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  • The people are a nuisance because we have to park and you
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  • Gotta meet people, and you have to act friendly and there's
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  • Lines at the food trucks.
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  • You see, my preference and i suspect yours,
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  • We would like to have a choice of 30 food trucks and we would
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  • Be the only people eating.
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  • So we could walk up to the truck we wanted and order what
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  • We wanted and be served just as if we were the only person
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  • That was available.
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  • Now, we would like that.
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  • The people in the food trucks would not like that.
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  • So, as a general rule of thumb, we don't see crowds
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  • As a blessing.
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  • But i wanna plant an idea.
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  • I don't believe there's a way through this mess we're in,
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  • And we're in a mess.
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  • We're more than $33 trillion in debt,
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  • As a people.
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  • Folks, we cannot leave that to our children
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  • And our grandchildren.
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  • Our moral compass is not only broken,
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  • We have crushed it and thrown the dust into the wind.
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  • Our churches are retreating, for the most part.
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  • We're trying to find more affirmation from the secular
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  • Arena than we are from the presence of the lord.
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  • The only way through this mess is to see crowds of people begin
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  • To respond to the name of jesus again.
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  • So i wanna ask you to do something with me.
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  • Rather than be put off by the crowd,
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  • Rather than be critical of the crowd or suspicious,
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  • Begin to say, "lord, let them grow in city after city,
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  • And college campus after college campus,
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  • And congregation after congregation."
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  • Hm, i appreciate that "amen."
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  • May god bless you, sir.
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  • May the rest of you pray about that.
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  • But i wanna read you a couple of passages of scripture: what was
  • 00:05:43.426 --> 00:05:46.095
  • Happening in jerusalem, in the days immediately following
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  • Jesus's ascension back to heaven.
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  • It's acts chapter 2.
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  • It's actually the day of pentecost.
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  • The holy spirit was poured out, the church is going public now.
  • 00:05:55.938 --> 00:05:59.709
  • A large crowd gathers in jerusalem and it says in
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  • Verse 14 that "peter stood up with the eleven.
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  • He raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
  • 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:06.849
  • 'fellow jews and all of you who live in jerusalem,
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  • Let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what i say.
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  • These men are not drunk, as you suppose,
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  • It's only nine in the morning!'"
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  • Now, there's a large crowd.
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  • The last time there was a large crowd in the streets of
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  • Jerusalem, gathered around the name or the person of jesus,
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  • They were shouting, "crucify him."
  • 00:06:25.401 --> 00:06:28.337
  • So for peter to step up in front of this crowd,
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  • In that city, within a few days of the demands that jesus be
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  • Crucified, took some significant courage.
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  • Courage he didn't have on the evening when they
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  • Arrested jesus.
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  • Courage he didn't have when jesus was being tried.
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  • But courage that he has now.
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  • And he stands up, and he says, "i'm gonna tell you something
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  • About this man jesus."
  • 00:06:51.828 --> 00:06:53.996
  • And it says the crowd assumed they were all drunk.
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  • I pray that we find a joy in the lord,
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  • Not some goofy joy, not something bizarre.
  • 00:07:02.872 --> 00:07:06.776
  • There's just something about our countenance and our presence
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  • And our enthusiasm for our faith that would cause people to think
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  • We have to be in some altered state.
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  • I don't mean by the way you drive.
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  • Open both your eyes.
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  • I've walked through the parking lot.
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  • It looks like you're in an altered state,
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  • But we're working on that.
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  • We're not parking like pagans anymore.
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  • We park between the lines here.
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  • And don't tell me you're not under law,
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  • You're under grace, 'cause we will tow you and your under
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  • Grace self, in a god-honoring, jesus-loving kind of a way.
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  • We will do that.
  • 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:51.721
  • But look at the next line, verse 41.
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  • It says: "those who accepted his message were baptized,
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  • And about three thousand were added to their number that day."
  • 00:07:55.458 --> 00:07:59.262
  • That's a crowd of people.
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  • When some subset of that group of people,
  • 00:08:01.364 --> 00:08:03.733
  • 3000 of them, chose to be baptized.
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  • I look forward to the service we have to baptize 3000 people.
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  • I promise we'll get more pools.
  • 00:08:12.208 --> 00:08:16.012
  • Acts chapter 5 says: "more and more men and women believed in
  • 00:08:16.012 --> 00:08:19.515
  • The lord and were added to their number.
  • 00:08:19.515 --> 00:08:21.884
  • And as a result, people brought the sick into the streets and
  • 00:08:21.884 --> 00:08:24.220
  • Laid them on beds and mats so that at least peter's shadow
  • 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:27.323
  • Might fall on some of them as he passed by."
  • 00:08:27.323 --> 00:08:30.426
  • There's too many people any longer to be ministered to
  • 00:08:30.426 --> 00:08:33.062
  • Directly, so they're just lining the streets.
  • 00:08:33.062 --> 00:08:36.299
  • And in verse 16 it says: "crowds gathered also from the towns
  • 00:08:36.299 --> 00:08:39.468
  • Around jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil
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  • Spirits, and all of them were healed."
