Allen Jackson - Lead A Life Of Significance

May 10, 2025 | 27:29

Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Lead A Life Of Significance | May 10, 2025
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  • Allen jackson: it's good to be with you again.
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  • You know, we're walking through a season of some pretty
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  • Unprecedented turmoil.
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  • There are cars burning and car dealerships burning, and there
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  • Are judges.
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  • There's just a lot of stuff.
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  • Well, i'm really excited about our offer this month.
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  • In fact, we chose it because i think it will bring you a
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  • Pathway of stability in the midst of all the turmoil.
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  • It's written by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord is
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  • My shepherd."
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  • And it seems to me we need to know the tranquility that comes
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  • From a shepherd who is marking a path for us and then standing
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  • Watch over us when we know there's predators about.
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  • We're living in a predatory season.
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  • We need to know the lord is a shepherd, and i believe this
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  • Offer can make a real difference in your life.
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  • In fact, it's important enough that we'll make it available for
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  • A gift of any amount.
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  • I think it's far more important that you have it in your hand
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  • Than the cost attached to it.
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  • God is moving in the earth, and we wanna move with him.
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  • Our shepherd will lead us through.
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  • You'll enjoy the book.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: there's some words that have been introduced
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  • To our lives, and they're more than words, they are systems of
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  • Understanding the world that are changing us rapidly, and most of
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  • Them have gained momentum since we met covid.
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  • Things like wokeism and equity, not equality, but equity.
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  • Misinformation, others labeling what you believe misinformation,
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  • Therefore you don't have a right to express your opinion in the
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  • Public square.
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  • Corporate stakeholders, i know about corporate shareholders,
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  • Those that have invested in a corporation, they have a
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  • Responsibility to them.
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  • But corporate stakeholders has caused our corporations to have
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  • The attitude that they should be authorities on social and
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  • Moral issues.
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  • Now, it's okay if they want to advocate for a social or moral
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  • Issue, but we shouldn't ever be confused.
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  • Their objective is their bottom line.
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  • They're using social and moral issues as a smokescreen,
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  • As subterfuge.
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  • They're going to make their bottom line work, or they
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  • Shut down.
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  • And if you watch very carefully, you will watch
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  • The inconsistency.
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  • They become tools for manipulation, and you have to
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  • Ask why?
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  • Coca-cola was upset, punitive, with the state of georgia around
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  • Their voting laws, the coca-cola corporation.
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  • I'm not anti-coca-cola, i prefer it to pepsi honestly.
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  • But they didn't have any corporate problem with being a
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  • Primary sponsor of the olympic games in beijing in china.
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  • There's a tremendous inconsistency in that.
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  • American companies are bailing on russia at the moment in a
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  • Surprising speed with apple, mercedes benz, bp.
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  • I mean, the list goes on and on, all wrapped up in this notion of
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  • Corporate stakeholders.
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  • They're gonna dictate morals to us.
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  • How 'bout if they practiced morals in their board rooms?
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  • [applause]
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  • We've heard about systemic problems, problems that are so
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  • Ingrained within us and amongst us.
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  • We've heard about existential threats, that seems like to be
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  • The favorite label.
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  • Ideological intimidation has reached a crescendo that we
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  • Haven't seen in many decades.
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  • It's given expression.
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  • We've labeled it the cancel culture, but it's
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  • Ideological bullying.
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  • If i don't like what you say, i'll just shut you down.
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  • We've built the strength of our experiment in self-government,
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  • And an important part of that has been the right to free
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  • Speech and to express our opinions in the public square.
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  • So, what do we do with that collection of things?
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  • How does the church respond?
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  • Do we retreat to our favorite bible study?
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  • And again, i'm an advocate for studying our bible, but it seems
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  • To me that what we've set aside is the significance, the
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  • Importance, the value of a biblical worldview.
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  • See, your worldview is how you see the world.
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  • It's the filter that everything else goes through.
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  • And the church has lost that.
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  • We've adopted worldviews that are very divergent and diverse.
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  • We've got secular worldviews, and economic worldviews, and
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  • Worldviews built around some segment of the culture where we
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  • Prefer to fit.
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  • When you hyphenate your christianity, you're taking a
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  • Worldview and putting it in front of jesus.
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  • And we've lost a biblical worldview.
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  • You see, with that biblical worldview, this experiment holds
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  • Together because we come from all the different nations of the
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  • World, and we look differently, and we sound differently, and we
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  • Don't share a common ethnicity, or a common heritage, or a
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  • Common set of holidays.
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  • What bound us together was this worldview.
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  • We didn't all share the christian faith, but we held a
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  • Worldview that had been derived from that
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  • Judeo-christian fundamental.
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  • Simple things like your word is important, that truth matters.
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  • The definition of marriage and idea of family.
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  • The notion of integrity, due process, all of those things
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  • Came from a biblical worldview, and we haven't always embraced
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  • Them well, we haven't always done them, but the best things
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  • That have happened in our nation have emerged from that
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  • Biblical worldview.
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  • Most of us ignore history, and i get it, we learned it from a
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  • Coach that didn't want to be in the room with us anyway, but
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  • Just a casual glance, when the industrial revolution started,
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  • One of the important components of the workforce was
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  • The children.
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  • And they were forced to work immoral hours in unsafe
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  • Conditions, and it was a biblical worldview.
