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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Let's Get Started (Part 1)

November 18, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Let's Get Started (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Faith #Boldness #Perseverance #TrustGod #Obedience #Persecution #Church #BodyofChrist #Endurance #Challenges #Trials-HardTimes #Struggle #AllenJackson

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Let's Get Started (Part 1) | November 18, 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 a
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  • 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: the theme has been
  • 00:01:14.023 --> 00:01:15.358
  • "stepping out of the crowd."
  • 00:01:15.358 --> 00:01:17.494
  • And to be completely transparent with you, the idea or the
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  • Awareness of this came to me when we were traveling a bit in
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  • Recent weeks, that we were doing these pastor
  • 00:01:24.033 --> 00:01:28.571
  • Conferences in cities across the country.
  • 00:01:28.571 --> 00:01:31.608
  • And whenever we could, we would meet with some of the people who
  • 00:01:31.608 --> 00:01:34.110
  • Were friends of the ministry and watch in some form, whether
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  • Listen to radio, or watch a broadcast, or they watch the
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  • Live stream, but they know us digitally.
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  • And i get reports on that.
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  • I know something of the number of people that
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  • Watch that and the numbers just feel fanciful
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  • When you read those kind of reports and--
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  • But we had the opportunity to be in those cities and i get to be
  • 00:01:52.262 --> 00:01:54.497
  • With 100 or 200 people that were familiar with the ministry.
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  • Many of them know more about us than
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  • Those of us that sit in the building.
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  • I have learned that those who watch digitally pay more
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  • Attention than those of us who are in the house.
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  • They know the names of who's leading worship, and they know
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  • The names of the sanctuaries, and they know the labels of the
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  • Parking lots, they remember my jokes 'cause
  • 00:02:10.046 --> 00:02:15.985
  • I start to tell one and they finish it.
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  • So you quit listening long ago.
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  • We kind of understand that arrangement, it's okay.
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  • But what became so real to me is what was happening was those
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  • People that i could see were stepping out of the crowd.
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  • I can look at numbers of however many there are they tell me are
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  • On the other side of a lens, and it's a faceless,
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  • Nameless, unimagined, amorphous something.
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  • But when i stood in a room with a couple of
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  • Hundred people, it was no longer faceless.
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  • There were stories attached to it,
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  • There were needs attached to it.
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  • And i began to be aware of the significance
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  • Of stepping out of the crowd and not just being
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  • Anonymous and not just being faceless.
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  • When the lord looks at the earth, i don't want him just to
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  • See us as a part of all of humanity.
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  • I wanna be certain that he knows i'm engaged, that i've raised my
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  • Hand, that i've opened my heart, that i've reoriented my life.
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  • I intend to be engaged with the purposes of god, not just caught
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  • In that mass of people being pushed down that broad path
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  • Towards a wide door that leads to destruction.
  • 00:03:24.153 --> 00:03:27.624
  • And we've been exploring this idea a bit and i've given you
  • 00:03:27.624 --> 00:03:30.660
  • Some practical ways to get into the game.
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  • Things like, "let's pray," not a new idea to us, but we've
  • 00:03:32.729 --> 00:03:35.732
  • Revisited it and i've encouraged you to get it out and dust it
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  • Off and to take your prayers with you back into your life
  • 00:03:38.868 --> 00:03:42.071
  • Away from church and away from campus.
  • 00:03:42.071 --> 00:03:45.308
  • Well, in this session, i wanna give you kind
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  • Of another practical step forward.
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  • This session we're gonna talk about, let's get started.
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  • It's enough already.
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  • We've talked about it enough, let's go.
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  • Christians are a rare group.
  • 00:03:55.051 --> 00:03:56.386
  • If we had an opportunity to go to heaven or go to a seminar
  • 00:03:56.386 --> 00:03:58.521
  • About heaven, two thirds of us would go to the seminar.
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  • We're not sure it's good enough to displace our plans for the
  • 00:04:03.726 --> 00:04:05.928
  • Holidays this year, but we wouldn't mind learning a little
  • 00:04:05.928 --> 00:04:08.898
  • Bit more about it just in case we're ready some point.
  • 00:04:08.898 --> 00:04:12.101
  • And we have a bit of that attitude
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  • About the whole nature of our faith.
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  • We're more observers, we've raised our hands, we say, "oh,
  • 00:04:15.605 --> 00:04:18.608
  • We'll identify with that," but we have very little intention of
  • 00:04:18.608 --> 00:04:21.377
  • That breaking into our social circles, into our conversations
  • 00:04:21.377 --> 00:04:24.847
  • With our neighbors, we don't intend it to be
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  • A part of our conversations around our
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  • Dinner tables or with our families at the holidays.
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  • "well, of course we're christian, why would you ask?"
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  • But then we begin to look for evidence
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  • Of that and it's kind of hard to find.
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  • So my invitation to you today is let's go, let's go, folks.
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  • How far do we have to watch our world deteriorate before we
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  • Raise our hands and say, "i'm gonna stand
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  • Up for a judeo-christian worldview.
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  • I'm an advocate for jesus.
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  • You're not gonna redefine my life, i
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  • Will stand with that biblical authority."
  • 00:04:59.582 --> 00:05:03.786
  • Now, not everybody will cheer as we will see.
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  • What i'm really inviting you to is
  • 00:05:06.889 --> 00:05:08.291
  • Just to recognize the family tradition.
  • 00:05:08.291 --> 00:05:09.959
  • One of the things i hear a lot is, "well, pastor, you know, for
  • 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:11.894
  • Me and my family," and then usually what follows is an
  • 00:05:11.894 --> 00:05:15.832
  • Explanation of why we're not gonna submit to scripture.
  • 00:05:15.832 --> 00:05:18.101
  • "'cause me and my family, we have a tradition."
  • 00:05:18.101 --> 00:05:21.137
  • Or we do this, or we're not that,
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  • Or we think this, or we felt that.
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  • Well, i wanna remind you of some family traditions we have from
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  • Those who preceded us in the faith.
