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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - How To Treat Your Next Pastor (Part 2) | May 22, 2026
- ♪ music ♪
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- From the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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- With dr. robert jeffress.
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- Hi, i am robert jeffress,
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- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
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- We most often see our pastors delivering sermons
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- On sunday mornings,
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- But as the leader of the congregation
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- At first baptist church in dallas,
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- My responsibilities go far beyond just preaching.
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- The same is true for the pastor in your local church,
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- And today we're going to see
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- What the writer of hebrews says about a pastor's role
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- And how a congregation should respond
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- To their leader's authority.
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- My message is titled, "how to treat your next pastor,"
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- On today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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- -♪ when peace like a river ♪
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- ♪ attendeth my way ♪
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- ♪ when sorrows ♪
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- ♪ like sea billows roll ♪
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- ♪ whatever my lot ♪
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- ♪ thou hast taught me to say ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ and lord, haste the day ♪
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- ♪ when my faith shall be sight ♪
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- ♪ the clouds be rolled back ♪
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- ♪ as a scroll ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- -♪ the trump shall resound ♪ -(trumpet resonating)
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- ♪ and the lord shall descend ♪
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- ♪ even so ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- -♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ it is well ♪
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- ♪ with my soul ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ amen ♪
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- (congregation applauding)
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- Each day millions of lost people are searching
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- For hope and truth.
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- Through "pathway to victory,"
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- God's word is reaching into homes across america
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- And around the world.
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- But there are still so many
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- Who haven't heard the saving message of jesus christ.
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- You can help change that by becoming a pathway partner.
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- ♪ music ♪
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- ♪ music ♪
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- There's some of you watching right now,
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- You may have been in an abusive situation
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- Where you were abused
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- By a spiritual authority in the church,
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- And you said,
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- "i'm never getting in that kind of situation again."
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- Well, let's admit, there are some bad leaders out there.
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- And how do we handle leaders who abuse their place
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- Of spiritual leadership?
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- Let's talk about that for just a moment.
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- In jesus' day,
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- The abusive spiritual leaders were called the pharisees,
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- And they were a group of jewish leaders
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- Who placed their tradition above god's word.
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- In fact, jesus said they were hypocrites
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- Because they came up with regulations for other people
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- That they themselves were unwilling to follow.
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- And listen to what jesus said about them in matthew 15.
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- Hold your place here and go over to matthew 15.
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- Jesus' harshest criticisms were not leveled
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- Against adulterers, murderers, thieves.
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- It was against hypocritical religious leaders.
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- Look at chapter 15, verses 1 to 14.
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- "then some pharisees and scribes
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- Came to jesus from jerusalem and they said,
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- 'why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
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- For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.'
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- This was pre-covid.
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- They weren't washing their hands when they eat bread.
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- Now, that was a tradition.
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- They were concerned
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- That the disciples weren't following their traditions
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- Instead of the word of god.
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- And so jesus called them out on it.
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- "he said to them,
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- 'why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of god
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- For the sake of your tradition?'"
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- And then he goes on and gives example after example
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- Of where the pharisees were placing their tradition
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- Above god's word.
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- Now, skip down to verse 12.
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- "then the disciples came and said to jesus,
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- 'do you know that the pharisees were offended
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- When they heard this statement?'"
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- Ooh, the pharisees are upset.
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- Jesus couldn't have cared less. (chuckling)
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- Notice what he said in verse 13,
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- "but jesus answered and he said,
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- 'every plant which my heavenly father did not plant
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- Shall be uprooted.
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- But you let them alone.
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- Let them alone, for they are blind guides of the blind.
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- And if a blind man guides a blind man,
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- Both will fall into a pit.'"
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- Isn't that interesting?
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- He didn't say,
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- "get rid of the pharisees. vote 'em out of office."
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- He said, "leave 'em alone.
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- They will self-implode,
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- And they'll take everybody who's following them
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- Down with them.
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- Leave them alone."
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- How do you handle a spiritual, abusive leader?
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- Now, listen to me.
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- The bible says there are two reasons
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- To get rid of a leader, a pastor, two reasons.
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- Reason number one, if he preaches heresy.