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  • It was that underlying support.
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  • It didn't stop it when it happened, it doesn't usually
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  • Happen that way, it's more like the immune system in your body.
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  • It may push back several attacks, but something breaks
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  • Through and then your immune system responds to that.
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  • And that biblical worldview responded to that, and there
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  • Were laws put in place, protections put in place to
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  • Protect the children where their parents wouldn't or couldn't.
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  • The opportunities for women in our culture, they may not have
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  • Achieved what you think they should have in the timing they
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  • Have, but compared to the rest of the cultures in the world,
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  • That biblical worldview gave opportunities for women that
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  • Were not mirrored on almost every place else on the planet.
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  • Our attitudes towards one another may not have reached
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  • What they wanted, but the authority that was undergirding
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  • The civil rights movement in the '60s, the authority with which
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  • Dr. king spoke with his iconic presentation of "i have a dream"
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  • In washington d.c., the values beneath that were from the
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  • Biblical worldview that we should be judged by the content
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  • Of our character, not the color of our skin.
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  • That biblical worldview has brought freedom and liberty to
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  • More people and more opportunity to more people than any other
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  • Experiment in government that we have any experience with.
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  • And the keepers of that, the purveyors of that, the ones who
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  • Watch over that is the church.
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  • Again, not that everybody would have to be christian, but those
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  • Are the values that undergird us as a system.
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  • It was understood when our nation was formed, outside
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  • Observers from other nations came and watched the beginnings
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  • Of this experiment in self-government, and they wrote,
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  • I could give you the quotes.
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  • They said that this republic will survive as long as the
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  • Values of christianity are held within the hearts of the people.
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  • Now, that's our assignment, folks.
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  • Not to gather in our churches and then go live like the world.
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  • Not to allow our biblical definitions to be redefined.
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  • God isn't evolving in his thoughts.
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  • But it takes courage on our part.
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  • It takes courage on our part.
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  • We've been seeing a demonstration of courage in the
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  • Streets of the ukraine.
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  • I don't know why they're showing us that, but i'm grateful
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  • They are.
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  • It's encouraged me greatly.
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  • There are many things they don't show us.
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  • They didn't show us afghanistan when we abandoned our people and
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  • Our allies there.
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  • They didn't show us rwanda when over a million people were
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  • Slaughtered in less than 90 days.
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  • There are many things they don't show us, but they're letting us
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  • See ukraine.
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  • It's reminding us of what courage looks like.
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  • We're gonna have to have some courage to defend our faith.
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  • But that biblical worldview, the orchestration of it,
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  • Understanding it, why it matters, we have quibbled about
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  • When to take communion, or what the dress code should be for the
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  • Presenter in a worship service, or the style of music, or the
  • 00:08:53.648 --> 00:08:57.118
  • Architecture of the building, or what time or what day we should
  • 00:08:57.118 --> 00:09:00.055
  • Meet, and those things may all have some place in your
  • 00:09:00.055 --> 00:09:03.258
  • Preference for how you worship, but they shouldn't be understood
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  • To be primary.
  • 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:08.930
  • We've been confused in the church.
  • 00:09:08.930 --> 00:09:11.166
  • We've had the luxury to do that, but god is awakening us and
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  • Calling us.
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  • I hope you're watching and listening and thinking and
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  • You're acting on your faith.
  • 00:09:19.474 --> 00:09:24.613
  • I wanna start in luke chapter 2.
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  • We have an assignment, and it's so fundamental,
  • 00:09:26.982 --> 00:09:28.917
  • It's so simple, it's easy to overlook.
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  • We have a message that god has entrusted to us.
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  • I want to go back, it's the christmas narrative.
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  • You know it from christmas, but it works in march, or july,
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  • Or september.
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  • "there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby," that's
  • 00:09:41.997 --> 00:09:44.432
  • Nearby bethlehem, "keeping watch over their flocks at night.
  • 00:09:44.432 --> 00:09:48.870
  • An angel of the lord appeared to them, and the glory of the lord
  • 00:09:48.870 --> 00:09:51.206
  • Shone around them, and they were terrified."
  • 00:09:51.206 --> 00:09:53.308
  • Didn't happen to 'em very often.
  • 00:09:53.308 --> 00:09:56.311
  • "but the angel said to them, 'do not be afraid.
  • 00:09:56.311 --> 00:09:58.580
  • I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
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  • The people.
  • 00:10:01.883 --> 00:10:03.718
  • Today in the town of david, a savior has been born to you.'"
  • 00:10:03.718 --> 00:10:07.055
  • Good news of great joy for all people.
  • 00:10:07.055 --> 00:10:11.259
  • If we're going to talk about a biblical worldview, here's
  • 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:13.261
  • A cornerstone.
  • 00:10:13.261 --> 00:10:14.596
  • It's good news of great joy for all people.
  • 00:10:14.596 --> 00:10:18.667
  • It's better than a global winning lottery ticket,
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  • Because it has value beyond time.
  • 00:10:22.604 --> 00:10:24.639
  • It will change your eternity.
  • 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.275
  • And i'm gonna suggest to you that we have been a bit too
  • 00:10:27.275 --> 00:10:31.746
  • Reluctant to share the good news.
  • 00:10:31.746 --> 00:10:34.015
  • A lot of reasons for that.