  • 00:08:43.239 --> 00:08:46.342
  • Again, the fledgling church, the church just beginning,
  • 00:08:46.342 --> 00:08:50.012
  • Early days, early weeks, after jesus's ascension.
  • 00:08:50.012 --> 00:08:54.050
  • Most of us have heard that it was a house church,
  • 00:08:54.050 --> 00:08:57.353
  • That there was just a handful of people,
  • 00:08:57.353 --> 00:09:00.222
  • Hiding in some corner.
  • 00:09:00.222 --> 00:09:02.725
  • It's really not a biblical presentation.
  • 00:09:02.725 --> 00:09:05.061
  • Oh, they met in homes, but it wasn't because there was
  • 00:09:05.061 --> 00:09:08.331
  • Just a handful of them.
  • 00:09:08.331 --> 00:09:09.799
  • They met in their homes and they shared fellowship together,
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  • They ate dinner together.
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  • They were doing life together.
  • 00:09:13.603 --> 00:09:16.439
  • I've been a part of a church at every size.
  • 00:09:16.439 --> 00:09:18.641
  • When i began in this--with this congregation,
  • 00:09:18.641 --> 00:09:20.910
  • There were fewer than 30 people.
  • 00:09:20.910 --> 00:09:23.746
  • And so i've been a part of a church all along that spectrum
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  • Of different-sized congregations.
  • 00:09:26.215 --> 00:09:28.451
  • There's no perfect size church.
  • 00:09:28.451 --> 00:09:30.720
  • And if you'll allow me, if you're frustrated with a church
  • 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:33.422
  • That's different from yours because they're different,
  • 00:09:33.422 --> 00:09:36.726
  • Stop it.
  • 00:09:36.726 --> 00:09:40.029
  • Here's the rule of thumb: if we can disagree on a point and we
  • 00:09:40.029 --> 00:09:43.165
  • Can both still go to heaven, then i will extend to you
  • 00:09:43.165 --> 00:09:45.368
  • A hand of fellowship.
  • 00:09:45.368 --> 00:09:48.371
  • We have elevated secondary things to places of primary
  • 00:09:48.371 --> 00:09:51.641
  • Importance and we have introduced division to the body
  • 00:09:51.641 --> 00:09:54.176
  • Of christ that dishonors the lord.
  • 00:09:54.176 --> 00:09:58.714
  • How we prefer to take communion, the music style we prefer,
  • 00:09:58.714 --> 00:10:01.784
  • The translation of our bible.
  • 00:10:01.784 --> 00:10:04.286
  • I'm not saying they're not important,
  • 00:10:04.286 --> 00:10:06.355
  • I'm not saying they don't have relevance.
  • 00:10:06.355 --> 00:10:08.157
  • I'm telling you we can hold very divergent opinions and both go
  • 00:10:08.157 --> 00:10:10.926
  • To heaven.
  • 00:10:10.926 --> 00:10:12.895
  • On the other hand, there are some things that we can't
  • 00:10:12.895 --> 00:10:14.730
  • Disagree on and still make it.
  • 00:10:14.730 --> 00:10:17.733
  • We can't disagree on the uniqueness of jesus,
  • 00:10:17.733 --> 00:10:20.803
  • That he was the incarnate son of god,
  • 00:10:20.803 --> 00:10:23.072
  • That he was born of a virgin, that he died on a roman cross,
  • 00:10:23.072 --> 00:10:26.609
  • That he was buried, that he was raised to life again,
  • 00:10:26.609 --> 00:10:28.944
  • That he ascended into heaven, that the word of god is our rule
  • 00:10:28.944 --> 00:10:31.747
  • Of faith and practice, and it is the authority over our lives,
  • 00:10:31.747 --> 00:10:35.518
  • That jesus is the head of the church.
  • 00:10:35.518 --> 00:10:38.154
  • If you don't believe those things,
  • 00:10:38.154 --> 00:10:39.522
  • It's not christianity.
  • 00:10:39.522 --> 00:10:42.358
  • And i will not extend a hand of fellowship to people that take
  • 00:10:42.358 --> 00:10:44.994
  • A position in opposition to those.
  • 00:10:44.994 --> 00:10:47.029
  • It's a false church.
  • 00:10:47.029 --> 00:10:49.265
  • I don't care what the sign says, or how much religious language
  • 00:10:49.265 --> 00:10:54.303
  • Is wrapped up in that, but we need one another.
  • 00:10:54.303 --> 00:10:58.607
  • The truth of scripture that's presented to us is the jesus
  • 00:10:58.607 --> 00:11:01.844
  • Story, captured the attention of large crowds of people.
  • 00:11:01.844 --> 00:11:06.482
  • It began in jerusalem and extended to the region around
  • 00:11:06.482 --> 00:11:09.485
  • Them, judea, but it continued in the cities around the roman
  • 00:11:09.485 --> 00:11:12.788
  • Empire, around the mediterranean,
  • 00:11:12.788 --> 00:11:14.323
  • As the jesus story was told.