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- If i ever stand in this pulpit
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- And deny the deity of jesus christ,
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- The inspiration of the scripture,
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- The blood atonement of christ for our sins,
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- The literal return of jesus christ one day,
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- If i ever deny those basics, i'm not talking about,
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- You know, "does the tribulation and the rapture,
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- Come before or after the millennium?"
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- I'm not talking about that.
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- I'm talking about basic bible doctrine,
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- The basics of the faith.
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- If i ever deny those truths,
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- You need to call a business meeting
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- And fire me as your pastor.
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- There's no place for that.
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- The second reason to get rid of a leader is immorality.
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- 1 timothy 5:19 talks about not just an accusation
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- Against a pastor, but if you have proof
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- On the basis of two or three eyewitnesses,
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- You're to get rid of him.
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- But any other offense outside of that, what does jesus say?
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- Leave them alone. leave them alone.
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- Let god deal with it.
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- I had a deacon who called me from another church
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- And he told me this story.
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- He said he was not pleased with the pastor,
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- The current pastor that they had,
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- And some other deacons came to him and said,
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- "we sense you're as upset with this pastor as we are.
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- We want you to join us in removing the pastor from office."
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- And this deacon said, "i told them no."
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- They were astonished. they said, "well, why not?"
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- He said, "if we uproot this pastor,
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- We will also uproot the other members in the church
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- Who revere him and respect him.
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- We can't do that. leave him alone and let god deal with it."
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- That's what jesus was saying here,
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- "if you try to uproot somebody
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- That the father did not plant,
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- It will hurt other people in the process as well."
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- Now, i'm talking to some of you right now
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- Watching this message,
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- You're in a church and you don't care for your pastor,
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- You disagree with him.
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- Pray for him.
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- If you need to, go talk to him
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- And share your concern in a spirit of love.
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- And if you still can't resolve it,
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- Don't try to get rid of him.
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- Don't lead a rebellion.
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- Don't be guilty of disenchanting
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- And disillusioning other christians.
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- Go find a church.
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- Go find a pastor that you respect
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- And whose authority you can follow.
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- That's the way you deal with leaders
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- That you don't agree with.
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- But the vast majority of pastors out there today
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- Are not bad pastors.
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- They're doing the best they can to take care of you,
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- To watch over your soul.
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- So let's talk about how we do respond to pastors
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- And spiritual leaders in the church.
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- Going back to verse 17 of hebrews 13,
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- We've talked about the difficulty of this command.
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- Let's talk about the meaning of this command.
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- "obey your leaders, submit to them,
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- For they keep watch over your souls
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- As those who will give an account.
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- Let them do this with joy and not with grief.
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- For this would be unprofitable for you."
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- To unpack the truth of this verse,
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- I want to answer three questions that arise from this passage.
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- First of all, who? exactly who are we to follow?
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- I mean, that's an important question.
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- I mean, after all,
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- There are a lot of spiritual leaders out there.
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- You've got your sunday school teacher,
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- You've got your bible study fellowship leader,
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- You've got the deacons, you've got staff members.
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- You've got all these people out there.
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- Exactly who is in mind here that we're supposed to follow?
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- Well, it's very clear, verse 17,
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- "obey your leaders, submit to them,
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- For they keep watch over your souls
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- As those who will give an account."
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- The words "watch over,"
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- That phrase comes from two greek words,
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- "search" and "sleep."
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- Your leader that he's talking about here
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- Is the one who searches for sleep.
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- He's losing sleep over the condition of your soul,
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- Because he knows he will give an account.
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- There's only one person that's true of,
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- And it's the pastor of your church.
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- As we'll see in just a moment in 1 peter 5,
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- Jesus is the chief shepherd of this church,
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- But he is temporarily left earth,
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- And he's left the care of this flock
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- Under the care of the under shepherd.
- 00:12:05.881 --> 00:12:08.417
- And one day the pastor of this church, whoever it is,
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- Will give an account to god
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- For how he has led this congregation.
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- This is a reference here to the pastor,
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- The one who watches out for your soul.
- 00:12:19.995 --> 00:12:23.432
- Now turn over to 1 peter 5:1-4,
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- Where peter explains this even more.