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  • We're gonna try to deconstruct that a little bit before we're
  • 00:10:35.350 --> 00:10:37.052
  • Done, but we have not been the advocates for the good news that
  • 00:10:37.052 --> 00:10:40.488
  • We might have been.
  • 00:10:40.488 --> 00:10:41.856
  • We've either been distracted, or disinterested, or intimidated,
  • 00:10:41.856 --> 00:10:44.626
  • Or something.
  • 00:10:44.626 --> 00:10:46.394
  • We didn't want to force our opinion on anyone else.
  • 00:10:46.394 --> 00:10:48.463
  • We don't want to seem to zealous for the church where we worship.
  • 00:10:48.463 --> 00:10:52.167
  • People say that to me sometimes.
  • 00:10:52.167 --> 00:10:53.568
  • "you know, i was telling somebody about our church, but i
  • 00:10:53.568 --> 00:10:55.737
  • Didn't want to go too far.
  • 00:10:55.737 --> 00:10:57.072
  • I didn't want them to think i was, like, goofy.
  • 00:10:57.072 --> 00:11:01.976
  • I was telling 'em how much i enjoyed your sermons, but i
  • 00:11:01.976 --> 00:11:03.778
  • Didn't want him to think i was, like, weird."
  • 00:11:03.778 --> 00:11:09.117
  • You know, if you like the titans, i mean, like, if you're
  • 00:11:09.117 --> 00:11:12.620
  • All in on the titans, you don't care if people that like the
  • 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:17.726
  • Jaguars think you're goofy.
  • 00:11:17.726 --> 00:11:20.628
  • If you like the titans, you're probably a derrick henry fan.
  • 00:11:20.628 --> 00:11:24.199
  • And when you're talkin' about the fact that he could run
  • 00:11:24.199 --> 00:11:25.667
  • Through a concrete block wall and not slow down, you don't go,
  • 00:11:25.667 --> 00:11:29.871
  • "oh, well, you know, i don't want to be goofy."
  • 00:11:29.871 --> 00:11:33.174
  • You're just expressing an opinion.
  • 00:11:33.174 --> 00:11:34.509
  • But when it comes to our faith, we lose our courage and
  • 00:11:34.509 --> 00:11:36.544
  • Our boldness.
  • 00:11:36.544 --> 00:11:39.047
  • It just evaporates.
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  • Good news of great joy for all people.
  • 00:11:40.415 --> 00:11:42.884
  • Look at revelation chapter 5 and verse 9.
  • 00:11:42.884 --> 00:11:44.919
  • It's a scene in the throne room of god.
  • 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.889
  • It says, "they sang a new song, 'you're worthy to take the
  • 00:11:47.889 --> 00:11:49.858
  • Scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain.
  • 00:11:49.858 --> 00:11:52.026
  • And with your blood you purchased men for god from every
  • 00:11:52.026 --> 00:11:55.530
  • Tribe, every language, every people, and every nation, and
  • 00:11:55.530 --> 00:12:00.301
  • You've made them to be a kingdom and priest.'"
  • 00:12:00.301 --> 00:12:02.604
  • The message we have is the first global initiative.
  • 00:12:02.604 --> 00:12:06.508
  • It's gonna include people from every tribe, language, people,
  • 00:12:06.508 --> 00:12:10.545
  • And nation.
  • 00:12:10.545 --> 00:12:12.914
  • Revelation 7, "i looked and before me was a great multitude,
  • 00:12:12.914 --> 00:12:15.717
  • No one could count them, from every nation, tribe, people,
  • 00:12:15.717 --> 00:12:19.587
  • Language, standing before it in front of the lamb."
  • 00:12:19.587 --> 00:12:23.358
  • Good news for all people.
  • 00:12:23.358 --> 00:12:24.959
  • Then we get this snapshot of the end of the age when time has
  • 00:12:24.959 --> 00:12:27.896
  • Come to a close, and it's been fulfilled.
  • 00:12:27.896 --> 00:12:32.100
  • I want to participate in that, how about you?
  • 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:35.570
  • People say to me, "you know, if i just knew what god
  • 00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:37.372
  • Wanted me to do, pastor, i would do whatever it is.
  • 00:12:37.372 --> 00:12:39.240
  • I would do whatever, it wouldn't matter, if i just knew."
  • 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:42.010
  • I got a clue.
  • 00:12:42.010 --> 00:12:44.379
  • Good news for all people.
  • 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:45.747
  • Do you know any people?
  • 00:12:45.747 --> 00:12:48.950
  • Anybody here probably knows a people?
  • 00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:53.788
  • About 10% of you, what about the rest of you, you live in a cave?
  • 00:12:53.788 --> 00:12:57.992
  • Sheltered in place too long.
  • 00:12:57.992 --> 00:12:59.627
  • I don't know any people anymore.
  • 00:12:59.627 --> 00:13:02.530
  • If you know people, and you haven't told them the good news,
  • 00:13:02.530 --> 00:13:07.335
  • It's gonna be awkward.
  • 00:13:07.335 --> 00:13:11.673
  • Allen: hey, the question i'm asked most often is, "how do i
  • 00:13:15.877 --> 00:13:18.112
  • Know what god wants me to do?
  • 00:13:18.112 --> 00:13:19.614
  • If i just knew what god wanted me to do, i would do it,
  • 00:13:19.614 --> 00:13:21.916
  • Whatever it is."