  • 00:11:14.323 --> 00:11:16.492
  • It was true in ephesus, it was true in corinth,
  • 00:11:16.492 --> 00:11:18.561
  • It was true in philippi, it was true repeatedly.
  • 00:11:18.561 --> 00:11:23.132
  • And here's our reality: we may begin as a crowd,
  • 00:11:23.132 --> 00:11:25.901
  • Just as those people did in acts chapter 2.
  • 00:11:25.901 --> 00:11:28.871
  • But at some point we have to have the courage to invite one
  • 00:11:28.871 --> 00:11:32.007
  • Another to step out of the crowd and to become disciples.
  • 00:11:32.007 --> 00:11:36.779
  • We could stand in the crowd and sing the choruses and say
  • 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:39.782
  • "amen," and hide amongst the people of god.
  • 00:11:39.782 --> 00:11:44.954
  • We can even recite a prayer.
  • 00:11:44.954 --> 00:11:48.591
  • But i wanna encourage you not to trust your future on simply
  • 00:11:48.591 --> 00:11:51.861
  • Reciting a prayer if you haven't intended to yield your life to
  • 00:11:51.861 --> 00:11:55.464
  • The lordship of jesus of nazareth.
  • 00:11:55.464 --> 00:11:59.235
  • I believe in the new birth, i believe in conversion.
  • 00:11:59.235 --> 00:12:02.138
  • I believe in salvation, whatever label you prefer for that
  • 00:12:02.138 --> 00:12:05.174
  • Initiation into the kingdom of god.
  • 00:12:05.174 --> 00:12:07.810
  • But i think we should understand with clarity that to be
  • 00:12:07.810 --> 00:12:10.846
  • A disciple of jesus of nazareth, means we are a people who come
  • 00:12:10.846 --> 00:12:14.450
  • Under the discipline of god.
  • 00:12:14.450 --> 00:12:17.186
  • And the pathway forward for us is determining that we will be
  • 00:12:17.186 --> 00:12:21.257
  • Men and women who will yield to the discipline of god.
  • 00:12:21.257 --> 00:12:27.029
  • It's important, church.
  • 00:12:27.029 --> 00:12:28.898
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:12:28.898 --> 00:12:31.967
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:12:34.904 --> 00:12:37.039
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:38.474
  • Well, we've got a solution, or at least
  • 00:12:38.474 --> 00:12:39.809
  • Something that can help.
  • 00:12:39.809 --> 00:12:41.143
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:12:41.143 --> 00:12:42.511
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:12:42.511 --> 00:12:44.547
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:12:44.547 --> 00:12:46.782
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:12:46.782 --> 00:12:49.318
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:12:49.318 --> 00:12:52.221
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:12:52.221 --> 00:12:54.957
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:12:54.957 --> 00:12:57.459
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:59.695
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:12:59.695 --> 00:13:01.831
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:13:01.831 --> 00:13:05.034
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:13:05.034 --> 00:13:06.368
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly, and it's easy to
  • 00:13:06.368 --> 00:13:08.337
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:13:08.337 --> 00:13:12.274
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is
  • 00:13:12.274 --> 00:13:15.644
  • A 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:13:15.644 --> 00:13:19.315
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:13:19.315 --> 00:13:20.983
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:13:20.983 --> 00:13:25.788
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:13:25.788 --> 00:13:28.591
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:13:28.591 --> 00:13:29.925
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:13:29.925 --> 00:13:32.494
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:13:32.494 --> 00:13:35.764
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:13:35.764 --> 00:13:38.434
  • This christmas.
  • 00:13:38.434 --> 00:13:39.835
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:13:39.835 --> 00:13:43.239
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:13:43.239 --> 00:13:48.410
  • Allen jackson: jesus invited people consistently,
  • 00:13:49.678 --> 00:13:52.114
  • Encouraged people to step out of the crowd.
  • 00:13:52.114 --> 00:13:54.717
  • In matthew chapter 7 and verse 13,
  • 00:13:54.717 --> 00:13:57.353
  • Are two of the more sobering verses in all of
  • 00:13:57.353 --> 00:13:59.855
  • The new testament.
  • 00:13:59.855 --> 00:14:01.624
  • Jesus is teaching and he said, "enter through the narrow gate.
  • 00:14:01.624 --> 00:14:05.794
  • For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
  • 00:14:05.794 --> 00:14:08.664
  • To destruction, and many enter through it.
  • 00:14:08.664 --> 00:14:11.433
  • But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
  • 00:14:11.433 --> 00:14:14.737
  • And only a few find it."
  • 00:14:14.737 --> 00:14:17.673
  • I don't know about you, but those words have my attention.
  • 00:14:17.673 --> 00:14:20.042
  • That's from the lord himself.
  • 00:14:20.042 --> 00:14:22.111
  • And he's describing two options.
  • 00:14:22.111 --> 00:14:23.779
  • He's not describing a third option.