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  • They're a part of our family, we'll see 'em one day.
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  • Can you imagine sitting down for a cup of coffee with moses?
  • 00:05:33.282 --> 00:05:38.488
  • Don't tell him you don't like the snacks, he'll twitch.
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  • He's heard enough of that.
  • 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:45.862
  • And we've looked at a few of these characters but i wanted to
  • 00:05:45.862 --> 00:05:48.164
  • Just to give you one or two more.
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  • It's so helpful to me to think about their journey.
  • 00:05:49.732 --> 00:05:53.169
  • And what i'm really inviting you to is this recognition that we
  • 00:05:53.169 --> 00:05:55.772
  • Need the help of the spirit of god.
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  • We've got to make friends with the person of the holy spirit.
  • 00:05:59.409 --> 00:06:03.045
  • There's been too much debate, and too much division, and too
  • 00:06:03.045 --> 00:06:05.481
  • Much reluctance, and too much hesitancy.
  • 00:06:05.481 --> 00:06:07.717
  • We've imagined that somehow it was
  • 00:06:07.717 --> 00:06:09.118
  • A denominational preference, stop.
  • 00:06:09.118 --> 00:06:13.322
  • When you're born again the spirit of god
  • 00:06:13.322 --> 00:06:14.657
  • Takes up residence within you.
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  • You need to get to know him, you need to know his voice.
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  • You need to understand his promptings,
  • 00:06:18.661 --> 00:06:20.229
  • You need to understand his hesitation.
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  • You need to learn to recognize when he's giving you some
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  • Invitation or when he's giving you a point to stop.
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  • You know, once upon a time in my life,
  • 00:06:32.608 --> 00:06:34.110
  • I broke horses, young horses.
  • 00:06:34.110 --> 00:06:38.281
  • You had to teach 'em their manners
  • 00:06:38.281 --> 00:06:39.916
  • So they were safe to be around humans.
  • 00:06:39.916 --> 00:06:43.519
  • And most of it was about when to start and when to go.
  • 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:46.923
  • Just how to behave.
  • 00:06:46.923 --> 00:06:48.691
  • And it very quickly becomes nonverbal.
  • 00:06:48.691 --> 00:06:52.528
  • And we've got to have enough awareness of the authority of
  • 00:06:52.528 --> 00:06:55.298
  • The spirit of god within us, to recognize when we have
  • 00:06:55.298 --> 00:06:57.633
  • Permission to move and when we don't.
  • 00:06:57.633 --> 00:07:00.536
  • And tragically we're just so hopelessly unaware of that.
  • 00:07:00.536 --> 00:07:05.074
  • We just act like it's some sort of hocus pocus,
  • 00:07:05.074 --> 00:07:07.343
  • Gobbledygook, nonsense language, it's not.
  • 00:07:07.343 --> 00:07:12.381
  • So what i'm really inviting you towards is a spirit directed
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  • Life that our heroes in the bible--
  • 00:07:14.851 --> 00:07:17.453
  • You know, we wanna boil it down to a seminar
  • 00:07:17.453 --> 00:07:19.388
  • And go to 1 corinthians 12 and discuss the
  • 00:07:19.388 --> 00:07:21.557
  • Nine manifestations of the holy spirit.
  • 00:07:21.557 --> 00:07:23.926
  • The vocal gifts, and the power gifts, and the revelatory gifts.
  • 00:07:23.926 --> 00:07:27.830
  • And then let's have a discussion whether
  • 00:07:27.830 --> 00:07:29.165
  • Or not we're cessationist or whether we
  • 00:07:29.165 --> 00:07:30.500
  • Think they've continued beyond the first century.
  • 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:33.569
  • And how does that apply in the community of faith and within
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  • The hierarchy of the authority and how we choose to worship?
  • 00:07:35.972 --> 00:07:40.209
  • And by the time you get done with the seminar, we're all just
  • 00:07:40.209 --> 00:07:41.944
  • Hoping we go home and watch a ball game
  • 00:07:41.944 --> 00:07:43.312
  • 'cause we don't know what you're talking about.
  • 00:07:43.312 --> 00:07:46.682
  • And we've got problems in our lives.
  • 00:07:46.682 --> 00:07:48.951
  • We've got pain and confusion and things we're worried about and
  • 00:07:48.951 --> 00:07:52.321
  • Stress points, and we need the help of almighty god
  • 00:07:52.321 --> 00:07:54.524
  • And all we've been offered as a seminar.
  • 00:07:54.524 --> 00:07:57.760
  • Well, i wanna invite you out of the seminar into
  • 00:07:57.760 --> 00:07:59.295
  • The messy place where we extend an invitation to the
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  • Spirit of god into the world in which we live.
  • 00:08:01.998 --> 00:08:04.367
  • "but what if i pray and nothing happens?"
  • 00:08:04.367 --> 00:08:05.935
  • How about pray again? you get this.
  • 00:08:05.935 --> 00:08:09.705
  • What if you're trying to log into something
  • 00:08:09.705 --> 00:08:11.040
  • And nothing happens?
  • 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:12.942
  • You log in again.
  • 00:08:12.942 --> 00:08:16.212
  • You turn it off and you turn it on, you put your left foot in
  • 00:08:16.212 --> 00:08:20.116
  • And your left foot out, you just do whatever it takes.
  • 00:08:20.116 --> 00:08:23.553
  • Then you call some 12 year old and they'll fix it for you.
  • 00:08:23.553 --> 00:08:30.226
  • We know how to do it and yet we've got all this reluctance
  • 00:08:30.226 --> 00:08:34.263
  • When it comes to the things of god.
  • 00:08:34.263 --> 00:08:35.731
  • "well, you know, i just don't pray."
  • 00:08:35.731 --> 00:08:37.066
  • Stop.
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  • Stop saying i don't pray.
  • 00:08:39.535 --> 00:08:41.070
  • Start saying something more accurate.