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- I'm going to give you about a three-minute lesson here
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- From 1 peter 5 about church government,
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- 'cause there's a lot of questions today
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- About how a church is supposed to be organized.
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- And you're confused about pastors and elders and deacons,
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- Well, this clears it up real clearly for you.
- 00:12:45.054 --> 00:12:48.123
- 1 peter 5:1-4, "therefore, peter said,
- 00:12:48.123 --> 00:12:51.360
- 'i exhort the elders among you as your fellow elder
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- And witness of the sufferings of christ
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- And a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed.'"
- 00:12:57.800 --> 00:13:01.637
- Peter said, "i'm an elder writing the fellow elders."
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- That greek word "elder" is "presbuteros."
- 00:13:04.807 --> 00:13:08.644
- It refers to the dignity of the pastoral office,
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- "i exhort the elders among you."
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- Verse two, "shepherd the flock of god among you."
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- There's the second word that describes the pastor.
- 00:13:18.888 --> 00:13:21.891
- " in it's the word "poim greek, literally the "shepherd."
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- The pastor is one who has an office of dignity.
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- He's the elder. he is to shepherd, the flock of god.
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- That means to protect, to feed the flock of god.
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- He's the pastor.
- 00:13:36.839 --> 00:13:38.207
- And then the third phrase, "exercising oversight."
- 00:13:38.207 --> 00:13:42.344
- The pastor is not only an elder and a shepherd,
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- He's the overseer.
- 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.516
- There's a similar greek word used in 1 timothy 3,
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- "episkopos," ruler, the bishop over the church.
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- There are not three offices in the church.
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- There's not pastors and elders and deacons.
- 00:13:58.761 --> 00:14:02.164
- There's only two offices.
- 00:14:02.164 --> 00:14:04.266
- There is the office of the pastor,
- 00:14:04.266 --> 00:14:06.268
- Who is the same as the elder,
- 00:14:06.268 --> 00:14:08.070
- Who's the same as the ruler of the church,
- 00:14:08.070 --> 00:14:10.272
- And there are the deacons.
- 00:14:10.272 --> 00:14:12.041
- In 1 timothy 3, paul addresses the qualifications
- 00:14:12.041 --> 00:14:15.644
- For overseers and deacons.
- 00:14:15.644 --> 00:14:18.814
- He does the same in philippians 1
- 00:14:18.814 --> 00:14:20.582
- When he talks about the pastors,
- 00:14:20.582 --> 00:14:22.484
- The overseers and the deacons.
- 00:14:22.484 --> 00:14:25.220
- There are two offices,
- 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:27.089
- And the one who has charge
- 00:14:27.089 --> 00:14:28.490
- Over the spiritual wellbeing of the congregation
- 00:14:28.490 --> 00:14:31.794
- Is the pastor.
- 00:14:31.794 --> 00:14:33.595
- That is so clear here, we have a pastor.
- 00:14:33.595 --> 00:14:37.800
- Now, some of you say,
- 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:39.234
- "well, pastor, are you saying you're the elder?"
- 00:14:39.234 --> 00:14:42.204
- Yes. yes, that's what the bible says.
- 00:14:42.204 --> 00:14:45.207
- I'm the overseer. i'm the shepherd of the congregation.
- 00:14:45.207 --> 00:14:48.444
- Well, doesn't the bible talk about multiple elders?
- 00:14:48.444 --> 00:14:52.114
- Well, if the flock gets too big,
- 00:14:52.114 --> 00:14:53.816
- Yes, we need multiple elders.
- 00:14:53.816 --> 00:14:55.884
- And we have multiple elders.
- 00:14:55.884 --> 00:14:57.920
- I'm not the only elder, i'm the chief elder,
- 00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:00.022
- But i'm not the only elder at first baptist dallas,
- 00:15:00.022 --> 00:15:02.524
- But it's all an extension of the office of pastor.
- 00:15:02.524 --> 00:15:06.261
- We even break it down further than that.
- 00:15:06.261 --> 00:15:08.130
- You know, with a church of 14,000,
- 00:15:08.130 --> 00:15:10.299
- There's no way we could hire enough elders, pastors,
- 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:13.869
- To oversee everybody,
- 00:15:13.869 --> 00:15:15.337
- And so we've divided the responsibility even further.