  • 00:13:21.916 --> 00:13:23.651
  • Well, our offer this month i think will help.
  • 00:13:23.651 --> 00:13:25.353
  • It's by a good friend of mine, rob morgan, "the lord is my
  • 00:13:25.353 --> 00:13:27.589
  • Shepherd."
  • 00:13:27.589 --> 00:13:28.923
  • He's gonna unpack the scripture that tells us how to follow the
  • 00:13:28.923 --> 00:13:31.759
  • Lord's guidance and understand his abiding presence and his
  • 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.363
  • Comfort.
  • 00:13:35.363 --> 00:13:36.698
  • It'll help you chart a course and know the path that god has
  • 00:13:36.698 --> 00:13:39.801
  • For you.
  • 00:13:39.801 --> 00:13:41.135
  • Get a copy, it'll make a difference in your life.
  • 00:13:41.135 --> 00:13:43.304
  • Female announcer: life can be overwhelming, but true peace is
  • 00:13:43.304 --> 00:13:45.807
  • Possible.
  • 00:13:45.807 --> 00:13:47.208
  • Pastor robert morgan's book "the lord is my shepherd" reflects on
  • 00:13:47.208 --> 00:13:49.878
  • The specific ways psalm 23 speaks to our lives today.
  • 00:13:49.878 --> 00:13:53.214
  • It will help you find rest for your soul and discover the joy,
  • 00:13:53.214 --> 00:13:56.484
  • Inspiration, power, and peace found in psalm 23.
  • 00:13:56.484 --> 00:14:00.321
  • In today's culture it's essential to know god is leading
  • 00:14:00.321 --> 00:14:02.957
  • Us, charting our path, and watching over us.
  • 00:14:02.957 --> 00:14:06.160
  • Request your copy of "the lord is my shepherd" when you donate
  • 00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:08.663
  • Any amount at allenjackson.com or by calling ...
  • 00:14:08.663 --> 00:14:14.836
  • Female announcer: getting the latest messages
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  • From pastor allen has never been easier
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  • With the allen jackson ministries app.
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  • Whenever you'd like, plus take part in
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  • Any of the livestream services from world outreach church.
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  • Plus you can join us in our daily bible reading plan.
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  • Read it on the app, or let the app read it to you.
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  • You can even partner with us in the ministry to help make
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  • Our messages available for free in as many places as possible.
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  • Wherever you get your apps, just search
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  • "allen jackson ministries" and look for this icon.
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  • Download the app and be encouraged by the word today.
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  • Allen: folks, a biblical worldview isn't something you
  • 00:15:17.565 --> 00:15:19.968
  • Leave in the building when the worship service is over.
  • 00:15:19.968 --> 00:15:25.173
  • And if your worldview isn't biblical, the understanding is
  • 00:15:25.173 --> 00:15:27.475
  • You bring it with you to worship.
  • 00:15:27.475 --> 00:15:30.278
  • You can mutter "jesus" at the appropriate points to fill in
  • 00:15:30.278 --> 00:15:32.613
  • The blanks, but we're not honoring him with our lives.
  • 00:15:32.613 --> 00:15:35.917
  • Good news for all people, and it's gonna bring great joy.
  • 00:15:35.917 --> 00:15:42.423
  • Now, what we need to know is that what we're watching is
  • 00:15:42.423 --> 00:15:45.059
  • Not new.
  • 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:47.195
  • The deterioration or the drift amongst god's people is not a
  • 00:15:47.195 --> 00:15:50.965
  • New thing, it's as old as the story of god's people.
  • 00:15:50.965 --> 00:15:53.968
  • Read the book of exodus.
  • 00:15:53.968 --> 00:15:56.337
  • They had a hard time holding the idea.
  • 00:15:56.337 --> 00:15:59.907
  • For decades, the church at least in our culture, has been
  • 00:15:59.907 --> 00:16:02.810
  • Distracted and weakened by our affluence and ease.
  • 00:16:02.810 --> 00:16:05.646
  • I believe that we've had so much, we didn't really have to
  • 00:16:05.646 --> 00:16:08.416
  • Depend upon god unless we were in a crisis.
  • 00:16:08.416 --> 00:16:11.919
  • Unless there was a medical emergency or some physical
  • 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.288
  • Crisis or some relational crisis or circumstances turned
  • 00:16:14.288 --> 00:16:18.159
  • Against us, and then we would turn to god with
  • 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.528
  • Great diligence.
  • 00:16:20.528 --> 00:16:21.896
  • But in the general outworking of our lives, we didn't have to
  • 00:16:21.896 --> 00:16:24.699
  • Depend on god.
  • 00:16:24.699 --> 00:16:26.067
  • We had education, and opportunities, and we could
  • 00:16:26.067 --> 00:16:27.969
  • Work and be diligent and overcome, and that has weakened
  • 00:16:27.969 --> 00:16:31.806
  • Our faith.
  • 00:16:31.806 --> 00:16:34.275
  • Comfort and convenience have been at the forefront of our
  • 00:16:34.275 --> 00:16:36.411
  • Faith experience.
  • 00:16:36.411 --> 00:16:37.779
  • If you don't believe it, just take a simple review of the top
  • 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.848
  • 50 books in christian literature.