  • 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.648
  • There's no middle ground. there's no neutral position.
  • 00:14:25.648 --> 00:14:28.617
  • You're on one of two paths.
  • 00:14:28.617 --> 00:14:31.153
  • You're on a wide pathway with a broad gate that leads to
  • 00:14:31.153 --> 00:14:33.989
  • Destruction and it's very easily to get caught up in the crowd
  • 00:14:33.989 --> 00:14:36.959
  • That's pressing towards it.
  • 00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:39.461
  • He said the alternative is more obscure.
  • 00:14:39.461 --> 00:14:41.463
  • "it's a narrow path and a small gate and only a few find it,
  • 00:14:41.463 --> 00:14:45.100
  • And it leads to life."
  • 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:48.137
  • You know, we can hide in a church group.
  • 00:14:48.137 --> 00:14:51.173
  • I go to the gym occasionally.
  • 00:14:51.173 --> 00:14:54.143
  • For clarity's sake, it does not make me an athlete.
  • 00:14:54.143 --> 00:14:58.213
  • If i go to the olympics it will be because i have a ticket
  • 00:14:58.213 --> 00:15:00.215
  • To sit in the stands.
  • 00:15:00.215 --> 00:15:02.551
  • You will not see me in spandex performing anywhere.
  • 00:15:02.551 --> 00:15:07.122
  • For which you are very grateful.
  • 00:15:07.122 --> 00:15:08.991
  • You can't even unsee the thought of that.
  • 00:15:08.991 --> 00:15:14.430
  • And i think for too long we've imagined that we could sit in
  • 00:15:14.430 --> 00:15:16.832
  • Church when it was convenient and we didn't have a better
  • 00:15:16.832 --> 00:15:19.568
  • Alternative and that we could be included in the people of god,
  • 00:15:19.568 --> 00:15:23.739
  • And i'm grateful for church.
  • 00:15:23.739 --> 00:15:27.009
  • I spend a lot of energy and time and effort and thought in making
  • 00:15:27.009 --> 00:15:30.245
  • Church an effective expression of the purposes and the will
  • 00:15:30.245 --> 00:15:33.649
  • Of god in the generation in which i live.
  • 00:15:33.649 --> 00:15:37.319
  • But i don't want you to imagine that just sitting in the crowd
  • 00:15:37.319 --> 00:15:39.455
  • Gives you peace with god.
  • 00:15:39.455 --> 00:15:42.024
  • I want you to imagine stepping out of the crowd and raising
  • 00:15:42.024 --> 00:15:45.427
  • Your hand and say, "i will yield to the discipline
  • 00:15:45.427 --> 00:15:48.330
  • Of almighty god."
  • 00:15:48.330 --> 00:15:49.999
  • Look at 2 timothy 2: "endure hardship with us like
  • 00:15:49.999 --> 00:15:52.801
  • A good soldier of christ jesus.
  • 00:15:52.801 --> 00:15:54.770
  • No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--
  • 00:15:54.770 --> 00:15:58.574
  • He wants to please his commanding officer."
  • 00:15:58.574 --> 00:16:02.111
  • Paul's writing this to timothy, very near the end
  • 00:16:02.111 --> 00:16:04.480
  • Of paul's life.
  • 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.981
  • Timothy has traveled with paul, he's shared ministry with paul,
  • 00:16:05.981 --> 00:16:09.051
  • He's a believer.
  • 00:16:09.051 --> 00:16:11.587
  • He has a great deal of time and energy invested in the kingdom
  • 00:16:11.587 --> 00:16:13.789
  • Of god, and yet paul writes to him and he says,
  • 00:16:13.789 --> 00:16:16.959
  • "timothy, endure hardship with us like a good soldier
  • 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:21.030
  • Of christ jesus."
  • 00:16:21.030 --> 00:16:22.731
  • He's reminding timothy that to be a christ follower means you
  • 00:16:22.731 --> 00:16:26.502
  • Have to willingly step out of the crowd.
  • 00:16:26.502 --> 00:16:29.238
  • You've gotta be different.
  • 00:16:29.238 --> 00:16:31.840
  • He didn't say, "be a good church attender."
  • 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.076
  • He didn't say, "be tame," or "be polite."
  • 00:16:34.076 --> 00:16:36.578
  • He said, "timothy, you've got to be a good soldier
  • 00:16:36.578 --> 00:16:38.447
  • Of jesus christ."
  • 00:16:38.447 --> 00:16:40.816
  • So i'm gonna take the balance of our time and i've still got
  • 00:16:40.816 --> 00:16:43.485
  • A few minutes, and talk about how we can
  • 00:16:43.485 --> 00:16:45.687
  • Step out of the crowd.
  • 00:16:45.687 --> 00:16:47.589
  • What's that look like?
  • 00:16:47.589 --> 00:16:49.625
  • What's the expectation around that?
  • 00:16:49.625 --> 00:16:52.094
  • What's the impact that's gonna have on my life?
  • 00:16:52.094 --> 00:16:55.264
  • This idea, really, it started in my heart a few weeks ago.