  • 00:08:41.070 --> 00:08:43.573
  • "i care so little about god's
  • 00:08:43.573 --> 00:08:44.941
  • Involvement that i never invite him.
  • 00:08:44.941 --> 00:08:49.879
  • My spiritual life is so shallow, god
  • 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:51.647
  • Wouldn't recognize me if i signed in."
  • 00:08:51.647 --> 00:08:56.385
  • Start to use more accurate phrases.
  • 00:08:56.385 --> 00:08:59.889
  • We need god's help.
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  • Are you watching?
  • 00:09:01.357 --> 00:09:03.092
  • We need his help in our schools,
  • 00:09:03.092 --> 00:09:06.662
  • We need his help in our government.
  • 00:09:06.662 --> 00:09:08.631
  • How have we accepted statements like the
  • 00:09:08.631 --> 00:09:11.033
  • Separation of the church and state?
  • 00:09:11.033 --> 00:09:13.936
  • We don't need an official invitation for our faith
  • 00:09:13.936 --> 00:09:16.505
  • To be engaged in our government, we take it with
  • 00:09:16.505 --> 00:09:20.276
  • Us as participants in the government.
  • 00:09:20.276 --> 00:09:24.714
  • You understand that line, "we don't talk about faith."
  • 00:09:24.714 --> 00:09:29.719
  • How ungodly do we have to become before the people of god will
  • 00:09:29.719 --> 00:09:32.788
  • Say, "hey, maybe we should start to mention jesus"?
  • 00:09:32.788 --> 00:09:41.664
  • We've turned our lobby into a reminder of the story from our
  • 00:09:41.664 --> 00:09:45.835
  • Education to the founding of our nation, to the transformation of
  • 00:09:45.835 --> 00:09:49.105
  • Lives that changed the landscape of nashville.
  • 00:09:49.105 --> 00:09:53.075
  • I preferred it when we were known as the buckle
  • 00:09:53.075 --> 00:09:55.077
  • On the bible belt as opposed to nash vegas.
  • 00:09:55.077 --> 00:09:59.582
  • This is our generation.
  • 00:09:59.582 --> 00:10:02.652
  • How about some life transformations again?
  • 00:10:02.652 --> 00:10:06.055
  • Well, to do that we'll have to stop
  • 00:10:06.055 --> 00:10:07.390
  • Participating in the local version of vegas.
  • 00:10:07.390 --> 00:10:09.892
  • But that's another discussion, now i'm meddling.
  • 00:10:09.892 --> 00:10:13.162
  • Family traditions, that's where i was trying to get to.
  • 00:10:13.162 --> 00:10:15.464
  • Esther, do you know her? we just read her story.
  • 00:10:15.464 --> 00:10:17.767
  • I hope you're doing the bible reading with us.
  • 00:10:17.767 --> 00:10:20.036
  • We just finished the book of job.
  • 00:10:20.036 --> 00:10:25.841
  • I think that's a tougher lift than leviticus.
  • 00:10:25.841 --> 00:10:29.412
  • It worked out okay for job though, didn't it?
  • 00:10:29.412 --> 00:10:32.682
  • But esther, do you know her?
  • 00:10:32.682 --> 00:10:34.016
  • She's a jewess, persia, modern day iran.
  • 00:10:34.016 --> 00:10:38.621
  • They've hated the jewish people for a long, long time.
  • 00:10:38.621 --> 00:10:42.158
  • You understand when the mullahs in iran today say they wanna
  • 00:10:42.158 --> 00:10:45.194
  • Destroy the jewish people, there's only one group ahead of
  • 00:10:45.194 --> 00:10:48.097
  • The jewish people on their list of priorities for destruction.
  • 00:10:48.097 --> 00:10:51.500
  • They say it publicly on a frequent basis, it's us.
  • 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:55.705
  • They call us the great satan and in their pursuit of nuclear
  • 00:10:55.705 --> 00:11:00.009
  • Weapons, they say that as soon as they secure
  • 00:11:00.009 --> 00:11:02.845
  • Them, they will use them to destroy us.
  • 00:11:02.845 --> 00:11:05.648
  • We should believe them.
  • 00:11:05.648 --> 00:11:11.253
  • That would probably be a better policy decision
  • 00:11:11.253 --> 00:11:13.122
  • Than giving them billions of dollars.
  • 00:11:13.122 --> 00:11:16.559
  • I'm just thinking.
  • 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:20.763
  • But don't be angry at the politicians, we don't have the
  • 00:11:20.763 --> 00:11:23.032
  • Courage to make those statements to our neighbors and our
  • 00:11:23.032 --> 00:11:25.167
  • Co-workers and our family members, let's bring them home.
  • 00:11:25.167 --> 00:11:28.704
  • Esther is a jewess, she is the queen of persia.
  • 00:11:28.704 --> 00:11:33.509
  • And the spirit that hated the jewish people was alive and
  • 00:11:33.509 --> 00:11:35.611
  • Well, and there was an edict issue that all of the jews
  • 00:11:35.611 --> 00:11:37.847
  • Throughout the entire persian empire were
  • 00:11:37.847 --> 00:11:39.849
  • To be executed on an appointed day.
  • 00:11:39.849 --> 00:11:43.018
  • Esther's ethnicity was hidden.
  • 00:11:43.018 --> 00:11:46.188
  • She's the queen in a palace.
  • 00:11:46.188 --> 00:11:48.457
  • She's not amongst the people who are--
  • 00:11:48.457 --> 00:11:51.694
  • Have been labelled for destruction.
  • 00:11:51.694 --> 00:11:54.697
  • And the man who reared her sends her a note and says, "esther,
  • 00:11:54.697 --> 00:11:57.166
  • You have to intercede on behalf of your people."
  • 00:11:57.166 --> 00:12:00.302
  • And she said, "nobody knows who i am."
  • 00:12:00.302 --> 00:12:05.074
  • And he sends a note back and says,
  • 00:12:05.074 --> 00:12:06.442
  • "don't think you can hide in the palace.