  • 00:16:40.848 --> 00:16:43.751
  • More titles directed at how to get god to do what you want, how
  • 00:16:43.751 --> 00:16:47.688
  • To be happier and more fulfilled with your kids or your
  • 00:16:47.688 --> 00:16:50.158
  • Marriage or your business or something.
  • 00:16:50.158 --> 00:16:53.194
  • We've lived our lives trying to get god to bless us.
  • 00:16:53.194 --> 00:16:56.130
  • We've had a diminished attention on things like sacrifice and
  • 00:16:56.130 --> 00:16:59.667
  • Perseverance, which are very much a part of the
  • 00:16:59.667 --> 00:17:01.736
  • Discipleship journey.
  • 00:17:01.736 --> 00:17:04.739
  • We were willing for other people to do that, or to frame our
  • 00:17:04.739 --> 00:17:07.608
  • Sacrifice in terms of getting what we wanted.
  • 00:17:07.608 --> 00:17:12.580
  • Well, i would submit to you that it's time for change.
  • 00:17:12.580 --> 00:17:17.518
  • That god has begun to shake us and try to awaken us and to call
  • 00:17:17.518 --> 00:17:21.989
  • Us to a different perspective.
  • 00:17:21.989 --> 00:17:23.524
  • Personal salvation has been our primary goal.
  • 00:17:23.524 --> 00:17:25.626
  • That's been the primary message amongst evangelicalism.
  • 00:17:25.626 --> 00:17:28.596
  • And i'm not opposed to that, i believe in being born again, or
  • 00:17:28.596 --> 00:17:30.898
  • Saved, or converted, whatever you use for that initiation
  • 00:17:30.898 --> 00:17:33.901
  • Point into the kingdom of god, but that's been our
  • 00:17:33.901 --> 00:17:36.571
  • Primary message.
  • 00:17:36.571 --> 00:17:37.905
  • And beyond that, it seems that we would talk occasionally about
  • 00:17:37.905 --> 00:17:42.610
  • How that can be put in peril, as if that were possible, but that
  • 00:17:42.610 --> 00:17:49.851
  • Was kind of the limit of our discussion, or our focus, or our
  • 00:17:49.851 --> 00:17:52.386
  • Conversation points.
  • 00:17:52.386 --> 00:17:53.721
  • We've given very little attention or effort to holiness
  • 00:17:53.721 --> 00:17:57.125
  • Or to righteousness.
  • 00:17:57.125 --> 00:17:58.459
  • We thought righteousness was a gift and we didn't really talk
  • 00:17:58.459 --> 00:18:00.228
  • About what it meant to lead a righteous life.
  • 00:18:00.228 --> 00:18:05.066
  • Well, god has given us an opportunity to realign our
  • 00:18:05.066 --> 00:18:07.268
  • Priorities, and what the outcome of that will be, to be
  • 00:18:07.268 --> 00:18:11.205
  • Completely candid with you, is not clear to me yet.
  • 00:18:11.205 --> 00:18:14.942
  • I don't know.
  • 00:18:14.942 --> 00:18:16.577
  • I know that what happens in the world will be determined by the
  • 00:18:16.577 --> 00:18:18.846
  • Choices that are made in the hearts of god's people.
  • 00:18:18.846 --> 00:18:21.149
  • It's been that way for a long, long time.
  • 00:18:21.149 --> 00:18:25.019
  • It's not the power centers, it's not the un, it's not the cdc or
  • 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:29.390
  • The who or washington or wall street; what happens in the
  • 00:18:29.390 --> 00:18:33.728
  • Hearts of god's people will determine what comes to us next.
  • 00:18:33.728 --> 00:18:38.399
  • Now, that brings to me a sense of urgency.
  • 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:42.036
  • It means i'm willing to climb beyond just a convenient bible
  • 00:18:42.036 --> 00:18:44.672
  • Study and a reflection on a favorite passage, and began to
  • 00:18:44.672 --> 00:18:48.309
  • Say to the lord, "what would it look like for me to honor you in
  • 00:18:48.309 --> 00:18:50.578
  • A way that i haven't honored you before?
  • 00:18:50.578 --> 00:18:53.147
  • How might i respond to you?"
  • 00:18:53.147 --> 00:18:55.650
  • Now, the tension and the struggle that comes with that is
  • 00:18:55.650 --> 00:18:57.685
  • Real, and it's wrong of us to file in here and sit in our
  • 00:18:57.685 --> 00:19:02.623
  • Places and hold our space for a few moments and act as if we
  • 00:19:02.623 --> 00:19:05.226
  • Don't understand what that struggle is, because it's not
  • 00:19:05.226 --> 00:19:08.930
  • New to us.
  • 00:19:08.930 --> 00:19:10.298
  • It's not unique to you or to me.
  • 00:19:10.298 --> 00:19:12.466
  • I brought you a little example, and i don't know how much of
  • 00:19:12.466 --> 00:19:14.202
  • This we will read, but we have two letters in the new testament
  • 00:19:14.202 --> 00:19:17.638
  • Written to the church in corinth.
  • 00:19:17.638 --> 00:19:19.006
  • They were written by the apostle paul.
  • 00:19:19.006 --> 00:19:21.542
  • He was very instrumental in that church coming into existence,
  • 00:19:21.542 --> 00:19:24.278
  • And he was their spiritual father, and he understands that,
  • 00:19:24.278 --> 00:19:26.914
  • It's clear from his writings.