  • 00:16:55.264 --> 00:16:59.301
  • We were traveling a bit doing pastors' conferences and talking
  • 00:16:59.301 --> 00:17:04.173
  • To groups of christians across the country.
  • 00:17:04.173 --> 00:17:06.942
  • And i began to meet people who sharing ministry through
  • 00:17:06.942 --> 00:17:10.012
  • The remarkable abilities of technology.
  • 00:17:10.012 --> 00:17:14.249
  • Whether they watched livestream or they listened on the radio,
  • 00:17:14.249 --> 00:17:17.252
  • Or they have caught something on youtube,
  • 00:17:17.252 --> 00:17:19.788
  • I mean the platforms they were listening were diverse,
  • 00:17:19.788 --> 00:17:22.724
  • But what we shared in common was a love for the word of god
  • 00:17:22.724 --> 00:17:25.527
  • And a desire to honor jesus in our lives.
  • 00:17:25.527 --> 00:17:29.665
  • And i began to meet these people.
  • 00:17:29.665 --> 00:17:31.233
  • They bring me reports and they said,
  • 00:17:31.233 --> 00:17:32.568
  • "there was this many people that have listened to a program
  • 00:17:32.568 --> 00:17:35.304
  • In this city or in that city," and i can look at those numbers
  • 00:17:35.304 --> 00:17:38.474
  • And they're pretty--they exceed what we can gather
  • 00:17:38.474 --> 00:17:42.778
  • On our campus.
  • 00:17:42.778 --> 00:17:44.880
  • But when i began to meet those people and they said,
  • 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.782
  • "pastor, what can we do?
  • 00:17:46.782 --> 00:17:48.217
  • How do we respond?"
  • 00:17:48.217 --> 00:17:49.985
  • I began to understand the question differently.
  • 00:17:49.985 --> 00:17:51.520
  • It seemed to me like they were saying,
  • 00:17:51.520 --> 00:17:53.989
  • "how do we step out of this big crowd?"
  • 00:17:53.989 --> 00:17:56.191
  • And so i began to give them an invitation that i've shared on
  • 00:17:56.191 --> 00:17:58.427
  • Our campus for a long time.
  • 00:17:58.427 --> 00:18:00.395
  • I said, "well, why don't you pray at least once a day
  • 00:18:00.395 --> 00:18:02.931
  • For what god is doing through this ministry?
  • 00:18:02.931 --> 00:18:06.001
  • Don't just pray for us, but at least once a day pray for us."
  • 00:18:06.001 --> 00:18:09.338
  • And then i said, "once a week, how about fasting one meal?
  • 00:18:09.338 --> 00:18:13.308
  • Don't just tell me it's blessed you.
  • 00:18:13.308 --> 00:18:15.811
  • Once a week, miss a meal and say,
  • 00:18:15.811 --> 00:18:17.446
  • "god, multiply the impact of all those people working together
  • 00:18:17.446 --> 00:18:19.515
  • There in tennessee, all those crazy people that sit outside
  • 00:18:19.515 --> 00:18:23.185
  • For that fall festival.
  • 00:18:23.185 --> 00:18:26.522
  • May they become more effective in reaching their community in
  • 00:18:26.522 --> 00:18:28.624
  • That region of our nation with the gospel of jesus christ.
  • 00:18:28.624 --> 00:18:33.795
  • And up to that point they were nodding pretty enthusiastically
  • 00:18:33.795 --> 00:18:36.131
  • And then i said, "would you be willing to consider becoming
  • 00:18:36.131 --> 00:18:38.700
  • A monthly partner and making an investment with us?"
  • 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:42.905
  • And some did.
  • 00:18:42.905 --> 00:18:45.340
  • It's not the only way to serve the lord but with those people
  • 00:18:45.340 --> 00:18:47.543
  • It was a way that we could maintain the relationship that
  • 00:18:47.543 --> 00:18:50.445
  • Was emerging, that we had together,
  • 00:18:50.445 --> 00:18:53.148
  • In seeing the name of jesus lifted up.
  • 00:18:53.148 --> 00:18:56.685
  • Well, i do life in this place.
  • 00:18:56.685 --> 00:18:58.820
  • I'm here most weekends of the year.
  • 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:01.290
  • And i wanna take a few minutes and talk to you about what it
  • 00:19:01.290 --> 00:19:03.492
  • Looks like for us to step out of the crowd.
  • 00:19:03.492 --> 00:19:06.562
  • What's it look like for us to raise our hand?
  • 00:19:06.562 --> 00:19:08.964
  • What's that mean to step out of the crowd?
  • 00:19:08.964 --> 00:19:10.899
  • How do we differentiate ourselves?
  • 00:19:10.899 --> 00:19:13.569
  • Different, just exactly how?
  • 00:19:13.569 --> 00:19:18.340
  • You know, there's no perfect time in history,
  • 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:21.310
  • So if we said we were gonna abandon electricity,
  • 00:19:21.310 --> 00:19:23.879
  • That doesn't make us more godly.