- 00:15:15.337 --> 00:15:19.742
- Do you remember in exodus 18 when moses was complaining
- 00:15:19.742 --> 00:15:23.178
- That it was too much to watch over his flock?
- 00:15:23.178 --> 00:15:26.081
- Jethro, his father-in-law said,
- 00:15:26.081 --> 00:15:27.916
- "break 'em down into manageable units."
- 00:15:27.916 --> 00:15:30.319
- And that's what we've done here.
- 00:15:30.319 --> 00:15:31.754
- We're into sunday school departments,
- 00:15:31.754 --> 00:15:34.656
- We've got sunday school directors,
- 00:15:34.656 --> 00:15:36.625
- We've got sunday school teachers.
- 00:15:36.625 --> 00:15:38.327
- There's doug brady over there.
- 00:15:38.327 --> 00:15:39.895
- He's feeding his flock that god has put under his charge.
- 00:15:39.895 --> 00:15:43.599
- We've got everybody under somebody's spiritual care
- 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:47.536
- In the church.
- 00:15:47.536 --> 00:15:48.871
- But primarily here, he's talking about the pastor
- 00:15:48.871 --> 00:15:51.974
- And those who assist him in his role as shepherd.
- 00:15:51.974 --> 00:15:55.044
- Now, secondly, the question of what?
- 00:15:55.044 --> 00:15:57.579
- What are we supposed to do in relationship
- 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:59.948
- To that spiritual authority god is placed over us?
- 00:15:59.948 --> 00:16:02.751
- It says we are to submit.
- 00:16:02.751 --> 00:16:04.253
- Literally, that word means to quit resisting,
- 00:16:04.253 --> 00:16:08.624
- To yield and quit resisting.
- 00:16:08.624 --> 00:16:12.361
- Don't resist their leadership in your lives.
- 00:16:12.361 --> 00:16:16.665
- Now, folks, this is important,
- 00:16:16.665 --> 00:16:18.600
- Inherent here is the qualification,
- 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:22.905
- The areas of your life over which they're responsible.
- 00:16:22.905 --> 00:16:27.042
- You know, there are some pastors who abuse this.
- 00:16:27.042 --> 00:16:29.244
- I mean, they want to try to control their people
- 00:16:29.244 --> 00:16:31.680
- And everything they do.
- 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:33.649
- If you come up to me and you say,
- 00:16:34.383 --> 00:16:36.118
- "pastor, i'm thinking about buying a home.
- 00:16:36.118 --> 00:16:38.587
- Do you have any advice for me?"
- 00:16:38.587 --> 00:16:41.356
- I'm not going to give you advice on what home to buy.
- 00:16:41.356 --> 00:16:44.593
- I'm not going to say, "well, god told me to tell you
- 00:16:44.593 --> 00:16:46.695
- You're only supposed to buy a 3,000-square-foot home."
- 00:16:46.695 --> 00:16:49.865
- That's not any of my business.
- 00:16:49.865 --> 00:16:51.500
- That's not my area of authority.
- 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:53.735
- Even certain things in the church are really not up to me.
- 00:16:53.735 --> 00:16:57.106
- Just imagine that i go into one of our planning
- 00:16:57.106 --> 00:17:00.008
- And development committee meetings,
- 00:17:00.008 --> 00:17:01.610
- And they're having a meeting
- 00:17:01.610 --> 00:17:02.845
- On what kind of electrical wiring to have,
- 00:17:02.845 --> 00:17:05.848
- And i crashed the meeting and i said,
- 00:17:05.848 --> 00:17:07.449
- "i know you all are talking about electrical wiring,
- 00:17:07.449 --> 00:17:09.785
- And god has told me that you need to use this grade,
- 00:17:09.785 --> 00:17:13.355
- This quality of wiring in the building."
- 00:17:13.355 --> 00:17:15.858
- Boy, the chairman, mark lavvorn would look at me
- 00:17:16.792 --> 00:17:18.260
- Like i'd lost my mind,
- 00:17:18.260 --> 00:17:19.528
- "what are you doing talking about that?