  • 00:19:26.914 --> 00:19:30.851
  • In the beginning of 1 corinthians chapter 1, he visits
  • 00:19:30.851 --> 00:19:33.254
  • Corinth, the corinthians, more than one time.
  • 00:19:33.254 --> 00:19:36.390
  • And between his visits to them, he sends them letters based on
  • 00:19:36.390 --> 00:19:40.161
  • The messaging that's coming back to him.
  • 00:19:40.161 --> 00:19:41.629
  • He's watching their social media platforms and he's sending them
  • 00:19:41.629 --> 00:19:44.131
  • Some correctives.
  • 00:19:44.131 --> 00:19:47.101
  • But in 1 corinthians chapter 1 he reminds them of who they were
  • 00:19:47.101 --> 00:19:50.238
  • Before they came into the kingdom of god.
  • 00:19:50.238 --> 00:19:52.673
  • He says, "think of what you were when you were called.
  • 00:19:52.673 --> 00:19:54.442
  • Not many of you were wise by human standards.
  • 00:19:54.442 --> 00:19:56.510
  • Not many were influential.
  • 00:19:56.510 --> 00:19:58.846
  • Not many were of noble birth, but god chose the foolish things
  • 00:19:58.846 --> 00:20:01.749
  • Of the world to shame the wise.
  • 00:20:01.749 --> 00:20:03.117
  • God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
  • 00:20:03.117 --> 00:20:06.220
  • He chose the lowly things of the world, and the despised things,
  • 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:08.889
  • And the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so
  • 00:20:08.889 --> 00:20:12.493
  • That no one may boast before him.
  • 00:20:12.493 --> 00:20:15.296
  • It's because of him that you're in christ jesus."
  • 00:20:15.296 --> 00:20:17.865
  • He's saying to them you didn't do this.
  • 00:20:17.865 --> 00:20:20.868
  • In fact, he said you were recruited from the refuse pile.
  • 00:20:20.868 --> 00:20:24.805
  • You didn't come from noble families, you didn't have a lot
  • 00:20:24.805 --> 00:20:27.074
  • To commend you, your resumes weren't great, and god recruited
  • 00:20:27.074 --> 00:20:31.245
  • You into his kingdom, so that when something good happen
  • 00:20:31.245 --> 00:20:33.614
  • Through you, the whole world would know it was god, not you.
  • 00:20:33.614 --> 00:20:37.785
  • That's us.
  • 00:20:37.785 --> 00:20:40.955
  • [applause]
  • 00:20:40.955 --> 00:20:43.824
  • So if we have the imagination that being public,
  • 00:20:43.824 --> 00:20:46.627
  • Out-front advocates for jesus could diminish our reputation,
  • 00:20:46.627 --> 00:20:50.364
  • Pride has found an unhealthy place in us.
  • 00:20:50.364 --> 00:20:54.001
  • Because the most consistent characteristic of my life that's
  • 00:20:54.001 --> 00:20:57.204
  • Worth celebrating is christ in me.
  • 00:20:57.204 --> 00:21:00.074
  • And if something good or positive or beneficial has
  • 00:21:00.074 --> 00:21:02.743
  • Happened through my life, it's because of christ in me, and i
  • 00:21:02.743 --> 00:21:07.348
  • Want to own that story more fully and more completely.
  • 00:21:07.348 --> 00:21:09.917
  • It's not some attempt at false humility, that's the truth.
  • 00:21:09.917 --> 00:21:14.155
  • When i was welcomed into the kingdom of god, god took on a
  • 00:21:14.155 --> 00:21:16.424
  • Liability, he didn't gain an asset.
  • 00:21:16.424 --> 00:21:20.194
  • Come on, most of us get that a little backwards.
  • 00:21:20.194 --> 00:21:23.964
  • You know, whoo, don't you know heaven was relieved when they
  • 00:21:23.964 --> 00:21:25.700
  • Got me?
  • 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.868
  • Can't you just see gabriel, "it's gonna be okay, michael, we
  • 00:21:27.868 --> 00:21:30.137
  • Got allen's iq."
  • 00:21:30.137 --> 00:21:33.874
  • That is funny.
  • 00:21:33.874 --> 00:21:36.777
  • Well, maybe he'll stroke a check and it'll make all the
  • 00:21:36.777 --> 00:21:38.913
  • Difference to what god wants to do.
  • 00:21:38.913 --> 00:21:42.483
  • Do you know who benefits when we invest our intelligence, our
  • 00:21:42.483 --> 00:21:45.319
  • Resources in the kingdom of god?
  • 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:47.688
  • I do, you do.
  • 00:21:47.688 --> 00:21:51.158
  • God doesn't need what i have.
  • 00:21:51.158 --> 00:21:53.794
  • I've never had an idea that was a new one to god.
  • 00:21:53.794 --> 00:21:57.298
  • I've never been so creative that the angels got together and
  • 00:21:57.298 --> 00:21:59.600
  • Went, "yes."
  • 00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:03.304
  • Most of the time, they're goin,' "oh, lord, help him, he is
  • 00:22:03.304 --> 00:22:05.706
  • So slow."