  • 00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:25.647
  • It just means we'll be ungodly in the dark.
  • 00:19:25.647 --> 00:19:29.384
  • You know, sometimes, we imagine that the good old days
  • 00:19:29.384 --> 00:19:32.054
  • Were somehow better.
  • 00:19:32.054 --> 00:19:33.689
  • I'm not suggesting that.
  • 00:19:33.689 --> 00:19:35.023
  • I'm grateful for the season in which we live.
  • 00:19:35.023 --> 00:19:37.492
  • I like all the technological opportunities that come with us,
  • 00:19:37.492 --> 00:19:40.996
  • The ease with which we can communicate with one another
  • 00:19:40.996 --> 00:19:43.465
  • Around the world or travel.
  • 00:19:43.465 --> 00:19:45.234
  • We have many, many blessings.
  • 00:19:45.234 --> 00:19:47.202
  • I'm not lamenting this point in time,
  • 00:19:47.202 --> 00:19:49.671
  • But i think we have to process this question: different how?
  • 00:19:49.671 --> 00:19:55.377
  • Just exactly what does it mean to be the people of god?
  • 00:19:55.377 --> 00:19:58.780
  • And we're not left without direction.
  • 00:19:58.780 --> 00:20:00.682
  • The bible gives us a wealth of instruction.
  • 00:20:00.682 --> 00:20:03.285
  • But i'm gonna take some cultural points that are--around which
  • 00:20:03.285 --> 00:20:07.055
  • There is a tremendous amount of confusion swirling,
  • 00:20:07.055 --> 00:20:10.659
  • And see if i can give you a biblical perspective.
  • 00:20:10.659 --> 00:20:12.494
  • Not my opinion.
  • 00:20:12.494 --> 00:20:14.029
  • I'll try to anchor it in scripture.
  • 00:20:14.029 --> 00:20:16.498
  • I'll start with this notion of marriage.
  • 00:20:16.498 --> 00:20:18.934
  • Marriage has been redefined, so we're told.
  • 00:20:18.934 --> 00:20:22.604
  • We've heard that at the highest levels of our nation,
  • 00:20:22.604 --> 00:20:26.675
  • A nation with a christian heritage,
  • 00:20:26.675 --> 00:20:28.910
  • A nation founded upon biblical principles,
  • 00:20:28.910 --> 00:20:31.513
  • A nation whose legal system and educational system were grounded
  • 00:20:31.513 --> 00:20:34.950
  • In a judeo-christian worldview has decided in recent years
  • 00:20:34.950 --> 00:20:38.654
  • That we're no longer gonna use those definitions
  • 00:20:38.654 --> 00:20:41.056
  • For marriage and family.
  • 00:20:41.056 --> 00:20:43.525
  • And it's left the church confused.
  • 00:20:43.525 --> 00:20:46.261
  • A little bit addled, i think.
  • 00:20:46.261 --> 00:20:48.697
  • Well, i would submit to you that marriage is a biblical idea.
  • 00:20:48.697 --> 00:20:51.933
  • It's a biblical principle.
  • 00:20:51.933 --> 00:20:53.835
  • And it's presented to us as a union between a man and a woman.
  • 00:20:53.835 --> 00:20:57.372
  • In fact, fundamentally, it's a covenant between a man
  • 00:20:57.372 --> 00:21:02.511
  • And a woman and god.
  • 00:21:02.511 --> 00:21:05.080
  • It's about yielding and honoring.
  • 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:08.250
  • Look in genesis chapter 2.
  • 00:21:08.250 --> 00:21:10.352
  • If you're not familiar with the bible,
  • 00:21:10.352 --> 00:21:12.254
  • Genesis chapter 2 is very near the beginning.
  • 00:21:12.254 --> 00:21:16.892
  • So it's one of those big rock ideas,
  • 00:21:16.892 --> 00:21:19.695
  • As we begin to explore who this god is.
  • 00:21:19.695 --> 00:21:22.631
  • And he said, "for this reason a man will leave his father
  • 00:21:22.631 --> 00:21:25.400
  • And mother and be united to his wife,
  • 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:27.669
  • And they will become one flesh."
  • 00:21:27.669 --> 00:21:30.105
  • It's not confusing, church.
  • 00:21:30.105 --> 00:21:32.641
  • I understand there are alternatives.
  • 00:21:32.641 --> 00:21:35.744
  • I understand there may be people that you know,
  • 00:21:35.744 --> 00:21:37.979
  • That you care about, that you have shared life with,
  • 00:21:37.979 --> 00:21:41.616
  • That you're invested in, that have chosen another definition.
  • 00:21:41.616 --> 00:21:45.320
  • I'm not saying that that doesn't exist.
  • 00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:48.590
  • I'm saying if you want to walk under a biblical mandate,
  • 00:21:48.590 --> 00:21:51.760
  • Under the authority of scripture,
  • 00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:54.763
  • That god hasn't redefined his terms.
  • 00:21:54.763 --> 00:21:58.033
  • Different how?