- 00:17:19.528 --> 00:17:21.763
- That's not your area of expertise."
- 00:17:21.763 --> 00:17:24.099
- I know pastors who actually try to control
- 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:26.235
- Where the money of the church,
- 00:17:26.235 --> 00:17:27.669
- The funds of the church are invested.
- 00:17:27.669 --> 00:17:30.339
- We don't do that. that's not my responsibility.
- 00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:32.908
- We have deacons and staff to oversee all of those things.
- 00:17:32.908 --> 00:17:36.945
- There are some areas i should have no authority in,
- 00:17:36.945 --> 00:17:40.516
- But there are other things that are under my purview.
- 00:17:40.516 --> 00:17:43.552
- You won't believe this,
- 00:17:43.552 --> 00:17:44.953
- But did you know i get regular emails from people
- 00:17:44.953 --> 00:17:48.323
- Telling me how i ought to conduct the invitation
- 00:17:48.323 --> 00:17:50.993
- At the end of the service,
- 00:17:50.993 --> 00:17:53.295
- What i ought to include in the prayer of salvation.
- 00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:56.565
- And you know my response to that
- 00:17:56.565 --> 00:17:58.000
- When somebody tries to do that?
- 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.535
- You know, my response is, "it's none of your beeswax."
- 00:17:59.535 --> 00:18:05.340
- (congregation laughing)
- 00:18:05.841 --> 00:18:07.442
- It's a greek word, "beeswax." you probably didn't know that.
- 00:18:07.442 --> 00:18:09.044
- No, i don't respond that way, but that's what i think.
- 00:18:09.044 --> 00:18:11.046
- I mean, that's not your area of expertise.
- 00:18:11.046 --> 00:18:14.583
- The pastor has authority in the areas
- 00:18:14.583 --> 00:18:17.519
- That god has designated to him.
- 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.489
- One more example, part of the role of the pastor,
- 00:18:20.489 --> 00:18:24.159
- The authority he has is to correct members who are in sin.
- 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:29.631
- If there is somebody in the church
- 00:18:30.399 --> 00:18:32.100
- Who is living an immoralized lifestyle
- 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:34.570
- That is hurting the reputation of christ and the church,
- 00:18:34.570 --> 00:18:38.273
- The pastor's supposed to correct that.
- 00:18:38.273 --> 00:18:41.109
- If there is somebody who's causing disunity in the church,
- 00:18:41.109 --> 00:18:46.348
- The pastor has to address that.
- 00:18:46.982 --> 00:18:50.285
- And a church our size,
- 00:18:50.285 --> 00:18:52.454
- I've designated that responsibility to elder alan lynch.
- 00:18:52.454 --> 00:18:56.925
- He's in charge of correction.
- 00:18:56.925 --> 00:18:59.161
- If alan calls you up and wants to talk to you,
- 00:18:59.161 --> 00:19:01.263
- It's usually not good news, okay?
- 00:19:01.263 --> 00:19:03.699
- No. no, he has a lot of good news too.
- 00:19:03.699 --> 00:19:06.168
- But that's part of our responsibility.
- 00:19:06.168 --> 00:19:09.004
- If i or a staff member talks to you about something
- 00:19:09.004 --> 00:19:13.041
- That is wrong, the bible says, "don't resist, don't rebel."
- 00:19:13.041 --> 00:19:17.446
- Don't argue, yield to that correction,
- 00:19:17.446 --> 00:19:20.916
- Because it's for your benefit, not for our benefit.
- 00:19:20.916 --> 00:19:25.420
- We're watching over your soul.
- 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:28.023
- We're trying to help you in your relationship with god.
- 00:19:28.023 --> 00:19:32.261
- That's what we're supposed to do.
- 00:19:32.261 --> 00:19:34.229
- We're supposed to submit, not resist in those areas
- 00:19:34.229 --> 00:19:38.133
- That we've been given responsibility for.
- 00:19:38.133 --> 00:19:40.569
- Why? why should we respond this way?
- 00:19:40.569 --> 00:19:43.338
- Well, look again at verse 17,
- 00:19:43.338 --> 00:19:45.307
- "for they keep watch over your souls
- 00:19:45.307 --> 00:19:48.310
- As those who will give an account.