  • 00:22:05.706 --> 00:22:09.443
  • We've had this backwards, and it's what they're reminding the
  • 00:22:09.443 --> 00:22:11.979
  • Corinthians of.
  • 00:22:11.979 --> 00:22:13.314
  • And then we want to pretend, after we're born again, that
  • 00:22:13.314 --> 00:22:15.649
  • We're walking the straight and narrow with very little
  • 00:22:15.649 --> 00:22:17.685
  • Struggle, very little challenge.
  • 00:22:17.685 --> 00:22:19.787
  • It's not that hard for us.
  • 00:22:19.787 --> 00:22:21.122
  • We know there's people for whom it's difficult, but it's not
  • 00:22:21.122 --> 00:22:22.857
  • Difficult for us.
  • 00:22:22.857 --> 00:22:24.258
  • "holy, holy," right?
  • 00:22:24.258 --> 00:22:26.127
  • We just sing it.
  • 00:22:26.127 --> 00:22:31.265
  • Second corinthians 2, "i made up my mind that i would not make
  • 00:22:31.265 --> 00:22:35.069
  • Another painful visit to you."
  • 00:22:35.069 --> 00:22:36.437
  • The last time i came to see you it was painful, so i'm going to
  • 00:22:36.437 --> 00:22:40.341
  • Write a letter to see if you can get it together so when i come
  • 00:22:40.341 --> 00:22:42.376
  • Back it won't be so painful.
  • 00:22:42.376 --> 00:22:45.312
  • Now, that's 2 corinthians, go back to 1 corinthians and see
  • 00:22:45.312 --> 00:22:47.681
  • What was going on in the community.
  • 00:22:47.681 --> 00:22:50.184
  • First corinthians 5, "it's actually reported that there's
  • 00:22:50.184 --> 00:22:52.219
  • Sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that doesn't even
  • 00:22:52.219 --> 00:22:56.991
  • Occur among pagans."
  • 00:22:56.991 --> 00:22:58.325
  • You're even more immoral than the ungodly.
  • 00:22:58.325 --> 00:23:03.097
  • "a man has his father's wife and you're proud of it.
  • 00:23:03.097 --> 00:23:07.568
  • Shouldn't you have been filled with grief?"
  • 00:23:07.568 --> 00:23:09.170
  • You should have, but you are not.
  • 00:23:09.170 --> 00:23:11.739
  • This is a church in such brazen, blatant immorality that he said
  • 00:23:11.739 --> 00:23:16.877
  • Even the pagans would flinch.
  • 00:23:16.877 --> 00:23:21.649
  • Next chapter, 1 corinthians 6, "if any of you has a dispute
  • 00:23:21.649 --> 00:23:24.385
  • With another, does he take it before the ungodly for judgment
  • 00:23:24.385 --> 00:23:27.121
  • Instead of before the saints?"
  • 00:23:27.121 --> 00:23:28.456
  • You run to court suing one another rather than sit down and
  • 00:23:28.456 --> 00:23:30.825
  • Solve your problems.
  • 00:23:30.825 --> 00:23:32.860
  • It's the church.
  • 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:34.995
  • Same chapter, verse 9, "do you not know that the wicked will
  • 00:23:34.995 --> 00:23:37.631
  • Not inherit the kingdom of god?"
  • 00:23:37.631 --> 00:23:38.966
  • If he's asking that question, what have they forgotten?
  • 00:23:38.966 --> 00:23:44.238
  • That the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of god.
  • 00:23:44.238 --> 00:23:48.809
  • And then, just in case they're so confused, they're addled that
  • 00:23:48.809 --> 00:23:51.479
  • He kind of walks them through some bullet points
  • 00:23:51.479 --> 00:23:54.148
  • On ungodliness.
  • 00:23:54.148 --> 00:23:55.516
  • He said, "don't be deceived."
  • 00:23:55.516 --> 00:23:57.685
  • And again, if he's writing not to be deceived, what you and i
  • 00:23:57.685 --> 00:24:00.054
  • Understand is they are deceived.
  • 00:24:00.054 --> 00:24:02.723
  • They believe that the following behaviors are not that
  • 00:24:02.723 --> 00:24:04.959
  • Significant, that they can be overlooked, winked at, overcome.
  • 00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:08.762
  • That god will set 'em aside, he'll grade on a curve.
  • 00:24:08.762 --> 00:24:10.998
  • And he's saying, "do not be deceived.
  • 00:24:10.998 --> 00:24:13.367
  • The sexually immoral, the idolaters, the adulterers, the
  • 00:24:13.367 --> 00:24:16.237
  • Male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the thieves, the
  • 00:24:16.237 --> 00:24:18.873
  • Greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers will
  • 00:24:18.873 --> 00:24:22.810
  • Not inherit the kingdom of god."
  • 00:24:22.810 --> 00:24:27.181
  • And this is the--and then he says, "and that's what some of
  • 00:24:27.181 --> 00:24:29.083
  • Your were, but you were washed, and you were sanctified, and you
  • 00:24:29.083 --> 00:24:33.787
  • Were justified in the name of the lord jesus christ and by the
  • 00:24:33.787 --> 00:24:36.423
  • Spirit of god."
  • 00:24:36.423 --> 00:24:38.192
  • He said you know better than what you're doing.
  • 00:24:38.192 --> 00:24:41.695
  • You have experienced freedom and cleansing, now what are
  • 00:24:41.695 --> 00:24:44.798
  • You thinking?