  • 00:21:58.033 --> 00:22:00.969
  • By having the courage to take a biblical view of life
  • 00:22:00.969 --> 00:22:04.840
  • And submit to its authority.
  • 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:07.776
  • Look at hebrews 13:4.
  • 00:22:07.776 --> 00:22:12.047
  • It even gets a little more intense.
  • 00:22:12.047 --> 00:22:14.082
  • "marriage is to be held in honor among all,
  • 00:22:14.082 --> 00:22:18.320
  • And the marriage bed is to be undefiled;
  • 00:22:18.320 --> 00:22:21.757
  • For fornicators," that's a big old word: sexual activity before
  • 00:22:21.757 --> 00:22:25.727
  • You're married, "and adulterers," sexual activity
  • 00:22:25.727 --> 00:22:30.866
  • Beyond your marriage vows and your covenant partner,
  • 00:22:30.866 --> 00:22:35.137
  • "god will judge."
  • 00:22:35.137 --> 00:22:37.706
  • So, biblical morality, sexually, is defined by that marriage
  • 00:22:37.706 --> 00:22:42.177
  • Covenant between a man and a woman.
  • 00:22:42.177 --> 00:22:45.113
  • Different how? this isn't that complicated.
  • 00:22:45.113 --> 00:22:48.517
  • Keep yourself pure until marriage.
  • 00:22:48.517 --> 00:22:53.922
  • I'm sorry, did everybody slip out?
  • 00:22:53.922 --> 00:22:57.526
  • [congregation laughing]
  • 00:22:57.526 --> 00:23:00.128
  • It's a biblical principle.
  • 00:23:00.128 --> 00:23:03.165
  • You can't imagine yourself to be a christ-follower and ignore
  • 00:23:03.165 --> 00:23:07.369
  • The invitations of scripture.
  • 00:23:07.369 --> 00:23:11.106
  • This isn't like a smorgasbord where we get to take,
  • 00:23:11.106 --> 00:23:13.742
  • You know, option 1, 3, and 8, because those are the ones that
  • 00:23:13.742 --> 00:23:17.679
  • Feel the best to me.
  • 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:20.682
  • Different how?
  • 00:23:20.682 --> 00:23:22.317
  • We accept a biblical view of morality,
  • 00:23:22.317 --> 00:23:25.320
  • And if you have not done so, if that hasn't been your story
  • 00:23:25.320 --> 00:23:28.256
  • To this point, you're not without hope.
  • 00:23:28.256 --> 00:23:30.826
  • You can repent and be free.
  • 00:23:30.826 --> 00:23:33.228
  • You can have a new beginning.
  • 00:23:33.228 --> 00:23:35.497
  • But you can't redraft the scope of what god has called us to.
  • 00:23:35.497 --> 00:23:40.268
  • Different how?
  • 00:23:40.268 --> 00:23:41.903
  • Just suppose we returned weddings and all the preparation
  • 00:23:41.903 --> 00:23:44.773
  • Around those weddings to a god-honoring establishment
  • 00:23:44.773 --> 00:23:48.577
  • Of a covenant.
  • 00:23:48.577 --> 00:23:51.680
  • I've been doing weddings for decades,
  • 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:53.982
  • And the way that we conduct weddings
  • 00:23:53.982 --> 00:23:55.684
  • Has changed dramatically.
  • 00:23:55.684 --> 00:23:58.520
  • I'm not saying you're evil if you have allowed culture
  • 00:23:58.520 --> 00:24:02.023
  • To impact your imagination of a wedding.
  • 00:24:02.023 --> 00:24:04.392
  • But i'm saying you're lighting a fuse to initiate momentum
  • 00:24:04.392 --> 00:24:07.863
  • Away from godliness.
  • 00:24:07.863 --> 00:24:11.233
  • It seems to me that far too frequently now,
  • 00:24:11.233 --> 00:24:13.869
  • It's more about a spa day or the groom's party or the groom's
  • 00:24:13.869 --> 00:24:17.272
  • Trips or the bridesmaids' parties or
  • 00:24:17.272 --> 00:24:19.307
  • The bridesmaids' trips.
  • 00:24:19.307 --> 00:24:20.675
  • Or you can go to nashville where you can see the woo wagons.
  • 00:24:20.675 --> 00:24:25.547
  • It's about music or parties or the bar
  • 00:24:25.547 --> 00:24:31.186
  • Or a lot of other things.
  • 00:24:31.186 --> 00:24:34.089
  • Weddings have almost totally lost the appearance
  • 00:24:34.089 --> 00:24:36.858
  • Of a covenant between a man and a woman and god
  • 00:24:36.858 --> 00:24:40.896
  • Because it's not the focus.
  • 00:24:40.896 --> 00:24:43.598
  • We've lost the imagination it's at the center of that.