  • 00:12:06.442 --> 00:12:09.879
  • Don't think you can hide in the palace,
  • 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:12.481
  • Destruction will come for you.
  • 00:12:12.481 --> 00:12:13.949
  • God will bring deliverance,
  • 00:12:13.949 --> 00:12:16.252
  • But you'll not receive a part of it."
  • 00:12:16.252 --> 00:12:19.989
  • I put a bit in your notes, it's esther 4.
  • 00:12:19.989 --> 00:12:21.957
  • "when esther's words were reported to
  • 00:12:21.957 --> 00:12:23.359
  • Mordecai, he sent back this answer.
  • 00:12:23.359 --> 00:12:25.060
  • 'don't think that because you are in the king's house, you
  • 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:27.863
  • Alone of all the jews will escape.
  • 00:12:27.863 --> 00:12:30.633
  • If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for
  • 00:12:30.633 --> 00:12:33.469
  • The jews will arise from another place, but you
  • 00:12:33.469 --> 00:12:36.338
  • And your father's family will perish.'"
  • 00:12:36.338 --> 00:12:39.608
  • It's a pretty sober message to send to someone you reared.
  • 00:12:39.608 --> 00:12:43.345
  • That's almost like bullying.
  • 00:12:43.345 --> 00:12:47.750
  • No, i'll tell you what it's a whole lot more like.
  • 00:12:47.750 --> 00:12:49.218
  • It's a whole lot more like discipline.
  • 00:12:49.218 --> 00:12:52.221
  • There's right and wrong, and you
  • 00:12:52.221 --> 00:12:53.556
  • Need to do the right thing, esther.
  • 00:12:53.556 --> 00:12:57.359
  • Folks, we've got to come back to helping our children
  • 00:12:57.359 --> 00:12:59.461
  • And our families and their generations
  • 00:12:59.461 --> 00:13:01.463
  • Know the difference between right and wrong
  • 00:13:01.463 --> 00:13:03.666
  • And be a voice for doing what's right.
  • 00:13:03.666 --> 00:13:06.602
  • It's important.
  • 00:13:06.602 --> 00:13:10.472
  • And esther raised her hand.
  • 00:13:10.472 --> 00:13:12.942
  • She said, "absolutely i'll intercede."
  • 00:13:12.942 --> 00:13:14.810
  • Now, the rules were if you went to the king without an
  • 00:13:14.810 --> 00:13:16.512
  • Invitation and he didn't smile, you'd be executed.
  • 00:13:16.512 --> 00:13:21.951
  • So she's gonna face the threat of her execution long before the
  • 00:13:21.951 --> 00:13:25.087
  • Threat comes to the rest of her people.
  • 00:13:25.087 --> 00:13:28.023
  • And you know the outcome of the story,
  • 00:13:28.023 --> 00:13:29.358
  • The jews celebrate the holiday until today.
  • 00:13:29.358 --> 00:13:32.828
  • The king received her, and in a rather elaborate unfolding of
  • 00:13:32.828 --> 00:13:36.632
  • The story, esther reveals who it is that's tried to
  • 00:13:36.632 --> 00:13:39.201
  • Destroy her, she makes it personal.
  • 00:13:39.201 --> 00:13:42.137
  • But it's a question i would give to
  • 00:13:42.137 --> 00:13:43.505
  • You today because it's a family tradition.
  • 00:13:43.505 --> 00:13:45.207
  • It's a part of the story of the
  • 00:13:45.207 --> 00:13:46.542
  • People of god throughout history.
  • 00:13:46.542 --> 00:13:48.577
  • Do we have the courage to raise our
  • 00:13:48.577 --> 00:13:50.045
  • Hand and say, "i'm one of them"?
  • 00:13:50.045 --> 00:13:54.250
  • I'm one of them that you speak so disparagingly of.
  • 00:13:54.250 --> 00:13:58.087
  • I'm one of them that you speak derisively of.
  • 00:13:58.087 --> 00:14:02.024
  • I'm one of them that you would seek to silence, or to limit
  • 00:14:02.024 --> 00:14:05.160
  • Access to our schools, or our courtrooms, or our hospital
  • 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:08.697
  • Corridors, or our college campuses,
  • 00:14:08.697 --> 00:14:11.467
  • Or the halls of congress, i'm one of them.
  • 00:14:11.467 --> 00:14:15.738
  • You understand we've reached a place where
  • 00:14:15.738 --> 00:14:17.072
  • If you're an outspoken advocate for jesus of
  • 00:14:17.072 --> 00:14:19.308
  • Nazareth, they tell us you're unelectable.
  • 00:14:19.308 --> 00:14:21.577
  • I'm one of them.
  • 00:14:21.577 --> 00:14:24.313
  • I'm proud of that, i'm grateful for that.
  • 00:14:24.313 --> 00:14:28.050
  • Are we willing to have the courage?
  • 00:14:28.050 --> 00:14:30.753
  • Because i think we need to hear what mordecai said.
  • 00:14:30.753 --> 00:14:32.888
  • If you remain silent, you will forfeit the privilege you have.
  • 00:14:32.888 --> 00:14:38.093
  • And when god's deliverance comes, you'll have no part of
  • 00:14:38.093 --> 00:14:40.996
  • It, the destruction you sought to avoid will find you.
  • 00:14:40.996 --> 00:14:45.134
  • We've been silent too long.
  • 00:14:45.134 --> 00:14:46.802
  • I'm tired of hearing about the silent majority.
  • 00:14:46.802 --> 00:14:50.172
  • I'm in meeting after meeting with people who
  • 00:14:50.172 --> 00:14:52.708
  • Have an interest in the christian community
  • 00:14:52.708 --> 00:14:56.111
  • And they say there's this sleeping giant.
  • 00:14:56.111 --> 00:14:58.180
  • I don't know that i believe that any longer.
  • 00:14:58.180 --> 00:15:01.083
  • 'cause if we're still asleep, we're not paying
  • 00:15:01.083 --> 00:15:02.985
  • Any attention to the spirit of god within us.