  • 00:24:44.798 --> 00:24:46.166
  • Don't be deceived.
  • 00:24:46.166 --> 00:24:47.501
  • You can't step back into that.
  • 00:24:47.501 --> 00:24:48.869
  • We need that message in the church, church.
  • 00:24:48.869 --> 00:24:51.805
  • We need a biblical worldview, not a secular worldview.
  • 00:24:51.805 --> 00:24:55.409
  • We've gotta be willing to take the authority of scripture when
  • 00:24:55.409 --> 00:24:57.411
  • God said, "thou shalt not."
  • 00:24:57.411 --> 00:24:58.746
  • He hasn't modified it to "it would be better if you didn't."
  • 00:24:58.746 --> 00:25:05.185
  • In 1 corinthians 11, he said, "in the following directives i
  • 00:25:05.185 --> 00:25:07.755
  • Have no praise for you, your meetings do more harm
  • 00:25:07.755 --> 00:25:11.125
  • Than good."
  • 00:25:11.125 --> 00:25:13.360
  • I'm tellin' you, if the father of your community of faith and
  • 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:16.196
  • Your mentor writes to you and says "i have nothing good to say
  • 00:25:16.196 --> 00:25:19.166
  • About your public gatherings," that's not a compliment.
  • 00:25:19.166 --> 00:25:24.238
  • He said, "when you come together, it's not the lord's
  • 00:25:24.238 --> 00:25:25.806
  • Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without
  • 00:25:25.806 --> 00:25:29.109
  • Waiting for anybody else.
  • 00:25:29.109 --> 00:25:30.477
  • One remains hungry, another gets drunk."
  • 00:25:30.477 --> 00:25:31.879
  • You're gluttons and drunkards. and he's writing to the church.
  • 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:38.085
  • So, can we lose the pretense that we do this well all
  • 00:25:38.085 --> 00:25:42.423
  • The time?
  • 00:25:42.423 --> 00:25:46.460
  • I love you, but we've got to invite the spirit of god in to
  • 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:51.665
  • Help us.
  • 00:25:51.665 --> 00:25:53.601
  • We've got to begin to talk to the lord with a little more
  • 00:25:53.601 --> 00:25:55.469
  • Honesty and integrity, because we have an assignment.
  • 00:25:55.469 --> 00:25:57.571
  • We've got a message to give to the world, and we don't give it
  • 00:25:57.571 --> 00:26:00.107
  • To the world because of our perfection or our completeness
  • 00:26:00.107 --> 00:26:02.476
  • Or our absolute--because we never stray, it's in the midst
  • 00:26:02.476 --> 00:26:06.313
  • Of all of our brokenness we have a message to say, 'cause the
  • 00:26:06.313 --> 00:26:08.616
  • World around us is broken.
  • 00:26:08.616 --> 00:26:10.551
  • Allen: you know, i really dislike the idea
  • 00:26:11.552 --> 00:26:12.920
  • Of a religious lecture.
  • 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.455
  • I believe the point of ministry or opening the word of god
  • 00:26:14.455 --> 00:26:17.191
  • Is to be transformed by it.
  • 00:26:17.191 --> 00:26:18.892
  • So before we go, i want to give you two invitations.
  • 00:26:18.892 --> 00:26:20.928
  • One's a prayer i'm going to pray with you,
  • 00:26:20.928 --> 00:26:22.262
  • But the other is our offer this month.
  • 00:26:22.262 --> 00:26:24.031
  • The book is "the lord is my shepherd"
  • 00:26:24.031 --> 00:26:25.899
  • By my friend rob morgan.
  • 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:27.401
  • It's an important word in this season to understand god's
  • 00:26:27.401 --> 00:26:31.472
  • Direction, his abiding presence, his protection.
  • 00:26:31.472 --> 00:26:34.575
  • We all need that.
  • 00:26:34.575 --> 00:26:36.043
  • It'll be a blessing in your life.
  • 00:26:36.043 --> 00:26:37.378
  • It's something i think you'll want to share with some friends.
  • 00:26:37.378 --> 00:26:39.680
  • But i want to pray with you before we go,
  • 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:41.148
  • That we'll know we're not alone.
  • 00:26:41.148 --> 00:26:42.950
  • Heavenly father, i thank you for the resources you give us,
  • 00:26:42.950 --> 00:26:45.653
  • For the voices that you provide in our lives,
  • 00:26:45.653 --> 00:26:48.122
  • That in a world of turmoil and confusion and,
  • 00:26:48.122 --> 00:26:50.457
  • Honestly, great fear, that your calm,
  • 00:26:50.457 --> 00:26:52.993
  • Assuring voice guides us, and i thank you for it today.
  • 00:26:52.993 --> 00:26:56.630
  • Thank you for your faithfulness.
  • 00:26:56.630 --> 00:26:58.098
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:26:58.098 --> 00:27:00.768
  • Get a copy of "the lord is my shepherd," and you take your
  • 00:27:00.768 --> 00:27:03.771
  • Prayers into your family.
  • 00:27:03.771 --> 00:27:05.139
  • We're a light in this dark world.
  • 00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:07.041
  • God is moving, and we want to move with him.
  • 00:27:07.041 --> 00:27:09.309
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:09.309 --> 00:27:09.309