  • 00:24:43.598 --> 00:24:47.202
  • We wonder why our families are in trouble,
  • 00:24:47.202 --> 00:24:49.704
  • Why our children struggle, why our faith seems so far removed
  • 00:24:49.704 --> 00:24:52.874
  • From our homes because the way in which we have begun our homes
  • 00:24:52.874 --> 00:24:58.079
  • And we have begun our marriages has become--has drifted so far
  • 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:02.117
  • Away from god's invitations.
  • 00:25:02.117 --> 00:25:05.153
  • It seems to me that too often we prefer to model the kardashians,
  • 00:25:05.153 --> 00:25:09.257
  • Rather than a godly gathering.
  • 00:25:09.257 --> 00:25:13.228
  • Since i'm already being annoying,
  • 00:25:13.228 --> 00:25:15.196
  • If you'll allow me, a wedding really isn't about
  • 00:25:15.196 --> 00:25:17.933
  • Princess for a day.
  • 00:25:17.933 --> 00:25:20.635
  • It's not a display of our wealth or our cultural sophistication.
  • 00:25:20.635 --> 00:25:24.773
  • It's a covenant between a man and a woman in the sight of god.
  • 00:25:24.773 --> 00:25:28.877
  • And if as a family member or a friend,
  • 00:25:28.877 --> 00:25:30.845
  • You're invited to participate in that or to witness that,
  • 00:25:30.845 --> 00:25:35.116
  • It's a sacred thing.
  • 00:25:35.116 --> 00:25:38.019
  • Allen: choosing to honor jesus with obedience
  • 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:40.021
  • In your life will put you in the minority.
  • 00:25:40.021 --> 00:25:42.991
  • I'm gonna pray today that you'll have the courage to step out
  • 00:25:42.991 --> 00:25:45.260
  • Of the crowd and be unique in the honor that you're willing
  • 00:25:45.260 --> 00:25:48.797
  • To give to jesus.
  • 00:25:48.797 --> 00:25:50.365
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:25:50.365 --> 00:25:51.700
  • Heavenly father, i pray we'll have the courage
  • 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:53.101
  • And the boldness to choose you.
  • 00:25:53.101 --> 00:25:54.769
  • Not simply to stand amongst those who call on you,
  • 00:25:54.769 --> 00:25:58.006
  • But to choose obedience to you with our whole heart,
  • 00:25:58.006 --> 00:26:01.276
  • Body, soul, and spirit.
  • 00:26:01.276 --> 00:26:03.311
  • I thank you for your help.
  • 00:26:03.311 --> 00:26:04.946
  • In jesus's name we pray, amen.
  • 00:26:04.946 --> 00:26:07.349
  • God bless you, and you keep saying yes to the lord.
  • 00:26:07.349 --> 00:26:09.951
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:09.951 --> 00:26:14.990
  • Allen: you know, i'm a pastor and i have the privilege of
  • 00:26:16.458 --> 00:26:18.460
  • Serving god's people.
  • 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.828
  • I can tell you from experience, one of the most difficult things
  • 00:26:19.828 --> 00:26:22.163
  • To do is introduce change.
  • 00:26:22.163 --> 00:26:24.032
  • Most of us don't like it.
  • 00:26:24.032 --> 00:26:25.767
  • And i think that's particularly true around holiday seasons.
  • 00:26:25.767 --> 00:26:29.137
  • We have traditions, we have patterns, we have habits.
  • 00:26:29.137 --> 00:26:32.407
  • They're comforting to us, comfortable to us.
  • 00:26:32.407 --> 00:26:35.910
  • Well, i wanna suggest something.
  • 00:26:35.910 --> 00:26:37.278
  • We have created a tool for you this christmas.
  • 00:26:37.278 --> 00:26:39.481
  • It's called, "leading with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:39.481 --> 00:26:41.983
  • It's a little book with a 25-day devotional that you can do
  • 00:26:41.983 --> 00:26:44.653
  • Personally, you can do it with your family, you can do it
  • 00:26:44.653 --> 00:26:46.254
  • With coworkers.
  • 00:26:46.254 --> 00:26:47.622
  • There's some recipes.
  • 00:26:47.622 --> 00:26:48.957
  • There's activities.
  • 00:26:48.957 --> 00:26:50.325
  • It's really a guide for you to shape christmas with your faith,
  • 00:26:50.325 --> 00:26:54.496
  • But it means i'm asking you to do something different, to
  • 00:26:54.496 --> 00:26:57.098
  • Introduce change, and i know that's not easy.
  • 00:26:57.098 --> 00:27:00.268
  • But it's time for us to stop raging against the darkness.
  • 00:27:00.268 --> 00:27:02.971
  • Folks, let's turn up the light.
  • 00:27:02.971 --> 00:27:04.806
  • I believe, "leading with your faith at christmas," is a tool
  • 00:27:04.806 --> 00:27:07.642
  • That will help you be a better light for jesus in the midst of
  • 00:27:07.642 --> 00:27:11.046
  • This christmas season, and that's worthwhile.
  • 00:27:11.046 --> 00:27:13.982
  • Enjoy the book and merry christmas.
  • 00:27:13.982 --> 00:27:16.017
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:17.318 --> 00:27:27.395