  • 00:15:02.985 --> 00:15:09.124
  • Allen: have you ever said that christmas is too secular and
  • 00:15:13.329 --> 00:15:15.731
  • You're tired of it?
  • 00:15:15.731 --> 00:15:17.066
  • Well, we've got a solution or at least something that can help.
  • 00:15:17.066 --> 00:15:19.601
  • We've written a book.
  • 00:15:19.601 --> 00:15:20.970
  • It's called, "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:15:20.970 --> 00:15:23.005
  • It's 25 days of devotionals that you can read.
  • 00:15:23.005 --> 00:15:25.240
  • You can share them with family, your friends, coworkers.
  • 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.776
  • Then there's some ideas, even recipes, activities.
  • 00:15:27.776 --> 00:15:30.679
  • It's a fun--it's like a--it's a starter kit for bringing your
  • 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.415
  • Faith to bear this christmas season.
  • 00:15:33.415 --> 00:15:35.918
  • Don't stand on the sidelines and complain.
  • 00:15:35.918 --> 00:15:38.153
  • Let's lead with our faith this christmas season.
  • 00:15:38.153 --> 00:15:40.289
  • Let's honor the lord and see the blessings that he brings to all
  • 00:15:40.289 --> 00:15:43.492
  • Of our lives.
  • 00:15:43.492 --> 00:15:44.827
  • Female announcer: christmas comes quickly, and it's easy to
  • 00:15:44.827 --> 00:15:46.795
  • Let the season slip by without focusing on what matters most.
  • 00:15:46.795 --> 00:15:50.733
  • Pastor allen's new book, "lead with faith at christmas," is a
  • 00:15:50.733 --> 00:15:54.103
  • 25-day advent devotional that will help you bring jesus more
  • 00:15:54.103 --> 00:15:57.773
  • Fully into the season.
  • 00:15:57.773 --> 00:15:59.441
  • Inside, you'll find scriptures, devotionals, prayers, recipes,
  • 00:15:59.441 --> 00:16:04.246
  • And practical things you can do to make the holidays
  • 00:16:04.246 --> 00:16:07.049
  • More meaningful.
  • 00:16:07.049 --> 00:16:08.384
  • It also makes a fantastic gift.
  • 00:16:08.384 --> 00:16:10.953
  • It's time to stop repeating the same stale traditions and get
  • 00:16:10.953 --> 00:16:14.223
  • Ready to put your faith into action in new ways
  • 00:16:14.223 --> 00:16:16.892
  • This christmas.
  • 00:16:16.892 --> 00:16:18.293
  • Request your copy when you donate $30 or more today at
  • 00:16:18.293 --> 00:16:21.697
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:16:21.697 --> 00:16:26.869
  • Allen: peter, james and john, the most
  • 00:16:28.437 --> 00:16:29.938
  • Trusted of jesus's disciples.
  • 00:16:29.938 --> 00:16:31.740
  • They've watched a young man come to jesus and jesus gave him an
  • 00:16:31.740 --> 00:16:34.309
  • Invitation to become one of them.
  • 00:16:34.309 --> 00:16:35.911
  • He said, "follow me."
  • 00:16:35.911 --> 00:16:37.379
  • And the young man declined, he thought the cost was too high.
  • 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:40.649
  • Too much momentum in his life, too invested, too much
  • 00:16:40.649 --> 00:16:45.421
  • Opportunity apart from following jesus.
  • 00:16:45.421 --> 00:16:48.757
  • Jesus seemed to be an unnecessary limit.
  • 00:16:48.757 --> 00:16:51.693
  • He didn't doubt the wisdom of jesus or the miraculous life of
  • 00:16:51.693 --> 00:16:54.763
  • Jesus, he just felt to be an identified follower
  • 00:16:54.763 --> 00:16:59.201
  • Of jesus, the demand was too high.
  • 00:16:59.201 --> 00:17:01.870
  • There was too much promise on his own.
  • 00:17:01.870 --> 00:17:04.673
  • We all understand that.
  • 00:17:04.673 --> 00:17:06.975
  • Whether it's the temptation of sin, and the promise of sin, and
  • 00:17:06.975 --> 00:17:09.878
  • The pleasure that we imagine it would bring to us cause us to
  • 00:17:09.878 --> 00:17:12.614
  • Turn down the volume on our obedience.
  • 00:17:12.614 --> 00:17:15.784
  • Or whether fully identifying with the jesus
  • 00:17:15.784 --> 00:17:17.920
  • People we think would limit our opportunities
  • 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:19.955
  • In business, or social circles, or whatever.
  • 00:17:19.955 --> 00:17:22.958
  • Or it would cause people to wonder
  • 00:17:22.958 --> 00:17:24.626
  • About the inconsistency of our lives.
  • 00:17:24.626 --> 00:17:26.562
  • For whatever reason, there've been times and
  • 00:17:26.562 --> 00:17:29.998
  • Places we've all chosen like that young man did.
  • 00:17:29.998 --> 00:17:32.401
  • It says, "he went away sad, declining jesus's invitation."
  • 00:17:32.401 --> 00:17:37.473
  • And when peter and james and john
  • 00:17:37.473 --> 00:17:38.841
  • Saw this, they were troubled.
  • 00:17:38.841 --> 00:17:42.077
  • They thought, well, the bar's too high, it's too difficult.
  • 00:17:42.077 --> 00:17:45.414
  • And i put their answer in your notes.
  • 00:17:45.414 --> 00:17:47.015
  • Peter said, "lord, we've left everything to
  • 00:17:47.015 --> 00:17:48.817
  • Follow you, what then will there be for us?
  • 00:17:48.817 --> 00:17:53.489
  • And jesus said, 'i tell you the truth.'"
  • 00:17:53.489 --> 00:17:55.457
  • Now you know when you see that phrase,
  • 00:17:55.457 --> 00:17:56.892
  • Right, it's about to get intense.