- 00:19:48.310 --> 00:19:50.946
- Let them do this with joy and not with grief,
- 00:19:50.946 --> 00:19:53.915
- For this would be unprofitable for you."
- 00:19:53.915 --> 00:19:56.885
- The reason you're to yield a spiritual authority
- 00:19:56.885 --> 00:19:59.688
- Is because they're not trying to help themselves,
- 00:19:59.688 --> 00:20:02.391
- They're trying to help you.
- 00:20:02.391 --> 00:20:05.260
- And when you resist,
- 00:20:05.727 --> 00:20:07.829
- It may make life miserable for your leader,
- 00:20:07.829 --> 00:20:10.799
- But it's even worse for you.
- 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.435
- You know, i came across this story from chuck swindoll
- 00:20:14.536 --> 00:20:18.640
- When he was a staff member at another church.
- 00:20:19.608 --> 00:20:22.744
- This was interesting.
- 00:20:22.744 --> 00:20:24.179
- He said, "i was having lunch with a friend one day,
- 00:20:24.179 --> 00:20:26.882
- During the conversation,
- 00:20:26.882 --> 00:20:28.350
- He asked if i could join him on a particular trip
- 00:20:28.350 --> 00:20:31.286
- As a speaker with his organization."
- 00:20:31.286 --> 00:20:34.156
- Chuck said, "i replied that i would be delighted to do that,
- 00:20:34.156 --> 00:20:37.059
- But first i would have to check with my spiritual leader
- 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:40.462
- To ask his opinion
- 00:20:40.462 --> 00:20:41.930
- Of the organization i would be associating with."
- 00:20:41.930 --> 00:20:45.467
- Well, this opened up a pandora's box.
- 00:20:45.467 --> 00:20:48.470
- My friend expressed, in no uncertain terms, his disapproval
- 00:20:48.470 --> 00:20:53.108
- At a grown man having to do that sort of thing.
- 00:20:53.108 --> 00:20:56.712
- He pitted me to him.
- 00:20:56.712 --> 00:20:58.547
- The idea of being in submission to anyone was unthinkable.
- 00:20:58.547 --> 00:21:02.984
- "so i asked him," chuck said, "who watches for your soul
- 00:21:02.984 --> 00:21:07.556
- As those who must give an account?
- 00:21:07.556 --> 00:21:09.891
- Who loves you and has your best interest at heart?
- 00:21:09.891 --> 00:21:13.829
- Who prays for you and counsels you
- 00:21:13.829 --> 00:21:16.064
- And objectively seeks god's best for you?
- 00:21:16.064 --> 00:21:19.668
- Who does that for you?"
- 00:21:19.668 --> 00:21:21.503
- The man said, "no one. no one."
- 00:21:22.137 --> 00:21:27.008
- "then don't pity me," chuck said,
- 00:21:27.008 --> 00:21:28.744
- "for being under the authority of another.
- 00:21:28.744 --> 00:21:31.646
- You're the one to be pitied, not i.
- 00:21:31.646 --> 00:21:34.316
- Those who watch out for my soul
- 00:21:34.316 --> 00:21:36.551
- Are among the greatest heritages in the world.
- 00:21:36.551 --> 00:21:40.021
- I'm to be envied, not pitied."
- 00:21:40.021 --> 00:21:45.627
- Let me encourage those of you watching
- 00:21:46.461 --> 00:21:51.333
- Or listening to this message,
- 00:21:51.967 --> 00:21:54.770
- If you don't have somebody watching out for your soul,
- 00:21:54.770 --> 00:21:59.808
- Get under the authority of a local church.
- 00:22:00.675 --> 00:22:03.779
- You know, in our american individualistic society,
- 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:06.848
- We think all we need
- 00:22:06.848 --> 00:22:08.116
- Is just me and my relationship with god.
- 00:22:08.116 --> 00:22:10.786
- That's enough. i don't need other people.
- 00:22:10.786 --> 00:22:13.221
- No, we need one another. that's why god created the church.