  • 00:17:56.892 --> 00:17:59.962
  • "i tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things,
  • 00:17:59.962 --> 00:18:02.431
  • When the son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who
  • 00:18:02.431 --> 00:18:06.001
  • Have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones."
  • 00:18:06.001 --> 00:18:08.170
  • And he goes on to tell 'em.
  • 00:18:08.170 --> 00:18:09.505
  • But the line that really captured my attention was in
  • 00:18:09.505 --> 00:18:11.206
  • Verse 29, "and everyone who has left houses or brothers or
  • 00:18:11.206 --> 00:18:15.577
  • Sisters," everyone who's left something
  • 00:18:15.577 --> 00:18:17.613
  • Behind, he said, "i will reward them."
  • 00:18:17.613 --> 00:18:21.783
  • Lord, we've left everything to follow you.
  • 00:18:21.783 --> 00:18:24.419
  • There's an honesty in that cry that comes out of them.
  • 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:27.589
  • They'd walked away from their previous lives,
  • 00:18:27.589 --> 00:18:29.491
  • They've aligned themselves with someone
  • 00:18:29.491 --> 00:18:30.926
  • Who routinely attracts hate and rejection.
  • 00:18:30.926 --> 00:18:37.099
  • We have recorded in the narrative for us, james is gonna
  • 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:40.135
  • Be executed by herod and it helped his poll numbers.
  • 00:18:40.135 --> 00:18:45.374
  • You know, we live in a time where
  • 00:18:45.374 --> 00:18:46.708
  • Your poll numbers will go up if you are harsh to christians.
  • 00:18:46.708 --> 00:18:52.247
  • Are you paying attention?
  • 00:18:52.247 --> 00:18:55.017
  • James is murdered, peter was in prison,
  • 00:18:55.017 --> 00:18:58.554
  • And but for the sovereign intervention of god,
  • 00:18:58.554 --> 00:19:00.422
  • Herod would've murdered him as well.
  • 00:19:00.422 --> 00:19:04.393
  • He's martyred later in his life, it's
  • 00:19:04.393 --> 00:19:06.061
  • Not recorded in the new testament.
  • 00:19:06.061 --> 00:19:07.963
  • John will be exiled.
  • 00:19:07.963 --> 00:19:09.331
  • We find him in the book of revelation alone on an island
  • 00:19:09.331 --> 00:19:11.967
  • Working in copper mines, and god sends an angel to him with a
  • 00:19:11.967 --> 00:19:16.505
  • Message for the conclusion of the age because he trusts him.
  • 00:19:16.505 --> 00:19:21.109
  • I think we could argue they all led spirit directed lives and
  • 00:19:21.109 --> 00:19:25.047
  • That the reward that will be theirs when
  • 00:19:25.047 --> 00:19:27.115
  • They step out of time will exceed anything
  • 00:19:27.115 --> 00:19:29.384
  • That could be accumulated under the sun.
  • 00:19:29.384 --> 00:19:33.255
  • See, this invitation to a spirit directed life doesn't mean every
  • 00:19:33.255 --> 00:19:36.258
  • Day's easy, or every day is filled with applause,
  • 00:19:36.258 --> 00:19:39.294
  • Or cheers, or affirmation, sometimes we're
  • 00:19:39.294 --> 00:19:41.830
  • Asked to do difficult things, do them anyway.
  • 00:19:41.830 --> 00:19:46.134
  • Sometimes we're asked to hold unpopular
  • 00:19:46.134 --> 00:19:47.936
  • Opinions, hold them anyway.
  • 00:19:47.936 --> 00:19:50.839
  • Sometimes we're asked to be advocates
  • 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.407
  • For jesus when we don't understand fully.
  • 00:19:52.407 --> 00:19:54.843
  • If you read revelation, it's clear john
  • 00:19:54.843 --> 00:19:56.712
  • Is struggling, he's being shown something, and he
  • 00:19:56.712 --> 00:20:00.749
  • Can't even figure out how to put it into words.
  • 00:20:00.749 --> 00:20:03.619
  • And occasionally the message is just "write it down,
  • 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:05.687
  • But seal it up, just don't tell anybody.
  • 00:20:05.687 --> 00:20:09.825
  • It doesn't mean we always understand fully or we've got a
  • 00:20:09.825 --> 00:20:12.494
  • Complete grasp of the situation, it means we'll do
  • 00:20:12.494 --> 00:20:15.197
  • Our best to be faithful in the moment.
  • 00:20:15.197 --> 00:20:19.434
  • I'll give you one more, paul--again, i think we've had
  • 00:20:19.434 --> 00:20:23.171
  • This goofy notion of what it means to be spirit filled
  • 00:20:23.171 --> 00:20:26.908
  • Or to have this dynamic of god's help.
  • 00:20:26.908 --> 00:20:30.512
  • It's not about getting everything just lined up
  • 00:20:30.512 --> 00:20:33.548
  • Appropriately, it's the messy stuff of
  • 00:20:33.548 --> 00:20:35.417
  • Continuing to invite god into our lives.
  • 00:20:35.417 --> 00:20:38.854
  • Requires us to repent, and forgive, and release, and
  • 00:20:38.854 --> 00:20:41.757
  • Renounce, and get clean, and get back in the arena.
  • 00:20:41.757 --> 00:20:45.794
  • Have to come back and forgive again.
  • 00:20:45.794 --> 00:20:48.530
  • 'cause if you're engaged in the conflict very long,
  • 00:20:48.530 --> 00:20:50.399
  • You'll get a response other than bless you.
  • 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:56.271
  • Or i will.
  • 00:20:56.271 --> 00:20:58.173
  • I get a response other than bless
  • 00:20:58.173 --> 00:20:59.508
  • You just driving to nashville.
  • 00:20:59.508 --> 00:21:03.679
  • Don't y'all? we get so super spiritual.
  • 00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:06.648
  • "well, you know, pastor, many years ago there was
  • 00:21:06.648 --> 00:21:09.785
  • An occasion where i needed to forgive."
  • 00:21:09.785 --> 00:21:12.654
  • Yeah, me too, it's called saturday.
  • 00:21:12.654 --> 00:21:18.994
  • And the only reason it was better this morning is when i
  • 00:21:18.994 --> 00:21:21.029
  • Came to work, there were no other cars
  • 00:21:21.029 --> 00:21:22.364
  • On the road, so i got here, like, free.
  • 00:21:22.364 --> 00:21:24.966
  • Well, there was one, and i was a little unhappy with that.
  • 00:21:24.966 --> 00:21:31.273
  • That's actually true.
  • 00:21:31.273 --> 00:21:33.842
  • When i came to work, there was one other car on the road and
  • 00:21:33.842 --> 00:21:36.211
  • They happened to be at my driveway when i was trying to
  • 00:21:36.211 --> 00:21:38.080
  • Pull out, and i thought, "you know, that's just not right."
  • 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:41.516
  • One car and i had to hit the brake pedal for them.
  • 00:21:41.516 --> 00:21:45.153
  • So i hit 'em.
  • 00:21:45.153 --> 00:21:47.923
  • No, i didn't.
  • 00:21:47.923 --> 00:21:50.659
  • But i asked the lord about it, so.
  • 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:55.030
  • Paul, i think we could say he lived a relatively
  • 00:21:55.030 --> 00:21:57.799
  • Fruitful life for the kingdom of god.
  • 00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:01.236
  • Two thirds of the new testament by title are attributed to him,
  • 00:22:01.236 --> 00:22:05.507
  • And yet when he gave his resume, he didn't do it in terms of
  • 00:22:05.507 --> 00:22:09.711
  • Conversions or a litany of miracles that were
  • 00:22:09.711 --> 00:22:12.247
  • Accomplished through his ministry or
  • 00:22:12.247 --> 00:22:14.983
  • The supernatural things that he had seen.
  • 00:22:14.983 --> 00:22:17.185
  • He didn't even list in detailed order the revelation he'd been
  • 00:22:17.185 --> 00:22:20.722
  • Given, which was extensive, of jesus.
  • 00:22:20.722 --> 00:22:24.359
  • When he wanted to make a case for his qualifications as an
  • 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:28.630
  • Advocate for jesus, he did it in terms of the hardships that he
  • 00:22:28.630 --> 00:22:32.934
  • Had faced as an expression of his faithfulness.
  • 00:22:32.934 --> 00:22:38.039
  • It's a bizarre way to provide a recommendation.
  • 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:43.378
  • There was an argument in the corinthian church, a church that
  • 00:22:43.378 --> 00:22:45.881
  • Paul had helped shepherd into existence, and the people
  • 00:22:45.881 --> 00:22:48.984
  • Who'd arrived in his absence were trying
  • 00:22:48.984 --> 00:22:50.786
  • To discredit him and disqualify him.
  • 00:22:50.786 --> 00:22:53.522
  • And he said, "many are boasting in the way that
  • 00:22:53.522 --> 00:22:55.557
  • The world does, i too will boast.
  • 00:22:55.557 --> 00:22:58.727
  • Are they hebrews? so am i.
  • 00:22:58.727 --> 00:23:00.362
  • Are they israelites? so am i.
  • 00:23:00.362 --> 00:23:01.830
  • Are they abraham's descendants? so am i.
  • 00:23:01.830 --> 00:23:03.632
  • Are they servants of christ?"
  • 00:23:03.632 --> 00:23:04.966
  • He said, "i'm a little nuts to talk to you like this.
  • 00:23:04.966 --> 00:23:07.702
  • I am more, i've worked harder.
  • 00:23:07.702 --> 00:23:09.070
  • I've been in prison more frequently,
  • 00:23:09.070 --> 00:23:10.505
  • I've been flogged more severely.
  • 00:23:10.505 --> 00:23:12.674
  • I've been exposed to death again and again.
  • 00:23:12.674 --> 00:23:14.409
  • Five times i received from the jews forty lashes minus one."
  • 00:23:14.409 --> 00:23:18.980
  • His resume is what he endured.
  • 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:24.453
  • Well, i don't know if i wanna build a resume like that.
  • 00:23:24.453 --> 00:23:27.656
  • Couldn't i talk about degrees i earned, or attendance numbers,
  • 00:23:27.656 --> 00:23:32.160
  • Or budgets, or how many meetings i held?
  • 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:38.166
  • I think paul is giving us an invitation.
  • 00:23:38.166 --> 00:23:41.670
  • He's opened a window.
  • 00:23:41.670 --> 00:23:43.004
  • He's pulled the curtain back on a life that
  • 00:23:43.004 --> 00:23:44.539
  • Would enable us to please the lord,
  • 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:47.843
  • A life that would be rewarded, a spirit directed life.
  • 00:23:47.843 --> 00:23:52.314
  • It could very well lead us into places of conflict.
  • 00:23:52.314 --> 00:23:56.651
  • I know there are voices in the world today that say the
  • 00:23:56.651 --> 00:23:58.320
  • Israelis are facing a war because they deserve it.
  • 00:23:58.320 --> 00:24:01.323
  • I don't agree with them.
  • 00:24:01.323 --> 00:24:04.192
  • I think that's an expression of hatred
  • 00:24:04.192 --> 00:24:05.861
  • That for the most part is ignored.
  • 00:24:05.861 --> 00:24:10.232
  • No one deserves to have their babies beheaded.
  • 00:24:10.232 --> 00:24:13.835
  • It's an unthinkable statement.
  • 00:24:13.835 --> 00:24:18.373
  • When paul faced difficulties, and obstacles,
  • 00:24:18.373 --> 00:24:20.742
  • And physical punishment, he was physically disfigured
  • 00:24:20.742 --> 00:24:24.179
  • From the suffering that he faced.
  • 00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:26.448
  • But he recounts his resume in terms
  • 00:24:26.448 --> 00:24:28.316
  • Of his suffering, not his achievements.