- 00:22:13.221 --> 00:22:18.427
- I take this position as a a sacred trust.
- 00:22:19.294 --> 00:22:22.464
- And if the day ever comes, this just becomes a job to me,
- 00:22:22.464 --> 00:22:27.736
- That's the day i'm leaving.
- 00:22:28.336 --> 00:22:29.905
- But until then, with god's help, i'm going to do the best i can
- 00:22:29.905 --> 00:22:33.975
- To watch out for you.
- 00:22:33.975 --> 00:22:36.211
- And as long as i fulfill my responsibility to you
- 00:22:36.211 --> 00:22:40.382
- And you continue to fulfill your responsibilities,
- 00:22:40.382 --> 00:22:44.186
- God will bless us both,
- 00:22:44.186 --> 00:22:46.588
- And he'll continue to bless this great church
- 00:22:46.588 --> 00:22:50.792
- As he's done for the last 150 years.
- 00:22:50.792 --> 00:22:55.063
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:22:55.063 --> 00:22:59.034
- You can hear in my voice
- 00:22:59.534 --> 00:23:01.069
- And through these words that i carry a shepherd's burden
- 00:23:01.069 --> 00:23:03.605
- For the flock at first baptist church in dallas.
- 00:23:03.605 --> 00:23:06.675
- And rest assured,
- 00:23:06.675 --> 00:23:08.243
- I feel the same way about our "pathway to victory" family.
- 00:23:08.243 --> 00:23:11.446
- Coming alongside you every day with this program
- 00:23:11.446 --> 00:23:14.850
- Is a sacred trust,
- 00:23:14.850 --> 00:23:16.685
- And i take our relationship very seriously.
- 00:23:16.685 --> 00:23:19.921
- Now, before our time is up today,
- 00:23:19.921 --> 00:23:21.690
- I want to share a note i received from leah in texas.
- 00:23:21.690 --> 00:23:25.727
- She wrote, "because of you, my daddy finally saw
- 00:23:25.727 --> 00:23:28.997
- That he couldn't be good enough to get to heaven.
- 00:23:28.997 --> 00:23:31.366
- He said to me, 'did you know that dr. jeffress said
- 00:23:31.366 --> 00:23:34.402
- That even good people will go to hell?'
- 00:23:34.402 --> 00:23:37.105
- This opened up a conversation between us
- 00:23:37.105 --> 00:23:39.708
- As he was lying in a hospital bed a month before he died.
- 00:23:39.708 --> 00:23:43.612
- We prayed together,
- 00:23:43.612 --> 00:23:45.146
- And my dad prayed to receive jesus christ as his savior.
- 00:23:45.146 --> 00:23:49.918
- Thank you, because through you a major prayer was answered.
- 00:23:51.086 --> 00:23:53.922
- My dad is with jesus."
- 00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:56.424
- Friends, these moments of spiritual transformation
- 00:23:57.459 --> 00:23:59.828
- Are made possible because of people like you
- 00:23:59.828 --> 00:24:02.664
- Who financially support "pathway to victory."
- 00:24:02.664 --> 00:24:05.567
- So on behalf of leah and her dad, and millions of others,
- 00:24:05.567 --> 00:24:09.404
- Thank you so much for your faithful generosity.
- 00:24:09.404 --> 00:24:12.574
- And please stay right there,
- 00:24:12.574 --> 00:24:14.109
- I'll be back with more "pathway to victory in just a moment.
- 00:24:14.109 --> 00:24:17.245
- Dr. robert jeffress has written a book
- 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:19.648
- To help you rediscover the joy of time with god.
- 00:24:19.648 --> 00:24:22.984
- It's called "spiritual essentials."
- 00:24:22.984 --> 00:24:25.220
- In "spiritual essentials," i share three simple,
- 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:28.757
- Deeply personal ways you can make god's word
- 00:24:28.757 --> 00:24:31.726
- A meaningful part of your everyday life,
- 00:24:31.726 --> 00:24:34.596
- Including a practical plan to help you get started today.
- 00:24:34.596 --> 00:24:38.900
- These are the same strategies i use in my own bible study.
- 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:42.938
- I'll also show you how to pray with purpose and confidence
- 00:24:42.938 --> 00:24:46.608
- For your children and grandchildren.