  • 00:24:28.316 --> 00:24:30.452
  • He celebrates what he's overcome,
  • 00:24:30.452 --> 00:24:32.354
  • Not the miracles which god performed.
  • 00:24:32.354 --> 00:24:34.623
  • Paul's not whining, he's encouraging.
  • 00:24:34.623 --> 00:24:38.293
  • He's not bemoaning what's happened to him, he's saying,
  • 00:24:38.293 --> 00:24:40.695
  • "listen, if you're walking through this
  • 00:24:40.695 --> 00:24:42.030
  • Stuff, come on, let's keep moving."
  • 00:24:42.030 --> 00:24:44.966
  • If you've found opposition, if you've found
  • 00:24:44.966 --> 00:24:46.768
  • Injustice, if you've found hatred, let's go.
  • 00:24:46.768 --> 00:24:51.206
  • We don't need the government to promise us a solution,
  • 00:24:51.206 --> 00:24:55.143
  • Almighty god will bring us through.
  • 00:24:55.143 --> 00:24:58.346
  • It's a reorientation, it's our family tradition.
  • 00:24:58.346 --> 00:25:02.484
  • Paul is showing us the way, he's illuminating a path,
  • 00:25:02.484 --> 00:25:05.754
  • He's highlighting the nature of a commitment to the lord.
  • 00:25:05.754 --> 00:25:09.891
  • We haven't had enough of this discussed with us.
  • 00:25:09.891 --> 00:25:12.928
  • We thought commitment was
  • 00:25:12.928 --> 00:25:14.262
  • Surviving another worship service.
  • 00:25:14.262 --> 00:25:15.931
  • Like, how often do we have to attend?
  • 00:25:15.931 --> 00:25:19.968
  • And since covid the message, "well,
  • 00:25:19.968 --> 00:25:21.303
  • You don't have to, just find a screen."
  • 00:25:21.303 --> 00:25:25.941
  • Whee!
  • 00:25:25.941 --> 00:25:28.843
  • Paul led a spirit directed life.
  • 00:25:28.843 --> 00:25:31.913
  • All of these heroes we've looked at experience
  • 00:25:31.913 --> 00:25:34.149
  • The supernatural intervention of god.
  • 00:25:34.149 --> 00:25:37.519
  • But the awkward reality is each one of them had to overcome
  • 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:40.088
  • Threats, attacks, fear, impatient, injustice, rejection,
  • 00:25:40.088 --> 00:25:45.727
  • Temptations of their own, false accusations, powerful enemies.
  • 00:25:45.727 --> 00:25:52.033
  • We wanna say it's the end of the age and we're just gonna get
  • 00:25:52.033 --> 00:25:54.302
  • Raptured out of it so we don't have to think about it.
  • 00:25:54.302 --> 00:25:57.238
  • We should pay attention to our predecessors so we have the
  • 00:25:57.238 --> 00:25:59.841
  • Courage to be people of faith in the midst of this generation.
  • 00:25:59.841 --> 00:26:04.412
  • If the lord returns, we'll be busy about his activities.
  • 00:26:04.412 --> 00:26:08.249
  • If he doesn't, we will have represented well on our watch.
  • 00:26:08.249 --> 00:26:12.721
  • Let's go.
  • 00:26:12.721 --> 00:26:14.122
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:14.122 --> 00:26:20.629
  • Allen: you know, it's almost christmastime, and year after
  • 00:26:20.629 --> 00:26:23.632
  • Year when i interact with people through the holiday season, the
  • 00:26:23.632 --> 00:26:26.034
  • Thing that is said to me most frequently is, "pastor, i feel
  • 00:26:26.034 --> 00:26:29.104
  • Like our faith has been pushed to the periphery of the
  • 00:26:29.104 --> 00:26:31.606
  • Holiday season."
  • 00:26:31.606 --> 00:26:32.941
  • You know, they start showing us in the stores all the
  • 00:26:32.941 --> 00:26:34.843
  • Decorations in july, and by the time we get to december, we've
  • 00:26:34.843 --> 00:26:38.613
  • Lost the whole tone.
  • 00:26:38.613 --> 00:26:39.948
  • Well, we've created a tool to help with that.
  • 00:26:39.948 --> 00:26:42.250
  • It's "how to lead with your faith at christmas."
  • 00:26:42.250 --> 00:26:44.653
  • It's a devotional. it has some recipes in it.
  • 00:26:44.653 --> 00:26:46.788
  • It's got some activities, things you can do with your family,
  • 00:26:46.788 --> 00:26:49.290
  • Your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers.
  • 00:26:49.290 --> 00:26:51.493
  • It's actually a way to bring your faith into the center of
  • 00:26:51.493 --> 00:26:54.362
  • This christmas season.
  • 00:26:54.362 --> 00:26:56.164
  • It's not helpful to rage against the darkness and complain about
  • 00:26:56.164 --> 00:26:58.733
  • The secularist.
  • 00:26:58.733 --> 00:27:00.068
  • Let's turn up the light of faith in our lives, and this little
  • 00:27:00.068 --> 00:27:02.771
  • Tool is built precisely to help you do that.
  • 00:27:02.771 --> 00:27:06.274
  • I believe it'll be a blessing to you.
  • 00:27:06.274 --> 00:27:07.676
  • I wanna join--i wanna pray with you that jesus will be in the
  • 00:27:07.676 --> 00:27:10.311
  • Midst of this christmas more than ever before.
  • 00:27:10.311 --> 00:27:12.881
  • Let's pray.
  • 00:27:12.881 --> 00:27:14.249
  • Heavenly father, we invite you into the midst of this
  • 00:27:14.249 --> 00:27:15.817
  • Holiday season.
  • 00:27:15.817 --> 00:27:17.152
  • I pray that your name will be lifted up, that your peace will
  • 00:27:17.152 --> 00:27:19.521
  • Come to all with whom we gather, in jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:19.521 --> 00:27:23.191
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:23.191 --> 00:27:23.191