- 00:24:46.608 --> 00:24:49.210
- Whether you've been walking with god for decades
- 00:24:49.210 --> 00:24:51.246
- Or you're just getting started,
- 00:24:51.246 --> 00:24:52.581
- "spiritual essentials" will help you get back
- 00:24:52.581 --> 00:24:54.883
- To the basics of your faith
- 00:24:54.883 --> 00:24:56.551
- And experience god's presence in a fresh new way.
- 00:24:56.551 --> 00:25:00.322
- Request your copy of "spiritual essentials"
- 00:25:00.322 --> 00:25:02.657
- When you give a generous gift
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- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
- 00:25:04.092 --> 00:25:06.795
- And when you give $50 or more,
- 00:25:06.795 --> 00:25:08.897
- We'll also send you
- 00:25:08.897 --> 00:25:10.165
- The complete "spiritual fitness" teaching series
- 00:25:10.165 --> 00:25:12.801
- On both cd and dvd.
- 00:25:12.801 --> 00:25:14.869
- When we go through fiery problems in our life,
- 00:25:14.869 --> 00:25:18.907
- Sometimes those problems can strengthen us,
- 00:25:18.907 --> 00:25:23.278
- But sometimes they can cause our faith to shatter.
- 00:25:23.278 --> 00:25:26.748
- Thank you for giving generously to "pathway to victory."
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- Every day your support makes it possible
- 00:25:30.185 --> 00:25:32.420
- To reach people across the nation and around the world
- 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:35.357
- With the practical life-changing truth of god's word,
- 00:25:35.357 --> 00:25:39.094
- Transforming lives, strengthening families,
- 00:25:39.094 --> 00:25:42.397
- And pointing a lost world toward hope in jesus christ.
- 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:47.035
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:25:47.369 --> 00:25:48.970
- God has placed pastors in our lives
- 00:25:48.970 --> 00:25:51.272
- To help us stay on track in our relationship with him,
- 00:25:51.272 --> 00:25:55.210
- And that's a responsibility i don't take lightly.
- 00:25:55.210 --> 00:25:58.647
- My goal is to see every member of my congregation
- 00:25:58.647 --> 00:26:01.549
- Grow in their faith.
- 00:26:01.549 --> 00:26:03.151
- And as your bible teacher on television,
- 00:26:03.151 --> 00:26:05.320
- I hope to see the same for you.
- 00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:07.656
- Well, in today's culture,
- 00:26:07.656 --> 00:26:09.024
- There's a growing interest in the supernatural.
- 00:26:09.024 --> 00:26:11.960
- God not only understands this earthly fascination,
- 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:15.497
- He speaks to it, and i invite you to join me
- 00:26:15.497 --> 00:26:18.266
- For my upcoming series, "the truth about angels."
- 00:26:18.266 --> 00:26:23.505
- You know, there are some people
- 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:25.440
- Who overestimate angels and their importance,
- 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:28.643
- But there are other people who deny the existence of angels.
- 00:26:28.643 --> 00:26:32.113
- They think, "oh, this is just mythology.
- 00:26:32.113 --> 00:26:34.582
- Angels, they're invisible!
- 00:26:34.582 --> 00:26:37.052
- And they think invisible means not real.
- 00:26:37.052 --> 00:26:40.388
- You know, that's a tragic mistake to assume
- 00:26:40.388 --> 00:26:42.390
- That something that is not visible to the naked eye
- 00:26:42.390 --> 00:26:45.226
- Is not real.
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- Set your dvr and join us next time
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- For the series, "the truth about angels,"
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- Here on "pathway to victory."
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- ♪ music ♪
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- The apostle paul sailed these waters, walked these streets,
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- And the church was never the same.
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- I'm inviting you to follow in paul's footsteps
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- On the "pathway to victory," journeys of paul cruise
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- Through the stunning greek islands and the ancient ephesus,
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- And many other destinations as well.
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- This is purposeful travel at its finest.
- 00:27:15.356 --> 00:27:18.626
- Set sail may 14th, 2027.
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- Call 888 280 6747,
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- Or visit ptv.org.
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